Chuck D & Mr. T

As chaotic and tough as it can be (carrying to screaming toddlers out of the store in snow coast while pushing a huge cart of groceries), taking the girls to the grocery store can be so much fun. Everyone stopes to look at them and say how cute and they are so excited about everything, moving through the store in a little train of glee and giggles.

Teddy is also fun to take. He is most focused on babybel cheese and cereal purchase.

Charlie is actually helpful in his way and we can talk about what to buy and the negotiate about how much candy he can have. He has some good insights into healthy food.

My sweet friend Margaret have me a cool cook book with photographs of veggies, grains, and seafood that has been so much fun looking through with the kids. Still hasn’t gotten them to eat much more but fun. Except for nelly- she will eat almost anything which pleases me so-she will have such a more fulfilling time.

Yesterday we passed the National Archives and Teddy asked what it was. I told him about it and that the Constitution was there which of course meant that we needed to talk
About how the constitution laid out how our country should be rules and how the laws made and Charlie said like the law “No wrestling with your brother on the bunk bed,” with Teddy adding “No grabbing toys.” Excellent
Points guys.

When we got home we looked at the archives website and checked out more about the constitution. Charlie was really into the old style writing and wanted to know why there was no one from DC represented as an author.

Today was warm and sunny but the snow was still piled up on the ground. I really wanted to go jogging but wanted to play with the girls so I took them with me. They were so excited and kept saying “going jogging with you!! Everyone going jogging!!” It was so cute. When they both talk together and then I talk with them it’s like a cheers go up about everything. I think they’ve inherited my enthusiasm (the boys too) so it’s like we run around cheering ourselves on for each activity.
Anyway, we took and ran around the block for a half hour. It was so much fun! They were wearing boots so stepped in the snow and climbed around and I sort of ran slowly. Towards the end they started making tiny snowballs and throwing them at each other and me-it was hilarious. We were all laughing. They also had a really good time when I suggested we pause at each house we passed to comment on the door color.

I can’t wait to keep doing this with them and I look so forward to them
Being older and us all running together. I see Georgetown students being their moms to the Georgetown barre classes and I think of how the girls and I will do it one day.

I understand how people say their children are their best friends now. My children are absolutely my best friends. Who else do I love spending so much time with, and have so much fun with? I want them at my side all the time.

I don’t like the parental line “because I said so.” Children should be respected as anyone else and deserve explanations. In fact they more than adults need them so that they can learn and understand what is going on.

Snuggling Teddy to sleep and when he gets in my bed every morning is perfection- his little body fits right into the curve of my hug. And even though Charlie is getting bigger he also fits right into my hug. I guess nature designs this. The girls fit right on my hip and however I hold them though when I snuggle them to bed at night all they do is chat.

I had such a hard time going to sleep when I was little-I was always scared and lonely. When I was really little like around 3, I’d make my father sleep on the floor next to my bed until I fell asleep. My dislike of sleeping alone encouraged me to sleep train the children so that they’d be happy and comfortable going to sleep on their own. But it’s hard for me because I would love nothing more than laying next to them and cuddling them to sleep each night. Instead I just cuddle
For until they are almost asleep. And every night sing
Lullaby
And goodnight
Go to sleep my sweet baby
Lullaby
And goodnight
Go to sleep my sweet bear

I looove when they song along with me.
Sweet dreams.

A dreamy day…cuddling and Olympic hockey in the morning followed by sledding at BK then the lego movie then family pizza at Pete’s then the boys playing Lego and the girls playing baby chicken (apparently that’s a game where they get totally naked and Tackle each other on the ottoman yelling “Baby chicken!” There was a lot of excited chatting during the movie and attempts at whispering. Charlie is getting so much older and gets all the jokes. Scottie and Nelly actually watch them whole thing. Teddy is so perfect to have on my lap during a movie btw.

One of the girls’ favorite books is Farmyard Counting which is a big board book with different number of farm animals on each page. They love the horses (they love pretending to be horses, talking about horses, reading about horses, coming with me to ride) but they also really like the page about the goats and bend their knees in a kneeling fashion and say “Look like the goat! I bend knees like goat!” They are also very curious about what is going on with the cows’ udders. I explain but they aren’t so sure I’m correct.

I love Valentines Day and holidays in general. I love celebrating and how there is a communal sense of everyone marking the same
Occasion. And I love giving Valentines to friends and everyone i care about. And I love giving Scottie and Nelly princess paper dolls and pez and Charlie and Teddy Lego, beyblades and pez. And I love making valentines and decorations with the children. And watching them open their valentines. So much love.

I love reading the book Mommy Loves which is about animals mommies loving their babies and it has the line “all mommies love their babies but most of all my mommy loves me. ”

I ask the littles all the time “Did I tell you yet today that I love you?” And they laugh and say yes and I tell them again.

A romantic lunch with MJ at Dino’s in Boston after our doctor’s appointment.