The other night I woke from a sound sleep to my son, crying… it was a little after 3am. I went into the kid’s room and he was sitting up in his crib, in tears, asking, “Where is my dinosaur shirt?”

Huh?

“What dinosaur shirt?” I asked, already sensing it was a silly question.
Earlier that day we had received a big box of clothes, hand-me-downs all for his sister. He had asked if he could have several of the items as I held up pink flowered shirts and sparkly purple dresses… so I had started to explain that they were meant for girls and then, realizing I was careening toward gender stereotypes I didn’t want to necessarily shove onto my son at age two, I ended up saying that of course he could have some, as I put the box away.

Does he want to wear pink flowers? Perhaps… but when he refused to wear pants I did ask if he would prefer a dress and he said no. I wasn’t being sarcastic when I asked I was genuinely interested to hear his response… I saw the 20/20 episode on transgendered kids – if he feels strongly about pinks and purples he can go there, but it wasn’t about that. He just wanted to get some stuff too.

So as he sobbed over what I assume was a dream about his dinosaur shirt (which was in the washer, wet) I grabbed a sweater with dinosaurs on it and asked him if it would do. He pointed to a stegosaurus appliqué and exclaimed, “Yes, Mommy yes!!”
So I put the sweater on over his PJs and tucked him in, contented.

About an hour later, I woke to the sound of my daughter crying. I went into the room and she was holding up her hand, crying saying, “My thumb is broken.”

This one had me stuck for a moment. I looked at the thumb, asked her to move it and she wiggled it a bit, I kissed it, but still she was saying something about it not being right. She seemed so scared and upset that I squinted harder in the night light glow and tried to straighten it. It would not straighten. The top of her thumb had somehow popped out of joint!

Another minute went by as I got over my horror and realized how terrifying that must be to her. I held her hand in one hand and her thumb in my other and slowly but firmly pulled the thumb apart a bit and ‘pop’, the bone went back to its spot in the joint. She stopped crying and after inspecting it said happily, “Thank you Mommy, you fixed it!”

When I was (a lot) younger than I am now… I was at my grandma’s house and my cousins were visiting. One couple had two young daughters, and I remember the two year old requesting a ketchup sandwich for dinner. After some negotiation and fussing, they did in fact give her a ketchup sandwich, and I remember being a bit offended by it. Any new college grad who is single and exploring vegetarianism could relate, I mean, that is just so gross right?

I am chagrined now to admit that I ever even judged a couple, hundreds of miles from home with two young kids just trying to make it through an evening with extended family. Now I know, whatever works and keeps them happy can be A-Okay for one night.

My own children love ketchup. And as they refuse more and more vegetables each month, I find myself thinking, ‘hey, it is made of tomatoes, it must somehow count as a vegetable’.

A recent article in the New York Times cited a few critical items to go organic on when forced to choose. Ketchup was, I think, number one. The author said, simply, when you have young children who want to really pour it on, spend the bit extra for organic and let them – it will make everyone happier and healthier.

Here’s to you then, as I squirt the fourth helping of organic ketchup onto my child’s plate. We didn’t get a nap today and we only have an hour to bedtime.
Dinner is served!

Well, my kids finally got to wear their 2007/2008 snow pants today… and they are almost outgrown. We got some sledding in though, and while my daughter is no speed demon, they both had a great time - followed of course, by hot chocolate.
Another month and the pants probably would not have fit at all. However, as I only paid $3 for each pair, I don’t feel badly about the lack of wear. You can’t tell by looking, and they are just as warm as the new ones people spent $60 for off the rack.

You see, some people do have the means to purchase whatever they desire for their bundles of joy. However, the rest of us, especially the SAHs, have to muster most of our organizational mojo to dress our sweethearts in a style most becoming our favorite fashions. If you have never looked on Ebay for kids clothing or toys, I suggest you take a gander… you can get just about anything there, and it’s fun to see what’s around.
Books and videos go in lots – boxes representing some family’s entire outgrown collection for $10. People also sell children’s clothing in lots by Size… sometimes you can get a few choice items you’d have paid the total price for anyway, and along with it a year’s supply of extra play clothes.

Planning ahead isn’t always easy when it comes to kids who can change sizes virtually overnight, but I think if you can get it all at a bargain, then even if you have to go out and get a few things to make it through the end of a season you still come out way ahead- and most importantly you get to really enjoy what they wear.

So, as winter marches on, the Spring and Summer clothing sales begin to line up. I already went through the closets and boxes to get an estimate of what items are on my must have list… then, I combine sales, thrift stores and Ebay to get everything we need for the coming season. You should have a good grasp of designers, to know whether you are paying those two dollars for a $50 outfit or for an $8 one, but most of all you need to keep an eye out for what you love, and grab it before anyone else does!

Here are some sales to mark on your calendars:
(…and if you happen to know of others, please comment with them!)

Spring Chicken Kids Consignment Sale
Friday, Feb. 29 from Noon - 7pm and
Sat. Mar 1 from 8am - 2pm at the Armenian Matryrs Congregational Church
100 N. Edmonds Ave, Havertown.


Plymouth Meeting Friends School annual Gently Used Kids' Clothing Sale Everything $1-$5 Saturday 3/1/08 9:00-1:00 2150 Butler Pike (Corner of Butler and Germantown Pikes)


Not really a budget event but there is a Moms and Moms-2-Be expo on March 1st at the Goshen Fire Company in West Chester from 10:00-1:00, local vendors will have products and services for Moms and Moms-2-Be.


Main Line Mothers of Multiples Club Clothing Exchange
Saturday, March 1, 2008NOTE: In the event of inclement weather on Saturday, February 23rd, we must move our sale to March 8th.
Time: 10AM - 1PM for the General Public
Location: Russell Elementary School2201 Sproul Road (Rt. 320) in Broomall, PA

HUGE COZY TOTS KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE
Spring - Summer SALE: Saturday March 8, 2008 8am - 2pm Sunday, March 9, 2008 11am - 2pm (Sunday is 50% off sale day) CASH ONLY - RAIN OR SHINE - FREE ADMISSION - FREE PARKING at The Bryn Athyn Church Elementary School 600 Tomlinson Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009


(My Favorite!)
Chester County Mothers of Multiples Clothing and equipment sale
Saturday, March 29, 2008
9:00am til Noon
Located at: United Sports Training Center
1426 Marshallton – Thorndale Road, Downingtown, PA
www.ccmomc.org

Kool Kids Sale
March 29th and 30th, 2008 Located in Tullytown, PA Visit our web site at http://www.KoolKidsSale.com

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH - L’il Angels Consignment Sale313 Main Street, Hulmeville, PA 19047 (Bensalem Twp)
Friday, April 4th: 9 AM - 8 PM (Open to the public) Saturday, April 5th: 9 AM - 12 PM (Open to the public; Select items are 1/2 price)
TREASURED TWICE CONSIGNMENT SHOPPE ONE DAY EVENT - SATURDAY, APRIL 5th--9:30AM - 2:00PM CHURCH ON THE MALL, PLYMOUTH MEETING MALL Visit www.freewebs.com/treasuredtwice for more information and money saving coupons

Kids Kloset Swap Spring 2008 Sale
Saturday March 29th 8am-1pmSunday March 30th 8am-noon (Half Price)Central Bucks Senior Citizens Center700 N. Shady Retreat RoadDoylestown

Today is grocery shopping day. I put it off as long as I could; last night’s meal was concocted from things found in the freezer and a can of soup, and I even made banana bread so we would have something new for breakfast. This banana bread recipe, by the way, is really pretty tasty and not all bad for you:
½ C. butter
½ C. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
¾ tsp. baking Soda
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ C. mashed bananas (about 3)
¼ C. honey
2 large eggs
2 C. whole wheat flour
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, pour batter in 9 X 5 greased pan, rest at room temp for 10 minutes after pouring, then bake for 50 minutes uncovered, cover with foil and bake 10 more minutes.

When I was in the last month of pregnancy with the twins, I could barely drive a car, or walk more than a few feet at a time, so I started having groceries delivered by Acme. I continued with them until the kids were about four months old and I highly recommend this service. Even to give you a break during a particularly hectic week, the $9 service charge is easily justified as it balances out against the items you get on impulse when actually in the store.

A few months ago after a double child melt down in the cereal aisle and an abandoned shopping cart half full of groceries, I resumed Acme delivery until we had gotten over that particular stint of terrible two-ness. Now, (when I say now, I mean the last two trips… it can turn on a dime) my kids are more eager to please, and so I let them ‘help’ me by fetching an orange, or carrying a shopping bag.

A word about shopping bags: I bought six reusable bags at Giant last fall and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Every store has them now, usually for sale at the checkout, and they are the greatest thing next to home grocery delivery. I cannot describe the dread I used to feel watching the bagger place one item into each plastic bag, filling my cart with about 50 individual bags or more that I was somehow supposed to carry into my house along with two small children. I started begging for paper/plastic combos, but still I had a lot of trips and several broken bags to contend with in the driveway while my children sat either unattended inside or screaming in their car seats.

The reusable bags hold three times what a combo bag does, and they don’t break. They have handles and they stand upright in the van. Not only are they environmentally friendly, they are far and above a better way to go.

I know groceries are way up in price… and I have tried to cut back on things like extra chips or non-essentials in order to keep us somewhere in range of budget. But there are a few things I won’t give up. Like what I promise as a reward now for a successful trip to the store is what I call ‘squishy fruit’. It is organic smooshed fruit by FruitaBu (http://www.stretchislandfruit.com/about.html). We like strawberry, and it is just pureed fruit in a packet that they can suck out – making it both a snack and an activity. They LOVE them. For myself, an essential luxury includes soup and noodle bowls from Annie Chun’s – her pad thai is excellent, the udon a refreshing break from left over PB&J - and each take only 2 minutes to make. That's clutch.
So as soon as I can convince my son to wear pants, we'll be off to shop.

Wish us luck!

So, the weather is less than temperate but we haven’t had a decent sledding snow day yet this winter. What do you do with kids who have had it with puzzles and DVDs?

Here are a few local places where they can really unleash some energy, while you can still remain warm and dry…

Swingsets Direct - There is one located in Downingtown in the shopping center off of Quarry Road. They offer a giant back indoor bouncy castle and moon bounce area for $5 a person for 2 hours.. . also includes ride on toys and picnic benches to seat parents while kids get their ya yas out. http://www.buyswingsetsdirect.com/stores.html

Bounce U - $ 8.50 a head. http://www.bounceu.com/cities/exton/open-bounce.htm

Bette’s Family Fun center, West Chester, $7 a child, (closed on Tuesdays). http://www.bettesfuncenter.com/direct.htm

Moonbounce Adventures, West Chester, http://www.moonbounceadventures.com/

Oasis Family Fun Center - http://www.oasisfamilyfun.com/ (a little further south)

The Jumping Monkey, in West Chester

Iceline - http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/pa/ice_line_skating_rink_arena_west_chester_pa.cfm, remember how much fun ice skating is?

Palace Bowling – Take them bowling! http://www.palacebowling.com/

And here is a great list of sites and activities you can plan on in months ahead:
http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/browse/neighborhood.jsp?area=15758

In an effort to teach my two almost three year olds the concept of time and its current organizational construct, I drew up a calendar on the white board of our art easel. In each square day, I try to draw a symbol or write the name of a friend we will see, and as we mark off days, then we discuss how last Tuesday we saw our friend so-and-so, and then the day after that we went over to grandma’s house. I am hoping that a better grasp of the concept will avoid conversations like this one:
Mom: “Hey guess what? Tomorrow we are going to go play with grandma, won’t that be fun?”
Kids: (running for coat rack) “Yay! Let’s go!”
Mom: “Uhm, no, wait a sec guys… that’s tomorrow. First we have to have dinner and a bath and put PJs on and then go to sleep, then we wake up and THEN we can go to grandma’s.”
Kids: “NO! I don’t want to go to sleep! I want to go to grandma’s!”
Mom: “No… it’s not bedtime yet…we’re going tomorrow…oh man… uhm… anyone want a fruit bar?”

So Thursday is marked with a big red heart. This morning in my email I received a little meme poll asking me to choose what my favorite thing is about Valentine’s Day. I was a bit taken aback when my top pick answer was “could care less”. Well, that and “chocolate”. Now, that isn’t true, IS IT? I thought to myself, cancelling out of participating at all as it might incriminate me as having lost all romantic sensibilities. I love my husband, we haven’t lost the spark… we just function on a lower voltage after a long day with job and kids. Is that so wrong?

Last year on Valentine’s Day, I think it snowed… so my husband and I mutually decided to cancel our reservation at Gilmore’s and we got some crab legs from the Acme. We had a nice candle lit dinner at home after the kids were in bed. But this year, I have to admit, I am conflicted. Getting seafood means clean-up afterward. Kids in bed at seven… dinner… clean up… will we be done in time for Survivor? It IS Thursday after all… the one and only evening of the week that we actually want to watch the same shows on TV. Would it be terribly uncouth to drink bubbly while listening to the recap of how Johnny Fairplay got sent home? And as I think this, part of me, the part who has had pretty fabulous Valentine’s in the past, the part who spent years not watching TV at all, shudders…who IS this Mommy who would rather watch the budget and the boob tube than dress up and drive somewhere and show off her boobs?

But the thing is, about Valentine’s Day; it feels like I am supposed to WANT something. And the toughest part of staying at home with these small children is that you can’t think that way. If you spend too much time thinking about what you want, personally, you can get terribly depressed… or perhaps that’s just me? But I know when we all watch Finding Nemo, again, I have to admit that I really would rather be watching the Travel Channel or Iron Chef. And when we are sitting in the McDonald’s playland, I can think of several other lunches I would prefer to be gnoshing on.
But it isn’t a big deal.
That’s the thing.
Time marches on. And I don’t think it is unreasonably optimistic to think that there will be plenty of Valentine’s Days to come, and plenty of time to go out once the budget is more stable, and the kids are more portable and more easily babysat. And when my son comes over to me and says, “Mommy, you are my best friend,” I think maybe it is me who needs to relearn her conceptions of time, and simply enjoy this before it is over.

When I turned thirty, I was living in Seattle with a man who never wanted children, and until then, I was OK with that. We had an exciting life filled with travel and new restaurants, live music and good friends. When we split up, I realized that the yearning I felt for a family also included the one I had left behind here in Pennsylvania. I packed it all up and moved back to be near my parents and to start a new life hopefully with deeper roots and more home cooked meals. Today I live in Downingtown and am the mother to a boy and a girl, twins who are about to turn three, and my life has transformed in more ways than I ever believed possible.

As newsletter editor for the Chester County Mothers of Multiples Club, I have access to a wonderful network of people who are raising children in Chester County, PA. And when you have multiple, same-aged children, it becomes crucial that you know everything you can about how to entertain them without breaking the bank, what you can feed them that they will agree to eat, and how to save a few bucks in the meantime. Here I will try to share some of this information and offer a little companionship to those going through the too often mind-boggling experience of being a parent. Welcome, and I hope you will continue to join me.