7 Quick Takes: Hurtling over Niagara Falls Edition

--1--

Boo started climbing in and out of his crib in earnest last weekend, so I finally gave up and put his crib away.  I already had a mattress for him since I had bought it earlier this summer when he first climbed out, so it was just a matter of pulling it out and putting it on the floor by Piglet's mattress.  Bedtime is going okay, although the first night Boo wandered around for a half an hour in the dark and then started crying because he couldn't find his bed.  Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.  Naptimes, on the other hand, have been awful.  He either stands at the door banging on it and yelling at me to let him out, or he wanders around in the dark causing mayhem.   Yesterday, he pulled my favorite Krygyz sherdak off the wall and spent the afternoon filling his diaper.  I'm hoping today will go better, because seriously, this kid needs to sleep during the day.

--2--

Last Saturday we went to the Renaissance Faire, which is held near Hershey, PA.  The trip out was a little frustrating as we missed our exit due to a combination of road work, screaming kids, and absent-mindedness, and had to go 19 MILES before the next exit to turn around.  Oh, and it was 93 degrees with 90% humidity outside.  We do know how to pick them!  But we had a mostly good time, and we left well ahead of melt-down time, which was good.  

--3--

On the downside, Piglet got stung by a bee as we were leaving (the Faire is held on the grounds of a winery, so there are lots of bees around).  On his face.  On the upside, he doesn't appear to be allergic to bee stings!  He handled it all very well, especially given all his sensory issues, and hardly cried at all.  We got him some ice, and he did try to milk it for all it was worth, but mostly he was fine.  

--4--

I'm so glad that school started on Wednesday!  (Except for the return of the dreaded preschool pick-up, which I don't love).  I had run out of ways to entertain all three kids (and given their ages, it was tricky to find things they could all do at once), and frankly, Piglet was bored and starting to find little ways to make trouble.  Not enough to burn the house down, but just enough to make me fear for my sanity.  Because whatever Piglet does, you can be sure Boo will follow.  And what might be a small naughtiness from one boy will quickly escalate in to large and uncontrolled chaos from both boys.  I'm also struggling to find consequences that mean something to Piglet, because that is what we have found to be effective discipline for him.  But usually the consequences have to be large (i.e. you can't go to the monastery with Papa this weekend, or we won't go play at the Nest) and have a hugely negative effect on me too (i.e. I'm stuck at home with three manic, fighting, crying children in a small space)  I wish it was as easy as taking away his loveys, but honestly, that doesn't seem to make a dent.  I have this fantasy that we are going to find the magic bullet of consequences so that I have something specific to threaten him with every time he is naughty or thinking about naughtiness.  (I know, I know, I sound like one of those squishy parents who can't discipline their children--honestly, I'm not!!  I promise!!  It's just hard with an almost-five-year old with sensory issues who can move around the house at will.)  Le sigh.

--5--

On Tuesday, I lost a few years off my life when Boo fell down the escalator at Cherry Hill mall.  We were there killing some time, and the fountain wasn't on yet (we were going to throw pennies in), so I was letting the boys ride the up and down escalators for a while.  I was following Boo with Birdie in the stroller, and Piglet was starting to get manic, so I said, last ride!  I could tell Boo was about to start trying to walk up and down the steps like Piglet, and he most assuredly is not steady enough for that mess.  Well, long story short (I know, too late), Boo got ahead of me, and then tripped, fell head first down several steps and lay there.  

--6--

I have this recurring dream where something terrible is happening, and I'm trying to scream with all my might, and nothing is coming out except this squeaky little breathy noise (in the same dream, I'm also trying to run toward or away from something awful, depending, and my legs keep moving in slow motion despite my best efforts).  So it turns out, I can scream really really loud when the situation calls for it.  As soon as I saw Boo fall, I screamed and screamed and screamed, left Birdie in the stroller up on the landing between the escalators with Piglet and went running down after Boo.  I picked him up, and while he was upset about the fall, he was mostly unhurt--just a few bumps and bruises.  Thank God for small mercies.  

--7--

I've been waiting until Piglet was old enough to handle longer stories to order A Hive of Busy Bees, and decided this week it was time.  Thanks to lovely Amazon Prime shipping, we got it Wednesday, and have been reading a chapter each night.  Turns out the second chapter is about bee stings--perfect!  My grandpa read this to my mom as a child, and to me when I was little, so it is fun to pass this tradition forward and have my children (hopefully!) learn a few virtues in the process.  Tonight?  Bee Obedient.  How timely!

Bonus: 

My Faux Patina card!  I've been playing around with the technique this week whilst designing stamp camp cards, and I really like it!!  This card is much prettier in person, but I think you get the general idea.  The only thing I changed was to use a crumb cake base, as it gave the finished panel a deeper, more aged look. A very vanilla or whisper white base works, but the overall effect is slightly different.  Crumb cake cardstock also saves the step and mess of having to brayer your emboss folder (which I always find gives uneven results anyway).  Want to learn how to make it?  Come to stamp camp next weekend!  (Registration details are on the link).

Go see Jen for more quick takes!