Flight of the Kiddos

For the first time since before we were married, we are escaping the cold Vermont winter for a week. We are flying to Florida to visit Grandma and Grandpa.

Big Bro was a little anxious about flying but quickly calmed down and enjoyed the flight. He sat between his father and a kind, chatty French Canadian grandfather who taught him French words and talked about everything from chickens to Wild Kratts. This was actually his second flight, but he doesn't remember flying to LA when he was 1.

Lil Sis was anxious too at first because the hum of the airplane as we boarded was too loud. I spent the time covering her ears and playing with baby Pepper and some other stuffed friends to distract her. 

Soon she was happy to just eat snacks and watch shows on the smartphones. She was a superstar on her first flight!

The flight itself was nice. It felt like an old fashioned, pre-911 flight with the seatbelt sign off most of the time and people lingering in the aisles stretching their legs and chatting. Lil Sis made herself right at home, sitting between me and our seat mate, a sweet lady from Malone, NY via Montreal. Our seat mate didn't even mind that Lil Sis sprawled out between us.

This entry barely seems blog worthy since there's no lesson to learn or funny incident to tell. It was just...easy!..and even pleasant. I took a nap, I wrote this blog entry, I just wished I had brought a book. My carry on was overstuffed with snacks which was my excuse for not bringing one, and I figured I wouldn't even get to touch my phone since the kids would be using it nonstop, so no kindle book time. But I was wrong. Noted for next time.

There was a bit of turbulence at the end of the flight but the kids just giggled like it was a ride at the fair. Then, despite a long wait at the baggage claim, a long drive in Florida traffic to get to a restaurant, wait for food, then drive finally to the grandparents' house, the kids were phenomenally good the whole time. Seeing their good buddies Grandma and Grandpa had a huge hand in that, as did playing outside on green grass without boots or coats.

Day 1 of vacation = huge success!

Archive of my BVTMB Posts

In honor of recently publishing my last post for the Burlington Moms Blog, here is a list of all my posts published there. Hopefully the links will stay good over the years so I can go back and see them if I so desire.

Though I enjoyed writing them all, I have marked my personal favorites in bold. They were the ones that were the most important/moving/cathartic for me to write.

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2015/01/11/letting-go-of-baby/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2015/01/02/the-day-my-toddler-ate-a-stick-of-butter/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/12/05/brotherhood-of-the-ripped-pants/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/11/21/putting-the-me-back-in-mommy/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/11/04/the-bad-day/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/10/18/lifes-longing-for-itself/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/10/07/4-halloween-songs-for-kids/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/09/13/5-plastic-kid-items-im-happy-to-ditch/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/08/27/is-your-child-on-track-the-parent-toolkit-a-review/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/08/18/10-signs-you-are-a-parent/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/08/03/the-birds-and-the-bees/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/07/10/picking-the-perfect-preschool/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/07/07/lamonde-photography-a-review-giveaway/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/06/19/the-disappearance-of-baby-pepper/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/06/06/when-your-child-needs-surgery/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/05/23/maximizing-your-echo-membership/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/05/05/how-i-became-a-mother-what-kind-of-mom/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/04/22/an-earth-day-potty-training-tale/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/04/07/ode-to-single-mothers/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/03/24/50-shades-of-sleep-musical-beds/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/03/19/10-favorite-childrens-books/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/03/06/growing-up-shy/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/02/21/multigenerational-living/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/02/03/green-diy-valentines-day-cards/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/01/30/cedar-wood-natural-health-center-a-review/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/01/23/a-light-in-the-parentingtunnel/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/01/15/body-after-babies-brave-unapologetic/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2014/01/11/green-resolutions-for-2014/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2013/12/15/my-biggest-worry-for-my-kids/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2013/11/12/green-mountain-music-together-review-giveaway/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2013/10/30/coping-with-pregnancy-loss/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2013/10/15/teaching-young-kids-to-love-nature/

http://citymomsblog.com/burlingtonvt/2013/09/30/3-easy-fall-art-projects/

Solution to Screaming

Big Bro has never been that excited about preschool. He has fun when he's there and gets glowing reports, but at home he pitches a fit each school morning.

I was getting really tired of his tantrums every time I would have to tell him, "it's a school day, please go get dressed."

Nooooooo! It isn't! I'm not going!!!! Cry. Scream. Whine. Pout. Stomp. Repeat.

Over the Christmas break I read Vicki Hoefle's book "Duct Tape Parenting." In it she talks about making kids take on responsibilities for themselves in age appropriate ways to make mornings run more smoothly. She talks specifically about kids having an alarm clock to get up for school so that it's not mom doing the all the wake up calls and insisting, "no really, it's time, I mean it, you have to get up and dressed for school."

I had an alarm clock for school days when I was little (my mom laughed when I explained Vicki Hoefle's methods because they are so similar to what she did when I was growing up), so this wasn't a parenting leap...merely a recognition that it's time. 

I asked if Big Bro would like to have an alarm clock to get him up on school days. He was very excited by this, so we went to the store and he picked out his own clock. It barks when it rings.

I told him that on school days his alarm will bark and that's his cue to get dressed, brush teeth, and eat breakfast. If he does all those things with time leftover, then he can watch a short show before school.

So far the system is working wonderfully and we have had much happier, smoother, and timely mornings. Let's hope it continues even after the novelty has worn off.

Growing in Bursts, master builder

It's amazing how kids grow in bursts. Big Bro (4.5 yo) had a big burst this Thanksgiving break in his Lego building skills that I wanted to share. Here are his creations that he built all by himself:

Crocodile with moving mouth

Jail with bad guy

Horse merry-go-round that really spins

Helicopter with ladder. Looks just like the one in the Lego game app we have.

Snowplow dump truck

Super strong snowplow

Frustrated by losing the "mistletoe" (missile) on his Dino-helicopter, he built a new one out of Legos.

Not to be totally outdone, Lil Sis made her own creation too:

Fleeting First Snow Fun

Last Friday it snowed for the first time.today it's snowing again! But last week it was fresh and new. The kids had just eaten lunch and were having a little downtime watching a show. I was at my computer typing up a blog. I glanced out the window and saw the skies were dark and there were light snow flurries.

Kids!" I announced, "it's snowing! Let's "go outside before it stops. We can finish the show later."

The kids looked out the window and squealed with glee. Then we all jumped into action to get on our boots, jackets, mittens, and hats to go out into the flurries.

They ran around the yard excitedly, mouths agape to catch the flakes on their tongues.

They turned their boots into snowplows to collect what ever was sticking to the ground. Then they reached down and ate it. Lil Sis sampled the flakes that landed on her swing. Big Bro followed suit.

We admired the flakes as they landed on Pepper and played for as long as the snow fell. 

Then the sun came out and the snow stopped. We went inside for hot cocoa at Big Bro's request, and made a bowl of popcorn to eat while we finished the show. 

When the show was done we looked out the window and all the snow had already melted. There was no trace of the magic that had just happened. But we knew and it was such a great start to winter.

Fart Jokes

I was raised in a house occupied by all women. Manners were important, please, thank you, no intentional rude noises, etc.

Nevertheless, one thing my family always thought was hilarious growing up, and even still today, is fart jokes. 

Yes, fart jokes (and actual farts) would have us laughing, sometimes to the point where tears crept to our eyes. 

I remember one Christmas when my brother-in-law let one rip during a fancy dinner, we laughed and laughed as he turned a brighter and brighter shade of red.

Lately my kids have discovered fart jokes and bathroom talk. They enjoy putting the guilt of a fart on whoever is around even if the noise came from a chair or toy or the accuser's lips. 

You tooted! No you tooted! [Giggle, giggle].

Today they started with a round of fart jokes while I was making dinner. Being the responsible adult I am, I figured I better stop it before it got out of hand. "Hey you guys," I called to them. "That's bathroom talk. If you want to do that go to the bathroom."

Usually that ends it. But this time they stopped and started whispering to each other and ran off to the bathroom. They turned on the fan, closed the door and I could hear them talking and laughing.

I pressed my ear against the door to confirm my suspicions. Yep. Fart jokes.

"Do cows fart? Yup!" [Giggle giggle].

"Do snakes fart? Yes!" [Giggle giggle].

"Ew, there's a fart over there!" [Giggle giggle].

I returned to the kitchen smiling. They were having sibling bonding time over fart jokes. Together, shut in the bathroom, and making full use of Mommy's bathroom talk loophole. They were so happy, and so was I.

Or at least until the next morning when they started yet again.

The Great Elsa Ploy

Since holidays are always more fun with kids, I am thinking about Christmas. For me, it's incredibly early to be thinking a Christmas in early November. However, with kids I do need to start planning ahead. Doing last minute shopping Christmas week just won't cut it.

My kids are really into the movie Frozen, just like so many little kids these days. One night I went shopping on Amazon on my phone to start making a wish list. I found Elsa and Anna dolls from Disney. There were single dolls and there were sets that included both sisters. The prices range from $25 for one doll to $50-$70 for two dolls or a tiny set of sculptured figurines for all five main characters (Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristof). My husband, understandably, was disgusted by the prices.

Then I remembered that someone said there were Frozen dolls at Costco for $15. I had seen them when I went week or two ago but didn't buy any since the kids were with me. Plus that was before Halloween so I definitely wasn't thinking about buying Christmas presents. There was a good chance that the dolls sold out. 

Nevertheless, I thought Lil Sis and I could go check. We went to the toy aisle and I didn't see the princesses where I had seen them weeks earlier. Looking down the aisle I saw there was a display of Disney princesses. They were the "toddler" versions of the princesses with bodily proportions more accurate for very young children. Totally appropriate for Lil Sis.

There was just one Elsa doll left. No Anna dolls, but plenty of Belles, Cinderellas, and Rapunzels. I hesitated. Does Lil Sis really want this doll? Would she like something else better? Then an old couple pulled up behind me with a shopping cart. I overheard them say, "Here's some Frozen stuff! I know Frozen is on their list…"

That decided it. I snapped up the last Elsa doll and hid it in my coat. Luckily Lil Sis was looking at another toy at the time. I called to her and we went down the next aisle. I was grateful for her two-year-old lack of observation and suspicion. She didn't care that I now had a box shaped jacket. 

We looked at other toys and I made the mistake of suggesting we go back to look at the dolls one last time. As she browsed I took a picture of the Elsa doll to send my husband to get his opinion on whether I should buy the big Elsa doll or the little figurines of both Anna and Elsa.

Lil Sis had been looking at toys again but turned around and caught me in the act. "Big Elsa is in your coat!" she giggled happily.

Now that I was caught, I thought I could at least get verification of whether this doll was the right choice. "Is big Elsa your favorite?" I asked. "Yes." She answered. I showed her all the other choices again but she still insisted on the big Elsa doll.

"Good." I replied feeling a little panicked. Now what?

"We can ask Santa to bring you big Elsa!" I suggested enthusiastically.  "But for now I have to put her back."

Lil Sis was visibly upset. I secretly re-stuffed Elsa in my jacket and hoped that she wouldn't notice (again) even though she now knew something was up.

I led her by the hand up to the registers. I put Elsa, still under my coat, on the cashiers conveyor belt. "Hey, Elsa's under your coat!" Lil Sis said.

"No, I had to put her back." I answered.

Lil Sis responded with cries of I want big Elsa! I handed her my smartphone to soften her disappointment.

Thankfully, the cashier has evidently seen this scenario before. she saw the item under my jacket and immediately said, oh this must be a secret purchase. She only lifted a tiny flap of my coat so she could scan the doll, and wished me good luck. The guy manning the exit door was also experienced with secret purchases and was very understanding when I showed him my receipt and my jacket wrapped around a box.

Lil Sis fussed all the way to the car "I want big Elsa!" On the one hand felt terrible for making her sad. On the other hand I felt secure that I had made the right doll purchase and relieved that I had pulled off the great Elsa ploy.