Lost moment #147

Did I ever tell you crazy readers that I had to delete the Amazon app from the iPad because (before Angry Birds) I kept catching them "shopping" for things they wanted? I saw that my cart had 17 items in it and I was all, "Yo, Daddy, what are you buying?" And he was all, "Yo, Mama, I have no idea what you are talking about!" We looked at the items in the cart and they were all Thomas or Barbie things so we guessed the culprits to be both children. I don't think they knew what they were doing (putting items in the cart), I think they were just touching random buttons. When we reviewed our browsing history we were certain they had been looking for days. As they don't know the password and NEVER WILL, I wasn't concerned my bank account was depleted, but I was bothered that they "wanted" so much crap when clearly have lots to enjoy here in the Penthouse. Therefore, gone! Deleted off the iPad! (I still have it on my phone - just hidden in a folder! Figure that one out, WonderBen!)

Moral of the story, the kids only need to see you do something once technologically and they get it. The Gramma's need a few more times. :)

Good thing they both have Ben to teach them.

While I was away...

I needed to do some work in my old hood Monday and Tuesday so Mr Mom took over and did an excellent job. For some reason the kids forget how to sleep through the night when I am away. Poor Daddy is sleep deprived and in need of a good sleeping in.

As Ben's time with the iPad is limited, we need to entertain him the good old fashioned way or he non-stop asks to use it. This morning after Daddy left for the office he came up to me and whispered, "Hey, Mom, daddy's gone to the office. Can I play with the iPad now so he can't say no?" HAHAHA!

My favorite wooden game is called Chickyboom. You stack wooden hay barrels and wagon wheels and purple chickens on a perch and then remove them one by one trying to maintain balance on the perch. It is a game that we can play for a good 20 minutes before Ben gets bored.

Daddy shaved my head, aren't I cute?

Last week I watched the neighbor kids while the mama ran an errand. Look at the goodness below. This is Em reading to Jane. Reading for real! And Jane enjoying the attention.

A princess loves to read!

While I was away, Daddy got to enjoy "books and blankets" with the kids in the Kindergarten class. They were supposed to be outside but it was cold and windy, so they holed up in a corner and read a ton of books to each other. I especially love that Ben is now getting in on the action. He has the books memorized and "reads" them often. I love walking into his room and catching him in the act!

Happy family.

Holy guacamole! It was next to impossible to choose which preschool pic we wanted for the wall. I will leave this picture extra large so you can see the goodness.

I spent the morning at Stat Health w Emma yesterday. Strep throat and double ear infection. Boo! We made it through the whole Winter unscathed and now this! We used a warm mist humidifier in their room all Winter. I put it away last week and then she gets sick. Coincidence???

My mucus membranes are dry, mama.

Here is my bestie's baby. Ooooooohhhh, the cuteness. Once again, I am pretty sure I gave her about 157,000 smooches while I held her. Babies are so delicious - especially the ones you can hand over at the end of the day.

My kitchen is CLOSED.

Random randoms

If I don't label left overs there will be none left for lunches the next day. No, Ben does not get up in the middle of the night and eat while we are sleeping - we have a "left over fairy" that eats the food after every one has gone to bed. I've never seen him / her, but Daddy has. At least the fairy is respectful of the labels...

sausage surprise

I scored this brand new bike off Craigslist for $35. It is selling at Toysrus for $159. Ben hasn't quite decided if he likes bike riding but I am sure as he learns how to peddle he will fall in love with it like Emma has.

But it doesn't have a place to hold the iPad so I can play Angry Birds and ride at the same time...

This is a picture of a Roth IRA that I am supposed to be helping a family set up, but I can't seem to get around to it because Ben needs me to FIX this DANG LEGO FIRETRUCK every 17 seconds. I love legos. I love that he is playing with them more. I just wish his cute little fingers could figure out the intricate fixes so I could get a little work done. :)

Solar System

I've been challenging Ben to build "awesome tracks" daily to occupy his mind so he isn't asking for bad piggies or angry birds. It works for about 39 seconds then he is back to the birds. I listed the train table (tracks and bridges not included) on craigslist two weeks ago and have gotten absolutely no response. I miss the days of Craigslist LA when I would list something and see it purchased within hours and taken away!

Fine, I built a cool track. Now can I play with the iPad?

Em has been flip flopping her numbers and letters for a while now. I wasn't at all concerned until she made the following card for her friend's birthday. Daddy told her she flip flopped the letters AND sentences and suggested she make another card. She happily did... And wrote it the EXACT same way. I again wasn't concerned until she asked me, "Did I do it right this time?" The fact that she had to ask concerns me, but I'm not making a big deal of it in front of her yet. Most parents with older children I ask say it is a perfectly normal stage to go through... I just may pass this pic to her teacher though and see what she says.

Bouncy party with her pal, Anna.

We made it to Rocketship park on Sunday afternoon for an hour. It was an awesome afternoon of sunshine. I even went so far as to bring a book - which I did not crack open because there were a lot of bigger kids there and I needed to make sure they were playing fair with the littler ones - they did - but had they not been there I think I could have ACTUALLY read a page or two. These kids have absolutely no fear of any of the apparatuses anymore and don't "need" me every 6 seconds to help them on a ladder. Ben was sporting his new buzz cut a la barber daddy...

Sit down and relax, Ma!

The Kindergarten class went to the planetarium for their field trip today. I was lucky enough to chaperone the trip and was cracking up at the noisy kids on the bus. It was an hour ride each way for a 45 minute show! but they had a blast and that is what matters. (The show was great, by the way...) I once again had my socks knocked off at the knowledge level of the kids. They knew so many details about the solar system - once again proving that our little village's school district was awarded #2 in all of Suffolk and 96th in the country for a reason. The teachers make it fun and the kids LEARN, learn, learn.

She stayed awake, I may have dozed for 3 or 4 minutes. Ssshhhh, don't tell anyone!

This picture is a hoot. I wish I could zoom in and sharpen it!

Em is to the right of the kid with the dark glasses.

April showers...

I love our blue bathroom. It is a soothing place to shower and ...poop. Ben and I continue to have my most favorite conversations when he is taking care of business. Sometimes I leave him be to finish up something - but then I remind myself that these conversations will go away someday soon so whatever I need to "get done" can wait so I can chat with my little wingman.

No need for privacy in our house!

Did I ever tell you about the time Daddy bought Emma her first ever kitkat at a PTA event. She ate it just like pictured below (I was cracking up when I saw this on FB) and had chocolate all over her face and hands. All my adult friends were like, "What's wrong with your kid?" and I was all, "It's her first time! She simply doesn't know!" Then afterwards when I told showed her how to eat it "properly" she was all, "but it's more fun this way." Don't ever change, kiddo! Defy Mediocrity! Go against the status quo! I will support you in any way I can.

Yes, it is! according to Emsadoodle...

April showers bring.... Spring haircuts! Em looks great! Everyone adores it. I was once again the talented stylist who cut it. Too bad I am a one style wonder! and good thing she never asks for anything different. When I asked her about bangs, she said, "Absolutely not!" Who knew she was so anti-bang?

Our little big girl...

Dare I say it? Has Ben moved on from trains? His day is dominated with Ang*y B*rd conversations, app play, and toy play as if he is playing the app for real. He wakes at 6am every day, runs into my room and whispers, "Can I play with the iPad?" We hand it over and get another hour of sleep until the alarm clock goes off at 7. I call that stellar parenting!

play-doh AB - stud!

Every day awesomeness

Every single day our kids do something AWESOME.

I wish I could capture that awesomeness and share it with you. I need to wire up the Penthouse with 24/7 video cam so you can spy on them from time to time.

Today's awesomeness is brought to you via me from Daddy. I was in Brooklyn for another fab Women and Wealth event so Daddy got to fly solo. At one point he texted me that the kids were dancing (moshing) on my old giant cutting board and having a blast. An 18 x 32 space and they made the funniest - heart warmingest game out of it...

Which leads me to my next topic: my kids now need to "purchase" technology time! I borrowed the checkers from the Connect Four game. Every time a kid does something kind or completes a request (clean up your toys, eat your freakin' food, brush your teeth, etc) they get a checker. Each checker "buys" 5 minutes of technology - iPad or wii or whatever.

Ben totally "gets" it - today I picked him up from preschool and he immediately asked me if he could play Angry B*rds when we got home. I said, "No!" to which he replied, "But what if I earn it?"

Easter fun

Happy Easter! The bunny actually came by at about 8pm on Saturday after the kids passed out. He filled their baskets and left some extra chocolate for Daddy and me to nibble on. Such a nice bunny!

Most of the contents are compliments of Abudiba and Gramma Lou...

We signed Em up for t-ball starting in a few weeks, so the bunny brought her a glove. Gramma got her hair bands to decorate and Abuelita supplied the Chocolate and the Easter dress.

Bak! Bak!

Ben received his beloved Angry B*rds Star W*rs set and the app downloaded on the iPad. Can you say happy boy? Gramma got his zoo trains to add to his collection. They were ignored for a portion of the day but now they have made it into the daily play.

I can't believe I got him to sit for 2 whole seconds...

We went down to main street for the annual parade. It was the saddest parade I have ever been to! Just this banner and a bunch of families walking down the street towards the harbor where the egg hunt was going to happen after the sad parade.

Where are the fire trucks??

We headed to our pal's parent's home for Easter dinner. It was a fun afternoon of egg hunts and friends. Too bad the clouds rolled in and it was chilly willy outside!

Found another!

The fearless five.

Madelyn, Em, Anna, Ben, and Sammy