A Mean Mom at Christmas Followup...

I am not sure why I didn't think of this sooner...

The December 13th Behavior Report:

Jack- B+ - A bit of a temper tantrum because I decided that I did not feel well enough to go to a Christmas party yesterday. Overall Behavior is stellar! Abby- A - Christmas is this kid's thing, she won't miss out on receiving a present. That would be a fate worst than death!

I think I am going to have a call Santa and tell him that Jack and Abby have been extra good.

A Mean Mom at Christmas...

Naughty behavior is not tolerated at our house and for some reason every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my children choose to challenge my tolerance for said behavior to the extreme. This past weekend I decided that I would nip it in the butt because this mom could not take it anymore! I told both kids separately that if bad behavior continued I would go into the garage take one of their Christmas gifts out of hiding and then force them open it and then return it to the store. While it seemed like an empty threat and "I am going to call Santa" threat is no longer effective this seemed to have a great impact with both children. For a few minutes of peace and quiet I made them go sit and think about what I had told them and then come back and explain to me what I had told them and what they would do to keep from losing the elusive gifts, this was the key to my success.

Jack chose to test me within 10 minutes of the edict. When I entered the kitchen with the medium sized square box wrapped in red paper silent tears began to stream down his cheeks, and then a whimper of "I'm so sorry I lied to you Mom". I didn't have the heart to enforce my rule, how could you punish those blue eyes? I felt too guilty... I think I got the desired affect, I have lived with 2 little angels since Saturday.

I even shared my "mean mom at Christmas" punishment with my friend, whose children quickly snapped into order after the laying down of the law... guess what... it works... I am just saying... if you want to try it, I am warning you it will be hard on both of you, but you will obtain the desired behavior immediately! Good luck! And Merry Christmas!

Scared Heart...

Diet is a bad word at my house during the holidays, but after a traumatic holiday photo session it was apparent that Mom and Dad Kuhtz needed to do something... and 6 weeks of gluttony (2008 and 2009) was not it. Enters the Sacred Heart Diet... 7 days of soup, things that I will eat, and the guarantee of rapid weight loss. I don't know why I hadn't heard of this before because this is a diet that I can do and not feel deprived, seriously anytime I felt like eating I eat carrots or a bowl of warm soup (my favorite winter treat sans the slice of warm bread). Here is how it works: Make the soup, one pot will last 2 people at least 3 days of meals (lunch, dinner, and occasional snacks). Recipe: 1 large can or box of beef broth 2 cans of tomatoes- I like the organic 2 cans green beans- drained 1 large bunch of green onions, chopped 1 bunch of celery, chopped 2 lbs. carrots, chopped 2 green peppers, chopped- I used red, yellow, orange too! 1 box Lipton chicken noodle soup- the directions say 1 package but that didn't taste right to me Chopping is quick if you don't worry about how pretty they look, I like my chucks big. Salt and pepper. I added cilantro, jalapeno, and hot sauce. Start to finish the whole process takes me about 15 to 20 minutes, that includes the 10 minutes it is supposed to boil. The Week: Day 1- As much soup as you want and fruit Day 2- As much soup as you want and veggies, baked potato with butter once during the day, I added green onion to mine. Day 3- As much soup as you want veggies and fruit. Day 4- As much soup as you want, veggies and fruit. Bananas and skim milk. Day 5- Beef and tomatoes- this is weird. We just ate soup like day 3. Day 6- We cheated... it was Saturday. But is was supposed to be 10 to 20 ounces of beef- gag! One steak please! Veggies. This is a great day to eat out for dinner, how easy is it to find a steak and veggies and ask for no starch! Day 7- Brown rice and veggies. Eat soup at least once... we cheated... how can you resist pizza and Crumbs cupcakes? The Rules: NO SODA! You can drink sugar free juice, coffee, tea, and LOTS of water. Corn is a no-no. White beans no can do. The Result: Steve lost 12 pounds. Rachel lost 8 pounds by Saturday. My pants fit better, I feel better. After cheating for 2 days I do not feel bloated or gross like I usually do. No sodas or bread (pizza and cupcakes don't count) in a week and I feel great! I think this is a great diet to get you started on your real diet. Very doable especially this time of year when what we mostly eat it soup. We are planning to continue this week until Thursday and then figure out what our next step will be next Monday. The Holidays (candy, bread, parties, alcohol, etc.) kind of make it are to stick to the diet bandwagon. Wish us luck!

Blessed...

Abby asked me yesterday what I was thankful for, I simply told her I was thankful for her. But after some more thought I realized that I was thankful for many things.

We are blessed with...

• a beautiful house.
• a healthy family.
• jobs that keep us busy.
• laughter.
• two wonderful children.
• a sense of adventure, that every day is a new challenge and obstacle.
• friends and family.

For all of these things and more I am thankful.

What was Abby thankful for? "Flowers, the sun, the moon, my family, and my cat and dog."

OVERWHELMED...

Between work, Medicare phone calls, the kids, school, homework, swim practice, dance, Junior League, and a husband that is working more hours than there are in the day... I am taking a much deserved bloggy break... I will see you... January 1!

I am keeping fantasy thoughts of Maui in my mind...

Please Pause for a Note from my SPONSOR!!!

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She made this for Abby...And this for the Abby's class basket for the Reagan Carnival...I forgot to take a picture before I put it in this...

Isn't it cute? I think so! I am in love with the ribbon!In case you were wondering...

Brian is standing by to take your order!

Tell him Rachel sent you!

Air Quotes...

The other night at dinner the conversation between the kids and I revolved around what happened at school that day...

Jack- Abby, what do you drink at lunch? White milk or Chocolate?

Abby- Jack, I drink chocolate milk.

Mom- What do you drink at lunch?

Jack- Water. I am not not what you would call a {insert air quote} milk fan.

Mom- Milk fan? okay, but what is this {insert air quote}.

Jack- Air quotes Mom. Duh!

Seriously, third grade... is this one the long list of things that I can attribute to my kid learned from watching 1 too many episodes of iCarly or Hannah Montana? Air quotes and his love of spaghetti tacos.

This week...

I am so glad it is the weekend again! It took long enough to get here. This week pretty much ran me over like a freight train. It went like this- Monday- work, work in Abby's classroom, dance class, pick up Jack, do homework, Cub Scouts, TV, bed. Tuesday- work, ..... I can't even remember the rest of Tuesday... I know it ended with dinner out because I couldn't do one more thing, TV, and bed. AND IT WAS HOT (the temperature, not in bed, get your mind out of the gutter)! Wednesday- (this is when it gets good)- work (it is getting really busy with October 1st only 2 days away), lots of phone calls with old men that have no business working let alone operating a computer and me trying to assist them- annoying, Steve left for an overnight business trip that was not clearly communicated to his wife or children, homework with Papa while I worked SOME MORE, dinner, early to bed for the kids so that I could catch up on hours of DVR'd shows. Thursday- bed, work- dealing with more computer issues, more angry agents, training, paperwork, realize at 2:30 Steve is not going to be home until 9 pm- AGHHHHH!, start daydreaming about my fictional trip to Maui- by myself!, get to the bus stop... no kids, realize it is Thursday- intervention day, run to school to get Abby and wait for Jack, grocery store, home, dinner, work, Surprise! Steve is home early, the guy took the hint that I was passing the buck to him when he got home to find me eating outside with a glass of wine, and the kids inside doing... what? ok! ... I don't know what they were doing, Steve put them to bed, watched TV, bed Friday- Don't even get me started about Friday... I pray that next week is better.

Heard...

Cousin days aren't a very frequent occurrence for us, even though 100% of our first cousins live within a 5 mile radius of our house. Why? I don't know... it is a lot of work... I am lazy... we are too busy... and if we aren't busy the thought of entertaining even my own kids is exhausting (have a mentioned I need a nap). My sister is expecting her 3rd baby, she deserves a combat medal this trimester... they are in the process of buying a house, selling, a house, moving, she works full-time, she volunteers at school and Junior League in her spare time, and her first 2 children are both boys that are full of energy, and if that wasn't enough she has been put on "house arrest" by her doctor. That is when big sister steps in with help. The boys are here today and these are the things that are seen around the house. "The Bounty Hunter is going to attack Puppyland." It was a brutal battle of the Clones vs. LPS... LPS was victorious because of their secret weapon... Prince Eric! "Aunt Rachel, can we play Legos?" at least a million times. "I want Macaroni and Cheese for lunch."... 10 minutes later... "I don't like Mac and Cheese." "Does your mom have Iron Man song on her iPod? You have to listen to this song Patrick, it is one of the greatest. Do you like Black Sabbath?" Yes, we have already introduced our children to the wonderful world of Heavy Metal- I know! Bad Mommy! "Keith, what's on your butt? Turn around. What is on your butt?" I wish I had a picture of this because what it looked like was going to require Keith to strip in the driveway and undergo a through hose down. Luckily, it was only a grass stain. 3 o'clock faster than I thought it would, the kids had funny and I am ready for a beer. See you soon boys!

How is it going???

Yesterday I got 80% of the way through unloading the dishwasher before I realized that the dishes in it were in fact DIRTY! Gross! Today I came home to realize two things:

1. I didn't run the dishwasher this morning like I thought I had.
2. I still have dirty dishes hidden with the clean ones... GAG!

Does that answer your question?

Sicko...

So Jack was scheduled to have his flu shot today, the annual return to school visit to the doctor to have liquid shoved up your nose appointment is more like it. This morning he woke up with a runny nose and a fake cough. He felt warm but Bad Mommy sent him to school. You can't miss your 8th day of 3rd grade right? So at the doctor's office he coughed and ran all over the office - lovely! When we finally got put in the room the nurse took his temp and then asked me how long had he been sick. Seriously?!? Less then 16 hours. I bit the bullet and asked for a Dr note to miss school "just in case" . Little Big Ears didn't miss that! Especially after Bad Mommy made him still get the flu shot and in the form of a shot, rather than the more desirable "mist". Guess who is milking the "sick" diagnosis for all it is worth... I can't tell if he is really asleep or faking it. I guess missing day 9 of 3rd grade is okay.

How Was Your Day...

I did it to my parents why wouldn't my kids do it to me???

The report today when asked how Abby's day went was:

1. I didn't see Jack at lunch.

2. She may or may not have shared a baby pickle with a girl in the purple dress... "now can I have a playday with Miya?" (I got this after I threatened that if there was not a change in attitude about school then there would never again be another Miya- Abby Playday).

3. She didn't like Campus Club.

4. Riding the bus was okay. Jack didn't forget me at school.

While at Grandma's this evening the real story emerged.

1. The playground is FUN and crowded.

2. The bus ride was cool.

3. Abby played with the girl in the purple dress, but she can't remember her name, but she "likes everything" about her (about Abby, not the other way around, yet).

I would have to say good reconnaissance work Dad! Thank God, day two was better. At bedtime Abby told me that when I said good-bye this morning it made her eyes want to cry but she was brave... that is all I am asking for , Babycakes

The First Day...

We survived! The first day of Kindergarten. The last of the tears were cried last night at bedtime, when I told Abby that I could not stay at school with her for 3 hours because I had already done Kindergarten back in 1980. This morning she is up, and ready to an exciting day of school.

The end of the first day school report was:

1. Kindergarten is boring.
2. The playground is no fun.
3. Abby made no new friends.
4. Kindergarten is hot. (Just wait for Wednesday, Babycakes!)
5. And there are no toys, just magic playdoh... which is no fun.

The brightside is that instead of me picking her up tomorrow she would like to go to Campus Club and ride the bus home with Jack. Done!

Someone is N*E*R*V*O*U*S...

About the First Day of School... okay maybe two people... Yesterday was the fateful "class list" day. The day that you finally figure out who you are going to entrust the education of your child to for the next 180 days because you couldn't homeschool your kids without it ending in murder. Jack is excited... to see where his friends are. Abby is reluctant to get out of the car... she is "too tired". WHATEVER!

"Yes!" I exclaim as I realize that both kids got the teachers that we wanted for them.

Jack was consumed with where "The Twins" are (in case you were wondering...finally placed appropriately in separate classrooms), and who stayed back in second grade. Nice!

Abby tried to hide, act like a baby that needed to be held, and nearly cried.

At home, Abby promptly refused to eat what I made for lunch, threw a fit, was sent to her room, and fained a stomach ache.

At dinner, I explained to Steve that someone is N*E*R*V*O*U*S about school. So the questions start, sure enough 3 questions deep Abby lowers her head, juts out her lip,and doesn't say a word. THEN... the tears come and the "Mommy feelings of making the worst decision in the World for her kid" start, along with horrible flashbacks of Summer Fun 3 weeks ago with the sobbing and the screaming. I am ready to panic, "what is Monday going to be like???" 4 minutes later the old Abby is back, asking if she can take herself to the bathroom in the restaurant, I don't get it! Who is this child?

Last night, I dreamt crazy dreams of dropping Abby off for school (with the drama) and then forgetting to pick her up from school (with MORE drama). I woke up in a panic... maybe my psyche is telling me something... Okay... I admit it... I am N*E*R*V*O*U*S too! My Baby is going to be in Kindergarten! Of course, I am nervous!

The Weeks have become Days...

It is back to school time!

And guess what my kids finally figured out???

SLEEPING IN!!!

And preferably in the same twin bed.

What will next Monday be like?

"Is this Heaven???"

In Heaven can you...

Hear the corn grow?

Let Aunt Sue do crazy things?Take a cousin picture everyday?

Let 2 calves lick you at once? Maybe.Go to a new water park everyday? I hope so! Pose for more cousin pictures?How about a couple more?Get to visit old friends? Of course! Catch Lightening Bugs? I don't think so!

It must be IOWA!

Beach Bums!!!

Pictures from our recent trip to El Capitan State Beach. Beautiful! El Capitan Beach. Refugio State Beach

Jack learned to play Black Jack.

Camping food is the best!

One more trip marked off of Max's Bucket List.

We stayed at the greatest campground on the planet!

(so says the lady who was done most of her camping in racetrack parking lots).

A Perfect Pottery Painting Party fit for a Princess...

2 parties with plenty of presents.

10 pals painting pots and eating pizza.

A pool party at the castle pond.

3 pretty mermaid Barbies, 1 pink Barbie car.

500 pounds of ice in the pool to make it cool.

Peering at a movie in 3D.

A pretty princess ready to turn five!

Not without a pink polka dot pedicure!

And pitching a fit.

And patience.

How's that for alliteration?

Happy Birthday Abby!

Naptime...

As I type the Kuhtz relatives are converging on Fresno ( actually one is setting up their motor home in our side yard) for the first ever James and Mary Kuhtz Family Reunion. This afternoon I either needed a nap or a cocktail. I opted for the nap and then a cocktail. Wish me luck!

The Best Holiday...

I love the 4th of July, so does Steve. But last week both Jack and Abby declared that the 4th of July was their favorite holiday (my guess is it is until Christmas rolls around).

I asked the kids why the 4th was their favorite. Here are their responses:

Abby: I like to have all my friends over to swim. And to have my mom and dad there. Jack: I like fireworks. And the "pop rocks" (The Wolf Pack). They make a mess and Rob Krider hates them.

This year's 4th festivities will bring a whole new love/ expectation of the holiday... We rented a giant water slide and he have a face painter coming! The kids will be in Heaven!

Happy Independence Day!

Tales of A Bad Mommy...

This week Jack and Abby experienced 2 firsts. When your kids are infants and toddlers, it seems like everyday is a new first. At 8 and almost 5 firsts are hard to come by AND they definitely don't happen in the same 24-hour period.

Wednesday night, Jack played his first water polo game. He had fun. He swam fast. He began to understand the importance of offense AND defense. In a game of boys vs. girls- the girl prevailed. We took lots of pictures and some video.

On Thursday night, Abby swam in her first swim meet. No one was sure how this would turn out especially from the kid who is constantly swimming on the bottom of the pool and begging to get out of practice. We were so unsure we even bribed her with a "Campfire Blast" from Sonic after the meet. She was so happy!!! She was so serious!!! She was so ssssslllloooooooowwwwww! But she made it. Do I have pictures to document this historical occasion? NOPE! The camera was missing, Steve had it last not me! Typical second child stuff, I made an extra deposit in the therapy fund this morning. We will make we sure that we take a bunch next week!

To Be or Not to Be...

BUSY!!!

Today is the beginning of week 3 of Summer Vacation and without a doubt we have been busy, with more busyness to come. There has been swim practice, water polo practice, a week of Cub Scout Day Camp, a dance recital, a weekend at the All American Soapbox Derby, 5 days in Vegas for mom and dad and 3 days in Disneyland for the kids with Grandma and PaPa Kuhtz, summer school! We haven't even hit July yet! There is still the Kuhtz Family Reunion and Zoo Camp for Jack, and Abby's birthday extravaganza.

I am most excited about August, and not because the kids go back to school. The kids and I will spend a week in Iowa at Great Grandma Keith's house. Then we come home and turn around and spend a week camping in Shaver with friends.

I may complain, but being busy is way better then being bored. Don't you think? :)

51.1!!!

While Second Grade has not been the easiest 180 days for any of us. Jack has a competitive drive that keeps him moving in the right direction. On Tuesday, he received the highest reading award at Reagan Elementary School, for achieving 51.1 AR points in one school year. We are so proud. Check out his super cool medal. It is engraved with his name and 51.1! AWESOME!

Last Day of...

PRESCHOOL!

And I made it through without completely crying like a baby. My baby is officially a Kindergartener! BOOOO! HOOOOO!

Summer Hasn't Even Started AND...

I have already lost my patience and I know that school goes back on August 24th. My Summer Bridge homework books are not the most fun that an 8 year old boy who has not missed a day of school in the last 177 days could have. Poor Jack, school isn't easy for him and no one can figure out why. Is it motivation? Is it that he can't see? Is it that all of this stuff he is supposed to know hasn't "clicked" yet? I don't know but he is going to have a long 9 weeks if this is going to be his attitude (and mine for that matter). I am thinking about making a bumper sticker that reads "My perfect attendance student drives me up the wall. (That's why he goes to school every day)" Meanest Mom!

Daddy's Girl...

This morning Abby told me that she was pretty sure that her fifth birthday party would be a "pony party". I told her that her "pony party" would be without the main character... a pony. I know I am a mean mom, I would have totally done it if Jack asked for them at his birthday. The problem is timing... or better put THE TIME OF YEAR! July in Fresno is not known for its horse riding temperatures.

I was pretty sure that I had convinced her that a nice indoor tea party with fancy dresses and food would be fun or the old standby - a pool party, could be a nice alternative. Abby was having none of that especially when Daddy came in and told his little princess that "of course she can have ponies" at her party. Thanks a lot! I guess I better start looking into one of these...

I Just Realized...

That these were sitting ripe and ready in our orchard! I love summer!

Now what to do with my beautiful trees full of them? Any ideas?

Abby and I checked it out and the peaches are about 3 weeks from being ready. Then we are really going to need some help. 8 peach, nectarine, and apricot trees will leave us all with the runs if we eat them all.