Category: Kids

So the other day I did the unthinkable. I went to Target and bought pajamas … for myself. That’s right. Sure, I bought some long sleeved shirts for the kids, but I neglected to buy them pajamas. I know. What was I thinking? (For some reason, I can always be talked into buying pajamas, toothbrushes, and books–I’d probably buy a complete stranger a pair of pajamas, a toothbrush, and a book if he/she asked.)

It didn’t help that these pajamas have dogs and milk-bones on them, like so:

I mean, who wouldn’t want a pair.

So, yesterday at Target, I found two more pairs, in the boys’ section (shh, don’t tell Kyra, but it’s the reason Andrew’s wearing them). Same exact pajamas, red, with dogs and milk-bones. I wondered if Andrew would want to wear the same pajamas as me. Kyra–she was all over that. Remember those mother-daughter Laura Ashley dresses? Well, let’s just say it’s probably a good thing there aren’t any of those stores around here.

But with Andrew, I wasn’t sure. I’ve crossed over that threshold and now have the power to embarrass. And like a small nuclear device, just the mention of using it gets a reaction.

But the pajamas? Just too cool. By the time we walked through the door last night, Andrew had dubbed us: Team Milk-bone. They changed into them before dinner.

I’m hoping they change out of them sometime today. Go Team Milk-bone.

Today I need to pick up my Thanksgiving-in-a-box. I know. The sacrilege. How my foodie friends even read this blog is beyond me. We informally priced it one year and figured Thanksgiving-in-a-box costs the same as buying all the ingredients and making it from scratch.

But here’s the beauty part: tomorrow, when everyone else is busy turning their kitchens into disaster areas, I’ll pop everything into the oven, go write for few hours, then take everything out of the oven.

Now that’s something to be thankful for.

So, the other day when Andrew went roller skating, he brought back two flying monkeys (uh, stuffed ones, not the real deal from Oz), one brown for him, and one pink for Kyra.

They (the monkeys, not the kids) have little capes and masks and rubber bands in their arms. Their little hands are pockets, so you can slip your fingers in there, pull back on their tails, and zing! They fly across the room.

Upon landing, however, the make the most hideous noise known to mankind. I am tempted to fling one at the floor, record it, and post it here to prove it is the most hideous noise known to mankind.

As you’ve probably guessed, it’s all I’ve been hearing for the past few days, because while it’s the most hideous noise known to mankind, it is also the noise guaranteed to make kids laugh.

So, the other morning, when the kids wouldn’t budge from bed, I went in search of the flying, hideous-noise-making monkeys (one under the dining room table, the other next to the bathroom sink). Then, loving mom that I am, I flung the flying monkeys at the kids.

Monkeys hit child; monkeys make the most hideous noise known to mankind. Child wakes up laughing.

So much for revenge.

So, we walked into school this morning, with me, carrying Kyra’s snow princess costume on a hanger, and caused a small riot.

Everyone oohed and ahed. Or rather, the adults did. The little boys strutted around and acted tough. The little girls crowded around the dress and declared it the best costume ever. Kyra took it all in with a shy, but very pleased, smile on her face.

Like I’ve said, she knows how to dress. Chalk one up for the snow princess costume.

The fifth and six graders don’t get to dress up. They do get some “drop everything and read” time, plus roller skating. Andrew’s been doing some calculations for extra book projects (turn in twelve and you get to go to Valley Fair at the end of the school year). He’s turned in a couple, done some extra credit projects that substitute for a book project. By his calculations, he figures reading Harry Potter 5 will take care of the rest.

He’s on page 12, but hanging in there so far.

Tonight we’ll go trick or treating, but that means we won’t be home to hand out candy. This would be bad except hardly anyone comes to our house and we live in the sort of neighborhood where you can leave a bowl of candy on the front step and everyone will politely take one or two pieces and that’s it.

So, minus any riots started by snow princess sightings, it should be a good night.

Today’s adventure involved a trip to the combined apple orchard/pumpkin patch/corn maze at Afton Apples. They also have a petting zoo and a playground. As you’ve probably guessed, we’re talking nonstop fun. If you want, you can run the movie they have on the Afton Apples website and view said fun.

Once we turned off all the main highways and hit the two lane, real farm-type country roads, the kids got really excited. Kyra bounced in her seat and said:

“Oh, look, Mommy! It’s the place where aliens can land their spaceships!”

What did she see?

A cornfield.

I think a few more trips to the country may be in order.

We also drove by another relic of Americana–the drive-in movie theater, a concept Andrew found fascinating.

A few pictures from today. I’m going to (try to) place the majority under a cut, but I’m not sure it will work.

Deep in the depths of the corn maze. Will they every get out?

Continue reading “Constantly A-mazed”