My Daily Latte

Another Birthday Latte

2011-10-11T21:14:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my birthday. In this post-Facebook era, hundreds of people will be informed somewhere on their home page to be sure to wish me a Happy Birthday. I just looked at my credit card bill and apparently I have already treated myself to a few birthday goodies. Next year is a big birthday, one that ends in a zero, I informed my husband months ago that we will be having a huge party for that one.

Tomorrow is just another day. Or so I would like to pretend, but with 3 kids, it's impossible to downplay a birthday. We will have candles and cake, I'll get some homemade cards and I'm using it as an excuse not to cook all week (I never really cook anyway). My kids will be excited and I guess that's what matters. And me, I'm meeting a friend for a birthday latte. With the week I'm having, that's all I really need to make it a great day. Next year we'll really celebrate a birthday.

A Roadtrip Latte

2011-09-07T21:45:00.002-04:00

We're a roadtrip kind of family. Mary Jane is 5 and she has never been on an airplane, but she has been to New York, Chicago, South Florida just to name a few places. Last weekend, for Labor Day, we once again piled in the car for a trip to my husband's hometown for the annual Melon Festival. We're a little more comfortable than we were on the drive a year ago since we now have the comfort of a third row in our new car. Of course, we had to put all of our luggage in the top carrier since our dog and pet rabbit made the trip with us.

The drive up was fairly uneventful (for an 11 1/2 hour journey), the kids ate snacks, played with the animals, and watched lots of movies. We had a nice weekend. We spent too much money on carnival games, saw some of Rob's old friends, and even took a trip to an indoor water park - not my idea of fun, but sometimes that doesn't matter. The drive home (3 days later) was looong - 14 hours. We haven't seen rain in months, but we saw plenty of it while driving through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. All that rain got everyone thinking about water, and so there were lots of bathroom stops along the way.

This latte came to me around hour 12 when we stopped for dinner at chick-fil-a and heard lots of chatter about the tornadoes which had just passed through town. Don't worry about little things while on a road trip. If you and your kids eat nothing but fast food for a day, you will survive. But, take my word for this, while a latte or two on the road is great, be sure to watch everyone's liquid intake for the day.

A Back to School Latte

2011-08-14T21:32:00.003-04:00

We survived. We made it through the first week of kindergarten, second and fourth grades. The kids have great teachers and at least a few friends in their classes. Getting up early, long days, keeping up with assignments - it's wearing me out, I can't imagine how the kids must feel. A new school year and new routine is a big adjustment for all of us.

I have to admit that I don't hate having a little time to myself each day. Apparently I'm not the only one. When I went for a post-drop off jog on the second day of school, I ran into at least half a dozen other moms either out for a walk, jog, or just enjoying a latte at Starbucks (yes, my jogging route ends up there, I use the walk home to enjoy my iced soy latte).

As the weeks wear on, we seem to be falling into a routine. Mornings aren't fun, but we're making it work, and we seem to be getting homework done in a timely manner. Mary Jane's teacher has only called me twice (so far) to tell me that there are some issues keeping Bunny put away. Bunny has stayed home from school the last few days. Gymnastics, karate, and yoga will start soon, and preschool starts tomorrow - I'm now a parapro in the 2 year old class.

I'm sure another year will go by too quickly, but I plan to find some time to catch up on writing

lattes. My back to school latte is this - pack a water bottle in each child's backpack, and find out what type of latte to bring the teacher on occasion. She deserves it!

A Birthday Latte

2011-07-10T09:30:00.003-04:00

Birthdays always make me cry. Not my own of course, I'm already planning a big party for my 40th next year. It's my kids birthdays that get to me. If I slow down to take in the moment when we sing happy birthday to one of them, I'll tear up despite the chaos of lots of not so little kids excited about yet another birthday party. Since my girls' birthdays are only 3 days apart in May, we always have a big party weekend during which we get all of our celebrating done. Mason always feels a little left out of all of this since his birthday isn't till July. Here is the result, he starts planning 2 months in advance. By the time we finished our family celebration last night (with another krispy kreme doughnut cake), I was ready for Mason's 9th birthday-palloza to come to an end. I get it, my first-born is growing up.

Earlier this summer (yes, I realize that my last blog was spring-break), we went to Chicago. While there, we took the kids to Navy Pier and to the Children's Museum there. It's possible that it was our last visit to a Children's Museum, Mason was too old for many of the activities and quickly bored by others. I also felt like my kids were among the some of the older ones playing in the children's area at the Botanical Gardens last week. I felt a little bit of longing for simpler times as I watched the young moms chasing their 2 and 3 year old children around. Not that I want to go back, but at 5, 7, and 9, my kids are no longer babies by any measure.

It's all changing as it does every year. My kids have strong opinions which is good, I guess, and it keeps me on my toes. Still, watching them grow-up is bittersweet. There are times when I'm no longer their favorite person, and they don't need my help the same way they once did - not that I wish they still needed me to dress, change, and feed them, but at times I wish they would let me put them in the clothes I pick out. I guess that for now, I'll just keep drinking my venti, soy, iced lattes from Starbucks and try to enjoy each day - even the frustrating ones.

A Dandelion Latte

2011-04-08T17:33:00.003-04:00

Spring Break 2011 has come and gone. I had big plans (as always) for trips to the zoo and museums, maybe an outing to the Botanical Gardens. The break got off to a fantastic and early start with our long weekend at the beach in Naples, FL. After a 1400 mile round trip, our new Volvo is officially broken in. We had a lovely few days with great friends we rarely see. As is often the case, I seem to be the only one who missed a few spots with the sunscreen. We returned home literally minutes before a terrible spring storm that uprooted trees and knocked out power for days in some very nearby neighborhoods.

On Wednesday of Spring Break week, the kids and I opted to take a walk to a nearby park that Mason & Charlotte like to call "Charson Lake." It is conveniently located right next to Starbucks and the book store. It was a beautiful day for a walk, and our little adventure took up most of the afternoon. Thanks to a neighbor who was out working in his yard, we also got a little gardening lesson and my children experienced the novelty of dialing a number on an old fashioned rotary phone. Of course, we also picked up a latte and a few new books for all. Along the way, in typical 4 year old fashion, Mary Jane stopped to pick every dandelion she saw so that she could blow the seeds off of it.

Don't get me wrong, of course I would have loved spending the entire week at the beach, but since that wasn't an option, at least I realized, once again, that we don't need big activities to have a great spring afternoon. Take some time to pick a dandelion while you're on your way to get a latte.

A Latte of Advice

2011-02-08T15:41:00.003-05:00

I use to read parenting books and magazines. When Mason was little, I would read all sorts of things trying to make mental notes to remember when he was older. Then he did get older - I hate that he keeps doing that. For about a year after Mary Jane was born, when Charlotte & Mason were 2 and 4, I was in survival mode. I was exhausted, and I realized that reading beauty tips for moms and ways to make healthy snacks from scratch just made me want to cry. I was lucky to get a shower and 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

I cancelled my subscription to Parents Magazine because I couldn't take the guilt. I read about all of the things I wasn't doing to be a good mother, and it made me feel terrible. Somehow, we all survived, and even thrived. Now that they are (yikes) 4, 6, and 8, I'm entering a new stage in parenting. Rob & I are raising a little boy who is so much like us that sometimes we have a hard time communicating with one another. I'm learning that I can't and shouldn't try to control so much of my children's lives. Some of the advice is actually helping us have a calmer, happier home.

There is still guilt. While I am trying to "celebrate calm" with "love and logic" (2 current preferred parenting methods around here, I still run into moments when I have no idea what to do. I told Mason that he is my guinea pig for parenting. He told me that I didn't learn anything about raising girls who like American Girl Dolls from him. We have our moments. My advice is not to listen to too much advice. I've found that escaping to Starbucks really helps as well.

A New Car Latte

2011-02-01T22:31:00.002-05:00

I guess the first rule of a latte and a new car is to watch out for spills. As much as I enjoy the aroma of a good latte, the new car smell is pretty great, too. Yes, we got a new car. It's a beautiful new Volvo XC90, and we finally have a 3rd row. The kids are thrilled, we'll see if they still love it after we drive to Chicago and back in June.

We still have our faithful 4 Runner. It's still going strong at 105 thousand miles, and it is now Rob's primary vehicle. It has been a great car, and I even wrote a latte about it last year. Here it is...

I recently rolled past 90,000 on my 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. Those miles all belong to this family, and I couldn't help reflecting a little on where we've been on our journey.

We bought the car brand new about a week before Mason's 1st birthday. We needed 4 wheel drive for Colorado, and we needed a place to put both a carseat and an excited 80 pound dog. 2 weeks after we got it, we took a 2 week road trip that started in Denver and included stops in Atlanta, Hilton Head, Boone NC, Ohio, and the Twin Cities to name a few spots. As a doting first-time Mommy, I spent much of that trip riding in the back seat so that I could entertain Mason who was still rear-facing in his carseat. Over the next 2 years, while still in Denver, we took trips to Vail, Aspen, Mount Rushmore, and Jackson Hole. Our sweet dog Sadie took her last ride in the back of the 4 Runner, and her nose prints were on the back windows for a long time after she was gone.

Once we moved back to Atlanta (loading up the top carrier for the ride), we soon added the third carseat to the back. Our kids don't have lots of extra space, but they do now have a DVD player for long car rides such as our annual trips to Hilton Head and Ohio, and 2 trips last year to Washington DC with a side trip to New York City.

All of those big trips add up to alot of miles, but most of the miles are probably from trips to the mall, doctors, karate classes and ballet, the zoo, and botanical gardens, and, of course, the coffee drive-through. In other words, everyday life with 3 kids who are getting bigger by the minute.

I realize that 90,000 isn't a huge milestone (hopefully) for vehicles these days. We're planning on keeping our 4 Runner for as long as we possibly can. It's not the greenest car out there, but at 25 miles a gallon on the highway, it's not a bad way to get my crew around town. My latte today came to me as I drove around town drinking a latte, take a break from all of the chaos of the holidays to reflect on your journey - and don't forget to buckle up for the ride.

Snowed In

2011-01-13T22:36:00.002-05:00

One week, a whole week of snow days. This is unheard of in Atlanta, but here we are getting ready for a week off of school which will be followed by a 3 day weekend. Like most moms around me, I am in full-on survival mode. It has helped that we didn't lose power, and Rob has been able to get out to restock our kitchen with milk, bread, and take out bbq.

Here are a few other items that I realize are a necessity if you happen to find yourself snowed in with 3 active kids for an entire week just one week after Christmas break:

1. Sleds - Rob managed to snag a few from the hardware store before the snow and ice hit

2. Coffee - lots of it

3. Neighbors with kids - so soon after Christmas break, my kids needed more than just each other to play with

4. Facebook friends - Social networking is a great thing, and many other Atlanta moms have been online to share in the fun and pain of this week at home

5. A husband who is willing to get out and about

6. Video games - the Wii was a huge help this week, we could only stay out sledding on ice for so long

7. Patience - mine is starting to wear thin

Finally, when everyone feels up to it, you should go out for a latte! The walk to our local Starbucks was a welcome outing this afternoon!

A Traditional Latte

2010-12-24T08:35:00.002-05:00

It's Christmas Eve, that means that we're getting ready for our traditional Christmas Eve bowling outing. Technically this is only the second year that we've gone, but it's a tradition in the making. The kids will also get to open their traditional Christmas Eve gifts tonight - pajamas, a book, and a new ornament. With 3 kids each getting a new ornament each year, I'm going to need a second Christmas tree soon. Tomorrow I will break out my fine china for the annual Christmas brunch, a sausage, egg, cheese casserole with fruit and ham on the side. Grandparents, Aunts, and possibly great-grandparents will join us for that portion of the day. It's the one time of the year that I use the fine china. And one of the few times that I cook if the truth be told.

These are all traditions that I have created and for my little family. None of my kids actually eat the brunch casserole that I make each year, and Mason would rather pick the gift under the tree of his choosing to open instead of pajamas on Christmas Eve. My dishes have to all be washed by hand. Still, I'm hoping that these traditions will continue. Maybe one day my kids will start to like my holiday food. It's possible that they will grow up with a different view of our holiday family traditions than mine, and that's alright. I'm trying to be flexible (it's not always easy - but that's another story).

For now, I'll just say - traditional or not - enjoy your holidays! I thrive on the chaos of Christmas, and love that it's an over-the-top kind of day for us. Some people enjoy a quiet day or a nice vacation from it all. Now I'm off to find an outfit that goes well with bowling shoes!

A Status Latte

2010-12-07T16:29:00.005-05:00

This is isn't a superior latte by any means. Although, I did have an exceptionally good non-fat vanilla chai latte from my favorite local coffee spot, Octane, today. They make their own vanilla, yum! Today's latte is actually about my status, specifically my status updates on Facebook for the year. Let me start by saying that I have been home with sick children for over a week now. I'm getting a little stir crazy, and, as usual, spending more time than I should on my laptop.

As a rule, I ignore all of the applications, games, etc on Facebook, but I could not resist this year-end one that I saw on a friend's page. It creates a collage from random status updates (somehow chosen by this app) which you have posted over the course of the year. I enjoyed my look back so much, that I decided to post it here since some of 3 or 4 readers do not spend any time on Facebook. Here is a latte to go along with this, take a moment (or a week if you're home with sick kids) to reflect on your year. Look at old pictures, journals, or status updates, and appreciate all you and your family have done...

My Year in Status Updates:

loves that it was nice enough weather to stay outside for a while after school before the low 40s and rain move in for the end of the week and weekend once again * Why does Valentine’s Day feel like the new Halloween at school? We really don’t need all of that candy. * “There’s something about the Southland in the springtime...” * Orange bandana for my Grounded Kid - if you know my kids you can guess which one that is. *might be developing an ebay habit, don’t tell Rob * my 7 year old used air quotes to emphasize a sarcastic remark to me. He actually used them correctly, too. * Starbucks should offer delivery to people who are stuck at home with sick kids and who have broken espresso machines. * Mason quote of the day “I love April Fool’s Day! You can tell lies all day and not get in trouble.” * June 2006 - the wait began; Summer 2009 - #62 on the waiting list; Summer 2010 - we’re in. Venetian Pool, here we come! * Mary Jane to me at 10 this morning, “Mommy, I didn’t just eat a cookie. It looks like a cookie and tastes like a cookie, but it’s not a cookie.” * We made it - 4 adults, 3 children, 2 laptop DVD players, 1 top carrier on the rented Tahoe. Houston and back in less than 5 days, Uncle D is now a married man! * Is it ok to recycle Corona bottles with the lime stuck in them? * They call it the Magic Kingdom for a reason! Great trip but the bar has now been set pretty high for summer fun, and we’re only 2 days into summer vacation. * “Way up on Lookout Mountain, there’s a camp that’s really swell...” * Back from a weekend at a place that might be more magical than the Magic Kingdom! * MJ and I just looked through Mason’s baby book (volume 1). I realized 2 things, 1. I’ve got to get a baby book put together for each of my girls one of these days & 2. Sadie was a huge dog (75 pounds) to have next to such a little guy for his first few years. * Thinks I might just stay in Sea Pines forever. And I just said goodnight to my 7 year old little boy for the last time, he’ll wake up as an 8 year old. * You know you’re a grown-up when you get really excited about a new vacuum cleaner * If the chocolate is from Whole Foods, does that mean it’s a little healthier? * Surprise tickets to the opening night of Cirque de Soleil, a great way to celebrate 10 years of marriage! * DHHS grads - we’re everywhere! * Considering I’ve been house bound all week with a sick child (2 sick children today and one more who is still sleeping), I’m thinking my house should be much cleaner than it is.

An Over-committed Latte

2010-11-03T13:31:00.002-04:00

Parent involvement is a great thing. One of the truly fabulous things about my kids' elementary school is that the parents often fill in the gaps left by public school bureaucracy to get things done. There's just one thing, if you're a parent at the school and you give a hint that you might have a few free hours one morning a week or a special interest in something, they'll ask you to volunteer away all of your free-time.

Being a parent volunteer starts early. When my kids were very little and I was sleep deprived and desperate for adult interaction, I did things like coordinate our weekly playgroup. Then came preschool. The opportunities for volunteering as a preschool mommy can be overwhelming to say the least but also fun and rewarding if you find the right committees. Then you're ready for elementary school. I am a good target, I'm very social and enjoy working with groups of other moms. Lots of moms are very good at the juggling required to get it all done - they have lists and calendars and yahoo! groups. I have a hard time even keeping up with email these days much less a calendar or three.

With Mary Jane only in pre-k, I have many years left to volunteer at school, but, this fall, I'm feeling like I've already reached my limit. I still haven't typed up the minutes from the last PTA meeting which I need to do since I'm secretary, and I spent too much time to count getting wrapping paper delivered to the right students since I'm in charge of that fundraiser. I am in awe of the people who somehow manage to take on much more than I have, and they seem to do it with ease. I am also developing a new respect for those moms who have no problem saying no. Signing up to be a co-Daisy Scout Troop leader for Charlotte has turned into way more commitment than I bargained for, but I think I'm in it for the long-haul now.

Here's my latte for all you volunteer moms, take five minutes and drink a latte before you say "yes". Is it something that you or your children will really enjoy? Charlotte is thrilled about scouting which is why I said yes to that one. While joining a committee can be a great way to meet people, it's not a good idea to join just for the social aspect. Real work will probably follow. Then you might feel guilty if you're not giving it 100%. If you want to get together with other moms, just make plans, and it is amazing how much fun it can be to go out without an agenda or to-do list in front of you. Now I'm off to type up those minutes.

"I have a photograph..."

2010-10-11T22:10:00.002-04:00

In high school I listened to a wide range of music - Billy Joel, REM, Indigo Girls, James Taylor, 10,000 Maniacs, Bon Jovi. The list goes on and also includes Simon & Garfunkel. They had a great little song called Bookends which contains the line "Time it was and what a time it was, I have a photograph. Preserve your memories..." I've had that line stuck in my head all day.

Today is the day I finally began to tackle the huge box of pictures from the last 5 years that has been growing in the basement. Mason's baby book ends around age 2, but it does take up 2 volumes with captions for all of the big events. The girls each have a handful of photos thrown into an album, I feel a little guilty about that. I actually put off getting a digital camera until Mason turned 1. I wanted to have pictures to hold and save. I was worried that if I went digital I wouldn't have anything to put in albums.

Turns out, I still have quite a few printed pictures to sort through. For now at least, I have decided to forgo the individual albums and just get the pictures into some sort of order. What works best for me is to put pictures from one event together with a caption, and not worry too much about chronological order. I am going to devote one album to birthday parties, my sorting revealed some gaps in prints so I will spend some time in the coming days sorting through Snapfish in hopes that I can find missing parties.

Here's my picture sorting latte - first, have a latte to keep you going while you sort. Then make sure you have the time and space to spread out for a while without any small folks coming and trying to "help". Then get ready for a trip down memory lane, you'll be singing "... I have a photograph, preserve your memories..." for hours after.

Queen for a Day (again)

2010-09-06T20:55:00.003-04:00

This is a recycled latte from last year. One great thing about The Melon Festival in Milan, Ohio (my husband's hometown) is that pretty much all of what I said last year still rings true this year. As I sit here with the giant stuffed animal my father-in-law won for me at skee ball, we are all exhausted from the weekend fun, and I think I gained five pounds from the festival food. It was fabulous, and here are last year's observations...

I like to refer to Atlanta as a small town, but we all know that it's not. My husband, on the other hand, is from a true small town. A tiny little town in Northern Ohio, population about 1200. We just spent Labor Day weekend there with family as we have many times in the past.

Like many very small towns, I've learned, they have one weekend a year for some type of festival. In Rob's hometown, Labor Day weekend is the Melon Fest. Since I grew up in Atlanta, I never got to experience these festivals as a child. I think I missed out, and I can understand why our kids ask to go every year. There are carnival rides, games where you can pay $3 to win a plastic or stuffed prize, and festival food which is the best - brats, fries, tacos, funnel, cake, and the BEST corn on the cob I've ever tasted (sweet corn for those Ohio natives). Not to mention the cantelope and watermelon ice cream.

And then there is the parade. In all the years I've attended the festival, at least 5 now, I've been to the beer tent and two bars many times, but I've never made it to the parade until this year. Here's what I found out, each town in the area has some sort of festival during the summer, and at each of these events a queen is chosen. That queen then gets to go ride in a convertible or float at all of the other local parades. I'm pretty sure that Charlotte thought she was watching a parade filled with live princesses waving right at her. To top things off, almost everyone hands out candy as they pass by.

I don't know that I have a latte from all of this, it's more of a shout-out to the joys of small town America. I'm glad it's an experience my kids get to enjoy. I have quite a bit of fun myself, and even if they don't sell lattes from a booth at the festival, the corn on the cob is really out of this world!

The Sound of Silence

2010-08-17T08:44:00.002-04:00

For 8 years I cherished any time that I had completely to myself because it was not something that happened very often. Don't get me wrong, it was totally by choice. I wanted the chaos of having kids who were close in age - Mason is 46 months older than Mary Jane with Charlotte right in between them.

Then it happened, we were in what seemed to be the middle of a great summer when, all of a sudden, it was time to go back to school. There is one huge difference this year, Mary Jane is joining her brother and sister at the elementary school. She won the lottery and got a spot in the coveted pre-k program at the school. As she starts the 2nd week, I think that she feels more tired than lucky. She is not an early riser by nature, and the school day is now starting 10 minutes earlier (can they really do that?). 7:15 - 7:45 has not been a fun time for us, I'm hoping it will get better.

What does all of this mean for me? My kids are all in school from 7:50 - 2:20. Wow! Since I wasn't really ready to be done with preschool, I've taken a job helping out a couple of mornings a week in the toddler room there. I'll still have some free time on my hands. Maybe I should give cooking a try, and perhaps I'll finally get organized around here. Exercise has got to make it onto my to do list. But first, I've got to get use to the silence. I'm off to get a latte (alone) and run a few errands. And I'm a little sad that I don't have anyone to buckle into a carseat while I'm out. I guess it would seem strange if I stopped at the zoo by myself.

My days are still busy, after school we have homework, playdates, karate, gymnastics, choir, etc. I just have a different type of day now, and Mary Jane and I need to adjust to the new schedule. I'm glad that for 8 years I spent most of my time with my kids, it has flown by. Today's latte - listen to your kids, it's much more fun than the sound of silence.

A Whole Foods Latte

2010-08-02T20:34:00.002-04:00

Literally, I had a latte today from Whole Foods and it inspired me to write again. Who knew they made such a good iced, non-fat mocha with half the mocha? The summer is winding down, and we're spending this last week of vacation shifting gears so that next Monday won't come as quite a shock. We were running low on practically everything and expecting some friends for lunch so off to Whole Foods we went.

I know, it's a little pricey, and I've heard it referred to as "Whole Paycheck," but it really is a great store. It is worth it to me to spend a little extra money to shop in a store where my kids don't keep asking me to put more junk food in the shopping cart. They seem to have figured out what I'm doing. Today Mason asked if I would buy a box of lollipops, "but Mommy, they're organic" was his plea. We didn't get the lollipops, but we did get some sorbet from the gelato counter right next to the lattes.

I realize that Whole Foods might not be the right place for every mom to shop. I would prefer to grow tomatoes in my own garden, but since I haven't gotten around to that, yet, I feel better knowing that I'm getting local organic tomatoes for my family. Today's latte is to at least go try a latte, they're really good and actually a little less expensive than at some other coffee shops, and while you're there, stroll around. I've gotten a few great organic cotton tees while shopping there. My kids may not understand what organic means, but they know it's something healthy, and so that's a start.

A Summer Latte

2010-07-12T14:56:00.002-04:00

Summer is flying by! The last six weeks have been a blur of Disneyworld, pool, playdates, Hilton Head, humidity, trips to Starbucks, Super Mario on the Wii, and more time at the pool. I had visions of being organized this summer - packing a picnic for a walk to the pool each day, educational and fun outings in the afternoons. I was going to give up caffeine and write new lattes at least once a week. Then reality set in. After a week of packing lunches, pushing the stroller to the pool and spending several hours each day in the sun, I was exhausted, sunburned, and my house was a mess.

I don't think I've found the summer balance, yet. Today is a playdate day. My kids need to be entertained by friends every few days so that we don't all go a little crazy. My house is still a mess, but that is really nothing new. A lovely new Starbucks opened near us, and Mason and I biked there yesterday morning to check it out. Maybe I'll go there to write one of these days, in my mind I've composed at least a dozen lattes about a wedding, video games, family vacations, and organizing pictures to name a few.

In no time at all, the summer will be over and I will be both relieved and sad. I am enjoying this time that I have with my kids, but I also struggle to let them make their own choices and to not get mad when things go wrong. They all make their own beds in the morning, it's getting a little easier for me to not go in and remake them to my liking each day. Tomorrow morning I'll pack some lunches, load up the stroller, and we'll go to the pool. Perhaps we'll all learn something along the way so that I can chalk it up as an educational summer outing.

Party Time

2010-05-14T20:12:00.002-04:00

Cinderella was not in attendance, neither was Sleeping Beauty. There were not any clowns, magicians, or storytellers, and there was not a bouncy house anywhere around. For 2 birthday parties, here's what we had - pancakes, bacon, a sandbox, tree house, craft projects (including decorate your own cupcakes) and lots of little girls running around in pajamas. The six year old party was Friday evening from 5:30 - 8PM, and the 4 year old party started at 9:30 Saturday morning.

I'm pretty sure that the parties would not have been a big success if the best Grandma & Grandpa ever had not been at the stove keeping the pancakes and bacon coming for all. Friday night we topped them with whip cream and Saturday morning we had chocolate chips. Who knew that, with the last minute delivery of the piano bench from my dad's house, we could fit 11 giggling girls around our dining room table.

I won't lie and say that I didn't get stressed while planning these soirees, but once the cupcakes were baked (another thank you to Grandma) and the party favors were assembled, things ran relatively smoothly. Of course, a week later, I'm still looking for some of the items that I put away (hid) at the last minute so that the house would appear relatively clutter-free.

I'm sure that I will have new insight and party lattes each May as we tackle the 2 parties in a row for the girls. Here it is for turning 4 and 6 - top everything with lots of sugar, and, for some reason, wearing pajamas is a huge hit with little girls. Running out for a latte before the arrival of the 2nd round helps, too.

Letting go...

2010-05-02T15:14:00.003-04:00

"Mommy, try letting go!" That is what Mason said to me last week as he was riding his bike. Granted, it's time for him to learn to ride. He boycotted the bike when we removed the training wheels a year ago and the scooter has been his preferred 2-wheeled transportation. Still, his words caught me off guard and I found myself getting a little teary as I ran along beside the bike.

Now I can't keep up with him as he bikes all over the place. He has mastered yet another skill. I can check "teach bike riding" off my to-do list of parenting. Now Mason would like to be in charge of teaching it to his sisters, and I know I should let go and give him room to try.

As I sit here on Mother's Day - here, of course, being Starbucks, I'm trying to figure out how it is that my baby will be 4 tomorrow and her sister will be 6 on Thursday. My kids are almost 4, 6, and 8, letting go is going to be a bigger part of my job every day. That makes me a little sad, but it will put my kids on the path to becoming independent adults. Although I never say no when Mary Jane asks if it's alright if she lives with me forever. I'm taking baby steps to letting go. Happy Mother's Day!

5 year plan...

2010-04-29T23:18:00.002-04:00

5 years ago my life got busy. Charlotte was almost a year old, and I was settling into life with 2 small children. In early May, we spent several days basically homebound while we worked on potty training with almost 3 year old Mason. Soon after that, we decided to move back to Atlanta from our home in Denver. Now, as we approach birthdays 4 and 6 for the girls, we are almost 5 years into that move.

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" was once a standard interview question. Now, it's probably a question that the job candidate asks the potential employer. We are living in a state of constant change. When we bought this house, I had a 5 year plan in mind - it involved some very drastic renovations. My plan did not involve putting the house on the market for 2 weeks and then changing our minds about a cross-country move. I still have a plan for renovations, but they are on a smaller scale. After living here for almost 5 years, I realize that we have alot of what we need without moving walls around.

5 years ago, I was too busy chasing toddlers and changing diapers to realize that in 5 years my kids would be done with preschool. I could not have imagined that I would blink and all of a sudden we would be done with diapers, sippy cups, and episodes of Barney. I guess it's almost time to plan for the next 5 years, at the end of which my babies will be "tweens" whatever that means. I'll probably still have renovation ideas that only exist in my head at that point.

I haven't come up with my plan for the next 5 years. I know that my husband is hoping there will be fewer trips to Starbucks during that time, but I have a feeling I'll need some good lattes. As I gear up for another birthday party weekend (the girls' parties are a week away) and the end of another school year, I'll make the switch to iced lattes for the summer and I'll try to soak it all in because if I blink another 5 years will have passed and I don't want to miss a thing.

A wedding latte: Part 1, the road trip

2010-04-20T16:51:00.002-04:00

A wedding is a wonderful thing. My baby brother got married last weekend, and it was a truly fantastic event that took place in Houston, TX, 800 miles from here. We drove there. 4 adults, 3 children, 2 laptop DVD players, and 1 top carrier on the rented Tahoe.

My husband loves a good road trip. I tolerate it. My kids don't know the difference, although Mason did notice that everyone else did seem to get there much quicker by flying. I will admit that the Tahoe made it a much easier trip so did having my in-laws along for the ride. Geographically, Louisiana is an interesting state to drive through so the scenery on the way was new and different. As soon as we arrived at our destination, after 14 hours and only 2 stops on Thursday evening, I realized that Sunday morning was going to come way too soon. The drive home was not so smooth. 15 hours and too many stops to count. I think that Mason logged upwards of 10 hours on Super Mario that day, and we wore out the car charger for the laptops.

The mood is always less festive when returning home from a trip. The flower girls and ring bearer lasted until almost 11 at the wedding reception on Saturday night after being ready for pictures by 4 in the afternoon. Everyone was tired, cranky, and impatient. When I say everyone, I really mean me and Mason. But we made it. A stop at a Target with a Starbucks helped a little. I got a soy mocha, the kids picked a toy from the $1 section. At each of the many stops the kids and I all did 10 jumping jacks before getting back into the car.

My latte is this, sometimes happier memories come from thinking of the destination - a great family and fun filled weekend - and not the journey.

Follow Through

2010-03-22T09:35:00.002-04:00

I've come to the conclusion that follow-through is not my strong suit. I'm good at starting things (like this blog), but I then let them dwindle. I haven't even followed-through with ordering a replacement piece for my coffee maker so I can make lattes at home.

I'm much better at staying in reactive mode. So much of being the parent of young children revolves around being able to change plans at a moment's notice (and often after very little sleep). Today is the 4th day out of the last 10 that I've been at home with a sick child. It's hard to make many plans with those odds. I've already cancelled plans for tomorrow just in case. Perhaps I'll use the time to finish a project or two. I still have mounds of pictures that need to be sorted into albums sitting in the basement. Besides, there is never a shortage of laundry, dishes, dusting, etc to do in this household.

My latte today, or regular coffee for those of us who have a broken machine and sick kids keeping us from going to Starbucks, is to follow through. Pick a task and stick with it so that you don't become overwhelmed by all of the loose ends in your life.

"I am the Entertainer"

2010-02-06T10:48:00.002-05:00

That's a line from a Billy Joel song, in case any of the 5 or so people reading this aren't as big of fans as I am. When I was in my early teens, I think I owned almost all of his tapes (yes, it was a pre-CD world). Anyway, that's a line that I think of often these days because I often feel like my job is to be an entertainer. Not to huge crowds in sold out arenas (like Billy Joel who I've seen live 4 times and is a great performer), but to very active kids living in a city filled with cold, rainy weekends and busy after-school schedules.

Mason has karate on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 5-5:45. It's a great class and the instructor gives feedback to the parents during class. That means that the other moms and I are sitting to the side trying to keep our younger kids entertained and quiet. This usually involves markers, Polly Pockets, tea sets, and lots of snacks. Through the luck of scheduling, Charlotte has ballet from 5-5:45 on Wednesday afternoons. At least the kids can run around a little during her class, but snacks and toys are also a must. It is not a time when it is easy to set up play dates to leave the kids at friends' houses. By 5, most kids are starting to get ready for dinner or are too tired to deal with sharing and entertaining friends.

Lattes actually help me get through these afternoons, but I've learned that I don't need caffeine that late in the day. Greentea is my late afternoon latte of choice these days. Starbucks also now offers a lovely selection of kid-friendly, semi-healthy snacks, but there is a hefty price tag associated with a pre-dinner run to Starbucks so I would suggest sticking to the drive-through. My latte for today (I should rename this blog My Weekly latte, I'll try to do better), is to pack a big bag of tricks if you're heading out late in the day. At least for Mary Jane, snacking is part of what gets her through the hour while her brother or sister exercise. She is happy to eat healthy snacks so it is up to me to make sure that's what is in the bag. It can be quality time to interact with kids without any TV or computers nearby if you're well prepared going into it.

The Process of Parenthood

2010-01-25T21:13:00.003-05:00

"It's a process." That's an expression that I have used over and over again since I first became a parent, whether referring to sleep patterns, potty training, or eating habits of 5 year olds. What I realized today is that it's all a process - I guess a journey is another way to phrase it. Until we become parents, we have no idea what it will be like or of all of the processes involved.

Today I used my administrative skills to update the calendar with everyone's activities for the coming weeks, my culinary skills to get some "growing foods" into my kids, my finance skills to pay some bills, my (somewhat-limited) housekeeping skills to ensure that my house doesn't look like a tornado struck, and my well-honed negotiating skills to get everyone in bed at a decent hour.

Who knew that this is what my life would evolve into? Before Mason was born, I had never had anything fancier than a vanilla latte from Starbucks. A whole other world was waiting. Luckily, I now know that I can have things like a venti soy mocha as I did today while I visited with 3 other moms over coffee.

Today's latte - enjoy the many processes of parenthood. They are constantly changing, but many depend on each other. Where would our kids be if we had not first taught them how to sleep through the night (usually) and how to use the potty?

Domestic Diva

2010-01-11T21:29:00.002-05:00

I am a Domestic Diva! Not really, but I think I might right a novel and start it with that sentence. Something with a heroine who stays home with her kids, drives an SUV, and has a very expensive latte habit that her husband is trying to break. But back to the domestic diva - that might be stretching it a bit, the laundry is starting to pile up and there are still dishes to be washed in the sink. I do feel as though I've had a productive couple of days on the homefront.

I've taken on closets as my new organizational project. I won't bore you with the details, but I've taken out a full bag of trash and all of the girls clothes, toys, and most of my bathroom items are now up to date and accessible. All of this without buying one new container of any sort.

My domestic diva latte is this - look around. You might have more cute and functional storage containers in your house than you realized. I've repurposed a tin watering can as a holder for all of the girls' fairy wands. Mary Jane laughed at me, but now she knows where to put them away.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

2010-01-08T13:52:00.002-05:00

I know, it's a catchy title from a somewhat annoying song, but there is some truth in the phrase "Don't Worry, Be Happy." As a parent, it is very hard not to worry about everything. I think I say "be careful" and "stop doing that or you'll get hurt" a few dozen times each day. Rob tells me that I should relax, let them run around the house in socks on slippery floors while holding sticks, but I just can't help myself.

Now I realize that it's not just me. My 2nd grader is also a worrier, he is learning so many new things right now and questioning all of them. He wants to know if Vampires exist, if the earth is going to collide with the sun, if the Halloween candy has gone bad and how do I know that it hasn't? So now I also worry about the fact that he worries so much. It's exhausting!

But my latte today, as you might have guessed is don't worry, be happy. Try to look on the bright side of things. Even though I started the year by putting my husband's Blackberry in the washing machine (not a good idea), I've also managed to channel my inner-Martha Stewart (not an easy thing to do) in order to make a crafty headband holder for the girls' room and a cute wire display for artwork.

Not too long ago I wrote about Happy Thoughts and how writing some down each day might help your outlook on life. I'm giving it a try this year. You can check out my new blog Happy Year Project . I am going to list 3 things which made me happy each day for a year. I'm already finding that some days it's easier than others to come up with a list. There will still be lattes for the new year, too.

New Year, New Latte

2010-01-03T22:17:00.002-05:00

Resolutions don't really work for me. Last year I resolved to keep up with my blog, and that didn't really happen. At least in 2010, my new wii fit might help me finally get into shape. I'm realizing that New Year's doesn't come at the best time for me to make big plans. It's right after a very exciting and highly anticipated Christmas for three Santa-believers. They all received just what they requested and more. A tip - take kids to see Santa as early as possible in the season. I just heard a mother say that 2 days before Christmas, her 4 year old asked Santa for some items which he had not mentioned at home. Yikes!

By the time New Year's rolls around, I'm more tired than ever and my house is a huge mess thanks to lots of new toys and weather that has kept my crew indoors for much of the break. On Tuesday we'll start back into our routine and all of the chaos that goes with it. I'm going to finally tackle the boxes of artwork and pictures in the basement that need to be sorted. It's a new year, anything could happen. Maybe we'll finally get in to the neighborhood pool this summer - we've been on the waiting list since June, 2006. The Christmas decorations have all been put away until next year, new lattes await for 2010.

An Incorrect Latte

2009-12-15T22:02:00.002-05:00

I'll start with an explanation of the name of this post, my latte today was, in fact, incorrect. I ordered a non-fat mocha but was given a peppermint white mocha. Although it was festive, it actually wasn't what I wanted this morning, but at least it wasn't decaf.

For about 2 weeks I've been composing a latte in my mind on rearranging furniture. But that was an incorrect latte, what I've realized is that all of this moving beds, sofas, and dressers is all about sorting through more stuff. It is one thing to have a junk drawer or three throughout the house, but when you empty the contents of a huge cabinet it's hard to ignore all of the stacks of stuff. I spend so much time trying to organize all of the kids things, and, at least some of the time, I think I'm making progress. Lego pieces, barbies, dress-ups, and art supplies all have their place.

But what about all of my things? I don't seem to have a place for my books, pictures, and stacks and stacks of papers. My latte today is to be prepared, once you start rearranging things it might turn into a long process. I think that it has been metaphorical for sorting out all of the parts of my life. I will say that I now have a super-comfy place to watch TV in the den, but there is no sofa in the living room. I also have a huge basket of my own "stuff" to sort through while I sit on my comfy couch. Maybe tomorrow I'll start the day with a homemade latte so that at least I know I'll get the correct one.

90,000 miles

2009-12-04T13:15:00.002-05:00

I recently rolled past 90,000 on my 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. Those miles all belong to this family, and I couldn't help reflecting a little on where we've been on our journey.

A day in my life...

2009-12-01T22:07:00.002-05:00

Years ago, when I only had one or 2 children who were under the age of 3 and who napped each afternoon, I use to wonder what moms did when their kids got older and spent some or most of each day in school. I couldn't imagine having hours each day of childless free-time. Little did I know that back in those days, before Facebook and blogs, homework and after-school activities, I actually had a little more free-time than I do now.

So, for those of you who might wonder what goes on once the kids give up naps and start school, here is what I for one did today: After making breakfast & lunches, getting a happy 5 year old, and sleepy 7 year old off to school, I got a call to substitute at Mary Jane's preschool. Since I was trying to get there early, we, off course, ran late getting out the door - homemade latte (soy mocha) in hand. After a busy 3 hours with 3 & 4 year olds, Mary Jane and I returned home with one of her friends along for a playdate. The next couple of hours were a blur of dress ups, snacks, cleaning up, and pick-ups from the elementary school.

More snacks followed and then the girls and I accompanied Mason to his first karate class as a new blue belt! We arrived home to produce a fairly well-rounded dinner followed by homework, pjs, books, and bed. Now the laundry is folded and the dishwasher is running. I've settled in with my laptop and some bad TV. There is nothing spectacular about my day, but I'm alright with that. My latte today is to take a minute to think review your day, all of your running around is an accomplishment even if you still have some things on your to-do list undone. And if your babies are still little and napping, enjoy it while it lasts!

New Shoes

2009-11-17T21:38:00.002-05:00

A couple of years ago I took all three of my (then very young) children to REI to get new shoes. At one point a woman who did not work there asked if she could help me at all. She was asking because I think I must have had that crazed, sleep-deprived, mother of three look, and she wasn't sure if I was going to make it out of the store without going completely crazy.

I've come at least a little way since then, random people don't usually ask if they can help me when I'm out shopping. But I'm still a sleep-deprived mother of three, and my kids still need new shoes every now and then. So off we went this afternoon - haircuts and shoe shopping for all. Mary Jane had a fever last night, but is in denial that she was sick at all. She had energy to burn, and she tried to use it all up by running around the small shoe store to try out various new pairs. Mason promises me that he will keep his shoe laces tied at all times on his new Nike's. I actually don't mind spending money on shoes for Charlotte because if she outgrows them too soon, I can save them for Mary Jane.

There was no chance to get a latte before we sat in traffic on the ride back home. Dinner for the last two nights has not involved any veggies, but homework is done and all of the right notes, checks, library books are ready for tomorrow morning (I hope). If Mary Jane sleeps all night, then tomorrow should be a good day to show off new shoes and haircuts for all. Perhaps in the morning I'll have a homemade latte - new shoes don't grow on trees. My latte today is to take a deep breath, and try not to be a crazy person when your out shopping with your kids. Be sure to thank the people who try to help if you are though, and eat something healthy!

Happy Thoughts

2009-11-11T22:17:00.002-05:00

It's raining here - again. After years of severe drought conditions in Atlanta, we just finished up the second rainiest October on record. It's tough for moms and kids when all activities have to take place indoors. On top of the rain, lots of illnesses are going around these days, and I've been coughing for weeks. But I'm going to look on the bright side of things.

I once read somewhere that a good way to stay happy with your life is to write down three things each evening that made you happy during the day. So here are some of my happy thoughts from the last couple of days: 1) Watching all 3 of my kids have fun doing yoga poses from a set of cards I got them a couple of years ago. 2) Amelia Bedila books (they're really funny). 3) Making a moth costume for Mason to wear in his 2nd grade musical tomorrow without making a single trip to Target for supplies, and then getting called McGyver mom by a Facebook friend. 4) A gingerbread white chocolate latte! 5) Charlotte doing her ballet twirls all over the living room to show off her adorable skirt.

Even if your latte isn't as fancy as mine, find some things to be happy about today! It might help you forget the rain for a little while.

Reality

2009-11-08T21:49:00.002-05:00

When I was not that much older than Mason, I knew who shot J.R. Ewing. Along with half the country, I watched Dallas on Friday nights. It seems that I have always enjoyed a good drama with a twist or 2. I was a huge fan of Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, ER, and, of course, Desperate Housewives.

Reality shows, on the other hand, have never held much appeal for me. I was intrigued, though, by the Real Housewives of various cities. I've watched a few, and I'm here to say that they don't seem to match any sort of reality. How do I know? I am a real housewife of Atlanta, and it is not as glamorous as it is on TV. Last week I went on a 2nd grade field trip to the History Center, I painted an old dresser with a great paint off of the oops rack at Lowes, I grocery shopped, I raked leaves, and tried (not successfully) to keep up with the laundry. I'm not complaining, I'm simply pointing out my reality.

Mason seems to have finally caught whatever is going around, and so we'll be housebound for at least a few days this week until he feels better. That is my reality, I'll clean, do more laundry, pay bills, and take care of my sick little boy. I don't have drivers, house keepers, or professional landscapers, and that's alright. Today's latte is to find your own reality and embrace it - perhaps with an Eggnog latte, they're here for the season!

9 Years Ago Today

2009-11-04T20:50:00.002-05:00

9 years ago today, we lived in a bubble. Jobs were everywhere and houses sold as soon as you put a "for sale" sign in the yard. 9 years ago September 11th was just another day on the calendar, and we never dreamed of paying more than $1.50 for a gallon of gas. 9 years ago the country was 3 days away from learning about recounts and hanging chads. 9 years ago our only baby was a 70 pound mutt, and Rob had never changed a diaper. 9 years ago we talked about having 3 kids someday, and we used cameras with real film.

9 years ago today we said "I do" and then we danced, and we started our adventure as a family. Happy Anniversary, Rob!

The Day After...

2009-11-01T21:13:00.002-05:00

We survived. You may remember from last year that Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but this year it seemed to take on a life of its own, as well as most of the month of October. After not buying new costumes last year, we more than made up for it this year with numerous new holiday ensembles. The good news is that the kids had many occasions on which to wear their costumes.

Mason was Harry Potter every chance he got, Charlotte went back and forth between Silver Mist (a fairy friend of Tinkerbells), and Sharpay from High School Musical. Mary Jane has 2 Dora costumes and one of Daphne from Scooby Doo. Of course, yesterday she ended up wearing a fancy dress and some wings. Mason was not happy with her for not wearing an actual costume. I have lots of pictures, and I promise to share them soon.

Mason decided about 6 weeks ago that he and his sisters should have a Halloween party. They made a list of friends they wanted to invite and they started making plans. Who am I to stand in the way of a good party? Especially on that involves about a dozen over-excited small children in costumes on a cold and rainy day? As I said, we survived. We had help, Mason's first grade teacher made an appearance and she told scary stories to the wild 7 year old boys. Mason planned an art project that involved toilet paper tubes and pipe cleaners, but he was having too much fun to even get to it.

Here's the good news, the house is very clean, Mason entertained himself all morning making a cardboard cage for Hedwig (his stuffed owl for those of you who don't speak Harry Potter), and I didn't have to spend too much time out trick-or-treating in the rain thanks to Aunt Allie and Alex. Here's the post-Halloween latte, remember that most things in parenthood are not about the parents, they are about the kids so put up some Halloween decorations and buy a little extra candy at Target, put on a costume, and enjoy!

A loved bear...

2009-10-21T10:11:00.002-04:00

If you know my family or if you've been reading this blog for the last year, you're sure to know all about Bunny, Mary Jane's very expensive lovey that I had to replace last fall. She still carries it with her most places that she goes. Before there was Bunny, or even Mary Jane or Charlotte, there was simply Mason and Rooty Bear. Rooty Bear was a gift from a friend in Vancouver. He arrived soon after we brought Mason home. A little red bear that has bearly been able to withstand all of the love that he has received through the years.

I once spent 40 minutes back-tracking through the streets of San Francisco when we realized that Rooty Bear had fallen out of the stroller. I actually cried when we found him. On Monday, I spent an hour doing some repair work on the poor bear. He was about to loose an arm and a leg, Mason was not happy about it. For better or worse, Rooty Bear is made of fabric, not fur. When Charlotte was about 6 months old, I realized that she had a little pair of pants that matched the fabric. I'm still cutting those pants up for patches. Mason now makes a point of leaving his bear in his bed each morning. I don't miss the bed time Rooty Bear hunts. He seems so tiny and fragile now, Mason told me that I now need to patch his face and maybe make him some new ears.

I don't know why our kids get so attached to certain objects, but if a little red bear or a $77 bunny from ebay brings some comfort to my child, than I will patch or pay to keep everyone happy. So today's latte, from a house that needs to be disinfected because we've had too much coughing and sickness here this week, is to realize that sometimes there is no substitute for a bear or a bunny or a real latte with lots of caffeine!

What do you see?

2009-10-09T20:44:00.003-04:00

Let me start this post with a story about me and my husband. We first met as co-workers 12 years ago. Not long after we met, we went to a team building meeting and one of the activities was to look at a painting and list what we saw. I saw a clock, Rob saw anguish. It's often good that we have more than one perspective on things. We now have an abstract painting that hangs on our dining room wall. We got it at an arts festival in Denver, and the other night our kids started telling us what they saw in the painting.

Mary Jane saw a rocket, Charlotte saw a lady with "broom brush" feet, and Mason saw a gun. I don't mean that in a violent or disturbed way, he literally sees a gun in the painting. I never noticed that there is a silver outline that looks alot like a gun. Now I see it every time I look at the picture. As Rob says, he is my son. He and I have the same literal perspective on many things. We crave the same sense of order (despite my chaotic house), we both fear change, and we both remember all of the details.

My son and I are so much alike that, at times, it is hard for us to communicate effectively with one another. He is spending the night with a friend tonight, and I miss having the chance to tuck him in - stalling tactics and all. Tonight's latte (or blueberry martini as the case may be) is to pay attention to what your children see. Even if they share your perspective on most things, they might help you see something new.

This old house, again

2009-10-07T21:38:00.002-04:00

There is a mountain of mulch in my front yard. Our neighbors had a tree taken down, and we asked for the woodchips. Be careful what you ask for! Don't get me wrong, we'll use every bit of it, but we need it in the backyard which is proving to be alot of work. Rob (with the help of my dad's old station wagon) is doing an amazing job of getting it all into the back yard. In the process of all of our new landscaping, we're adding the sandbox that we've talked about under the tree fort. Who knew that we had such a great backyard? Instead of composing an entire new latte about the joys of my house, I decided to reprint one from last November. Here it is...

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. 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.

Fashion Fun for Girls

2009-10-02T13:41:00.003-04:00

It's now fall. The leaves are changing color and just waiting to be raked from our yard. They'll probably be there for a while. Here in Atlanta, the weather is finally starting to cool off a little bit. The big fashion excitement for my girls, ages 3 and 5, is that tights season has begun. They get so excited to pick out just the right combination of striped tights, a flower covered skirt, and a polka dot shirt to start the day. As the person who purchased most of these items, I can only sit back and tell them how colorful they look.

After Charlotte was born, it didn't take long for me to realize how much fun little girl clothes could be. They're much more interesting than the clothes for boys. I loved finding cute and cuddly little outfits and dresses for her to wear. Right around her 2nd birthday, something strange happened - she developed a very strong opinion about what she wore. Gone were the days when I could dress her (as I could Mason) in whatever I wanted. We started having daily battles over getting dressed each morning. I began buying more dresses to eliminate the need to mix and match. As she walked into preschool one day at a age 2 1/2, one mother commented that little girls should have buttons they could wear stating "I dressed myself today."

I've relaxed alot in the 2 years since. While I do like it if my girls manage to keep outfits to one or 2 patterns per day, it's alright if they don't. As long as they put on a jacket when it's cold, everything else is alright. My latte today is something I've said before, enjoy your child's creativity and pick your fashion battles carefully. They're just having fun with the tools that you've provided, which, in the case of my girls, is a closet full of mix and match pieces from the consignment sale at the preschool.

Playing Catch-up

2009-09-28T14:27:00.002-04:00

First, let me apologize to my mother, sisters, and 3 other readers for the infrequency of lattes. Last spring when I talked about how great it is to volunteer and stay involved in your child's school, I forgot how crazy my life gets during the week of my 2 big volunteer commitments - wrapping paper sales at the elementary school and the consignment sale at the preschool. Both are now over with some degree of success, and, despite the fact that the girls are both sick, I'm going to try to catch my breath this week. A new latte seems like a good place to start.

Today's latte is going to be more of a few random observations which may make a full post at a later date (I welcome requests). Here goes, in no order, a few lattes to start the week:

1. Carpool line is no fun, avoid it if possible, but, as you may have heard, we had some rain in Atlanta so I put the stroller away and drove. If you must wait in line, bring some reading material because you may be waiting a while. Weather permitting, turn your car off while you sit in line. As someone who has pushed a stroller by many a line, the fumes seem unnecessary.

2. Fall cleaning and purging is just as important as it is in the spring. I have assured my husband that more stuff went out than came into the house for the consignment sale last week. That doesn't include money, my personal sales offset some of my purchases but did not cover them. But really, you should see the Talbots embroidered jeans that I got Charlotte for $7, as well as the 20 other cute things.

3. Redbook Magazine has a feature called "You know you're an adult when..." I realized today that "You know you're an adult when ...you and your spouse go on a double date with your Dad and his wife and have a great time without feeling like you're 16 again!"

4. While your adorable and sweet children inherit some great traits from you, they might get some not so great ones as well, that's ok. I am not a happy person in the morning before I get a latte. My son is miserable when he first gets up, we are a lethal combination from 6:30 till 7:45 but we're managing (I think).

5. Don't forget to live in the moment. We spend so much time planning for and worrying about the future these days, but the moments with our kids won't last. I keep telling mine to stop growing, but they don't seem to be listening.

More lattes to follow soon!

Why bother?

2009-09-15T22:08:00.002-04:00

Tonight I fixed a new recipe for dinner. The fact that I was cooking at all is an event all its own these days. I thought it would be a kid-friendly meal, chicken triangles. Mason had fun helping me mix chicken with cream cheese and ranch dressing mix, and then we spooned the mixture onto crescent rolls to bake in triangles. None of my kids liked it, Charlotte actually gagged a little. Rob & I thought it was pretty good, but I found myself thinking "why bother?" Why did I go to the trouble of cooking a nice dinner for everyone when I ended up making toast, once again?

I guess that's not a very innovative attitude. I am constantly telling my kids to try new things (usually some sort of vegetable), and I should lead by example. Tomorrow night I'll feed the kids fish sticks while Rob & I eat leftover chicken triangles. Thursday we'll probably have spaghetti. Perhaps this weekend I'll feel motivated once again to look through cookbooks to see if I can find the next great crowd pleaser for my family, which, other than Rob, is not an easy crowd.

Today's latte is keep trying. The evening wasn't a total loss, Mason & I had 15 minutes of quality time preparing the meal, and Rob & I did like it enough to eat the leftovers.

Queen for a Day

2009-09-10T22:10:00.002-04:00

Be Productive

2009-09-02T15:25:00.005-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, as my husband was leaving for work one morning, he told me to "be productive." This was on one of the days that Mary Jane & I were on our own since the other two were already in school. A couple of hours later, I called Rob and asked if a trip to the zoo with friends was considered productive. I don't think that's what he had in mind, but my options are fairly limited if I want to keep Mary Jane engaged and not in front of the TV while I try to clean up. Don't get me wrong, we do that, too.

The whole thing did get me thinking about productivity. Most things that are fun and addicitive in my daily routine, are not very productive. Things like trips to Starbucks and way too much time on Facebook. Blogging is productive if I find a way to turn it into some sort of money-making endeavor, but, for now, it's more theraputic and, possibly, mildly entertaining for my mom, sisters, and 3 other readers.

There are minimum requirements for me to consider that my day was productive. When a newborn was in the house that didn't sleep and nursed around the clock, if I had a shower and did a load of laundry it was a great day. Times have changed. Most days do involve laundry and hopefully a shower, but there's now much more. Everyone needs to leave for school on the time with the correct work or provisions for the day, there are bills to pay, shopping to do, and a house to clean. If you've been to my house, you know that it's not always clean and the pantry is sometimes fairly sparse. I'm working on it.

I now consider it a good day if I make it most places on time, turn the TV off before we all start singing the Sponge Bob theme song, the kids all eat at least a few fruits and veggies, and homework is done before the last minute. Cleaning and organizing are going to take a while this fall. Yesterday, I tackled one of my drawers full of stacks of paper and I found out that Rob has a doctor's appoinment next week, and I also found car insurance cards that should be in the car. I did manage to get a handle on all of the beginning of the year papers for school, and I set up annual binders for Mason & Charlotte. I will end up purging most of the stuff they bring home, but I give myself a little time to enjoy.

The productive latte for today is to stay on top of things. Open a drawer or closet and clean it out before too much stuff piles up. If you have a productive day, you can reward yourself with a trip to Starbucks and some time on Facebook.

Sunday Reflections

2009-08-30T22:21:00.002-04:00

The kids are asleep, 2 snack baskets are packed for this week, and I'm taking a few minutes to look back on my weekend. It was a good one, but not what I had planned. Our first plans for Friday night were cancelled because of a friends' sick 7 year old, we then had to cancel other plans when Charlotte came home from school with a fever (she's fine now).

Saturday night, Rob & I hoped that we would be able to go hear friends' band play, but we couldn't find a sitter. I do have lots of new numbers, though. Instead, we invited a neighbor over for an improtu cookout. Today we followed our Sunday routine of Sunday school, church, lunch followed by a lazy, rainy afternoon.

In the midst of it all, I did some laundry,, grocery shopping and even a little cleaning. Not a bad, uneventful weekend. So here's my Sunday latte - be flexible. If you had asked me last week what I had planned for the weekend, I would have given a very different answer than the way it turned out. That's ok, we still had fun and good lattes.

Fill in the blank

2009-08-28T22:16:00.002-04:00

Here is a little known fact about me, I always read the last page of a magazine first. I never do that with books, but magazines ususally have an interesting one page feature or article that you can read in less than 5 minutes. Coincidentally, that is often all the time I have for reading.

I got my latest issue of Redbook Magazine in the mail today, and I immediately turned to the last page which is ususally little blurbs about "You know you're an adult if..." This month is different. A few readers fill in the blank of the following sentence, "I love my ______ life!" It is a sentence that is used for the cover interview each month. Cindy Crawford apparently loves her "beach" life. After reading the 3 little stories from readers who love their "remarried, uncertain, and whole" lives, I started trying to fill in the blank of my own life. Here it goes...

"I love my MOMMY life!" I love that I get to go to the zoo and storytime, read to kindergarten classes, and help out in 2nd grade. I accept the challange of trying to balance activities with downtime, trying to make sure that at least a few vegetables are eaten each day, and trying to keep clean clothes available for all. I also love the fact that I get to have a break from being a mommy every now and then so that I can catch up with my husband, family, and other adults.

My latte for today is to fill in the blank, "I love my ______ life!"

Allergies

2009-08-18T22:25:00.002-04:00

Today I have a serious latte - be aware and considerate of children with food allergies. As the mother of a child with a peanut allergy, I find it very frustrating when another parent acts inconvienienced by my child's allergy. My 5 year old is allergic to peanuts. I have know this since she was 1. She's never had any serious problems, but I usually carry an Epi-pen for her just in case. Now that she's in kindergarten, she is no longer in the protected, peanut-free preschool environment.

Food allergies are very real, and very scary. We went to the allergist yesterday for a check-up, the last time Charlotte was tested, she was 1. I was shocked at how quickly and severly she responded to the peanut test. It was a good reality check for me, and I now have extra Epi-pens so that I'll never be without one if needed.

Like many people my age, I didn't know kids with severe food allergies when I was growing up. I know that there are alot of theories about why allergies have become so prevalent now. For whatever reason, they are out there. If Charlotte touches peanuts, she gets a rash. This will be an issue for her entire life. For now, the best I can do is ask the parents in her class to please not send any peanut product for snack at school, and I hope that no one is too put out by my request. The good news - there are no peanuts in lattes or in the side of whip cream that Charlotte occasionally gets as a Starbucks treat.

Sunday Reflections

2009-08-16T21:54:00.002-04:00

Now that we have the 1st week of school behind us, routine is starting to set in. I just looked back, and it has been close to a year since I first wrote about Sunday reflections and lessons. Days of the week did not matter as much during the summer, but today we headed back into the school year with Sunday school at a new church. The kids do not seem to have been affected by all of the potential upheaval of this summer.

As we get into the new school year, I, once again, am trying to figure out how to get organized. I almost said "how to stay organized" but I need to get there first! We put new beds in the girls' room this weekend, and so I took everything out of their room and sorted it in the living room. I know that my husband would have loved to see more things go into the trash or get rid of piles, but I do feel like we at least got a handle on the inventory of barbies, dress-ups, and doll house accessories.

I think I'm reaching a point where some of my lattes might sound repetitive if you were to read them all together. I don't think anyone is actually going to go back and do that, so I guess I'm safe if I just go ahead with this latte - take it one room at a time. If you have kids underfoot, it is almost impossible to get everything organized at once. The task will seem much less overwhelming if you break it down into manageable pieces. One of these days I might get through enough of everyone else's things, that I even find time to organize my own stuff. Of course, it's only 4 months until Christmas and we'll need to reorganize then to make room for new toys!

First Day

2009-08-09T21:41:00.002-04:00

I just set my alarm clock for tomorrow morning. Other than to awake for an early start to a road trip, it's the first time I've done that in a while. Tomorrow is the first day of school, 2nd grade and kindergarten for our family. I will admit that I didn't do a great job of getting everyone off of the summer schedule, but they did manage to get to sleep fairly early tonight. I expect that the morning rush for the first week won't be too bad, it's the 2nd week that gets exhausting.

For now, we have new shoes (which felt funny to Mason after wearing Crocs all summer), backpacks, and lunchboxes ready to go. Charlotte is much more independent than her brother, and I don't predict any apprehension about starting a new school. It's a new chapter for all of us, one that has many lattes ahead, I'm sure. I'll admit that I enjoyed the break from a schedule during the summer, but I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine. On that note, my back-to-school latte it to take it one week at a time, and have everyone pick out their clothes each night before bed.

End of summer...

2009-08-04T22:17:00.002-04:00

...and what a summer it has been! I realize that I took a break from lattes this summer (and actually switched to decaf), but there is lots that I could say about what I call the Summer of Indecision. I just reread what I wrote about decisions in January. When I wrote that post, I had no idea what sort of decisions Rob & I would make for our family this year. I won't bore anyone with the details, we made a very tough decision and then we unmade it. We're not moving across the country, and the for sale sign is now gone from our front yard. We feel good about our choice, and we're going into the new school year with an increased appreciation for the friends, family, and community around us.

Despite all of the indecision, it has been a great summer simply because my kids are growing up. Of course, I miss having a little one, but, at the same time, I love that my littlest one is now 3. It was a summer without diapers or cribs, and a summer of watching 2 amazing little swimmers while Mary Jane paddled around. As a family, we survived several long car trips (including one with a broken air conditioner), and we enjoyed lots of time together.

Mason & Charlotte start school on Monday. I am more relaxed than I have ever been at the beginning of school. Charlotte is growing up, and she will start kindergarten at the elementary school. It is bittersweet, but she is excited so I am too. I am looking forward to a new routine of school, homework, activities, and Toyota Free Tuesdays. This year I will have a little more time when all of the kids are in school. The plan is that I will cook more and have a cleaner house. I also plan on making lattes part of my routine again so look for more to come.

Packing

2009-07-01T22:18:00.002-04:00

I have been packing since I was seven or eight - packing to go back and forth between my mom and dad's houses, packing for camp, packing for weekend visits to my grandmother's house in East Tennessee, etc. It has never been a task that I enjoy, but it is necessary.

Now it is 25 years later and I'm packing for 5. Well, technically my husband packs for himself, but he also traveled around Greece for 2 weeks with less stuff than I take to the park with the kids so I usually add a few things to his bag. We're having the year of the roadtrip in our family, and right now I'm trying to pack for a week at Grandma & Grandpa's house. The good news is that we no longer need to include things like diapers or portable cribs. The bad news is that we need to include most other things.

The kids try to "help" by packing up toys which they wish to take along. We'll usually take about 1/3 of what they pack and they probably won't look at their toys until we return home. I think that after years of packing I have finally learned (sort of) that less is more. It is alright if everyone wears the same outfits more than once on a trip, and kids very quickly overcome any disappoinment regarding a toy which didn't make the trip. I have even cut way back on the snacks that I take along for long car trips - fewer choices usually mean fewer diagreements.

My packing latte is this, make sure you have the most important items, and the rest will (after a little bit of stress) fall into place. I always feel better about 30 minutes after we leave the house when I realize what it is that I forgot. As my mother always said, "You can just buy as you go."

Free Time

2009-06-22T21:10:00.002-04:00

A funny thing happened today- this morning, for the first time this summer vacation, I got up, packed 3 little lunches, rushed around getting everyone ready, and took all 3 kids to day camp. I dropped them off at 9:30 (really it was closer to 9:45) and for the first time in about a month, I had 3 hours to myself. What now? They will be at camp every morning this week. I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday and a trip to the eye doctor on Friday.

It's now summer in Atlanta, 90 degrees before noon and about 200% humidity so power walking is out, and I don't belong to a gym. Of course, my first stop was Starbucks which is a treat these days. Believe it or not, I've been making soy, mocha lattes for myself at home most day. Next, I ran to the mall to make a few returns and exchanges of various kid items, and finally, before carpool line, I ran to the grocery store to grab a few things to pack in tomorrow's lunches.

There you have it, nothing earth-shattering, and nothing that I couldn't have done with the kids in tow. After 4 weeks of spending most of our time together, I think that this week is a good break for me and for the kids. We've had lots of fun so far, and I am still glad that we don't have too many things on the calendar for now. This summer has had plenty of unexpected twists and turns, we don't need lots of scheduled ones. That said, for the sake of sanity, my latte to you is to schedule some down time for yourself if at all possible. Even if you spend the time doing a few kid-related errands, it's nice to get a little time without the kids along for the ride.

Camp

2009-06-08T22:32:00.003-04:00

Camp brings different things to mind for different people. In these days of over-scheduling, it seems that every person and place around is offering some sort of camp. $200 to spend the week building forts, cooking, swimming, etc. Last week I took my kids to the zoo where we saw campers from Zoo Camp. Mason asked me if he could go to Zoo Camp sometime, and I told him that we were having our own private zoo camp as a family.

For me, the word "camp" brings one place to mind, the summer camp I attended as a child, teenager, and counselor. I returned a few times after college for the annual reunion of former attendees, and recently, thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with many of my childhood camp friends. This year I went to the reunion for the first time in 10 years, and I took both of my daughters. It was amazing to watch Charlotte do many of the things I once did there in a place that is remarkable unchanged in the last 20 years (flush toilets are a nice addiditon since my camper days!). Several of my old friends were also there with their children who will be campers with my kids in the coming years. My baby sister is also a counselor there this summer.

I realize that not all summer camp experiences were like mine. CJL (my old camp) provided a great backdrop to my high school years, and I love that I can now share it with my daughters. So here's my latte today - share an experience from your childhood with your children. It could be a place, an activity, even a favorite recipe.

One side note: I realize that my lattes have been anything but daily, I'm going to try to get back into a routine. Look for more soon!

A Great Big Bag

2009-06-02T09:20:00.003-04:00

As the mother of 3 (ages 3, 5, and almost 7), I'm trying to navigate a relatively unscheduled summer vacation. I've quickly realized that I need to be prepared for anything! Without realizing it, I guess that I had gotten lulled into the ease and schedule of the school year. It has been a while since I've had full days to plan with all 3 kids, but I'm quickly getting back up to speed on what it takes to keep everyone happy. Here is a list of the things you might need with you at all times:

1. A change of clothes for anyone under the age of 10 - you just never know what type of accidents might happen and you don't want to cut everyone's day short because you don't have the right wardrobe.

2. Lots of water - My kids each have their own water bottles that are with us at all times, but I have to carry a backup supply as well.

3. Sunscreen - This is a no-brainer, and it should be an SPF of 50+. Last night, after 2 hours in the pool during peak sun hours, Mason told me that his shoulders hurt. It is actually the 1st time he has ever gotten a sunburn, and now we all understand the need to reapply regularly. Luckily Charlotte (who is very fair like her mom) was wearing a bathing suit with a t-shirt style top.

4. Colored pencils and paper - Summer in the south is not a good time to carry crayons around in your bag, trust me. Colored pencils serve just as well and make much less of a mess than markers. You never know when you'll need to entertain everyone for a few minutes.

5. The right bag - It would be great to just have one bag that went everywhere with you each day, but that doesn't work for summer outings. You need a pool bag that is big enough for towels, goggles, toys, comb, etc., and a backpack that is comfortable to carry on trips to the mall, zoo, etc. A shoulder bag/purse might work for trips to the bookstore, playdates, and, of course, Starbucks.

6. Snacks, snacks, snacks - Take advantage of the summer and the chance to get fresh fruit, I love when we take a snack break and all the kids eat is fruit. Goldfish, crackers, teddy grahams, are all good choices also. If you're meeting friends, make sure you have enough to share just in case.

Be prepared! That's my latte today, be prepared with a bag of tricks and plenty of coffee at home so that you don't have get everyone dressed and out the door before you enjoy your daily latte.

Summer

2009-05-26T21:31:00.002-04:00

It's here, 75 degrees and rainy, but summer is here. I haven't planned much, and so I'm going to be back in cruise director mode for a while. That's not a bad thing. I'm finally learning not to over-plan for the kids. It is possible for everyone to have a great time without alot of travel or expense. On Memorial Day, we actually took the kids on an outing to a local gardening center. They had a great time playing with the fountains and statues while Rob & I got some landscaping tips. We then came home and let the kids splash in a little pool in the yard for a while while we grilled hot dogs and corn on the cob. We all had dinner on the porch, and they told us it was the best summer ever!

Little did they know what they had to look forward to: today they helped me shop for a new bathing suit, and then we put on new rain boots and went puddle jumping through the neighborhood. Add a newly DVR'd (recorded) Scooby Doo movie, and it was another great day!

Don't get me wrong, it is necessary to make plans each day. Mason has already told me that he's getting tired of playing with his sisters. Our tentative plans for tomorrow require that the weather cooperates, and so I need to start thinking of a Plan B. I'm sure it will involve going out for a latte. Today's latte is don't overplan. Camps and vacations are great, but so is just plain summer fun. If it rains, you can always puddle jump and have a mud fight.

A Graduation Latte

2009-05-21T22:19:00.002-04:00

My baby sister graduates from high school tomorrow. It doesn't seem like my own high school graduation was that long ago. It was an exciting night - a streaker ran across the field just as the valedictorian was beginning his speech. Both guys are actually now on my list of friends on Facebook. I have to take time to say how amazing it has been to watch my sister and her friends grow into amazing women over the last 4 years when we have lived just around the corner from them. These soon to be graduates restore are proof that, despite what the media may lead you to believe, it is very possible to raise confident, intelligent, well-adjusted, beautiful young women in today's society.

The class of 2009 is off to a very different college experience than mine of the early 90's. I was probably part of the last wave of students who still used the library instead of the internet to do research. We didn't have cell phones or DVRs or laptops. Not everything has changed, and so I'll pass along this lesson learned from my freshman year - ordering pizza at 3AM may sound like a great idea at the time, but, believe me, it's not.

My graduation latte is to take it all in. I realize that in no time at all, my kids will be having their own graduations and not just from pre-school. I also know, and I hope my dad knows, that the nest is never really empty. Congratulations graduates!

The Crazy Days of May

2009-05-19T15:51:00.002-04:00

"May is the new December." Someone used that line on Facebook last week to describe the very hectic schedule that comes along with having small kids in school just before summer. It is a schedule that seems to be rivaled only by the weeks leading up to Christmas.

This is what my day looked like yesterday: It was one of those days on which by the time I got out of bed, I was already running behind. I still haven't learned to take my own advice and get things ready the night before. I had to remember to take about 6 things with us to the preschool for an outdoor arts & crafts day - there was no regular school, parents helped out the whole time. This was followed by a class picnic (more things to remember).

All of that was before noon, and then the day got really busy. Honors day for the 1st grade class followed by a class party/playdate in my backyard. Yes, I had all 19 kids from Mason's class over to play. It would not have been possible without the help of other moms, a patient husband, and a jumpy which the class rented. We survived, house & yard intact, with the help of a plunger and lots of juice boxes.

Today, aside from the fact that it is unseasonably cold and everyone had to wear jackets to school, the reality of summer is settling in. I have given money to every room parent around for teacher gifts, and Mary Jane had her last day in the Older 2's class. By this time next week, I'll be trying to figure out exactly how we are going to keep ourselves entertained without spending too much money on activities.

Today's latte (an espresso truffle latte for my step-mother who is celebrating a birthday), is to get ready, summer is upon us. Enjoy the change of pace from the crazy days of May.

Birthdays

2009-05-14T15:25:00.003-04:00

I know alot about birthday parties. I've been to hundreds and hosted at least a dozen in the last 6 years. I started a birthday blog at one point, but I haven't found the time to keep it updated so I'll just go back to birthday lattes. I've just survived the big birthday weekend in our household. My girls' birthdays are 3 days apart. This is the 2nd year that we've had parties for them on the same day. I managed to use many of the tricks I've learned through the years, and I will now share them:

1. Buy food that is already prepared - hot dogs from the Varsity were a big hit with the 3 year old crowd, and quesidillas from Willy's worked for the 5 year olds.

2. Keep it practical - I let the kids at both parties decorate their own cupcakes, it saved me from having to do it, and it served as the obligitory "craft project" for both groups.

3. If you're inviting more than 6 kids (as we did for the 5 year old party), you probably need good weather, great entertainment, and beer for the parents. We had all 3! Great entertainment from Brainy Tunes brought in all the way from California.

4. Know going into it that 3 year olds aren't going to be able to get a pinata open without a little help.

5. It helps to have Grandma around to bake all of the cupcakes for the parties at home and at school the next week.

Here's what I've learned for next year, I'm going to try harder to convince the kids that they don't need presents from their friends. It's not an easy idea for a child, but I'll keep trying. My post-party week latte is this - keep it simple!! Less is more and kids are happy to just run around in some semblance of organized chaos. On that note, I will be sending Thank You emails this year, I'll chalk it up to living a greener life!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T21:30:00.001-04:00

It's not just Mother's Day, it's also my baby's 3rd birthday. Charlotte will be 5 on Wednesday, and we had big parties for both of them yesterday. It has been quite a weekend around here! The kids gave me the adorable cards and gifts that they made for me at school, and my sweet husband had a gift for me as well. He also made a Starbucks run for me as soon as he got up this morning. It was a good day!

The kids were actually more interested in new birthday toys and the fact that Nana was staying in a hotel with a pool than in celebrating the day with me. After hosting 20+ kids at 2 parties yesterday, I may be a little celebrated out anyway. A few minutes alone by the pool with my mom were enough of a celebration, next time I'll wear sunscreen. Happy Mother's Day!

Proud Moments

2009-05-05T22:11:00.002-04:00

One of the great things about being a parent is the strong sense of pride you get to experience as you watch your children reach their goals. An example I've used in the past is potty training - a big step for the whole family. Yesterday, after a week off due to illness, Mason returned to karate and earned his next belt. He worked hard, and it paid off. Somehow it made all of the hours that I've spent trying to entertain the girls and keep them quiet during karate class seem worthwhile.

Of course, by this afternoon, we managed to run the gammut of emotions as we do every day - there were tears, anger, laughter - and that was just in the first 10 minutes at the park after school. It's more fun to be proud, so find a reason - instead of being upset by a bizarre clothing combination, feel pride at the display of creativity; celebrate the displays of indepence that your children show several times a day even if they are only 3 years old and some might call the independence defiance. Enjoy a proud parent latte.

Recovery

2009-05-02T10:31:00.002-04:00

Once when I was 3 or 4 months pregnant with my first child, I remember crying to my husband because I was so tired all the time. That was only the beginning. Last week, I had a very sick child all week. The sleeplessness that accompanied his illness reminded me of what it was like to have a newborn baby. I think I spent much of the week feeling half-asleep and able to only focus on the most important matters in front of me. I didn't cook or clean beyond washing every sheet that Mason touched each day.

He's now fever-free and feeling much better. It's going to take a few days to get his energy back. For the record, he didn't have swine flu, he just happened to get sick the same week that the media went crazy about getting sick. He also didn't get a flu shot this year, he's also gotten the flu in years when he did get the shot. I'm ok with my decision. Now, as alway happens after one of my kids has been sick, we get to spend a few days unlearning all of the behavior that came along with the illness. I will finally turn off Sponge Bob Squarepants, and stop waiting on Mason's every need which is good because even though he is still my baby boy, he's getting a little big to carry around! I guess that I will need to start cooking once again, and Rob (who was an amazing help through all of this) has already started getting the yard ready for next weekend - birthday parties for both girls in one day. That will be a latte or 2 in itself.

Today's latte is to allow a few days for recovery. When a child is sick, it takes a toll on the whole family, and it will take a little time to get back to normal (whatever that is).

Saving Money

2009-04-28T10:13:00.002-04:00

I'm all for saving money, especially in this economy, but 25+ years as a shopper have taught me a thing or two about bargains. The hardest lesson for me to learn is that just because it is a great deal doesn't mean I should buy it. I have fallen into this trap more than once for myself and my children. I was reminded of it as I sorted everyone's clothes for the warm weather and packed away winter clothes. The kids and I all seem to own a few things that I bought because they were such a good deal only to find that they didn't match anything in the current wardrobe therefore it was actually a waste of money.

Another lesson is that quality matters. When I buy something for Charlotte, my assumption is that it should last for Mary Jane as well. It is worth it to pay a little more for something that will still look great in two years as a hand-me-down. I have said in the past that every now and then it pays to splurge. It's not really a bargain if you don't get your money's worth out of it.

Today's latte is to spend carefully. Think about what you and you kids want versus what you need. Don't get too caught up in a great bargain, but make sure that you get good value for your money. Don't make the mistake that I made this morning after sleeping with a sick child for 3 nights, I decided to save a little money and get a regular coffee instead of a latte. A good latte is always worth a few extra dollars!

Compromise

2009-04-24T13:42:00.006-04:00

Anytime I ask my kids (now almost 3, 5, and 7) what they would like to eat, watch, read, play, etc, I usually get 3 different answers. The rare occasions when they do all want the same thing, they all want to be the first one to get it. We compromise on everything. At times, everyone is content to take turns as long as they each get what they requested eventually. But how do you keep everyone happy?

The short answer is that you don't. No one who has at least one sibling is going to get his or her way all of the time (at least not in my experience), and they need to learn to accept that. As a parent, the bigger struggle is in making sure that things are fair. Charlotte was sick for several days this week. When one child is sick, the needs of the other two suddenly multiply and they all want my attention at once and are very unhappy when the sick child gets more attention.

On Wednesday, Charlotte didn't feel up to walking to pick Mason up from school so we called the school and said that he should go in the carpool line. For those of you who know where I live, you're probably laughing - I pull out of my driveway into the carpool line. Mason was furious, but Charlotte was sick so her needs came first that day. Sometimes in those situations, distractions and bribery are the easiest way to keep the peace. Starbucks to the rescue (I really don't make this stuff up). A chai frappicino for me and chocolate milk for everyone else and we were all happily on our way to karate. This is a latte all moms already know, sometimes everyone needs a little chocolate to keep the peace and to keep your sanity!

Volunteers

2009-04-21T21:39:00.002-04:00

As soon as your kids start school, the requests begin. In preschool, it might start simple, reading a story to the class, making a meal for a family with a new baby, helping coordinate the teacher gift and end of year party. If you say yes to a few of these, the requests grow - you might be the room parent, a member of the consignment sale committee, or even the parent council president in training. Then comes elementary school, and with it, the PTA.

Tonight I went to the final PTA meeting of the year at my son's elementary school (also my alma mater), and I think that all of the moms and dads who commit to help out for an entire academic year deserve a thank you latte. These people make a huge time commitment in order to be advocates for our children.

I know that sometimes it's hard to find time to catch up on the mail and housework, much less time to volunteer at the school, but give it a try. My latte today is to go to a PTA meeting. They actually love to have few new faces in attendance, and you just might learn something. And the really great thing is that if you chair a committee, you will actually get a thank you latte - my favorite kind!

"Be Patient"

2009-04-16T21:50:00.002-04:00

It's something I say at least a dozen times a day, "Be Patient, we'll be there soon, Be patient, I'm fixing your snack now" etc. Patience isn't easy for kids or for their moms. About 4 1/2 years ago, people often told me how patient I was as a mother. Looking back, I realize that things were easy then, Mason was happy as long as he was close to me, Charlotte was always happy, and I had complete control over all of our plans and activites. They both napped in the afternoons and slept all night without calling me in.

As things have gotten more busy and chaotic through the years, my patience has worn a little thin. I'm more tired and have more to worry about than I did a few years ago, but it's time to practice what I preach (once again). I need to find a way to "be patient" - patient with a 2 year old who is tired and hungry, patient after 12 hours in the car with 3 kids, patient with a house that never seems to be clean, patient during a 2 day blackout, patient with the 5+ pounds I can't seem to lose. Too many lattes does not really help my patience, but I need at least one to make it through the day. I am very lucky to have a husband who is patient until I get it each day.

As I tell Mason, who also struggles with patience, take a deep breath and count to five. That's not bad advice, maybe I'll give it a try.

Road Trip

2009-04-12T21:51:00.002-04:00

Spring Break 2009 - We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, dined with new American Girl dolls (thank you Nana), ran around Grand Central Station, took a carriage ride in Central Park, and found new Bakugan at the 3 story Toys R Us in Times Square (thanks again Nana). We played with great friends while in the DC area and caught up with family in New York City. Our family of 5 piled into our 4 Runner, made sure the DVD player was working, and we drove though 10 states and logged almost 2000 miles over the course of the week. I'm exhausted!

I had an amazing time seeing the kids take in the sights and excitement of DC and New York for the first time. It was a LONG drive, but well worth it. It is great as a family to take some time away from the routine and schedule of every day. A break from lattes and Facebook for me(I drank regular coffee all week), and a break from Noggin, Cartoon Network, and school for the kids. It will probably take us all week to get back on track with school and work, but at least we made it home, we unpacked, and we went to Starbucks to start the day. My latte to you is to take a family vacation, even if it's just a day at the park - pile in the car and take a break. You'll enjoy the time together, especially if a latte-deprived mom tells you to enjoy or else.

Pictures will soon follow!

Firsts

2009-04-02T21:00:00.002-04:00

When I think of the "firsts" in my life before kids, I think of things like my first kiss, first car, first time I met my husband, first house, etc. Once I became a mother, I began to measure everything in firsts - first time rolling over, sitting up, first tooth, first word, etc. For the first 2 years of Mason's life, I meticulously recorded all of these events with pictures and notes in his baby book. Putting together baby books for the girls is somewhere on my list of to do's right now.

Today I wittnessed a friend's 1 year old taking her first steps. We were in the lobby of a 4 & 5 year old gymnastics class, and her youngest of 3 took her very first steps. It was a very bittersweet moment for the mom, and one I think I'll remember for a long time even though I don't remember when my kids each took their first steps. Each first for a child represents a step towards growing up. Charlotte will have her first day of kindergarten in the fall, and Mason just spent the night at a friend's house for the first time. Next week is spring break and we're taking our first family vacation without any diapers or portable cribs. That's not such a bad thing.

Todays latte is to celebrate the firsts. It doesn't have to be as monumentous as a first step, but sometimes it helps to celebrate the little things. Right now I'm celebrating the fact that I made it through our first week of activities every afternoon - most of them in the rain. Maybe one day I'll celebrate my first free latte from Starbucks for all of the advertising I give them on my blog.

Growing Up

2009-03-31T20:50:00.002-04:00

Yes, yes, my kids are growing up - way too fast for my preference. Mason has 2 loose teeth and I just dropped off Charlotte's kindergarten registration for the fall. What I've really been thinking about today is the fact that moms grow up, too. On a very non-TFT (rain, swim lessons, returning a pair of shoes), I was going to take a few minutes to catch up with a few of my mommy friends. That's when I realized that while my kids have been busy growing, taking on new activities, and entering new stages in life, so have my friends.

When Mason was 1 1/2, he wasn't in school and Charlotte was on the way. My mommy friends were my lifeline, women I saw or talked to daily for sanity checks about feeding, pregnancy, nap schedules, etc. We went to Gymboree classes, playgroups, and the zoo together regularly. I still miss those moms since I had to say goodbye to them when I left Denver for Atlanta. It shouldn't be a surprise that my latte habit (decaf back then) started around that time.

Now that the kids are in school more, and most of my friends are done having babies (I think), they're spending time on other things - jobs, PTA, working out, etc. If it ever stops raining around here, I'm sure we'll plan trips to the park if anyone has time. My latte today is to have a latte with some friends. I've reached the point in mommyhood where I don't spend as much time with other moms, but it is still important to my sanity that I make time for my girlfriends.

The Good Stuff

2009-03-29T20:47:00.004-04:00

My latte today should be to get organized. Clearly, I'm not since I took my kids to the suburbs 30 minutes north of town for a birthday party at a jumpy place on Saturday only to find that the party was actually not until Sunday. I had no one to blame but myself for the mix up. I guess I could hold Mary Jane partly responsible since she ran off with the invitation about 3 minutes after it arrived in the mail, but I think it's really my fault.

By the time I drove back to the burbs today for the party, I realized that it actually made for an ok excursion. Here are a few reasons that it's all good: 1. Yesterday was very, very rainy so being at a Jumpy Place was a good indoor activity, 2. Unlike last weekend, we did not have 3 other parties to get to. In fact, the only other birthday party this weekend was just for adults. It helped my mood yesterday knowing that I had a babysitter and night out with my husband on the way. 3. We still actually made it to the party, and everyone had a good laugh - the situation wouldn't have been as amusing if we were a day late instead of early.

As a result of the long drive again today and the fact that we went out last night to a grown up party, I'm worn out from the weekend but I'm not beating myself up for my mistake. I'm looking at it as a learning experience (write it down, and double check the date & time), and a good latte, find the good stuff in a not so good situation.

On a side note, I told Mason at bedtime that he needs to take a flower in to school tomorrow because it is teacher appreciation week, he looked confused and said, "Shouldn't we appreciate teachers every week?" That's the good stuff!

Imagination

2009-03-24T11:00:00.002-04:00

As an adult, I realize that I don't imagine things as much as I daydream about what could be - things like having a full time chef, housekeeper, secretary, and personal trainer. When we bought our house 4 years ago, I suppose that Rob and I imagined the potential for the original 1954 kitchen and aqua blue walls, ceiling, and carpet. We're still working on it.

For my kids, imagination has a whole different meaning. I always wished we had a level backyard with a big swing set and lots of toys for the kids. Since spring weather has arrived in Atlanta, the kids are having a blast playing in our very overgrown backyard with their tree house, the woods, and lots of imagination. Mason (the leader, of course) makes secret clubs everywhere he can find - under the porch, under the basement stairs, and, now, in the woods behind our house. He has realized that he needs to make a few concessions to get his sisters' participation in his games so he lets them be princesses. Watching my kids play in the woods, I realize that they may each be imagining a different scenario as they run around and collect rocks and sticks, but they are all imagining something fun. Not once have they stopped and said "I wish we had some other yard toys."

Today's latte is one that isn't easy for most adults, but here goes - stop daydreaming, wishing, or wondering what if, use your imagination and have some fun with or without kids.

"It takes a village..."

2009-03-21T21:31:00.002-04:00

As I'm sure you know, "It takes a village" is not my line, but, right now, it is my life. I was thinking about that line this morning when another mother actually said it to me. She was picking her daughter up from my house between soccer and baseball games for her boys. I am navigating my way through 5 birthday parties in 3 days while Rob is out of town. It took carpools, playdates, and a babysitter to coordinate the day, but everyone survived and had fun.

One day this week I got a call from another mother 10 minutes before preschool pick up - she was in a fender bender and she wanted to know if I could get her child from school. About a month ago I asked the same favor of her when I locked myself out of the house. As moms we need other moms (and dads) to rely on and to help us stay sane as we navigate our way through each day. Today's latte is to ask for help, if you try to do it all yourself you and your kids will miss out. Drop a child off with a friend while you take someone else to a party. It will be more fun for everyone, and I'm sure that you will return the favor in no time. And if you have a few child-free minutes (as I did this morning) don't forget to stop for a latte!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-03-18T12:49:00.002-04:00

In the fall, I took pride in the fact that my children had plenty of unstructured time in which they could play with friends, toys and each other. That only lasts for so long. Each one of my kids is not involved in too many activities, but because of their ages (almost 3, 5, and 7). They all get to ride along to each event. Now this is my schedule for the next month - karate for Mason on Monday and Wednesday from 4:15 - 5, swim lessons for all Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 (girls) and 5:00 (Mason). Yikes!

Here's the good news, the kids are all really excited about what they're doing which makes the commitment of both time and money seem worth it. There is nothing worse than paying for an acivity that becomes a huge struggle every week when a child looses interest. Also, sometimes it's nice for everyone to know exactly what's going to happen each afternoon and a busy schedule helps everyone enjoy down time even more.

My busy latte is to not get too busy for a latte every now and then. If the kids have lots going on, plan your day so that you aren't stressed by 5 in the afternoon about the evening routine. Take a minute to catch your breath, maybe at the Starbucks drive through that's across the street from karate.

Children's Art

2009-03-15T21:37:00.002-04:00

My kids bring home lots of artwork. Of course, it is all sweet and adorable. I would love to say that I cherish every piece, but if I tried to do that it would take over my house. I've learned to let go and only keep a few pieces here and there. The art is great, but, as I wittnessed last night, it is not priceless. At the elementary school auction, lots of parents (including this one) put a price on their kids' artwork and wrote a check for it. Mason is very excited that we will be hanging the artwork from his class in his room. Rob isn't thrilled that I went above the $80 limit he set, but it's all for a good cause.

If you have kids, this latte is for you - enjoy the art and then move on. Frame some of it, display it on the fridge, rotate it, and keep a few special pieces. Don't feel badly about throwing a few things away here and there. Like a good latte, there will be more tomorrow.

TFT - No Excuses

2009-03-10T21:51:00.002-04:00

I'm good at excuses. With three young kids at home, it's fairly easy to find an excuse for almost anything - an excuse for not having time to cook, clean, exercise, shower. You get the picture. Today, after a very sleepless night with a coughing child, I decided that there are no more excuses. It's TFT so even though it meant we were late for school, we walked. Just to ensure that I wouldn't get lazy, I let Rob take the car.

So here I sit, tired after a long day of walking around and worried that it's going to be another long night. I'm hoping that I can carry my "no excuses" attitude into my Wednesday and the rest of my week. I can think of a dozen things that I need to get done around the house, and I'm out of excuses. I seem to be having a tough love week as I say "Stop making excuses" as my latte today. And don't forget to wear sunscreen - TFT left my arms a little pink!

A Lost Hour

2009-03-09T15:09:00.003-04:00

In the spring of 2002, Rob & I went out to breakfast one Sunday morning before our weekly trip to Lowe's. I was pregnant with our first child and traveling a bunch for work, and Rob was spending all of his spare time finishing the basement of our Denver home before our new arrival in July. (Sidenote - my water actually broke on the way to one of our trips to Lowe's a couple of months later!) Anyway, we were sitting at breakfast mapping out our day and I realized that with the time change, I really felt like I had lost the hour when I had to "spring forward". Now, 7 years and 3 kids later, I still haven't gotten it back.

The longer days are great. After last weeks snow, the weather is cooperating nicely with 70+ degrees. The Indigo Girls were right when they said "There's someting 'bout the southland in the springtime..." But where is my lost hour?

This morning I woke up (in Mason's bed where I fell asleep at 5:30AM when he called me in), and I realized that it was 7:25. Waking up with the sun doesn't really work this week. After a mad dash to get a bleary eyed boy and his daddy out the door by 7:50, I realized that the girls needed to go to the doctor for strep tests. No mommy & me yoga today. One positive test (Mary Jane) later, I was in a fog because it was 11:30 and I had not had any lattes. 1 1/2 hours later after chick-fil-a, latte, and waiting around, we came home with our medicine.

Now we're having a quick break before we go, sickness and all, to Mason's karate class. Today I'm offering a tough-love latte - learn to deal with it. Accept the reality that there just might not be enough hours in the day. Luckily going out for coffee is a great way to pass the time while you wait for medicine from the pharmacy!

A Cliche Latte

2009-03-06T11:27:00.002-05:00

Here's what I've realized, cliches and stereotypes - both often too general and overused - have some basis in truth. As my children grow (way too quickly for my preference), I find myself using one cliche after another, "They grow up way too fast" is the most common one. About an hour before my wedding, while I was having pictures taken my grandfather walked into the church and told me that I grew up too fast, I guess we never stop feeling that way.

Watching your children grow up can be liberating as well. Recently the kids all had the day off from school and we went to the zoo. It's an outing that we haven't done in a long time. In fact, while we were there I realized that it was our first stroller-free zoo trip. I enjoyed the freedom of watching everyone have fun without having to keep track of a stroller. That same weekend we went to the North Georgia mountains for 2 nights, and traveling with kids has gotten so much easier now that we don't have to worry about cribs and diapers.

Still, I feel a little sad when I see a tiny baby and realize that I'm done with those days. I know this is very cliche, but my latte today is to cherish every moment because they grow up way too fast. Before you know it, they'll be ordering a latte with you!

The Things Mommys Say

2009-03-03T21:18:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago I noted some of the really cute & funny things that our kids say. Yesterday I realized that moms say some pretty funny things, too. The thought crossed my mind as I walked through the den saying "If it's not food, get it out of your mouth." I was probably using what Mason use to call my time-out voice when I said it. When I'm really angry, I ask questions - "What kind of behavior is that?", "Do we hit?", and the ever-popular "Is that a crying reason?"

I feel just like my mother when I tell my kids to "work it out yourselves." If your kids are still young enough to play make-believe, you'll realize the things that they hear you say. Mason has taken to asking retorical questions in the same tone that I use. Hearing a child scold a toy is enough to make you realize that you sometimes just sound funny, even when you're trying to sound mad. So my latte today is to listen to yourself, you might be funnier than you think.

Note: It was not a TFT thanks to cold weather, playdates, working at the preschool, and picking up a new table from Crate & Barrel.

Snow Day!

2009-03-02T08:25:00.002-05:00

One of the great things about being a mom is getting to relive the joy of things that excited you as a child. Today it's a snow day! We spent Sunday afternoon playing in the snow with big, fluffy flakes that reminded me of Denver. It was a rare and fun day in Atlanta, and today the snow is crunchy and icy and schools are closed. My kids are all young enough that they still really like school, but they seem to be excited about the change in plans and the fact that we all still have on our pj's at 9:00 AM (which is not early around here).

I will admit that I haven't finished my first latte of the morning (I do know how to make them at home occasionally), and at some point we're all going to get a little stir crazy and need to get out of the house. It will probably turn into a long day, but an exciting one since it might be a couple of years before Atlanta gets this much snow again. Here I was about to pack up all of the coats and sweaters to get ready for spring.

Today's latte is to remember your childhood. Remember the excitement of things like seeing a great snow storm as a fun activity not as a hassle that will snarl traffic. Now I'm off to make another latte.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Fashion

2009-02-25T21:20:00.002-05:00

This topic is a little like decorating - probably not a subject on which I should give advice. When Mason was about 6 months old, I remember reading an article in Baby Talk magazine with advice about how to avoid the "mom uniform" which at the time was kaki pants, tee shirt, running shoes, and a pony tail. That happened to be what I had on as I read the article.

These days my uniform has evolved to jeans, Danskos, and layered tees if it's cold out. If I'm doing alot of walking then I spend the day in workout clothes. I'm finally ok with that. I see moms all of the time who look like they find time to shower, put on makeup and a cute outfit before leaving the house in the morning. I'm not that mom. The advantage of dressing down all of the time is that it makes a much bigger impression on the very rare occasions that I do dress up.

My girls are young enough (I think) that they don't pay much attention to what I wear - their clothes are much more interesting than mine. Different patterns on skirts, tights, and shirts are all the rage for little girls these days. By age 2, both girls developed strong opinions about what to wear. My very grown-up latte, after years of blisters, is to wear comfortable shoes. You'll need them while you chase kids around so that you don't spill your Daily Latte.

TFT - A Good Book

2009-02-24T12:40:00.002-05:00

Another Toyota Free Tuesday (TFT) on which I've cheated again. I won't bore anyone with excuses, but I drove the girls to and from school. I probably won't get in the car again today. While they were at school, I decided to take the morning off. The house is still pretty clean from the weekend since my stacks of stuff are still in the basement.

After I read to Mason's class this morning, I spent the hour and a half that I had free with a good book. I have gotten sucked in (excuse the pun) to the Twilight series of teenage vampire books. I read the first one for book club which I then couldn't attend, but now I can't wait to get through them all. My problem with a good book is that it can take over my life by giving me yet another reason not to clean, do laundry, blog, etc. I needed to take some time to finish my book so that I can get some other things done later on today.

Mason is developing a love for books that I hope will continue to grow. He can't get enough of his chapter books which we take turns reading to each other. Maybe one day I'll write a book of lattes for my kids to read. I can't think of anything that goes better with a good book than a Daily Latte.

Cleaning Up

2009-02-22T21:08:00.003-05:00

We had a Saturday night cookout. It sounds like something fun and casual - bring the kids and some wine, we'll grill pre-prepared kebobs from Whole Foods. Here's the catch - our house is not generally in company ready condition. Entertaining is a way to keep us honest with our housekeeping. We love having friends over, but we always have a mad rush to get everything ready in the hours before guests arrive. The house looked great last night when everyone arrived.

My last minute trick that I always end up using is to load all of my miscellaneous "stuff" that seems to pile up in stacks around the house into a laundry basket which I then place in the basement. I'll bring the basket back upstairs in a couple of days when I'm looking for a bill that I know is due. By then, I'll be able to sort a few of the items into the trash. Of course, new stacks are already forming on my beside table. Here's my entertaining latte - don't wait until an hour before company arrives, sort through a few stacks today. I realize that many people may have a much better way of keeping up with things besides stacks so this may be a non-issue.

I do not want to pass these habits along to my kids, and I work hard on making sure that they know where all of their things belong so that they don't end up in stacks. My husband would like to just get rid of all things that don't have a specific place to reside. As long as my laptop and latte maker have homes, I guess I can sort the rest out as I go.

Shower

2009-02-19T23:04:00.002-05:00

I needed a shower this morning. That doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but moms with small kids will understand that it is sometimes easier said than done. Mary Jane was up part of the night with a bad cough so getting up early didn't really work out. I got a last-minute call to substitute at the girls' preschool which was a great opportunity, but it meant that I left the house and myself a complete mess. After school, lunch, gymnastics, dentist we made it home for a little quiet time.

As I cleaned up the kitchen and planned for my dinner out with girlfriends, I still needed a shower. Rob got home just in time to take Mason to a Cub Scout event. Luckily my little sister stopped by. She had a tea party with the girls while I finally had a shower!

I talked to a friend today who is at home with her 6 day old baby. I now always tell new moms that, in my experience, if you get a shower and a load of laundry done, it was a good day. Maybe a latte, too. Today was a good day, chaos and all.

Toyota Free Tuesday (almost)

2009-02-17T22:52:00.002-05:00

Last week I gave a name and a pledge to my Tuesdays - Toyota Free Tuesday (TFT). One week later, I didn't quite make it, but I came close. We had a full week of spring here in Atlanta, but now it has gotten cold again. It was 35 degrees out this morning so I drove the one mile to preschool to drop the girls off. That was my only car outing of the day. I would have loved to drive the kids to the bookstore this afternoon, but in the interest of TFT, I decided to wait until tomorrow. It's going to be a rainy day here, and Mary Jane and I need an activity. The High School Musical III DVD, my sequel to Twilight, and, of course, My Daily Latte will all be available at Barnes & Nobel in the morning.

Glitter and Glue

2009-02-16T21:14:00.003-05:00

Valentine's Day is another holiday that I have never been crazy about. As a mother, I like it even less now that it has become the new Halloween. There is way too much sugar in my house right now. When I was a senior in high school I was given a huge, heart shaped mylar balloon that floated in my room through the summer. Now I play the martyr and tell my husband that we don't need to do anything to celebrate. Then, of course, I pout when he listens to me and doesn't do anything to celebrate. I have a very patient husband.

Glitter and glue make this holiday much more fun. Who knew that glitter, glue, and construction paper hearts are all it takes for hours of entertainment? I'm sure that I will find glitter in my house for the next six months but that's ok because for two days last week, my kids loved making cards for everyone. My latte is to make your own non-commercial holiday to celebrate with lots of glitter and glue. It's amazing to see how much more fun things are when they sparkle!

Make a Change

2009-02-11T21:40:00.002-05:00

Unless this is the first time you've looked at this blog, you'll notice that I've made big changes - new background, new pictures. Change is not something that comes easily for me, the last time I got a really radical new haircut was when I was 12. The nice thing about computers is changes are easy and they are not permanent. Please feel free to let me know what you think of the new layout. I love getting comments and I always read all of them.

While you're at it, make a change in your life. It doesn't have to be something big like a new hair color or new job. We've made several changes around here recently - moving furniture, hanging new doors, Mason just started taking Karate lessons. I'm hoping that we'll make a few changes in our back yard this spring, as well. I'm starting to realize that kids change every day and I need to embrace the changes and make changes in my own life if I'm going to keep up. For today, changes to my blog are enough to go with My Daily Latte.

Toyota-Free Tuesday

2009-02-10T21:34:00.003-05:00

Since I started this blog, I have also started reading other mommy blogs. There is not one in particular that I follow, but there are a lot of really good ones out there. Several of the good ones seem to have a routine - different themes for different days. I've decided to give that a try with "Toyota-Free Tuesday."

Here's the deal, we've had 3 days of spring weather and I've come out of hibernation. I love my car and I know that gas is no longer $4.00/gallon, but that's no reason to drive more than needed. I am going to try to have one day a week on which I don't get in my 4 Runner. Since Mason has karate on Mondays & Wednesdays, Charlotte's gymnastics class is on Thursdays, and weekends are unpredictable, Tuesday seems like a good day to go sans car.

I hope that I'm not giving anyone the impression that we just stayed put all day, Tuesdays are actually fairly busy. After I walked the girls to school, I walked back to Mason's school to read to his class for a little while. I then walked home and cleaned, changed sheets, fun stuff like that. When I left to pick the girls up, I brought Goldie along on the walk and we got the girls and the double stroller and walked back home.

My one dilemma of the day came this afternoon when I really needed to get Charlotte started on Valentine's cards for her preschool class. It would have been easy to load everyone into the car for a quick Target run, but since I had already decided not to use the car today I had to think out-of-the-box. I looked through our art supplies and found a stash of toilet paper rolls that I've been stockpiling for a rainy day. It was 70 degrees and sunny today, but I cut the rolls into hearts which Charlotte then decorated with stickers and glitter.

Getting out and taking a walk is a great way to get some exercise, but my latte today is a little more than that. Think about where you're going in your car. Maybe you can have a Walking Wednesday or Foot Fest Friday. Just make sure you can walk to get your daily latte.

Wake Up!

2009-02-09T21:52:00.002-05:00

I am not a morning person. I'm also not an early evening or late night person. I guess I'm more of an 8 - 3 kind of Mom. It's all a little unfortunate since my kids need me from at least 6:30 in the morning until 8 at night. My mornings usually start between 4:30 and 6 when either Mason or Mary Jane calls me. I crawl into bed with my child and go back to sleep until someone else wakes up. On some mornings, everyone sleeps and I actually have to wake Mason up at 7:15 so we can all scramble to get him out the door in time for school. Of course, on weekends all of the kids are up by 6:45. All of this helps explain my very expensive latte habit.

Today's latte, and you'll need a latte to go with it, is wake up a little earlier. I know that staying in bed an extra 10 minutes is not going to help me feel any less tired, and, yet, I still try to cling to a few more minutes. I need to take my own advice and get up earlier which is actually a little easier now that it's not so cold. Maybe I'll be able to make time for an extra latte!

More Sunday Lessons

2009-02-08T21:08:00.003-05:00

It was a beautiful weekend here! We're getting a peek at spring after an unusually cold winter in Atlanta. We took full advantage, and spent lots of time outside. Now I need to shift gears and get ready for the week. Who am I kidding? I'm blogging, checking Facebook, and watching the Grammys. I did spend some time today thinking about the week ahead, though.

I've mentioned before the Sunday ritual I try to find time for - a latte alone while the girls are at Sunday school followed by church with my grandparents. As I sipped my latte and read the Sunday paper, I realized that my latte would make a good latte for the day. Take a few minutes sometime each weekend to reflect and recharge. It could be 10 minutes of checking your calendar for last week and transferring things to the new week that didn't get done, or perhaps it is an entire afternoon at a spa, or maybe a date night with your sweetie.

The rest of my day was busy. The girls played our yard for hours resulting in skinned knees while Rob did house projects. I felt guilty for not doing more spring cleaning given the weather, but I did spend much of the afternoon helping Mason do his homework which we (I) had been putting off all week. Now I, once again, have too many things to do, and I'm not going to do any of them before I go to bed. I'm glad that I took a little "me time" this morning to think about the week (and the really good lattes at Java Monkey).

Moments

2009-02-06T21:50:00.003-05:00

"Life is too short to drink bad coffee." That was on a sign at a new coffee spot I've discovered recently. Mary Jane and I stopped there this morning on our way to a jumpy place to meet some friends. I actually agree with that statement, hence my very expensive latte habit. But it made me think of much more.

Today Charlotte's preschool class had a field trip. It was a trip to the post office near the school, and Rob went along. He wasn't sure if he would be able to make it, but he was able to take time our of his day so that he could go and it was worth it! Charlotte was thrilled to have him along. I think that life is too short to miss out on moments with your kids. There are lots of things that happen when we're not around, and we won't be a part of many of the big moments as our kids grow up which I now realize happens so very fast.

Have a "moment" today. Surprise your child by reading to his class or going on a field trip, it will become a moment for both of you. My personal moment today was dancing with my 2 year old in a small coffee shop while I, of course, enjoyed My Daily Latte.

Birthday Blog

2009-02-04T23:09:00.002-05:00

If you haven't checked it out, I have some birthday tidbits on my other blog Birthday Buzz. That's all I've got today. Between haircuts, playdates, and Mason's new karate lessons all in below freezing temps (that's cold for Atlanta), it was a crazy day. More lattes tomorrow...

Distractions

2009-02-03T20:43:00.002-05:00

There was a time, not so long ago, when I could work on the same spreadsheet for an hour at a time without getting distracted. Now, I go into the kitchen to get a glass of milk for one of my children, and, along the way, I stop to check Facebook, put away a few dishes (they're never done), and write down a few things on the calendar. 10 minutes later, I hear someone calling asking for their glass of milk. I got distracted - again.

I'm not sure if whether it's age, motherhood, technology, or some combination that sends us into multi-task overdrive, but too much multi-tasking makes it impossible to get anything done. Today's latte is to do one thing at a time. If you're playing a game with your son, don't check email or read the paper at the same time. Mary Jane often tells me to "get that phone off of your ear" Princesses do alot of things, multi-tasking is not one of them. Try to limit distractions, you'll enjoy your daily latte more!

25 Random Things

2009-02-01T21:46:00.002-05:00

I joined Facebook a few months ago. One of the things going around right now is a list of 25 random things about yourself. If someone "tags" you in their list, then you write your own list of 25 things about yourself. I will admit that I started thinking about my list about a week before I was tagged, and I was excited to start writing. It is not that easy.

My latte today is to make a list. It was a fun and thought provoking exercise. For those of you who did not read my list on Facebook, here it is:

1. I am an easy person to get to know, my emotions are easy to read.
2. I am terrified of change, Rob craves it - that's one of the reasons we are so good together.
3. I use to think it was silly on TV when characters stood at a door and watched their children sleep, now I do it all the time.
4. I've been secretly hoping someone would tag me in one of these notes (thanks Leslie).
5. I lived in Denver for 5 years and loved it, but I never took up skiing.
6. I love family and I wish that my brother and my sister both lived on my street instead of in Texas and California.
7. I have been tired for seven years.
8. My life revolves around my kids.
9. I have a love/hate relationship with my house, but, like Dorothy, I think there's no place like home.
10. The only time I have really liked my hair was at my wedding.
11. The month of December is my favorite time of year, I'm not much of a Halloween person.
12. I hate that I don't have babies anymore, but it is nice to be done with diapers.
13. Patience is the biggest thing motherhood has taught me, I'm still learning.
14. Going to camp every summer is one of the best things I did growing up, but it breaks my heart to think of my kids leaving for any length of time (even for CJL).
15. Preschool politics are no fun to get in the middle of, but I can't say no to committees.
16. I have made some amazing new friends in the last 3 years, and I am also still close friends with girls I have known since high school. I consider myself very lucky.
17. We just got a DVR last week, I'm not sure how I lived without it.
18. We no longer have a LAN line, I don't miss it at all.
19. I started writing a mommy blog in October http://amysdailylatte.blogspot.com/ Writing it has changed the way I think about each day.
20. I love that Facebook makes me feel like I'm in touch with all sorts of people from my family, distant past, and recent past.
21. I am a dog person.
22. I will never be caught up on the laundry or the dishes.
23. I am constantly trying to figure out how to live a greener life (unplug, unplug, unplug).
24. I don't have words to describe how great of a husband and father Rob is.
25. I have wasted, I mean spent so much time on this list that I'm going to post it on my blog.

More Girlfriends

2009-01-29T21:44:00.002-05:00

Today was a busy day. Committee meetings, quick lunch and clothes change before rushing off to gymnastics, laundry, cleaning up after the dog, etc. It actually was a really good day despite the chaos. I also got to spend some time with some of my girlfriends. I had lunch with women I've been friends with for close to 25 years. I feel very old saying that. There is an ease that comes with being around friends who were by your side during the drama of being a teenage girl.

We added to the dinnertime chaos in this house by having another one of my girlfriends over and her kids for pizza while her husband is out of town. I have only known her for a couple of years, but we have shared the drama of being a moms - going through things like sleep deprivation, trips to the emergency room, potty training, together. It is another type of friendship that brings ease and comfort.

As a mother, I spend a good deal of time trying to help my children build and foster friendships. It's possible that one day they'll trade bakugan and barbies for a playdate of gossip and lattes. All are important in this family!

The New Black

2009-01-25T21:12:00.003-05:00

"Green is the new black" That's the slogan on a new organic T-shirt that I just bought. I have a weakness for cute yet expensive tees. Living a greener life is a great idea and it seems to be a necessity for our kids' sakes, but it is an overwhelming prospect sometimes. I don't have a profound latte that sums up living a greener life (although I do like green tea lattes!), I'm trying to figure it out one light bulb at a time.

Like most things in my life, I'm going green through baby steps. Two very easy and free ways to start are by recycling and unplugging. I'm going to guess that most of my readers already do those things and more. An added perk for us is that we can take all of our newspaper, magazines, and cardboard to Mason's school and the school gets money for recycling. Unplug, unplug, unplug and it will save energy and money. Just turning things off doesn't have the same affect.

I could stay up nights worrying about there being enough energy to power espresso makers for future generations. As I mentioned after the holidays, one of my resolutions is to use my own cup at Starbucks. It's a baby step, but it's something. I'm just glad to have a greener way to enjoy my daily latte.

Heroes, or not

2009-01-24T22:19:00.002-05:00

I have just come to the realization that the chaos of the Holidays is just preparation for the next busy season in our household - birthday party and cold and flu season. This is a season that seems to run from New Year's until spring break. As a mother, you may get to experience both the parties and the illnesses first hand. My latte about the season (or hot tea which is my drink of choice right now) is don't be a hero.

A sick mother is not really much good to anyone so, while you still need to uphold many of your obligations, it's ok to say no to a few things. Of course, I could not deprive Mary Jane of a princess birthday party today that came complete with Sleeping Beauty in attendance making balloon animals and painting faces. However, I did take the liberty of canceling our plans to meet friends out last night because I did not feel up to trying to rally the troops into the car and a restaurant.

We have another birthday party to attend tomorrow, this one at a jumpy place and I'll take all 3 kids. I'm giving myself the morning to rest up, have a latte, and pick up a last minute gift for the birthday boy. Maybe I'll get 2 lattes.

"Where are we?"

2009-01-21T21:47:00.002-05:00

"Where are we?" It seemed like a simple enough question coming from Mary Jane in the back seat, but it was past dinner time and we were sitting in traffic on our way home from Rob's office. The latte for today is that there are no simple answers when you're dealing with questions from small children.

I tried telling Mary Jane that we were on our way home, in the car, North Decatur Rd, Atlanta - each answer led to more frustration. She had a very specific answer in mind, one which I was not providing. To be fair, I (like many women) have been guilty of playing these same mind-reading games with my husband. I finally told Mary Jane that I was in an airplane, where was she? Charlotte chimed in that she was also in an airplane. The situation was then successfully diffused.

I have always tried to answer all questions from my kids with an answer besides "just because" but sometimes finding the right answer seems almost impossible. I am no longer surprised when I am unable to answer a seemingly simple question to the satisfaction of a 2 year old. Sometimes I just take the easy way out, and I change the subject in order to avoid providing an answer. Suggesting a trip to Starbucks usually does the trick.

A Boy and his Dog

2009-01-19T08:43:00.002-05:00

Get a dog! I know, that's not a very realistic latte for some, and I know for a fact that most of my loyal readers already have at least one or two dogs at home. I have to say that despite all of the mess (and there has been alot of mess) and despite the middle of the night outings (and it has been really cold) Goldie has been a great addition to our family. To the girls, Goldie is like a 30 pound stuffed animal which they can hug and love as much as they want to. They talk to her in baby voices and say "What a cutie-girl" Goldie loves all of the attention and all of the dropped snacks.

Our last dog died before Mason turned 3. At the time, we told Mason that Sadie was in the clouds watching us. When Mason's great-grandmother died last winter, Mason asked if she was going to get to play with Sadie in the clouds. Mason didn't like dogs for a few years, but he is now over his fear. Goldie is his constant companion. Mason does not like to ever be alone, and now he's not. When he gets in bed at night, he reads books to her and builds her lego ships as she lays on his bed. He puts a blanket over her to make sure she is cozy. He feeds her every morning, and he holds the leash when we walk home from his school in the afternoon. Goldie now tries to defend Mason in rough-housing bouts with Daddy. It is a quiet friendship, and it is very sweet to watch.

Kids and parents can learn alot by having a dog in the house. It adds to the mess and chaos of things, but, lets face it, I have 3 kids under the age of 7, there was already alot of mess and chaos in my life. When I went to the Starbucks drive through one afternoon this week, they even gave me a dog treat for Goldie who was in the back of the 4 Runner. Who knew that dogs could get a treat while I get my latte?

One of Those Days...

2009-01-17T21:07:00.002-05:00

I knew on Wednesday night that Thursday was probably going to be "one of those days." Charlotte went to bed with a very mysterious rash on her arm. Of course, I checked WebMD and decided that it looked alot like Chicken Pox. It turned out to be some sort of form of Exczema, but it took a full day of running around to doctors and begging to been seen at the Dermatologist office to reach that diagnosis. Any type of crowded waiting room with 3 kids is not really a fun place to be, but somehow we survived.

Charlotte had to miss a field trip, but she was excited to spend the morning with me while everyone else was in school. As a reward, and to help my sanity, we went out for coffee and she got to get a cup of whip cream. Lunch was a trip to the drive through to make up for not being able to go to gymnastics (at that point we had not ruled out contagious diseases). I managed to was all of the sheets and towels in the house because nothing makes you want to clean and disinfect the house more that children with possible communicable diseases. At 6:00 I realized that I had forgotten to go to the grocery store. Everyone loves pizza at least!

Here's the latte - some days are "those days" the type of day that you just have to endure. It's never part of the plan, and I didn't fully recover until I had a large Sangria with dinner on Friday and went to bed at 10:00 (that's very early for me). If you're having a bad day, know that you're not alone. The silver lining to my day was clean sheets, no cooking, and no chicken pox. And an extra latte!

Perspective

2009-01-13T20:16:00.002-05:00

Bedtime - that dreaded word. It leads to a trying 45 minutes in most households with young children. At the end of the day, we're all a little overtired and I, for one, have usually used up my supply of patience. I am ready to get everyone in bed so that I can take a few minutes for myself to do things like clean the kitchen, shower, watch bad TV, and, of course, blog.

Last night, things were a little different around here. Mason (who is 6) took charge and said that he would get his sisters ready for bed. He got hands and faces clean, teeth brushed, and pajamas on. He then read books of their choosing. Rob and I were amazed as we looked on from the hall since we were not allowed in the room with them.

I stepped in to help with the final stages of the process as Mary Jane started to fall apart, and Mason got in his own bed to read a few chapters from his book to Goldie. As if all of that wasn't amazing enough, when I was tucking Mason in and thanking him for all of his help, he told me that getting his sisters ready for bed was his favorite part of the day. Why? Because he got to stay up a little later.

My latte today is more of a challenge, try to gain some perspective on everyday tasks or occurrences. They may be more fun than you realize if you think about how a first grader would view them.

Decisions

2009-01-11T21:54:00.002-05:00

Motherhood is full of decisions. Some are big like what school to choose and when to potty train. Others, while not as major, are constant - what everyone needs to eat and wear, what is appropriate to watch on TV, which playground to go to after school. I find it exhausting! I spend the whole day making decisions that affect everyone around me, sometimes at the end of the day I literally can't decide what to feed myself. That's when Rob gets us takeout after the kids are asleep.

Of course, I make decisions that don't involve the kids as well. Recently, Rob and I have been making decisions about technology - should we keep our LAN line (no), buy me a laptop (yes), get DirecTV (yes), get a new TV (no)? These were not easy decisions for us. We (especially my husband) tend to over-analyze all of the options. Once again, decision-making has worn me out.

At least I've decided on a latte for the day - feel good about your decision. Whether it's a decision to splurge on new jeans, wear the same clothes every day, order pizza for dinner, or rearrange the furniture. And, of course, going out for another latte is always a good decision.

A New Latte

2009-01-08T17:05:00.002-05:00

Don't be afraid to try something new. I'm trying to convince myself of that as I say it. It's very easy (at least for me) to get stuck in a rut of doing the same things. I wear some variation on the same clothes most days, talk to the same people, let my kids watch too many of the same shows, etc. Today I tried a new latte, a London Fog Tzao tea latte (non-fat) from Starbucks. I'm sipping on it right now, and it's pretty good.

Charlotte also started a new gymnastics class and Mason is thinking of taking karate. All new things. I realize that none of this is monumental, but I tend to take baby steps with most things. Change has never been easy for me which you might have guessed by the fact that I live 1/2 mile from the house in which I grew up. Our children are growing up in an uncertain world in which anything is possible. Who knew that Aaron Spelling was onto something when he put a rotary phone in Sabrina's car on Charlie's Angels in the 70's? Hopefully my kids will learn to embrace change. So go out and try a new latte, maybe you'll find it right here.

Make a Plan

2009-01-06T21:18:00.002-05:00

For several years my plan was to get pregnant and then take care of my babies. For the first year that I had 3 kids, I was lucky if my plans involved taking a shower every couple of days. Now that the kids are 2 1/2, 4 1/2, and 6 1/2, I have finally emerged from my post-baby fog. Today I realized that it is time to make a plan.

There's no punch line here, I don't actually have a grand plan, yet, but my latte is to go out and make a plan beyond next weeks' play group or Gymboree class. Taking care of my kids is the most rewarding and frustrating thing I'm sure I will ever do, but soon I will have some time for other things as well. Sometime soon, probably over a latte or two, I need think about what is going to come next for me and my family. Do I want to write a book, go to law school, go back to corporate America, or volunteer all of my time? I'm not sure right now, but I'll keep you posted.