Weekend Photos in Review

A generous boss gave out six packs of cupcakes from a local bakery, green bagels, and Shamrock shakes for St. Patrick’s Day. A fun start to the weekend.

The kids were slightly horrified to see this car in a local parking lot. Then we discussed the reasons why someone’s car might look like this. I’ll turn anything into a teaching moment if I can. ;)

I gave the kids $25 each on Friday and took them to the bank to open up their own passbook savings accounts. I wanted them to have an account that they could control, adding and subtracting to it as they want; this way they could see their money grow, and when Mom says “no” about buying something they deem a “must-have,” they can choose to spend their own money on it. We made a few rules (for example, when they get money, they have to put half of it in another account I have for them, and the other half goes in these new accounts), and they are more than a little excited to have this bit of extra control. Although it’s old-fashioned, I am super partial to the passbook savings account because it’s an easy way for them to see their balance grow (or not) as the case might be.

Both kids start the spring soccer season in a few weeks. We took advantage of a local shoe store’s sale — a 20% discount if you bring them an old pair of shoes (that they will, in turn, donate). Love Mom & Pop’s!

The kids went to a movie with Mystic’s daughter on Friday night, and while they were there, I ran a few errands. I love J. Crew’s new window display. The pinwheels are made up of folded magazine pages.

First time having a Skinny Caramel Macchiato. I’m a few days shy of being a month of Diet Coke-free, and it hasn’t gotten any easier. I liked the Macchiato, but too much milk for me. I still prefer the iced coffees and frappuccinos.

The kids took over the the camera for Friday’s sunset. You know, ’cause I was driving.

St. Patrick’s Day dinner prep. Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Dubliner and Guinness Fondue, Colcannon, Super-Sized Pigs in a Blanket (for the kids) and Triple Layer Fudgy Minty Oreo Brownies.

And while I cooked and cooked and cooked, this was going on…

Unfortunately this is how our Saturday evening ended.

She had been very out of it all day. By the time everyone left after our St. Patrick’s Day dinner, she wasn’t any better. And then started burning up. She had a super-high fever that wasn’t budging. I don’t take visits to the hospital lightly, but after a cool bath, extra fluids, cold washcloths, and medicine weren’t bringing it down (and, in fact, it was getting higher), we headed over to the ER. As we were checking in, her blood pressure was concerningly high.

It hovered nearly the entire time around 150, but at its highest, it was 175. There is nothing more scary than being in the hospital with your children, feeling helpless. That moment when you have to be strong for them, but inside you’re breaking. I can’t imagine how my sister felt when Sophie shattered her elbow last year. Seeing the nurses and doctors in a flurry of activity over Madeline, but not wanting to alarm her wasn’t making me feel any better. They had her hooked up to the monitors for over two hours, but luckily all is ok. Today (Sunday), she is a completely different child and, thank goodness, back to her old self. That girl knows how to scare me like no other.

As we were leaving, well past midnight, Mystic was telling her how brave she was and what a big girl she was. She shook her head and said, “No, I wasn’t, I cried,” breaking my heart all over again. Today we talked about that more. I wanted to make sure she knows it’s ok to cry. She tries so hard to be perfect, I explained that she could cry, and I would be strong for her. That she was a big girl, but it was ok to be scared.

Over the past few months, Maxwell has developed a little relationship with Rosie, the dog belonging to our back yard neighbors. As soon as either Max or Rosie is outside, they bark, looking for the other. Once they’re both out there, they bark back and forth, conversating and catching up. Although it might be mildly annoying to the neighbors, it doesn’t happen too often and is too cute to watch.

After our too-exciting Saturday evening, the kids and I did lots of chill time today. They both love Restaurant: Impossible, so we hung out and caught up on a few episodes.

On tap for the rest of this week…
– winner announced tomorrow for the OXO giveaway. Did you enter? You still have time.
– recipe for Parmesan Biscuit and Chicken Casserole.
– recipe for Triple Layer Fudgy Mint Oreo Brownies
– a post about pride, sponsored by the folks at Electrolux
– and the fifth post? to be determined

Until then…