The Monthly?

Maybe I should update the blog title to reflect how often I actually get a chance to sit down and write to this. Picture uploading on flickr is just as bad. However, I often think in blog posts, if only my thoughts translated into the computer in a blink of an eye....

Last weekend was our annual beach vacation. We usually go to Rehobeth but tried an RV campground in Ocean City instead this year. With Jason very busy at work and school all the preparations and clean up for the trip fell to me. It was very stressful. Add to that Joshua's first day back at preschool for the year, the day we left and Jason not being able to join us until the second day in the evening. I was feeling like I needed a vacation from my vacation! But, Jason WAS able to make it (there was a chance he was going to have to pass) and the weather was so fine while we were there. We had a little cottage within walking distance of the beach, bay side and could see Assateague Island while the kids played in the sand, hunted for welk's and hermit crabs and splashed in the water. Joshua and Mira took kites and were able to fly them. My parents, as a help to me, joined us Wed-Friday and we had a great time in their company as well as the Bowers whom we share our beach vacation with. We did hit the boardwalk and Assateague Island and we took a fun boat cruise getting to the Island. I just love to watch Joshua explore. He is so excited about finding fish, hermit crabs, bugs... just about anything that moves. We were leaving the beach on the last night we were there and I had to ask him to empty his pockets, which were full of hermit crabs, before we walked away from the water. Mira loved playing in the sand and on the play set the best. She got into the water a little but she was not as gung ho to swim as Joshua. Evie was fearless: running in and out of the water, eating sand and playing on the play set on her own. We came back Sunday night, had dinner and started getting back to our normal routine that way Josh and Jason only missed one day of school.

Joshua is doing great this year at preschool so far. He has had 4 classes and has no problem leaving me to go. I asked him if he had a good day at school on Friday and he said, 'Well, I didn't get in trouble!' He is generally well behaved. It is just the interactions with Mira and taking things that are not his that we really have problems with now.

Last night, we ordered Chinese food for dinner. Joshua, not knowing what I was calling to order said, "You ALWAYS order pizza for dinner." As if I ordered food every night and it was always pizza. Yeah right! We had mac and cheese from a box for the first time (to the kids) the other day and he said, 'This is better than any of the food that you make.' Wow! Thanks, Joshua, for that stellar comment! Kids have such short term memories at times. Joshua says the darnedest things!

Today, we loaded the kids and our bikes up and drove over to the dam where there is a nice rail trail along the water. We had the girls in the trailer and Joshua on his trike. He make it out a mile and back. It was a bit challenging on the way back for him but he did it and took a nap this afternoon.

Mira is having SERIOUS tantrums when she gets tired now. It is impossible to get her to sleep when she would like to go because that is 11 in the morning. But, if she doens't sleep at that time all heck breaks loose. Anything will set her off and what ensues is usually kicking, biting, screaming, spitting, scratching, throwing. She goes from this angelic looking child to hell on two feet in seconds and it lasts for minutes, sometimes and hour. Our trip home from preschool on Friday consisted of dragging Mira kicking and screaming back to the car from the school; wrestling her into her seat; driving off with her screaming at the top of her lungs; stopping twice to try and calm her and keep her from climbing out of the carseat. I managed to get us home by promising something, M&M's maybe, if she didn't scream anymore on the ride and if she could watch her show, Dragon Tales, for this same good behavior. She had started this particular tantrum when we had to leave her show to go get Joshua. She is a handful. On bad days, getting through the day is really rough and I need a quiet break at the end. On good days, we only have 1-2 big tantrums and when the children go to bed I enjoy the peace that ensues. She really is a wild card. What we do on a daily basis is dictated by Mira's mood and limitations.

Evelyn is walking like a pro now and saying (and copying) more words. She knows better what she wants and will get frustrated if you do not give it to her.

Well, I am falling asleep at the computer so I am done for tonight. More stories to follow.