Ross had a play date a little while back.  He was in his room with his friend Joey and was showing him some of his favorite toys.  I was enjoying listening to his conversation when I heard him say “my mom made this one for me.”   Emphasis on the “made”.

Okay, stop laughing. Seriously. Stop. Laughing.

I made this bunny from the free pattern on the Wee Wonderfuls Website

http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/store/wee-bunny.html

And although the face is cute, the rest of the body leaves a lot to be desired.  But Ross loves it.  He has slept with it since I made it last year and it seems that he really enjoys the fact that I made it especially for him.  I need to pull out the cat pattern and make one for Francesca now, since she is getting older and will soon be asking why I didn’t make her one too.

It made me feel so good to hear him be so happy that it was made just for him.  He calls the bunny “Lovey”.  Too cute.  I’ll have to do more little projects for the kids….and with them, now that they are older.

Easter has passed and it was a very busy, very wonderful time for all of us.  The children went to Soldier Field for the candy grab, we had our own Easter Egg hunt at Nonna’s house and went to mass Easter Sunday and then had the family over for dinner.

At Soldier Field

Coloring Easter eggs

Nonna’s Easter egg hunt

checking out the candy

Yum, chocolate!

Easter Bunny brought baskets and Wii!

Hope your holiday was wonderful.  As for me, NO MORE CHOCOLATE!

General Ramblings today.  I’m slightly unfocused and scrambled today.  So you get some Random Thoughts.

We have sprouts!  The Roma Tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Basil and Shasta Daisies are sprouting.  Ever so slightly and probably not even picture worthy.  Once they’re poking up a little more, I’ll post photos.

Favorite part of Barney (and I.do.not like Barney - but alas, Francesca does) is at the end when he sings his “I love, you, you love me” song” where he says “with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you” - Francesca walks up to everyone in the family (including the dog and cat) and gives us each a big hug and a big kiss!  So very sweet - it makes Barney appealing.

Want to see a five year old boy smile ear to ear?  Get him a bicycle helmet and knee and elbow pads.  Long after he was done riding his bike today with his brand new safety gear, he still had the knee pads and elbow pads on.  He finally removed them shortly before bedtime.

Why oh why do cats like to eat houseplants?  I am a much better nurturer to my children and to my outdoor garden than I am to houseplants.  That is why I never have any.  Ross received a spider plant from his old daycare way back before Pre-Kindergarten started, so back in April or so.  I finally got around to removing the rooted plant from the container with water and putting it in a pot and placing it on the kitchen windowsill.  The cat promptly nibbled on it and ate most of the leaves.

Sisters can be so loving and yet so cruel to each other.  I met an old friend and her two daughters for lunch today and then we stopped in Target.  Her girls are 11 and almost 10.  The ten year old wanted to buy a purse.  When her mom told her it was a little too expensive and we pointed out that it was an “evening bag”, her sister said “Yeah, it’s for going out on a date and you’ll never do that!”  The 10 year old proceeded to sulk for the rest of the shopping trip.

If you stand close enough to Ross when he is in a toy aisle, you will hear him say every so often “Santa, Can you get that?, Santa, can you get this?”  Apparently, since Santa can see you all the time, there’s no need to actually make a list - he’ll just tell him what he wants through the year.

Planted the rest of the flower seeds today.  Hopefully those too will be sprouting soon.

Day three of constant watering.  I reseeded the back yard on Monday and have been watering like a fiend.  Trying to get the grass to grow before all the birds and animals eat all the seeds.  Sam said to me the other morning “You should have heard all the birds chirping this morning when I left for work!”.  Yeah.  I bet they were telling all their friends.

Francesca is finally talking more and more.  She does not say alot but then every once in a while she surprises me.  For the child who barely says one word here and there, today she said “No, it’s MINE” at the top of her lungs when Ross tried to take her ball.

I can no longer take a shower by myself.  Pretty much the last place I could go for privacy was the shower.  Francesca loves water so much that when I grab a towel she starts taking her clothes off and wants to take a shower with me.

And lastly, perhaps it’s time to start potty training Francesca.  At 27 months, she is now in the habit of removing her own diaper when she pees in it.  I always catch her in the act, but maybe it’s time to get proactive (haven’t used that word since I was working - My God, how overused of a word that was at work) and start sitting her on the potty.  Her pediatrician wanted me to start at 18 months.  Yeah. Right.

Okay, so those are my many ramblings today.  Will return with a more cohesive post soon.

What a difference a few days make.  The other day it was 70 degrees outside and now it’s 20 degrees out again at night.  Here are the kids taking advantage of the 70 degree weather.

I also took advantage of the weather by bagging up all the leaves that were left in the backyard after we fenced it off and seeded.  You can see how patchy it is, the grass is missing from all the spots where the leaves fell.  I cleaned it all up and will re-seed again - maybe this weekend.

I also planted peas in the garden - first time planting them.  I  started our vegetable/herb seeds indoors too.  I planted Italian Parsley, Roma Tomatoes, Super Beefsteak Tomatoes, Genovese Basil, Cilantro and Oregano.  I’d also like to plant some lettuce and peppers.

We used egg cartons last year for the basil and it worked just fine.  I also have some flowers to start from seed.  I already started  Shasta Daisy, I still have seeds for Italian Aster, Sweet William, Oriental Poppy, Gailardia and Foxglove.  I’ll get those going by the weekend.

The only thing we started from seed last year was pumpkin, some basil and sunflowers.  I am anxious to see if I can be nurturing enough to get each of these varieties thriving and able to be planted outdoors come time.  Worst case scenario, we’ll have to but the plants at the garden center but I think we’ll do ok.  I’ll keep you posted!

With Francesca in her own room now and sleeping in the toddler bed it was time to take the crib down from Ross’ room.   I hadn’t realized how sad this would make me.  All this time I’ve been talking the change up to  the kids  - telling them how they’ll each have their own room, Francesca will be in a toddler bed in her new room and Ross will have room for a reading nook once the crib was gone.  I prepared them but I wasn’t prepared at my reaction.   It hit me how quickly they were growing up and that we didn’t need a crib anymore in our house.  In reality, we probably don’t need the toddler bed and the bunk beds either since every one sleeps in my bed anyway, but that’s besides the point.

So now the crib is down and Ross’ room seems much more spacious.  In reality it’s a small room but with the crib gone it looks much bigger.  We moved things around a little and although there are a few more touches I’d like to add - like adding shelves to the wall where the “Ross” painting is, the room looks cute.

The ladder for the top bunk has been removed for now, since Francesca sees it only as a challenge.  When Ross does sleep in his bed, he sleeps on the bottom bunk anyway.  All in all, it looks much more like a big boy room.  I’m sure as he gets older he’ll appreciate the privacy.  For now I think we’re all mourning the intimacy a little.

So Ross had his photos taken for the his new comp cards yesterday.  It was a really good experience.  I had been apprehensive as it seemed there were so many rules on the photographers website.  All my fears were laid to rest.  The photographer was really nice and great with kids (adults too).

Ross was not his usual self - he was very “obedient” and well behaved, he usually is not this reserved.  He delivered some decent energy at the beginning at least.  I can’t wait to see the film shots.  The digital shots taken toward the end were up on the website today and they are amazing!  

The photographer said we should continue with modeling through his teens as he has the right look, and had some other recommendations.  All in all a really good experience.  And did I mention, the photos are fabulous!!?

Ross has an appointment with a photographer on Monday for new photos for his comp card.  I have to tell you I am a little scared.  I am not afraid of some of the usual things you think I’d be afraid of.  I’m not concerned over whether Ross will cooperate, he listens better to others than to me and loves photographers. 

 I’m also not afraid that I’ve chosen the wrong clothing for the shoot.  We shopped Gap Kids and Children’s Place for 3 good outfits and a variety of mix and match polos, button down shirts, jackets and blazers.  We have our props.  Knock on wood, no injuries to the face or body.  His hair was cut 10 days ago so it’s not such a fresh, new haircut.  We even bought a new pair of black Chuck Taylors, just in case.  Most of the time they cut off the shot at the lower calf.

I am afraid of the photographer himself.  This time we went with the agency recommended photographer.  A photographer heavy in experience with fashion photography and working with models.  He is based in New York and travels across the country to several key loctions and works with a lot of the agencies.  Ross’ agent heavily recommended him. 

His website looks great.  The photos he has shot are amazing.  He is good.  And he knows it.  He also is relatively expensive.  And he comes with many rules.  Once booked, he provides you with information to prepare for the photo shoot, and his rules and regulations - arrive 10 minutes early - no more, no less, and on and on.  You receive updates making sure you have read all the rules and reminders about everything.   And then you sign off that you have read all the rules and will abide by them, and that you completely understand them.

I hope the photos and his work are as good as the image I have built up.  I understand about professionalism - as a “talents” mother - I am always sure that we are punctual - which in the modeling world is 15 minutes early.  I dutifully make sure I know exactly where we are going and that we bring what we need to based on th clients requests.   The talent, even when children need to be respectful and easy to work with.

I have to iron everything this weekend and make sure everything gets packed up properly.  I am looking forward to Monday, and hope that the experience is a good one.  I’ll be happy when it’s over.  Hopefully we will have some amazing shots.

Literally.

Directions courtesy http://www.Nickjr.com.  that’s HoHo from Ni Hao, Kai lan - a Nick Jr. show.  Ross has been wanting to make this for a while now.  The one with the blue trim is his - he did most of it himself.  The white trimmed one is for Francesca - she did none of the work but she did nap while we made hers which was a HUGE help.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you! xxxooo

In an effort to reclaim my bed and my sleep, I’ve redoubled the “get the kids to sleep in their own beds” initiative, otherwise known as GTKTSITOB.  This initiative has been met with limited success and some time spent in my bed without them is a mixed blessing as I spend most of the time wondering when they’ll come in my bed and who will be first.  Ross comes in silently and snugles up as close as posible.   Francesca comes running in, smiling and saying “mommom”. 

Now I know that time flies by and that some time in the future they will not want to sleep with me and that I will likely miss snuggling with them.  I already do when they manage to spend some time in their own beds.  It still is kind of nice to not have to lie on the very edge of the bed, dodging the inevitable foot to the face or arm slung over the chest.

I am constantly amazed at how my 5 year old boy walks the tightrope between a little boy and big boy.  During the day he is all big boy, fighting the sith with his light sabre and building towers and then making them crash down.  He is using phrases and words that take me by surprise - “Oh, for Heaven’s Sake” was his most recent phrase and now when he explains what happened he starts with “well, apparently”.  

But at night the little boy comes out.  The little boy who wants just one more story because he so very desperately does not want to go to sleep.  The little boy who insists he really does not sleep at all, he keeps his eyes open all night.  The little boy who does not want to be left alone, even with a very bright night light, because he sees the monsters. 

“Please come sleep with me” he says.  As I lay down with him, I try to reason with him that I don’t see any monsters.  They certainly can’t be under his bed as there is no room (his bunk bed has captains drawers under it and so it rests on the floor).  And surely Moose would scare them away.  “No”, he says, “they are here”.  “You can’t see them right now because they are on vacation,  but they were right there”. 

I’m not really sure what to say to that.  I want to tell him that there is no such thing as monsters.  But he truly believes in monsters.  And ghosts too.  When he sleeps in my bed, he walks all the way around to my side to climb in.  He never comes in on the other side, the side by the closet.  EVER.  Even during the day, if he climbs on the bed to play it’s from the side furthest away from the closet.  And at night when he climbs in he sleeps as close to me as humanly possible.  All to stay as far away from the ghosts as he can.    

So I lie with him and read more story books and talk with him and snuggle with him until he falls asleep.  And then,  before I leave the room, I check for monsters.  Just in case.