A RealFamilies RealFun Blog

Aug 14 2008

A night at the steakhouse

Category: Family Fun

I never thought I'd have this much fun going out to eat with my family. But there was something special about this evening. I ate my delicious grilled chicken, with a side of yummy mashed yams, all without interruption. My mom and husband enjoyed their steaks and glasses of wine. We all listened to the country western band while we watched football on the big screen.

We adults managed to enjoy our food while the kids were entertained and safe. No, it wasn't Chuck E. Cheese or one of those fast food emporiums with a play area or arcade. No, there weren't any people in animal costumes or clowns, either. This was a nice steak house with delicious, grown-up food.

The secret? This steakhouse has a built-in slide. After taking off their shoes, kids can take a staircase from the dance floor to the slide on the second floor. It's a fast ride, very safe (as long as the kids wait their turn), and since we were seated right on the dance floor, we could watch Lucie and Nathan enjoy the slide. They came by occasionally for some food or a drink of their sodas. But that was it -- just us adults enjoying good food and one other's company.

We need to eat out more often.

 

Aug 13 2008

Gone fishing

Category: At Home

Paul just came back from his yearly Mexican fishing trip. While there are some things I enjoy about him not being at home, like the lack of ESPN and poker tournament viewing, it's very exhausting when he's gone.

First, there are the changes in the children's attitudes and behaviors. Nathan's acting out increases. The kids fight more. Everyone's sleeping pattern changes -- either they pass out very early on the couch because daddy's not home to entertain them (Nathan), or they insist on sleeping with me all night no matter how often I get up and put them back in their bed (Lucie).

But we do fun things too, like get into bed and watch movies. Or I let them watch cartoons late into the night (weekends only, please) so I can get some work done. Or we go on special trips to fast food places or some place fun, like a food and cooking expo.

However, there is usually some kind of catastrophe that happens when Paul is away. No, it's not a trip to the emergency room or a car accident. Instead, one of the fish dies. (We don't have cats or dogs, only fish.) Of course it's all my fault, no matter what the extraneous circumstances are. Like the time the tank heater broke and boiled all the fish to death. Or the time a fish jumped out of the tank and disappeared. (It was behind the furniture and I found its mummified body months later while doing a deep house cleaning.)

This time it was not my fault, even though Paul blames me for my lack of supervision. You see, Lucie fed Nathan's beta fish to death. Sometime on Monday, ironically the day Paul got back, Lucie snuck into Nathan's room and dumped most of the fish food in beta's tank. Instead of one or two pellets, he got a thousand. By that evening when Paul got home, the fish was dead. Of course, I had no idea this happened until he brought the tank downstairs to clean it.

Your honor, I swear that fish was alive on Sunday night when I fed it after putting Nathan to bed. In fact, Lucie has given a full confession to the fish murder. (She's very sorry and helped Daddy say a few nice words about the fish when they flushed it down the toilet).

Yet who's getting the book thrown at her (or at least the evil eye from Daddy)? Mommy, of course.

I've been framed.

 

Aug 12 2008

Night time routines

Category: At Home

This week, Paul is gone and I've come home late from a meeting, a home show, and a networking party. Walking in the door between 9 and 10 p.m., I'm not surprised to find Lucie still awake. Not only is she up, but she's running around or sticking her head in the fridge telling us she's hungry and wants a snack.

Nana has a tough time getting her to go to sleep. But then so does daddy and our babysitters. Seems only mama can do it.

After Nana and I shut down the house for the night, we head upstairs. Usually, Nathan's passed out in my bed or on the couch. (Hopefully Nana reminded him to change into his pajamas so I don't have to struggle getting my semi-conscious son into his PJs.) I pick him up, take him to his bed, and tuck him in. Then I gather up Lucie's bath time toiletries and meet her in my room.

Even if she's already dressed for bed, she'll strip down wanting to take an oatmeal bath. She says the oatmeal makes her eczema feel better, but I know that it gets her ready to go to bed. She likes pouring the oatmeal in the tub as I run the water and add the bubble bath. She climbs in as I get ready for bed. With the heat, I'm pretty hot and sweaty, so I usually join her in our oversized tub. It's very relaxing, especially if I'm still hyper from presenting at a home show or meeting.

Cooled down and toweled off, we perform our individual nighttime rituals. Mine are a facial moisturizer, lip treatment, and eye cream. Hers are powder, diaper, and eczema cream. We both brush our teeth, then climb into my bed to read a story or two.

Finally, I carry her to her own bed along with her book, blanket and sippy cup. Sometimes she's already asleep, but she's fine going to bed if she's awake, too. I tuck her in with a kiss, hug and a "Good night, I love you. See you in the morning." She replies, "Night, mommy," as I shut her bedroom door. It's moments like this that I'm glad she's here and we have the chance to spend this special time together.