Flashback Entry: Holidays are Exhausting

Here are some fun flashback photos from our visit to Maryland over the Christmas holiday. John literally fell asleep standing up while watching us play a board game. The other shot, I have to admit is faked. We were visiting some friends and both Rose and Seth fell asleep in Stephen's arms. He pretended to be asleep just for the artistic merit of the picture.

The Perfect Neighborhood

Rose had to design her perfect neighborhood for a homework assignment. The teacher told her to put in anything she wanted. This is what she came up with. Row 1: Ice Cream Shop, Petting Zoo (complete with pipe cleaner animals thanks to dad), and Farm. Row 2: Park with Playground, Hotel with Pool (colored with toothpaste), Farmers Market. Row 3: Dinosaur Park (why not?), Movie Theater (with real popcorn), and Candy Store. Sounds like a pretty good neighborhood to me.

Seth's FIrst Haircut

We finally decided that Seth was just too bald in the back to pull off all of the hair in the front, so we stopped by the barber shop that Stephen and John go to and asked Ray to even him out a little bit. So here you have the haircut. Before, during, and after.

Fancy Shmancy Easter Duds

Here are the promised pictures of the kids in their oops-didn't-wear-them-on-Easter outfits. Also as promised, the kids were adorable. Rose's beautiful braids come courtesy of our friend Annette, and Seth's short haircut comes courtesy of our barber Ray. (Stay tuned for pictures of that big event. The action never stops on this blog!)

Empty Threats

One of the rules of effective discipline is to never threaten a consequence that you aren't willing and ready to follow through with. If you do, the kids figure out pretty quick that they don't really have to worry about what you may say, they can go ahead and do what they want.

I have always tried to follow this rule, but today Rose turned into a little demon, and I came very close to running out of consequences that I was actually willing to enforce. As the showdown escalated, I had to try very hard not to make empty threats, because it was pretty obvious that she was going to earn each and every consequence I laid down.

Rose, however, was not tied down by any qualms about being able to back up what she said. Here are some of the threats she flung at me when I wouldn't back down. She started with the classic "That's it! You're not my mom anymore!" and quickly escalated into the absurd and wildly fantastic.

"I am maybe even going to live in Antarctica. And when I come back to visit, I will hit you in the head with a piece of ice. I will wait till a sunny day loosens some, then I will pick it up and bring it for a visit. And then BAM!"

"Do you want me to break your bed? I'll get a saw and cut it up!"

"Do you want me to move to outer space? I am going to build a space ship and go. I will!"

"You aren't allowed to pick me up from school anymore!"

"Do you want me to take away your black chair from your room and put it in my room? I'll move the shelves and put it in my book nook. Then I will get some glue and stick it on the ceiling. And when it dries I will get a ladder and climb up, and I will be tiny, so I can fit into it. And only John and I will share it."

"Do you want me to glue your face to a light bulb? Then your eyes will really hurt! And it's going to be gorilla glue!"

I am happy to say that none of these threats were carried out. In fact, we were even friends again before she went to bed. I have John to thank for that. After I refused to let Rose eat gummy bears for dinner she told me she hated me. John leaned over and whispered in my ear "Everybody hates you." It was too much, I started laughing. Rose asked what he had said and when I told her, good old reverse psychology kicked in, and she proclaimed "No! I love her!"

It's good to be loved.

More Urban Wildlife

Here are a few more animals we saw at the Urban Wildlife Festival. When we told the kids we were going to a festival focusing on animals that live in the city, they immediately started speculating if there would be a coyote. We tried to prep them for disappointment, but in the end they were presently surprised. This coyote was stuffed, but it was close enough to satifsy them. The horse was huge and impressive, especially when it jumped into it's trailer. The skunk was a little scary until they told us it had been "de-stinked." Or should I say "de-stunk?" Either way, they are a lot cuter when you know they can't spray you.

Birds...of...PREY!!!

We went to an Urban Wildlife Festival at Fort Tryon Park today. It was lots of fun, but the highlight was definitely the birds of prey. We got pictures of the falcon, the great horned owl, and the barn owl. We also saw a tawny owl, but didn't get a picture. We chatted with one of the rangers about bald eagles. He remembered Rose from the Nature Center by our apartment, and since he knew she was really into birds of prey he gave the kids talon keychains and gave Rose a special flip-book guide to birds in New York. Hooray for preferential treatment! It was pretty awesome. We also found out that Pale Male is still nesting on 5th avenue. (I smell a field trip!)

Looking Good

Stephen and John took a trip to the barber today. This time, John came out looking extra sharp. I just may have to buy some gel and try to recreate the look.

He's a Viking!

The latest installment of Seth's cute jump-up videos. This time with costumes and an original soundtrack.

My Boys

Here is a fun shot of my boys watching Conference. I know that John is in his underwear, but at least he is wearing a shirt. I have a terribly difficult time keeping clothes on that little nudist.

FOOOOOD!

Since Seth couldn't enjoy the turkey ham we all had for dinner (which was delicious by the way) we decided to let him at least have some real food. He tried some rice cereal, but was not very impressed. There was significantly more food on his face and his clothes than in his mouth, but it was a good start. Up next, barley cereal. Someday, the good food that he really wants.

Happy Easter!

Another midnight visitor came to our house. The Easter Bunny left baskets for all of the kids, with all kinds of fun goodies. Stephen added his own Easter fun by making special pancakes. Check out the lamb and the bunny. Pretty impressive. But don't tell John it was a lamb. He thinks it was a mule deer.

It was also a special day, because we got to watch General Conference (a semi-annual meeting for our church where we get to hear directly from our prophet and other church leaders). That helped us remember the real reason for the holiday, not just the fun side of it. It also meant that there were no meetings at the church building, so the kids never put on their Easter finery. When they do, we will post pictures, and they will be adorable. And I do mean adorable.

Spring Break- Sleepy Hollow Part 2

Here are a few more fun pictures from our Sleepy Hollow trip. On the site of the bridge and at the actual Old Dutch Church from the story, waiting at the train station, and John having fun on the train.

Spring Break- Sleepy Hollow

Our biggest adventure this week was a trip upstate to Sleepy Hollow- the REAL Sleepy Hollow. There was a celebration for Washington Irving's birthday, which included treats, cake and a visit from the headless horseman himself! We went with some friends, and had a great time. It was a fascinating cemetary, with several famous tombs and many more beautiful ones. We even got to go into a real mausoleum where John caused quite a stir by knocking over a skull and triggering some scary music. He was slightly traumatized by the incident (the kid is scared of Angelina Ballerina for goodness sakes) but recovered quickly. The horseman himself didn't scare the kids at all, because they heard him responding to someone asking him if he was thirsty. Rose said "we know he wasn't real because he said 'I'm great.' The real guy wouldn't talk without a head. And wouldn't be great."

Spring Break- Isham Park

On Friday, Stephen pulled some strings and got the day off of work. We decided to stay close to home and hang out at the park just up the street. The beautiful weather inspired us to have picnic followed by sidewalk chalk, climbing, running, strolling, hula-hooping, and even bike riding. It was the kind of day that makes me remember that I love New York City.