Today is the Day

Today is the day. I turned 40. When I was a kid I used to think 40 was so old and some days I feel it; while most of the time I can’t believe I’m actually the age I am.

How did this happen?

This morning I didn’t have to get up with the kids (it’s my birthday). When all the kids came in to wake me up, I opened my eyes and right in my face was the furriest of the four of them. (Yes, Alabama was front and center, how dare I break the routine and not feed her). Teddy was the loudest and the girls couldn’t wait to get me into the living room to show/give me my gifts.

I walked (was dragged) into the living room and saw

 

The kids insisted on getting a banner and made Ted hang it up after I went to sleep. It had to have a crown, of course.

On to the gifts, we take the kids to the dollar store for each other’s birthdays. Each Kraus kid gets $5 to but whatever they want. They are very proud of their purchases, they put in a lot of thought and they pay attention to what you like.

This is what I got

 

This is my Birthday Haul, picked out by the Kraus kids

Flowers and a rainbow centerpiece because they were just so beautiful.

Flip flops and sunglasses, because summer is coming. Notice I did not put the shoes on the table!

An egg slicer (which has been being used as a tiny guitar) and a spatula for my eggs (and it looks like SpongeBob's)

Snacks, because I LOVE snacks! They can't wait for me to open them. I'll wait until after school because if not there is NO shot of Maizie getting any.

Surprisingly, this was from Maizie and not Stella. I guess Maizie has some flair buried deep down.

A travel toothbrush kit that I can use in any vehicle even a helicopter or a jet. It came with toothpaste, but we mysteriously ran out last night and needed to use the tiny one this morning.

A flamingo and a snow globe, who doesn't want souvenirs?

Cups, can never have too many. Teddy got the red cups because I told him a story how I broke my favorite red cup when I was little during the Peter, Paul and Mary special and then couldn't listen the Puff the Magic Dragon anymore after that.

Stella's Fury

We were making our annual trip to “Bird’s on Roof” to meet my family for my annual birthday dinner. Okay, Bird’s on Roof is not the real name of the restaurant, it’s really Champlain’s, but my kids have called it that for years and I’m not even sure they know the real name. But, whatever, on with the story of Stella’s fury.

We were driving and Stella and Maizie were asleep, but Teddy (who really needed a nap) wasn’t. He was holding Stella’s beloved doll, Lola. (The one that needs the baby sitter.) I look at him and he’s really concentrating on something; then I realize that the sewn on bow have been pulled out of Lola’s head. Oh boy, this may get ugly fast.

This is Lola and the bow

He was trying to get these strings

into these holes...NEVER going to happen!

I tap him on the leg and whispered, “What are you doing?” He said he was going to put it back on. That was NOT going to happen. Then it happened, Stella woke up.

The first thing I said to her was, “You know your brother loves you very much, right?” She said she knew that. Then I said, “You love your brother very much don’t you?” Once again she said she did. I said, “Okay, just remember that.” The whole time this conversation is going on, Ted and I are trying to hold it together in the front seat.

Then we heard it. A huge GASP of disbelief and horror and combined into one, I should be disappointed in Ted and my reaction because we absolutely fell apart laughing, but I'm not. We knew it was coming.

 

When she first saw it

Holding them tight

Pure devastation (my picture taking wasn't helping)

She was so mad at him; she didn’t know what to do. He really felt terrible about it. Truth be told, I’m surprised that bow lasted as long as it did.

 

He feels really bad

She kept her thumb in her mouth so she wouldn't hit him

Ted said to her, “Hey Stell, you know all that sewing you’ve been practicing? Now you can try it on Lola.” That made her feel a little better. Good thing this all happened five minutes from the restaurant.

We got there and once she realized that a bunch of family was there, she loosened up. I guess I’m going to have to figure out a way to get that filthy bow back on Lola’s head.

For more stories head over to The Mommyhood Chronicles

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for my collection of metal bowls. They have been put to good use this week. For some reason the kids have decided to randomly throw up. It doesn’t seem like they have an actual stomach bug, but they have hoarked for, which seems like, no apparent reason. One they take a nap, they’re fine. I wish I have the ability to boot and rally like that.

I am thankful for hot showers and “feel better bubbles”. If you’re a Kraus kid and you cover yourself in your own sick, you immediately get a hot bath or shower. The bath always consists of “feel better bubbles”. Did you know that they contain a magical substance that sucks the sick right out of you, that’s why your fingers get wrinkly really fast when you’re sick. Whatever works!

I am thankful that my kids (Teddy and Stella) seem to have no fear in the middle of the night. They walk through a dark house and poke the sleeping bear; then have the nerve to argue with that angry, overtired, annoyed beyond belief bear.

I am thankful that Memorial Day is this weekend. That means beach season is upon us. Too bad I’m nowhere ready to get this body into a bathing suit (I also have no idea where they are). Oh well, I look better than I did last year.

I am thankful I don’t have to fight with my kids to eat fruits and vegetables. I have to fight with my kids NOT to eat MY salad (while I’m trying to eat it). When I’m cutting vegetables around the kids, close to half of them can disappear before they make it into a bowl.

I Have Become a Zombie Mom

I can’t remember the last time I was able to sleep through the night. I don’t have to get up to go to the bathroom, I don’t have a stuffy nose keeping me up; I have three kids that roam the halls and find joy in disturbing my slumber.

Stella makes a nightly visit, dragging her pillow because “she had a bad dream”. At first I felt terrible for her and would let her in right away. The problem is, she is THE WORST kid to sleep with. She hogs my pillow, she kicks and she is just downright unpleasant to have in the bed when you’re trying to sleep. I think she caught on, now when she comes down I think BULLSHIT, you just want to interrupt my precious and very elusive slumber.

Teddy has a habit of coming downstairs in the middle of the night to watch TV. So I locked the cable from 1:30AM until 5:30AM. Because of that, he will just stand there staring at me until I get out of bed and punch in the code, it’s creepy and I’m WAY TOO tired to argue at 3AM. (I should just unlock it, but I just keep forgetting to do it.)

Monday night I heard Teddy come in and I thought he was going to tell me he couldn’t sleep and wanted to watch TV. Then I heard it, at the foot of my bed (every mom knows that sound) I sat up and he’s throwing up on my floor like a frat guy at the end of a bender. I grab my garbage can (thank goodness Past Heather was kind to Future Heather and actually put a bag in it) and he continues hurling in there.

I’m trying to wake up Ted who is sound asleep. I shook him and said Teddy was throwing up and he said, “OK.” No, it’s not! As Teddy’s holding the garbage can I am right over Ted’s body and I am making sure he is focusing and I say, “Teddy- is- throwing- up- all- over -our -room.” He pulled himself together and gave Teddy a shower.

Yesterday I tried to take a nap because of the traumatic events of the night before. I didn’t have to worry about bringing Teddy to school or picking up Maizie because Ted was going to do that. I go and lie down on my bed, get all cozy and every time I start to drift off that douche of a dog came and woke me up. She’s lucky she’s still living with us.

 

I was very disappointed with her behavior

On to last night. Stella made her nightly trip with her pillow and said she needed to sleep downstairs. I told her there was no way she was sleeping in my bed. She said she wanted to sleep on the couch; at this point I didn’t care. Then she had the nerve to start arguing with me over what she was going to watch on TV. Listen little girl, you’re not getting a choice, you’re lucky I’m even putting it on.

This morning she tells me that the germs are back (she was throwing up on Sunday; Maizie exiled herself ). I told her to move to the little couch, because I wanted to sit and have my coffee. Then she asks if applesauce is good when you have “the germs”. It is, it part of that BRAT diet, so I gave her some. She yakked it up all over herself. That is what lead me to this post.

I don’t see much sleep in my future.