Laundry
Thanks to Kristen, who suggested adding OxiClean to boiling water. It worked! I soaked a turquoise t-shirt with a chocolate stain, a red and white dress with a mildew stain (it was forgotten under a pile of wet towels), a white t-shirt with an unknown food stain just below the collar and a yellow tank top with a blue marker stain. I had attempted to clean each of these items with several different methods and had almost given up. I’ll be boiling up a new batch tonight for another super-soak.
Soccer
Ding dong, soccer’s done! We’ve made it 13 weeks of going to the soccer field every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night. Lisa’s coach approached us last night about putting her into indoor soccer in the fall and winter (said she had natural talent – ahem). She also does Highland Dancing and swimming lessons, so I’ll have to check out what’s involved before I commit. We’re also trying to decide what activities Bart should do. There’s indoor soccer, hockey, karate, gymnastics… He doesn’t really have an opinion, so we’ll probably just pick whatever works best for our schedules (bad parents). Swimming lessons are a must.
Pools
I’ve mentioned that I am really nervous about water and pools. Well… Saturday, we went to a pool party for Lisa and Bart’s friends, sister and brother who were turning 6 and 4, respectively. Bart didn’t want to swim, which was fine by me, and Lisa did well without a life jacket, but I never took my eyes off the pool. After awhile all the kids were out of the pool and I relaxed a bit. I was talking to some of the other moms and I just instinctively looked in the pool and there was Bart, bobbing just below the surface of the water. I jumped right in, fully dressed, and lifted him out to another parent’s arms. He was very, very upset, but fine. He obviously wasn’t in there long and hadn’t swallowed any water. I, however, am suffering some kind of post-traumatic stress. That night I woke up at least 5 times in a panic and had a quick flash of my little boy in his Spiderman shirt in the water. I feel like I’m going to cry just writing this. Okay, now I am crying. I may have to burn that Spiderman shirt, because every time I see it, I flash back. I hate pools.
Shopping
I read too many blogs. The ones that make me the saddest are those that talk about great on-line deals at The Children’s Place and Old Navy and shopping at Target. Now I want to add Steve & Barry’s to my list, because I really want some Starbury shoes. These are not options up here in Canada. We have Children’s Place and Old Navy, but you can’t shop on-line. I just feel like my life would be more complete if I had the full array of shopping options. Perhaps I’ll try to enlist a friend or two to do some cross-border shopping.
Back to School
School starts again on Tuesday. Lisa will be entering grade 2 and Bart will start Junior Kindergarten. They will take the bus together in the morning and Lisa can take it home, but Bart will have to be picked up at 11:30 every day. We live too far away from the school to expect the nanny to walk to pick him up (she doesn’t drive and is pregnant), so it will have to be me or Homer, every day for the next 4 years (Bart is still on ½ days next year, then Maggie starts the year after that). Because the nanny will be on maternity leave after Christmas, we’ll need to make new childcare arrangements (the WORST part of parenting, bar none). I’m hoping to find someone close to the school who can take them all… wish me luck! Also on the BTS topic, I’ll be baking up a storm this weekend making healthy, freezable school snacks (muffins, breads, squares, etc.) I’ll be trolling the blogs looking for good recipes, so post ‘em if you’ve got ‘em!
Man, I was chatty today!
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12 comments:
I can't imagine how terrified you feel about Luke and the pool incident. Too scary for words. By all means, burn the shirt, ban all the children from anything deeper than the bathtub. Do whatever it takes.
My heart and anxieties go out to you.
Okay, I think you just made my decision for me. My husband and I have been going back and forth on whether or not to enroll our 10 month old in the Infant Swimming Resource program. It's the one where they teach babies and toddlers to roll over onto their backs and float if they fall into the water. It costs a small fortune. But I think we're going to do it. SO glad Luke is okay!!
Burn shirt and require floaties within sight of any body of water. ANYTHING for peace of mind. Well, relative peace of mind--I can't stand the whole water thing either.
This issue distracted me from the startling and sad news about no Old Navy or TCP online where you are. WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN??
I wonder if the oxyclean would work on a mildew stain that has already been washed and dried. Sadly, the famous "crabby tee" was lost under some wet towels in our hamper. Cait wore it once and I never got a picture.
Did you do it right on the stove?
I'm a terrified of the kids and water too, even in the bath tub.
and oh, I'll give you my easy banana muffin recipe. The kids LOVE them.
and P.S. I'm glad Luke is ok, my heart was in my throat reading about it. Definitely burn the shirt
Sounds so scary, so glad your boy is okay. I am nervous around the water too, so I am glad we have taken the kids to the pool so much (like 1 or 2 times a week) that they are all comfortable and the big ones swim well.
Glad the 'magic' stain solution worked so well for you, my gf speilmom told me about that. I am often too lazy to do it though:)
Oh Sara, I do it on my stove, but just bring the water to the almost boiling point, turn off burner, take the pot off the burner and be prepared that when you add the oxy it will boil over. (makes your stovetop nice and clean;) much less mess if you put the pot in the sink first. Or boil a kettle and put the water in a bowl or bucket.
Sara - my mildew stain was old, washed, rewashed, treated, laid in the sun and washed again, so do try it on the crabby shirt. I added boiling water to a pail, added the oxy, then the clothes and stirred it up with a wooden spoon. I let it sit all day, then added it to my wash. And mmmm... banana muffins. Here's a question: why don't they sell banana mash in a jar or can for baking? Bananas never go bad in my house, so I have to hide some for baking.
JMC - Luke has been to swimming lessons since he was just over a year (we have a backyard pool, so swimming lessons are not optional). I think that if they are startled by falling in, though, all those lessons go out the window.
Oh gosh, that's awful that you had to go through that. So freaking scary. I'm sorry! I hope you're okay. If it's any consolation, the exact same thing happened to my friend's 4-year-old. I was in the pool when it happened. It happened so quickly and quietly. We hardly noticed! He was fine. Just nervous. Just reminding you that it's not your fault -- it happens to many parents. ((hugs))
That's scary about Luke. I'm soooo glad your mothering instincts kicked in. Be proud of yourself.
I'm with you on the swimming lessons. A must.
ok the, I'm trying it. TODAY!!
That pool story is SCARY.
And yes: there is NO online shopping in Canada! I always resort to ordering from Sears.
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