Growing up I was never much into drama. I had friends that were mostly guys since having friends that were girls seem to come with drama. I was lucky that my few close girlfriends were much like me and still are. When we found out we were expecting, Stacey and I both wanted a boy. When we found out it was twins we thought two boys would be nice or maybe a boy and a girl. The idea of two girls never crossed our minds until we were told both girls. Now don't get me wrong, I can't imagine having anything but my precious girls. I thought I had a few more years until the drama began, but then I had forgotten what it was like to see life though the eyes of a 5 year old.
By 5 they want to be more independent. They like to pick out their own clothes and then we have to talk about the concept of matching. Take for example Sunday when Ella wanted to wear a green and blue plaid skirt that Nana bought her with the blue flowered shirt. Now in her mind they were both blue so they matched. Did I mention plaid and flowers.....uh not so much matching. She ran off in tears. I know I know mean mom just let her wear what she wants the public will understand that she is 5 and dressed herself. To be fair I did let her wear her brown skirt with multicolored butterflies to church on Christmas with her teal butterfly shirt and pink cowgirl boots so I feel that once in public with a mismatch outfit was enough (this would also be why there are no pictures of Christmas Day at our house this year).
I am ready for battles with clothes, the girls being mad that I won't let them wear make-up and bright pink lip stick outside of the house, and the "your mean" comments when they don't get what they want. What I was not ready for was earlier this week.
Let me take you back to Tuesday night when the girls had just gotten out of the shower and were picking out pj's. I hear Grace running back down to the bathroom yelling at Stacey, "you are ruining my life." I mean really how could that be possible at 5 years old? Well then it all made since to find out that Grace wanted to wear her summer tutu pj's and Stacey had said no it was too cold :). After all at 5 and being Grace it is all about wear things that are pink and tutu like. We quickly got over that with the offering of a snack and life moved out.
Move along to Wednesday night when both girls wet their pants upon arriving home from preschool. Grace just waited to long and who knows what Ella's problem was. Now I found this frustrating seeing as they are 5 and at least Ella has not had an accident in over a year. The best part was that Ella was up in her room when it happened and then she walked the entire house before coming to the bathroom and changing her clothes. So as I am cleaning the carpet of the pee spots from her wet socks and dripping clothes, Grace has the nerve to ask me if they can have a coke. Really kid you just wet your pants and you want me to get you a big girl drink? I think not. To which Grace replies, "Mom you are breaking my heart and ruining my life."
Let it be known that my name is Stephanie Smith and my husband Stacey and I are ruining our daughters lives. We feed them, dress them, give them shelter, and we try and make sure they are safe and happy. In doing so we may not give them what they want and thus ruin their little 5 year old lives.
Ella and Grace this is just the start of many many things we will do for your own good that you will not like so get used to it girly girls!
PS remember we love you!
January 27, 2012
January 11, 2012
Morning Rush Hour
Before we had kids my mornings were so peaceful. I would wake about 6:00 a.m. and get ready for the day, kiss Stacey goodbye while waking him up about 6:30 and head off to work. So quite, so peaceful, and just very calm. Fast forward five years and my days of peace and calm are out the door! So why should I be surprised that I walked out in black pants with brown shoes yesterday?
Mornings are hard for some people, but it is no surprise why the most stressful part of my day is 5:30-6:45 in the morning. I get up early just to have 30 minutes of peace to start my day, that is when Ella does not get up with my alarm to chat me up for 30 minutes before anyone else gets out of bed. Then there is the struggle to get Stacey and Grace to actually get out of bed and get moving for the day. Add in the morning rush to get everyone dressed, ready, and out the door on time and you would be amazed that we are never really late. Throw in a few fussy girls some days, a husband who likes to egg them on, and you have a typical morning at the Smith House. "I don't want to wear those pants," Ella will say. "But my show is not over yet," can be heard from Grace. "Girls I am getting ready to go and I will leave you home," chimes in Stacey.
When the girls were just babies I stopped wear jewelry because as I was feeding them they would choke me while playing with it. On the positive, four years later I feel like I just got a bunch of new jewelry since it has not seen the light of day in so long. I have been to work with spit-up on my clothes (yeah that is fun to arrive and realize that, why could I not have noticed before leaving the house so that I could change). There has been toothpaste on the back of my pants from the hug I got before walking out the door (any mom knows what I am talking about here). One look and you know I am a working mom. Given my career, I always have a suit at work and prior to the girls never had a need to use it. Now, I use that black suit jacket more then any other piece of clothes I own. As I was finishing writing this, I even looked down to see the peanut butter on my shirt from making the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches this morning and now have the peanut butter and jelly song in my head (thanks Grace for that one).
So next time you see a woman who is not 100% put together, just realize that she most likely has kids and home and just performed a miracle to get them out the door and where everyone needed to be. In fact, you might be witness to the miracle that she is dressed at all. Despite the hectic mornings, the not 100% good looks each day, and the morning rush hour that starts before the cars, I would not give up the morning hugs and kisses and the sweet wave good bye for anything.
Mornings are hard for some people, but it is no surprise why the most stressful part of my day is 5:30-6:45 in the morning. I get up early just to have 30 minutes of peace to start my day, that is when Ella does not get up with my alarm to chat me up for 30 minutes before anyone else gets out of bed. Then there is the struggle to get Stacey and Grace to actually get out of bed and get moving for the day. Add in the morning rush to get everyone dressed, ready, and out the door on time and you would be amazed that we are never really late. Throw in a few fussy girls some days, a husband who likes to egg them on, and you have a typical morning at the Smith House. "I don't want to wear those pants," Ella will say. "But my show is not over yet," can be heard from Grace. "Girls I am getting ready to go and I will leave you home," chimes in Stacey.
When the girls were just babies I stopped wear jewelry because as I was feeding them they would choke me while playing with it. On the positive, four years later I feel like I just got a bunch of new jewelry since it has not seen the light of day in so long. I have been to work with spit-up on my clothes (yeah that is fun to arrive and realize that, why could I not have noticed before leaving the house so that I could change). There has been toothpaste on the back of my pants from the hug I got before walking out the door (any mom knows what I am talking about here). One look and you know I am a working mom. Given my career, I always have a suit at work and prior to the girls never had a need to use it. Now, I use that black suit jacket more then any other piece of clothes I own. As I was finishing writing this, I even looked down to see the peanut butter on my shirt from making the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches this morning and now have the peanut butter and jelly song in my head (thanks Grace for that one).
So next time you see a woman who is not 100% put together, just realize that she most likely has kids and home and just performed a miracle to get them out the door and where everyone needed to be. In fact, you might be witness to the miracle that she is dressed at all. Despite the hectic mornings, the not 100% good looks each day, and the morning rush hour that starts before the cars, I would not give up the morning hugs and kisses and the sweet wave good bye for anything.
January 4, 2012
Holiday Break
I am very lucky that as a working mom I have a job that still gives me a Christmas break. Don't miss understand, I still get vacations, Thanksgiving break, spring break, and random holidays, but Christmas break is a whole different monster.
I had a great plan of things that I was going to get accomplished in my time off. My last day of work was on a Thursday and after picking the girls up from preschool we hit the grocery store, along with about 500 other people :). I let the girls stay home from the sitters on Friday since Stacey had off and we could all sleep in. Ella had other plans to kick off our vacation and got up at 5:30 a.m. Monday we all stayed home to enjoy more family time (i mean really like three days 24/7 together was not enough). By Tuesday I was ready to get everyone out of the house and get started on my to do list. While productive for two days, but Thursday I was tired and thought I would let the girls stay home from preschool and sleep in. Ella struck again, but at least Stacey had to go to work and got up with her so I got to sleep till about 6:45 a.m. I had already told the babysitter they would not be there Friday and so here we were in for three more days at home together.
I have never been so ready to start back to work on Monday and get a little time to myself (ok well I know it is work, but time away makes you want to be home more i know it does). It gave me a deep appreciation to all the stay at home moms and just confirmed for me that I can not be one of you.
Overall, it was great to spend some quality family time together and have some fun in the process. While not even half my to do list was accomplished, there was lots of snuggling, jammie time (wait for that blog next week), and laughs!
Here are a few highlight photo:
I had a great plan of things that I was going to get accomplished in my time off. My last day of work was on a Thursday and after picking the girls up from preschool we hit the grocery store, along with about 500 other people :). I let the girls stay home from the sitters on Friday since Stacey had off and we could all sleep in. Ella had other plans to kick off our vacation and got up at 5:30 a.m. Monday we all stayed home to enjoy more family time (i mean really like three days 24/7 together was not enough). By Tuesday I was ready to get everyone out of the house and get started on my to do list. While productive for two days, but Thursday I was tired and thought I would let the girls stay home from preschool and sleep in. Ella struck again, but at least Stacey had to go to work and got up with her so I got to sleep till about 6:45 a.m. I had already told the babysitter they would not be there Friday and so here we were in for three more days at home together.
I have never been so ready to start back to work on Monday and get a little time to myself (ok well I know it is work, but time away makes you want to be home more i know it does). It gave me a deep appreciation to all the stay at home moms and just confirmed for me that I can not be one of you.
Overall, it was great to spend some quality family time together and have some fun in the process. While not even half my to do list was accomplished, there was lots of snuggling, jammie time (wait for that blog next week), and laughs!
Here are a few highlight photo:
The girls got new princess dress up items and Grace loved it!
Ella with her new build a bear thanks to all the birthday and Christmas gift cards
Stacey making a cognac cream sauce for our steaks on New Years Eve
Yes it is supposed to flame up like that
Yes it is supposed to flame up like that
Yes he wears Micky PJS thanks to the girls getting them for him for Christmas last year and yes he wants to kill me for it each time he puts them on and yes I just laugh each time
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