A visit to Obama's house

Oh yeah baby! We scored ourselves a White House Tour. Today, we leave for a lengthy East Coast vacation to visit in-laws. We'll be heading out to Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina for a few days. We will then drive to Virginia and spend a week there.

As promised to Micro, we will be visiting the Air and Space Musuem and the National Musuem of National History. It will be exciting for me because I haven't been back to these museums since before Mr. Fliz and I were married, and this time I get to bring my little ones who have such interest in airplanes and dinosaurs. 

However, we're all excited for the White House Tour. Micro knows Obama is President of the United States and he tells people that he's going to his house for a visit. Ah-do-rable! Picture-taking is not allowed inside, but I'll try and post a photo of us waiting outside when we get back. Well, here's to our last hurrah of Summer before the school year begins and I start another dizzying few months filled with birthdays (hello, Micron turning 2 in a few weeks!) and holidays. 

The fun never stops.

Summertime slumber parties

Two weekends ago, my best friend and her family came to stay with us to have a "staycation." Really, it was a fun slumber party for all of us. 

We are very fortunate that we have access to a year-round pool where we live. Unfortunately, it's not heated, but that's what the membership to our health club is for :) We've been using the pool a lot this summer. Pretty. Freaking. Often. It's helped to get the kids comfortable being in water and Micro has had plenty of opportunities to practice his swimming skills. Naturally, when you have kids coming over during the summer, nothing beats hanging out at the pool for some fun. Great job Micro and Ms. E.!

Sometimes, the best summer plans are ones that include good company and just hanging out at home. 

Thanks to the Chan Clan for forever friendships.

Crazy foursome!

September babies

Mommy Meltdowns

It's been awhile since I last wrote about having a mommy meltdown. Truth be told, it's actually been awhile since I've had one, til yesterday. In fact, when I think about my hellish day with my kids yesterday, I'm kinda proud I haven't had many that warrants a "venting" post. Of course, I've had some real difficult moments with my kids here and there, but having my own complete meltdown---well, it doesn't happen often. Not often enough to write about it.

I won't go into specifics, except that for some reason, I think both my children woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The morning started off innocently enough with Micro crawling into bed with me right before 7 a.m. and telling me a story. Micro telling ME a story. This is rare ya'll. He only reserves this kind of special treatment for Lola. I loved it. Granted it was a bizarre story with incredibly funny names for characters ("Cocky, Focky (whoa!), Chalky, etc.). Anyhoo, all was ok for the most part until after breakfast, where I swear, totally swear, some other life form inhabited my children and unleashed their inner "bad" child. 

No matter how many ways I tried to deal with their unruly behavior, I found myself seething on the inside from having to look and deal with them. I entertained thoughts to trading them in for other kids, like you would a car. But that's not acceptable in our society.

Yeah, they may look cute, cuddly, and harmless to many. But they both know how to push mama's buttons. As children should know. Once in awhile, I don't mind. However, I've been tired from shuttling my kids back and forth from swim class, not getting enough exercise lately (I blame our crazy summer schedule where we ACTUALLY have to schedule --NOT scheduling anything for at least one weekend), and just plain fatigue from dealing with little kids. Make no mistake, I LOVE my kids more than anything, but I'm human, and a mother who isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Parenting is not all cupcakes and lollipops. To be good parents, we can't shy away from growing pains, because as I've said before, we get them too. Just as our kids are learning about life, we are learning how to parent at the same time. This may cause some serious parental challenges. 

At the end of yesterday evening, when my children came to say goodnight to me (still going at it with their antics and making even, Mr. Fliz raise his voice (this rarely happens)), I stood there, looked at them, and silently prayed that tomorrow the little aliens inhabiting them will return from whence they came and I'll have a better day. Perhaps yesterday is one of those fluke days. It's as if there was a glitch in the Matrix and someone forgot to hit the "reset" button. Whatever it was, I was probably due for a meltdown anyway.

My Super Swimmer

If I could choose Micro's Halloween costume this year, I'd dress him up as Super Swimmer Extraordinaire! Ok, that's stretching it QUITE A BIT. But the past four weeks, Micro has shown some major water skills. This being the same kid that had a water blunder last year when we went on vacation in Tahoe--scary stuff. These days, he can't get enough of the water, and the two sessions of two-week swim intensive lessons have paid off.

I credit mostly my husband of spending time with both kids in the water while I'm doing my bootcamp class on Tuesdays/Thursdays. It's a tough job wrangling two kids to the pool by yourself, especially, if neither can swim yet. But the swim teachers at our health club are incredible too. A toast to you, Sam, and the two Chris'. Thanks for your patience and enthusiasm with my boy. Micro can now swim under water a few feet all by himself. He knows how to push off from the edge and can float on his back and front. 

A friend from our soccer days said it best, "Swimming is a life skill that's important to know. . ." I completely agree. It also doesn't hurt that Mr. Fliz is a major water person. He looves being in the water and living next to it. Both my kids have inherited his love of the water and I have to say, it's freakin' amazing to see my son go from--never wanting to put his head under the water (let alone pour water over his head during baths) to constantly diving down. Keep at it Micro. I know you can do it.

Accomplishment!

The past few days, has been blissfully (appropriate to use that term here?) nice. I've been living in a fantasy world, because our little Micron has managed to keep her pull-ups dry by pooping and peeping in the potty. EVERY TIME. I feel like I'm living in some kind of parallel universe where the stars and cosmos have aligned to make this potty training transition so smooth. I don't feel like I should stay in this universe too long, because I might jinx it. I guess it all feels so surreal because I had not intended to potty train her anyway. 

A week ago, I had run out of diapers one afternoon and all I had left were some extra princess diapers that my girlfriend had given me after her daughter was potty-trained. I used them on Micron and immediately she took a liking to them. Imagine my disbelief. This is a girl that rarely likes anything 'pink.' I explained to her that she can only use these "princess diapers" if she does her dirty deeds in the potty. That somehow started the ball rolling, but I wasn't even consistent in using the pull-ups. After she did that miraculous peeing/pooping 5x in a row (I wrote about it here), she was back in diapers and was off/on diapers and pull-ups. Well, after using the leftover pull-up stash, I decided recently, I'd give it a half-hearted try again by buying some pull-ups and telling Micron she only gets to use these special diapers if she goes poop/pee in the potty. Fast forward to the last four days and my little girl has IMPROVED DRASTICALLY!! 

The past few days she has done ALL her business where it should be. I think I'm still in this parallel universe and I'm not sure how long I'll be here. I feel any minute the black hole will open and transport me back to reality. Hopefully, my two universes will merge and leave me in a state of perpetual "bliss." Great Job Micron! Mama and Daddy are so PROUD OF YOU.