Push Ups

Summer is definitely here and so that means it’s time to pull out the Push Ups.

The other day I was grocery shopping.  It was my third day in a row at the grocery store.  Have I mentioned that having all the kids home this summer has definitely impacted our grocery bill?  Yikes, my kiddos can eat!  As I strolled through the grocery store at a temperature controlled of 76 degrees, I knew soon enough I’d be entering the inferno of our 109 plus degree day outside.  And so, I decided a stroll through the ice cream aisle was in order.  And that’s when I saw them. 

Of course they weren't packaged like I remember, but I saw the name and I knew the Willa Wonka company had just been granted an instant sale.

Who doesn’t like Push Ups?  I can’t imagine any child not liking them.  It’s the best of both worlds… yummy tasty ice cream-like cold substance in a tube that has to be pushed up to consume.  As a kid I don’t think it can get any better!  Unlike a Popsicle that can only be licked or bit, the Push Up’s require a little more “fun” and effort as you push them up to the perfect level to devour the yummy, tasty goodness.  But it also requires skills because if you push it up too much, your frozen goodness will get too melted and drip all over.  In the 15 plus years I consumed Schwans Push Up’s I’m confident I was able to perfect the perfect Push Up push.

With all three kids watching my every move, I could tell I had an audience as I stepped up (still height challenged even at 34) into the frozen freezer  top shelf and pulled down two boxes of my childhood treat.  While Gabriel gasped in excitement, Michael shouted, “THANKS MOM!” to which Isabelle repeated “Thank you Momma!”  I smiled and with big eyes I asked, “Do you guys know what these are?”  Gabriel said, “No Mom, but I’m sure they are good.  They ARE in the ice cream isle!” 

Of course this meant I had to pull out the When I was your age card and tell them all about my youth and experience with Push Ups.  Man did I brag them up.  I told them how the Schwan’s orange flavor was the best and that you could reuse the push up parts to make something cool.  I explained how Push Ups were WAY better than regular Popsicles because of how fun it is to push up the push up.  Within seconds they were bought in too, begging to have one as soon as we got to the car.  Meanwhile Isabelle insisted on holding the box.  It didn’t take her long to try and rip it open.  She clearly understands the message, “You have to wait until we buy it.” Because her attempt to open it continued while she shouted, “BUY IT NOW” over and over.  Got to love the terrific two’s right?

While I made the kids wait longer than they would have ever wanted to, to experience a Push up, I think the buildup was worth it.  Last night after dinner, Isabelle announced she was all done and then said, “Dessert Mommy!”  I seriously had no idea she even knew what that word meant.  I guess she watches and listens to me more than I thought.  Never mind, it couldn’t be that her mom is never done with a meal without having dessert.   I decided since the kids had been really well behaved and that it was Sunday, and the sun was shining, and that it was 6:00 p.m. (I really don’t need a true reason for dessert), I agreed and announced the options for dessert.  I told the kids they could have a mini-cupcake, a Push up or a Sunday Cone (there’s another future blog post- man do I love Sunday Cones!).  Instantaneously the kids, almost in unison, shouted, “PUSH UP!”  So it was Push Up’s around. 

Gabriel had his gone in minutes, maybe even seconds.  Therefore the lack of individual pictures of him. 

Michael savored his Push Up, slowly pushing up his treat in as small of increments as possible.   It’s funny how different he and his brother are.  While everything Gabriel does is fast, Michael is definitely my “stop and smell the roses” kid.  It took him almost 25 minutes to eat his Push Up.

 Licking it as slowly as possible, basically just catching the drip before it was about to drop. 

  And then there was Isabelle.

Please excuse her messy hair, messy face, messy shirt look.  It was a long day!

The push up concept may have been a little advanced for her, because several minutes in, I looked over to see her starting to eat the paper cup as she attempted to get down into the goodness further down in the tube.

Definitely my determined and independent one, she doesn't let anything stop her from what she wants.  And yes, she is only two. 

Yes, the sugar rush was instant!

 As I watched the kids eat their treat, Jarrett and I reminisced about the times we use to eat Push Ups, and memories we had of what we were doing while we ate them.  I snapped picture after picture of the kids eating their treat and wondered, if this would be a memory the kids reflect back on 25 years from now.  Maybe, but probably not.  What I realized is that, while Jarrett and I now reminisce about all the great memories from our youth, we are getting to help create memories for our children of their youth.  And sometimes, something as simple as eating a frosty frozen treat can bring back the feelings from the greatest of times.  It is my hope that there are plenty of these moments for our kiddos.

Until next time,

Angie