There she rolls!

We spent Sunday afternoon at Claire's friend Maeve's 5th birthday at the Anderson roller skating rink. After spending the first 15 minutes discussing with the Anderson natives how the place hasn't changed since middle school - not the carpet, bathrooms, snack bar or music. Do roller skating rinks ever change? Nope.

Claire suited up into her head-turning, stylish rentals and promptly wiped out, with Jason giving her a yank back to her feet before she hit the floor.

Claire & Maeve

It took them 45 minutes to make a pass around the floor - Claire kept the same scowl on her face all the way around while big kids whizzed by.






After fueling up on some pizza, ice cream and cake frosting (why bother with the cake?) she begged to go back out onto the floor.... and got the hang of it!

She shuffled her way around and around with only a few bobbles - but no hands needed! Chloe and I watched from the sidelines and cheered her on.

Patrick & Bailee

Then came the small meltdown when it was time to leave, a definite indicator of a good time!

Happy Birthday, Maeve!

Or so I thought...

... that I was going to survive this week.



Jason is out of town for the week - first time in a while, and I was looking forward to this week with dread. Chloe is in the I-must-be-held-by-mommy-constantly stage every week night, making things a bit of a challenge to get dinner ready. I just find it difficult to hover over boiling pots or open a 400 degree oven door with a screaming child glued to your knee cap.


Claire was very sad about Jason going, but trying not to be too pouty about it. We walked in her classroom Monday morning and she had a sad look on her face - a genuine one, not the fake lip poke. Her teacher asked her what was wrong and the crocodile tears started to flow - "daddy is out of town and not back until Friday..."


Monday night we walked in the house around 5:45 (early!) and I got dinner started. About half way through dinner I noticed that there was NOT something clinging to my leg. I glanced around - and Chloe and Claire were playing together! Riding their trains around the house and cooking in their own kitchen. It was fabulous! To commemorate the occasion I even snapped a photo of our lovely dinner: Parmesan crusted baked tilapia, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, garlic bow tie pasta and salad - and fully intended to post a blog entry about how my little Chloe is becoming so independent! *sniff*

Then Tuesday came. When grocery shopping this weekend, I picked out some quick and easy meals that would not make a ton and were kid friendly. Claire asked what was on the menu tonight while we were driving home from school - Tacos! Yes, the one from the "kit." Claire asked why we just didn't go through the Taco Bell drive through if we were having tacos? Insulted, I explain that HER mom cooks meals for her. Not (gasp) pick up some heart attack in a paper bag. (haha - like Old El Paso makes a "healthy" taco...)

I knew I was in trouble when I walked in the door and Chloe had the death scissor grip of her legs around my waist. Maybe she realized that she forgot to cling on Monday? Whatever the reason, there was nothing that could convince her to put her feet on the floor - not a snack, not a trip to the potty with big sis, not refilling the dog's food bowl. Nothing.

So, the tacos were cooked with one arm - the other toting a 26 lb toddler. Next time we're going to Taco Bell.

A Valentine's Dance!

The excitement has been building in our house all week.... for the annual Goddard School Valentine's Dinner and Dance! What is more cool then having mom and dad and your little sister enjoy a hot dog, a bounce house, and a awesome DJ playing all your favorite tunes in your school's gym??

Before bed last night Claire insisted that she and Chloe HAD to wear "red dresses with leggings underneath." Understanding the importance of being fashionable to the school's big event, I dug out appropriate outfits.

When we arrived, the party was in full swing and Claire immediately sprinted outside to the "bouncy thing." It was freezing outside, but Chloe and I hung around until Jason got there - then headed inside to check out the dining options. Claire and Jason eventually came in to join us for a hot dog, chips and huge cookies - all number one fav's for kids!

The Valentine's "Tattoo:"

The gym was packed with kids, the big kids in the front and the little ones clinging to mom and dad's legs. Claire and her pals danced the night away to "Ride that train" and "The Hokey Pokey" and others like it.

Claire and gal pal Ava:

Chloe and buddy Carter (his mom is Claire's teacher):

Caleb working on standing alone so he can hit the dance floor:

Chloe retreating to the corner when the big kid dancers get a little wild:

It was a very nice party with only a small meltdown when it was time to go home. We really appreciate the school putting on this event!

A snowy vacation!

We've been saying for years that we were going to go visit my cousin Carrie and go skiing in the Poconos. (So she's not really a 'cousin' but she is my mom's mom's sister's daughter's daughter. Did you follow that?) Regardless, she and my mom have always been like cousins, so cousin it is. Carrie and her husband, Brian, and her boys, Andrew and Michael, have come down to the lake a couple of times to visit, always leaving with the invitation for us to come up in the winter to visit and ski.

Finally we decided this winter was the time, and my mom and dad booked their flight from Florida and mine from South Carolina - and decided February would be a good time where snow would be a sure thing. After all, they have a condo in the Poconos near Jack Frost / Big Boulder ski area and a snow mobile all about 2 hours north of their home outside of Philly.

We head out for a VERY early flight out of Greenville - girls happy (so far) with their sausage McMuffins. The flights actually went pretty well even with a plane change in Atlanta with a cold rain that eventually moved up the East coast and turned into "Snowmageddon."

Friday we hung around the condo and played with the girls in the couple of inches of snow that was outside. It doesn't take much to thrill them when it comes to snow!

Saturday we headed to Jack Frost early in the morning to enroll Claire in the Snow Monsters ski school. According to the weather guy, it was 16 degrees when we headed out with an expected high of 18. That is why we all look like bank robbers in the pictures - but the 15 layers of clothes did actually keep us warm. The huge snow storm hit the Mid-Atlantic states Friday night and into Saturday. Unfortunately, the Pocono's only got 3 inches - which was really a good thing because it would have been difficult to ski on all that fresh powder.

We took turns with Chloe in the lodge, and Claire did fantastic in school. She couldn't wait to hit the big slope and Brian skied with her using their harness, and she just loved riding the chair lifts. All the skiing was great - no broken bones or frostbite!

Sunday we went back to Thornton (20 min from Philadelphia) where the boys dug and blew through the 28 inches of snow. We got the sleds and saucers back out and all had a great time playing! I couldn't believe how much snow there was! That night, Uncle Steve and Stephen (Carrie's dad and brother) came over for pizza and the Super Bowl. What a family reunion!

Monday was our travel day, and thankfully we didn't have any major delays with it being the first day the airport operated in 3 days.

We took tons of pictures, so here they are in a slide show. (All the good ones were taken by Carrie!)

We'll take it!

I was starting to get worried about this winter - it just wasn't looking like we were going to see any sort of snow at all this year. Finally "the big one" brewed up this week and we caught the fringe, ending up with 30 seconds of snow, and 7 hours of sleet. We can work with that!

I think the entire neighborhood woke up to the 6:45 AM shriek of "Mommy, it snoooooooooowed!" Knowing the likelihood of sleeping in on a snow day is about the same as on Christmas morning, I got up to find Claire already in her ski bib and hunting for her jacket. True to Claire, she had already had a quick breakfast and we went back upstairs to get Chloe up - who, along with everyone else, was awakened by the shriek. Chloe did refuse breakfast when she realized that "snow pants" and "outside" were being used in the same sentence. So, with everyone bundled up we headed out back.

It really was a pathetic site. Crunchy, frozen grass pushing through a meager icy coating - you almost needed a sledge hammer to break it up to make a snow (ice) ball.

The deck was a sheet of ice, it was starting to sleet again and it was 30 degrees out. The kids didn't care - they were ready to play! Ignoring the fact that there wasn't any decent snow, the slide became an acceptable substitute.

Finally the rest of the kids on the street came out and started sledding down the icy street. It might not be snow, but it does make for a fast saucer ride and a pretty view!

Anger Management

There is a new face of evil in town. If you live in the Greenville area you may have seen it. It is frequently seen in many of the area restaurants, the malls, and many parking lots of retail establishments or the local pre-school.

Sometimes it is hard to recognize - after all, we are talking about a face that is on a short yet slightly pudgy stature and is surrounded by curls.

Do not be fooled by the exterior. There is evil that lurks within.





In fact, here is a shot of the face in question:

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It doesn't have to be this way... according to Chloe. In fact, she finds that she is VERY easy to get along with. There are a few simple rules that we, the rest of the world, need to follow - and there will be no problems! It's just that simple!



Here is a list of Chloe's rules to ensure a happy and peaceful life:



1) Do not change my diaper unless specifically asked to.


2) Naps are for sissies. Do not expect them to be taken.


3) I will not sit in a car seat.


4) When I am playing outside, do not attempt to take me in before I am ready.


5) Food should be available at all times, as well as a chilled sippy of milk.


6) The toys belong to me. All of them. Occasionally I may let siblings play with them - like when I am sleeping (see rule # 2.)


7) Markers belong to me, and are for running around the house when not capped. Washable markers are for sissies.


8) Chap stick / lip gloss / nail polish belongs to me. I will apply it when I see fit.


9) Shoes and socks will not be worn in the car. They will be promptly removed.


10) I will be allowed in the potty with whoever I want, whenever I want. You may not have privacy from me.


11) Parking lots are open space to run around in. Do not attempt to hold my hand.


12) Restaurants are to serve me food immediately. I will sit in the booth with no booster seat, high chair or bib. I will hold the knife whenever I want.


13) There is no such thing as an "inside voice." Please stop implying that there is.


14) The dog is my personal soccer ball or punching bag.


15) The Barbie Jeep exists so that Claire can drive me around whenever I wish.



The rules are pretty straightforward and easy to understand. Is it really too much to ask? Unfortunately we broke rule # 7 last night - and we were all promptly punished.

The 'Creepy Crud' stikes again........

Friday evening was fairly normal. I just got back from Atlanta and spent some quality time with the girls but dozed off on the couch after we put them to bed. I decided around 10 pm that I should retire to bed and maybe watch Leno to hear his latest barbs towards NBC and their huge screw-up with the late night programming.

I should mention that Chandra was already asleep by the time I got to bed and it didn't take long before I was out. I was awaken by Chandra getting out of bed and leaving our bedroom. We sleep with our door closed and I heard her open the door, leave the room and shut the door behind her. Almost immediately after the door shut I heard a thud that was the unmistakable sound of someone collapsing on the floor

I sprang from the bed knowing something was bad! I opened the door and Chandra was passed out on the floor! I lifted her head and began frantically asking "what happened? what's wrong? are you o.k.?" to which Chandra replied, "I've got to get to the bathroom I'm going to be sick".

So I helped her to her feet and she headed towards the guest bathroom at a brisk pace. As she was exiting the kitchen, she ran into the wall and completely passed out falling backward like a cut down tree. TIMMMBERRRR! Boom! Her head hit the hardwood floor with a sickening thud. I ran over to her and she was stone cold lights out. Holy crap. I didn't know whether to call 911 or what. All the thoughts that rush through your head, its terrible. Our girls are upstairs asleep. What do I do with them? Run to the neighbors?

Well I lifted her head and torso and began lightly slapping her on the cheeks. She slowly came-to and again said "I've got to get to the bathroom I'm gonna puke!" So I helped her crawl the last 10 feet to the bathroom just in time.

Oh man, I just knew she had a concussion. I mean this was about as hard as you can hit your head............I was really worried because after she was done throwing-up, all she wanted to do was lay down. I know that anytime there is a head/brain injury people getting tired and want to lay down but they advise never do that. Well I look at the clock and its 11:30 pm. Of course she's tired. Is it the head trauma or just the fact that its 11:30? I felt the back of her head and she had a HUGE bump! I asked her if she had a headache and she just said it hurt on the back and on her brow. I examined her brow and decent bump there too (probably from the first fall that I didn't see).

So I tried to convince her to at least sit-up in the bathroom but she was feeling dizzy so I just let her lay down on the bathroom floor with a pillow. We later tried to move to the guest bed (the closest one) but she was concerned about being able to make it back to the bathroom in an emergency so we made a make shift bed in the bathroom. I stayed up for about an hour and a half just to make sure she wasn't having trouble from her head trauma and when things appeared to be o.k. I went back to bed.

This morning she seems to be doing better so we're not sure exactly what it was..... Possibly could have been the leftover pizza she ate for dinner?? Who knows but at least she is better.

So anyway, I'm watching the kids and need to clean the house for the baby shower we are hosting today for our good friends Brooke and Patrick.

A funny continuation to the last blog about Chandra giving in to the requests for junk food. First of all, I said it wouldn't kill the girls to eat a pop tart. I never said load up on, corn dogs, french toast sticks, pop tarts and cinnamon toast crunch. Geez, let's not go overboard here..............

So I was awaken promptly at 7:00am this morning by Claire.

Claire: "Daddy, where's mommy?"
Daddy: "She's sick, leave her alone please"
Claire: "Can I have a pop tart?"
Daddy: "Sure, I guess so. I need to check on Mommy anyway"

So I fired up the toaster, threw in 2 strawberry pop tarts and Claire was giddy with excitement. Once they were done I warned her to wait because they were hot from the toaster. It was like watching a dog looking at a bone. I think I even saw some drool running down her chin.

While waiting, Claire said one of the funniest things I have ever heard her say.

Claire: "Daddy"
Daddy: "Yes Claire"
Claire: "Do pop tarts grow on trees?"
Daddy: Laughs hysterically............"No sweetie, there's no pop tart tree"
Claire: "Well, where do they come from?"
Daddy: "A factory"
Claire: "What's a factory?"
Daddy: "A place where they make pop tarts"
Claire: "o.k."

So the pop tarts are cool down and I allow her to dive in. The verdict..................
Claire: "Daddy"
Daddy: "Yes?"
Claire: "Chloe can have this pop tart" (there are 2 and she points to the one she hasn't touched)
Daddy: "O.k. we'll let Chloe try the pop tart too"
Claire: "Daddy"
Daddy: "Yes"
Claire: "Chloe can have this one too" (pointing to the one she has picked on)
Daddy: "what's a matter? You don't like the pop tart?"
Claire: "Can I have a Cheerios?" (not willing to admit her disappointment)
Daddy: "sure"

So there you have it. It's just like you always hear. As a parent, sometimes telling kids is not as effective as letting the live a little and find out for themselves. Here Chandra's worried about a quality diet and because of their eating habits, they don't even really care for the junk. I guess you call that a win-win?

P.S. Chloe wouldn't eat the pop tarts either....................
Break out the shredded wheat!

Jason