I'm loving my new-to-me van. I admit that I hesitated at first when we started looking for a car that would fit three car seats. Partially because I love my old Honda CR-V - compact, but sporty, lots of room in the trunk. I traveled cross country in that cherry red specimen three times, a faithful servant and friend for almost 10 years. Yes, the "soccer mom" factor also crossed my mind for a millisecond, but after some research I was convinced that an SUV was more expensive upfront, not to mention for gas & maintenance. A van it would be.
Now that I've lived with my Honda Odyssey for 2 months, I really dig it! Immediately, there was the "wow" factor just because I moved from a 1999 Honda to a 2008 Honda. We opted for the mid level model with leather interior, which feels luxurious to this mom of three and cleans up so easily. Although the trunk looks smaller, it has a "dip plate" meaning it has storage space that actually delves below the foot plane of the rest of the car. I can fit a double and a single stroller in the dip plate such that I barely break the foot plane and feel like I have the whole trunk to use for groceries, luggage or the rest of the kid junk that accompanies us. Not to mention that when we need to move stuff, we'll have seats that fold down into the car itself. We'll have to try that feature out at the drive-in movies too - instant room for little sleeping bags! Pretty handy, Honda.
We also found a model that has the optional middle row middle seat. It's pretty exciting to be able to take more passengers than just our family. Not that I would put an average sized adult in the middle row middle seat for a road trip, but it works great for kids and petite family members (shout out to the J-crew!). There is quite a bit of sticker shock at the gas station, but with a tank of 19+ gallons, I don't have to stop as often. And I get the full 20 mpg as promised on the sticker - an unexpected, welcome sticker shock! My CR-V only got about 21/22 mpg, so I'm rather impressed on that front too.
Speaking of trips, we'll definitely want to employ these features on some family vacations and road trips - Jen & Allie, SF is first on the list! We'll even have room for a stow away or two. Any other suggestions for where to visit next? =)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Overheard in Tomooka Town
"Farts are fun. They can take you to new places."
- V, talking about FORTS, in a new fort in the living room
Anytime we say "E, don't do that!" she quickly responds "But I already did it!"
-E, about anything she's not supposed to do, pick a place
V is talking to M in church, and she interrupts him to start coooing back. V stops and says "M, no talking in church!"
- V, St. A's cry room
A new counting song learned at Papa and Nana's church, which is supposed to rhyme:
"1-2-3, Jesus loves you, 1-2-3, going to heaven"
-V & E in the bathtub, so close guys!
Me to Mark: "I was outside with three kids, two shaved ice..."
Mark: "...and Tiger's blood..."
- us, referencing the shaved ice flavors from below zero. He still makes me laugh!
"When Mary says 'awww' that means 'i love you' - she says that a lot to me!"
- V about Mary's cooing sounds, after bedtime stories
Me: "To a baby, 'you suck hard' can be a compliment"
- After feeding Mary, fast asleep for the night (we hope!)
- V, talking about FORTS, in a new fort in the living room
Anytime we say "E, don't do that!" she quickly responds "But I already did it!"
-E, about anything she's not supposed to do, pick a place
V is talking to M in church, and she interrupts him to start coooing back. V stops and says "M, no talking in church!"
- V, St. A's cry room
A new counting song learned at Papa and Nana's church, which is supposed to rhyme:
"1-2-3, Jesus loves you, 1-2-3, going to heaven"
-V & E in the bathtub, so close guys!
Me to Mark: "I was outside with three kids, two shaved ice..."
Mark: "...and Tiger's blood..."
- us, referencing the shaved ice flavors from below zero. He still makes me laugh!
"When Mary says 'awww' that means 'i love you' - she says that a lot to me!"
- V about Mary's cooing sounds, after bedtime stories
Me: "To a baby, 'you suck hard' can be a compliment"
- After feeding Mary, fast asleep for the night (we hope!)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Random Thoughts
Is it cruel or unusual to use my spit so that the kids' hair stops sticking up straight?
Someday We'll Laugh About This...
Argh! Today the kids have been productive...but naughty. Sometimes those two overlap in interesting ways.
Auntie Julia so generously gave her time yesterday cleaning up the kids' rooms. This is great motivation to me to stick to my cleaning too. Thanks, Julia!
This morning, Vincent, Erin and I spent time ensuring that their rooms stayed clean. This involved picking up all the books that inevitably come out at bedtime and as little ones "fall asleep", putting additional outfit options away, and general decluttering. As a reward for keeping their rooms clean, we talked about how their rooms could be painted or decorated with some themed items I had bought at Target on clearance.
I left the kids in Vincent's room playing nicely when Mary needed to be fed. Eventually, I realized the playful babble had become deafening silence. Although silence is rare and enjoyable at the moment, it usually means they are up to no good! And indeed they were. From the top of the stairs I could see two little arms reaching up and tearing wallpaper off the wall! This was completely logical to their little minds because we had just talked about redecorating their rooms. It was a project we have thought about pursuing, but not in that fashion!
After we all cleaned up that mess, I put Mary back to sleep. The three of us went downstairs to start some arts and crafts. I thought this would be a good time to give Erin's bangs a trim. I got out the necessary equipment and had already wet her hair. Then, Mary started to cry, so I thoughtlessly went to her, leaving the equipment up on the counter, out of eyesight. I trusted the other two to continue with their crafts, but they had some new crafts in mind. When I came downstairs with Mary, there were several locks of Erin's hair on the floor. The odd thing was that two spots were cut in different ways - and Vincent had not tattled on Erin as soon as she did something. My suspicions were confirmed when Erin pointed to her partner in crime saying "he did it too!" So much for saving money by doing it myself - we will be off to get a short hair cut in the coming days.
I did end up saving a lock of Erin's golden brown hair. Despite my frustration at the time, I still treasure this time with them - how curious and active they are, and how unique is everything about them from the tip of their toes to hairs on their heads (although slightly less right now). But these two incidents required a time out. I marched them up to their bedrooms and set them down to think about both the wallpaper removing and the hair cutting incidents. They actually did not resist this - phew!
The stories continue - true to our blog title again! As I sorted through mail and clutter in the family room, the kids started playing with some empty boxes I had set up to use for decluttering. It was the classic picture of kids with empty boxes - climbing all the way inside, imagining them as various vehicles or interesting places. Very cute scenes will remain in my mind and memories. As Erin observed me using some small boxes, she also started "cleaning" or rather dumping everything she touched into a big box. A big tin of cookies Mark was to take to the office had been forgotten in the entry way. Erin stopped long enough to ask (leaning her lesson from the morning's events?) if she could put this in the box. Although I said "no, please don't touch those" she proceeded to lift the tin into the box. Literally every cookie slid out of the tin and into the box. I'm sure that wasn't her intention, but those tins are not toddler proof! Another exciting mess to clean up. We are on a roll today! The kids are doing the bulk of the cleaning, however, so that is some progress there!
Another vignette from the day brings us up to the present moment. Both the kids are up in bed for a nap. Little Erin, so independent ("I'll do it myself!") and particular (she knows what she wants), finds the decals, again for decorating her room. By the time I discover she is still awake, she has opened them and started sticking them to each other. It is a fixable predicament, and not a big mess, but what else can my kids get into today???!?
I am sad because I cannot trust them to be in sight or touch of anything anymore. But then again, I don't know why I ever thought it wouldn't be a problem, sooner or later. Perhaps it is misplaced trust, laziness on my part, or just too many balls in the air right now with a newborn added into the mix. We'll get through it, and they will grow (I hope more responsible), and I will trust them again (for better and worse, I'm sure). And someday I'll laugh about this...but not today!
Auntie Julia so generously gave her time yesterday cleaning up the kids' rooms. This is great motivation to me to stick to my cleaning too. Thanks, Julia!
This morning, Vincent, Erin and I spent time ensuring that their rooms stayed clean. This involved picking up all the books that inevitably come out at bedtime and as little ones "fall asleep", putting additional outfit options away, and general decluttering. As a reward for keeping their rooms clean, we talked about how their rooms could be painted or decorated with some themed items I had bought at Target on clearance.
I left the kids in Vincent's room playing nicely when Mary needed to be fed. Eventually, I realized the playful babble had become deafening silence. Although silence is rare and enjoyable at the moment, it usually means they are up to no good! And indeed they were. From the top of the stairs I could see two little arms reaching up and tearing wallpaper off the wall! This was completely logical to their little minds because we had just talked about redecorating their rooms. It was a project we have thought about pursuing, but not in that fashion!
After we all cleaned up that mess, I put Mary back to sleep. The three of us went downstairs to start some arts and crafts. I thought this would be a good time to give Erin's bangs a trim. I got out the necessary equipment and had already wet her hair. Then, Mary started to cry, so I thoughtlessly went to her, leaving the equipment up on the counter, out of eyesight. I trusted the other two to continue with their crafts, but they had some new crafts in mind. When I came downstairs with Mary, there were several locks of Erin's hair on the floor. The odd thing was that two spots were cut in different ways - and Vincent had not tattled on Erin as soon as she did something. My suspicions were confirmed when Erin pointed to her partner in crime saying "he did it too!" So much for saving money by doing it myself - we will be off to get a short hair cut in the coming days.
I did end up saving a lock of Erin's golden brown hair. Despite my frustration at the time, I still treasure this time with them - how curious and active they are, and how unique is everything about them from the tip of their toes to hairs on their heads (although slightly less right now). But these two incidents required a time out. I marched them up to their bedrooms and set them down to think about both the wallpaper removing and the hair cutting incidents. They actually did not resist this - phew!
The stories continue - true to our blog title again! As I sorted through mail and clutter in the family room, the kids started playing with some empty boxes I had set up to use for decluttering. It was the classic picture of kids with empty boxes - climbing all the way inside, imagining them as various vehicles or interesting places. Very cute scenes will remain in my mind and memories. As Erin observed me using some small boxes, she also started "cleaning" or rather dumping everything she touched into a big box. A big tin of cookies Mark was to take to the office had been forgotten in the entry way. Erin stopped long enough to ask (leaning her lesson from the morning's events?) if she could put this in the box. Although I said "no, please don't touch those" she proceeded to lift the tin into the box. Literally every cookie slid out of the tin and into the box. I'm sure that wasn't her intention, but those tins are not toddler proof! Another exciting mess to clean up. We are on a roll today! The kids are doing the bulk of the cleaning, however, so that is some progress there!
Another vignette from the day brings us up to the present moment. Both the kids are up in bed for a nap. Little Erin, so independent ("I'll do it myself!") and particular (she knows what she wants), finds the decals, again for decorating her room. By the time I discover she is still awake, she has opened them and started sticking them to each other. It is a fixable predicament, and not a big mess, but what else can my kids get into today???!?
I am sad because I cannot trust them to be in sight or touch of anything anymore. But then again, I don't know why I ever thought it wouldn't be a problem, sooner or later. Perhaps it is misplaced trust, laziness on my part, or just too many balls in the air right now with a newborn added into the mix. We'll get through it, and they will grow (I hope more responsible), and I will trust them again (for better and worse, I'm sure). And someday I'll laugh about this...but not today!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Making music
Today we were even more true to our blog title. Erin woke up an hour earlier than usual, which throws me off because then I'm not dressed and ready when she starts the day. I think I'm also not used to juggling three (when does that third arm grow in?), and especially when I'm tired I feel more behind than usual.
Vincent and Erin get better at amusing themselves. Sometimes this involves huge messes, but it can also mean several minutes of peace for Mom (I appreciate it!). This morning, Erin stumbled upon the guitar hero controllers, and Vincent soon followed suit. They intuitively put the straps over their heads and delighted in playing the guitars and singing. Twinkle twinkle little star off key and out of sync ensued for several minutes.
Erin loves to climb. Today she pulled a chair up next to the vacuum cleaner and proceeded to dance. When I told her that the chair wasn't a good place to dance (not too stable), she held on to the vacuum while dancing, as if it was more secure. Then she stopped, began to lift her legs as if she would climb the vacuum cleaner. She tilted her head to the side and gave me the most impish smile! How do kids know to do that? Are these universally understood or is that something that is modeled for her?
Erin also decided that she would "wuhrt" today. She found a hammer and has been banging it on all different tables and chairs. When the kids started up the stairs for nap time, Erin says "okay, I'm going to wuhrt on my bed". Once up stairs, Vincent thought this was a good idea too. But, he convinced her that a hanger would make a better hammer and took the play hammer off her hands. After I put the baby down, I find them both banging away on Erin's toddler bed. Vincent also taught her how to use the longer side of the head of the hammer as a paint roller. He later explained to me in great detail how each piece of the pants hanger he was using had a task - some parts painted, some parts pulled off the old paint, some parts collected paint chips.
And even though Vincent went to bed with the hanger and Erin with the hammer, somehow the hammer ended up in Vincent's bed at the end of nap time. Wiley kids...
Vincent and Erin get better at amusing themselves. Sometimes this involves huge messes, but it can also mean several minutes of peace for Mom (I appreciate it!). This morning, Erin stumbled upon the guitar hero controllers, and Vincent soon followed suit. They intuitively put the straps over their heads and delighted in playing the guitars and singing. Twinkle twinkle little star off key and out of sync ensued for several minutes.
Erin loves to climb. Today she pulled a chair up next to the vacuum cleaner and proceeded to dance. When I told her that the chair wasn't a good place to dance (not too stable), she held on to the vacuum while dancing, as if it was more secure. Then she stopped, began to lift her legs as if she would climb the vacuum cleaner. She tilted her head to the side and gave me the most impish smile! How do kids know to do that? Are these universally understood or is that something that is modeled for her?
Erin also decided that she would "wuhrt" today. She found a hammer and has been banging it on all different tables and chairs. When the kids started up the stairs for nap time, Erin says "okay, I'm going to wuhrt on my bed". Once up stairs, Vincent thought this was a good idea too. But, he convinced her that a hanger would make a better hammer and took the play hammer off her hands. After I put the baby down, I find them both banging away on Erin's toddler bed. Vincent also taught her how to use the longer side of the head of the hammer as a paint roller. He later explained to me in great detail how each piece of the pants hanger he was using had a task - some parts painted, some parts pulled off the old paint, some parts collected paint chips.
And even though Vincent went to bed with the hanger and Erin with the hammer, somehow the hammer ended up in Vincent's bed at the end of nap time. Wiley kids...
Overheard in Tomooka Town
Vincent: There's a back hoe loader!
Mommy: That's right, you sure know a lot of different trucks.
Vincent: I know everything.
Mommy: You do? What about 4x4?
Vincent: Oh...well, everything about trucks.
Mommy: Really? What's a hummer?
Vincent: Not singing, Mommy, trucks!
- in the van, going down Mountain Ave
After a few minutes of successfully playing guess a number 1-10:
Vincent: 3
Erin: 48
Mommy: That's too big, try a number 1-10
Erin: purple!
- in the van, going up Euclid
Much of the time it's not what the kids say, but how they say it:
boo-ut = book
pajaminas = pajamas
cin-cint = Vincent
Mary Chair = Mary Clare
wuhrt = work
furfur = Christopher (friend at E's school)
glolondola = gondola
...And their cute, little voices. I need to get those on audio/video more frequently before they are gone forever!
Speaking of how quickly time passes, here's one of my favorite stories from Vincent (about 2 years):
V: Will we see any trash trucks today?
M: I don't know, keep your eyes peeled!
V: Eyes don't peel! (said with genuine joy as he laughed at his mom!)
Mommy: That's right, you sure know a lot of different trucks.
Vincent: I know everything.
Mommy: You do? What about 4x4?
Vincent: Oh...well, everything about trucks.
Mommy: Really? What's a hummer?
Vincent: Not singing, Mommy, trucks!
- in the van, going down Mountain Ave
After a few minutes of successfully playing guess a number 1-10:
Vincent: 3
Erin: 48
Mommy: That's too big, try a number 1-10
Erin: purple!
- in the van, going up Euclid
Much of the time it's not what the kids say, but how they say it:
boo-ut = book
pajaminas = pajamas
cin-cint = Vincent
Mary Chair = Mary Clare
wuhrt = work
furfur = Christopher (friend at E's school)
glolondola = gondola
...And their cute, little voices. I need to get those on audio/video more frequently before they are gone forever!
Speaking of how quickly time passes, here's one of my favorite stories from Vincent (about 2 years):
V: Will we see any trash trucks today?
M: I don't know, keep your eyes peeled!
V: Eyes don't peel! (said with genuine joy as he laughed at his mom!)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Overheard in Tomooka Town
Ever heard of the site Overheard in NY? I can't promise to meet the hilarity encountered by thousands of people in New York City, but I will be showcasing the best of Tomooka Town in "Overheard" posts.
Erin was on a roll this week...
Mommy: Erin, do you want mac and cheese for dinner or McDonald's?
Erin: Mac and cheese at McDonald's!
The girl knows what she wants.
- in the van
Vincent: I'm the big brother.
Erin: And I'm the girl brother.
- in the van
Erin was on a roll this week...
Mommy: Erin, do you want mac and cheese for dinner or McDonald's?
Erin: Mac and cheese at McDonald's!
The girl knows what she wants.
- in the van
Vincent: I'm the big brother.
Erin: And I'm the girl brother.
- in the van
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