Mr. Independent

Leo in Times Square a few weeks ago, when he came to work with me for the day. 

I still remember my first thought three years ago this month, laying on the exam table and hearing the words "You have twins."

OK, maybe my first thought was Holy Crap.

But for sure my second thought was Leo: How would we ever be able to give Leo all the attention he needed with our energies further dispersed amongst two more children?

And since their arrival almost two and half years ago, there have certainly been times I've felt overwhelmed (HELLO, understatement) and had moments when I would have liked to have been a bit more, how shall I put it? Present for Leo, to have been able to give him a little more undivided attention with homework or I would have preferred to keep a firmer grip on his hand in a busy parking lot, as opposed to a giant double stroller.

But if there have been blessings in all of this, in the way things have turned out for our little family (there have certainly been many of them), it's that having many small children and having my attention, yes, often diverted and divided has forced everyone to take just a little more responsibility, and in turn, for me to trust my bigger kids to step up to the plate, to rise to the occasion, if you will.

And that's just what happened at Costco on Saturday morning. Leo stepped forward, and I stepped back.

There was our checker, dutifully ringing up our items, there was Harry, thirty minutes late for his nap and flirting with crankiness and there was Leo, asking for a smoothie.

A quick assessment of the situation led me to the following realizations:

A) We were in line (having our items rung up) directly across from the Costco food court.
B) There was NO LINE at said food court. (Costco regulars will recognize the enormity of this).

That's when I handed Leo a $5 bill and sent him on his way. If it had just been Leo there, I have no doubt that I wouldn't not have allowed him to go off on his "own." But Harry would not have enjoyed waiting in yet another line and I still had to get everyone out to the car and the groceries loaded up, to say nothing of the fifteen minute drive home.

I could see Leo the whole time-he never left my line of vision. He marched up to the counter and placed his order. Did the server pause to clarify the order? Have a hard time understanding Leo? Perhaps. I couldn't really tell. All I know is a few moments later, Leo was presented with one of his beloved "very berry" smoothies and a small cup full of change (the thoughtful server had given it to him in a little cup to prevent Leo from spilling it). I grew a little worried when I watched Leo move over to the straw/napkins/flatware area-he seemed to be struggling a bit with the straw dispenser. But he  rallied and the next thing I knew he stuck the straw in his smoothie, took a contented sip and was on his way, gliding back to me with an enormous grin, practically vibrating with pride.

It was a little thing, but I was so very proud of him.

Loss in the Fog and Invitations

Ellie's last soccer game this past Sunday ended ominously (see below) and a bit violently.




I couldn't get enough of the moody weather.



She lost her front tooth! Although it didn't happen the way you probably think it did. One minute she was goofing off (yes, when she should have been cheering her teammates on), the next minute she was running toward me, blood trickling down her soft, pink cheek and tears pouring down too. No, it wasn't knocked out by a ball in the midst of a heroic save, it was pushed out on the sidelines, during horseplay with a teammate. We never did find the tooth (although the guilt-stricken mother of the little girl who accidentally "helped" that little loose tooth did make a sincere effort, looking for it on her hands and knees in the grassy field). I thanked her but said that was really unnecessary (while assuring her that Ellie's tooth had been quite loose). Which it had.


Earlier in the day we made turkeys to decorate the house. You can just never have enough turkey decorations this time of year, that's what I say. "Do I look like a princess doing something very important?" Ellie asked me, as she drew.

Ellie's prime concern, of course, was the Tooth Fairy. Would the Tooth Fairy still come if there was no tooth to leave her, Ellie wondered. I assured her that of course she would come, and not only that, she was sure to find it in the field after everyone went home. Fairies have magical powers, you know. Magical Tooth Finding Powers. I bet she liked the challenge! I offered Ellie. Most of the time teeth are just under a boring old pillow, not lost in the grass.


Pre-lost front tooth smile, otherwise known as first grade portrait from a few weeks ago.

So I suppose you could say that extra care was taken in writing this particular Tooth Fairy note.


"If you want to, you can stay here. I have a bed and everything. I have friends."

The next morning, Ellie wasn't too disappointed to find that the Tooth Fairy had not, in fact, decided to stay. She did leave a note, in addition to a cherry Tootsie Pop and a $1 bill.

For Ellie, that was enough.

Chance Encounters

Saturday morning I was out with the boys (have I mentioned how much I like saying "the boys" or "the girls?") I'm not sure if it's because I still can't believe I have boy(s) and girl(s) or because it means if I'm saying one of those words it means I only have two children with me. Practically a spa day!

On our way to speech therapy, we stopped at a light and I noticed the car in front of us was carrying two beautiful golden retrievers. It was a station wagon, and the two dogs were all the way in the back, sitting by the large rear window. When we stopped at the light, I pointed them out to Leo. Then, because I am me, I waved at the dogs. Yes, waved. As if they were going to wave back. Well I could swear they at least smiled at me.

I also found myself tearing up. Because the older one (one was, yes, a puppy) looked so much like our Ruby.

You won't believe what happened next. We pulled into the complex where the therapist is located. Guess who pulled up next to us in the parking lot? Well. I couldn't resist. And since I've yet to meet a rude or mean or even unfriendly golden retriever owner, I jumped out of the car and announced that I'd admired the dogs from the road (!) and would it be ok if my son(s) and I said hello?







I think it's safe to say they didn't mind.

These Days

Breathtaking fall mornings.


Leo has always loved playing in the leaves.


A chilly morning, but still perfect for playgrounds. And again, with the amazing, gorgeous leaves and sky. This weather, these days, this beauty. We are spoiled.


It's true: there's always someone to play with at our house. That makes up for the incredible amount of noise!


Perpetual racing buddies, these two. Also Lucy and her new favorite hat. She's the only kid I've had who actually wants to wear a hat. Asks for it. Figures. Also, I love how these two at some point made dibs on their respective little cars. Lucy always uses the purple one and Harry always uses the yellow one. No discussion needed.


Dirty Harry. Have we talked about Harry and his love for dirt? The kid eats it. Seeks it out and scoops it up like it's a delicacy (and before you start asking about pica, it's the only inappropriate thing he eats so... ). Oh and now he laughs at us when we chide him or try to redirect him. He's taken to calling himself "Dirt Man."


Just when I think no one plays in this (what WILL the backyard look like without giant plastic things?), Lucy goes and "drives" this age-old boat for thirty minutes (I guess it's more fun when filled with leaves. Then again, isn't everything?).


Coffee and croissant date with my boys.


I just can't get enough of these eyelashes. And therefore you can't either.



A few Saturday nights ago, we let Leo and Ellie stay up a little later than usual because they were playing together so nicely. They were downstairs in the basement playroom for a looong time.


This was the result.


Lastly, I forgot how much fun a simple balloon is. This was at breakfast the other morning and this is also what you call Cheap Thrills. In other news, Christmas and Hanukkah gifts have now been simplified and streamlined. Balloons for everyone!

Stop It. And Some Wonderful Things (After Some Not So Wonderful).

An assortment, from years gone by. It doesn't get much better than that feather turkey wreath from Leo's (I think) first grade.


This weekend, down came the Halloween decor and up went theThanksgiving paraphernalia.

Then Amy pointed out to me that if it was time to decorate for Thanksgiving, then it was also time to acknowledge Hanukkah (which, for the first time in our lifetime happens to fall on the same day).

Hannuskiving?

Thanksgivingmacka?

I don't know what to call it or what to say except Stop This Year. Just Stop It. You are going by too fast. And Stop My Favorite Season From Rolling By.

I know that time is one of the most boring subjects but it's all so true, every single word of what "they" say about it. This is all just whizzing right by. This weekend I sat in the backyard with the twins while they burned off some late afternoon/time change crabbiness and we watched the planes fly overhead from the Newark airport. Harry flapped his little arms and ran around the driveway like a miniature 747, because really there is nothing more interesting than watching the planes fly overhead and then pretending to be a plane. These little people. Two years ago they were sitting on the deck strapped in infant seats and buried in little winter suits. And now?

Now I manage to get Harry to sleep a full hour later than Lucy (Hello, 5:15 a.m. on time change Sunday!). Lucy and I have a rare hour to ourselves as the house remains quiet with everyone else still asleep. And when I hear Harry stirring, go upstairs to get him and present him to Lucy, Look who I found! I joke to Lucy, who is drinking her morning milk and grazing on cheerios and pumpkin bread.

Oh thank you! I like Harry! Hi Harry! Lucy says, her face, an explosion of happiness and glee.

Of course, the irony is not lost on me that "Stop It" is also a phrase that has been coming out of my mouth quite a lot these days (and yes, it's pretty much always directed at the twins). Stop It! Stop stealing Harry's toys! Stop it! Stop screaming! Stop it! Stop throwing open the refrigerator doors and stealing apples and packages of string cheese and then running, celebratory through the house (Yes, this is my life).


I found this oldie but goodie this weekend. From last year: "A Turkey, in the Rain," by Leo.

***

A few weeks ago Leo had to get a tooth pulled. It was his first time (thank goodness!) and it was also a baby tooth (another thank goodness!). It was just a rotten little tooth that the dentist said hadn't been worth filling but it was finally in bad enough shape to pull. We all know Leo has finally overcome his dental issues, which is why it was perhaps even more traumatic to have to hold him down while he had that little tooth pulled (a parenting first that I hope to never repeat).

Oh he was medicated and numbed and even nitroused up. But he saw the tools and even without pain, I guess there is no mistaking the "force" of having a tooth extracted. Bless our dear Dr. F who was cool as a cucumber as he had to do some serious acrobatics during the procedure, practically turning himself upside to accomplish the task. But he could not have been more patient with Leo (or me). Did I mention his daughter has Down syndrome? He gets it.

And when it was all over, I felt teary, for Leo and for the fact that we are so fortunate to have some wonderful people in our little village, including our dentist.

As he always does, Leo recovered very quickly. There were no hard feelings toward Dr. F, only fist bumps and high fives. A hug may have been attempted too.


After the trauma (for both of us), I did what any guilt-ridden mother would do. I took Leo out for the biggest donut I could find.* And I bought myself the largest pumpkin flavored coffee available (I also may or may not have quickly eaten ten pumpkin Munchkins in the car).

I ran into Dr. F at Ellie's school Halloween parade (his kids go to the same school). There he was, in his Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume. It was two weeks after the tooth pulling ordeal but all he could ask me was "How's Leo?"

It doesn't get much better than that.

*Don't worry. Leo brushed his teeth when we got home. :)

The "Punky" Patch (and Apple Picking)

I like to call this one, What Happens When You Say "Let Me Take A Picture," to four small children. This one will definitely go in the scrapbook. Certainly the mantel. By the way, Lucy's back intentionally to me? That sums her up right there. That is Lucy to a T.

We waited until late in the season to go apple and pumpkin picking this year (yes, we were the crazy people who went to the pumpkin patch the weekend before Halloween but guess what? Turns out it's not so crowded at 9 a.m. on a Sunday).

We waited, partly because I like to go when it's cold(er)--(hot apple cider, hot cider donuts, are you sensing a theme?) and partly because I may have been procrastinating. But I KNEW the kids would have so much fun, it would be worth all the energy it takes to take all four of them to any wide open space. We just had to go.

And if there was ever any doubt on my part, I had to remember this: a few weekends ago Ellie and I were at Home Depot and she was all excited about the garden center's "pumpkin patch" (poor kid). When she asked to get a pumpkin and I mentioned we'd be going to an actual pumpkin patch in a few weeks, well, you'd have thought I just told her we were going to Disney World. You can say what you want about our kids but I just love the fact that they are really pretty easy to please.

So last weekend Erin and I drank about nineteen cups of coffee (each) and took the kids to our favorite Pumpkinpatchapplepickingfarm.

If, for no other reason than, Harry + hay ride? That was a sight I needed to see. As Leo says, "It will blow his brain!"

Harry, on said hayride. Safe to say, brain = blown = very happy guy.

(By the way, the last time we went to this farm, the twins looked like this):


September, 2011

I think Harry had more fun this year. I know I did (although breastfeeding infants in an apple orchard IS my idea of a good time--really missed that this year--said No One Ever).


Off and running, on the hunt for apples.






Another moment when I think I had the gall to suggest a picture. Lucy's all "See ya, Mommy."


It must be pretty weird to be two years old and to see something you eat almost every day, growing on a tree. Harry (and his eyelashes) seemed to think so.

Moving on to Paradise.

I mean, the pumpkin (or as Lucy calls it, the "punky") patch. Seriously, doesn't this look like something out of Grandma Moses?


Leo and Ellie had a fight over who got to show Harry the tractor.


These girls are excellent wagon haulers.

Clearly they need jobs.

The key to having a good time in the stage we're in is low expectations.

Mine were definitely surpassed this year on ye old punky patch/apple picking trip. Plus, we returned home with all four children. So I call that a win. And did I mention there were cider donuts? And they were hot? Mmmmm.

Believe the Hype: Halloween 2013

I'm happy to report that Halloween 2013 exceeded expectations.

After its two year hiatus, how could it not?


Witch Vogueing.





Harry, admittedly, may have been less than pleased with his costume. Or, the wearing of a costume in general.


Can't you just hear Lucy saying "Cheese."

Lucy on the other hand, was SO excited about dressing up that she ended up wearing two costumes, starting out the day as Tinker Bell and ending her day as Clifford the Big Red Dog (Harry was so annoyed with us all by this point, he couldn't even show his face and was happy to trade his earlier Clifford look for a different dog costume, not that you can't tell from this picture).


My little chain gang and me. A few people who saw this picture didn't realize I was wearing a costume (I won't take personally the fact that the sight of me in an orange jump suit apparently seems de rigueur). I will however, take this opportunity to shout from the roof tops in my nerd-fan glee that not only was my costume that of an inmate, but it was a real jumpsuit from the costume closet of the show "Orange is the New Black" (which, by the way, is one of my favorite shows of all time, if you haven't seen it yet, run, don't walk and sign up for Netflix). Yes, I may have been a bit excited.





By the time we set out for trick or treating, Leo was DONE. I'm impressed that he agreed to join us at all, since he's not a big Candy Guy (like, at all). That explains his subdued costume choice (for the school parade/party he went as Michelangelo, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. By afternoon, it was all he could do to don an old cape and his Spidey Web slinger. Hey, whatever works.


First-timer.

At point point while we were trick or treating, Erin was holding Harry and she said to me, Is there a reason Harry isn't wearing a diaper? I looked at her in horror. I mean, I do forget stuff but that would definitely be up there in terms of pretty remarkable screw-ups on my part. Oh wait, she said. It just fell off. Here it is just slipped down around his ankles. Of course! I reached for him to fix his diaper and that's when I realized his shoes were on the wrong feet. Because, of course! (Gee, that might explain why he was not enjoying the walking aspect of trick or treating). Sorry, buddy.


Haul.

As is always the case in our house (so far), the handing out of treats is even MORE exciting than the getting of treats. At one point Erin had to break up an almost fist fight between Leo and Ellie about who got to hand out treats first. Yes, the two of them had a gigantic brawl, with tears and everything, in front of some unsuspecting neighbor kids who stood on our porch with mouths agape, as if to say, We just wanted some M&Ms but is this a bad time?


Waiting for begging for trick-or-treaters. And yes, at one point Ellie stood on the front porch calling out to random people walking by, are you trick-or-treaters? Oh and of course, Ellie's sitting on a baby potty. Only in our house.

I carved a pumpkin for the first time in three years.

Of course I forgot to take a picture of it.

With all the festivities, the babies were up a little later than usual. Lucy had an epic meltdown/tantrum of extraordinary proportions (I really don't think I've ever seen her so upset and that's saying a lot) for the simple reason that she wanted a candy bar.

And so I did what any responsible parent would do.



I gave my two year old a Hershey bar.

Hey, it was a miniature.



So, I think Lucy might like chocolate?

Happy Halloween!*

*Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Hanukkah to plan in just 28 days. Wait, WHAT?