Wednesday, June 29, 2011

IKEA Box

My AGW and I went to IKEA this weekend as the kids were with some grandparents.  We love IKEA and it seems whenever we leave the house without kids we always try to make enough time to go to IKEA.

We have a room (sun room) in our house that has always been tough to keep furniture in mostly because its purpose is ever changing.  We once had some rattan furniture we got from the previous owners, mostly because we didn't have any furniture to put int he room.  After a while we got tired of the old rattan leaf print crap and got some furniture from IKEA.  It started in the sun room and migrated to the Living Room when we got rid of an old sectional that had met its time.  We wanted to get something that could be a sleeper and ended up with a futon from IKEA.  It served its purpose to a degree but was not the right furniture and has been relegated tot he kids play area in the basement.  I am sure it will be great for sleepovers.  So after a garage sale and saved money from refunds of things we went to IKEA once again.

I thought the purpose of the trip was to get new furniture but I think initially I forgot to inform my AGW.  After finding a few other items she got into the buying mood and we found a couch and a chair.  It all fit in the van and home we went.

The great for the kids is that just about everything from IKEA comes in boxes.  The couch had a rather large box and the Boy nicely asked if they could have it for play.  I decided they could have it after I recycled the rest of the boxes and plastic.  Within five minutes I was ready to tear it up and recycle it as well.  They were both in timeout and I was eyeing the Cabernet on the counter but I decided they would get a second chance with all the initial box excitement.  They wanted to decorate it so it had to be moved into their basement play area.  I believe from now on we will just buy stuff my AGW and I want from IKEA and give them the boxes and stop buying toys for them.  There has been some various yelling, screaming and crying from them but they are having fun and my sun room is starting to look a little more like an adult room.

Monday, June 20, 2011

My Food!

The Girl is my little foodie.  She has been since she could start eating solids.  We go to a local market and the people always give her samples and she gobbles it up.  I think once she even asked to go to the market because she was hungry.

Recently she has eating more and more of my food.  I recently got some chicken wings with my favorite sauce to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  The next day I had some left over and was going to enjoy them for lunch when I hear "Want some?"  I didn't think she would like them but she ate two of the five wings I had left.

For Fathers Day I got a full rack of ribs knowing that it would last me two meals.  Today for lunch  I had plans to finish those ribs and again I hear that sweet little voice, "Want some?"  I give her a tast and of the 5 bones I have left she eat two of them.

I think my lunch time is going to have to start waiting until she is napping or I may have to hide while making and eating My Food!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Other Kids Yard

We recently had new neighbors move in behind us.  This is awesome in many ways.  The loud barking dogs are gone, they actually clean up after their dog regularly (very quiet dog as well), and the new neighbors are very nice people.  The issue is the stuff in their yard.  My kids will run to the fence to stare and look at their stuff.

First off they have a bigger and nicer swing set.  This just makes me feel like a bad Dad.  No matter what, our swing set is useless to my children now since it doesn't have a rope ladder, flags, and a rock wall.  I almost forgot the tire swing underneath the platform where our whole family could sleep.

Second thing is they have a trampoline.  We are not fond of trampolines but it is there so we are stuck.  I really don't think we need one either as the kids pretty much bounce on everything anyways even if it is not meant for bouncing.

Fortunately they are very nice people and don't mind the kids coming over to play.  Although that creates another problem because they don't mind so I believe I will either get a pool ladder for the fence or install a gate.  Hopefully my kids will soon realize the grass isn't greener over there whent hey are playing and I jump in our pool.    

Friday, June 10, 2011

How To Guide To Upsetting Your Kids

Upsetting your kids can be done with two simple words: Garage Sale!

We are having a garage sale to try to empty our house somewhat from all the stuff the kids have outgrown.  The Boy is mostly OK with it unless we start going through his current toys.  The Girl though is having a little trouble letting go.  If anyone bought a toy even if she hasn't played with it in forever, she had to have it.  She got a little upset a few times but not outwardly throwing a tantrum.  The table with the toys became the "no touch" table. Basically I was vying for "Dad of the Year" or maybe in the Girl's terms "Meanie of the Year".

I can't believe the amount of stuff we had for this garage sale.  It still amazes me for how much was sold today at how much is left.  We have the incredibly growing children, the Boy at 6 1/2 is about 4' 2" to 4' 3" and the Girl is about 39" at 3 years old.  The Boy in some clothing is wearing sizes 8-10.  Granted he can't keep a pair of pants around his waist.  

So tomorrow I am sure I will cement my "Meanie of the Year" award when I start selling her old toys for cheap.  And I hope for the Boy's sake the crib finally sells as he asks me about every five minutes if it is sold yet, I think he has his eyes on some Legos and thinks that money is all all for the plastic.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

My Little Helpers

One of the great thing about having kids is at times they like to help.  I will take all the help I can get even though the help I get turns into far more work.  They like to help bake cookies, sometimes clean up (especially the cookie bowl), put stuff in the grocery cart, spend the money, and add to my receding hair line.

This morning we had some errands to run.  Usually it is like pulling teeth to try to get ready to get out of the house, remember the stuff I need and where I am trying to go.  In the process of getting ready sometimes it is like doing it times three: The Boy, The Girl and Myself.

This particular morning it was a little different.  The Boy has lately been trying to help The Girl do stuff or get her seat buckled in the car, I am for this generousness but usually The Girl doesn't want his help.  This morning as I am throwing their clothes at them and trying to get some other things ready for our trip to Hobby Lobby The Boy decides to help his sister get dressed.  She has no issue getting the clothes off, but getting them is an issue.  I would say he did a decent job as the shorts and underwear were on right.  The only issue was the tank top, he totally forgot to put here arms through the arm holes and couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.

Hopefully the helpfulness continues but I am not holding my breath.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

What a Week to Start Summer Break

Summer has unofficial started with the passing of Memorial Day and the end of the school year.  This past week has been quite interesting for all of us.  The Boy has completed Kindergarten and is now considered a First Grader, the Girl will be starting pre-school next school year and I will be the Physical Education Teacher at my kids' school.

First The Boy has completed Kindergarten.  It is very exciting.  The school had a promotion and awards ceremony for the school.  At the end of the promotion ceremony the Kindergarten class is promoted into the elementary school and 1st grade.  For the kindergarten students it was a long ceremony but they held it together pretty good and were very happy to become part of the elementary.

The Girl has been in the preschool extended day care since I took up coaching the school's track and field team. She liked this as she played with  other kids her age.  She already wants to go to school and will get to start next pre-school next year.

Finally, I got a job at the kids' school.  I will be the a part time Physical Education teacher.  I am very excited and it should be a great opportunity for me now that the kids are growing up.  I know many of the students already from coaching Cross Country and Track at the school so it will hopefully be an easy transition for me back into the working world.  I equate it to being like a professional athlete as I will be paid to play games, although without the professional athlete part.