"The Love Boat"

I'm a huge fan of "The Love Boat." I have great childhood memories of Saturday nights spent in front of the TV watching the crew set out for another cruise. To this day, I have never actually gone on a cruise in part because I'm sure that I would be disappointed by the accommodations on board. They would not live up to the expectations that were set when I was an impressionable 8 year old. I also thought that Julie McCoy, cruise director, had the greatest job ever. Good news! I am now a cruise director in my very own home, how cool is that?

Now I understand why people plan vacations for the week after Christmas. The excitement of the holidays is wearing off, and the kids are all ready for activities outside of the house. The trick is to try to figure out what every other out-of-school child is doing right now and then do something else. Atlanta is in the midst of a terrible drought right now, but, of course, it has just rained for days so outside activities haven't really been an option.

My post-holiday latte is to make plans that involve friends. I have already sent out an email trying to recruit playmates for activities this week. It is hard to get out the door for a morning activity if you don't start trying to decide what to do until 9:00 AM. This can be a fun week if you keep everyone busy while trying to stay healthy. Whatever you do, stop and get a latte on the way - you'll need it!

Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas, so much to be done -
wrapping and cooking for Christmas day fun.
The kids were asleep and so was the dog,
mommy hoped to find a few minutes to blog.

It was soon Christmas morn, I'll admit it was wild,
Nothing matches the joy of Christmas for a child.
Barbies and bakugan and some cards from Starbucks,
who could believe our Christmas day luck?

We shared all the fun with the family that came,
Now I'll take a moment to thank them by name -
Thanks Grandaddy, Granjill, Uncle D and Grandpa,
Thanks to Meemaw, Deedaw, Aunt Allie and Grandma.

Now 2 days have passed, to my readers I say
Happy Christmas to all and enjoy this Latte!

Christmas List

Christmas Lists are a hot topic of conversation right now. Charlotte's is constantly changing depending on the latest commercials on Nick Jr. and Mason has had a few late additions to his. Almost daily, I'm able to keep up with the lists and pass requests along to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and, of course, Santa himself.

Today I was actually caught off guard when my dad asked me what was on my list. Christmas is 5 days away, and I couldn't answer. I know that I would like a fence for our yard so Goldie can run around, a new dining set for our kitchen, and perhaps a new TV for the living room. I would also love a really clean house, and a few hours to myself without kids, chores, or errands. I told Rob to take the kids to Target to buy me a new pair of rainboots. I'm guessing that none of this is at all helpful to my dad.

Here goes, a Christmas list latte - make a Christmas list for yourself. Take a few minutes out of your way too busy schedule of shopping, pageants, and sending cards to think of what you really want for Christmas. A little something just for you. I would like the book "Love the one your with" by Emily Giffin. Her books are fun and easy to read. Not that I need an excuse to go, but I would also be happy with gift certificates to Starbucks or Method - both places keep me going with daily lattes.

Goldie - Our New Addition

I felt like a rookie today. 6 1/2 years of motherhood, 2 1/2 years with 3 kids, but today I felt like a rookie. The reason? We got a dog. I figured that Mary Jane is out of diapers so we need a new source of chaos in our house. So now I find myself maneuvering a stroller and a dog around town to pick the girls up from preschool. It's a new experience for me. Goldie, our new dog, is a 2 year old, 30 pound, sheltie mix.

Goldie is filling a new spot in our family. We use to have a dog. She was the baby before we had babies. Now we have as many babies as we can handle - Goldie is our family pet. She is sweet and lovey and she has been sleeping on Mason's bed. Since she is no longer a puppy, she hasn't chewed or made a mess in the house, yet. I think she's great, I just haven't fully bonded with her in the 5 days that she has been with us. I don't think I have the emotional energy right now to let her be another one of my babies like Sadie, our 75 pound shepherd mix was.

Back to feeling like a rookie which happened (don't laugh) while I was getting my daily latte (on ice today, it's 70 degrees here). Although my favorite local coffee spot has a dog bowl and treats on the patio, I felt like I lost control of the dog and the girls for a moment while I was there. So here is my latte to share, give yourself time to adjust to a new situation, whether it's a new pet, baby, job, etc. I am very happy that we now have Goldie, I love that my kids will remember growing up with a dog - Mason only remembers the idea of Sadie. Obviously, I thrive on chaos, I just may need a green tea latte to keep me calm through the holidays with a new dog.

Memories

27 - I guess it's a number that means different things at different times. It's a number that I thought of last week as I was watching Mason's 1st grade holiday performance. Each of the 6 classes performed a musical number in costume. Mason's class was sheep and shepherds. They've been practicing for weeks, it was very cute and a little crazy. I realize that this is only Mason's second year in elementary school. Charlotte will start next fall, and Mary Jane 2 years after that. We have lots of these to watch and enjoy.

That's where 27 comes in, I was sitting next to a man who, for basically all of the 80's and 90's had 4 children who spent a total of 27 years in elementary school. My dad, who has sat through 27 combined years of his children's performances, now watches his grandson perform at the same school my brother and sisters and I attended. I'm guessing that it all starts to become a blur of costumes, songs, learning lines, and I'm sure a few tears along the way. I don't think I could find a picture of any of my elementary school performances if I tried, and that's ok. I don't need to see them on Facebook now, I have enough memories to keep me going.

So here it is, I've found that if you try to watch a performance, as many do, through the lens of a camera, you might miss out. Take some pictures before, buy the DVD of the show if the school offers that very nice feature, and just sit back and enjoy the moment. That's really what lattes are all about, enjoy. And dad, the next one is on me.

Take a walk...

...or a hike, but I don't want to sound rude. I mean it literally, get out and take a walk. That's easy to do in the spring when it's beautiful weather, but right now is when I really need the exercise and fresh air. I can make a list a mile long of reasons why the car is easier these days - bad weather, runny noses, pre-Christmas errands, etc. But on the flip side there is holiday stress and eating that I need to work off somehow.

Pushing a stroller for even 20 minutes is a great way to regroup. It is time when I don't talk on the phone, check email, or eat a snack. It is not a totally stress-free time if MJ goes on the attack against her sister in the stroller, but sometimes the girls will just sit back and enjoy the fresh air, too.

My latte is to get out and take a walk to get your next latte. You'll feel like you've earned it, and the kids can get some hot chocolate. If you're having a really hard time getting motivated, you can do what we just did, and get a dog! Many daily lattes about Goldie are coming...

Consignment Stores

In just two weeks, a lot of new stuff will appear in this house. The kids will be thrilled, and I'm already wondering where it will all go. One thing that I've done in an attempt to make a little room, is take a load of outgrown spring clothes to the consignment store. I've said before that getting rid of baby clothes is not always easy, but sometimes it feels great to make some room in the basement.

I am not someone who actually makes any money from consigning. Rob jokes that the only business at the store is from people who come in to sell things and end up making a few purchases. That actually sounds about right. At least I feel like I am being a little green in the process since I am buying used and, at the same time, I'm passing along things that no one in this house is using anymore. I also offset the cost of my purchases, and every little bit helps.

My soggy latte on this rainy day is to make some room. Santa is coming so whether you consign, donate, or throw away, make room now so you can enjoy the goodies in two weeks. Then you can treat yourself to an extra latte (perhaps Eggnog) and enjoy the season!

Family Dinners

One thing I've always felt strongly about as a mother, is the importance of a family dinner. This year, we've started making a real effort to all sit down together and eat the same food so that I'm not cooking one meal for adults and one for kids. In theory, everyone at least tries the food I've fixed before eating a meal of toast and bananas. Maybe one of the reasons we eat out so often is so that everyone can order what they like. Or maybe it's just so that I won't have to cook and clean up.

In our household, we are laying the foundation for pleasant family meals in the future by all coming to the table at the same time. I'm always excited when it works out that we all sit for 15 minutes and talk about our days, but I know that is more the exception than the rule. I seem to spend half of the meal in the bathroom with someone and the other half refilling drinks and cleaning up spills.

My family dinner latte is this, don't expect too much at dinnertime. If everyone, including me, eats at least one veggie and there are no tears, I consider the meal to be a success and we can then move onto play, bath, bed, and blog. Tomorrow is another day with another latte.

Tis the Season

As I've said before, I often feel like I live in a small town. Of course, Atlanta is anything but, and this time of year it really shows. It is overwhelming to look through the number of fun events taking place the next few weeks. At first glance, I want to take my kids to as many as possible to make this an exciting and memorable Holiday Season. Here's the reality - what seems to me like an activity right out of a Norman Rockwell painting , might create a memory of a long car ride for Mary Jane, carsickness for Mason, and too much money spent for my husband.

Here's a holiday planning latte, know your audience! The highlight of Charlotte's season so far has been seeing the girls dressed as Princesses in a Chick-fil-a Candyland to promote the new peppermint milkshake. There was face-painting, coloring, and we had lunch while we were there. Mason even won a game in the raffle which made his day. All for the price of a kid's meal.

We will do our share of traditional holiday activities this season. Mason & Charlotte are both going to be in the Church Christmas Pageant next week (Mason as a sheep, Charlotte as an Angel). We're going to ride the little holiday train that the Botanical Gardens on Saturday, but we're not going to try to sit through the Nutcracker when I'm pretty sure that I would be the only one really enjoying it. If you're enjoying the holidays, your kids will enjoy being with you even if you're just sitting at home redecorating the tree (as Mason does every couple of days) and drinking a latte.

2 Latte Day

I'm tired today. Not just my usual level of "mother of small kids" kind of tired, but more of the "how am I going to make it to bedtime" tired. It was a long night last night. I have always been proud of the fact that our kids have never tried to sleep in our bed. That is partly due to logistics, we have a full sized bed and, for years, an 80 pound dog shared it with us so there was no room for anyone else. What ends up happening in our house is that we go to whichever child needs us during the night.

Last night was one of those nights. Mary Jane has a cold which makes it hard to sleep, and Mason just woke up restless at 4:30. Here is what I learned, Mary Jane needs flannel sheets on her bed and Mason needs an alarm clock. After a night of no sleep, I managed to fall into a very deep sleep in Mason's bed around 6 AM. Unfortunately, we didn't wake up until 7:30.

I'm not going to feel guilty that it is just one of those days. I'll just have an extra latte today, and I'll tackle the laundry tomorrow. That's all my latte is today, sometimes you need extra caffeine and a good night of sleep in a bed without children.

The Things They Say...

Write it down! Today's latte is to write it down. What is "it"? The hilarious and profound things your kids say. Trust me when I tell you, as someone who once remembered everything (like what I wore the 1st day of 9th grade), it all starts to run together at some point when you have kids. I know that there are entire books and blogs devoted to the witty things that children say. You may choose to use old-fashioned methods such as journals or scrapbooks, or you can go high tech and record your memories on Facebook or a blog.

Since I have the attention of my mom, sisters, and three other readers, I'll go ahead and recount what Charlotte said today. She and Mason were playing Candyland - Mason won a new game at Chick-fil-a yesterday. Anyway, Charlotte got very upset and said that she could not land on the square with a peanut on it because she is allergic to peanuts. I had to laugh before telling her that I'm glad she is avoiding peanuts, but I didn't think she would have a bad reaction to the one on the game board.

I realize that with 3 small kids, I could sit here and write a book of amazing things they have said over the years. Mason once asked why we have a heart inside of us, why isn't it a triangle or a star? He also made me a decaf, carmel mocha in the play kitchen when I was pregnant with Mary Jane, and Charlotte once exclaimed loudly at Starbucks, "Oh my gosh, I forgot to put on any lip gloss this morning!" The woman next to us almost spilled her daily latte on her laptop she was laughing so hard. As frustrating as kids can be, if you remember some of the funny things they say and do, it might be a little easier to forget some of the not so funny things. So write it down!

Thankful for Chaos

I'm still full. I had three full turkey, dressing, green bean, etc meals in two days. That's not counting the leftovers today. I'm spending Thanksgiving week living every cliche - we've all eaten too much, our Christmas tree is up, and I fought the crowds at the mall and Toys R Us on this, the busiest shopping day of the year. My latte today, as I relax and think I'm going to have to exercise sometime, is to realize the fine line between chaos and stress, and stay away from the stress side of the line.

As the mother of small children, the holidays are a busy, crazy, and potentially stressful time of year. Right now, Mary Jane is getting a cold, Charlotte thinks that Santa is actually going to bring everything she sees advertised on Nick Jr., and Mason has no idea that Bakugans are harder to find than a rare lost bunny

I've somehow learned to expect the unexpected and just move on. In the next month, I'm guessing that I might need more than one latte to get through some days, but it's my favorite time of year and, for me, the chaos is part of what I love. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the holidays!

This old house

Our house was built in 1954. We bought it in 2005 from the original owner. By mid-2008 we started to like it. Yes, it is a typical ranch, fixer-upper, money-pit; but it's home. When we bought the house, Charlotte & Mason were 1 and 3 and Mary Jane was on the way. I was frustrated that it wasn't our "dream house." My mother told me that most people don't buy their dream houses, they buy a house and live into it. There is some wisdom in that, maybe even a latte.

Dream houses belong to adults, not their small children. This has become Mason's dream house because he has a huge tree-fort in the backyard thanks to Uncle Lou. The girls love the fact that my bathroom has a pink toilet, tub, and sink to match the tile on the walls. For better or worse, I've actually come to like the fact that I don't need a baby monitor to hear my kids in the middle of the night. I like knowing that there is huge potential for our basement to one day be the playroom where all of our kids want to entertain friends. We still have some kinks to work out, the whole house smells like a campfire today thanks to an attempt at a nice fire yesterday that didn't work out and we're not sure why. There will always be plenty of projects around here, some big and some small.

My latte is this, when you're thinking about your dream home, think about your dreams. My dream is to have a beautiful space for a Christmas tree and plenty of room for all of my family to enjoy each other and their toys, a kitchen that can be a gathering place, and a cozy room to sit and watch TV. When I look past the clutter and dust, it looks like I just might be living my dream.

Decorating

If you've been to my house, you are probably thinking that decorating is not my strong-point, and, yet, you feel compelled to keep reading just out of curiosity. Here's what I've learned, you might spend lots of time, money, and nesting-energy creating the perfect nursery for your newborn. Everything is in its place, and it looks like it could be in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Then the baby comes along. I don't think that anything in my house, or life, has been in its place since!

My latte about decorating is, like with many things about kids, be flexible. Swings and exersaucers are soon replaced by dolls, dress-ups, legos, and bakugans. New toys and obsessions may require new storage and playspace. We recently brought Mason's old train table up from the basement to use as a doll house table in the space left available by the removal of Mary Jane's crib from her room. One easy and inexpensive decorating idea is to stencil something on a wall. Mason & I had a great time making his room into a pirate room. Another idea is to take some good art pieces that your child brings home and put them in a frame instead of on the refrigerator or in a folder.

Just know that needs and preferences may soon change, and so new decor will become necessary. Even Starbucks redecorates every now and then!

It's Potty Time!

After yesterday's latte about goals, I realized that I actually had quite a few goals that I had already achieved. In fact, most of parenting is about accomplishing goals or at least providing our children with an environment in which to do things like learn to walk, talk, be creative (or messy), and how to succeed on their own.

An important skill in surviving in the world is mastering the art of going potty. Today, for the first time since July 9, 2002, I did not change a diaper! I have survived teaching 3 people how to use the potty, and my latte today is that you can do it, too. I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself, and my kids didn't do such a bad job either. My kids are 3 very different people, and this is just one more thing that they all did very differently, but they all did it and we all survived the mess and chaos that came with the process. I might just treat myself to an extra latte with our diaper savings!

Goals

My husband passed the test for an important certification tonight! I'm very proud of him, and I'm looking forward to having him get back to the long list of to-do's that I've accumulated while he's been studying. It's a big deal both personally and professionally. My goals are not always quite as lofty - finish a load of laundry, write a new post for my blog, unload the dishwasher. Sound familiar?

As parents, it is not only important for us to have goals in order to get through our daily tasks, but it is also important for us to have goals so that our kids can learn what it means to complete the task we set out to accomplish. Mason asked me the other day why I always have to go clean up, and I told him that it just never seems to be done. I'm thinking that a goal of mine should be to get organized to the point that I can stop cleaning for a little while. At least until the next box of cheerios is dumped on the kitchen floor. I would like to set a good example of setting a goal and completing it so that my kids will learn how to set and achieve their own realistic goals. Maybe one of them will have a goal of opening a great coffee shop called Amy's Daily Latte.

Keep it clean...

16 pillows - In this house we have 4 beds for 5 people and 16 standard size pillows. That number doesn't include the numerous smaller decorative pillows on every bed. My goal in life right now is to simplify and get organized. How can I do that when I am chasing 3 kids and making beds with 16 pillows?

I spend a fair portion of every day sweeping, folding laundry, and dusting (and going out for coffee and playing on the computer). Last week my girls helped me clean the inside of their dollhouse. There are lots of places for dust to collect inside a giant piece of plastic. Today, while changing sheets on all 4 beds, I made the executive decision to get rid of some pillows. There is still dust under my bed and laundry in the basket on the floor, but now there are two less pillows in the house. Maybe I'm on my way to simplifying and getting rid of some of the clutter.

The latte from today's rambling is just to take a small step. I really do feel good about getting rid of some old pillows that were past their prime. Today pillows, maybe tomorrow some toys. I'll think it over while I drink my latte.

Muppets

Today, my latte is to have fun! It sounds so simple, but as the mother of young kids it is very easy to spend all of your time and energy planning fun things for the family that you never really enjoy yourself because you are too busy worrying about everyone else. Or am I the only one who does that? At any rate, this morning we did something that was so much fun for all of us. We went to the Muppet exhibit at The Atlanta History Center (http://www.atlhist.org/). It was very nostalgic for me because I have great memories of watching The Muppet Show before bed when I was 4 or 5. Charlotte was amazed when she saw Miss Piggy for the first time today. "She's so fancy," she said. All of the kids laughed hysterically at the screening of musical selections from the show.

Don't get me wrong, I actually do have fun doing lots of things with the kids. Today just seemed a little different because we all got to share something that I loved as a child. Trust me when I say that the Muppets are actually more funny if you watch the show as an adult. Less educational than Dora the Explorer, but much more entertaining . Now I'm off to do more fun things with my family. As Kermit sang in The Muppet Movie, "Life's like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending..."

This one's for you, F.

Alone Time

I know what you're thinking, that based on the title, I'm going to say something profound about finding alone time in the corner of a little coffee shop with no kids. Not quite. Realistically, there are probably about 8 daytime hours a week when I'm not with at least one of my kids, but that's a good thing. Here's what I've realized though, just like I need a break from them at times, they also need a break from each other. So, as nice as it is to sneak out for a latte alone, it makes a huge difference in the happiness-level in this house if I take someone with me when I sneak out.

Mary Jane got extra attention last weekend because she was sick and everyone noticed. After Mason & I went to the playground alone for 15 minutes on Saturday afternoon, he was in a much better mood, and that is all it took. Charlotte and I made breadsticks for her snack at school this week on Monday afternoon while Mason & Mary Jane made a fort. It really doesn't take much to make a child feel special, and 15 minutes of one on one time with Mommy or Daddy goes a long way. Maybe you'll get some Mommy alone time when they're teenagers.

Birthday Parties - RSVP

When Mason was about 4 1/2, we received an invitation to a birthday party. It was for a little girl who had been in his class the previous year, and he had lots of fun with her. I replied to the party that we would be there. I didn't consult Mason on this decision because I made all of the social decisions and arrangements for him up to that point. On the day of the party, he told me that he wasn't going. I won't go into all of the details, but on that day, I realized that he was going to have a say in what he did going forward.

I have lots to say about kids' birthdays, and I won't put it all into one latte. I will say this, it is no fun to take a child to a party that he or she does not want to attend. Having hosted quite a few parties in the last several years, I will also tell you that, while the birthday child would love for you to attend, it's ok to say no to an invitation. You don't even have to give a reason, just "Sorry, we can't make it." Go to the parties that you think your kids will really enjoy, but don't feel obligated to say yes to all of them. Between my three kids, they were invited to more than 20 parties last winter alone. The good news for me this year is that most of Mason's parties will be drop off, and I have no qualms about dropping-off after we hosted a drop-off for 20 kids this summer.

There it is, by request, my latte on birthday parties, it is ok to say no and just go to the ones that really excite your kids. I wonder if I could convince any of my kids to have a party at Starbucks next year?

Holiday Traditions

I know, it's not even Thanksgiving, yet, and we still have some Halloween decor on our front porch, but the Holidays seem to have arrived. Christmas decorations are everywhere, and we'll have ours out soon. Now, if you are one of the 4 or 5 people who read my lattes regularly, you know that I'm not big on Halloween, but Christmas is a different story. Having kids has added a new dimension to my take on the Holidays, and it has added to the chaos exponentially, but it is all worth it.

My latte today is to make sure that you have one or two traditions for whatever holidays you are celebrating. Something simple that the kids will enjoy now. Traditions can evolve as children grow. I've learned that some things, like a candle light Christmas eve church service, are not meant for small children, so that tradition might have to wait.

For right now, one of the things that the kids and I love to do is ride the Pink Pig (www.macys.com/campaign/pinkpig/index.jsp) at a mall nearby. I know that the time is coming soon when Mason will be too cool for something so pink, and so I always try to get in several trips to Lenox before it gets too crazy. As an added bonus today, Santa was already at the mall. How can you help but love a tradition that lets a 4 year old spend 5 full minutes sitting on Santa's lap talking about all of the Barbie & the Diamond Castle items she would like? Get out and enjoy the Holiday season, it gets longer and longer every year. I for one can't wait to put up my tree and enjoy an eggnog latte!

Sick Little Ones

It's that time of year. Mason & Charlotte have both been sick at least once this fall, Mary Jane was due. A sick child will stop plans that you might have faster than any tantrum. We were out this morning with some of Mary Jane's new friends from school and with their moms who are becoming some of my new friends. I hope that we're all still friends even if we brought germs along on the playdate!

It might take a few lattes to get through a few sick days with a child because the sick days often come with sleepless nights. Relax, I've found that Mommy's lap is usually the bests (and sometimes only) medicine that will make a little one feel better. Mary Jane stays busy most of the time, and while I hate that she's sick, I actually enjoyed how cuddly she was today. I was able to slow down and let her sit in my lap while we watched The Little Mermaid. Soon enough she'll be up and running around again ready to go out with her friends. Maybe we can all meet for a latte.

A new lovey

$77. $77 is the price I paid for a new Bunny lovey for my 2 1/2 year old. I'll have to forgo a couple of lattes to cover the cost, but Mary Jane seems relieved. She knows that it is different, but she told her Grandjill that now she could sleep. So the Bunny saga has now ended 9 days after it started. Was it all worth it?

That's my latte of the day, yes, it is all worth it. The good, bad and ugly - sometimes motherhood doesn't make any sense, but we do what we need to do to keep the peace and keep our sanity. That could mean threatening no more TV ever, giving in to a request for a marshmellow in the middle of the day, or spending $77 for an $8 lovey. Not everything we do for our kids has to be reasonable, sometimes we just know in our hearts that it needs to be done. I will sleep better knowing that my baby has her baby back.

Love & Marriage

Yesterday was our 8th wedding anniversary. We got takeout and watched the election returns after the kids went to bed. Not a super-exciting evening, but it was actually somewhat fitting since for most of our honeymoon in Key West, coverage of the 2000 election (the year of the hanging-chad) was on in every restaurant or bar we visited for the entire week. Of course, I love to have a fancy, romantic night out as much as the next person, but the next person might be a mom like me who feels that sometimes it's too much work. Mason didn't have school yesterday so we all had a great afternoon at the Botanical Gardens. At the end of the day, like my kids, I was worn out. I was happy to put on my pajamas when the kids did, and it would have taken a whole lot of effort for me to take a shower and get dressed to go out.

Here's my latte from the events of my anniversary, or "birthday of my wedding" as I said to the kids, do what works for you. Yes, you and your spouse should absolutely spend some quality time away from the kids, but it doesn't have to be a fancy night out on a Tuesday. Sometimes we have great date nights when we rent a new movie and get take-out from Outback. We've had breakfast dates on a morning when the kids were all in school. Before we know it, the kids will have better things to do than spend time with us, and we're not in a hurry for that to happen. For this year, it's enough to tell Rob that his anniversary present is a $77 Bunny replacement from eBay, and a promise not to spend any more on auctions. Lattes, on the other hand, are still a line item in our budget!

Find a Passion

Don't worry, this is still a mommy blog. Despite that fact that Rob likes to refer to it as "Sex in the City for Moms" it's not that racy. Today's latte is simply to find a passion. Not just a hobby, but a true passion. I've found that by having something that invigorates my days besides being a mom, I just might have a little more energy for my kids. Of course, family is my first passion. Family is the reason that we moved from Denver back to Atlanta.

Passions are all around us this week with the election coming tomorrow. Watching CNN has become a mild obsession of mine, but it is not my passion. What I have actually realized is that I have a passion for writing. I now look at each part of my day in a different light as I try to figure out if there is a latte to share at the end of the day. Hopefully, some of you are enjoying my new-found passion. And if writing this blog doesn't work out for me, I always have my passion for drinking a daily latte.

Small Town Life

If you know me, you might be confused by the title of this post since I live right in town in Atlanta which is NOT a small town. I've always had a somewhat romantic idea about small towns and what a great place they would be for raising a family, but I also love all that a big city has to offer - museums, zoos, plays, malls, and direct flights places just to name a few. I've never actually lived in a small town so my idea of one may be way off base, but today I realized that Atlanta , or any city or suburb, can feel like a small town if you embrace your neighborhood.

It was a beautiful day here today, and Rob & I walked with the kids to a nearby park for an annual neighborhood gathering sponsored by the Civic Association. We saw people that we know from the preschool, the elementary school, and even an old friend of my sister's who was in town visiting her parents. Our girls are close in age, and they had a great time dancing with the percussion band that was there. The whole afternoon had the great neighborhood feel of living in a small town.

These days, I live most of my life within about a three mile radius. For all of my talk about Starbucks, I often end up instead in a small independent coffee shop (Method) where I now know the owner and manager fairly well. Since it's not practical for many of us to uproot and move to a small town, the latte of the day is to enjoy your small town with your family whether you're actually in a small town or in a big city. Get out in the neighborhood even if it's just to try the neighborhood coffee spot for you daily latte.

Halloween Humbug

I have a confession to make, I don't really like Halloween. It's unfortunate because with a 2, 4, and 6 year old, Halloween is a really big deal. As a child, I remember it being a stressful time of year trying to decide on just the right costume. I don't remember ever just loving what I had except for the time in 8th grade when my older sister let me wear one of her cheerleading uniforms to a Halloween party. Anyway, I have to put all of my own Halloween issues aside so that my kids can have a great one.

Luckily, my kids are easily amused and they seemed to have a great time without alot of fuss. Mason wanted to make his own costume by mixing the body from his old Power Ranger costume with his Spider Man mask to be "Spider Ranger" Mary Jane was a ballerina and I even got a jacket on her. Charlotte was a fairy princess (I put wings from one costume on her Cinderella dress). I'm sure that I will be eating candy that I don't need for a month, and right after Christmas they will probably start tossing around ideas for costumes for next year. But here it is, my latte from Halloween - make it fun for the kids and you don't have to buy new costumes every year if they'll get excited about something you already have. Save your money for replacement loveys on eBay.

Where's Bunny?

Last night, I was having dinner with my cousin when Rob called and uttered two terrible words "where's Bunny?" We are now going on 24 hours without any Bunny sightings. For those of you who don't know Bunny, she is my 2 1/2 year old's lovey. She looks alot like a rag, and she goes everywhere with Mary Jane. I know that some kids don't have loveys, but they are big in our house. I once backtracked on a walk for 45 minutes, 2 hours before my sister's wedding in order to find Mason's bear. I realize that I usually do a Bunny-check every 20 minutes or so if we have her out of the house, and yet, she's no where to be found. We have turned the house upside down - we've checked the usual places like the bed, couch, refrigerator, and places that I know Mary Jane would never be able to put her like in high cabinets or under our mattress.

Apparently, we're not the only ones with this particular bunny that is no longer made, I found one on eBay for $140.00. If we find Bunny, maybe we should sell her. I guess the good news is that Mary Jane is sad, but not devastated. I, on the other hand, am heartbroken. I feel like I have let her down by not keeping up with her baby, as she calls her. I was up most of the night sifting through laundry and closets. Who knew that old West Wing episodes came on at 3:00 AM? So, in my sleep deprived state (more so than usual), I offer this daily latte, it's ok to mourn a loss, even that of a small lovey. Be sad for a day, and then move on - if necessary, there's always eBay.

Starting a Business (Part 2)

Ok, I know I haven't been blogging for very long, and it may be a little soon to recycle old blogs, but, here's the latte to go along with this recycled blog - know your technology. Prior to now, I haven't had working links in my entries and I thought it would be nice to include those. Also, here is a follow up, and another business started by a classmate of Rob's from Ohio, I love, love, love my bag from www.amymichellebags.com! It makes me feel like I'm not in a hurry to potty train Mary Jane. Finally, the other business that I mentioned and love, play-2-grow.com, a great place to take a class with a toddler in Atlanta. Now for the recycled blog...

Of course, we would all love to find that perfect business idea that will give us flexibility to do what we love while spending time with our families and making enough money to support everyone at home. I just thought I would take a minute to say good job to a few who have actually had the endurance to make it work. www.stinkykids.com is a t-shirt business started by the mom of kids at our old preschool. I must say that this family has done more than our share to help get the business going. Another one that I have supported a bit is www.darlingmummy.com I love their shirts and I must be a sucker for $25 tees. If you end up shopping with either of them, let them know that you read about them on my blog. If you design and sell expensive tees, let me know, I'll probably buy one. If I were at all artistically inclined, I would design some myself.

The one business that all moms should check out is www.brainytunes.com My brother-in-law is a terrific kid's singer/songwriter. It's worth a listen. If my mom and my sister are still the only ones reading this, then I guess we all know the words to Molly the Moose (my personal fave).

Mix It Up

When I tell my kids that we are going to "mix it up", it usually means that I forgot something or I am running so late that we're going to change our routine to make up the time, but occasionally, I change things around on purpose. A great way to do this is to rotate toys. This works especially well on babies and little kids. I've said before that we have way too much stuff in our house, and lots of that "stuff" is in the form of toys. If we kept all of the toys accessible, our house would be overrun with them and 95% of the toys would go unnoticed. By packing some of the toys away and bringing them back out after a few months, it's like having Christmas several times a year. If your kids are really little, you can actually have Christmas several times a year - open the gifts without your child present so that you can make the necessary thank yous and then save the toys for a rainy day. Just last month we brought out a train set that Mason lost interest in about a year ago, and he had a great time building new trains to run all around the dining room.

You don't even have to have small children to rotate things in and out of use. I always feel a little bit like I've gone shopping when I get my winter clothes out of storage each fall, and I know that my mom loves to rotate her dishes and tablesettings. You can have dinner with her every night for a week and see new things at each meal. So there it is, my latte for the day - Mix it up, and in the spirit of the day, I ordered a green tea chai latte when I went to Starbucks today.

Toys

Pokemon, Bakugan - If this sounds like a foreign language to you, then I'm guessing you don't have a six year old boy living in your house. Bakugans are my first grade son's latest obsession. They are these neat little things with magnets in them that the kids trade and battle with. Mason sleeps with his, sets them up on the table when he eats, you get the picture. Here's the thing, 2 months ago he was just as obsessed with his Pokemon trading cards. He spent days decorating his Pokemon card book. This week he gave that book to his little sister since he isn't into Pokemon anymore.

What latte could I possibly derive from all of this rambling? Don't stock up on anything. In my basement right now there sits a Pokemon game of some sort that I found last month at a consignment sale, and I thought it would make a great Christmas present. I guess I could give it to Charlotte since she is now the owner of all of the cards. It seems like only yesterday that Mason was outgrowing Elmo, Blues Clues, Spiderman, Transformers... One day he'll learn to just stick with what works, and maybe he'll enjoy ordering the same thing from his local coffee shop every day. Until then, I'll wait until December to do the Christmas shopping!

2 year old fun

How do you entertain a very energetic and temperamental 2 year old? It's not always easy if you want to have some fun yourself as well. Since I worked at a preschool every day last year, MJ and I didn't have much time alone together until this fall. Good thing I've taken Filling time with a Preschooler, 101.

Here's what I've learned through the years - classes are fun sometimes, but really only if you are having fun with the other moms. Trust me, I've tried them all - I took Mason to his first Gymboree class when he was 7 months old. We've also tried My Gym, The Little Gym, swimming, and various music classes. The most fun I've had in a class is when several girlfriends and I signed our then 2 year olds up for a class at play-2-grow.com. It's not a franchise and it was great!

Even a great class can be a big commitment both financially and in terms of time. For now, I'm trying to reduce the amount of stress in our lives, and so Mary Jane and I have some mornings when we just go to the park or make a game out of grocery shopping. My stand-by for entertainment is to go to the book store, if there is a free story-time going on, even better. And of course, what 2 year old doesn't love feeling like a big girl and getting a vanilla milk with Mommy who is getting, you guessed it, a daily latte.

It's all about...

not me! As a mom, I'm the queen of trying to multi-task and do 5 things at once while trying to remember what I need to remember to get through each day - lunch, backpacks, snacks, teacher notes, etc. It's overwhelming at times. Here's today's latte - remember that it's not all about you. Stop and listen to what others need.

Every day is hectic for one reason or another, and when something throws a wrench in the schedule like a sick child or daddy, car trouble, bad weather - it's all going to be ok. Don't let your first thought be "how does this affect my needs for the day?" First deal with the problem or illness at hand, ask what you can do to help, and then deal with the logistics. I tend to jump into logistics mode first because it's easier to control at times, but sometimes I just need to stop and offer comfort or support. The groceries, laundry, and dishes will be waiting later. And a little treat from Starbuck might help everyone feel better...

Splurge

That's the latte du jour - splurge! Not on everything, but every now and then moms need to splurge on themselves. Ok, so I know that times are tough and I already splurge on coffee almost daily, but there are a couple of other things that are worth a few extra dollars. Here's the big one that I've found having to do with kids - diaper bags.

After about 2 years of motherhood, I realized that a baby and a diaper bag had really become my only accessories. I spent several years trying to deny the need for a really great bag, but as the babies grew and I needed even more "stuff", I accepted the fact that I need a bag that I could take anywhere. Then I just had to find the right bag. For a while I carried a gardening bag from Target. Lots and lots of exterior pockets make it a good bag to have, but it's not just right. Maybe the key is to have a few bags.

For now, I just placed an order from www.amymichellebags.com (it's co-owned by a classmate of my husband's from high school). I'm hoping that sometime in the next month, we will be a diaper-free household, but it's going to be years (if ever) before I am through carrying a bag whose main contents revolve around snacks, water bottles, wipes, tissues, toys, books, etc. I may as well have a bag that has external cup holders, a waterproof interior, and looks more like a purse than anything I've carried since I became a mother. Maybe it's my first step back into the non-baby world!

Sentimental Attire

When Mason curls up in the den to watch TV, he always uses the same quilt. My mother made the quilt over 20 years ago using fabric from mine and my sisters old dresses. When she gave the quilt to me, I thought it was very sweet and more than a little nostalgic to have proof of all of the things we wore in the mid-70's. Now I have a new appreciation for that quilt. As a mother, sometimes it's really hard to let go of a little dress or T-shirt that has so many memories attached to it.

We are finally having beautiful cooler fall weather here so this morning I spent some time packing away some summer clothes. Charlotte's are easy since if they don't fit her next spring, I'll give them to Mary Jane. But what about the clothes that don't fit anyone? Some I'll consign or give away (consignment will be a blog all its own), but some clothes, like the crib, I'm just not ready to let go of. So here's today's latte - pack them away. If you have the space, it's ok to hold onto them for a little while longer. In a year, you might be ready to give them away, make a quilt out of them, or transfer them to a bigger box with a new batch of clothes containing new memories.

Expectations

I feel as though I spend alot of time trying to figure out how to simplify life for my family. Here's a tip that I read somewhere recently which makes a good weekend latte - take a look at your to-do list for the weekend and then cut it in half. You'll spend less time feeling like you should be doing something more productive, and more time having fun. Face it, your kids' main expectation is to spend time with you and running errands may not be a small child's idea of quality time.

Being flexible helps, too. This morning I thought we would try to make it to church, but when Charlotte appeared in a much too small Ohio State cheerleading uniform and tights, I changed my expectations of what we were going to do this morning. I will admit that Rob & I did drag our kids along for a quick trip to Trader Joes, but then they had plain old play time at our house and had a great time making a secret hide-out under the porch. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the fall in Atlanta.

Sisters

Today my mom and I had a girls day with my girls. Charlotte is recovering from being sick, and it was very rainy so a great day for indoor, girl-friendly activities. You guessed it - pedicures, mall, and lunch. We all had a great time, although Charlotte kept talking about wanting to get or save things for Mason. Mom and I even commented on how great it is that the kids are all so close.

For such a great day, it didn't end quite as well. My cousin called to say that my aunt (my mom's sister) is in the hospital. Being a mother of more than one child gives you a new perspective on sibling relationships as you see them develop for your children. I once said that there is a fine line between a hug and a headlock among siblings. My takeaway from today is a simple latte, call your sister, and if she lives nearby, go out for coffee and a pedi!

Guilt

As mothers of small children, we have lots and lots of guilt. Guilt about kids - they are too busy, they're not busy enough, they watch too much tv, they don't eat enough vegetables. Guilt about ourselves as mothers - I don't plan enough for my kids, we don't have the right toys or books, I spend too much time on the computer & too much money on coffee. Ok, so those last 2 might just be me, but you get the point.

Here's my latte on feeling guilty - stop it! relax, breathe, and accept that you and your kids aren't perfect. There are so many things to worry about in the world today that you can make yourself crazy if you try to stress over every little thing that you could feel guilty about. It takes a village to raise a family, and, for me, Elmo, chick-fil-a, and a lot of caffeine are part of the village.

Politics

Not the politics that are in the news right now, this is a mommy blog so I'm talking about mommy politics, more specifically - Preschool Politics. I know that the current followers of this blog have heard more than my 2 cents on the subject, but it is inescapable if you have small children. It's the kind of thing that makes you dread running into some people out at the park because you have to put on a fake smile and be polite even though you've been on opposing sides of some debate or another having to do with the way a school is run.

Here's the good news, preschool doesn't last for very long, relatively speaking. You will be on the PTA at the elementary school in no time dealing with a whole different set of issues. What makes preschool tricky for the moms is that it represents the first steps towards letting go. You no longer have complete control over who influences and plays with your child. Having worked in the office of a preschool with lots of issues, I can tell you that kids are very resilient and fairly unaware of any unrest going on within the school. Parents are the ones who are more easily scarred by what they see. It has taken me several months to get over all of the catty politics that went on last year, but my girls and I actually survived quite well.

What type of tip could I possibly have about all of this? Here's my daily latte about preschools - go with your gut and what is convenient for you. If it doesn't feel like the right place, find a different one. If at all possible, find a place that is close to you house so that your preschooler will meet other neighborhood kids who will go to the same elementary school. I now put my preschoolers in the stroller and walk the 1 1/2 miles to and from their school every day, and it is great. And after I drop them off, I can even go to Starbucks to get My Daily Latte.

Happy Birthday!

I could give lots of tips about birthday parties for children, I've spent lots of time planning them in the last 6 years. I thought about calling this blog something like "birthdays & bandaids", but lets face it, I have many more lattes than I do birthdays. Today I had both because it's my birthday. Here's my latte of the day: Let your kids plan a pseudo surprise party for you, and act very surprised. Rob & the kids had a surprise party for me tonight. I helped Rob plan it, but the kids we so excited because they thought I was completely surprised. It was fun for everyone!

Girlfriends

I know that it has been said over and over again in almost every type of women's and parenting magazine, but the latte of today is so important: You need to spend some time with girlfriends. Whether it is drinking coffee while watching kids play, seeing a good chick flick together, or having some rare time without any kids. I guess the irony of time away from kids is that so much of it is spent talking about the kids, but at least you can order food in a restaurant without worrying about anyone but yourself.

Today I got to get away for a lunch for a baby shower for a good friend. It is a great feeling to dress up a little bit, and share some laughs and a nice meal with friends while daddy entertains the kids at home. I consider myself very lucky to have such an amazing group of women to call my friends!

Culture

As a mother of young kids, it's easy to get caught up in the lives of children so that the biggest cultural event in your life is the opening of the Jim Henson Muppets exhibit at the Atlanta History Center (I'm really looking forward to that!) or a week of all new episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I spend 90% of my time in mom mode, and I have the uniform of capris, T-shirt, running shoes and ponytail to go along with it.

Here's my latte today though: Do something cultural that doesn't involve the kids. Go to a museum, see a classic film, go to the theater, etc. This is not a tip I would have thought of a week ago, but I've had a big few days culturally. On Tuesday night we watched The Graduate (Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft) which Rob & I had never seen. It's really good, I guess that's why it's now a classic. It was a nice break from the over-the-top everything movies of today. Then my big cultural showing of the week was really last night. My step-mother's mother had an extra ticket to see the Broadway play Wicked at the Fox theater. It was amazing, and I feel great today just because I had that experience of going to it.

What's for dinner?

I know, there are books, websites, blogs, etc devoted entirely to ways to feed your family. Here is a tip that someone told me last spring, and it has really helped me: Decide by 10 AM what you are going to do for dinner that night. It sounds so simple, and it is, but I didn't realize that I really did it before. It's so easy to get caught up in rushing through the day that you don't stop to think about dinner until you have 3 hungry children ready to eat. Then it's too late to plan!

At least 2 or 3 days a week, my decision is that we are going out. I am not someone who cooks every night by any means. At least this way I can manage expectations with everyone for the evening plans. I just went to the grocery store, and tonight we are having an Ohio favorite for Rob, Brats on the grill. Tomorrow is taco night. I feel so organized right now! Last night we went out with friends, and that was great, too.

Everything can be a source of stress, but I have found a way to make dinner time a little easier for this family at least on some nights. Of course, I'm sure that someone will end up eating a pop tart and banana for dinner instead!

Slow Down

My tip today is simple and one that I should try a little harder to follow, slow down! If you are running late, you're not going to make up any time by trying to rush preschoolers out the door - trust me, I've tried. I'm sure that they played a part in the reason that you might be late, but it really isn't their fault so just let it go. If there is something for which you absolutely cannot be late, the kids need to be in the car, stroller, or with the sitter at least 10 minutes early. Murphy's law is so true with kids, I should just call it Mary Jane's law. This morning was a good example, I thought we were all ready to get in the stroller to go to preschool, but then Mary Jane (who was wearing a cute outfit of pink jeans and a shirt) saw Charlotte's outfit. Charlotte had on tights and a skirt, apparently a much better choice. Getting a 2 year old into tights and a skirt is not a quick process. I also had to convince Charlotte that her choice of shirt was too small and needed to be changed. Needless to say, we left about 10 minutes later than I planned. You know what? It wasn't a big deal.

Being on time to 1st grade with Mason is a whole different story, but the rules still apply, slow down and don't make your child anxious or feel responsible for the fact that things don't always run according to schedule!

Daddy

This morning Mary Jane had a 30 minute tantrum because Daddy left for work. There was nothing I could do to calm her down. I felt terrible for her and for me because I was so helpless. By the time we took Charlotte to school, took Daddy to work (his bus never arrived) and made it to Starbucks, she was happy again. We then had a great morning of coffee, strolling and storytime at the library. My latte of the day is that all tantrums will come to an end! You might have to wait it out for a little while. Mary Jane didn't want me near her until she calmed down. Also, there are times when it is nice to not be the favorite parent - Mary Jane would rather have Rob take care of her if she wakes up in the middle of the night. That's a nice break for me sometimes!

Sunday Lessons

When I was little, everytime we had dinner with my grandparents my Grandfather would ask "What did you learn today?" It's not always an easy question to answer, but in the few days since I have been working on this blog, I've realized that I learn alot each day! Here are some of my lattes of the day...

1. Church is a great place to get some "me" time - the girls both love Sunday School during which I go to Java Monkey and read the Sunday Times Magazine. Rob and Mason spend some daddy son time together. During church, I sit with my grandparents who are now in their late 80s. It is very comforting to sit through the routine of the service and to see my grandparents help one another after 65+ years together.

2. Being a mother makes you overly emotional about most things and that is ok. Mary Jane stopped sleeping in a crib 4 days ago, and we were going to take the crib down this afternoon. I stood in the girls' room and cried and cried about it. It's a big milestone for her, and I'm excited that we're moving on, but I've has one of my babies in that crib for 6 1/2 years. Now I don't have any more babies in the house.

Starting a Business

Of course, we would all love to find that perfect business idea that will give us flexibility to do what we love while spending time with our families and making enough money to support everyone at home. I just thought I would take a minute to say good job to a few who have actually had the endurance to make it work. www.stinkykids.com is a t-shirt business started by the mom of kids at our old preschool. I must say that this family has done more than our share to help get the business going. Another one that I have supported a bit is www.darlingmummy.com I love their shirts and I must be a sucker for $25 tees. If you end up shopping with either of them, let them know that you read about them on my blog. If you design and sell expensive tees, let me know, I'll probably buy one. If I were at all artistically inclined, I would design some myself.

The one business that all moms should check out is www.brainytunes.com My brother-in-law is a terrific kid's singer/songwriter. It's worth a listen. If my mom and my sister are still the only ones reading this, then I guess we all know the words to Molly the Moose (my personal fave).

If you have an idea, you should take the leap and just try it out. Julie Clark, a mom from Ft. Collins, CO spent $15,000 making a video. Just a few years later she sold The Baby Einstein Company to Disney for 7 million dollars!

Organization (or lack thereof)

I have several books about how to get organized, reduce clutter, etc. It's a slow process for me because I tend to just keep things in stacks around the house, but it's hard to keep little hands from moving things. Organizing toys is a constant battle, but we have a rough system for it. Rob now refuses to purchase any more bins, baskets or shelves to further organize. We need to just "get rid of the stuff." This blog is going to be yet another test of my organizational skills. I haven't quite figured out how to organize my thoughts. I would welcome any suggestions.

I guess my daily latte (or tip) on this subject is to purge as much as possible rather than store it. This especially holds true for toys. One thing, you must make sure that you have all of the pieces of a toy before getting rid of it otherwise you're in for trouble when a 3 year old finds a stray part.

Useful (sometimes) Tips

Here is a random assortment of tips that might be useful. I find it easy to collect tips, but not always easy to follow them:

1. Do it the night before - I often leave the house 10 minutes late in the mornings thinking I should have started the wash, packed the snacks, picked out clothes last night instead of watching Nip/Tuck episodes from Netflix.

2. Do it all at once - I have found this very useful for laundry and cleaning, it is easier to devote a few hours to each rather than spend a little bit of every day and feel like it is never done.

3. Stop the junk - if you look at the bottom of one of the free credit card offers you get in the mail, there is a number you can call to stop all offers. I did this a year ago for me and Rob and it has made a huge difference in the amount of junk we have to sort through.

More to follow, hence the term daily latte...

Lip Gloss

If you have a toddler, a tube of clear lip gloss is a great tool for entertainment or distraction when you're on the go and the mess is relatively minimal.

Addictions

So my big addition right now is coffee, more specifically mochas. In the summer, I take them on ice, but today I ordered my first hot drink of the season. A sure sign that fall has arrived in Atlanta! I'm thinking that there is a good chance that blogging will be my next big addiction. At least this doesn't cost $5 a day.

My life has gotten just chaotic enough that I am terrible at keeping up with email so this seems to be the next best thing. I can post new pictures and share any news. Most of it will be trivial stuff usually about the kids. Check back in a few days, maybe I'll have something interesting to say...

Very First Blog

This is my first blog. Actually, it's not even starting out as a blog. I'm writing it as an email to my husband who can then figure out how to get it onto a blog. I'm sure my 17 year-old half-sister could also do it for me. I'm stuck in that technological gray-area of a 35 year old who got out of corporate America 6 years ago, and so I feel lost if I'm doing much more on my computer than checking email, shopping online, or downloading pictures to Snapfish. I can put together a great spreadsheet in Excel, but I don't think that will help much right now.

Even if I do get this onto the web, why would anyone read it? I guess that it's the kind of thing that I might read because it would reassure me that most of my life is normal. Sometimes it just helps to see that other people are going through the same chaos as you, and, occasionally you find some great little tips that make life a little easier. Things like pulling up the corners of juice boxes to hold them by so you don't squeeze them and make a mess. This is really helpful for the Horizon chocolate & vanilla milk boxes that I buy Charlotte (age 4) and Mary Jane (age 2) every time we go to Starbucks which is almost every day. Mason (age 6) usually gets juice. Yes, I'm that person. 3 small kids, in and out of Starbucks, trying to find a sale at Pottery Barn Kids, organizing play dates and trips to the zoo, juggling the activities of my kids, etc. Sound familiar? I live the life of many, many, moms I know, and I wouldn't trade one bit of it!