Sibling Sing-A-Long

I am kind of bummed that we will be missing the kids Thanksgiving Feast program at school due to travel plans that day. It would have been fun to see both kids dressed in the costumes they created at school and singing together on stage.

Tonight they gave us a sneak peek at one of the songs we will be missing.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tuesday

Tuesday has become my favorite weekday...and probably the kids as well.

Izzy loves Tuesdays because it is her longest school day. She has school, followed by lunch bunch, followed by 88's (her music class). I really think she would go to school all day if I let her.

Drew loves Tuesdays he does NOT have school, and gets to hang with just me from 9-2. We play, clean, play, run errands, and play some more.

By the time the kids are reunited they just want to play together. ...and usually get along quite well. So, we all hang out and do whatever for 2 hours and then...

We go to the gym! I work out and the kids go to the childcare room. In my world this is huge. Those that know my kids know that they don't separate from me well. I use to try and try and try some more to get them to stay in the childcare center, but after 10 minutes of crying I was called to retrieve them. I believe the reason they do okay now is for a couple reasons: one, they have one another; and two, we go to McDonalds after.

Tuesday night at McDonalds is $1.99 Happy Meal Night. I feed both kids for $4.50. Not bad, not bad.

So here was our Tuesday today. After we got Izzy from school the kids decided to watch a movie we got at Redbox. Taking pictures after they have been apart for 6 hours is easy because Drew won't get away from Izzy and she doesn't seem to mind him crawling all over her.







He also has a fascination with scents and smelling...it is a bit disturbing to say the least. His favorite things to smell are feet and bottoms. Like I said, disturbing. (notice that Izzy is grinning as he does this - also weird.)



So after the movie we joined mainstream society ...we made spritz cookies. I recently purchased a cookie press from a Pampered Chef party. I've never owned one, but always wanted one :) Izzy helped me mix. Her job was to scrape down the sides of the bowl (note to self - next time use the Kitchen Aid mixer).



I like the two fisted scrape being used here.



They were really fun to make. I only came away with a few decent looking cookies though cause the kids insisted on using all 9 covers. It takes 3-4 cookies to get into a grove, so as soon as I made 3-4 more it was time to switch. Oh well...we've got big plans for colored dough and sprinkles to be used next time.

Here are the fruits of our labor...tray 1, 2 and 3






The cookies tasted decent. I bet there are better recipes out there though, so if you have one then send it my way!

tidbits

Drew: while watching the previews for a new movie he says, "this is like a zilly-ion (zillion) commercials!" He then concentrates really hard, looks at his fingers and begins counting, "One, two, three, four, five." Thankfully he then stopped and didn't try counting to a zilly-ion.

Izzy having a brain fart when trying to recall the word "marker"...she referred to it as a "crayon with juice in it".

While swimming in the pool at the Atlanta hotel, the kids made some friends...Drew comes up to me and says, "Wook Mom, me an Izzy are pay-in wiff does kids over dere ...da ones dat wook wike choco-wit." Great Drew ;)

Drew out of nowhere says to me, "Mom, I just ate my booger, just so you know." ...thanks Drew.

Disneyworld Round II

We just let the kids in on a little secret...we are going back to Disneyworld! Yup, the Swyts are going back to the happiest place on earth!

This trip was so not planned...but a welcome surprise (isn't that what some people say when announcing a pregnancy). Friends of ours from Cleveland happen to be going and we have decided to tag along. My girlfriends husband has a conference there so it was a no brainer for her and the boys (ages almost 4 and 1 at the time of the trip) to tag along. They were able to score a sweet deal on a hotel for a couple extra nights which then made it a no brainer for us to tag along as well. That coupled with the fact that my parents now live outside Orlando - just seems like it was meant to be, right?

We told the kids yesterday (I was on the phone making plans and they overheard - otherwise we would have waited to tell them) and they are super excited. I think Christmas could pass them by and they might be okay because Disney would be soon follow.

So, I've got lots to plan! I need to give kuddos to myself for our one day trip to Magic Kingdom this past April. We went over Easter and the place was INSANE! But...due to my route planning and extensive online research we rocked it!

Off to start planning...

Drew and the Dentist

Drew had his first dentist appointment today. Well, kind of? If you remember about 10 weeks ago Drew fell at the pool and split his lip. The fall required stitches and brought tooth trauma. So, really his first appointment was after his tooth began to discolor and x-rays needed to be taken. He was a champ for that visit therefore leading me to believe that I could not get that lucky again. This is one time that I am happy to report that I was wrong!

As soon as we got to the office Drew asked why we were there (I barely prepped him). I told him we needed to show the dentist how great his tooth was doing and get some new pictures taken. I didn't even mention the teeth cleaning part. Drew's first question was, "Can I get a Patrick?" At our last appointment he chose a SpongeBob from the treasure drawer - now he needed a Patrick.

Since he barely ate breakfast before we had to get Izzy to school he snacked on apple slices in the waiting room.


Once we got called back we went through a series of questions. I am happy to report that the hygienist said that I am doing everything right :) ...she was most impressed by the fact we really only drink milk and water ...and an occasional juice box.

We were planning on doing the lap to lap method with Drew (he would sit in my lap, facing me and lean his head/body back into the hygienist's lap) but he wanted to sit up in the chair and recline. Here he is getting prepped with his shades.


Open wide.


Getting ready to floss with a quick demo on his fingers.


After a job well done he claimed his new toothbrush and Patrick.

After claiming Patrick, Drew immediately poked me in the boob and said, "Look Mom, Patrick has the same cymbals like you!" (not sure why he calls them cymbals - pretty sure he got that from Izzy - and not sure why she calls them that either?"



Drew's tooth has whitened back up which is an excellent sign. However, the x-rays did show some grey areas around the root which could still cause a potential problem. I'm not all that worried though. Chances are he will fall down a few more times...

Pete Molly Izzy-n-Drew

So this message was in my inbox this morning when I woke up...
"not that i need to tell you, but you're blogged. :)"

I've been ever so patiently waiting for this message for almost 48 hours!!! Without further a do (that might be one word, huh?)

http://alishaschwanke.blogspot.com/2009/11/pete-molly-izzy-drew.html

*Something is wrong with my blog - no background? It won't let me link correctly? You will probably have to copy/paste to see the pictures, but I promise you won't be disappointed!

Tidbits

Drew told me tonight when I was trying to get him to go to sleep: "Mommy, I can't go to sleep unless you or Izzy are sitting in my room wiff me." I love how Izzy and I are interchangeable (is that a word) with one another.

Drew is no longer capable of sitting on a couch the "right" way. He insists on sitting like Mork, from Mork & Mindy.

Please don't take offense to this next story - I think it is funny, and it was said with pure child innocence:
Drew was watching something on tv yesterday and a black man said the word "really". Immediately Drew said to me, "Mommy that guy can't say "really" the right way...he says it "willy". Funny, right?

Drew said, "Tada! New is great!" when fixing something. I asked if he meant to say, "Good as new" and he laughed :)

Izzy got herself dressed one morning and I noticed that her shirt was on backwards (it did not have a tag, but rather just the company name written). I suggested she should turn it around. She looked into her shirt and I asked, "Are there some words in there?" She said "Yes, and it says 'This is on backwards!'" ...how funny is she :)

Feeling Funky

I took the kids to the Science Center today after school. I did not take my camera. I didn't forget it, but rather just didn't take it. I have been in a funk for a few days and I thought it would do me some good to just get out with the kids and have fun.

Guess what...

It was fun, but I am still in a funk and I have no pictures! The animals were in rare form today. The monkeys were swinging from tree to tree and rope to roof - it was awesome! The lemurs were full of spunk as well. The tigers roamed the entire time we watched, and one even went for a swim. The anteater was visible for the first time ever, and we saw a maned wolf! The kids got to pet/brush the goats and sheep, and watch them poop (which was probably Drew's highlight!). We got to pet two rabbits, a rat, and a snake. The coolest part was watching to huge tortoises mate. At first it looked like they were going to play "leap frog" but then the one on top started making "burping" noises according to Drew (or growling noises according to Izzy). A worker told me they were mating. See all the good picture opps I missed :(

Not sure why I am in a funk. I don't want pity, or need anything. I figure there is a lot going on and I just really need a good cry. Lots of stress and I guess stuff just needs to get worse before it gets better, huh? I keep telling myself that my bad days are still better than what millions of others are going through. I have an incredible husband and two awesome kids! ...not to mention lots of great friends and family ;)

And wine would probably help, but I gave it up for the week. I don't need chocolate as I bought the kids Halloween candy off of them for $5.

Hmmm, somehow I feel a tad bit better just throwing my funk out there.

I'll be back - lots of questions to answer regarding the kids and the "sticks"!

Popsicle Stick Post - Our "Allowance" System

We've started a new incentive program over here at our house. Let me give you the low down.

This came about for a couple reasons, but mostly because my kids have come down with a case of the "greedy gimmes!" They have begun to shout, "I want that!" with every commercial that comes on the tv. Sometimes they even fight over who gets what. Or they will both insist on the same toy and we need to get two of them (the Handy Manny bench falls into that category). Thankfully these requests are short lived and they don't beg, whine and cry until gifts are given.

That being said...one of Izzy's most favorite activities is spending her own money at the Dollar Tree. Pete and I have discussed allowances before, only to not really come to a solution regarding when to start or how much? The money Izzy currently has in her piggy bank is from random coins collected and dollars sent by grandparents.

It is important to me to teach the kids savvy money techniques from an early age. I have invested in banks that have 4 compartments: save, spend, invest, and donate. We have yet to start using them because I haven't quite figured out the best way to explain the various concepts? I might just start with the save/donate sections? Not sure yet?

Okay, so onto the popsicle stick post stuff. This is really hard to explain - is anyone following me?

I am masterfully manipulating my little munchkins with popsicle sticks. A stick is given for many things - positive reinforcement and lots of it! However, sticks can also be taken away :( At the end of the week money is given for each stick in your jar. I think we will award $.10/stick. So far sticks have been given for many things. Izzy gets sticks for getting dressed as soon as she gets up, brushing teeth, making her bed, reading to Drew for 10 minutes, writing her letters, helping me clean, sweeping leaves, doing her homework, staying seated when eating, doing what is asked the first time she is asked...and I think I have come up with some really random things because she is so excited to earn sticks right now! Drew gets sticks for: good days at school, being brave in the childcare room at the gym, shots at the doctor, brushing teeth, sweeping leaves, helping me with laundry. Drew isn't quite as motivated as Izzy, but he still loves to earn a stick.

At the beginning of the day we each get a stick for doing "our job". Izzy is given a stick (Drew too) for going to school, Pete one for work, and me for taking care of the family. I needed an "easy" way to give sticks so that I could take them away if need be.

I have had yet to take a stick away, but the kids know it is a possibility. An example would be if I asked Izzy to clean up her toys and she doesn't...I would ask again and if she still doesn't want to then I simply say, "Okay, I will gladly clean up your mess, but I charge a stick for that." Right now Izzy would not even think of doing anything to lose a stick :) In fact I am having a tough time coming up with "chores" for her to do.

So, come Saturday we will count out the sticks and then pay the kids. Most of that money will be for them to spend, but a percentage will go into the donate jar. Also, any sticks that I have to take away from them will also go into the donate jar. I realize that the first couple weeks the money will probably get spent right away, but hopefully I can teach the kids that if they save the money earned for a couple weeks it can be used for a bigger/better purchase. It is all gonna be trial and error for all of us...but I think it is a good start. So far it is working for our family.

The momentum is strong right now so I am going to go stick happy and just keep handing them out as long as they are willing to be my little slaves. I sure do like all the helpful, pleasing mom behavior I am getting!