May 3, 2008

Whoa, it's magic

If I had know the wii has magic powers we may have gotten one sooner.

Spell #1: I was making dinner tonight and Karsten wanted to play the wii. I told him if he put away all the toys he and his friend PJ got out he could play the wii. For the first time ever I didn't have to stand over him or set the timer. He even cleaned up his room without help from me.

Spell #2: I put a sweet potato fry on Karsten's plate. "You have to eat at least one bite." There was a "no way, no how" moment that got turned around once I said, "no wii." "Ooooookaaaaaaaaaaaay." Really? Really?

Magic.

Posted by jana at 8:08 PM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2008

Hello, my name is Mom and I think my child is an addict...

...a video game addict. Karsten will wake up early to boot up a computer to fire up video games. The first thing he says when he comes home from school is "can I play on the computer?"

As someone who never got past level 1 on Donkey Kong, I don't get it.

One thing I have learned is to use it to my advantage. Homework not done? Can't play on the computer. See those toys on the floor? Sorry, no computer. I found the best parenting carrot in the world.

We still don't have any video game consoles besides the Leapster (which I can highly recommend BTW). But I think we'll be caving in the next few years... Wii tennis anyone?

Posted by jana at 4:14 PM | Comments (2)

December 11, 2007

Fall of 6 and 3

I was so flippin' cold today it seems like it's gotta be winter already.

This fall I realized my life had suddenly gotten easier. The kids both started school which means for the first time in six years of motherhood I could have a bit of time for myself. Britta now has friends and even has had two play dates with her preschool friends. So far no one has invited her over yet but I'm waiting for that very special moment. I'm wondering if I would need to stay and wait before I leave before she feels comfortable with me gone. Karsten never even glanced behind him when I'd drop him off at a new house. With Britta it may be a different story but that's okay. As a mom it is nice to feel needed on occasion.

The $15 or so I spent on Karsten's Halloween costume has been worth every penny. Spidey makes an appearance almost daily at our house. I should have bought every super hero costume I could find.

Also Karsten has started drawing his own comics. He has created Spider Cat, theme song and all. Today he told Andy, "I'm going to stay in all of my recesses at school so I can draw comics. I want to be famous!" Andy said, "Wanting to be famous is nice and all but I think it is a good idea for you to run around too." I'll have to upload one of the Spidey Cat comics for oogling.

Posted by jana at 9:25 PM

October 10, 2007

pizza politics

Tonight at the pizza parlor Karsten suddenly shouts out, "George W. Bush!"

Me: "What?"

Karsten: "He is the worst president EVER!" He shouts this very loudly in the restaurant. I look around, don't see any glaring Republicans so I prod.

Me: "Why?"

K: "He spent all our money! He started a war and the soliders haven't eaten for days."

This is some of the rhetoric I decided was worth teaching Karsten (although I don't recall mentioning soliders not eating for days but I do like the drama it conjures). I started planting these ideas in his head during a car ride a few weeks ago and am giddy they are sticking with my 6-year-old. Tonight I tried adding more to his spiel, using words like "unconstitutional" and "preemptive" but he just looked at me.

Andy: "Don't you want the grandparents to keep babysitting? You'd better not teach him these things."

I'll consider it. That would suck if the grandparents didn't want to babysit their liberal six-year old grandson.

I wonder had my dad preached more trickle-down economics while I was a wee one would he have turned me right-winged? I mean seriously, I did grow up during The Royal Reagan Administration and look how I still turned out. I see missed opportunity on his part for sure. There's no hope for me now, but I do see bright and liberal futures for my kids... or will my liberal brainwashing turn them into rebel republicans?

Update: I just saw this in the NYTimes and I want to cry. The kids are our future. (via Andrej)

Posted by jana at 10:19 PM | Comments (1)

June 10, 2007

The Spanish Restaurant

The fridge was nearing empty so it was a good night for Spanish tapas -- my euphemism for any random thing I can find in our fridge cutely displayed on non-breakable platters. I tried teaching Karsten some Spanish words and showing him where Spain is on the map. We found some spanish easy listening music on Pandora. Next thing I knew Karsten had transformed our couch/his fort into a Spanish restaurant. He created this sign so we could find our way to the "restaurant"




He put a towel over his arm and took our dinner orders. It was a fun family night.

Posted by jana at 3:04 PM

Turning Six: The Timeline

Several months ago: get the scoop on the local 4th grade Lego Master who can conduct kid birthday parties. Contact his mom. He's scheduled for Karsten's party.

1 month ago: assemble the word "PARTY" in Legos. Take photo; doctor photo up in Photoshop. Make invitations.

3 weeks ago: send out invitations.

2 weeks and 6 days ago: Get calls and emails from confused parents. When is the party? I had said, "Saturday June 3rd" on the invitation when really I meant the 2nd. Feel dumb.

Day before the party: Talk to a mom at KK's school play. She says "see you at the party on Sunday!" Gulp. I let her know party is really on Saturday. All is good. I make a few calls to make sure other parents aren't going to show up on the wrong day. I told Brenda, "really the party is on Saturday from 2-4, not Sunday."

12:30pm on Day of the Party: Tom calls, "you know the invitation says 1-3, right?" Oh #@! me thinks. My first Senior Moment? Dementia? Or just blonde? Nary a cupcake has been frosted. House is a semi-disaster. Andy and Karsten just walk in the door from hair salon. I call Lego Kid to see if he can come earlier. His mom is not home.

12:35: Britta screams, "my ear, my ear." Still no cupcakes frosted.

12:45: Andy takes Britta to the doctor. Doctor is closed.

12:50: Cupcakes are frosted but not in intended Lego Colors.

The cupcakes actually look cuter white with Lego Candy on top. Whew.

12:55: Party goers show up.

1:15: My mom shows up to help Kid Wrangle. This is my first "drop off" party and I was terrified. I invited a high ratio of girls to boys for sanity measures. Andy returns with Britta from doctor. My mom offers to take Britta to the after hours clinic. I have the kids eat cupcakes and open presents right away. Not the normal party schedule but that is okay. Karsten makes a killing in the cool present department. Here's photo of Britta before she goes to the doctor. Looking cute for being in pain!

1:45: Mom calls to say they won't treat Britta without a note. Andy leaves the party.

2pm: Lego Kid shows up.


The party is saved. Lego Kid enchants the kids. Legos galore. Here are the kids showing off something they made.

3pm: Kids start leaving. I start preparing for Party #2, the party for the relatives. Andy and Britta are still gone.

4pm: Whirlwind of me trying to get everything set up. Karsten and Heidi continue playing with Legos.

5pm: Round 2 of guests show up.

5:15pm: Andy and Britta return with antibiotics.

I think Party #2 was a success but I can't really remember. Karsten had a great time so that is what counts. Karsten made a second killing in the cool gifts arena. Check out the Star Wars Lego game he got for his new laptop.

Posted by jana at 12:24 PM

April 24, 2007

Rocker update

When Andy picked Karsten up from school today the daycare lady told him everyone liked Karsten the Rock Star. Karsten showed Andy the sign up sheet the kids in his class signed so they could be in his band.

A rockstar is born. For this week anyway.

Posted by jana at 10:56 PM

The Rock Star Goes to School

This morning I handed Karsten his black hoodie to put on and that set him off. He added silver beads with a guitar and a pair of sunglasses. Hood went up. He went to school.

People said, "hi Karsten" and he said, "I'm not Karsten, I'm a rock star" in his Mr. Cool voice.

I'm not sure what the school will think of Rock Star Karsten. At least he seems better behaved when he's in character so they might not mind.

Posted by jana at 9:32 AM