Punishment Posted

I came across this front-door note online this week and it stuck with me.



At first glance, I thought "This parent is witty. I like him/her." Next, I wondered if Nick and I would ever be angry enough at Addy or Asher to post a note like that on our front door. I don't know. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable if either of our children were to sleep on the front porch... for any reason. Despite our seemingly safe neighborhood, that seems a little risky. Plus, I would be guaranteed zero sleep if I knew one of them was outside all night, which would prove punishing for both parties involved and clearly not appropriate. And finally, my thoughts turned to Addy. If I had to choose one of our children who this note may someday be associated with, it would be Addy.

Since she turned three, and especially over the past two months, Addy has been quite a handful. Forget the terrible twos, we're living the terrible threes! She is testing the limits in every respect, and she is very, very stubborn. In many ways, I appreciate a girl with a backbone- one who will stand up for herself in the face of adversity and won't let societal or peer pressures get to her. But, when it comes to standing up to her parents, I am not a fan of it. I hate to talk about her behind her back, but I am seeing a lot of Addy's back these days as she has been a frequent flier to time out as of late.

The most frustrating aspect of this specific parenting dilemma is the fact that we haven't figured out, yet, the best method to quell this rebellious behavior or teach her to otherwise knock it off. Nick and I have tried quite a variety of approaches, some more effective than others. I think we finally might be making a bit of an impact, but it's hard to tell. According to Nani, I never behaved this way (and still don't), so where is this behavior coming from?

At this moment in time, I can't imagine ever having to post a note on our front door like the one above. I pray that we will avoid those circumstances all together, and that Addy is getting her defiance out of her system at age three and she will not continue to behave this way for the next fifteen years.

When Addy is not testing the limits with Mama and Dada, my sweet baby girl is still what makes my world turn. Nothing will ever change that. I vow that I will remain strong in my pursuit of effective discipline, so that we can nip this behavior in the bud. We know that consistency is key, so we've got to keep our united front against the formidable three year old opposition. While she is stubborn, I hope that our perseverance and my competitive spirit will "win" her over and she'll soon be back to the sweet Addy-boo we all know and love.



This blog entry was all about Addy, but we'd be remiss if we forgot to mention Asher. He had a great week, concluding with a weekend filled with three birthday parties and a dinner out. He also enjoyed a visit to the trampoline park with Mama and Addy during the week, swimming lessons, and preschool. While Asher is difficult for other reasons, he has yet to exemplify any sort of sassiness or an attitude similar to the one his sister is exhibiting.

Get Me Out of the House!

I think I could have driven all the way to Mexico. It was a very, very, very long week as a single Mama with two sick toddlers (Nick was in California on business), complicated by the fact that we were housebound due to a massive snow and ice storm. Thus, as soon as Nick was home safely, and the snow and ice melted enough that I could drive down off the hill, I escaped. My cabin fever had become extreme, and I needed time alone out of the house. Don't get me wrong, I love snow (which is obvious if you viewed last week's post) and I relish spending time with my children, but I also need to get out of the house every day. If you know me at all, you know I am not an idle individual. Nope, I am a go-go-goer. And because Monday evening the kids developed chest colds- runny noses, fevers, and horrible coughs, I kept them indoors for the rest of the week, which meant that we were stuck within the confines of the house for four long days (in addition to the three days prior to that where we could not drive anywhere, but could at least venture outside to play).

In an attempt to keep things entertaining inside the house, I think I made more forts, baked more cookies, and played make-believe barber shop and hide and seek more times than I had in all of 2012 so far. After we had read every book in the house, put together every puzzle, played every game, had hippidy-hop races, and colored, painted, and played play-dough many times, I had to get creative. Mommy made a train for Conductor Asher and his passengers Addy, Bunny, Dinosaur, and Shelly (a turtle). I put together a scavenger hunt for two kids on safari, dressed in vests and carrying cameras to take pictures of the animals. I pretended we were deep sea diving in our big master bathtub and all three of us dove for treasures at the bottom. And, when I was out of ideas and we needed a little chest cold recuperation time, I went next door to our neighbors and borrowed a couple movies. Now, in addition to Toy Story 1, Addy and Asher have seen parts of Mary Poppins, as well as Tangled, and Mulan.

Nick made it safely back home to his family on Friday (although he slipped around quite a bit getting home from the airport). I am glad to have him back, as it always feels more "right" when we are all together under the same roof. Plus, I needed him to take over baby duty for a couple hours while I ran errands yesterday. And as I mentioned, once I got in my car Saturday morning, and had the tunes cranked up, I had to restrain myself from heading south to the border. Good thing I didn't have my passport, or I might have just snuck into Mexico... and called from my chaise lounge on the beach, just to let them know I was OK.

The temps are finally above freezing here, and I am hoping that the ten plus inches of snow and ice will be melted away soon. The forecast is calling for mostly rain in the foreseeable future, which should help the frozen stuff vanish. With that said, I would like to see another snowfall before the winter is over... but maybe with a little less vengeance and so that we can still drive around and function.

In the "foyer" of the snow fort we built on Monday:


Addy loved watching the snow fall:


On a train ride:


Playing tickle monster with Asher:


I am so looking forward to getting back on schedule tomorrow. Preschool, cleaning, errands, and swimming lessons. Just the thought of it all sounds comforting to me. This past week proved to be a memorable, snowy adventure. But, it was also a long, exhausting week, and I am glad to be returning to our normal routine. Some have called our "normal" routine hectic and crazy. I will assert that while it is a hectic and crazy life we lead, it is also comfortable, fun, action-packed, and predictable. It works for us, and we love it!

Snow Bunnies

I had been looking forward to the day I could introduce my children to the pastime, skiing, since I fell in love with the sport as a kid. I have so many fond memories of ski vacations with my family as a little girl and teenager; to Black Butte, Parks City, Mission Ridge, and Sunriver, where the snow was always abundant and there was optimal powder to shred. And throughout the majority of my elementary and middle school years, I spent Saturdays during the winter in ski school at Stevens Pass. With a few friends, I caught the school bus at the local elementary school and rode up to the mountain, where we'd spend the morning in lessons and the afternoon choosing runs of our own, racing downhill slalom with the Cascade Ski Racing Club, and sipping hot chocolate with boys in the lodge.

Since my first skiing experience at the age of three, my adoration of the sport has never wavered, and I still consider the challenge of the most difficult runs exhilarating. In the years B.K. (before kids) I assisted Nick in learning to stay upright and feel comfortable on his own skis, navigating the "green circle" slopes. We enjoyed a few ski trips as a couple, and I always knew that skiing was an activity that I hoped our children would excel at, or at least have fun participating in (I need a partner for the double diamond runs).

Yesterday I got a glimpse of what our future could hold, in terms of skiing. What started off as a rocky experience- we got a late start, forgot essential ski attire at home, and slid past the entrance to the ski resort on the ice, turned out to be one of my favorite days we've shared as a family of four! Addy was a little timid at first (which surprised me), but Asher was begging to get on his skis and "go." After just a few trips down the bunny slope, with Nick and me catching them every five or ten feet, they soon wanted us to "get a'hind" them (stand behind them) so they could ski down on their own. Near the end of the day, they were skiing at least thirty feet unassisted. Both kids had grins from ear to ear and were enthusiastic and exuberant. We'd position them in an adequate ski plow at the top of the hill, walk down about twenty or thirty feet, and with a "ready, set, go," off they went. It was so incredible, and I was so proud! I swear my smile was as big as theirs were.







While yesterday was a long day, made even longer by the exceedingly treacherous traffic on the way down the mountain, as well as the fact that we skipped naps, it was still fantastic! Of course, next time we will hope for more desirable weather (the blizzardy conditions and gusty winds were a bit harsh), when I can take photos without the camera fogging up and we don't have to wear ski goggles. But even if the next trip is a carbon copy of yesterday, I'll be thrilled. And, I know Addy and Asher will be ready and excited for whenever it is that we get up skiing again.

Even though we stayed home today, we were able to enjoy more snow, due to the half-foot that has fallen in the last forty-eight hours. We spent the morning today building a snowman and sledding with the neighbors. It was a weekend of so much fun family time in the snow- I can't imagine it any better!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Yesterday afternoon at a neighborhood birthday party, Addy and Asher were given the choice of chocolate or vanilla. For me, this decision it is always an easy one, but it took the twins a few moments to come to their own conclusions. This got me thinking about this fundamental question we've all been asked, and other similar inquiries. When referring to ice cream, choosing chocolate or vanilla is usually something that all individuals can do in a heartbeat. That is to say, most people have a strong preference for either vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream. There is no flip-flopping or switching back and forth.

Ice cream comes in so many flavors that it can be hard to narrow it down to just one favorite, but I would argue that most people do have a top choice. As a lifelong vanilla lover, I can attest to the fact that while I like chocolate chip, chocolate chip mint, and even cookie dough on occasion, vanilla will always be my very favorite. I have never, and would never, choose chocolate over vanilla. Lucky for me, I can pretty much guarantee that any ice cream shop worth their sprinkles will have vanilla on hand, since it is the most popular flavor nationwide, by a long shot. In a survey I read on squidoo, when asked what flavor of ice cream was their favorite of any flavor ever created, 29% of interviewees chose vanilla. Chocolate came in second, but only with 8.9%.

The results:
Vanilla, 29%
Chocolate, 8.9%
Butter Pecan, 5.3%
Strawberry, 5.3%
Neopolitan, 4.2%
Chocolate Chip, 3.9%
French Vanilla, 3.8%
Cookies and Cream, 3.6%
Vanilla Fudge Ripple, 2.6%
Praline Pecan, 1.7%
Cherry, 1.6%
Chocolate Almond, 1.6%
Coffee, 1.6%
Rocky Road, 1.5%
Chocolate Marshmallow, 1.3%
All others, 23.7%

Believe it or not, ice cream flavors reveal a lot about a person. In fact, there have been numerous studies conducted that have illustrated the differences in the personalities of those who opt for the different flavors of ice cream. The information I found was both confirming as well as eye-opening. See for yourself.

Vanilla:
If you like the simpleness of vanilla, you are a risk taker, exciting, and energetic, contrary to popular assumption. You're the life of the party. You enjoy close family relationships, set high goals, and have very high expectations for yourself. You are gregarious, live a busy life, are expressive, and idealistic. You are also an independent person who needs time alone.

Chocolate:
If you can't live without classic chocolate, you are a flirt and you love attention! You are lively, creative, dramatic, charming, and enthusiastic. Chocolate fans enjoy being at the center of attention and can become bored with the usual routine. You are extroverted, easily influenced, a follower, intuitive, and you enjoy intimate relationships.

Mint Chocolate Chip:
If you indulge in mint chocolate chip, you tend to be ambitious and confident, yet skeptical about life. You prepare for the future, needing a plan to feel secure. While your stubbornness is a business asset, it can add challenges to your relationships. On the other hand, your loyalty, honesty, and dependability create lasting friendships and close family ties.

Rocky Road:
If you choose the indulgent taste of rocky road, you have a balanced mixture of charm and practicality. In social situations, you are outgoing and engaging. In business, you are more aggressive and goal-oriented. You appreciate the finer things in life, and enjoy being catered to. You respond best to encouragement, and can be very sensitive about minor things.

Chocolate Chip:
As a chocolate chip lover, you are competitive and accomplished. You feel that no victory is sweet without a little hard work. You are generous with your money, as well as competent and ambitious in love and work. You never take blessings for granted. You are the center of attention in social situations with your captivating personality. You are a visionary and intolerant of defeat.

Cookie Dough:
If you love your mix of cookie dough and ice cream, you are a natural leader and you always aim high. You are a total go-getter and will not give up until you have achieved all that you wanted to do.

Coffee:
If you opt for coffee, you are lively, dramatic, and flirtatious. You thrive on the passion of the moment. Because you throw yourself into all you do, you tend to be over-committed, and you start new projects before you finish old ones. You tend to get bored with dull relationships, and thrive on new and exciting adventures.

Given the above descriptions, vanilla describes my personality quite accurately. However, there are aspects of the chocolate chip and cookie dough descriptions that pertain to me too. In any case, it's too bad, given my recently discovered food allergies, that I won't be able to enjoy much ice cream for the rest of my life. I have sampled substitutes made of coconut milk, rice milk, and hemp milk, but none can hold a candle to the original vanilla (cow's milk) ice cream.

Yesterday afternoon at the party, both kids chose chocolate. Despite the fact that the question referred to cupcake flavors, not ice cream, I thought Asher would have picked vanilla (he claims vanilla is his favorite ice cream). In general, I think if you're a vanilla fan when it comes to ice cream, you'd also choose a vanilla cupcake over a chocolate cupcake. I ALWAYS choose vanilla cupcakes over chocolate ones.

Addy and Asher's ice cream flavor preferences may change over the years as they grow up and their tastes change, mature, and become more refined. In the name of research, we'll let them sample as many flavors as they desire so that they can make an educated decision.

At the party, they enjoyed their chocolate cupcakes, although they did not finish them. Perhaps they would have preferred vanilla?





Hopped up on sugar, they got silly and showed off their creativity, charm, and love of attention, just like true chocolate lovers.