Things heard in my household
"moooooooooooooooommmmmy I have POOOP on my haaaaaaaaaaands!"
me: Keller, what happened?
K: Mommy, you would NOT believe it...it was just SO SO big."
"Coleman, you arent a girl, don't flee to the village, fight the giant with me!"
(Keller to C acting out their latest favorite book)
They were watching a 1970's cartoon version of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. (which is great). Here are some of my favorite White boy quotes:
(Coleman)
"Mommy, that's me, the beaver, but not the one holding her boobs" hmmmmm must have missed that scene????
(Keller)
"Mommy, I am SO brave that I would touch the White Witches LIPS!"
"Mommy, I am a mean-guy-nice-guy, I am nice most of the time, but i am mean in battle!"
Colemans response when I ask him to come downstairs
"Hold on, I am tying my leg up!"
He emerges wearing only tighty whities and a belt tied on his leg, which he told me
"Do you know why I am tied up? Because I stepped on the airplane"
Refering to last week when I caught him stepping on this airplane we have, I asked him to stop and no, did NOT tie him up as punishment....he continued to wear the belt on his leg most of the day. No grace for himself.
11.15.2009
big brother/little brother
Dexter and Porter
Bradley and Keller
You can definitely tell which brother belongs to which. I cant believe it has been 4 years since the picture of Bradley and Keller. I remember telling Sarah how it will be crazy that they will be able to have a conversation with each other one day, now it is crazy to think of them having a conversation that does not involve yelling, pirates, costumes, swords or whining....
11.13.2009
Rope Swing
These pics were taken at the beginning of the fall. We had just completed our "art" which started out as finger painting and ended up as body paint....the boys then tried to both swing at the same time on the rope swing, and had a ball...this was an isolated event. Other attempts at dual swinging have only led to fighting...it was so sweet to watch while it lasted.
11.08.2009
Bang Bang Bang...on the door baby
There are not many things I am impulsive about...eating dark chocolate, going to Goodwill, and (unfortunately) giving haircuts. For those who know me well, you also know that attention to detail, is not my strength (ie:painting trim, etc) so my giving haircuts is more due to a financial default than any innate talent within. I cut my boys hair (which if you look closely will not surprise you in the least). Each time I do something different and really take a Jackson Pollock approach to their locks. When it is their turn, they plead (without fail) "MOMMY DON'T CUT MY HEAD OFF!!!!" ...so anyways, tonight I was sitting on the couch w all my four boys watching football (is that stereotypical all boy household or what?) when I decided that i NEEDED a new look at THAT moment...well, who else to fix this but yours truly. So when Coleman asked me to fetch his green gloves (his latest fashion statement) I used this an excuse to head upstairs for a new do...I cut and cut and cut and really should have stopped while i was ahead (no pun intended). When the words "scout finch" popped into my head (if you've seen the movie, you know what i mean), I knew I was the equivalent of the two year old girl who found scissors and voila- bangs. As I am making my descent, I have the thought that perhaps, it's not so bad, and I wont say anything, just see what happens.Immediately Jeremy begins laughing and can not stop. This is from a man who during our first year of courtship, did not notice that i lived in a mint green house. After catching his breath, his first words are "maybe Sarah can fix this." Sarah can fix ALOT of things, but I think even this is beyond her talents....so anyone who sees me in the next three weeks...in order to avoid a short-bang-lesbian look, I will be sporting a headband until my bangs grow to an appropriately length to display....and who dyed my hair black?
11.02.2009
Mean Mommy
These are the reasons why my boys think I have been mean today:
*I would not let Coleman use a belt w a metal buckle as a whip
*I would not let Keller use a broken swiffer mop w a serrated metal edge as a spear
*I refused to let them eat Whoppers and Kit Kats for breakfast
*I insisted that they eat their sandwiches before having more goldfish and cinnamon crackers
*I only let them listen to the song "thumbellina thumbellina worlds smallest girl" two times not the continual repeat they requested
* I would not pause from making lunch for them, lunch for Porter(who was screaming), and cookies (all at the same time) to read Keller the complete works of William Shakespeare- a book which he found interesting because of the drawings of the knights
*I would not let them jump on my bed after I made it....AND after we had already had a jumping-on-the-bed session before I made it.
*I put a stop to the transfer of bedding from their room to the playroom. They were both halfway down the stairs with both the fitted sheets and flat sheets and pillows from their beds...heading toward the playroom. (of note: it was 5 min before naps at this point, so you can imagine how excited I was to have to remake both beds)
Can you believe how mean I am? I am certain this morning would have gone much smoother had I let them have their way....there's always tomorrow. Perhaps I'll just prop my feed up, eat bon bons, and respond with " yes, that is great"
*I would not let Coleman use a belt w a metal buckle as a whip
*I would not let Keller use a broken swiffer mop w a serrated metal edge as a spear
*I refused to let them eat Whoppers and Kit Kats for breakfast
*I insisted that they eat their sandwiches before having more goldfish and cinnamon crackers
*I only let them listen to the song "thumbellina thumbellina worlds smallest girl" two times not the continual repeat they requested
* I would not pause from making lunch for them, lunch for Porter(who was screaming), and cookies (all at the same time) to read Keller the complete works of William Shakespeare- a book which he found interesting because of the drawings of the knights
*I would not let them jump on my bed after I made it....AND after we had already had a jumping-on-the-bed session before I made it.
*I put a stop to the transfer of bedding from their room to the playroom. They were both halfway down the stairs with both the fitted sheets and flat sheets and pillows from their beds...heading toward the playroom. (of note: it was 5 min before naps at this point, so you can imagine how excited I was to have to remake both beds)
Can you believe how mean I am? I am certain this morning would have gone much smoother had I let them have their way....there's always tomorrow. Perhaps I'll just prop my feed up, eat bon bons, and respond with " yes, that is great"
8.26.2009
Sanctuary
Five years ago, had you been a guest in my house, it would have been very odd to have something lying on the floor, blocking your path from one room to another. Since becoming a parent,it is commonplace. I now think nothing of the fact that I spend most of my day dodging cowboy boots, trucks, magnets, blankies, and other various items as I walk from room to room. Yes, I suppose I could squat, pick them up and kill two birds with one stone (tone buttocks and cleaner floor), however that is really not practical. There is no point in attempting any type of cleaning from the knee level down before naps. I decided to photo a typical path (from the playroom to the boys room) and here is what my feet ran into.
This is why my living room brings me such joy. It is clean (at least from far away) and toys dont live here. My heart does a little leap each time I go up my dirty stairs from my toy induced kitchen to the hurricane boys room and glance to the right...ahhhh clean. untouched. pretty.
8.16.2009
A first
This morning I asked Jeremy to put Porter in some clothes. As Jeremy is dressing our 14 week old, this is what he tells me
"This is the first time I have dressed him since he's been born."
We both laugh at this truth as this poor child has spent 90%of his life in just a diaper. I guess I am too practical: he is hot natured, he spits up, and when I swaddle him for sleeping, he only needs a diaper on anyways. I thought once I left camp, I would be motivated to dress him more, but no....plus, being the third child, especially third boy...i am completely over anything blue with a car on it.
we have been playing musical beds in our house since Keller got his tonsils and adenoids taken out a week ago. Nights and naps always find one boy or another in my bed, mine in theirs, and perhaps an adult on the couch trying to get a sacred three hours of sleep in a row. On this particular afternoon, I decided to try Coleman napping in our room, Keller in the room he and Coleman share, and Porter in the crib.
Keller immediately fell asleep, Coleman (who is my best sleeper at present) was not too excited about napping in mommy and daddy's room, but I tried my best to make it seem really fun. About 45 minutes after I put him down, I go to check on him. I open the door, the bedside lamp was turned on and the time on the clock was changed and Coleman was sitting upright in bed, looking suprised that I had inturrupted his wake time. I asked him what he is doing awake, he tells me "I didnt see the number seven (the boys know they cant get out of bed in the morning until they see the number seven). I remind him that he has no idea what a number seven looks like to which he replies "yes, but I did not see the number seven!"
He then begins to fix the pillows to make room for me to sit up with him and tells me we need to have a talk.
"what about, coleman?"
"Mommy, tell me about your day at the park, how is Porter doing?"
"He's good...why arent you sleeping?"
"Because I have a tennis ball" -which actually does appear in his hands from the depths of the covers...."and a football"...again, produces this as well.
At this point I am laughing too hard to even attempt a nap with him, so Porter and I join him.
Keller immediately fell asleep, Coleman (who is my best sleeper at present) was not too excited about napping in mommy and daddy's room, but I tried my best to make it seem really fun. About 45 minutes after I put him down, I go to check on him. I open the door, the bedside lamp was turned on and the time on the clock was changed and Coleman was sitting upright in bed, looking suprised that I had inturrupted his wake time. I asked him what he is doing awake, he tells me "I didnt see the number seven (the boys know they cant get out of bed in the morning until they see the number seven). I remind him that he has no idea what a number seven looks like to which he replies "yes, but I did not see the number seven!"
He then begins to fix the pillows to make room for me to sit up with him and tells me we need to have a talk.
"what about, coleman?"
"Mommy, tell me about your day at the park, how is Porter doing?"
"He's good...why arent you sleeping?"
"Because I have a tennis ball" -which actually does appear in his hands from the depths of the covers...."and a football"...again, produces this as well.
At this point I am laughing too hard to even attempt a nap with him, so Porter and I join him.
8.04.2009
A storm is coming as I sit in our sunroom of our camp house, the "walled off." This is the saddest day of camp for me. The day when cleaning and leaving are the only tasks to do. Though our house is not in the center of campus, I can sense when the staff have gone...camp is just not camp without them. It is too quiet-not even my boys can make up for the lack of noise. Keller previously wanted to stay here forever, until he realized he'd be stuck with just us. After lunch today, when seeing all the staff leave, he told me he was ready to go to Charlotte.
This has been my favorite summer since we have been coming four years ago. Seeing how much joy Keller and Coleman get from being in this environment brings me such happiness.The sacrifices we make for doing this job are huge, but I gain such perspective here during the summer. Friends- please remind me of this during the rest of the year. God's hand has been evident this summer as I've watched staff understand the gospel and their fixed identity in Christ, seen kids excited about Chapel and what they are learning about God's love for them-in spite of what they do, and in my own life becoming more excited about the ministry that God has called Jeremy and me to. I love being a part of something that so many I am close to love and have been impacted by. What a great God we serve!
7.23.2009
ziplining
Does it get cuter than this? Bradley came up for the third annual zipline. They both did great! Sarah and I continue to be impressed that they still do this without fear....I on the other hand, had a racing heart and lost my stomache twice on the ride.Cute story: Getting Keller ready for his nap, I turn the light off and turn his sound machine on (like I have done for the past four years). He suddenly asks me, what is on his sound machine. Our conversation continues like this:
Me: it's called whitenoise
Keller: I dont want to hear whitenoise
Me: so, you want your sound machine off?
Keller: no, i want it on, i just dont want whitenoise.
Me: so, you want a different setting on your soundmachine?
Keller: no, i want it the same, i just dont want to hear whitenoise.
Me: (confused) ok.
I walk out the door, he sleeps.
A couple of days later :
Keller: I heard daddy sneeze last night
Me: What else do you hear from your room? Do you hear us talking?
Keller: Yes, I hear whitenoise
Me: (ahhh haaa......Whitenoise, not whitenoise) Keller, what do you hear if you hear Sarah and Joe (Pay) talking?
Keller: Paynoise.
7.19.2009
Hey Porter...hey Porter
I realized poor Porter has not even made his appearance on the blog yet...not that he would mind. He is perfectly happy being held all day long:) He gets alot of attention from the campers...usually a "ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaby" from a group of girls cabins. Followed by "Can I touch him?" Followed by a quick "NO"
Random fun
Luckily plastic noise toys, are very uninteresting to my boys during the summer. 90% of our day is spent outside and the few toys I do bring for rainy days, usually go unplayed with. Last week, only confirmed my need for a toyless summer. A staff member had to borrow one of our twin mattresses for a week, once returned it leaned up against our wall in the living room for a couple of days (hey, at least it was off the front porch:). Keller got the brilliant idea to place it at the edge of the couch, then jump from the couch onto the mattress. The boys had a BLAST doing this. No fighting just jumping. Lindsay (the "nanny")who has more sense than I, moved the mattress into the playroom where it still resides two weeks later...I actually had the thought "am I tacky enough to keep a mattress in our playroom in Charlotte?" I draw the line there...but for now, it has not lost its grandeur and also doubles as a wrestling mat.
7.10.2009
Why I Love Camp Lurecrest
We have been here just over a month, and I am in no hurry to return to city life. Yesterday Keller ran over to me and said "i want to live here forever...," while I dont quite share that sentiment, I wanted to list a few reasons why I love camp....
*I dont cook: meals are at the dining hall. While this offers a less than healthy options for my family, I am willing to sacrifice for a break from the oven,stove, and of course...the dishes
*I dont drive: walking the hills pushing the double jogger is the easiest way to exercise without actually exercising
*No buckling carseats while hot: nothing makes me foul like hot humid weather and trying to get three little kids in carseats. when we do drive, we do it 70's and
80's style: carseat free. the boys sit on the floor or in the extra seat
*No need to wear anything involving any type of waisteband except elastic: dont think I need to expand this thought given that I just gave birth 10 weeks ago
*Porter only wears his diaper and I dont think twice. It will be strange to see him in clothes once we return to Charlotte
*Rocks and dirt and woods provide endless entertainment for the boys
*The boys are exposed to great people and teachings at Chapel
and of course the number one reason why I love camp...Lindsay York...who is she you may ask..."the nanny"
seriously, having full time help is lifechanging! This fall will be quite an adjustment for me. She went to the beach today and Coleman kept asking "who is going to be our nanny today?" As if he cant handle one day without a nanny. Then he looked at me and said "you can be our nanny, mommy!" Thanks, Coleman, if my memory serves me right, I do believe I signed up for that about 4 years ago.
I'll post pictures soon.
Also, for you readers out there ( since i do have a nanny:) i actually am able to read while nursing porter (i know, crazy!)
so here's what i've read so far...recommend all of them)
Mao's Last Dancer
What is the What
You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again (if you want to feel like a good mom, read this)
*I dont cook: meals are at the dining hall. While this offers a less than healthy options for my family, I am willing to sacrifice for a break from the oven,stove, and of course...the dishes
*I dont drive: walking the hills pushing the double jogger is the easiest way to exercise without actually exercising
*No buckling carseats while hot: nothing makes me foul like hot humid weather and trying to get three little kids in carseats. when we do drive, we do it 70's and
80's style: carseat free. the boys sit on the floor or in the extra seat
*No need to wear anything involving any type of waisteband except elastic: dont think I need to expand this thought given that I just gave birth 10 weeks ago
*Porter only wears his diaper and I dont think twice. It will be strange to see him in clothes once we return to Charlotte
*Rocks and dirt and woods provide endless entertainment for the boys
*The boys are exposed to great people and teachings at Chapel
and of course the number one reason why I love camp...Lindsay York...who is she you may ask..."the nanny"
seriously, having full time help is lifechanging! This fall will be quite an adjustment for me. She went to the beach today and Coleman kept asking "who is going to be our nanny today?" As if he cant handle one day without a nanny. Then he looked at me and said "you can be our nanny, mommy!" Thanks, Coleman, if my memory serves me right, I do believe I signed up for that about 4 years ago.
I'll post pictures soon.
Also, for you readers out there ( since i do have a nanny:) i actually am able to read while nursing porter (i know, crazy!)
so here's what i've read so far...recommend all of them)
Mao's Last Dancer
What is the What
You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again (if you want to feel like a good mom, read this)
4.28.2009
Things only done in my last trimester of pregnancy #3
"who wants to split a milkshake with mommy?"
(in monotone voice watching them physically hurt each other) "stop...stop...stop..."
"well, then hit him harder" (obviously-my response at least 20 x a day)
i've mastered "playing" hide and seek from a sitting position...realized it is more about the reaction i give when they "appear" from their hiding spots. I can certainly verbally get excited when I "find" them, as long as I dont have to get up.
My children are now addicted to Tums due to my severe heartburn w this pregnancy. I dont even try to fight them on it...figured it is good calcium and can count as a vitamin...or candy-take your pick
The boys are OBSESSED with going barefoot...i have seriously turned into that mom at the playground whose kids are barefoot (and i am pregnant). At least they still ask permission to take their shoes off...probably bc they know I will not say no. This has evolved from no shoes to no shirts and a couple of request from Keller to play naked in the backyard. I do draw the line there...but only bc we have neighbors.
The other day I was sitting in the garage (after an intense game of hide n seek) then I see Keller riding by on his scooter in nothing but tighty whities, cowboy boots, and a wet towel over his head. I just had to laugh.
I love these boys.
(in monotone voice watching them physically hurt each other) "stop...stop...stop..."
"well, then hit him harder" (obviously-my response at least 20 x a day)
i've mastered "playing" hide and seek from a sitting position...realized it is more about the reaction i give when they "appear" from their hiding spots. I can certainly verbally get excited when I "find" them, as long as I dont have to get up.
My children are now addicted to Tums due to my severe heartburn w this pregnancy. I dont even try to fight them on it...figured it is good calcium and can count as a vitamin...or candy-take your pick
The boys are OBSESSED with going barefoot...i have seriously turned into that mom at the playground whose kids are barefoot (and i am pregnant). At least they still ask permission to take their shoes off...probably bc they know I will not say no. This has evolved from no shoes to no shirts and a couple of request from Keller to play naked in the backyard. I do draw the line there...but only bc we have neighbors.
The other day I was sitting in the garage (after an intense game of hide n seek) then I see Keller riding by on his scooter in nothing but tighty whities, cowboy boots, and a wet towel over his head. I just had to laugh.
I love these boys.
4.10.2009
A Morning at the Lazy 5 Ranch
Party all week long (aka spring break for preschool). Overall, great week with the boys, our big treat was the end of the week heading to the Lazy 5 Ranch. The Lazy 5 Ranch is about 45 minutes away in Moresville, a bunch of kids on a wagon riding through the ranch, feeding all sorts of exotic animals like giraffes, zebras, emus, cows on steroids, and yaks. A great concept. My friend Sarah (who is having her c-section for her 3rd baby in a week), myself (who is exactly 3 weeks away from my baby arriving), our three boys meet other friends out at the ranch for a fun morning of a sensory, tactile, experience that we just can't get in the city. Wagon is set to leave by 9:45am. Keep in mind that I was born without the gene of any type of animal love, they do nothing for me, being a vet would be my nightmare, i would rather be a podiatrist...Sarah is even worse, in her own words "I want to throw up looking at them." All to reiterate who we are doing this outing for...not ourselves:)
8:40: running around the house looking for shoes and getting dressed for the "70 degrees and sunny" weather...hoping to pick up Sarah by now...
9:00: arrive at sarah's. get bradley (her son keller's age) strapped in the van, all lunches, bags, heartburn medicine in tote
9:20: hmmmm are we going the right way? make a few phone calls to verify, took a right way but not the shortest right way
9:22: am calling Lindsey Eich trying to figure out where to go, Keller is shouting from the back of the van that he NEEDS the song "hop hop hippity" on again, which is like auditory Chinese water torture for an adult.
9:25: heading in the right direction, boys decided they are starving and need snacks...i am learning to throw food items in the very back seat to Keller and Bradley.
9:35: slow slow interstate travel, finally exit
10:00: arrive at Lazy Five Ranch, all three boys have spotted a playground on the premises and have consistent dialogue of wanting to go there...non stop verbal request for the entire 15 minutes waiting in line to get to the park...trying to draw attention to the cows in the field instead...no interest...
10:15: find friends and wagon...sarah and i both having braxton hick contractions causing severe need to urinate...only bathrooms just invaded by 150 school aged kids
10:25: get on wagon, boys have feed buckets w food and are content
10:26: Keller suddenly gets a flash of that playground, internal question of "why am i here when i could be there?" external question for the next 40 minutes in the wagon "mommy, when can we get off and go to that playground?" "mommy, when can we get off and go to that playground?" "mommy, when can we get off and go to that playground" (annoying to read huh...try listening to it for 40 minutes while gross cows are licking your hands trying to get the food)
10:35: Coleman is into throwing anything at all, so food to animals count for awhile. Then he starts his "i dont like that...." emu, cow, fill in the blank-whatever animal happened to be in his line of vision, became offensive to him.
10:40: i am freezing, it is cold, cloudy. Keller decided that since his playground mission is failing, his next priority is to keep warm so he basically is folded in my lap and legs. Don't worry, Coleman is sitting on my "lap" as well. Trying to envoke excitement for the animals
10:43 I spot the zebras which I decide I really would appreciate as a rug in my living room
10:45 have great hard core laugh when a yak or something big and hairy with a long tongue starts licking Sarah's ankles...I have never seen a 40 week pregnant woman move so fast
10:55 "Keller, if you mention the word playground one more time, you will watch Bradley and Coleman play from the van" this actually worked.
11:20: wagon ride is over. kids are free. Boys run to the playground, sarah runs to the bathroom, my turn next
12:05 need to be back by 1:00, drag three unhappy boys to the van..they really wanted to stay...for lunch in the car
12:15 all boys have food, drinks, books and are strapped in.
12:15-1:20 is a bit of a blur to me...i think perhaps there was (not kidding) two minutes of everyone in the van content. The rest of the time consisted of Keller and Bradley arguing, Coleman crying bc the alphabet song that was playing was not (according to him) the alphabet song, Sarah and I trying to ignore our children, Keller spilling his snack (reaction- the equivalent of an adult losing all of their 401K savings), Keller and Bradley thinking it is funny to shout "moooooommmmmy" for 15 minutes, going 25 mph on the interstate, dropping of a crying Bradley bc he could not close the door, me reminding sarah to remind me not to do this next year. Pulling into our driveway envious of whatever Jeremy happens to be doing at the time
2:00 my two sweet boys and I cuddling on the chair, reading their life story "where the wild things are"
2:05 Coleman asleep
2:25 Keller asleep
2:30 Mommy asleep
8:40: running around the house looking for shoes and getting dressed for the "70 degrees and sunny" weather...hoping to pick up Sarah by now...
9:00: arrive at sarah's. get bradley (her son keller's age) strapped in the van, all lunches, bags, heartburn medicine in tote
9:20: hmmmm are we going the right way? make a few phone calls to verify, took a right way but not the shortest right way
9:22: am calling Lindsey Eich trying to figure out where to go, Keller is shouting from the back of the van that he NEEDS the song "hop hop hippity" on again, which is like auditory Chinese water torture for an adult.
9:25: heading in the right direction, boys decided they are starving and need snacks...i am learning to throw food items in the very back seat to Keller and Bradley.
9:35: slow slow interstate travel, finally exit
10:00: arrive at Lazy Five Ranch, all three boys have spotted a playground on the premises and have consistent dialogue of wanting to go there...non stop verbal request for the entire 15 minutes waiting in line to get to the park...trying to draw attention to the cows in the field instead...no interest...
10:15: find friends and wagon...sarah and i both having braxton hick contractions causing severe need to urinate...only bathrooms just invaded by 150 school aged kids
10:25: get on wagon, boys have feed buckets w food and are content
10:26: Keller suddenly gets a flash of that playground, internal question of "why am i here when i could be there?" external question for the next 40 minutes in the wagon "mommy, when can we get off and go to that playground?" "mommy, when can we get off and go to that playground?" "mommy, when can we get off and go to that playground" (annoying to read huh...try listening to it for 40 minutes while gross cows are licking your hands trying to get the food)
10:35: Coleman is into throwing anything at all, so food to animals count for awhile. Then he starts his "i dont like that...." emu, cow, fill in the blank-whatever animal happened to be in his line of vision, became offensive to him.
10:40: i am freezing, it is cold, cloudy. Keller decided that since his playground mission is failing, his next priority is to keep warm so he basically is folded in my lap and legs. Don't worry, Coleman is sitting on my "lap" as well. Trying to envoke excitement for the animals
10:43 I spot the zebras which I decide I really would appreciate as a rug in my living room
10:45 have great hard core laugh when a yak or something big and hairy with a long tongue starts licking Sarah's ankles...I have never seen a 40 week pregnant woman move so fast
10:55 "Keller, if you mention the word playground one more time, you will watch Bradley and Coleman play from the van" this actually worked.
11:20: wagon ride is over. kids are free. Boys run to the playground, sarah runs to the bathroom, my turn next
12:05 need to be back by 1:00, drag three unhappy boys to the van..they really wanted to stay...for lunch in the car
12:15 all boys have food, drinks, books and are strapped in.
12:15-1:20 is a bit of a blur to me...i think perhaps there was (not kidding) two minutes of everyone in the van content. The rest of the time consisted of Keller and Bradley arguing, Coleman crying bc the alphabet song that was playing was not (according to him) the alphabet song, Sarah and I trying to ignore our children, Keller spilling his snack (reaction- the equivalent of an adult losing all of their 401K savings), Keller and Bradley thinking it is funny to shout "moooooommmmmy" for 15 minutes, going 25 mph on the interstate, dropping of a crying Bradley bc he could not close the door, me reminding sarah to remind me not to do this next year. Pulling into our driveway envious of whatever Jeremy happens to be doing at the time
2:00 my two sweet boys and I cuddling on the chair, reading their life story "where the wild things are"
2:05 Coleman asleep
2:25 Keller asleep
2:30 Mommy asleep
12.05.2008
A Norman Rockwell Christmas
pictures: The only decor I got up, Keller turning off the movie, the boys armed and dangerous and jumping off the stairs
A CHRISTMAS MOMENT
I have been a seasoned enough parent to have very low expectations when planning "fun family time" (or forced family fun as my family called it). I decided tonight we would have our first annual "white family christmas party." We would make gingerbread cookies (a sure hit due to the recent obsession w the gingerbread man), have a fire, and watch the classic Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer, while mother dearest decorated the house w tidings of comfort and joy....
I made the cookie dough during the boys naps. When they arose, i covered our kitchen table with flour, gave them each a ball of dough and told them to pound it hard so we could use the gingerbread man cookie cutter. Keller did get into this part, but kept trying to make the cookie with about a 4 inch high dough ball, Coleman on the other hand, apparently thought I had gathered a pile of poop for him to play in because he would not even touch it. He kept saying "i dont like that, noooooo, i dont like that, get it away!" Keller eventually lost interest in the cutting, and decorating the gingerbread men could not compete with actually getting to eat the craisons (buttons).
After dinner, we got out the decorations. The one obnoxious-loud-song-dancing item we had, was a huge hit...until 1/2 way through the first round of jingle bells, it died. We changed the batteries (twice) to no avail... the boys were most upset by this and could not understand why we could not fix the "decoration."
ok, time for the movie...cookies in the oven, we begin the movie. This holds Keller's interest for about 3 minutes, Coleman about 48 seconds. However, they did love the cookies. So much, that Coleman decided he needed to hoard them all while Keller screamed bloody murder "he stooooooooole my cooooooooooooooooookie." Coleman proceeded to give Keller the loot and held onto his cookie, licking it for 30 minutes (not kidding)...this only added to Keller's torture as he had finished his in 30 seconds.
Halfway through the movie, that at this point only Jeremy was watching, I decide to be productive and start decorating. This is when both boys grabbed my gold sticks, declared them swords...and well, there goes the rest of the night. Not even Christmas can compete with a good sword fight. The boys jumped off the stairs, screaming, and waving their "swords". This was longest most loved activity of the night....
I can't help but wonder, if I had two girls, instead of two boys, if we would still all be curled up by the fire, sweetly and quietly watching the Christmas show...I guess i'll never know. Life is certainly non-stop with these two boys but watching them love life in their own boy way, is the best "Christmas moment" I could hope for.
11.04.2008
10.19.2008
Tongue Clippers
To my three loyal blog readers...sorry it has been so long since I've written...it's been a slow,long three months, but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...
So, a couple of days ago, I was tired of the boys fighting, tired of having Jeremy gone on the weekends, and just tired in general...then we discovered "tongue clippers." Tongue clippers are actually just metal tongs, but Keller for some reason declared them "tongue clippers"....and the name stuck. Bored of real toys in the playroom,the boys discovered (with my help...ok- really I handed them to them) the tongs. It really was the longest-played-with-non-fighting toy they had in ages. The best part is that I actually had two, so they werent forced to learn to share every two minutes. They would tongue clip the carpet in the play room(translation: pick up dust mites from carpet nasty), tongue clip random toys and put them in piles (translation: pick up toys from the selection of 50 on the floor and move them from one pile that would not be picked up to another pile that would not be picked up), and even wanted to sleep with the tongue clippers- they each separately asked to do this...here, I did draw the line.
Last night, with Coleman on my lap tongue clipping blocks, and Keller tongue clipping small books suddenly I see this flash of metal and feel a pain in the middle of my forehead. Coleman had missed a block, arm swung up and cut me with the top of the tongs...ouch! I immediately assess my wound and determine a butterfly bandaid should do the trick, I was suprised at how deep it was. As I am scurrying around trying to heal myself Keller and Coleman are both screaming...not because mommy dearest has been wounded...but because in about 2.25 seconds after the incident, I managed to declare our house "tongue clipper free" and replaced the tongs back where they belong...in a kitchen drawer. They were soon distracted however, by the butterfly bandaide placed vertically down the smack dab center of my forehead...our dialogue the rest of the night went something like this:
Coleman: what happened Mommy?
Me: you know what happened.
Coleman: tongue clippers Mommy.
Keller: now Mommy took them away but maybe we'll get more, right Mommy?
one minutes later
Coleman: What happened Mommy?
Me: you know what happened.....
anyways, you get the point- I certainly did...right in my forehead.
So, a couple of days ago, I was tired of the boys fighting, tired of having Jeremy gone on the weekends, and just tired in general...then we discovered "tongue clippers." Tongue clippers are actually just metal tongs, but Keller for some reason declared them "tongue clippers"....and the name stuck. Bored of real toys in the playroom,the boys discovered (with my help...ok- really I handed them to them) the tongs. It really was the longest-played-with-non-fighting toy they had in ages. The best part is that I actually had two, so they werent forced to learn to share every two minutes. They would tongue clip the carpet in the play room(translation: pick up dust mites from carpet nasty), tongue clip random toys and put them in piles (translation: pick up toys from the selection of 50 on the floor and move them from one pile that would not be picked up to another pile that would not be picked up), and even wanted to sleep with the tongue clippers- they each separately asked to do this...here, I did draw the line.
Last night, with Coleman on my lap tongue clipping blocks, and Keller tongue clipping small books suddenly I see this flash of metal and feel a pain in the middle of my forehead. Coleman had missed a block, arm swung up and cut me with the top of the tongs...ouch! I immediately assess my wound and determine a butterfly bandaid should do the trick, I was suprised at how deep it was. As I am scurrying around trying to heal myself Keller and Coleman are both screaming...not because mommy dearest has been wounded...but because in about 2.25 seconds after the incident, I managed to declare our house "tongue clipper free" and replaced the tongs back where they belong...in a kitchen drawer. They were soon distracted however, by the butterfly bandaide placed vertically down the smack dab center of my forehead...our dialogue the rest of the night went something like this:
Coleman: what happened Mommy?
Me: you know what happened.
Coleman: tongue clippers Mommy.
Keller: now Mommy took them away but maybe we'll get more, right Mommy?
one minutes later
Coleman: What happened Mommy?
Me: you know what happened.....
anyways, you get the point- I certainly did...right in my forehead.
8.25.2008
Funny faces
Sometimes, nothing is funnier than a smashed face. I found the boys mashing their faces against the mesh in coleman's pack and play. Of course, the more I laughed the greater the performance got. I remember my sister and I hard-core-stomach-ugly-face laughing when we would put panty hose on our heads...perhaps I should pick up a pair of Legs nylons for our next plane ride.
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