31 for 21: Day 11, FAIL, Try Again

Apple picking and pumpkin patching with the crew yesterday. It was a spectacular, perfect fall day and every year this particular outing gets a little easier and a little more, dare I say, fun?

OY. I am not doing well at this 31 for 21 this year. I had such high hopes for myself.

Let's go for some bullets, shall we?


-Leo is still difficult to understand speech-wise. I won't lie when I say I would have thought by now, at age 11, things would be clearer. I'm guessing this where we are for him and that breaks my heart a little because he has SO much to say. I suppose I should be grateful for that at least, right? But he's likely always going to be tricky (for strangers and people who don't know him well--most of the time his family/friends/teachers do OK but even we are still perplexed and yes, frustrated). However. I love that his speech is getting more advanced and interesting and mature. This morning for example, he busts out with "Speaking of apple bread..." (We were discussing what we could make with all the apples we picked.) I mean, "speaking of...?" Just love it.

-This week was a doozy for Ellie. It feels like the bloom is falling off the rose on the new school year: Apparently third grade is a "big deal" (this is news to me as this is my first time going through third grade for a 100 percent gen ed kid). Multiplication, long division, more and more standardized testing. The list goes on and on. There has been a lot of talk of feeling "pressurized" (Ellie's words) and worry about the speed at which math is going. I checked in with her teacher and she's doing fine, so this is likely self-imposed stress (she's hard on herself and a bit of a perfectionist. Hmm. No CLUE where she gets that, cough cough). Every night after Ellie finishes her homework (math worksheets and language arts and spelling) she does her computer homework for 30 minutes. One evening this week I waxed nostalgic about how after homework Ellie used to draw. "I don't have time for that anymore," she announced, matter-of-factly. Geez, kid. Just stab me in the heart, why don't you?

-I met a woman yesterday at Leo's soccer yesterday who has a 20-year old daughter with Down syndrome (she's in the same special needs soccer program as Leo). It's bizarre to think about the fact that I actually don't know anyone with an adult child with Down syndrome. How did that happen?

As we chatted, we realized our children shared a few teachers, so that was a fun little trip down memory lane. There are a few younger children with Down syndrome in the soccer program too and as we watched their antics we shared a few funny stories of our trials with Impossible Young Children with Down ("When she was little, I never sat down!" this mom recalled). Yup, sounds familiar. I tried to take off my journalist hat and just act like a normal, friendly mom (in these situations where I am starved for information I tend to ask a lot of questions) but I was dying to know: What's high school like for her? Does she have friends? (Answer: Yes, tons. Or at least, everyone seems to know her. Huh. That sounds familiar. How much independence does she have? Does she go home after school by herself? The answer to the last one was no, she still has someone with her at home unless it's just for a few minutes. That one was a little tough for me to swallow.

Her daughter is in her last year of high school and her mom is now looking at programs for next year. In her words: "You're pretty much on your own." The future. I can't can't even go there. But I know the drill. I opened up Facebook this morning and there was one of those sob inducing "Memory" pictures from five years ago: Six year old Leo and three year old Ellie at the SAME apple farm we went to yesterday. Um. EXCUSE me? Five years?

Apple picking, October 2010.

And where were the twins? Oh yeah, not BORN yet (I was actually pregnant the day this picture was taken but didn't know it). And the future that mom spoke about yesterday? It will be here before we know it. But for now I'll go back to my cozy spot with my head resting firmly in the sand.

Falling For Fall

We all forgot how fun it is to play in the leaves.

Oh man. I love this weather. Every year I forget how glorious fall is. Chrystal clear blue skies, the crispy leaves tumbling down. Yesterday we got home early from Ellie's soccer game and headed to the backyard. Well, the boys did. Leaves and trucks. Really, what else do you need?

And yes, Harry wore his pajamas all day yesterday. Don't you do the same thing on Sundays?

Day 2: Tidbits

1. It was a cold, rainy Saturday here today. It feels like October came and a switch flipped. Hello, fall. Joaquin (hurricane, that is) spared us thank goodness. Three years out and we're still all a little twitchy, after enduring Super Storm Sandy. Because you just truly never know.

All set for Halloween, already!

2. One week into school and the kids (mostly Ellie) started asking me when we could start decorating for Halloween. I broke my own self-imposed "Not Until October 1" rule after much whining and caved last weekend. Of course they had to throw a "Halloween Party" complete with snacks (Ellie can be quite industrious when she wants to be--see how she fetched everyone beverages and filled the Halloween bowls with snacks?). And yes, they dragged out all the costumes. 'Tis the season.

One costume possibility: Pizza Spider Man. Combining two of Leo's most favorite things. Have I mentioned I will never tire of his fantastic sense of humor?

The Kickoff to the Lead Up: Or, Hello Candy Corn

It's officially my favorite time of year. Not only because the weather is fantastic, glorious and inspiring (oh, hi there, golden and ruby red leaves dancing against a stunning backdrop of crystal clear, cornflower blue sky,) but because it's the kickoff to the lead up to the Holiday Seasons (HalloweenThanksgivingChristmasHanukkah).

Plus? ALL the children are in school. For at least a few hours a day (more on that in a minute).

***

For some reason this year I got the urge to cook for Rosh Hashana (I can't remember the last time I did this and I've never done it with/for the kids).



I dug out my mom's old kugel recipe (see above) knowing full well I'd be the only one to eat it. Harry and Leo did take a few bites before pronouncing it "Yucky."


Oh well, their loss.

One item I know would be a hit was the challah, which I'd planned to pick up the day before Rosh Hashana at a nearby bakery. Of course, even though this errand was at the top of my to do list, I forgot, thus necessitating I take all four children out in the rain on Rosh Hashana morning to another nearby bakery that was open.


The shlep was worth it for this beautiful baby, which ended up being the main course for most of the diners (along with apples and honey and the dessert):


The "traditional" Rosh Hashana yellow sheet cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkles. Because even though I attempted to get them to try the kugel I knew full well NO ONE would eat honey cake. Does anyone like honey cake?

Ellie (who appears to have inherited the family holiday celebration gene) dove headfirst into the Rosh Hashana festivities. While she dipped Gala apples into a ramekin of honey, she wanted to know if we could make Rosh Hashana decorations, and announced that she "loved Rosh Hashana." You really do have to love the enthusiasm of a seven year old.


Speaking of enthusiasm, how about this for an outfit? Puppy dog fleece, Eiffel Tower capris and (not seen) a Hello Kitty tunic. Oh, to be three.




The month of September marked Lucy's first month of preschool and last month of part-time preschool. Oh she's still only going half days but she's now going FIVE days a week (up from three). It became pretty clear when, upon asking if she had school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and she burst into tears, wailing Yes I AM! that the girl was ready to be in school every day. I was equally ready.

Here's an example of a recent conversation with the ever-ebullient Lucy. It was Monday morning at the breakfast table and she was talking about the upcoming Halloween party (which she was convinced was taking place that afternoon).

Lucy: And later I have a Halloween party!
Ellie: No you don't. Halloween isn't until the end of the month.
Erin: Oh Ellie, why are you trying to ruin her day?
Lucy: Yeah! I LOVE my day!


We had a few, last "just Mommy and Lucy mornings."



On the weekends she asks what time school is and will often insist on eating her lunch from out of her lunch box. Safe to say, she's enjoying her academic life. And for those wondering about her behavior? She is carrying on the family tradition of being a Completely Different Kid at school (read: well behaved). So there you go.

***

Decorating season is in full swing.


And by Decorating I don't just mean interiors. Why should the festivities be limited to the house? (And yes, those are my knee socks thankyouverymuch).



Ellie took it upon herself to start the fall art/craft projects though I'm pretty sure it was just an excuse to get out the candy corn.


Speaking of candy corn, I finally fulfilled a lifetime dream of completing a candy corn wreath (seen above and of course, at the beginning of this post because really, you just can't have too much candy corn wreath). I have to also say that this was completed with lots of instruction and moral support from the fabulous Amy.

I usually wait until at least October to haul out the Halloween decor but Ms. Holiday (Ellie) begged me to "bring out just a couple things" last weekend, so out came the Rubbermaid containers, along with the rest of the Halloween paraphernalia.



"Is this ALL we have?" asked a non-plussed Ellie, registering her deep dissatisfaction in the volume of Halloween trinkets in our possession (there's plenty more than what you see above, trust me). Seriously this girl's middle name is More Is More. So we might have to make a pit stop at the local Goodwill (my secret weapon for holiday decorating) this weekend. And we may also need to pick up a few more bags of candy corn.

September, So Far

Monday morning means the return of the pile o' packs.



Waiting. And waiting some more for Leo's bus. His afternoon bus? Is of course early. Twice last week I had to call to the bus to wait and I rounded the corner on the way home from picking Ellie up. "That's my kid!" I yelled, as I saw the bus begin to pull away. Ellie thought that was pretty funny.


Pretty much fulfilled a major parenting dream here: tiny, old school Sauconys.


"Look Mommy," said Ellie, "I'm dipping Harry!"


This is what a non-napping three old looks like. He falls asleep in anything with wheels (car, stroller). That day he stayed asleep when I went to get him out of the stroller. RARE. It was sweet to have a sleeping "baby" on my shoulder, even if it only lasted a few minutes.


Another view of a non-napping three year old. She pretty much just goes "splat" when her head hits the pillow at night.


I am unreasonably excited about the crisp mornings and cool evenings we've been enjoying since almost the first week of September. This of course means the return of knee sock season. Summers here can be horrific, winters are interminable, spring is two weeks long. But fall? Oh east coast fall I adore you.


Harry and Lucy Lebowitz, the old married couple spending their Golden Years at the Catskills (actually it's Harry and Lucy eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Goldfish for dinner while they watched Ellie at soccer practice).


I need a flow chart. Seriously. Every day is different (but all hail Friday, aka pizza day when no one needs a lunch packed). Ahhhhh.


"Back to School Night," the Harry edition.


"Back to School Night, the Ellie edition.

(Due to scheduling conflicts, and our inability to clone ourselves, we had to miss Leo and Lucy's back to school nights. Otherwise known as the plight of having four children and back to school nights that are held on the Same Day at the Same Time. Sigh.)


I pretty much just put my face into this entire box after making it through the first week of four kids in four schools, oh yes I did.

5, 2, Pre-K, Pre-K: Ready, Set, Go!

And just like that, summer was over.



All in all, it was a good one. It was not without its complications of course (working part-time from home with four kids? Not for the faint of heart-By the way, I think I need to just go ahead and pre-order that line on my grave stone: Not For The Faint of Heart). But considering all there was to balance, I think it went well. It was the first I spent with the kids since The First Summer (that would be, when the twins were born and GAH I think I have basically repressed that by necessity). Needless to say life at home with four that includes twin three year olds is a little different than newborn twins (newsflash!).

I want to say this was our last "hard" year (stop laughing). Maybe next year I will be able to manage more daring outings solo? In the beginning and middle of the summer we were still haggling with naps so we were limited schedule-wise--oh but those days are all in the past now (SOB). Harry could definitely still use one, a fact which he makes particularly clear around 2:58 pm each day when suddenly all the Lego structures start falling apart and he wants cheese crackers right! Nowwwww! And whyyyyy can't he have MORE Batman Legos? But instead, he chose to fall asleep on the way to picking Ellie up from camp. For a whole ten minutes. On particularly long days, Lucy would usually snooze on the way home. Because, tandem naps? HA!


It was Ellie who had this genius idea when we went school supply shopping last week. Two carts! One for Twins, one for Stuff. Brilliant. Everyone was happy, reasonably calm and well-behaved. Also? Contained. WIN!


By Labor Day everyone was clamoring to get back to routine (or start one). This was at 7:30 in the morning. Ellie playing school with her eager students.


Ironically, the littlest one was the first to go back. Lucy started preschool last Wednesday (a day before the other three returned). So far (all two days), so good! Her teacher has picked up on her "stubborn streak" (a kind word for Lucy's tendency to uh, bulldoze her way through life), but we shall see how it all shakes out. She is certainly ready, that we know.


First day of second and fifth grade. No idea what was going on with this little love fest here. I think they were both so thrilled to soon be rid of each other that they decided to show a little last-minute affection.


I know, I know, Harry was in preschool for much of the summer but he was "off" the whole month of August and he had an official first day just like the big kids.


Day one had Ellie very excited to impress her new teacher (or maybe she was just eager to try out the Mr. Sketch markers I had to go to two different stores to find-they were on her supply list as "required.")


Ready! Set! Everyone say, Back to School!

And that's just what they did.

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!

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?

October Afternoon

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."--L.M. Montgomery, in Anne of Green Gables

All Things Fall and Maiden Voyages

Selfishly, I think one of the things I like most about "31 for 21" is that October becomes the most documented month of the year. And it doesn't hurt that October kicks off my most favorite season: fall! All hail candy corn, apple cider, pumpkin flavored coffee and crisp afternoons.



I've already talked about my love of fall lights. Last weekend while the babies napped and Erin and Leo were running some errands, Ellie and I went searching for the fall decorations. Going full Halloween seemed premature (and we'll be limited by what we can do this year in terms of decorating, thanks to Sticky Fingers #1 and #2--Looking at you Twin Tornadoes--but dare I say this might be our last year of worrying about baby proofing?). The one thing we could not find was our fall wreath. So  we improvised (see above). No, it's not the candy corn wreath of my dreams (don't ask). But it will do.

***

Last weekend I took Leo, Harry and Lucy to the grocery store. Normally, if I go anywhere but Costco I'm basically screwed I struggle because of ye old cart sitation: two babies, one baby seat in the cart. But a person can't always go to Costco. Because a certain youngest daughter is, shall we say, more than obsessed with strawberry fruit bars. Or, as she calls them, "buys." Note to self: Do not forget the adorableness of how Lucy, at age 28 months seems to transpose her y's for r's (another one: "flowers" are "lowry").


She's big on hats and insists on wearing one wherever she goes.

I spent years trying to keep Leo contained so that he wouldn't run off in public places (grocery stores were a particular challenge) and it could be a constant struggle. Now? He insists on pouring his entire nine year old boy body into the grocery cart no matter the store. At Costco, with their super sized carts, it's not a problem. At Trader Joe's, home of Lucy's beloved strawberry "buys" it's a slight problem. But thank goodness for Down syndrome's low tone, because dang, Leo is some kind of flexible!

My whole point in this story was that Sunday was Lucy's maiden voyage walking independently in a grocery store. This, after Leo pitched a giant fit in the parking lot about the possibility of not being allowed to ride in the "big part" of the cart (I planned to put Lucy there and have Leo walk beside me--he would have nothing of that). My Leo, so the creature of habit. He wanted to ride in the cart and he wanted to hold his cheese crackers!

I decided right then and there when there were actual tears shed by him in the parking lot, that it just wasn't a hill for me to die on, on that bright, sunny, Sunday morning. I expected protests from Harry (if Lucy's rogue, he usually wants to follow).

But not that day. That day, Harry was perfectly content to ride solo in the little front perch of the cart (probably enjoying the novelty of a "single" since his whole life is about tandem and double at this point). Leo loved his starboard post in the belly of the cart, a box of cheese crackers in his lap (another part of his Trader Joe's shopping ritual that dates back to 2008, I'd reckon). And little Lucy carefully stacking "buys" and juice boxes and yogurts? Couldn't have been more thrilled.

Notes on a Friday

Like me, slumped over in her chair (in spite of the fact that she's wearing stretch pants) Lucy is ready for the weekend. (I'm dying to know what Harry was saying to her here. Doesn't  it look important?) Hey Lu, how do you think the Ducks are gonna fare this weekend? Or maybe "A priest, a rabbi and a minister get into a rowboat..."


These two. They had the entire backyard to themselves and yet what did they do? Dragged these little chairs rightnexttoeachother. They had to be right on top of one another. And do you know what they're doing here? Saying "Cheers." Clinking their Popsicles. Completely on their own volition. Where did they learn it? From Leo and Ellie of course...who learned it from...what can I say, we're a celebratory family?



1/4 smiling and looking at the general vicinity of the camera. Yup, that's about right.



I know it's not even October yet, but last night I broke down and hung up the Halloween lights (not sure who voted and decided that orange and purple were the official Halloween colors but that happened). There's something so happy about colored lights and since fall officially starts this weekend and that kicks off the beginning of my favorite time of the year ever (hooray for the decorating season and the absence of hot weather!), well, I figured why not?

The kids (mostly Ellie, but the twins a little) appropriately oohed and ahhhed at the lights---I only decorated one window this year (since the other one is a bit more accessible) for fear of the Crazies twins "interfering" with the lights--that's code for Tearing Them Down Triumphantly--(they've already made their mark on the curtains that skim the side of the train table, ahem).

Ooohs and ahhhs at the end of a long week. Because isn't that really what it's all about?

Hayride 2012

As I mentioned, like half of the eastern seaboard, we went to the pumpkin patch over the weekend.

We almost didn't make it. Sometimes just leaving the house feels so daunting. The packing of the diaper bag, the changing of the clothes, the packing of the changes of clothes, to say nothing of beverages and snacks and and and...

We had what I'll call a moment in the mudroom, enroute to the car--did I mention Harry has mastered opening the mudroom door which means he is just feet from walking out the front door and down the steps? There I was, furiously gathering jackets and galoshes for the muddy fields, while balancing a 79-pound diaper bag on my shoulder. There was Erin, trying to stop Harry from making a break for the front door as well as Lucy, who is of course following Harry. Meanwhile Ellie is whining about not being able to find her wand! (an absolute must for the pumpkin patch!) and Leo is announcing that he has FOUND HIS DRAGON! Which of course makes the sting of the misplaced wand that much more painful.

Pure. Bedlam.

But once we get where we're going? It's almost always worth it.

And on Saturday afternoon, there was this:


A sun kissed, exquisite, absolutely perfect, golden fall day. In which all the whining and the fussing and the protesting falls away, in which all those insufferably hot and humid summer afternoons feel worth it, because you have this gorgeous autumn afternoon to behold.






We took our first hayride as a family of six.



Everyone was there, though we can't all fit in the same frame anymore.

Some preferred to stand.

Others brought friends.

And new friends were made.





New terrain was covered.

Sand! Who knew?



There were some technical difficulties with this model.

Leo preferred the full-size version. Can't blame him.

Everyone had a chance to explore, on their own terms.

But not for long!

These girls. Oh. My. Goodness.

Aaaand the boys.

Harry is so lucky to have Leo to show him the way.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows, naptime beckoned and it was time to choose the pumpkins.

It was truly a wonderful afternoon. But I think we could all agree that in the end,

everyone needed a beverage.

Or two.