Toast 2 Mom

Let Summer Begin!

Today was Sydney's last day of Kindergarten. And let me tell you, these kids went out with a bang. Their school, among hundreds (more?) of other schools entered a Dannon yogurt contest at the beginning of the school year to win a new playground. And out of schools across the country, Sydney's school won!!! So today Dannon put on a huge party for the kids. We're talkin' bouncy this, water-slide that, all the snack food you can eat, face painting, vertical bungee cords, hamster balls and more! It was a par-tay! If that wasn't enough, the kids also got a classroom party this afternoon. I hope they don't expect this kind of gig every year. 

Here are some last day of school/party photos. Luckily Syd has the summer to catch up on her sleep. It's been a very eventful year!

 

Today Was Better

I have been riding a very fast moving train for about three months. And yesterday I had to finally blow off some steam.

Building a business, preparing for our home to be on display for an open house, running a household, raising two girls and all that involves and being a decent wife (and about to celebrate 10 years) has been building and building and building on my sensitivity. And all of a sudden, but not out of no where, the waterworks showed up yesterday - and I just had to let it out. 

Though I'm trying to start this cookie business to show my daughters another side of me - I feel like I've been failing as a mother. Every day they say, "mommy, you're so busy." Though I've been working my tail off researching right and left and trying to line up all the steps to this business, there are several pieces still missing and I think, how will I get this all figured out? 

And something I failed to mention in my blog recently - in the last couple weeks I broke my toe and I bumped Vanna into another car in a parking lot and dented in my bumper. Typically I share all these goofy moments that happen with me day to day. But my head has been so heavily weighted down - and I simply just didn't have time. 

Today was better though. My mind just needed some space. When I get stressed, I feel really insecure and paranoid. It's a horrible feeling and very unproductive. But eventually I start to see the light.... And the light was some much needed quality time with my girls today. I got lots of business stuff accomplished today - but even better I got some extra carved out one-on-one time with my girls - where I really listened to them, not multitask listening. I worked with them, not helped them while I was doing something else. And best of all I did lots of things WITH them not just FOR them. 

And I feel like maybe I'm going to get some decent sleep tonight....

A New Sweet Journey

I pretty much assume anyone that reads my blog knows me - and probably knows by now that yesterday I launched my new business - Sydalie's Cookies.  If you did not know - tada!! 

This was the tease I referred to a few days or so ago. I really wanted to write something here yesterday - but the day just was insane. And today was about the same. I'm not complaining - becuase the response to my new gig has been so very positive. 

This weekend I'll be selling my new cookies at an open house tour in our neighborhood. Homes that have recently been remodeled were chosen for this tour. Our home happens to be one of those on the tour. So with the house tour, the cookie business, end of the year school activities, swim team, dance recital practices and day to day - time is flying by! 

I'm very excited about this new journey and excited to market my product with hopefuly a very big crown this weekend! Until Sunday night, I might not come up for air. 

Check out my web site and visit my page on Facebook! And below are my business cards - which I just love!!! My awesome and super design-savvy friend Joelle helped me design them. Check out her business here.  

A Whirlwind

We've been in a tailspin for the past three days or more....so much so that I took a nap today! I feel like I caught up on my sleep a bit - but now I'm behind in my household chores. But at least I'm rested! 

Sydney's school had its carnival on Saturday. I ended up chairing one of the events from the carnival - the Cake Walk. You would have thought it would have been a "cake walk" - but ended up being a bit more of a task that I origninally thought. After the event was over, and seeing how successfully it all went down, I enjoyed being a part of it. It was great fun. 

Rewinding a little bit, on Friday, Cheekers had a program at her school. In between carnival set up and spending lots of lots of time in the kitchen baking the end of last week, I took a break to have a picnic with Cheekers and watched her perform songs about spring, the outdoors and Easter. Those programs always leave me with a warm heart and misty eyes. They are so sweet. 

Friday night was set up at the carnival. The girls were great volunteers with me.

Saturday we spent most of the day at the carnival. By the end of the day, the girls had their face painted, got their hair sprayed pink and purple, got tattoos, had pizza, a snowcone, did the jumpy house, won pink dracula teeth, went into a haunted house, and brought home three cakes from the cake walk. I think they had a good time!! 

Luckily we had a bit of down time yesterday afternoon. We went over to some friends house for dinner. It was another late night - like the night before and the night before that. 

Today we all slept in until 8:30 - a rare day - to probably any parent. The fun didn't stop there, though. We went over to some other friends' house for brunch, followed by a trip to the park. And then to make things even more exciting, we took the girls swimming this evening (after our naps this afternoon). 

Whew, a whirlwind, right?! 

Right now I've got the dishwasher and the washing machine going and I'm about to plan my week ahead - sure to be another busy one. 

A few photos from our past few days. 

Day Two - Ready!

The girl of mine that is typically a slow morning girl seems to have a bit more spring in her step. Must be that good ole Kindergarten?! The report from day one was, "Kindergarten is AWESOME!" I was so excited to get the enthusiastic report as my girl came running toward me yesterday. And today, she was a pro. She woke up chipper, got dressed right away, ate a good breakfast and couldn't wait to get on her new school shoes. So far, so good!

 

The Bunkers

No, this is not a tale about golfing poorly or the comedy skit of Archie and Edith (aww geez Edith...).

No this is a sweet tale about my two little girls...and their desire to now sleep in the same room in bunk beds. It's my only child wish come true!

Yes by now you know I am an only child, and that I am constantly in a state awe and confusion over the relationship my daughters share. The love/hate bond is complexing at best.

When Cheekers was ready to move out of the crib, I wanted to get bunk beds. I was discouraged by a few of this idea. But I set forth hoping one day my girls would enjoy sharing a room. This dream of mine got spoiled rather quickly when we took a few road trips. The girls did NOT bunk well together. There were sleepless nights and cranky kids...and a cranky Mommy too.

Some months have rolled by now, and we've had a couple rounds of house guests. For our first guests, we needed space and the girls were forced to do the bunk beds. It was far more successful than when we had them sleep in the same bed on trips. But as soon as our company left, Syd asked if she could go back to her bed.

We just had our latest round of company again where the girls had to bunk once mone. Only this time was a little different. The other time, I heard sounds of, "quiet" and "stop it" and "shhhhhhh" through the monitors in the house at bedtime. This time I heard a lot of giggling and a lot of story telling.

Our company has now been gone for about a week. The first day they were gone, I told Syd she could go back to her bed. Her response to me was, "well, maybe I'll do one more night." I said OK. The next night I asked if she was ready to go back. Syd said, "OK, I'm going to do only three more nights and that's it." Three more nights went by. I said to Syd, "you know Sydney, I don't care if you keep sleeping in your sister's room." She smiled...and that's the way it's been.

So now, how long this will last, I really don't know, nor do I care. When it comes to these two peas in a pod, I've given up (almost) on predicting their love/hate moments. I'm going to savor the love, try to understand the hate and realize it's going to be a lifelong show to watch. Awwww geez girls!

The Sleep Report

Well the sleepover was a super success. Syd is currently resting....because she did not get the ideal amount of sleep that she is normally used to in the tent last night. Cheekers is wide awake because she slept in her bed.

We couldn't quite see Natalie being ready for a sleepover at age 2. So as a reward for her missing out on the "big girl" things, she got a trip to the Disney store today to pick out a treasure. It was well worth sleeping in her bed last night.

I had expected fighting and crying and separate sleeping arrangements - or worse yet calling the parents in the middle of the night to pick up their daughter because she was in tears. Nope, not one bit.

The girls ate pizza. They were hyper for about the first hour. Then, easy peasy. They wanted to sit down and watch Princess and the Frog about 7 o'clock. By 8 o'clock - before the movie was even over - they wanted to get their jammies on and go to bed. Hello! This never happens. Mommy was like - OK!

So after jammies, teeth, potty and books, all three girls made it to their selecting sleeping corners. There was some chatting and maybe a bit of time before actually falling asleep. But soon enough, they were out.

All of our friends said we were nuts for trying a sleepover at these ages… but I think sometimes Sydney is already a teenager, so we tried it.  Our friend's Mommy ( a good friend) called this morning bright and early (probably influenced by all the prognostications of doom) expecting the house to be filled with wide awake and crying, pouting, maybe even fighting girls, but nope, just three sleeping girls and Daddio.  I had gone to my morning training run at about 6:30.  That is another story for another post.

So, I must say, I am quite pleased by the outcome. I know all the little girls are pleased with the outcome too (already asking about the next time, in fact, Syd thinks her friend should just move in). We'll definitely do this again!