Friday, October 31, 2008
A day with Miss Jenn
I take Connor, Colin and Kaya on adventure walks all the time. We stop and look at trees and try and see if they remind us of things...today we found a stump that looked like it had angel wings on it, very cool. But a day with Miss Jenn is a day learning how to survive an adventure walk. First they brought with them water, I guess in case they were out for more than the hour they were or got lost somehow, and Connor brought a backpack filled with spare clothes and other necessaties...ie, toys and books. But to make it a typical day with Miss Jenn they build a lean-to. It was beautiful and Connor pleaded with us to have a sleep over in it. This is of course the second part to their outdoor play since last week they built a bridge to walk over the swampy part behind our yard. Of course she's there for me too, since I brought my adventure necessity, my camera, and helped me take pictures. At first this went really well......
But then Colin started to mimic Miss Jenn. Now I believe her when she says that she was doing rabbit ears behind me...but that's not exactly Colin's impression. Could this look any more like Elaine on Seinfield doing her devil impression?
Then Kaya joins in and hers looks even less like rabbit ears. It must be like the telephone game, where each one gets further and further from the original message.
But the old tried and true way to get kids to sit still for a picture...candy. I love the way Connor and Colin have this silent communication. Only what are they communicating exactly? Maybe I should be worried? One, two, three...let's go kick mommy in the knee? Or more likely, you distract Miss Jenn and I'll run off with the candy. At least that is what I would have been planning at their age.
And for the five minutes after Colin got his pants wet and Connor sprained his ankle and Kaya threw her hat back at me, we had some fun and some laughs. And some candy of course...it is Halloween. Oh and behind them is the lean-to. It was pretty awesome!
But then Colin started to mimic Miss Jenn. Now I believe her when she says that she was doing rabbit ears behind me...but that's not exactly Colin's impression. Could this look any more like Elaine on Seinfield doing her devil impression?
Then Kaya joins in and hers looks even less like rabbit ears. It must be like the telephone game, where each one gets further and further from the original message.
But the old tried and true way to get kids to sit still for a picture...candy. I love the way Connor and Colin have this silent communication. Only what are they communicating exactly? Maybe I should be worried? One, two, three...let's go kick mommy in the knee? Or more likely, you distract Miss Jenn and I'll run off with the candy. At least that is what I would have been planning at their age.
And for the five minutes after Colin got his pants wet and Connor sprained his ankle and Kaya threw her hat back at me, we had some fun and some laughs. And some candy of course...it is Halloween. Oh and behind them is the lean-to. It was pretty awesome!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Happy Halloween
It has now become a tradition. Every year, Brian and I are surprised at the door by trick or treaters and always by the first and largest group of kids and parents, since they are trying to get all the candy in before the rain begins. And every year my "chosen" costume seems to be me right out of the shower in my bathrobe. I must dress up every year as the scary stressed out Mom. At least it isn't a large green army coat but it is close. Every year Brian is the frantic Dad running around looking for candy to give the first group before he has to run out to Target to get more. Superhero stressed Mom in her bathrobe saves the day with her private stash of the "good stuff". At the Saumsiegle house, we don't just dress up for the festivities, we give a show! The part that really makes it a classic is that in preparation to NOT have this happen again for the third year in a row, I go online to check and see when Haverhill's trick or treat night will be. I google, I click on the calender and I tell Brian and Donna that it will be the 28th. Are you sure, they ask me? It's in the middle of the week". I look again at the calender and say, "well that's what it says." Only after the first rush of trick or treaters have gone and Brian has returned from Target with way too much candy. (Must be the stress) Does he press the point of the wrong date. I, with all the righteous anger a person falsely accused coursing through my body, bring back up the website which clearly shows the 28th as the trick or treat night. There! Take that! I silently say to Brian. Luckily I didn't say it out loud because Brian turns to me and says, "You didn't notice that this was for 2006 and not 2008?" Oh the horror! It must be Halloween.
Colin and Connor both decided to be Storm Troopers. It took me until the second to the last house to get Colin to stop crying about the cold. This is the kid that says in 40 degree weather that he can deal with the cold in just a t-shirt and underwear.
Connor, the one with the red bag chosen because he thought it would hold more candy, didn't want to wait for me to take a picture and got very, very impatient with Brian, Colin, and Kaya because he was missing the trick or treating. I told him that it was fine, we still had an hour but he was convinced that people would be like his parents and not have candy so the other kids would get it all. I think we are scarring him and I start to feel bad but then I remember that this is our job as parents. Second reference to Mom's green army coat here.
Unlike the boys, Kaya was raring to go! She didn't really care about the candy or the costume. She just wanted to get out of the house and outside at night. It made her feel very cool and she was the only thing that made the night enjoyable. She is a comedian. There isn't anything about her that doesn't make me smile.
Here's the Saumsiegle Trick or Treaters. Yes, I did desperately want Kaya to go as Princess Leia. But Brian made me get her the Elmo costume because that's what Kaya wanted to be. But just imaging the picture with Kaya in a Leia costume. Not to be...I am foiled all around. That's OK, I'll just make sure that I save my bathroom costume for their teenage years.
Colin and Connor both decided to be Storm Troopers. It took me until the second to the last house to get Colin to stop crying about the cold. This is the kid that says in 40 degree weather that he can deal with the cold in just a t-shirt and underwear. 
Connor, the one with the red bag chosen because he thought it would hold more candy, didn't want to wait for me to take a picture and got very, very impatient with Brian, Colin, and Kaya because he was missing the trick or treating. I told him that it was fine, we still had an hour but he was convinced that people would be like his parents and not have candy so the other kids would get it all. I think we are scarring him and I start to feel bad but then I remember that this is our job as parents. Second reference to Mom's green army coat here.
Unlike the boys, Kaya was raring to go! She didn't really care about the candy or the costume. She just wanted to get out of the house and outside at night. It made her feel very cool and she was the only thing that made the night enjoyable. She is a comedian. There isn't anything about her that doesn't make me smile.
Here's the Saumsiegle Trick or Treaters. Yes, I did desperately want Kaya to go as Princess Leia. But Brian made me get her the Elmo costume because that's what Kaya wanted to be. But just imaging the picture with Kaya in a Leia costume. Not to be...I am foiled all around. That's OK, I'll just make sure that I save my bathroom costume for their teenage years. Happy Halloween! Hope yours if filled with less tricks and more treats!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
From One to Sixteen in a blink of an eye
Just some looks I managed to capture. My favorite is the double whammy from Connor and Colin. I don't know what I was doing but it must have warranted the "Mmmmom" whine. The top picture is Colin the first time he jumped in the leaf pile, it looks like he landed on something but he swears he didn't. I don't know, the face says differently. I like the cute and sweet pictures, but these are the ones that remind me of exactly who my children are. They always make me smile and most of the time out and out laugh.
A New England Fall Day
In a desperate attempt to get the kids to Church, I promised to rake the yard and make leaf piles for the kids to jump in today. This was a great compromise from their original request at 7 o'clock AM. As Colin put it, first we have hot chocolate, then we eat breakfast and then we go out and jump in the leaf pile. Yoah there big boy, it is getting cold! So instead, after a long hard negotiation, it was agreed that we would do it after Church. Connor and Colin have the internal temperature of a hundred and three. They run barefoot, and yes with no pants, in the snow during the winter so 50 degrees is just a cool summer day. But they had a blast until Brian came out and asked why they weren't wearing jackets then forced them in to put on warmer clothes. (By the way, he was doing this while wearing a short sleeve shirt and shorts....) I was pleased because it helped me get a cute shot of all three in the leaves together. It was a wonderful family fall day, the kind you curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and remember--inside with the heater on :)
Kaya turns 2
Well sadly and yet happily, Kaya turned two. She is no longer my baby but a toddler with her own mind and personality. For her birthday, I dressed her up and let her play with my jewelry box. This is what she chose. Sense of style...check!
Because Brian gets home too late for birthday cake, we celebrated Kaya's birthday as a family on Saturday. My kids love the week long celebration of their birthdays! Two cakes, and presents everyday. We had to seperate the cake into different parts because the boys won't eat pink icing and Kaya has been waiting for her "pink" birthday cake all week so we had to be creative. Kaya's was the only piece that was pink but when she saw it, she was as excited as if we had a pink layered cake with pink champagne fountain in the middle.
Since she has been celebrating all week, she has the birthday song down pact and has no problem starting her own birthday song while the rest of us hurry to jump in!
Finally, she blows out the two candles and I can proudly say that she blew them out herself. It only took three tries and a secretive Daddy helping blow from the side. The boys didn't notice so they were very impressed with Kaya. So was she.
Then comes the part which makes the party special in only a way that two brothers can make it. Colin lets out a HUGE and LONG, oh what shall we call it, toot. Of course, he burst out laughing.
Then Connor joins in, with the laughing and the gas passing. Colin takes his turn. (He is actually quite talented at free lancing it and can do it at will.)
Luckily for all, Kaya loves her brothers and whatever they think is funny, she thinks is funny. So I guess Kaya's party was quite the gas. Brian and I shook our heads and headed far away to enjoy our birthday cake. Funny or not, I prefer the smell of freshly baked birthday cake. Light a candle, or match, I guess.
Because Brian gets home too late for birthday cake, we celebrated Kaya's birthday as a family on Saturday. My kids love the week long celebration of their birthdays! Two cakes, and presents everyday. We had to seperate the cake into different parts because the boys won't eat pink icing and Kaya has been waiting for her "pink" birthday cake all week so we had to be creative. Kaya's was the only piece that was pink but when she saw it, she was as excited as if we had a pink layered cake with pink champagne fountain in the middle.
Since she has been celebrating all week, she has the birthday song down pact and has no problem starting her own birthday song while the rest of us hurry to jump in!
Finally, she blows out the two candles and I can proudly say that she blew them out herself. It only took three tries and a secretive Daddy helping blow from the side. The boys didn't notice so they were very impressed with Kaya. So was she.
Then comes the part which makes the party special in only a way that two brothers can make it. Colin lets out a HUGE and LONG, oh what shall we call it, toot. Of course, he burst out laughing.
Then Connor joins in, with the laughing and the gas passing. Colin takes his turn. (He is actually quite talented at free lancing it and can do it at will.)
Luckily for all, Kaya loves her brothers and whatever they think is funny, she thinks is funny. So I guess Kaya's party was quite the gas. Brian and I shook our heads and headed far away to enjoy our birthday cake. Funny or not, I prefer the smell of freshly baked birthday cake. Light a candle, or match, I guess.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The SpongeBob Bouncer Wins
This has nothing to do with this section but I had to take the picture because Kaya loves her Jewelry. She just layers it on and thinks that she is the most beautiful thing there ever was. Her brother agree and when quizzed by Steve about how they felt about their little sister, Colin said, "She's beautiful and gets everything she wants." Everyone laughed but I felt a sliver of worry. Maybe I should be more like my mom and remind her although she is pretty, she is no Liz Taylor.
So as many of you know, there has been a heated dispute between Brian and me on the whole bouncer situation. We already had a SpongeBob Bouncer but I wanted to get one that had water for the kids this summer because last summer of 2007 was out of this world hot with no rain. This year proved to be the opposite and Connor was the only one in my family that liked it. Colin hated the water and Kaya hated the noise. So, on Saturday after Colin had asked for me to break out the old SpongeBob bouncer since Connor's birthday, I pulled it out.
Connor was not happy because he thought this was the baby bouncer and even though it was all Colin's idea, he joined Connor in his pout. Sigh, sometimes it feels like you can never win.
Soon, within minutes, they were both jumping and laughing...baby bouncer or no, it still did the trick.
Connor after a particularly fine stunt of climbing the sides and jumping off.
Kaya in the bouncer for the very first time. She really loved it!
Connor and Colin would run from one side to the other and it would literally almost tip over but would correct itself and send them both flying. Here's Colin landing.
In order to stop them from tipping it over and causing who knows what kind of destruction and mayham, I began playing monster. Everytime, Colin would grab Kaya to protect her. Too sweet!
I asked if I could take a picture that their cousins could see of me playing Monster. As you can see Connor was not really into it but was willing to do it if it meant I would put my camera down. I did and the play continued on with glee, bumps, tears and laughter.
So as many of you know, there has been a heated dispute between Brian and me on the whole bouncer situation. We already had a SpongeBob Bouncer but I wanted to get one that had water for the kids this summer because last summer of 2007 was out of this world hot with no rain. This year proved to be the opposite and Connor was the only one in my family that liked it. Colin hated the water and Kaya hated the noise. So, on Saturday after Colin had asked for me to break out the old SpongeBob bouncer since Connor's birthday, I pulled it out.
Connor was not happy because he thought this was the baby bouncer and even though it was all Colin's idea, he joined Connor in his pout. Sigh, sometimes it feels like you can never win.
Soon, within minutes, they were both jumping and laughing...baby bouncer or no, it still did the trick.
Connor after a particularly fine stunt of climbing the sides and jumping off. 
Kaya in the bouncer for the very first time. She really loved it! 
Connor and Colin would run from one side to the other and it would literally almost tip over but would correct itself and send them both flying. Here's Colin landing.
In order to stop them from tipping it over and causing who knows what kind of destruction and mayham, I began playing monster. Everytime, Colin would grab Kaya to protect her. Too sweet!
I asked if I could take a picture that their cousins could see of me playing Monster. As you can see Connor was not really into it but was willing to do it if it meant I would put my camera down. I did and the play continued on with glee, bumps, tears and laughter.Saturday, October 4, 2008
Time in the Pumpkin Patch
So as many of you know, Brian is with his Dad and now his brother closing up their house in Maine. So, I had this great idea, which unfortunately I have many of, to take the kids to the pumpkin patch. In my mind, we would go there and one of the workers would come with us and help us with the pumpkins we chose. Not what happened. We arrived at 10:00 to find that the farm was closed, although is says it opens at 10 on Saturday. Not to be derailed, I drive my truck up the dirt road to the pumpkin patch and figure we will just find the pumpkins we want and then tell the worker(s) where they are so they can get them for us. Well, I am getting the kids out when Connor looks at me and says in a serious tone that only a six year old can have, "Mommy, Jesus is telling my heart that this is a bad idea. Somebody is going to get really mad if we just take their pumpkins." After several minutes of explaining that we weren't going to take the pumkins without the owner of the farm knowing, he finally but suspiciously got out of the truck.
Here is Connor trying to find the pumpkin, the one and only pumpkin, that is his.
Here's Kaya just trying to keep up with the boys. This is not a small pumpkin patch but a very large one which crosses over two very large hills. Why am I explaining this to you, well, read on.
Kaya found a "baby" pumpkin which she just loved. Just for the record, when I started what Colin called "a great adventure" I thought that this was the size we would all be getting.
But then Colin was the first to pick his pumpkin. In order to keep the non-existant crowds of other people coming specifically to get his pumpkin, he decided to sit on it. But hey, it's better than peeing on it I suppose.
Here he is happily waiting for Connor and Kaya to find their pumpkins. He is very proud that he was the first to find his.
Connor quickly found his then marked it with the white squash just in case we lost it. He really doesn't have much faith in his mommy's ability to remember where it is and according to him, this pumpkin has been waiting for him since it was just a baby. He hugged it and even kissed it like they were long lost friends reunited.
Here's Kaya quickly sitting on hers like we were playing musical chairs. I think she was happy that Mommy lost since I was the last to find a pumpkin..and no I didn't sit on mine.
So I gather all three of the pumpkins, which are clearly not small and I am beginning to realize that the kids idea of finding a pumpkin isn't to find one that will look perfect on the porch but to find the largest pumpkin in the field. I tell them that the "Great Pumpkin" always comes to the pumpkin patch every Halloween which created this picture of them all squealing in delicious fear. Then I take the kids back to the shack where I have noticed some commotion and see that the owners have arrived. Shew! I think, and go up to the window to tell them which pumpkins we want. They nicely show me where the weight machine is and tell me that this is where I need to bring them to be weighed so that we can pay for them. So back up the monster pumpkin patch we go...hunting through to find the pumpkins while Connor reminds me how smart he is that he marked his with the white squash. It takes us longer to find the chosen pumpkins then to choose them. Then I have to carry each pumpkin a good 200 yards back to the shed because .a) my kids had to have a pumpkin weighing over 30 lbs each and b.) my kids had to choose pumpkins that were deep in the field even though they clearly put the best pumpkins up at the front of the field already cut and ready to go. Sigh...next week-end we are apple picking. I wonder what "great adventure" awaits us there.
Here is Connor trying to find the pumpkin, the one and only pumpkin, that is his.
Here's Kaya just trying to keep up with the boys. This is not a small pumpkin patch but a very large one which crosses over two very large hills. Why am I explaining this to you, well, read on.
Kaya found a "baby" pumpkin which she just loved. Just for the record, when I started what Colin called "a great adventure" I thought that this was the size we would all be getting.
But then Colin was the first to pick his pumpkin. In order to keep the non-existant crowds of other people coming specifically to get his pumpkin, he decided to sit on it. But hey, it's better than peeing on it I suppose.
Here he is happily waiting for Connor and Kaya to find their pumpkins. He is very proud that he was the first to find his.
Connor quickly found his then marked it with the white squash just in case we lost it. He really doesn't have much faith in his mommy's ability to remember where it is and according to him, this pumpkin has been waiting for him since it was just a baby. He hugged it and even kissed it like they were long lost friends reunited.
Here's Kaya quickly sitting on hers like we were playing musical chairs. I think she was happy that Mommy lost since I was the last to find a pumpkin..and no I didn't sit on mine.
So I gather all three of the pumpkins, which are clearly not small and I am beginning to realize that the kids idea of finding a pumpkin isn't to find one that will look perfect on the porch but to find the largest pumpkin in the field. I tell them that the "Great Pumpkin" always comes to the pumpkin patch every Halloween which created this picture of them all squealing in delicious fear. Then I take the kids back to the shack where I have noticed some commotion and see that the owners have arrived. Shew! I think, and go up to the window to tell them which pumpkins we want. They nicely show me where the weight machine is and tell me that this is where I need to bring them to be weighed so that we can pay for them. So back up the monster pumpkin patch we go...hunting through to find the pumpkins while Connor reminds me how smart he is that he marked his with the white squash. It takes us longer to find the chosen pumpkins then to choose them. Then I have to carry each pumpkin a good 200 yards back to the shed because .a) my kids had to have a pumpkin weighing over 30 lbs each and b.) my kids had to choose pumpkins that were deep in the field even though they clearly put the best pumpkins up at the front of the field already cut and ready to go. Sigh...next week-end we are apple picking. I wonder what "great adventure" awaits us there.
The other side of the spectrum
Many times people who few my blog but don't spend time at my house think I have the happiest kids in the world. It's a great compliment and I appreciate it but I feel like I have mislead the general public. While most of the time they are great kids, they have their moments. But they are a team...in laughter and in tears...they stick together. The tantrum is Colins but Kaya is right there ready to support his cause.
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