Midweek March Madness

[cythe]

New randoms. It's the middle of March. This has nothing to do with basketball.

The end.

[cythe]

I was going to say Midmonth March Madness but I guess I just failed? Either way, its also Wendesday so I'm leaving it.

[cythe]

I was finishing up lunch and I turned around to grab a spoon, E had squished her entire pouch out onto her tray (and all over herself). Apple/broccoli everywhere.

Shes now dipping her hairy berries - as my husband calls them (actually raspberries) into her mac and cheese sauce before eating them. So, that's where we're at.

[thechickencoop]

Well... if the berries and mac and cheese taste good to her, who are you to say otherwise LOL.

[duskymonkey]

Just popping in here quick. We’re in a blizzard now! 4 brown outs now. Hoping lil fellas congee will cook before we completely lose power. Times like this is when I wish we had a gas stove. Luckily we have a fireplace so we have a heat source but we’ll all have to sleep in the living room. Anyways predicting the blizzard to last till midnight.

[August Blooms]

Mar 13, 2019 11:06:09 GMT -6 duskymonkey said:

Just popping in here quick. We’re in a blizzard now! 4 brown outs now. Hoping lil fellas congee will cook before we completely lose power. Times like this is when I wish we had a gas stove. Luckily we have a fireplace so we have a heat source but we’ll all have to sleep in the living room. Anyways predicting the blizzard to last till midnight.

Yikes I hope your power stays on!

[August Blooms]

It’s my day off and I keep the almost 4 year old home to hang out, she’s been on the verge of dropping naps and just fell asleep as we need to go get her sister from daycare. She’s lucky she’s cute. Daylight savings sucks. I have better luck adjusting to time changes when we travel.

Other than that nothing exciting going on here, the weather is getting nicer and the snow is starting to melt, I’m so ready for spring.

[curmudgeon]

We took the kids on a short overnight trip and this is becoming too much togetherness. The 5 year old has not stopped talking since we backed out of the driveway at 9am. And both kids are chasing each other in the hotel room and screaming at the top of their lungs. I am crossing fingers for a regular 8pm bedtime. 😬

[danvers]

It was 68 degrees and sunny today. We have had months (months!) of indoor recess and it’s finally warm enough and dry enough to take the students outside. I kept my class out there for 50 minutes - a normal recess is 20 minutes. I think I needed the sunshine as much as the kids!

**I’m a huge proponent of play, even in the upper elementary grades, and I can promise nothing I was doing in the classroom today was so vital it couldn’t be made up another day. ☀️

[August Blooms]

Mar 13, 2019 19:12:44 GMT -6 danvers said:

It was 68 degrees and sunny today. We have had months (months!) of indoor recess and it’s finally warm enough and dry enough to take the students outside. I kept my class out there for 50 minutes - a normal recess is 20 minutes. I think I needed the sunshine as much as the kids!

**I’m a huge proponent of play, even in the upper elementary grades, and I can promise nothing I was doing in the classroom today was so vital it couldn’t be made up another day. ☀️

Just curious why you guys don’t let the kids out there? Lack of cold weather gear for the kids? I can’t imagine keeping the kids inside all winter, my daughter was crazy the 3 days last week it was -20 C and they limited their outdoor time.

[Taitai]

danvers Same question as August Blooms had about recess! I remember playing outside for recess through the winter when I was a kid. Maybe just a few days we stayed inside due to cold or blizzard or rain, but it was rare.

duskymonkey I hope your power stays on! Keep warm!!

cythe DS2 loves to squeeze out his pouch any chance he gets too. Sigh.

curmudgeon Good luck surviving the rest of the trip! I hope the kids sleep for you!

[Taitai]

Normal week over here. DS1 has his big party coming up for his 4th birthday. The numbers are less than last year, but we’re still expecting 33 kids and 29 adults. Oh boy! 3 hours of madness, and then we’re done until next year.

We also booked our tickets for a 5.5 week visit to the states this summer. We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone. It will have been 1 yr and 3 months since our last trip home, and I know the kids will enjoy spending some time with their cousins/aunts/uncles/grandparents/great-grandparents. So much I want to show them and have them experience!! Can’t wait.

[cythe]

Mar 13, 2019 23:32:58 GMT -6 Taitai said:

Normal week over here. DS1 has his big party coming up for his 4th birthday. The numbers are less than last year, but we’re still expecting 33 kids and 29 adults. Oh boy! 3 hours of madness, and then we’re done until next year.

We also booked our tickets for a 5.5 week visit to the states this summer. We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone. It will have been 1 yr and 3 months since our last trip home, and I know the kids will enjoy spending some time with their cousins/aunts/uncles/grandparents/great-grandparents. So much I want to show them and have them experience!! Can’t wait.

I know you've mentioned birthday culture over there but I am still so "holy shit" at 62 guests for a birthday party! I do NOT envy your preparations at all! Should be a great party though

[Taitai]

Mar 14, 2019 7:15:06 GMT -6 cythe said:

Mar 13, 2019 23:32:58 GMT -6 Taitai said:

Normal week over here. DS1 has his big party coming up for his 4th birthday. The numbers are less than last year, but we’re still expecting 33 kids and 29 adults. Oh boy! 3 hours of madness, and then we’re done until next year.

We also booked our tickets for a 5.5 week visit to the states this summer. We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone. It will have been 1 yr and 3 months since our last trip home, and I know the kids will enjoy spending some time with their cousins/aunts/uncles/grandparents/great-grandparents. So much I want to show them and have them experience!! Can’t wait.

I know you've mentioned birthday culture over there but I am still so "holy shit" at 62 guests for a birthday party! I do NOT envy your preparations at all! Should be a great party though

This is basically me the next few days:

[August Blooms]

Taitai That was my reaction when I saw your guest number and I’m not even hosting. Do you have a theme? As much as the whole birthday situation there is OTT it is nice to read about it.

Oh and I hopped on the snail bandwagon. Seriously 2 days of using the cream and the amount of redness went down. Magic!

[Taitai]

Mar 14, 2019 7:33:35 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

Taitai That was my reaction when I saw your guest number and I’m not even hosting. Do you have a theme? As much as the whole birthday situation there is OTT it is nice to read about it.

Oh and I hopped on the snail bandwagon. Seriously 2 days of using the cream and the amount of redness went down. Magic!

I told you snail is the best! I can’t go without it now - sometimes I forget it while I am on vacation and I notice a definite difference after a few days.

In terms of the party - we’re doing super heroes! DS1 loves Captain America. It was close between that one and Moana.

[thatgirlrachel]

Today is my Friday! We have tomorrow off as a spring break holiday and my mom and I are having lunch & drinks and then going shopping. MIL offered to keep the kids for me even though I'm off work. I can't wait!

In less exciting news, I've been playing with our household budget. We did a no-spend February and even with a big unexpected medical bill, we did really well. It proved to me how much frivolous spending we do. I'm looking to cut that down and have every dollar assigned to a category. That way I can still splurge on clothes, go out to eat, etc. and not feel bad about it.

[cythe]

Guys I just made the worst alfredo sauce in my life. My heavy cream went bad so I figured I'd seen plenty of skinny sauces, it must just use milk right?

Not right.

[danvers]

Taitai and August Blooms we live in a very high poverty area so most of our kids don’t come to school with the proper hats/gloves/coats for a Midwest winter. Other schools in the area do go out unless it’s below 25°F but with the particular population we serve we can’t count on our kids to be prepared. It makes these nice days all the better though.

[danvers]

So DD1 and I are at swim lessons and I can hear one of the other moms from her class talking on her phone. She’s telling someone about how they wanted to move her son to the next level (which is true - it was a very awkward public argument a few weeks ago) but she didn’t let them and now “he’s the best in the class” and “can do everything faster than the other kids”.... which is true but I think she’s missing the point of swim lessons?!?! There aren’t any prizes sooooo... Congrats lady?!?! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[cythe]

Mar 14, 2019 15:40:59 GMT -6 danvers said:

So DD1 and I are at swim lessons and I can hear one of the other moms from her class talking on her phone. She’s telling someone about how they wanted to move her son to the next level (which is true - it was a very awkward public argument a few weeks ago) but she didn’t let them and now “he’s the best in the class” and “can do everything faster than the other kids”.... which is true but I think she’s missing the point of swim lessons?!?! There aren’t any prizes sooooo... Congrats lady?!?! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

The hell? I mean I guess it's nice that swim lessons make her feel validated as a parent.

[danvers]

Mar 14, 2019 16:12:13 GMT -6 cythe said:

Mar 14, 2019 15:40:59 GMT -6 danvers said:

So DD1 and I are at swim lessons and I can hear one of the other moms from her class talking on her phone. She’s telling someone about how they wanted to move her son to the next level (which is true - it was a very awkward public argument a few weeks ago) but she didn’t let them and now “he’s the best in the class” and “can do everything faster than the other kids”.... which is true but I think she’s missing the point of swim lessons?!?! There aren’t any prizes sooooo... Congrats lady?!?! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

The hell? I mean I guess it's nice that swim lessons make her feel validated as a parent.

DD1 just turned 4 so maybe every organized activity has moms like this? I don’t know, I found the whole thing odd. But I’m not super competitive anyway, just hoping my kid learns how to swim one day.

[Taitai]

Mar 14, 2019 15:34:04 GMT -6 danvers said:

Taitai and August Blooms we live in a very high poverty area so most of our kids don’t come to school with the proper hats/gloves/coats for a Midwest winter. Other schools in the area do go out unless it’s below 25°F but with the particular population we serve we can’t count on our kids to be prepared. It makes these nice days all the better though.

That’s so sad . I’m glad that your school is willing to keep the kids inside so that they don’t freeze out doors though.

[August Blooms]

Mar 14, 2019 15:34:04 GMT -6 danvers said:

Taitai and August Blooms we live in a very high poverty area so most of our kids don’t come to school with the proper hats/gloves/coats for a Midwest winter. Other schools in the area do go out unless it’s below 25°F but with the particular population we serve we can’t count on our kids to be prepared. It makes these nice days all the better though.

Well this is heartbreaking, at least spring is almost here and you’ll be able to go outside more. I hate that there are kids out there that aren’t able to afford the basic winter gear.

[thechickencoop]

Mar 14, 2019 15:28:57 GMT -6 cythe said:

Guys I just made the worst alfredo sauce in my life. My heavy cream went bad so I figured I'd seen plenty of skinny sauces, it must just use milk right?

Not right.

[curmudgeon]

We just got back from our trip and the kids had the best time. DS1 cried when we left saying this was his most favorite vacation ever. They also slept on the drive home so 9:45 at night and they are running crazy. We have plans to go to the beach tomorrow to finish spring break and then hopefully a weekend of nothing.

[Taitai]

thatgirlrachel way to go on the no spend and the budgeting! I’m a finance nerd, so I track everything and it really helps with saving goals (and the ability to put more money towards retirement /education for the kids) if you know where your obey is going.

cythe Sorry about the alfredo sauce. At least you tried to make some. I just would have used stuff from the jar, because I can’t cook to save my life. Shame.

curmudgeon Awesome that you had a great vacation!! Enjoy the beach during your next trip!

[Taitai]

Party is tomorrow- 6 more kids and 5 more adults told me they are coming today...even though I asked for rsvps by March 12th. Whatever - the more the merrier at this point I guess. What’s 73 vs 62 ppl? Still a lot of people 🤣😂😩

[cythe]

E just pulled to a stand mostly on her own. Since she never crawled, she starts from a seated position so I have her sitting on my lap. I'm so proud haha

[CoachTsWife]

I've been reading along this week but never found time to post.

We had a great time in Mexico and were so sad to leave. When we got to the airport Sunday morning we found that our flight had been canceled.



My H gets really bad anxiety flying and this just got him spinning. THEN he got a push alert about the flight that crashed. He actually handled the anxiety fairly well considering all the triggers. We got sent to Baltimore for a few hours and finally made it to KC a little before midnight. Turns out the planes we flew on were the same model they grounded this week due to those two crashes. Whoa. And the reason our flight was canceled was due to "mechanical issues".

It has been a crazy week with getting back in the swing of things, post lazy vacay. Def looking forward to the weekend. Better weather is in the forecast and boy, do we need it.