Today I Feel Silly

This is one of Molly's favorite books.

Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis:

oThe first page reads:

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Today I feel silly.

Mom says it's the heat.

I put rouge on the cat

and gloves on my feet.

I ate noodles for breakfast

and pancakes at night.

I dressed like a star

and was quite a sight.

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Every time we read this page, we say things like, "Hey, we should do that," or "Man, wouldn't it be fun to do that?" or "Ya know, tomorrow let's do that," or "We really need to remember to do that."

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Last week, we finally did it. Well, not the rouge on the cat and gloves on the feet part, but we did do the eating and dressing up part. And coincidentally, it was a really hot day. Lucky us!

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For breakfast, I whipped up a big bowl of ramen noodles, some turkey, pineapple and broccoli:

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And for dinner it was Molly's special sprinkle pancakes, scrambled eggs and cantaloupe. Of course dressing like a star was required. (Star attire was even worn to our local Dairy Mart/Gas Station when we went out for frozen yogurt after dinner. The things you do for your kids!)o

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In case you are wondering what the heck special sprinkle pancakes are, here's a picture:

oTrust me, the look a whole lot more appetizing in person.

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Unfortunately this fun food page is not Molly's favorite of the book. Her favorite reads:

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Today I am angry. You'd better stay clear.

My face is all pinched up

and red ear to ear.

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She practices this one almost daily. Go figure.

Good Girl Chart

Alrighty, I started this post almost 2 weeks ago. It was supposed to be about the effectiveness of Good Girl Chart. But then something went wrong. Terribly wrong.

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You see, Molly was having some behavior issues. She was basically being mean, especially to me. So I whipped up a Good Girl Chart.

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lMolly is very motivated by stickers and rewards so if a behavior is getting out of control, a few weeks with the Good Girl Chart and things are as right as rain. And it worked again this time...for the first week. See:

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I was busy patting myself on the back for being an effective parent when things started heading south. Last week, Molly's behavior began to deteriorate: meltdowns, tantrums, screaming all day long. I don't know how so much ugliness could come out of something so cute.

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No Good Girl Chart on the planet was going to change this behavior. In fact, the chart had so many sad faces on it by Wednesday that I threw it away. Obviously not working! What the heck was wrong?

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On Friday I got my answer. Molly was sick. She tossed her cookies, started coughing and got big circles under her eyes all in an hour's time. I was relieved. NOT that she was sick, of course, but that the horrible behaviors were connected to something tangible and not the start of the terrible threes (my greatest fear).

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Since Molly has been sick, I've received lots of hugs, kisses and I love yous. She's actually been quite pleasant, in a pathetic sort of way. We are doing everything we can to make her feel comfortable and she seems to be getting better. Hopefully after she recovers, the sweet Molly will remain with us!

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Here are some pics from the past few weeks for your viewing pleasure...

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Each day that Molly received 3 or more stickers on her Good Girl Chart, she got to a reward. Hmmm, what to use as a reward? Molly's cousin Allison handed down a princess dress up box a long time ago. I am not a big fan of princesses (no offense to all of you princess lovers out there) so kind of forgot that I had it in the basement. But desperate times call for desperate measures so I hauled it up and used it for a reward. Each night for 30 minutes Molly could select 1 princess outfit to wear.

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Here's Cinderella:And Snow White: And Sleeping Beauty:

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A few unrelated pictures of our recent trip to the zoo. A special treat...Daddy got to join us!

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And finally a few shots of Molly looking cute in a new dress that was sent to her by Aunt Shell. Molly was so excited to get a surprise package in the mail. Thanks Sis, you made my kid's day!

I Hate Fridays

It's only Monday and I am already dreading Friday. I hate Fridays.

Why, you ask? Easy, I can sum it up in two words: trash trucks. Trucks, as in plural. More than one. Four to be exact. There is (1) the actual garbage truck, (2) the aluminum and glass recycling truck, (3) the cardboard recycling truck, and (4) the truck that collects grass clippings. They all come on Friday.

I hear you thinkin' to yourself, "What's the big deal? Does Teri hate to take the trash to the curb that much?" Oh, if it were just that easy, my friends.

You see, the trucks start to arrive at o'dark thirty in the morning. Not a problem for me. I am already up and the trash has been taken to the curb on Thursday night (usually by my dear, sweet husband). Nope, not a problem for me.The problem is with my daughter.

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The first trash truck to arrive always wakes Molly up. This elicits a scream response followed by loud wailing tears on her part. At this point, I am forced to go running into her bedroom to help divert the crisis. Typically, I am right in the middle of a shower when said scream occurs. Joy.

Now, Molly is not screaming because the trash truck woke her from a sound slumber. She is screaming because the trash man is collecting our trash without her being present to witness it. Lifting up her bedroom window shade so that she may view the event is not acceptable. She must view the trash collection from the downstairs window. So, I grab the wailing child and dash downstairs, deposit her on the couch and proceed to open the blinds.

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Remember how I said that the scream typically interrupts my shower? Well, you can probably guess what I am wearing: a towel...if I am lucky. And now I must pull open the blinds with the threat of being viewed by the trash guy. Goody.

If we are lucky enough to make it downstairs in time to watch the trash guy collect our refuse and toss it into his truck, we just may have a decent morning. If we miss this event, our morning is shot to heck. I have a crabby, sulking child until lunch time.

One would think that having four trucks come around would offer Molly four chances to see garbage being collected. She should be able to see at least one of the four. That should make her happy. Oh, no. She knows that there are four trucks and she must see each and every one in order to restore balance to her life. So I stay wrapped up in my towel (if I am lucky) for the next hour until all trucks have made their rounds.

Molly doesn't have a thing for garbage trucks. She never points them out on the road, nor does she get excited when she sees them at other locations within or outside of our neighborhood. It has something to do with the fact that the trash man is collecting our trash. I don't know how that makes it special but somehow it does. And if we are not there to see it, life ain't pretty in our household. Weird, just plain weird.

TGIF? Whatever. I hate Fridays.