South Paws

While watching the boys eat the other day, my mom noticed something I had not until that very moment. Lucas and Wyatt are both South paws.

To be sure I don't sound totally oblivious to which hand my children use every day while they color, eat, or race their cars- I have noticed all three of them sometimes used left, sometimes used right. But since she pointed it out,
every time I watch them now (at school and at dinner) they are favoring their left hands.

I think we have some baseball players in the midst. What do you think?

Pull Over!

With Don out of town this past rainy weekend, I tried to keep the kids as busy as possible to prevent the issues that accompany bored boys.

The first thing on our agenda was little Reagan's birthday party. After a couple hours of jumping to their heart's content in the bounce house and eating some delicious cake, the plan was to drop Nana at her house and then go play at Cathy's house. After dropping Nana off at her house I glanced in my rear view mirror and saw the boys were nodding off a bit, so I decided to run back to our house and buy some time to let them sleep.

Almost an hour later, with less than 10 minutes to reach Cathy's house, Wyatt woke up crying. "I have to go pot-ty!". Trying to hush him so he wouldn't wake the other two only made him louder. "I have to GO POT-TY and it HURTS!".

Cursing myself for not keeping a potty chair in the back of our car for more than a month, I got off at the next exit. With his wails of woes getting louder by the second and the other two now awake and wondering what in the world was going on, I pulled over on the side of the exit ramp.

In the pouring rain, I whisked him out of the car and over to the railing side of the exit -trying to keep him as close as possible to the car so he could be sheltered from passerbys. Back in the car Lucas and Jaxon were wide eyed and completely confused, never before have we had an emergency like this one.

Every time we pass this exit now, Lucas asks "Wyatt pee peeed outside?" It's something like this, that makes me wonder if it will be their first memory.

Crafty

JoAnns had a huge sale last week and scrapbooking paper priced at 6 for a dollar! I snatched a bunch of papers up and made us a little valentine decoration for our entry way. I am sure that something similar could have been purchased at the Dollar Store, but then I'd have no excuse to have Don wash the dishes for me.

Imagination Station

Wyatt with his first monster picture and his face showing the scariness it all.

Today the boys started doing new things. Boy things.

Where do they learn these boy things? I know their Dad is of course a huge fixture in their life, but I also know Don doesn't draw monsters or run around with a blanket -uh I mean cape around his neck.

Or does he?

And why does being a boy have to include making these faces?

Pajama Day

Today was a preschool day. I was feeling pretty good this morning- completely on top of my game. I straightened my hair, cooked french toast for the kids and had them out the door by 9:01. 9:03 is the norm time, so I was even a few minutes ahead of schedule. We were in the car -almost half way to school- talking about our friends at school when I went to remind them about Valentine's day next week.

SCHREECH! All the sudden my mind went 100 miles an hour.

Today was "Wear Your Pajamas to School" day! And they were not in their pajamas!

So in my mind I decided I would rather them be late than not be able to participate, so I whipped the car around and raced back home. Pulling up to the house, I unbuckled all three of them, raced them up stairs and barked orders for them to get undressed. Frantically I searched their room for clean pajamas (seriously, we have like FIVE sets of PJ's for them!)-only coming up with zippered feet pj's and being it felt like 70 degrees outside, that was not a good mommy choice.

I quickly jumped in their closet, pulling out their spring clothes box and found some new pajamas. Praying the new pj's would fit, I tugged them over the boys heads trying not to mess up their hair and put all six shoes back on their feet. Running out the door with their animals and blankets in hand I was thankful it felt like 70 degrees since the pajamas they were wearing had short sleeves with coordinating shorts.

The kids buckled up in their seats faster than ever before (I think they were a little frightened) and off to school we went. Going back to change clothes made us almost a full half hour late for school -but it is only preschool. No tardies or pink slips yet.

When I went to pick the kids up, the teacher was inviting the parents into the classroom. Luke was dancing under his blanket while the other two were having a good time making their little animals participate in the hokey pokey. It was a crazy morning, but much worth it.

And that's what it's all about.

To the Library

After preschool today, I made a change in the normal plans. Instead of going straight to the playground next door, I made the executive decision to bribe the kids with going to the BIG playground after they woke up from their naps. See how I worded that? Leaves no room for discussion and if you do not nap, then how will you wake up from your nap? If you don't wake up, then we can not go. Even when they were in their 2's they understood that logic.

Why the change in after school plans? Because today while the boys were at preschool, I decided to go to Borders instead of stuffing my face with a yummy bagel and cream cheese. All sorts of books I never knew I needed were there, titles jumping out at me as I walked down the aisles. Books about knitting, raising boys, and how to get motivated to lose this weight. With only three in my hands, the total equaled way more than the People magazine I originally intended to buy. So off to the library I needed to go.

So with the library rules outlined to the boys, we headed inside. In the years since I have last looked for a book in a library, I had forgotten about the Dewey system. Not quite sure where anything other than the children's books were, I led the kids to the children's corner. Immediately ignoring all the wonderful stories surrounding them, they all gathered around the bead and wire machine.

After they were beaded out and I had my information in hand, we slowly walked over to the adult section. Asking them to sit quietly on the floor was somehow translated into "please lay in the bottom shelves of the bookshelf". But since it did keep them quiet and busy for the few minutes it took me to gather my books together, I welcomed the silence and ignored the looks people were shooting in my direction.

Now we are about 8 books richer in our house. Kids books, knitting books, weight books, and raising kids books. And in two weeks, we get to go back for more.

Scrap Page

Limburger Cheese

The past few times Annie has been in town, there has been some talk between her and Don about trying Limburger cheese. For one reason or another, it never came to fruition, so this time Annie packed some on her carry on as a "present" to Don.

Don opened his beer, took a swig and started unwrapping the cheese. Annie gagged as she caught a whiff across the room -even before Don had the package completely opened. I thought she was nuts since I have super smelling abilities and still couldn't smell it, so I walked up and took a whiff close up. BIG MISTAKE! The cheese smells like dirty sweaty socks. Blech.

Despite mine and Annie's reactions, Don did the happy dance you see above and cut himself a slice. Luke woke up crying in his room and I was up to my elbows in washing dishes at the sink, so I asked Don to run and get him. Well, after all that build up about taking a bite, Don wasn't going to let it go, so he took a bite and ran up the stairs.

He didn't even make it up half the stairs before turning around and running back to the sink. Noisily, he spit the cheese out and began gagging. Being the gentleman he is, he had the decency to run the water and garbage disposal so we wouldn't get grossed out hearing him get sick. No chance of that though, because at that point we were laughing so loud I doubt we would have heard him anyhow. Annie went up to save Lucas while I dried my hands to follow her.

For a good hour afterwards, you could hear giggles from Annie, having flash backs to the incident. Don took the cheese to work the next day, wanting to be sure it was disposed properly and never to be seen (or smelt) again.

Go Climb that Mountain!

Recently my cousin Annie came out to visit us. She is a single, hip girl, so it surprises us when she chooses to spend her hard earned vacation time with us, but it definitely thrills us as well.

This is Annie's 3rd visit in the past year to see us. Once was with her sister Katie last year, but somehow Jaxon gets her name mixed up and calls her "Katie". When we tell him her name is Annie, he looks at us as if to say like why are you trying to pull one over on me? .

While Annie was here, we decided we had a great kid to adult ratio and it was time to tackle mountain climbing. It was a nice cool day with a little breeze, so everything seemed perfect. It stayed that way until 15 minutes into it, we were at the half way point and the breeze had turned into something strong enough that we didn't want to let go of the kids hands while we were close to the mountains edge. Once we got to the top, the kids had frozen snot coming out of their nose and their hands were definitely chilled to the touch.

After they played around at the top and we read all the neat signs about the mountains around us, Jax cuddled up to me and said he wanted to go home. So back down we went, baby step by baby step down the steep hillside. The boys were so tuckered out, they didn't even ask to play at the playground we passed on the way to the car.

It was hard work, but the reward of getting them to go to bed on time was worth the pain our legs had the next day.

Playground Fun

The boys are big kids now. It is to the point of where I have to remind them to watch out for little babies when we go to the playground. I used to hold my breath and wait for other moms to remind their kids about our babies.

When Don makes it to the playground with us, there is not much rest for him. Cries of "Daddy, come get me!" come from every corner of the playground structure.


When Lucas saw Jaxon climbing up on the side of the slide, he exclaimed, "Ho-ey mo-yee Jax!" And then when Jaxon saw me download this picture, he said "Lukey say hoey-a-mowee at me".


Wyatt is finally braving the red rope climber. He freaks out when anyone shakes it, but one step at a time.


Here is Lucas with a bog smile on his face. He is so proud of himself for climbing up the curvy slide before anyone else got in line to go down.

Oreo

Don just got home from the grocery store and had a box of Oreos. The boys were dancing around, asking for cookies. After denying he had cookies, Lucas pointed to the Oreo box.

Don: "How do you know those are cookies?"

Lucas: "It say so right there!
O-R-E-O... cookies!"

My Little Lucas

There are so many things that make you uniquely you.

Your voice makes me laugh. It is so big and deep for a little boy and it has so many inflections when you talk. Your new favorite phrase seems to be, "ho-ey mo-yee!" (holy moley) and you make it sound like it has 8 syllables. Everything you say makes me laugh, just from the sheer ridiculousness that it is a 3 year old talking in 6 year old personality.

You are the little mommy of the group. If someone spills their water and gets distressed, you tell them it is okay. If they are hurt- you run up and tell them to let you see. You love telling us, "I have idea" when there is a certain way you want things to happen. You are the best behaved child ever. There is no straight defiance from you, but you make sure everyone is on a level playing field. If you want yogurt and I tell you there is none, you ask to see for yourself. You are a smart cookie.


Recently you have been brave enough to slide down the fireman pole at the playground. You won't do it yourself yet, but oh- how I wish I had a camera to capture your smile the first time you decided to give it a try. You love to jump from the high snake head at the sand pit area, and laugh at the shocked faces of people worried you will get hurt.

You are such a hard-to-pin-down boy. You resist lovins', but when I finally wrangle you over, you giggle the sweetest giggle once my lips touch your neck. On the rare occasion you want to cuddle, it is always with your Momma. If you are sick, to Mommy you run. But if you see your Daddy in a position you even think is compromising, you are attracted to him like a magnet. You like to sneak up on him and jump on his back and then giggle so loud when he plays along with you. He makes your eyes light up like no one else can.

Your little hands and feet are not so little. We call them your paws because they show us what a big man you will be when you grow up. They are always so warm, too. I can't think of a time I have touched your hands and they felt cold to me.

You are sometimes afraid of trying new things, but when you decide to tackle them, you do it with full intent to conquer. I know how hard it is for you to put yourself out there and try; and sometimes I try to push you a bit out of your comfort zone, but you always amaze me with how well you do things that you think you can't yet do.

You are so kind to everyone. Just the other night you guys picked out your clothes for the next day and Wyatt wanted the shirt you already had chosen. So you switched with him -without being asked to. You do things like that all the time. You give people room around you and never assume everything for yourself like most everyone does at that age, and even much older.

Your sense of humor is so off. We never know what will make you laugh, and so we are delighted to hear laughter explode out of your mouth at the silliest things.

Lately you have not been feeling so well. I am thinking it is the three rounds of antibiotics you had from your ear infection. It has been over a couple months, but you are just not yourself yet and it is beginning to worry us.

We love you so much and are so proud of you, little Lukey. You are the unexpected rainbow in our lives and I am so proud to be your Momma.

He's not afraid

Jaxon is a brave little guy. Beside bugs and car washes -he has little in this world to be afraid of. Driving through the airport tunnel? He yells with glee about "ghosts in the tunnel guys!". Climbing to the top of the red rope pyramid at the playground? He has been doing that for over a year! When he spots a big dog, he just asks to pet it.

So why was I surprised tonight at bed time when he told me he is not afraid of something new?

He is so very brave after all. Except for gnats, right Annie?

As I was rushing them to go potty one last time before getting under the covers tonight, Jax came around the corner into their room and looked at me. "I not 'fraid of you" he announced. Not quite sure of what he had just said, he had to repeat it a few times until I repeated it and asked him if that is what he said.

He said it once again and then raising his eyebrows a little and shaking his head to the side, he looked me right in the eye and matter-of-factly added, "I not 'fraid!".

Yeah. We'll see how that goes tomorrow when I get my game face on.

Valentines Day Wreath

Around Christmas time I began to notice all these cute crafts people in blog land were creating. Loving what I saw, a plan was made. After what seemed like forever, the boys finally had school again and allowed me to visit Joann's in peace.

Wednesday night I took my new fabric and rotary cutter and chopped my fabric into 2 inch squares. Luke wanted to help, but eventually he was happy that I was just allowing him in the room. Until he quickly ran out the door once the ice cream truck's tinkling song faintly was heard all the way upstairs.

After a few hours of gluing and stabbing a foam heart, my wreath was like-able. Add to it a ribbon bow and a suction cup to attach it to my door, and I was beginning to feeling the love.

Here is the link to the tutorial.

True Love

A New Project

As if we didn't have enough on our plates with family drama, the kids in town and Wyatt's surgeries, Don and I decided to tackle our entertainment center. It has been on the "to do" list for years, but it was livable painted brown and just fading into the wall. When Christmas rolled by with new toys to store, it just seemed like a better solution to build up the entertainment center from the drawers he and my dad built when we first moved in.

Before:


Notice the ingenious plexiglass frame to keep little hands off the tv and away from the dvd and stereo buttons. All the electronics were just stacked on top of each other.


During:















After:
We have shelves to put all the electronics up. Don's game shelf holds his Wii and PlayStation as well as a basket for all the controllers and other pieces. Even the Wii fit board slides all the way back in it! I organized all the discs into separate organizers for movies and games. No more big, bulky, plastic games or dvd movie cases.

The tv is secured with a black ratchet strap around the top, so it is impossible for the boys to move or tip it. The bottom area holds more of the kids' books and a basket for some of their new games. We originally were going to put a door there, but have decided it would just get in the way. However, I would like to embellish the baskets -but am working on ideas for it.



I think my favorite part is the light Don has going around the top. He did most of this in just a matter of days, rarely having to recut any pieces. I think all the wires took the bulk of the time up, but everything works wonderfully. To quote Jax, "It looks be-u-tiful!".
Good job, honey!

Digi Scrapping

I decided to post the layouts I do. Enjoy!

December 25, 2008

On Christmas morning the boys and I woke up a bit later and after eating breakfast and playing a bit with their new toys, we went over to Nana's.

At my parent's house, we have a card giving tradition. Probably 10 years back my Dad put Christmas cards in the tree for us- my sister, myself and my mom. We would receive these beautiful Christmas cards that he picked out -they meant much to us- knowing he chose just the right one. The tradition has evolved and Leigha and I now also give the cards to my parents, as well as each other. We all put our cards on the tree as we fill them out and they sit on the tree until Christmas morning, where -in probably the only silent moment of the whole day -we all sit and soak in the words written in the cards.

This year the boys got their first cards. Too young to understand, of course. But wow, how wonderful that this is a meaningful tradition we can pass down the line.


Then it was time for opening gifts! A big hit was the Doctor set Auntie Leigha got the boys. All three wanted to be Drs, not a patient in sight. So, Pops was a good sport and acted as the patient for them. Shots to be given, band aids to be applied, and blood pressure had to be checked -all at the same time!





After the presents were opened and loved on, we decided to kill time while waiting for Don to get off of work. Play doh was the obvious answer. The kids loved all the colors of dough and the new toys that cut it up and sliced it out. Me, on the other hand, I am not a big fan. It was not so much the annoyance of all the swirled colors, but the mess! Goodness, the mess. The boys loved it all though and even helped clean it up in the end- just in time for Daddy to come join us!

For the rest of the night we just had great family time. Grandma and Poppa (Don's parents) were here in town to have a family Christmas and the boys had such a fun night playing with them on the activity center Aunt Leigha had given them for Christmas.

We can also thank Aunt Leigha for this picture. Without all of us sitting and playing foosball at once, we would have passed through an entire Christmas holiday without a single picture of the five of us.


Finally the night had settled down as we all sat in the living room and took turns playing Dad's new game of Ms Pac-Man. A memorable Christmas for all, and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Wii have been busy

Besides Wyatt's tonsil/adenoid/ear tubes surgery, why has it taken me weeks to get Christmas posted? One of a few reasons -blame it on the Wii! Even though we have had the Wii for a while, we got a couple new games that all five of us have been enjoying.

First off, the boys (ahem) got Outdoor Adventure for Christmas. It comes with a mat that can be walked or run on, -even jumped on. The boys like to play the log game where they can run up to then jump over the log. They are all pretty good at it, but it is pretty funny to see them do it.

As if we weren't having enough fun on the Wii, Don went and got us the Wii Fit! The boys love doing all the balance games and we can even talk them into doing yoga exercises. My personal favorite is one I just discovered the other day. It is the running exercise. You just run in place, holding the Wii remote and it takes your Mii through the trail. Or in our house, I give Jax the remote and watch all three of them run themselves silly. They love it, it gets out their energy, and I get to sit back and watch.


See, it is a win-win for all!