Hostage Situation

Hostage negotiations are not going well; however, I see our hostage standoff coming to an end very soon. 

This summer our family has been held hostage by a tiny abductor. Upon first glance she doesn't fit the stereotypical description of a criminal, but once you get past her cute looks and beautiful blue eyes you will encounter a criminal mastermind. 

Our entire summer has been dictated by multitude of mood swings of this explosive toddler. In a matter of seconds, she can go from a happy giggling curly haired girl to an angry fire breathing dragon. Her anger triggers aren't predictable, with the exception of our singing, we never know what will make her spin out of control. 

Last night's dinner conversation went something like this:

Me: "Do you like your chicken?"

A3: "I like chicken. Yummy chicken. I like chicken."

Me: "Eat your chicken."

A3: "Like chicken no! I not eat! No chicken!"

Me: "Eat your chicken."

A3: (in a growling voice) "I not eat chicken! Like chicken no!"

Me: (ignore tantrum. Talk to A1 and A2)

A3: (Eats chicken) "Yummy. No like."

These events happen daily, therefore we stay home. No restaurants or visits with friends, if it involves meals. 

She also thinks she needs her way. All. The. Time. When she doesn't get her way she will either grab the side of your face and pull you nose to nose to hypnotize you into getting what she wants or she will yell. Although, it isn't just a yell. It is more of a bellow. It is a deep husky demonic demand that starts down in her toes and doesn't stop until it has reached every ear within a mile radius. 

This bellowing happens hourly; therefore we stay home. No trips to the store or park. 

Our little captor has held us prisoner in our house all summer. 

Today I had enough. I was no longer the submissive prisoner she was accustomed to controlling. The tables were turned on her today. 

As soon as I heard, "I no like p jelly!" The food was removed from table, as was A3. I did allow her to return to the table as soon as she apologized, which happened faster than I thought. As soon as her demonic bellow escaped her mouth, she was sent to time out. After the third yelling episode, she apologized immediately. 

Tonight we played a game I picked and she didn't even argue. I think we are making progress. She was unwilling to negotiate, but the hostage situation is almost over, as soon as I'm ready to transition out of the house. 

Check out who is in charge here...

And here...

And here...

Ready to get this sweet girl back! 

*photo credit to the amazing Jill Gum, who, even though she was 9 months pregnant, followed the girls up and down the hill at the Muni and kept a smile the ENTIRE time! 

Staycation

Summer 2014 is the summer of the Staycation for the A Team. We originally planned on taking a trip with the girls, BUT the more we got to know the 2 year-old A3 the less we wanted to spend multiple hours in the car with her. 

I know this sounds awful, but seriously I have my reasons:

1. She WILL not sleep in the car. She will stay awake all night if she has to, but she won't sleep in the car. 

2. She hates listening to anyone sing, unless it is her. When we do sing she screams and cries. It is funny and entertaining for a little bit, but several hours of her yelling at us? No thanks!

3. Potty Training: she isn't ready to be without diapers, but she wants to be changed as soon as she goes in her diaper, even if it is every 5 minutes. 

4. I think she uses her free time to plot against us. A road trip would give her WAY too much time to plan!

See, I have my reasons. 

We have been taking the girls to their favorite places and trying new places in Springfield. Today we went to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. A1 went when she was a baby, but that doesn't count, so this was a new place for the girls. 

We had fun, but are all exhausted. A1 had the best time, because she is a history buff like her dad. She enjoyed being able to read all of the signs. A2 and A3 were both a little scared. A2 didn't like how all the eyes followed her. She said the eyes were creepy. A3 just wanted to walk, be carried, and walk all at the same time. It really created an internal conflict that was displayed externally. BTW... Thanks fellow museum patrons who decided to stare every time she screamed, cried, or threw herself on the ground. I have a hard time believing A3 is the first 2 year old you have ever meet in public. 

When A3 wasn't angry, she was mostly interested in the shoes all of the people in the displays were wearing. 

We will go back, but A3 will have to be older, much older!

A3 checking out the shoes. A2 keeping her distance. 

A2 doesn't trust that boy. 

Playing dress up, our favorite thing to do! 

Zucchini. Again.

This morning I told the girls we would be making the last zucchini recipes for awhile, because the 3 that are still in the garden were too small to use yet. They celebrated with chant of "Woo hoos" and high fives. 

Today we made zucchini bread and zucchini chips. Mac and I thought both were delicious, but the girls didn't agree. 

A1 helped with the bread. She grated the zucchini like a champ. She told me it was her favorite job in the kitchen, because she felt like she was hurting the zucchini. Great, my attempt at making my family try new foods is turning A1 into a psycho. 

When the bread was finished, A1 and A2 swarmed the kitchen. The smell over powered their desire to hate zucchini, almost. A1 loved the bread! She said it was one of the best things she had ever had in her whole life. A2 didn't feel the same. My little foodie rejected another recipe. She said it would taste good if I would have left the zucchini out...

The zucchini chips came highly recommended from Arizona. The recipe had been approved by several nonzucchini lovers and it even converted a few. The girls loved the smell once again, BUT none of them like it. Our dinner music has become a chorus of gagging. The girls will at least try a bite without us begging or threatening first. I'm making progress. It is just a very slow process. 

I went to the garden to check on our cucumbers. I was surprised to find a hidden zucchini. I was really excited since a friend sent me a recipe that I wanted to try. The girls didn't share my excitement. 

I just hope this doesn't make A1 want to hurt the farmer...

A Team's take on Zucchini

This summer I have been continuing my on going battle of feeding my family healthy food. It has been difficult breaking 8 years of bad habits. I have implemented all the suggestions of the "experts".  I have included the girls in all aspects of the meal from planting, planning, and preparing. Nothing is helping improve the attitudes of these fast food lovers. BUT I'm going to keep trying, because it is important. 

This week our zucchini was ready to eat. I knew this squash, which made A2 gag last year, because she thought she was eating two piece swimwear, was going to be even harder to pass of as delicious this year.  I had the girls help me pick the zucchini from our garden. I tried to have them help me select recipes. They didn't have the attention span for that... I even had the girls help with the cooking. 

Dish #1:

The girls hated this recipe! A1 cried. A2 smiled as she chewed, but spit the food into her napkin when she thought I wasn't looking. A3 didn't try to hide her disgust for the zucchini as she stood up in her chair looked me in the eyes and spit her partially chewed right back onto her plate. Mac and I loved it, so we will have it at least one more time this summer. 

Dish #2:

Tonight's dinner was another zucchini creation. We had Stuffed Zucchini Boats. It was either the fun name or the fact that the zucchini was drowning in marinara and cheese that convinced the girls to try the meal. A1 was my biggest cheerleader. She took a bite and said, "Hey, this isn't as bad tonight." A2 decided to try it because A1. She ate the entire serving and asked for seconds. Then she told me it was disgusting. A3 returned to the standard chew and spit method. I also saw her swallow 3 pieces of zucchini, so I will count that as a win. 

As the girls were getting ready for bed, A2 asked if she could tell me the truth. There is no good way to prepare yourself for any thing that will follow that question, especially when it is from A2.

"Mom, the zucchini didn't taste disgusting. It was good tonight. I just think thinking about zucchini is disgusting. It grows outside in the garden. It is from the dirt. That is disgusting. What if I just ate dirt?  Disgusting!" 

I am so thankful for all those experts who suggested having the kids help plant. :D 

Duderant

I have been trying to ignore all the signs and symptoms of the girls getting old. Most days I am successful at denying the fact that my girls are no longer babies. This summer the task has been a little bit more difficult.  Every time I turn around A1 is throwing it in my face.  She is getting older whether I am ready for it or not.

Today as the most undeniable proof that A1 was no longer a baby.  I had to buy her first deodorant; or as A2 calls it, "Duderant." My sweet little girl all of a sudden has become a stinky little beast.  No longer does Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash keep her smelling fresh all day long. SHE IS GETTING OLDER AND HAS OLDER KID SMELLS.

Luckily I had the A team with me while I made the saddest purchase of my entire life. A1 danced and pranced down the aisle. Her excitement for first grownup purchase was contagious. Everyone who passed us couldn't help but smile and laugh at her. A2 continuously sang, "Duderant, we are buying duderant." A3 held the deodorant, cuddled it like a baby, and talked to it. How could I be upset with the purchase of this tiny item when it was clearly making the entire A Team so happy?

I have always had a difficult time with the changing of stages of the girls.  It is hard to watch them grow up and feel like they no longer need you.  A1 is leading the charge and well on her way to becoming a tween. I will just need to slow down, take in changes, and let the girls guide me through this.  Growing up stinks, but they know what they are doing...

"Duderant, we are buying duderant!"