Having Kids is Getting Expensive...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 by Amy
You know, when Riley and Avery were younger, I thought, perhaps I could handle a third kid (no more kids are on the radar, absolutely not, not in a million years!). I could see bigger families and think, okay, not ideal for me, but I could see it working. Well, I don't think that anymore. With Riley and Avery both in school, even though tuition is free, it's getting expensive. This month we have school pictures, so that's $40 per kid. I spoke to Rae at their school, who also remarked that she has never seen a child paint like Avery (and she opened that school in 1975), and asked if we were going to be enrolling the girls in the art classes that are offered at the school. I really can't say no, given how artistic both girls are. I don't know how much it is, but times it by two. Plus, they have a field trip to the nature center and the pumpkin patch this month, all times two. I think there's another field trip too, but I forget...Ugh. It's really adding up. Oh, and there are classes for kids at the zoo, and I thought, sure why not, we have nothing else on our plate. It's three Saturdays which both girls will attend. It's $35 per kid. And THEN I get the notice that school picture are next week...It's easy to look at kids when they're young and think that you can add "just one more." Sure, when they're young, they're cheap. Even buying diapers doesn't compare to this at all. Think of three, or four, kids all going on field trips, school pictures, all needing a new outfit for said school picture, all in activities; perhaps one in ballet, one in art class, and another in soccer. Man, my wallet aches just thinking about it. Two is more than enough, thank you very much. Oh, and Riley and Avery keep asking me about swimming lessons (which I see as a necessity, especially considering that we're moving to Portland, a city that is more than 50% water). Shoot me now. Please.
But, about the art classes. They are after school on Wednesdays, from about 3:45 to 5. Problem is, the girls go to school on Wednesday mornings. Rae said that she could take them all day on Wednesdays, or switch them to afternoons on Wednesdays (which is the option I like better). Since I have school at 5:30 on Wednesdays, Rudi would pick them up, feed them, and take them to storytime. So, not only do kids keep getting more and more expensive, but it gets complicated too. But the woman who teaches these classes also teaches at Bemis School of Art (okay, no one who reads this blog knows what that is, but trust me, that's a plus) at the Fine Art Center. So, it's not just some lady who gives kids paint and glitter.
Okay, some pictures...
Look at that outfit! I couldn't resist getting a picture of it! She very much resists the colder weather, knowing she won't be able to wear her skirts and dresses (and flip-flops) as much. We were at the zoo, by the way.
So, what's been going on with us? I don't know. We have a fly problem. I have to go to Home Depot and get weather striping for the front door, and maybe the garage too, if I'm feeling industrious. You can see daylight around the door, and a draft can be felt in the living room. It's BAD. And with the weather getting colder, the flies are crawling in. That's my theory, at least, since they first appear in the entryway, and them migrate to the bathroom, which is next in the layout. Not so many in the kitchen, which is why I think that it's not because we're slobs. I mean, we have too much stuff, but it's not like we (by "we" I mean "I") never clean up spills and food and such.
Rudi is doing well after surgery. He's been taking it easy. He takes lounging very seriously, and he's good at it :) I've been waiting on him hand and foot, getting him food and water and green tea, checking to make sure he is not feverish and checking his incisions to make sure they're not infected. He's up and moving, slowly and carefully. While I was at school last night, he took the dog out, which I didn't think he'd feel well enough to do. I was even prepared, having e-mailed my teachers, to bring the kids to school with me, but he insisted he would watch the kids. He hasn't had any of the prescription painkillers, taking two asprin the first night and that's it. Oh, last night. So he watched the kids while I went to school, but when I came home, oh my goodness, the house was torn up! I had gotten the girls some new art supplies so that they wouldn't bother Rudi so much. There was glitter glue ALL OVER the carpet, sticker paper littered around, oh, it was a war-zone! And I stepped on one of the bottles of glitter glue and it squirted all over the carpet and my pants. Exhale...The girls KNOW that they are supposed to do art on the coffee table, not the carpet. They KNOW that!! Arrrrrggggghhhhh!
Hmmm, what else?
But, about the art classes. They are after school on Wednesdays, from about 3:45 to 5. Problem is, the girls go to school on Wednesday mornings. Rae said that she could take them all day on Wednesdays, or switch them to afternoons on Wednesdays (which is the option I like better). Since I have school at 5:30 on Wednesdays, Rudi would pick them up, feed them, and take them to storytime. So, not only do kids keep getting more and more expensive, but it gets complicated too. But the woman who teaches these classes also teaches at Bemis School of Art (okay, no one who reads this blog knows what that is, but trust me, that's a plus) at the Fine Art Center. So, it's not just some lady who gives kids paint and glitter.
Okay, some pictures...
Look at that outfit! I couldn't resist getting a picture of it! She very much resists the colder weather, knowing she won't be able to wear her skirts and dresses (and flip-flops) as much. We were at the zoo, by the way.
So, what's been going on with us? I don't know. We have a fly problem. I have to go to Home Depot and get weather striping for the front door, and maybe the garage too, if I'm feeling industrious. You can see daylight around the door, and a draft can be felt in the living room. It's BAD. And with the weather getting colder, the flies are crawling in. That's my theory, at least, since they first appear in the entryway, and them migrate to the bathroom, which is next in the layout. Not so many in the kitchen, which is why I think that it's not because we're slobs. I mean, we have too much stuff, but it's not like we (by "we" I mean "I") never clean up spills and food and such.
Rudi is doing well after surgery. He's been taking it easy. He takes lounging very seriously, and he's good at it :) I've been waiting on him hand and foot, getting him food and water and green tea, checking to make sure he is not feverish and checking his incisions to make sure they're not infected. He's up and moving, slowly and carefully. While I was at school last night, he took the dog out, which I didn't think he'd feel well enough to do. I was even prepared, having e-mailed my teachers, to bring the kids to school with me, but he insisted he would watch the kids. He hasn't had any of the prescription painkillers, taking two asprin the first night and that's it. Oh, last night. So he watched the kids while I went to school, but when I came home, oh my goodness, the house was torn up! I had gotten the girls some new art supplies so that they wouldn't bother Rudi so much. There was glitter glue ALL OVER the carpet, sticker paper littered around, oh, it was a war-zone! And I stepped on one of the bottles of glitter glue and it squirted all over the carpet and my pants. Exhale...The girls KNOW that they are supposed to do art on the coffee table, not the carpet. They KNOW that!! Arrrrrggggghhhhh!
Hmmm, what else?
