Oscar Stew

Sleep is a precious resource when it comes to raising kids. Parents need it. Kids need it. Sometimes they need each other to need it. However you look at it, sleep is essential…regardless of what you may have attempted in college. Here at Insomniac University we are having some difficulty getting the female student body to sleep in their assigned dorms. Eleanor should be in the crib, Rowan on a twin, and Brinley on the full in her room. How’s it going? IT’S NOT.

Ella-moose outgrew her bassinet a couple months ago and was forced into off-campus housing, spending her nights and naps in a pack ‘n’ play we loaned from a friend. Does this co-ed look hungry to you?

Eleanor’s plight is due to Rowan’s refusal to give up the crib. This was just supposed to be for junior college and it seems this sophomore intends to make this a three year plan… 

Did you notice that she’s not even in her crib? This made Eleanor really angry!

The reason for this is due to the Student Housing Authority’s attempts to make the crib feel and appear more apartment-style and less like a dorm. Looks like last night’s all-nighter has caused this student to miss this afternoon’s art class.

The rookie is present and accounted for! Is this art a group project? Because I don’t think everyone deserves equal credit!

We were able to convince the R.A. to join with us in our effort to resolve this issue. He came up with a plan to demonstrate the benefits of the open floorplan. Will it work?

It appears to be a success, but did he really need to physically restrain her? I hope her parents don’t hear about this!

Or about this! I said freedom to sleep, not freedom to streak!!

This type of behavior will not be tolerated. We cannot have the student body baring their bodies in protest of our alleged housing discrimination.

To smooth things over we decided to invite her to the brunch that the Board of Trustees was having the next morning. It appears that the housing problem isn’t the only issue we have to deal with: Campus security caught the student trying to confiscate college property!

And why does this student still look so hungry? Did she lose her meal card?

Fortunately the perceived theft was just a misunderstanding. The faculty and the student saw eye to eye and were able to discuss the current housing challenges.

We were able to direct this student to the Administration Office where she was issued a new meal card. She sent us this picture of her distended stomach as a thank you. This is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, but we chose to defer legal action due to the circumstances… 

As an added benefit to the pupil our Ladies’ Physical Education instructor created a curriculum to help struggling undergrads build endurance, muscle, and fat as part of the Freshman 15 Program.  

Our first-year class continues to plump up nicely. We like them big and chunky!

The S.H.A. continued to labor with the stubborn scholar by providing alternative slumber options. It appears that one of her roommates is following her bad example. 

 

 

A critical step is now a success! Now if the Housing Authority can convince her that her place is on a twin mattress like the other graduates, we will be  on track to reduce overcrowding and make room for open enrollment next fall…NOT.

The blog is dying, no question. I’d really like to fix that, but summer break, a dying camera and a massive to-do list is keeping us plenty busy and undocumented. Sometimes I feel like we are still adjusting to the busy-ness of 4 kids. We’ll get there, or maybe we won’t. Either way we’ll die trying. Here’s to optimism!

Rowan’s birthday was a few weeks ago, and since turning two is most definitely blog worthy, here we go…a little late, but better than never!

T’was the night before and all through the house, two birthday fairies stayed up late decorating the house.

A royal throne they did create, topped with a coffee filter crown for Ms. “10 minus 8”.

OK, enough rhyming. As the sun rose at the zoo, Rowan discovered she was locked in a cage with a bunch of gas…and you thought she was smiling.

See, what did I tell you? You don’t want out, do you Ro? Set that animal free!

Hey batter batter, hey batter batter, hey batter….Queen!

Good thing we didn’t have any guests to share that cake with, eh?

You want some? Ya can’t have any!

 

There might be enough batter left for a cake…maybe…

We had to detox with the anti-ox. Rowan’s favorite snack is blackberries. Lucky for her, they were affordable that week!

After her first class snack, Rowan cashed in her miles and jetted away on Backyard Air.

 

What’s more fun than an underdog for the Ro-dog?

You’d think she’s been flying for years, but no. She is a rookie that looks like a pro! Argh! I rhymed again!

Once she had arrived at her favorite tropical destination she enjoyed a nice run through the fountain of youth. You don’t see old geezers running through sprinklers, do you? I rest my case. 

Then she took a break from the fountain to enjoy the frozen delicacies the cabana boy brought out.

What’s that? That’s a baba posss-ickle? NO. WAY. way…

And how tasty is that popsicle Ro? Tell us how you really feel, because we sure can’t tell from that scowl on your face…

Move over Pantene! You know it’s been a good day when you’ve lost a pig-tail, and your hair is looking mighty frizzy. It’s her birthday and she’ll frizz if she wants to!

 

She huffed and she puffed, but the only thing that blew was her bangs. Aw dang.

Blowing out your candles is over rated anyway. Eating the frosting off the cake is a much better tradition!

We attempted to make the famous zebra cake, but when you have three little kitchen elves helping, getting precise zebra stripes is somewhat difficult.

What was most important was that it was tasty, and gone in 20 minutes! Rowan, you’re the girl of the hour, and we’re so glad your ours! Mmmmmwah!

 

 

Deep in the Jungle of Home, two little girls puttered around making new discoveries. As the sun rose from the horizon,  the light warmed their faces and reminded them of the comforts of their new base camp. Looks like it’s a good dream!

G’morning Eleanor! Good to see you too!

Before we started off into the forest, Elle wanted to get her blood pumping with a little asian-inspired workout called Ella-Fu. Hiiiiiiiiiiyah!

Let’s get to work. We’re almost finished with this sweet little tarp you’ve been dying to spit on. I’ll sew, you supervise, man the text messages and keep watch for fee-rocious animals. Deal!

While Soggy-In-Her-Pants needed a change, Ro-Dog was busy trapping tigers. Cheddar didn’t seem to mind wearing El’s pj’s…for about .00002 seconds.

It’s ok Ro-mama, you can help me take care of the baby that won’t run away. How about wiping a little jungle drool off her mouth?

No, not in her mouth, I said off her mouth…

 

These two are rapidly becoming each other’s BFF. And will end up partners in crime, no doubt.

What do New Orleans and Eleanor have in common? They both are nicknamed ” The Big Easy”…And they both have an oil slick down south…

Rowan, on the other hand…

Once she saw her zebra skins and foal go into the dryer she sprung into action like only a 1.9-year-old superhero would and threw a huge tantrum to save her “baba” from complete devastation. It’s important to keep the hut clean, Rowee!

I tried to get her mind off of them and put her to work in the fire pit. She didn’t quite grasp the concept of the pepper grinder.

But salting the day’s kill was a cinch!

But, no good deed goes unpunished…

Just the same we ended up with delicious roasted sweet potatoes, made by Roast Toast herself!

The reward was sweet when her skins and pony emerged dry and toasty from the dryer. Aaaaaahhhhh….

Meanwhile, Eleanor was already very well acquainted with Princess Brinley, Ruler of the Vine. But she had no idea that Drew was the real Peter Pan. Are we in Neverland?!

Neverland turned out to be the cold confines of the garage. Thanks to Peter Pan accidentally locking the door behind him, the kids and I enjoyed the afternoon locked out of the hut with no spears. After making hieroglyphics on all possible surfaces of the concrete jungle with chalk, Daddy finally came home from the hunt…

Nothing beats jungle thumb jerky.

Sorry Rowan, no babas allowed at the rain dance. Sweet ‘do though!

 

To celebrate May Day, Rowan enjoyed a shortbread cookie on a spear. They are REALLY good with strawberry jam. Rowan might be an old squaw before she knows that.

This…is my pooping face.

 

 

And this…is my poopy face. Put the camera down and change me!

Ro-Chefity back in the fire pit, sauteing some zuke for dinner.

Once the day’s adventure is done, there is no reward better than soaking in the whirlpool while enjoying homemade triple berry ice cream for desert. Ohhhhh yeah!

At the end of the day Rowan is no different than Eleanor…plus four zebras.