Whole House Nap (and other goodness!)

Yesterday was just a great day.  

It started with an incredible in-service at school.  I am feeling very fortunate right now.  Our time together consisted of "nuts and bolts" kinds of things and concluded with a very inspiring, thought provoking conversation about Social Studies curriculum.  It was great to talk about our strengths and then reflect on what we can do better.  What am I taking from this?  I don't need to prove myself all the time.  My program is about exploration and discovery - learning through interest, experimentation..... I came to realize that when an "outsider" is with us (a parent, another teacher, head of school), I really prompt the children to talk about what we're learning.  I give them cues and direct them to say what I think everyone wants to hear.  This directly contradicts how I teach!!!  Upon more reflection, I realized that I am doing that for myself.  So everyone knows that I'm doing my job!  What does that matter?  Are the students doing their job??  YES!  Do they need to "perform" and "recite" to prove anything?  NO!!  I really need to let go of the feeling that I need to prove myself and just allow the children to prove themselves.  Working at Greenwood has been (and continues to be) such an uplifting journey....

After lunch with some WONDERFUL teachers, I headed to Big Lots.  I almost always start my shopping here, looking for discounted organic and natural snacks, cereals and other foods.  Yesterday was a winner of a deal day!  I found a $200 Cuisinart Bread Maker for (drum roll........) 29.99!!!!  Woot!!!!!  

Then I came home and had a quick snack with my lovelies.  Every once in a while, we are blessed with what we call a "Whole House Nap."  I decided that this chilly afternoon was perfect for one.  So we headed upstairs and climbed into my bed - all 4 of us - to settle for a nap.  After some negotiation about who would lay by me, an offer for a movie and last minute adjustments, we were ready.  We watched A Bee Movie, snuggled and chatted.  I loved hearing the kids talking to each other - actual real conversation!  Zeki was going on about how he would have a turn next to mommy after Ayla was done and moved.  And then "of course," Aydin would have a turn.  Ayla talked about playing with Mimi until I got home and now snuggling with Aydin and Zeki was "just so nice."  And Aydin was busy counting how many people were in the bed, starting with himself counted 1-2-3 and before he counted me for 4, he started again, with me as 1 and ending with himself as 4, "because I'm 4, you know!"  

We slept until Erol got home!!

So, yeah.....a great day.......

Here We Go Again!

Ok, it's been 10 months since I started this.  And it was not very successful.  I'm going to try again!  (Thanks to E who suggested this re-start!  :)

Since my last post, we have traveled to Australia, Canada and Massachusetts.  I have left Head Start - a bitter sweet move - and I'm now working part-time at a Quaker school.  Aydin is in my class.  It is glorious!!  :D  Most recently, I became a Pampered Chef Consultant.  I am excited to make this business work!  My mom has been living with us since April.  My mother-in-law visited for 3 months.  My brother-in law surprised us from Germany to join us on our Mass vacation.  LOTS happening!

So, a recap of what this is all about.  Our family.  Our team.  Being a working mom.  Refinishing a house.  Funny (and not so funny) anecdotes.  Life.  :)  I think my main goal is to journal for my children, so they have these wonderful stories to carry with them - share with their future families.

I'll close with some classic Ayla.....

Ayla: "Mommy, can I eat my boogies?"
Me:  "No, Ayla."
Ayla:  "Oh.........Mommy?  I need a tissue!"

Thank God Only One Can Be a Girl

So, when I was pregnant with A & Z and we had the ultrasound to determine their sex, the tech said, "Baby B is definitely a boy!"  To which I responded, "Thank God only one can be a girl!!" 

It's no secret that I'm a mom who wants to raise boys.  I still jokingly say I'm not happy to have a daughter.  Of course, I love Ayla.  There's just more to worry about with a girl....anyway.....

Tonight, I was cooking dinner and Ayla pulled the stool over to the stove saying, "Cook, Me!  Cook, Me too!"  And so we made some nice Medeterranean chicken together.  We chattered back and forth about the hot stove and sharp knives, both of which can be "Ouchie."  Then she sprinkled some seasonings and stirred tomatoes and I mentioned that there were no boys helping tonight.  She kept saying, "No boys cook.  Me cook and Mommy too!"  It was nice to have that time with just her, and I thought about how we'll have that more and more as she grows older.  I'm starting to warm up to the idea of a daughter and special moments we'll share......

.......especially when I went upstairs to check on the boys and found them both completely naked, jumping on my bed. 

Trying out this BLOG Thing :)

I have decided to start blogging funny (and sometimes not so funny) annectodals that we have here in our home on a daily basis!  My hope is to provide entertainment for those "following" but also to have a record of great things my kids do and say, which I'll be able to give them someday when they're big bad grown-ups and we can all look back and realize just how great these times are!!  :D

So, some backround....Team Bmez consists of my husband Erol, myself (Jenn) and our 3 children.  Our son Aydin (pronounced I-den) turned 3 in September.  Ayla (I-lah) and Zeki are girl/boy twins who will be 2 in February.   I'll help those of you trying to do the math....that's 3 kids in 17 months!!  :D  We live in a rural part of Pennsylvania in a home that we started gutting in May of last year, completed gutting and made liveable by the end of that July and continue to work on now.  It's sometimes a nightmare, but overall rewarding....so rewarding. 

Rules that apply to mostly me, but all who contribute - spelling and grammer do not count!!  E would pick this to pieces, I'm sure.....pointing out all the incorrect comma placements, but if I stop to think about that junk, I lose my train of thought and I'd rather have an accurate presentation of my stories, rather than accuracy in grammer!!  SO JUST TYPE!!  :D 

Not sure where to go from here, but will possibly update again tonight with a story or 2.  Hope people actually read this!!  :D