Jen Is...The Best!

So we got a Wii for Christmas from Adam's mom. It is REALLY fun! The kids and I were playing the other day while Adam Sr. was in the kitchen (I am not really sure what he was doing in there while we were playing...surely not cooking, but I digress). I beat all the kids at bowling. Seriously, I am proud of this accomplishment. Laney actually has a higher average than me. So I began chanting, "Jen is...so good" in a rhythmic fashion. Before you know it, I had all three older kids following me around the dining room table chanting, "Jen is...so good." It was hilarious. Until yesterday, Adam Sr. must have beat one of my high scores because I got a text message while I was out, "Daddy is...so good!"

The minds of children...

Yesterday we were at church, me and the three older kids (because I think daddy is paying TJ to be napping at church time every week so he can secretly work on his fantasy football lineup, but I digress). So...at church yesterday and we were discussing Advent, the Advent wreath etc before it starts. Then I point up at the GIANT garland streaming down from the cathedral ceiling of the church and ask the kids, "How do you think they got their decorations up?"

Now, just so you know, the children think an elf decorates our house, because, well, because I told them that. One night we decorated after they went to bed and it just so happened when Ashley woke up she shouted, "Michael, our elf decorated our whole house as a present for you Jen!" She was so excited, we just went with it. Our elf comes every year at Christmas and every night he goes back to the North Pole to report to Santa about the kids behavior. He shows back up overnight, but in a new location. Its a wonderful tradition in our house now.

So...back to church. I asked about how the garland was hung from the cathedral ceilings. The look up puzzled. Adam Jr. says, "I think a giant ladder. They used a giant ladder and Michael the elf helped them?" I told him I didn't know. Ashley responded, "The climbed up there (pointing to the choir loft) and did it from there." I looked quizzically, and shook my head indicating I doubted that was the solution. Then Laney pipes in, "A giant gorilla did it." I looked at her, she was smiling broadly from ear to ear, and I just laughed. Maybe that is it, maybe it was a giant gorilla. And this left me to wonder, when did I stop looking at the world in that way? Thank God for their imaginations, and may they stick with them well into adulthood!

The little things...

Last night my husband was going through the roll top desk, aka, junk storage that we can cover when company comes. He holds up an envelope and says, "Where did we get these address labels?" I reply, "The insurance company sent them." He replies, "That was really nice of them. Those will go nicely on our Christmas cards." And he meant it. I have gotten those for YEARS from the insurance company, and never thought anything of it. It is nice. Step back, deep breath, appreciate the little things holiday!

Musings from Laney...

Last night we were all in the car driving Laney to basketball practice and TJ was crying, I was lost, and Laney was musing as normal. It went as follows:

Laney: "Jen, Jen, Jen...(until I finally say 'What') Nathan N has not been at school for three days."

Jen: "Do you miss him?"
Laney: "Not really. Well maybe a little bit. He was out on Monday, Tuesday, and Today. That makes three days. He is my friend, so I guess I miss him. He is not my boyfriend though, I do not have a boyfriend. So I miss him like a friend, not miss him like a boyfriend."

Jen: "Ok" (because mind you TJ is still crying, I am still lost, and Adam is also calling my name from the back seat to ask me to put Kids Bop on the radio for the hundredth time)

Laney: "Jen, Jen...Daniel P was also absent today."
Jen: "Oh really (afraid at this point I am going to get the whole attendance report while I drive around looking for this elementary school). "
Laney: "Yes, but he was only out today."
Jen: "Did you miss him?"
Laney: "Not really, he says cuss words."

And that was it.

Happy Birthday TJ!!

TJ had his first birthday this week. We are having a party this weekend. In the interim my dad always calls and sings Happy Birthday on the answering machine for everyone's birthdays. Its his thing. So I have saved it and was playing it again for TJ and the kids yesterday. They all go very excited (including TJ who beams each time he hears it) and started shouting, "That's grandpa Tom, that's grandpa Tom!" I answered, that yes it was. Then Ashley looks thoughtfully at the recorder and says, "He sounds like he is getting OLD!"

REALLY Chewy...

So if you read this often, you know, my children are not allowed to criticize, critique, or any way be disrespectful about dinner preparations. This includes, but is not limited to:

I don't like that
That's yucky
Ewww
How many bites do I HAVE to eat (usually spoken as soon as we sit down)

and generally any other show of disgust.

Now this has not always been easy as I have served some not so great dinners before. Once Ashley was sitting in time out when my sister arrived at my house, and Kim asked her why she was there (clearly breaking the rule of not talking to the kid in time out). Ashley replied, "Because I complained about my dinner and would not eat it, but (she added for good measure), Aunt Kim it was NOT very good." Kim came into the kitchen and asked about dinner, I replied, "It was pot roast, but it was not the best." Still, I can say it, the kids cannot.

Once I served a pasta dish for dinner. However, as I was making it I realized we were low on pasta. I added some old lasagna noodles to the pot. Then I realized the sauce was also low, so I added some canned tomatoes (would have been ok if they were not the chipotle variety), and when I realized we had no Parmesan cheese, I added slices of American to the top. Even I would not make anyone eat that dish. But, I digress.

So, after many battles the children have learned to say compliments only at dinner time, or if they don't have anything nice to say, they have been instructed to simply say 'thank you', because after all, at least there is dinner on the table. Last night I made stir fry (another page in our dinners from other countries quest) for the second time in two weeks. I picked up some stew meat because it was on sale, and tried to marinate it for two days to tenderize it. However, I knew I had been unsuccessful, when before I even had one bite, Laney commented, "Jen, this dinner is really good because you can just chew and chew and keep on chewing and the meat never goes away. Its very...CHEWY"

How about next time Laney, you just say, 'Thank You!'

Is pizza really worth it?

Ashley, Laney and Adam are playing basketball this winter, and as you might imagine this can cause a LOT of havoc trying to get everyone to practice and games and coordinating that between households. Laney played last year as well, which is to say, Laney was on the team with Ashley, showed up to everything, and sat on the bench in the fetal position refusing to enter the game. When her dad would finally convince her to go in, she would stand at half court and refuse to participate stating, "I do not know what I am supposed to do and everyone is yelling!" When it came time to sign up this year, Laney said she wanted to play again. "Really?" we inquired. "Yes, I want to go to the party at the end of the year!" So we tried to explain about reasons to commit etc, but to no avail. She wanted to play, and we signed her up. Tuesday was their first practice. Her mom text Adam to say, "Laney is not practicing AT ALL." Shocking. So I asked Laney last night, "What's going on with basketball, why didn't you practice last night?" She responded, "Because I forget everything I am supposed to do from last year." Uh. Ok. So Adam again tried to impress upon her the importance of being part of a team, being dependable, and participating. He told her that if she couldn't be a reliable part of the team, then maybe she shouldn't play. She looked up quizzically. I added, "And if you are not part of the team you cannot go the end of the year team party." She nodded, as if that was her main question, and added, "I will play starting next week." We will see. That must have really been some pizza party at the end of last season!

Sisterly Love

Ashley and Laney fight ALL the time. Seriously, every waking moment they are bickering. It is truly exhausting and we are getting creative with trying to handle this in our household.

The other day we were all sitting on the porch as it was warm. All the neighborhood kids were out. And then they started..."Don't touch me, Don't look at me, I am NOT going to be your best friend, I am not going to play with you..." and so on and so on. Enough is enough. I looked at them and pulled one of my favorite mom tricks. "You two will sit on the porch swing together, holding hands and not talking until I say get up." Oh were they ever embarrassed at first, looking down, glaring at me, their friends outside were looking and laughing, and then it worked, they both started laughing and they were allowed to get up.

Don't worry though. The next morning before even getting dressed they started again. By they time we were in the car heading to daycare I said, "No talking. You two are not allowed to talk for 7 minutes." Adam Jr., TJ and I had a lovely start to our drive. Then I said, "You can apologize to each other and to me and then you two can talk again." No sooner do I say that then I hear, "No I am going first" "No I want to talk first!" "You are mean" etc etc. I just replied, "No talking the rest of the car ride." I know that this might not deter them from fighting again soon, but it sure did make my ride to daycare a bit more peaceful, and at that point, that was enough for me!

Diversity Lessons Needed...all the colors of the rainbow

So we have started a new activity at the Ruschman household, we have international dinner night. Each child gets to have a turn picking a country and we make dinner from there and then we get to do activities or look up and learn about that country. Our first was Thailand.

After eating our Thai chicken curry roles, we put TJ to bed. Adam Sr. was at class, so the kids and I hit the internet. We learned how their names would each look printed in Thai and then they asked questions (good ones too)
What kind of games do kids play in Thailand?
What are their holidays?
What do they make there?

and so on.

I pulled up a picture of some Thai children celebrating a holiday. Ashley looks and informs me that the international child that recently started at their daycare (she was adopted by a couple here) is Thai. I was truly impressed. I said, "Does she look like these children?" Ashley replied, "Yes, she's black." I answered, "Ashley these children are not black, they are Thai, that is different. Many black children have family that came from Africa a long time ago, and that is a whole different country than Thailand." She replied, "Well she's not WHITE so I just thought she was BLACK." We have so much to learn. I think we are doing Brazil and Korea next, this should be interesting!

Home Sweeet Home

I had to go to Atlanta for work for four days. When I returned home it was 8pm Sunday night and we were all tired. I got in my suitcase to find the trinkets I had brought home for the kids. Honestly I never got out of the conference, so the trinkets were a calendar and puzzle with my institutions logo on them that we were giving away at our vendor booth. They opened their gifts and exclaimed, "Awesome!...Cool!...Jen you are the best EVER!" So easy to please, so sweet, and so kind. Boy did I miss home.

Then I was tucking them in for the night. Adam Jr. looks at me and says, "Don't forget in the morning, we usually do cuddles right when I wake up." As if in my four days away, I would have forgotten our morning special time. Home truly is where the heart is!

My wish as well

We had roast chicken on Friday evening after a fun day at the park. We saved the wish bones so the kids could pull them and make wishes yesterday. Well Adam Jr. says to me this morning as I am getting ready, "My wish has not come true yet." I hate to see him discouraged so I said, "Maybe you should tell me your wish so I can help make it come true." He walked right into the bathroom where I was getting ready, hugged me really tight and said, "That was my wish." Then he walked back to where his sisters were and said, "My wish just came true." Mine too buddy, mine too!

Don't be so DRAMATIC

If you read this blog or know us at all, you will most certainly recognize the irony of this story.

We were sitting at lunch and getting ready to pray before we ate. Adam's dad is in the hospital this weekend, he had some chest pains and they are running some tests, but he will be fine. This is also what we told the kids right before lunch. So while praying Adam Jr. says, "I want to pray for Papa Mark." Laney decides to get in on this to and continues, "WE want to pray for Papa Mark, that he feels better soon, that he gets out of the hospital soon, and that he doesn't die!" I abruptly look up from my cheese and crackers, but before I can respond, Ashley chimes in, "Gosh Laney, you do NOT need to be so DRAMATIC all the time."

Hello pot, meet the kettle!

Show your spirit!

So we go to church as a family most weekends when we have all the kids. Last time we missed church because of a birthday party, and the time before that we went to a baptism at another church, so it had been awhile out of our routine. Ashley asked her dad in the car the other day, "Are we going to church this weekend?" "Yes," he replied. "Good," she says, "because we really need to show our spirit for God, it has been awhile."

Now Ash is a cheerleader, so I am not sure if this was the "Rah! Rah!" spirit or the holy spirit that we were supposed to be showing, but we went this morning. Afterwards, the gentleman who often sits behind us complimented me on the kids behavior, "Your children are really well behaved." I thought to myself, "That's because they are busy showing their spirit for God!!"

The chicken costume...

So I borrowed a chicken costume from my sister-in-law for TJ to wear for Halloween. It is adorable and I thought it would be perfect for a 10 month old. I put it on him last night with the kids watching. Ashley immediately said, "He looks like he is being tortured!"

Then his brother got into the act and called TJ a "big chicken!" (get it, well TJ didn't and he went right for Adam and the body slam move!

But then just when we thought we couldn't laugh anymore, TJ headed behind the door to hide from us. I am not sure he was feeling comfortable in his chicken outfit just yet :)

Aim High

Tonight at dinner the kids were talking again about what they want to be when they grow up. Usually this is a favorite conversation of mine. This time was interesting. Laney said she wanted to pick up animal poop at the zoo. All the kids laughed hysterically because poop was mentioned. Then Ashley said she wanted to work at Great Clips. I said, "How about we think big...what is the best job you could ever have?" Ashley replied without missing a beat, "I could work at Wal-Mart." Really, Wal-Mart huh? I mean, I don't even shop there, much less want my brilliant step-daughter to ASPIRE to work there. Then Adam Jr. chimes in, "I want to work in New York." I thought, great, now we are getting somewhere. "What do you want to do in New York?" He replied, "I want to take peoples money from them, and then give them back more money so then they are rich." Uh...ok. "Do you want to work on the stock market, like a stock broker?" "Yes, that's it. You give me $2 and then I will give you back like hundreds of dollars!" Again...where do they come up with this stuff?

The Family What?

The other day Adam Jr and TJ were rolling soccer ball back and forth to each other. Adam is one of the youngest on his under 8 soccer team, so he has been learning a lot this season. I looked down and he was covering up his "private" area with his hands. I laughed a little and asked, "Adam, Why are you covering up your penis with your hands?" He replied, "I have to protect my family BALLS Jen!" I burst out laughing. "Your what?" Trent and Josh (soccer players) told me I have to learn to protect my family balls!" I queried, "You mean your family 'jewels'?" "Oh yeah, that's it!" he replied. Then I was left to question, why did I correct him?

Picking our own clothes...

I say to Adam Jr, "Did you pick out your clothes for tomorrow?"
"Pants?" I inquire
"Yes."
"Did you also pick a shirt out of your closet?"
He replies, "Yes, and its handsome too."

Such a big boy.

Stepmother does not equal Chef...

I have been known to try and pass off a dish or two to the kids, that I myself did not think turned out so hot. This weekend we were having Uncle Ben (my sister's fiance) over for dinner. I made Chicken Parmesan. I was very proud of myself for the dinner planning, sides, garlic bread, the works. Then I was trying to cook while wrestling TJ and I might have left the thinly pounded chicken breasts in the skillet a tad too long. Maybe.

At dinner we were having our usual, "What is this? I don't like this! How many bites do I have to eat conversation?" when I answered, "Its just like fried chicken with cheese on top." Laney promptly responded, "Yeah... and burnt on the bottom."

Homework part II

So Ashley and I battle with math homework regularly. Yesterday so could not subtract 9 from 16 for anything. I had tried several attempts and had decided she just wasn't listening. My sister and friend Peg came by, and Kim tried to interject. "What's 16 minus 10?" I cut her off (rudely) "I already tried that...don't even bother." Peg jumps in, "How many fingers and toes do you have?" Then she hold up six fingers and tells Ash to consider her 10 toes. She then said, if you had to get rid of 9 of your toes..." Ashley interrupts, "Seven. The answer is Seven."

Huh? How did that happen? Ashley responded as Peg walked away, "Because Peg knows everything!" Thanks Peg!!!

Maybe I Should Leave the room?

Every evening we have the following conversation with the kids:

US: Sit Down and do your homework
KIDS: I need a pencil
US: Sit down and do your homework
KIDS: I have to go the bathroom
US: Sit down and do your homework
KIDS: I NEED help (when they have not attempted a single problem yet)

So the other day Laney was doing homework and it was taking her a while. I was filling Adam in on my day (which had some work related conflicts) in between making dinner and him helping her with homework. At one point Laney interrupts (my BIGGEST pet peeve unless you say excuse me) and says, "Um...do you guys want me to go into the other room?" Immediately I responded, "No, I want you to sit down and do your homework." I continue. She interrupts, "Excuse me, are you sure you do not want me to go into the other room?" At this point I am about to lose it. "NO! Why would I want you to go into the other room?" Laney calmly and with a slight smile replied, "Because you said the 'B' word...so I thought you might want me to wait in the other room."

Busted...

Congrats?

Today we were on our way to school. I mentioned that tonight I was going shopping for bridesmaid dresses for my sister's wedding. The girls were instantly interested. What color? What would it look like? Could they come? What were they going to wear? And so on. Then Ashley says, "We should make Aunt Kim and Uncle Ben a cake to tell them congratulations." Laney added, "But Jen has to help us because we don't know how to spell 'congratulations'." Ashley replied, "I can do it, G-R-A-T-U-L-A-S-O-N-S." Laney said, "That is not right." I chimed in with "C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S." Ashley immediately responded, "Well I didn't know how to spell the whole thing so I was just going to say 'gratulations' to shorten it."

You will be happy to know though, they kept discussing it and just decided to say, "Kim and Ben make the perfect couple, P-E-R-F-E-C-T, right? "Right" I answered.

TJ's first trick....

Ok, so I will add a photo shortly I hope...

Daddy and Adam Jr. taught TJ his first trick recently and we are so proud. Did they teach him how to wave bye-bye? How about how to blow kisses? You might be asking yourself these questions. Nope. They taught him to hit himself on the side of his head and then they all three laugh hysterically. He whacks himself and then he waits for you to laugh. Its great. I am so proud. Yesterday I picked him up from daycare and they told me they thought something was bothering him. When I asked why, they responded puzzled, "He just keeps hitting himself on the head?" Nope, nothing's wrong, that's just his first skill. Oh I am brimming with pride.

You HAVE got to be kidding me...

On Saturday Ashley was ready to do her chores first, so she got to choose. She picked cleaning the bathroom over dusting the woodwork on the steps, and I think that might be the last time she makes that choice. She came out a few minutes later and said she was finished cleaning. The following exchange occurred:

Jen: Are you sure you are finished?
Ash: Yes
Jen: And you did under the seat?
Ash: Yes
Jen: And the sink too?
Ash: Yes
Jen: And the front of the toilet where daddy and Adam always make messes when they miss the toilet?
Ash: (stares in disbelief ) You HAVE got to be kidding me? I have to clean that? (as she stomps away) That is DISGUSTING. I oughta get some rubber gloves for this job!!

Church...

So we have been a little delinquent lately at making church with the kids. Two weeks ago Ashley had a terrible ear infection and Adam had to run her to urgent care. TJ was napping. Laney said, "Are we going to church?" I replied not if TJ did not wake up. She was overjoyed. I said to her sternly, "Laney, you should not act so happy that we cannot go to church." She just looked over at me and said confused, "But I AM happy, I do not like to go to church?" How can I not act happy if I am happy...she was puzzled.

This week daddy was working a side job and again TJ was napping. I told Laney in all her glee that we would be going to church next time, no skipping. She looked back at me and smiled and said, "What if TJ is napping again?" I squashed her hopes by stating, "The daddy can stay home with him and I can take you all to church." "OH..no." was her only reply. Glad to see she is so touched by the holy spirit.

I can ride my bike...

Adam took Adam Jr.'s training wheels off his bike last night. Adam Jr. then whirled past us on the two-wheeler singing, "I can ride my bike with no training wheels...woo hoo no training wheels...look at me I have no training wheels!"

And their cousin Kate was over playing with Adam and Laney riding bikes and scooters and having a blast. Even Adam Sr. got in on the fun!

Forgetting something?

Last week I stopped home for a few minutes before leaving to go get TJ for a doctor's appointment. I was leaving the house and speaking to the neighbor boy across the street (he's 4). He had had his first day of preschool, and was SUPER excited. I left the house, road around the block and immediately returned. I got out of the car and Gavin said, "Why are you back?" I replied, "I forgot something." He nodded, as if he had known this all along and replied, "You forgot the baby!" "No, I replied, I did not forget the baby." I ran inside, grabbed my cell phone, and came back to the car. Gavin clearly did not want me to have to make another return trip so he shouted across the street, "Don't forget the baby!" "I DID NOT forget the baby!" I replied perhaps a little to loudly. "I forgot my cell phone." Gavin yelled, "Then where is the baby?" I assured him that the baby was at daycare and I was on my way to get him. Gavin said, "Thank goodness, I didn't want you to forget the baby again." For the record...I have never forgot the baby, I promise.

Telling Time

Ashley and I were in car on way to cheer leading yesterday, practice was at 6:15pm. We have been working on Ash telling time. She looks at digital clock in car and says, its 6:20. I look at her sideways wondering what she could be talking about, it is clearly 6:04pm I am NOT late yet. Then she says, "Oh no, its 6:25, that was quick." I looked at clock and it clearly said 6:05pm. Again, still not late. I asked how she could think it was 6:25 and she replied, you said when it was on the 4 its 20 minutes after and when it was on the 5 its 25 minutes after. The minutes are going really quick on this clock. Oh...we spent so much effort on traditional time telling, we forgot to teach her how to read digital time...who knew that would be the challenge.

I love ALL my parents

Adam Jr. and I were home just the two of us (after TJ went to bed) a couple of Friday's ago. He decided he wanted to build a tent. So we were crammed into the tent built with covers for over an hour. My back was killing me, but somehow I never feel in a big blended family that I get enough one on one time with each kiddo, so I stayed inside the tent. We were playing with the flashlight and he was talking about his family. I asked him if he loved his family more than the "whole wide world." Which is kind of our thing...he replied. "Of course. I love my parents more than the whole wide world." I replied, "Do you love your mommy?" "Yes" he answered emphatically. "How about your daddy" I joked. "Yes" he said even louder and now he was laughing at my game. I went through all of his brother and sisters, each time with a resounding "YES!" as he giggled. Then I said, "Do you love me buddy?" He looked at me, shook head with exasperation and said, "I ALREADY said that I loved ALL my parents!" "Oh that's right!" I giggled. But I must tell you, inside, I was full of emotion. I am a parent to them, not a mommy or a daddy, but a stepmom, and for him to know and understand how I feel about them, that I love them each as a parent too. That was something worth sticking around in the tent for!

The Best Time of the Year

To be a Bengals Fan. TJ says "Touchdown!"

How would YOU feel?

Last week I had a major presentation at work on Friday, so I was trying on a few different suits etc. The only full length mirror in the house is in the girls room. All the kids had just went down, but it was last weekend before school, so we let them all sleep in girls room for fun. No one was asleep yet, and they seemed far from it, so I went in to look in the mirror. Laney asked immediately, why I was so dressed up. I told her, "Because I have a presentation for some bosses at work tomorrow." She replied, "But I thought YOU were the boss." I explained to her that while I was a manager, I still had bosses. She wanted to know who the boss of the whole hospital was. So I told her, "Dr. Strauss." She replied, "Is that a boy or girl?" I love that she didn't assume the doctor was a boy, that's our Laney. After a few more minutes of this, I left, changed again and re-entered their room. I was again looking in the mirror when Laney said, "Why don't you just take that mirror into your room?" I replied that there was no spot for that mirror in my room, and that it was fine where it was. To which she replied, "Well I am just saying, how would YOU feel if you were TRYING to sleep and I just kept walking into your room to look at myself in the mirror." I stopped in my tracks...unsure if she was really talking to me in that tone while knowing that she had a small point. I looked over at her and she started laughing hysterically, as did the rest of the kids. "Yeah, how would you feel" they chimed in. I laughed too, and left them to sleep once they approved of my outfit choice for the big day!

Cutting out the middle man

I was sitting on the living room floor eating some cheese crackers when TJ showed an interest in having some of my cheese. I broke the slice up into tiny pieces and held out my hand so he could practice his pincher grasp, pick up the bit of cheese, and put it in his mouth. He did this dutifully for a few times. Then he looked at me, looked down at my hand, and dove forward using his mouth alone to scarf up every piece of cheese left in my hand. He sat up and smiled. I believe he has learned that some things are more efficient if you cut out the middle man.

TJs first girlfriend

Emma is TJs Uncle Ben's (by upcoming marriage) niece. So, we live in Kentucky, there is no blood relation and we decided TJ and Emma should be meant for each other. However I am not so sure they agreed. At first the were disinterested in each other.

Then they began to get closer

And finally, Emma went in for the hug. TJ screamed and cried, causing Emma to scream and cry and they would have nothing to do with each other for the rest of the night. Its true love!!

Figuring out feeding

With TJ approaching eight months we have had a lot of figuring out what to do about foods. I make my own baby food, and TJ is quite an eater usually, so this has been an adventure. So even with my attempts to be healthy, TJ's extended family still gets to him. Above is TJ's face right after his first bite of ice cream. He was not quite 7 months of age, "I think dairy is supposed to wait until after 9 months-year," mommy kept saying, but grandma Nancy insisted he would like it. And he did.

Now TJ is becoming quite independent so there is a lot of him wanting to feed himself. Notice the skill with which he inserts the puff directly into the ear canal.

And TJ is the pro with the sippy cup (other end up kiddo)!

And finally, when TJ is teething he can convince grandma and grandpa to give him just about anything to chew on!

The birds and the bees...and the lions!

We have made several trips to the zoo this summer, and believe me it never disappoints. When we went with my mom, the nun, cousin Kate and kids earlier in the summer I thought we had narrowly avoided a very awkward situation, that is until that evening. I said to Laney, "Tell Aunt Sarah what was your favor tie part of the zoo today." Laney replied, "I liked it when the daddy lion got on the mommy lions back and went for a ride." Oh yes...we got the above photo right before that.

Well the ride bracelets again were a saving grace. However, cousin Kate had a hard time waiting to ride the train. She is very smart, and at one point, I think she had had enough of us telling her it would just be a few more minutes (that or a whole day with her cousins was more than she could handle :) )

A few weeks later we returned to the zoo with grandma jojo and cousins kevin, bradley and aunt michelle. Again, we had a blast and saw a ton of animals. We learned lots of facts, like elephants have only 4 teeth, but loose them 6 times in their lifetime. The kids wondered how much the tooth fairy brought the elephants? We also learned that baby tiger cubs spend lots of time sleeping, more time than they do playing! But when we went to see the new baby tiger cubs the kids asked if when they play if they were going to jump on each other's backs too, like the lions did last time. I didn't know how to tell them that is how those baby tigers got here!

I read it in a book

Laney loves bugs. Laney loves the outdoors. Laney does not love organized sports. So instead of playing T-Ball this year she collects bugs. We ordered these butterfly larvae for her butterfly catcher. Right now they are in cocoons, or what is commonly known as the chrystalid phase (Laney taught me that). She also informed me Saturday night, "Butterflies are not even scared of birds you know, because butterflies taste bad." I laughed and asked her if she had ever eaten a butterfly, and if not, how did she know they tasted bad. She replied, as if I was the most uneducated stepmother ever, "I read it in a book!"

How old is it?

A young boy about 6-7 approached me last night at a t-ball game. I was just sitting there with me and TJ enjoying my pretzel covered in cheese. He looked at TJ and said to me, "How old is it?" I was a little taken aback and replied, "He is seven months old." The boy then elaborated, "I have one too, it is three days old, it is right over there, see? I don't like it." I asked dutifully if "it" was a brother or a sister. He replied, "It is a girl." and then for emphasis, "I don't like it." I told him I thought when she got a little older and he got used to having a sister he would see it was a lot of fun. He looked at me as if I had grown a second head, and walked away.

Hot Fudge Pop-Tarts

This morning Adam Jr. refused to get his shoes and socks on. So I put him in the car without them on and gave him one last chance on our way to gas station. He still refused. So I promptly went in the gas station and bought the girls and I each hot fudge sundae pop-tarts. They have requested these over and over, and I have always refused. Too sugary for breakfast. Well they were not good, but is it wrong that I enjoyed eating them almost as much as I enjoyed Adam's shocked look that he did not get any. I warned him...

The cookie

Watch very very carefully in this sequence of photos...TJ just cannot stand it any longer, bring on the sweets!

TJ's tying his shoes?

Adam Jr. is bordering on obsessed with his little brother, his best bud, his best friend, his bro and a number of other nicknames he uses regularly. Yesterday I was holding TJ on the couch and we were all three kind of wrestling around. TJ rolled over and Adam stated, "I taught him how to do that too." Then TJ laughed, and Adam said, "When I was little I laughed just like that, I taught him that." A few moments later I told Adam to go and get his shoes on. He came over and sat on the floor right in front of the couch and said,"TJ pay attention, I am going to teach you how to tie your shoes."

You know what would be easier?

So, we are continuing on with the "boss" theme at the Ruschman household. Laney was the boss yesterday. At lunch she finished first, and stood behind Ashley demanding that she eat every last mouthful of her tuna noodle casserole. I pulled Laney aside and we discussed how Jen or Daddy might handle lunch, and that no one has to "clean their plate." She returned to the table a more mellowed boss, but the boss none the less. She began to clean up her spot at the table. She looked around and sat down waiting for the other two to finish eating so she could help make sure the kitchen was clean. Laney then looked up at me and said, "You know if everyone would clean up their own mess, then it wouldn't be so much for the boss to have to clean up!" Really? I had never considered that.

Who is in Charge?

On Friday my husband was heading to work after a day of swimming, he told Adam Jr, "You are in charge!" Which I thought odd, since he is 5, doesn't drive, and you know...I am the mom/stepmom and I wasn't going anywhere, but he was so excited about being in charge, I decided to just go with it.

He spent the afternoon and evening reminding us all that he was in charge. "Its time to go, I am in charge." "Buckle your seat belts, I am in charge." Etc etc. Dinnertime was my favorite. The girls were fighting over who got to sit in the middle stool, and Adam replied, "I will sit in the middle because you two are fighting." Then it was make your own pizza night, and I gave Adam the toppings to distribute. He promptly handed them to Laney and then Ashely and said, "I will go last since I am in charge." When the girls asked if they could have Sprite for dinner (a big treat in our house because usually no soda at all), he glanced over at me. I noddedever so slightly, and he answered boldly, "Yes!" Cheers all around. Then when I brought over cups with ice the girls asked if they could drink right out of the can, again I slightly nodded, another "YES!" He was well on his way to nobility status at this point. Once dinner was over, Laney asked me to be excused from the table, I motioned to Adam and said, "Ask Adam." He quickly looked at her and said yes (which is better than the next day when she was in charge, she told everyone "Just try and eat two more bites" before they could be excused). The girls then asked if they could go across the street and play. Adam replied, "Only because you ate your dinner good. But wait, I have to come out on the porch and watch you cross the street."

The girls took turns being in charge the next two days. I highly recommend this experiment. It let me know what things we say and do and how they hear and see that. Also it was always fun to have whoever was in charge around to help clean up the mess in the kitchen. "These girls are messy," as Adam Jr. said!

Ahh...da da da da.

TJ has figured out that his 20+lbs also can make noises. So we have entered babbling, and it is great. The other day at dinner he said, and I quote, "AHHH...DADADADA...AH." And the kids immediately lit up, "He said DADA, he said DADA." Of course I was excited too, and Adam was beaming. Then Ashley looked up at me in her most serious look and said, "He must like daddy better than you. That's not very nice." And she glanced disapprovingly at TJ, as if he were the one that should be ashamed of himself for not liking his mommy as much as daddy. I sat there with my mouth wide open, wanting to reply, "Nu-Uh, No way!" But somehow that only made Adam laugh harder!

Better than the last time...

I made pork roast the other night. I even said to Adam when I put it in the crockpot (my favorite invention of all times, I own two and feel like a third would be helpful), I have never made pork roast before, I hope it turns out ok. So I googled a recipe and away we went. We all sat down to dinner that night ('like a family' as the kids would say) and began to eat. The kids commented, "This is good Jen. Is it a pig or cow?" Oh how I love discussing animal carcass while eating. "Its pork." I replied. They all nodded, "Its from a pig." Then, Ashley spoke up, as only Ash can, "This is REALLY good. I mean you don't even have to chew it like 100 times like we did the last time you made roast. This time it is REALLY GOOD." And somehow that didn't seem like a compliment even when followed by, "You are the best stepmother ever!"

Just like grandma Nancy

I gave the girls some golf shirts that my mom had gotten them the other day. Laney went running into her room to show Ashley, "Look Ashley, grandma Nancy got us shirts just like she always wears!" And they were right!!

Big hairs...

Today Adam Jr. came inside from playing in the sprinkler...Jen look I am growing big hairs on my arms...and my legs too.

I said, that is what happens as you get bigger.

He replied...Cool!

But when is Saturday night?

I was talking with Adam Jr. the other day. Here is how that went...

Me: We are going to free concert in the park on Saturday night.
Adam: When is Saturday night?
Me: That is tomorrow.
Adam: When is tomorrow?
Me: Its after we go to bed, and when we get up again it will be tomorrow.
Adam: And then we will go to the park for the concert?
Me: No, then we will go to Ashley's softball game.
Adam: And then to the park?
Me: Yes, after her game and after we eat dinner then we will go to the park?
Adam: Do we have to wash our hands after her game before we eat dinner?
Me: Yes
Adam: Why?

And on and on and on.... :)

Summer's Here

We spend so much of our time as parents and stepparents trying to teach kids the right things.

Be Kind
Be Safe
Dress Nicely
Stay Clean and Dry
Love each other
etc etc.

I think one thing I learned this last week is that it is just as important to teach them the other lessons in life. However, I must admit, the kids are the ones teaching me these days. I need to remember as mom and step mom...relax, this is going to be quite a ride!

So I have learned...

Be Safe...but take some chances in life

Dress Nicely...or at least really do it up right

Stay Clean and Dry...or dive in and enjoy the moment










Love each other...but always remember while you are doing that to have some fun!












Love,

The Ruschmans!

Sore Loser

Yesterday my son came in the room holding the Candy land box and looking sheepishly at me relaxing on the couch. I said, "Want to play?" and he broke out into a huge grin. We sat on the floor and began the game. I took a huge early lead by drawing an ice cream cone...and he began to pout. I said, "Are you going to be a sore loser or a graceful loser?" He looked at me over his pout and answered, "A sore loser!" The game continued. Apparently one should not get too confident in those early leads, because no sooner than I was knocking at victories door did I then draw the dreaded peppermint. This card took me nearly back to start. I moaned and groaned and threw my arms up in disgust. "Oh no, all the way backwards...how terrible I have to go almost all the way back to start. UGH!" My son then looked up at me, got up off the floor, walked over and gave me a hug and a kiss and said, "Don't be a sore loser, ok?" Thanks buddy for reminding me.

And that's the whole situation...

On Sunday Laney explained everything to us...

We were talking about getting married (because my sister moved in with her fiance and they were trying to figure out when they were getting married etc) and Laney explained to us:

"First you go to daycare, then you go to preschool, then you go to big school, then you go to middle school, then you go to high school, then you go to college, then you get married, then you have babies, and then you die. And that is the WHOLE situation."

The end.

" I Already Know..."

So, I pride myself on having clear rules, boundaries, and expectations with my kids. When we are on our way somewhere in the car we often go over, "Now how will I know you are behaving? What could you do that would be not behaving? etc" so we are all clear. Now, with summer upon us, the kids love to go to the ice cream shop on the corner (Schneider's--best ice balls in town). They behave great there...because they know if they do not, we won't go back.

Monday evenings are quite hectic for us. This past Monday I had TJ, Adam Jr, and Laney at Adam's T-Ball game. My husband is traveling out of town for work right now 4 days a week, so things can get a little hairy. As we left the T-Ball game (where we completed homework, had team pictures, and a successful TJ feeding) I was reviewing the expectations for when we got home with the kids. "When we get home we are going to get baths and get PJs on, then all sit down to eat dinner while I feed TJ, and then your mom will be here to pick you up in about an hour, ok?" As I was reviewing this for the third time (that no we were not going to be playing outside, and yes you can wear your PJs home to mommy's house) we were turning the corner by Schneider's Sweet Shop. Laney pipes in from the backseat...."Don't even tell me because I already know we are NOT going to get ice balls from Schneider's tonight." And the sad thing is...she was right. I guess I owe her one!!

I did not see that coming...

Ashley, my most challenging eight year old was sitting on the porch on Saturday pouting surrounded by doll babies. When I asked her what was wrong, she informed me, "I have nothing to do, I have no one to play with!" It was then I remembered that Daddy was at the store, and it was her sister Laney's turn to go to store with daddy, so here she was left behind on the porch. Well I was getting ready to do some baking (I am no Donna Reed, but sometimes I like to pretend). I said to Ashley, "If you have nothing to do, then please clean up all these baby dolls." She sighed loudly and began to stomp around picking up the dolls very dramatically. I responded, "And if you really have nothing to do then...(this is where I usually insert the 'you can help me clean' 'you can work on school work' or other such non-desirable task) then why don't you come in and help me bake some brownies!" Ashley has a new found love of baking and decorating cakes etc, so she was ecstatic. She looked up from the doll babies on the porch, looked at me smiling and said, "I did not see that coming!" And then I taught her the best part about baking brownies...is licking the bowl with your step mom. It was a great afternoon.

The rides at the zoo...

We have been to the zoo many times before. In fact, several times each year. Usually we purchase a pass. However, daddy and mommy are quite frugal (not cheap, but just frugal) and so we have never allowed the kids to ride the rides, yet when my parents would come once a year the kids were allowed. So you can see it was easy for me to convince the kids that you were only allowed to ride the rides when your grandparents were with you. This year, we sprang for the all inclusive pass, included unlimited rides. You can see that fun was had by all.

However, it wasn't until after the train ride that I realized, I am not sure the kids realized this ride rule was just for them. They seemed truly amazed that we could ride all the rides even without our grandparents being there. "Even without grandpa Tom?" little Adam inquired. Yes, the train will run with you on it, even without grandpa Tom!

The boys had a great day along with the girls, seeing the animals AND riding the rides.

But by the end, TJ was wiped out. And mommy realized based on this photo, that those sunglasses are not a good look for her. So...all in all a great outing!

All Grown Up

There are indicators everywhere in my household that the kids are growing up everyday.

This weekend Laney learned how to ride her big two-wheeler (she learned how to use the breaks instead of her feet to stop so she can ride bigger bike where she is off the ground more. trust me, its been a long time coming, this is a big accomplishment)

TJ learned how to roll over from his back to his belly. Now he sleeps on his belly for 10 hours a night. Both he and mommy are thrilled with this new development.

Ashley has a crush. She was telling her friends about her "prince charming" who also happens to be my older sister's boyfriend. When one of her friends said she also has a prince charming in her first grade class, Ashley replied, "oh yeah, well my prince charming is a GROWN UP!"

And Adam Jr. Well, he walked over to me Friday as I was nursing on the couch and wanted to sit down. I asked if he was going to go outside and play, and he responded that he just wanted to sit down on the couch with me and "just relax." I was watching HGTV. He looked up a few minutes later and said, "Can you turn on some golf?"

Wow, they are all grown up!

Spoiler Alert...

We were in the car the other day and Ashley asked, "Have you guys seen Marley and Me?" I said that we had not, but I really wanted to see it and had put it on our netflicks list to rent because it was PG and I thought we might be able to watch that like a family. I told her we should have it next weekend and we could all watch it together. She responded, "I saw it at mommy's...you know the dog Marley...at the end of the movie, she dies."

Worthwhile

Yesterday as we were getting ready for school, I was reminded of a time this fall when I learned that defining new words that we use with the kids may be important.

So on Monday Adam Jr. and I were working on tying his shoes (yes still working on it...I officially hate Velcro and it has been banned from our household, but I digress). The girls were in the other room and started bickering with one another. Adam looked up at me and said, "They are jacking around again." Ahh...and that takes me back.

In the fall we went to the pumpkin patch the week before Halloween. We had so much fun that time grew late and we decided to hit Wendy's drive thru for dinner. I promptly removed all the toys from the kids meals we ordered and handed the food filled bags back. The kids, of course, wanted to know what surprise was awaiting those that ate their dinner. I told them, "Don't worry about it and eat, trust me its a worthwhile surprise." Well Adam Jr. was the first to eat his dinner (or what he was going to eat of it) and he then asked for his toy. I handed back the dragonfly shaped toy. He shrieked with joy, "Its a worthwhile, its a worthwhile! I love worthwhile." A few minutes later when we asked him what he was doing in the backseat he proceeded to state, "Worthwhile jacks around." Adam Sr. and I laughed so hard I cried. And to this day, occasionally I will call up my husband and simply state, "Worthwhile jacks around!" And whatever might be happening that day, we suddenly understand the definition of worthwhile...sufficiently valuable to justify the investment of time or interest. Our family is definitely worthwhile.

A note from TJ

So I thought it best if I went ahead and wrote an entry for mom this week. Its been busy around the house with Daddy working out of town, and I think you should know what she has been up to.

First she decided since she was bored at home to begin to work on honing my skills. So, yes I am quite advanced for a four month old. I can almost sit up on my own. I can almost roll over. I am clearly destined for greatness. But really...Mozart at four months. I mean jeez mom I don't want to go to my piano lessons today.

I really look forward to every weekend when my brother and sisters come to stay for three nights, its the whole weekend, and I love that. We celebrated Easter last weekend too. I really was excited to have my first Easter celebration, even if I don't look like it.

Mom also keeps trying to feed me this cereal stuff. I mean, it doesn't look like cereal, it just looks like mush. Runny mush. And it doesn't smell great either. And yet every time she is shocked that I spit this out at her. I mean really, would she eat that? I am a growing boy, but I am not that desperate for nourishment.

That's all for now. I will let mommy continue to update you all, but just thought you might want to hear our side of the story!

Company Coming...

On Saturday I was sweeping our hardwood floors and Adam was upstairs vacuuming. Ashley came inside, looked at me quizzically and asked, "Are we having company tonight?" Having just returned from an entire day at the zoo I quickly answered, "No, we are not having company tonight. We are staying home and relaxing. Why?" She very matter of factly answered, "Because you are cleaning the whole house, I thought we only cleaned like that when we were having company." Oh I am so proud.

Wearing a helmet

I make the kids wear helmets when they ride their bikes. They are the only kids on the street that have to wear helmets, and it is pretty much the worst thing I can do to them on most days. Oh the wicked stepmother who doesn't want them to crack their heads open. Somehow Ashley decided that she did not need to wear a helmet if she was riding a scooter rather than her bike. I think she is somehow missing the point.

Musings from a Five Year Old

Yesterday I had the occasion to be alone in the car with Adam Jr. We began by discussing his day at school. Then a song came on the radio that we both liked. I began dancing in my seat a little, and he asked me to turn up the radio. He then began bouncing up and down, up and down (like he was riding a horse) and when I looked over he said, "See I am shaking my booty like you are." Makes me believe I don't look like I imagine I do while dancing, but I digress. So, I laughed at his booty shaking and went back to driving. He then noticed a poor animal on the road that had not made it across. He asked me, "What is that?" I replied that I thought it was a raccoon or possum that had not made it across the road. He looked and me and said, "Nope, it doesn't look like a raccoon. It is a baby kangaroo." I queried him, "A baby kangaroo, really, have you ever seen one of those in Kentucky?" He said, "Yes, I saw one on Winnie the Pooh." I stand corrected. Then when I asked again, "But do you think baby kangaroos live in Kentucky?" He looked out the window, then back at me and replied, "Did you know that they sell bouncy balls inside that store over there?" Apparently we had moved on.

Rotten Eggs...

So I am constantly trying to think of new and exciting ways to get the kids up and moving in the mornings. With Adam working out of town, and me alone on Mondays, this is much like herding turtles. This week I resorted to an old trick, after many attempts to light a fire under them, I announced, "The last one dressed is a rotten egg." It was opening day, and we were all wearing our Reds gear. I questioned Adam Jr. about if he was going to finish getting dressed. He came in to TJ's room to be sure that TJ was wearing the same outfit as him (reds jersey and jeans). I told him TJ was going to be the last one dressed. He then dutifully stands next to me with his little head sticking out of his shirt, but his arms not through. He tells me he won't finishing getting dressed until TJ is dressed because TJ shouldn't have to be the rotten egg. I think they are all too sweet to be rotten eggs. Back to the drawing board for this week.

Bath Time

I was giving TJ a bath last night. He is now four months old and LOVES baths, so I decided that we should add some toys to his bathtime ritual. I got a little plastic frog that squirts, and we were playing in his tub in the sink. I squirted him, and at first no response. He looked surprised. Shocked even. I thought, try it again, he just wasn't expecting it. So I filled up my frog and aimed, squirted him square in the belly. He smiled his huge smile, laughed, and then peed right at me. I guess he figured out the game!

Several times...

On Saturday we were outside eating a picnic lunch on the porch with the kids and their cousin Chloe. Somehow the topic of "being grounded" came up. Chloe was quick to tell all the kids that she has never been grounded. As background, I must mention that Ashley has what some call a strong personality. She has also tried her hand at such crafts as forgery and deceit. She is clearly one that has to learn some life lessons the hard way, but does learn them. So, as she was listening to all the kids weigh in on who has been and who has not been grounded, and for what offense this had happened, she sighed. She then said with her dramatic flair, "I have been grounded before. (long pause as her dad and I looked at her she added)....SEVERAL times." Guess that whole teaching her its better to tell the whole truth from the beginning worked...

Two brothers..two penises

So we were all trying to get baths on friday before daddy came home from work as a surprise. In an effort to entertain TJ more than to clean him, I decided to undress him and put him in the bath with Adam Jr. We had tried tummy time on the bath mat and other bath time games, and nothing was working. He loved it. He adores Adam and the feeling is mutual, so they were having a great time cuddling in the bath. I even let go long enough to snap a photo. Then the girls figured out that something was going on in the bathroom and came running in. Laney ran right up to the tub and exclaimed in her Laney way, "AHHH...TJ is in the bath with Adam." Ashley immediately inquired if TJ could bathe with her as well. Before I could answer, Laney took over. No, TJ cannot bathe with them. When Ashley pushed about why not, Laney answered matter of factly, "Because they have two penises. We don't have a penis." And then the girls left the bathroom, apparently satisfied that in the Ruschman household, a penis is the necessary ticket to bathing with the new baby.

Boogers and Birthdays

Seriously now, what is a blog from a mother of young children without a little potty humor. So yesterday was Laney's actual birthday. All evening we heard, "I get first piece of pizza because its my birthday." "I get to roll the dice first because its my birthday." "I get to sit here because its my birthday." You get the picture right. So, when we caught Ashley with her finger up her nose, I gently reminded her, "Please go to the bathroom and blow your nose, do not stick your finger up there and then put it in your mouth." Laney looked over at Ashley and said with all seriousness, "On my birthday...you would do that on my birthday. How gross." Apparently such a terrible offense on another day might be tolerable, but not on her birthday!

Pirates and Birthdays

Sunday we had Laney's 7th birthday party. We had quite the crew in the backyard. There were 15 neighborhood kiddos and between the huge crayola sidewalk chalk easel and every outdoor toy imaginable a good time was had by all. However, the most fun was the old stand-bys "duck-duck goose" and limbo with a broomstick. Who needs a clown or Chuck E. Cheese when you have a broomstick. After the party the kids were having a blast playing with their new pirate toys from cousin Kate. I took the opportunity to snap some photos of all four of them. How cute!