Out numbered 3:2

So it is June already. The kids are done with school, and somehow I feel completely in over my head. All of them are thinking faster than I can react. Someone is always not behaving, and I am trying to keep up. The girls are my buddies and crack me up. For example...They are always leaving a mess of crumbs and soda cans all over the basement, and were told over and over again...NO food in the basement. So yesterday I find food scraps and empty cups scattered everywhere. When I questioned them they blamed each other. Claire pulls me aside, "You know Mom, it was Emily, and I have proof!" She whips out her cell phone and provides me a picture of Emily shoveling popcorn in her mouth, in the basement. My little crime scene investigator!

Dylan is almost 15 months old and 21 pounds of pure animal. What kind of animal depends on the situation. Alligator during each diaper change, as he thrashes and kicks, wolverine when you take anything he should not have in in mouth away (pocket change, dog food, rocks, broken glass), octopus in any store...he grabs everything in reach and even things out of my reach. He can run at the speed of light, and has a mean right hook (I took one to the face yesterday). My little prizefighter. How he hits us, when we don't.

It has been one of those long weeks when nothing is making him happy. Except running full speed where ever, and when ever he wants. He throws his food with a vengence, but my favorite is when he takes the chewed food out of his mouth and then flings that too! There has also been much whining and fussing. This is when we get the hell out of the house! So at 15 months I believe he is in the terrible two's. He's advanced! I'm so proud.

Don't get me wrong I love him more than words, but did you ever have one of those weeks! Here is Dylan in a food flinging frenzy...

Here he is after a temper tantrum..



You just have to shake your head and laugh, right?

Drama 101

An ordinary day, I woke up after being quite ill for 4 1/2 days. You know how it is when you get really sick. All the catch up, laundry, things you have been planning on doing, but could not due to illness. Dylan fell asleep for his am nap, my friends were coming over and I needed to straighten up. So testing my wobbly legs I started on the bathrooms working my way to the 3rd floor to clean out the hamster cage. So bathrooms cleaned I sat down before the hamsters. I picked up Buttercup (Claire's pet) and put her in the spare cage, I went to pick up Taco, and BAM! I think I squeezed out about 7 peanut sized hamster newborns! Better than a cup of coffee to wake you up. AND I thought the dam thing was just getting fat! Within seconds of my telling the girls, (thanks to cell phone fairies), the house was full of kids needing to see our newest additions. We are the new freak show.

Later that day as the girls googled "hamster babies" I had questions like, "what does weaning mean?", and my favorite "Did you know that store bought hamsters frequently canibalize their young?". Yeah more drama.

Oh and today, Emily and her friends decided that they needed to start a sting trio (Cello, violin, viola) and learn to play music to make money at weddings. So now they are all about getting sheet music, and downloading songs. What happened? I don't know what to say because all they want to so is practice. I think this is more shocking than squeezing out live hamsters. Who raised these kids? Did I?

Tonight I decided to see what makes Dylan so elated over tossing his food, and I grabbed a bowl of cheese nips and started trying to hit my husband on the head with the little orange squares. He came back at me with handfuls. The dog loved it. I can now say that throwing food is indeed fun, and does make you laugh.

Here are some pictures from one of summers simple pleasures that put the kids in a happy trance...The ice cream man!!! I wish I could find something that would make me as happy as they get when they hear the music from the ice cream truck. Oh wait...Maybe... if there was a traveling wine bar/margarita/martini/whatever on a truck. All the moms would be out, I think I would go a runnin out to! Can you picture it? I can.






This cracks me up....

A very rainy day...with the Wiggles.

So I made it this week with 2 rainy days, shut inside the house with a very active little boy. I made it! Monday was very hard, Dylan was holding onto the door knob, feet dangling, trying to dive into the swamp that used to be our backyard. He was a cranky little mess of a boy ALL DAY. We played ball on the stairs for like 24 hours or something. TIme was standing still. My 13 month old son can go up and down the stairs with no help. Yes he is active.

So today I was very afraid because it was constant downpours all day. I mean how much ball on the stairs can one mom take? But today I had a Wiggles tape. I have to say I was very adamant that the Wiggles would NEVER, EVER, be seen by Dylan...but it happened, he fell in love with the freakish foursome, and I caved in. SO we dance to the wiggles, I analyse the Wiggles. With songs like "Blow me down" and "Porcupine Pie", and "Tie me Kangaroo Down", how could I not? Actually Chris and I stared kicking and skipping tonight to the tape and Dylan ran out of the room, apparently we frightened him with our Wiggle-like moves. Please pray for sun tomorrow.

Did I mention that Dylan eats everything...

One great day!

Little Miss Liberty!

Dylan the turtle

Why I don't eat meat...
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Claire loves to pose

If a bunny looked like Dylan

I really could squeeze them!

My mothers day gift

The tree climber

Claire and Balto

Dosen't Emily look thrilled to be in the "children's zoo"?

My happy turtle Claire



My wish came true today when we all went to the Central Park Zoo. We took the train and subway there and walked all over central park. I love to people watch and central park is great for that! We had fun at the zoo. Dylan loves birds and chickens. I think he would have been happy hanging out in the park and chasing pidgeons. Claire loves EVERYTHING! A cuter little girl could not be possible, because this one is the president of cute island. As you can see, she is the only one that will pose. Dylan moves at the speed of light, and Emily squirms when asked to anything that might call attention to her and make her look uncool.

It is all any mother could ask for. 3 wonderful kids that keep me busy and focused. A loving husband that does not care about my thighs, and a weimaraner with a glass of red wine waiting for me when we get home.

Oh and this... Claire wrote this poem for me. I love it! She floors me.

My Mommy...
Her delicate hands so smooth
Her deep, sparkling, hazel green eyes
Her beautiful, friendly, and heart-warming smile
Her silky, short, shiny hair

My Mommy...I remember...
Having a blast going to see" National Treasure Book of Secrets" together
Helping her pick an outfit for her 2nd Anniversary (she looked like a fisherman)
Going to see "Underdog" in Lake Placid (my sister, mom, and I were the only ones there!
Baking and cooking with each other.

My Mommy...THank you for...
Being a role model for me by teaching me right from wrong
For helping with homework
For Adopting me...

My Mommy...
I love her!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Happy Mother's Day Charisa!! I just wanted to say thank you from all of us from the bottom of our hearts. You give so much to all of us and you love us like no one else is capable. We could not have blessed with a more wonderful and caring person. Thank you for making us laugh, for always being there and always knowing just what we need, like the way you hug us and make us forgot what is hurting us. Thank you for never letting go of our hands and for being a jack of all trades.For staying up with us to finish our homework and projects. For dancing with us and singing to us. For always making us feel loved.For being our best friend. For always having time even when it's not there. For always reminding us of the magic that is still in this world. For teaching us right from wrong not only with words but by showing us. And most importantly thank you for doing what only you can do and that is loving us only the way you can, right down to our souls. We are all better people because we have you in our lives. On this day as well as every other know that we love you.

To Claire

Claire you are the Dylan Whisperer. You calm down his fiercest storms. You show so much love and devotion for your family and I am so proud of you. You gentle spirit makes even going to the food market enjoyable. Everyone loves you, ...we love you to the moon and back. You are the kind of daughter of fairy tales and fantasy...but you are real! You are my joy and my life. Thank you for being you, my Claire-bear. I love you! This is a tribute to your spirit.