I have to post about the wonderful prints I just bought for my friends. I am loving these gocco prints from Bernadette Sipkes, a very talented printer and illustrator who opened up her little shop SugarLoop in Auckland, New Zealand. Her modern illustrations of fanciful patterned flowers with sweet whimsical birds are my favorite. I also enjoy reading her blogs. Thank you Bernadette for the beautiful print-it-yourself holiday gift tags that can be downloaded from your blog.
As a New Englander, I {heart} the Patriots. This past Saturday was an intense game with an awesome comeback from a messy second half. With a thrilling 38-35 victory over the NY Giants, it has been an awesome year for the Patriots, completing a perfect season.
Scott just had his first slumber party. We invited 5 of his closest friends from school, only 4 could make it. From left to right: Arianna, Mariah, Eamon, Jared and Scott.
{12-12:30pm} We started off the slumber party with lunch. Each child got to choose an animal they wanted from zoo pal plates and zoo pal cups. We offered only two choices for lunch, grilled hot dogs or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with strawberries. Then came the junk food — choice of cheetos, sour cream potato chips and cheese popcorn.
{1:30pm} We painted ceramic piggy banks. Again we offered a choice of the snowman or gingerbread house. The kids really enjoyed this and took their time painting. A couple finished early and made marker drawings while waiting for the others to finish up.
{2:30pm} Kids are running around the house playing hide and seek, while I clean up the painting mess they left behind. Kids slowly starting to whine about being hungry for a snack. I start making nestle toll house cookies.
{3:00pm} Kids are having warm cookies with a choice of juice or milk. Kids wants another project, I told them to finish eating.
{3:15pm} I pull out the wooden popsicle sticks; natural and colored sticks in assorted sizes. We are making picture frames, dinosaurs and stars. Afterwards they got to squirt gold and silver glitter glue over the sticks.
{4:00pm} Kids are off playing hide and seek again, while I clean up the gluey mess.
{4:30pm} Kids are complaining of being bored. I teach them a game of catching and throwing balls in the house. (I don't recommend this to anyone.) I split the kids into teams, girls against boys. I have the girls start at the top of the stairs. I made them shut all the doors so the balls won't have anywhere to go. The boys are down at the foot of the stairs. The balls doesn't really have a place to go as well and I don't keep anything in the foyer that is breakable. It's sort of like dodge ball but no one gets out.
{5:30pm} I start dinner and a movie, Goonies, a wonderful classic from the 80's. I tell the kids to quiet it down before dinner and to put on their pajamas.
{6:00pm} I serve pizza while the kids watch the movie.
{7:00pm} Movie isn't lasting long, some kids are off playing in another room.
{7:30pm} Down to only one child wanting to finish watching the movie. The rest are off playing or drawing, at least they are quiet so I can finish feeding Amanda her dinner. Movie is over, I tell them to play quietly while I give Amanda a bath and put her to bed.
{8:30pm} Only three interruptions from the girls while giving Amanda her bath. While reading Amanda a book, four more interruptions. I told the kids no more interruptions while I put Amanda to bed. Amanda asked to go to her crib. My little girl is a trooper.
{9:00pm} I tell the kids to brush their teeth and get ready for bed. Arianna needs more light to sleep. I go off finding night lights to plug into the outlets. I even moved one of my christmas candle light into the bathroom so the kids can find the bathroom at night.
{9:15pm} Arianna is crying for her mommy. I call Sandra to see if she wants to come get Arianna. Arianna is mumbling and whining to her mom on the phone about needing her colored lamp from home. I am on the phone again with Sandra, Arianna wants to stay, but has a tough time getting to bed. I told Arianna that if she continues with this behavior she is going home. I told Arianna I don't want her keeping the other kids up at night. Arianna is being a drama queen. I give her one last warning or I am calling her mom. Her whining stops and she runs off to bed.
{9:30pm} Lights out, I finish cleaning up the kitchen. Dan and I get ready for bed.
{10:00pm} Watching the news in bed, we hear thumping and talking getting louder. I go downstairs to give a warning about going to bed and to stop the chit chatting or I will separate them and will rearrange the sleeping order.
{10:15pm} Someone coming up the stairs, Dan goes out to the hall to meet them. It's Arianna, Dan tells her to get back to bed or she is not staying for the night. I hear her running back downstairs and Dan is walking back into the bedroom shaking his head.
{10:20pm} I go back downstairs and give them one last threat. I told them I am going to bed and I better not hear anymore talking or this slumber party is over, that I will be forced to call their parents.
{10:30pm} Dan turns off the lights. It's finally quiet downstairs, I fall asleep.
......
{5:30am} Amanda had a bad dream, I gave her a pacifier and retuck her back into bed. I need more sleep.
{7:00am} I hear the kids laughing and thumping around downstairs. Amanda is awake. I take her back to bed to snuggle with us. {7:30am} The three of us goes downstairs to get breakfast ready.
{8:00am} Kids are having chocolate chip pancakes. I told them to put on clothes and brush their teeth when they are done eating. {8:40am} Sandra is at the door to pick up Arianna. {9:20am} Steve and Kalena is at the door to pick up Mariah and Eamon. {9:30am} I drop Amanda off at school. {10:30am} Dan and Scott drop Jared off at home.
{11:00am} The sound of silence...
I am learning to be a patient mom. Yes, I am one of those annoying moms who scream at their child if they are misbehaving in class. Scott has been taking Taekwondo since September and have graduated to yellow belt.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, loosely translated "the way of the foot and fist". His classes are on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I understand that the attention span of a 5 year old is very limited, especially with a full day of kindergarten, but somehow his lack of attention is killing me. I stand behind the glass watching him looking at the ceiling, spinning around and playing with his belt, then he turns around and looks at me. He rolls his eyes and spins some more, I stare at him and point to him to turn around. I think I've explained numerous times to him to pay attention in class. He begs me that he wants to take Taekwondo, so I sign him up for a year. Sorry, no refund. I am utterly speechless as I continue to watch him pick a lint from the carpet and hand it to his instructor, Master Ku. Master Ku ignores him, he has patience of a saint. The other mothers are poking fun at me and laughing. I try not to laugh, if he sees me laughing he'll think his behavior is alright. I spoke to the assistant instructor about my son lack of attention, she said it's normal at this age. She said I should only expect 20%-30% participation from my son.
Scott just had his first tournament. I am very proud of Scott who received 3rd place in breaking and 4th place in poomse. He didn't remember his form for his poomse. I kind of figured that would happen, but I am proud of him for trying his best. When he tested for his yellow belt, I was astonished at some of the moves he had to do to pass the test. I guess he is learning something in class, which amazes me that he can actually learn something with his back turned away from from Master Ku. My new tactic now is to sit down away from the window and try not to look at him, it's hard because it's fun to watch him kick and punch. The parents are laughing again and telling me what Scott is doing, I shake my head, what am I to do. I need to lighten up...
I have to post about the wonderful prints I just bought for my friends. I am loving these gocco prints from Bernadette Sipkes, a very talented printer and illustrator who opened up her little shop SugarLoop in Auckland, New Zealand. Her modern illustrations of fanciful patterned flowers with sweet whimsical birds are my favorite. I also enjoy reading her blogs. Thank you Bernadette for the beautiful print-it-yourself holiday gift tags that can be downloaded from your blog.
