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Yesterday was a doozy. Someone on Facebook said that eLearning is like having a newborn again, in the sense that children need constant attention. And that's not an inaccurate statement.  I know that Jojo's teacher doesn't helicopter him at school; she has other children who also need her attentions. So, I'm trying to be better about letting him work independently. For independent reading, I've been sitting with him and listening to him read. Yesterday, however, I set him up with a stack of readers that were about his level, set the timer, and left the room. He did a great job! Today, instead of hovering over him while he did his work, I'm trying to give him some space. But, ugh, it's hard. For example, he tried to go to his Seesaw account but it signed him out! So I had to dig around in my email to find his code, blah blah blah. Anyway. Its our third day of eLearning and fourth day of school (he goes to school on Tuesdays). Trying to find the balance betwee...

Our official first day of school was an eLearning day. Not how I would choose, but again, I'm very grateful for our school district's chose path this year. (I may be alone in this.) The kiddos started the day with big bowls of cocoa pebbles (so healthy) and I started mine with my favorite tea. I've taken to calling it my happy tea (because it contains ashwagandha).  I want us to have some semblance of normalcy, so maintaining a rhythm, if not a strict schedule, is necessary. We started school around 8am. Everyone was fed, dressed, teeth and hair brushed. I even applied makeup. (What an overachiever!) We started with reading from Jesus Calling for kids and taking turns praying. Then, we said the pledge of allegiance--I found a little flag leftover from some past Fourth of July. After that, it was time for actual school. I set Ruthie up with her work book and helped Jojo with his Chromebook. He zoomed through his lessons! We did have a pretty serious hiccup when it came time ...

Today was Jojo's first day back at school since March 13th. When school was canceled back in March, I had no idea that it would be for the remainder of the year. Maybe two weeks, at most, and then this whole pandemic thing would blow over and things would go back to normal. Then, in May, when I tearfully watched Jojo's virtual award ceremony, I was sure that August would come and school would be back to normal. Well, normal, whatever that means, isn't back. But he was at school anyway. One thing for which I am incredibly grateful, is the method of reopening that our school is using. For in-person, students will attend 0, 1, 2, or 5 days depending on the rate of spread and the number of cases. The remaining days, they will eLearn. I like that it wasn't a choice between totally virtual or totally present. We're cautiously working our way back to five days a week. There is a 100% virtual option for parents who didn't want to go back.  Next week, is the official sta...

Remember times before "overgramming" was a thing? When I first started blogging, it didn't matter how many times a day I posted. It didn't have to be at a certain time for optimum exposure. I didn't worry about reach. Hashtags weren't even a thing. I thought of these things this afternoon. I was going to post again and my initial thought was that I have to wait until tomorrow. After all, I've already posted today! But this is a personal blog, right? And the '00 rules of personal blogs are that it doesn't matter when you post or if you post too much. Anyway. After that blah of a post from earlier today, I did indeed drink a caffeinated beverage (any other Mio fans?) and get off my behind. The kids hung out with me in the craft room. They played with kinetic sand while I sewed. We had a candle lit, filling the room with a lovely warm scent, and listened to the dreamy, melancholy sounds of folklore . I decided to start work on the doll carriers that I...

I snapped at my kids this morning. I was trying to video chat and my kids kept interrupting me. And y'all. Is it too much to ask to just get a couple of sentences in? And after snapping at my kids. I was both frustrated with myself and with them. I should speak to them kindly. But also, they should not be interrupting me. I feel guilty for snapping at them. Especially when I see those puppy dog eyes. I feel guilty that I haven't done more to teach them respect. I feel annoyed because, oh my gosh, just go clean your room like I have asked you one million times in the past ten minutes. I'm reminded of why I usually video chat in a different room. I'm torn between feeling like I should be the ever present mom and knowing that it is perfectly okay for my kids to entertain themselves. (Drink of choice this morning: Tazo Perfect Energy Vanilla Spice tea + Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea + Coffee mate Funfetti creamer.)

We generally have unstructured days in my house. We have a loose rhythm that goes something like: breakfast playdates, errands, or free play lunch free play nap/quiet time free play dinner free play bedtime routine But towards the middle/end of summer Jojo started misbehaving more and it occurred to us that he was bored and would thrive a little more off some structure. Today, they were having fun playing a super annoying game called "me-me" which is where one of them is the me-me and crawls around saying, "me-me," and the other one is the mommy. And I LOVE when they play together. But I made them stop and get some shoes on, which is often a herculean task, so we could start some activity time. We went outside to collect leaves. Jojo started grabbing fistfuls, but after I told him what to look for, he was more careful. We were only outside for a couple minutes and then we brought out leaves to the table. We got out their journals and crayons and I taug...

Letters. I had this word in my mind most of the day. Letters, letters. What photo could I take that says: letters. And then, I grabbed a pair of socks from the drawer and as I was putting them on his feet, I spied them: letters! I loved the concept but not so much the execution. Partially because this is the first of my recent daily photo series to NOT be taken in natural light. This was taken in the yucky tungsten light of the dining room. But its a pretty sweet photo nonetheless. :) -•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•- Today, Joseph had his third swim lesson (did I mention my baby is doing swim lessons? Very superfluous. Still fun.) and he finally floated on his back. When I took him to the pool as a four month old, he didn't mind floating around. Now it scares him and he clings to me for most of the lesson. But today he floated for a few minutes. So, success. This evening, right as I sat down to my computer, my phone started ringing. It was a FaceTime call from my G kiddos!...

The other day, I went to the local nail salon with a few lovely ladies. They all got their nails done because the birthday girl decided that was what she wanted for her birthday party. Me, the birthday girls mom (also my boss) and another mom hung around, chatted, and snapped photos while a group of 3- and 4-year-old little girls get their nails painted in various combinations. Lauren chose a red/green combo to go with the Christmas holidays. The other girls chose blue/white, blue/purple and purple/red. They all behaved so well. I think they were a little nervous about being in there. Lauren was so excited about getting her nails done that she was falling over herself just to get to the nail salon. When we got home, we opened presents before eating lunch and having cake. Among other things, Lauren got some pink and purple frosted nail polish. So, what did I find her doing that very afternoon? Using her new nail polish, of course, to paint over her freshly done nails. ♥, TiffanyAnne

That was Mister Mike. Yup. I knew it. How do you know it? Because you called him SWEETIEEE. ♥, TiffanyAnne

T: You guys are so cute. I hope someday I have kids and cute as you. L: But you don't have any babies. T: Good point. What should I do about that? L: Well, you could ask for some for Christmas. T: Do they give out babies at Christmas? L: Oh.... No, only pretend babies. (translation: baby dolls) T: Yeah... L: Well, what about for your birthday? ♥, TiffanyAnne

I forgot a drink today. Yeah. I saw it on the floor of the garage. So what did you do? Oh, they have little milks there that I can buy. Who bought it for you? We have lunch numbers to buy things with. What's your lunch number? I don't know. I can't remember it. Well, let's practice. It's 5-3-3-2. 5-3-2-2. No, 5-3- 3 -2. 5-3-2-2? No. 5-3-3-2. 5-3... 3... 2? Yes. Oh...so there's two three's? Yup. So, what is it again? 5-3-2-2. ♥, TiffanyAnne

Let us examine this adorable little adventurous gal, Dora the Explorer . Are her parents concerned for her? I would be if she were my kid. Her best friend is a red boot wearing purple monkey whose name is, appropriately, Boots. Monkeys can carry diseases, kid. But, I guess, having her own television show and all she can afford to have an immunized monkey. One that talk to boot. Get it--to boot ? Because the monkey's name is Boots? Ha-ha. Dora has regular run-ins with a fox in a mask à la Zoro . The fox, like the monkey, is also appropriately named. He is a kleptomaniac. You know--he's got sticky fingers, he likes to swipe things. Which brings me to his name: Swiper . Why is the deal with the swiping Swiper stalking the monkey toting tot? I don't know. In today's episode, Dora was chased by alligators . Two alligators . That could jump. Seriously? Her parents only wanted her to go to a soccer game and all of a sudden she's running from two alligators that really ...

So, the baby is sick. (Can I really call him a baby anymore? He's 15 months old. But he's still the baby. ^_^) He's just got a little cold but he feels miserable. On most days, the screams coming from his mouth are excited shrieks--but not today. No, today he is eliciting only the crying and screaming that is accompanied by streams of tears. You'd like to hold him in the rocking chair all day long and you know he'd probably like that too but that isn't exactly an option. You've got another child that needs your attention too. Chores to do, mouths to feed, hair to pull out. How do you juggle all of it? ♥, TiffanyAnne

Just picked up Alex from Kindergarden for the first time. (That line, omg.) Spent me into a spiral of reminiscing. I was 19 and he was 14 months when we first met. Now, four years later, there are few things in life that I love as much as I love that boy. ♥, TiffanyAnne

I let him watch a TV show after his nap and he picked out Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends . He likes Miss Spider. It is a fun show. With lots of bugs in a family together. In today's episode, they are dressed up as knights. Very cool. On Noggin, before a show comes on there is a pleasant female voice telling you the virtues of this particular show. She generally mentions something about how it is good for preschoolers because it encourages their imagination or something to that effect. He hears this and looks at me. "Wait." He thinks for a moment. "Is this show for pre-schoolers?" And in that sentence what he meant to say was, "If this show is for preschoolers, I (a rising kindergardener) am way to old for that baby stuff!" ♥, TiffanyAnne

Jenny: "Mmm...somebody smells good." Me: "Oh, I just put some lotion on." Lauren ::sniffs my legs:: "Tiff, you're smelly!"

Francesca, the daughter of my very dear friend Sharon, falls right between Alex and Lauren agewise. Some mornings, I will ring Sharon and invite her to an impromptu playdate. Almost all of our playdates are impromptu. Alex and Lauren get quite excited when I ask them if they would like me to call Francesa's mommy. Today, I was on the phone with Sharon and I heard a resounding excited squeal on the other side of the conversation. Since this squeal was not Sharon, I can only take this to mean that Francesca also gets quite excited with the prospect of coming over and playing with my lovely charges. But then what happens? These darn kids have several very loud and tearful tiffs. 'Tis so frustrating. When this happens, Sharon and I send them outside (somehow playgrounds resolve problems) and talk, sometimes about deeper topics, but more often than not we go from dealing with the frustrating children in our lives to talking about the frustrating men in our lives.

Davis's 1st birthday is tomorrow. For their birthdays, I get the kids clothes and books. Toys come at Christmas time. Apparently, giving clothes and books makes me a lame nanny--oh well. ^_^ Anyway, how cute is this shirt? Not only is this cute, but it is also quite apt. Davis is a very happy baby and always smiling at everyone. He makes my life way easier.

I had a rough day today. Because of how my work day ended, it has been chalked up as my worst day at my current job ever. I've had my fair share of rough days ; many more than I've mentioned. Days that make me question my desire to have lots of kiddos of my own. Days that stress me out from my very core to the tips of my long, well-manicured hands. However. Every time I've ever had a bad day, it ended well. The kids hugged me and kissed me and I left the stress behind. And it was all good. Today was different. Today was the first day in four years that I've left work and not just let it go. The screaming, the fighting, the general misbehaving. It drove me absolutely crazy. And, while the older two were mostly fighting or in time out, the baby was super hot with fever and feeling miserable. It was just a miserable day. Except when Sharon was over. That made my day way better. Yay for friends. I don't know what has gotten into them, but I hope that Wednesday is bet...

A couple of months ago, Jeff was writing out my paycheck when Lauren asked me why I needed the money. "To buy socks," I told her. That was the truth, too; I needed new socks. So the wee one up and decides that *she* wants to pay me. I insisted that I did not want to take any of her money but she really really wanted to give me some money. "So you can buy your socks!" She said with a grin. So, I relent. I take a dingy copper penny from her and pocket it. I promise her if it turns out that I buy socks and don't need her penny, that I'll give her the $.01 back. Which I do the following week. Today, I'm helping Alex count the money in his piggy bank. It turns out to be $16.85. "You can borrow some if you want." "Borrow your money? For what?" "To buy your socks!"