Brrrrrrrrr!!!

Ok. To start...yes...thanks to everyone for the harassing emails. I know, I know. Lately I stink at blogging...and in a couple of weeks, I'll fill you in on the reason behind my absence.

In the meantime...seeing as it is 20 degrees outside...I thought I'd share something that has been keeping us busy lately! (Not to mention extra cold!) Ice skating! Yes, Jackson is taking ice skating lessons...with the hopes of trying out ice hockey. (No, not figure skating. But with Jackson, you never know.) He has been taking lessons now since September and is absolutely loving it! I wouldn't say we have a "natural" on our hands...but he is learning.

He's getting better at not falling down...but then, we all know Jackson is not a dare devil and avoids risks at all costs. However, falling is inevitable.

Such is life. Now we have to working on falling and not getting an attitude afterwards!Oh well. It's all part of the fun!

So...hockey player? Figure skater (gulp!)? Actually, I don't have my money on either one. Now all he talks about is wanting to play soccer. Sigh.

Boo!

Well...haven't blogged for a while because we've all been sick! Fevers, runny noses, coughs, sore throats. Yuck! The only one who didn't get it was Brad. He says he's a "machine" and that a virus would never mess with him. (See what I put up with???) I guess that is for the better...because we all know how men are when they are sick! Anyway, I got to hang out with this for two weeks:

This was Jackson's ingenious way of not having to blow his nose all the time. Just stuff that kleenex up there and it absorbs for you! (This tactic was all well and good until he woke up one night crying...certain that he had stuffed his kleenex clear up to his brain and would have to go to the doctor to have it removed.)

Anyway, aside from being sick, we've been doing the typical fall stuff...pumpkin patch and all. To make a long story short...the boys got to "look" at pumpkins (I mean...why spend $20 on a pumpkin patch pumpkin when you can get a perfectly acceptable pumpkin at "the Wal-Mart" for 4 bucks???), they rode a pumpkin train, and got to enjoy other games.

And check out those scary Halloween costumes! Ha! For the big day, Jackson went as Tony Stewart (which I personally find very frightening that my child wanted to go as a NASCAR driver...thanks, Brad.) And next to Tony is our little chicken. Aren't they cute??

Our neighbor asked Jackson if he was a race car driver...his response? No! It's just a costume! Goof. So yes...we survived yet another Halloween (my least favorite holiday...bah humbug! There's just something about spending $50 on candy, sitting on the porch for 2 hours freezing my ass off...and handing out candy to people I don't know. Fun!!)

The best thing about Halloween...it's over!! Let's bring on Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Which...btw, I officially started wrapping Christmas gifts and listening to Christmas music!!) Now all we have to do is polish off the 30 pounds of candy the boys got and life will be back to normal.

Hope you all had a great October! I'll post some more pumpkin patch pics in a few days. (Promises, promises....)

A weekend in Madison

Well, Brad had his annual "Mancation" this past weekend. You know...when he and his college buddies hang out, smoke cigars, drink beer, and play poker. Seeing as the event was hosted at our house...the little boys and I got the heck outta dodge.

We headed down to Madison, Indiana with my folks...and had a great time! On the way there, Jackson wanted to know where Madison lived...so we had to explain that Madison is a town...not a girl. That boy never stops surprising me with the things that come out of his mouth.

Anyway! All the cute little shops that I remembered as a child are not there anymore. But we had fun eating on the water...and feeding catfish that were as big as my children. (No, really.) I also got to play around with my camera a little (imagine that). You can check out more pics by clicking here. Ok...so some of the pictures were taken at a park around here...but the ones by the river and the fountain were in Madison.

Enjoy! I'm off to take a nap. We all have colds and I am exhausted! I really don't know if I am more tired from the cold itself...or from watching the boys run around in circles because they are all hopped up on decongestant. Either way...it's naptime!

Flickr anyone???

Just a quick note to let everyone know I am on Flickr. I know...welcome to the times! I thought this would be a good place to post some pictures I take...when I don't feel like filling my blog up with them. (Not like I have anything else to talk about!)

So...head on over to Flickr and check out my pics. Some you've seen. Some you haven't. I'll try to update them as they flow in...although my kids are getting tired of modeling for me, so I may need new victims...er...uh...subjects. Anyone want to volunteer?? Price varies with experience. So...your current rate is...free!

Friends

I was reading a friend's blog the other day and she had a picture of her girls' most treasured "friends"...a.k.a. their "lovies." Call them lovies, blankies, animals...whatever. She had written an entire post about how important these things are to her kids.

It got me thinking about our house. In our house, we have Boppo, Froggy, and Monkey. Froggy and Monkey belong to Jackson. We have no back-ups for these guys, so it is very important to know where they are at all times. Jackson is to the point where his guys mostly stay in his bed for sleeping purposes...but if we ever leave the house for an overnight visit, then these guys are a must. And if we ever forgot them at someone's house, they would be one of the few reasons we would turn the car around. Sawyer, on the other hand, has Boppo. Boppo is a hippo...and that is how Sawyer said "hippo" when he first started talking....boppo. The name just stuck. Fortunately, by the time Sawyer was born I was smart enough to figure out I needed a backup for the dearly loved blankie he would sleep with. (I actually tried to get a backup Froggy when Jackson was little...but I waited too long and he rejected it. Now we have one original Froggy and two brand new reject Froggies.) Anyway, I wised up with Sawyer and did the ol' switcharoo with Boppo at an early age...you know...so I could wash him. It worked! (But please don't tell Sawyer because he doesn't know there is more than one.)

It is funny how kids "bond" with certain toys. And it's nice to know that they can find comfort in these little things when they need it.

I don't even want to think about the days when they are too big for their "friends." It'll never happen.

Turning the camera around...

Yesterday when Jackson was in school, I played around and took pictures of Sawyer. I started thinking....I'm not in any pictures because I'm always taking the pictures! These poor kids are gonna' look back on their lives and wonder where their mommy was when they were younger.

So....I decided to turn the camera around and get myself in some shots.

I think it may be time to hire a professional...but hey...it's proof that I exist!

Photography.

My latest obsession. Brad probably wishes it weren't, because it sure is an expensive hobby! But I have such a great time trying to capture the boys in action...it's addicting. Hopefully, one of these days, I'll have the time and money to take a class and actually learn how to do it right. But until then, I'm just playing around and discovering things on my own.

I've decided that every now and then I am going to share some of my favorite photos with you. (Aren't you lucky??) Maybe one of these days I'll even be good!

I love this picture of Sawyer...his pouty little pink lips, his warm pink cheeks, and of course...those eyes! This one too...I could eat him up!
I like the grandiose feeling of this one. (How's that for a word?) It makes my boys look small against the big trees...and they are small...and I love that. (Because they're growing like crazy.) Anyway, the blog doesn't do this teeny picture much justice...but picture it as an 8 x 10 or bigger.I'll keep you updated with more faves as I find time to take them. (May be a while!)

Time flies...

Man, have we been busy! School started for the boys last week...and it's been downhill ever since. Jackson is enjoying his second year of preschool and Sawyer is...well...going to Mother's Day Out. Brad had to take the boys to their first day of school because I had an appointment for myself. I was so worried about Brad getting the boys fed, dressed, take pictures, and find their classrooms, but he assured me it was no big deal. Sure enough...the first day of school was a success. The second day of school...not so much. Poor Sawyer is a full-fledged mama's boy. This made for a bit of a dramatic drop off last week. He cried the moment I dropped him off and was still crying when I left the building several minutes later. Ugh. That's gotta stop or I'll have to go to therapy!

More big news...Jackson is five! How did my first born get to be five?? I still remember the day that he was born just like it was yesterday. I wish they could be small forever. Anyway, Jackson had a blast celebrating his birthday. We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa (and crew) a few days before the big day...and celebrated with Mimi and Poppy (and crew) the day before his birthday. It was quite the extended event.And no birthday is complete without a pinata, right?

Of all the candy that was in the pinata, Sawyer got one orange sucker. Period. Why? Because his favorite color is orange. He was so proud!

Jackson did a little better.

We ended the day with a homemade "Cars" birthday cake...courtesy of yours truly.

And of course...a birthday wish! (I make the kids say them out loud...a new little tradition.) Jackson's wish??

"I wish I could be the highest jumper, so I could reach the clouds!"
Happy birthday, buddy!

Finger Paint.

Eeeeeeewwwwwwwww!! Look at those hands.

My parents gave the boys finger paint a couple of years ago. Yes, at least 2...and I finally got brave enough to let the boys use it! I'm not one for messes. Not that my house is always picked up (or ever, for that matter)...and I am definitely not a neat freak. But something about letting my kids get gooey just creeps me out. I'm trying to get better at this...really I am. I keep telling myself to let them be kids! Let them be boys! So today I did.

First things first...get all the gear and head outside. Second....dig the art smocks out of the back of the closet in order to keep them somewhat clean (it was a futile attempt). Third...and maybe most importantly...thank God that Crayola makes washable finger paint (so maybe I can relax and enjoy the mess...and the fun.)

Sawyer decided two things. One, he didn't want to get messy...and two, he was not about to wear a smock. I just kept telling myself -- it's ok. It's washable. The clothes are washable....the driveway is washable....and the kids are washable.

Even a little paint in the hair is no big deal...right?? Say it with me...it's washable!

The important thing is they had fun....they got along (an added bonus)....



...and they each created a favorite masterpiece.


And maybe most importantly...we used all the paint, so I'm off the hook for a while!!

Compliments

We had a good day at the store today...and that is something definitely blog-worthy. You see, with a soon-to-be 5 year old and a 2 1/2 year old, you just never know how a shopping trip is going to go down. Usually when we go shopping, there is a part of me that is nervous to take my kids out in public. Here are a few of our typical scenarios:

Scenario #1: Jackson wants to help Mommy push the cart. This one always turns out the same. Jackson is a good mommy's helper and at some point during every shopping trip he wants to help me push the grocery cart. Well, when you are only 3 feet tall, you have to really stretch your arms in order to reach the cart handle. More importantly, when your younger brother is sitting in the cart, his feet are right at the pusher's face level. Sawyer, being an instigator, can never resist the temptation to kick Jackson in the face. Of course this sends Jackson into a fury...and Sawyer into a laughing fit. This makes Jackson want to push the cart even more (because Sawyer won't let him) and results in more face kicking. Note: If you ever see a mother patiently (or not so patiently) trying to separate her children in a store...please smile at her. She's not having a good day.

Scenario #2: Jackson gets to put something in the cart....when of course Sawyer wanted to put that exact same thing and nothing else in the cart. It doesn't really matter who gets to put what in the cart...the other one wanted it and wanted to put it in the cart. This always results in a lecture that it doesn't matter who puts it in the cart...the outcome is the same. The item will end up at home. Unless, of course, you can't behave in the store and then the Ding Dongs are going back on the shelf!!! Note: If you see a mother raising her voice in a store...please don't call security. Ignore her. She's not having a good day.

Now, the reason I am so excited today is because I actually received a compliment while shopping. The boys were keeping themselves somewhat entertained by singing. And no, they weren't singing the usual Lada GaGa or Boom Boom Pow...they were singing none other than "Jesus Loves Me." And let me tell you...they were singing their hearts out! I saw an older woman shopping with her mother and they were both smiling at them. The daughter came over to me and said, "We sure are enjoying their singing!"

This made me feel wonderful! Not only were the boys behaving (somewhat), but they were also singing a wonderful song that everyone enjoyed. I said "thank you" and accepted the kind woman's compliment.

It's a good thing she saw us in aisle 5...because in aisle 3, they were pointing to items on the shelf and yelling, "Run! It's POOOOP!!"

Some kids suck.

Sorry for using the "S" word in the title of this post. (I'm sure my mother is still cringing...) But you know, sometimes there is just no other way to put something. Case in point -- some kids just suck!

I took the boys to the "big park" today. I was very excited, seeing as it is the first day of school around here for the big kids. That means the park will be fun! No big kids knocking down the little kids. No 10,000 unruley people at the park. Nope. Just us mommies and the little kids. Fun! So, after eating a picnic lunch, the boys headed off to play. Today their favorite thing was the super duper swirly slide, which is about a story high and has 3 or 4 twists. (This is the first year Jackson would even go down it!) They were doing great....going down the slide, running a huge lap around the park, and back down the slide. Well....doing great until little "Mikey" showed up.

Why does there always have to be a bully at the park? So...Mikey was probably a year older than Jackson...and did I mention that he was a bully!?! As my boys are running another lap with huge smiles on their faces...little Mikey shows up at the top of the slide and blocks it so the boys can't go down. Jackson, not being into confrontation, turns around to walk back down the ladder of the slide. "What are you, chicken!?!" Mikey yells.

"No," Jackson said nicely. To which Sawyer then yells at Mikey in his deep throated growley voice, "WE'RE NOT CHICKENS!!"

"Jackson," I said. "It's ok. You can go on down the slide."

"But that boy is in the way," Jackson said.

"It's ok," I said. "Go around him and go down the slide." I stood and watched for a minute as the boys went around the little bully and went on down the slide. As the boys were hopping out of the slide, little Mikey was hanging off the slide with his arms folded up into wings and was yelling "BWACK BWACK BWACK!!!"

Ok. Now I was ticked. I had to tell myself that I am a mommy. I am calm. I am cool. And I am not going to beat someone else's child (especially not in public). By this time the boys had made another lap around the park and were back at the top of the slide. Mikey was now running up the slide so the boys couldn't go down. I begin talking myself down...when suddenly a woman comes over from the opposite side of the park. "Mikey! That's warning number 1! You get three warnings and then we're going home!" Thank the Good Lord, I think to myself. It does have a mother!

The boys proceed down the slide happily. As they run past me, I grabbed Jackson and told him he didn't have to play with that little boy. "Why?" he asked. "Well, if he isn't going to be nice to you, then you don't have to play with him!" I said.

"Ok, Mommy," Jackson sweetly says.

This time as the boys are running their lap around the park, little Mikey meets them halfway and jumps in the middle of their path and growls at them like a monster. Mikey's mother stomps back over to him, "That's number 2, Mikey!!" At this point, I'm thinking go on Mikey...one more mess-up and your ass is outta here! I was actually kind of hoping he'd get in trouble again so his mother would take him home.

So...as the boys make their way to the top of the ladder...guess who has already made it up there? Uh-huh. Monster Mikey. Jackson looked at him and nicely said, "Don't play with us."

I think Monster Mikey thought about this for a second...and then he said "What's the secret password??" Jackson looked at me and said, "What's he talking about, Mommy?" (And about 2 seconds later, Sawyer is growling back at Mikey again...apparently he didn't understand the word "password" and thought Mikey had called them worms. "WE'RE NOT WORMS!!" Sawyer growled back at him. Atta' boy, Sawyer. You tell him!)

"The password, Jackson...you know...to get through," I said. At this point I was trying to help them play and get along. Finally Mikey said, "Just tell me a secret word and I'll let you through."

To which Jackson replies, "Will you please let us go down the slide?"

"Fine," Mikey says. The secret password is please. Just please." So Sawyer said the secret password and went down the slide. Eventually, little Mikey became a little bit nicer and the boys got along...but I was never comfortable with the little monster.

I just hate that some kids are so mean. It makes my heart ache to think of all the school days my kids have ahead of them. I know there will be bullies and arguments...and I wish I could fight the battles for my kids. I know "it's life"...but why do some people just have to suck!?!

The funny part is...on the way home...Jackson told me his favorite part of the day was making a new friend. Ah, boys.

What do YOU do on the hottest day of the year??

Just as soon as I gush about how nice the weather has been....we get a heat wave! Oh well. I can't really complain seeing as this is the first time it's been in the 90's since June. Not too shabby.

So, what do normal people do when it is so hot out? Go to a lake? Go swimming? Run in the sprinkler? Of course! But...what do I make my family do when it is 90 degrees outside?? Go to the park and let mommy try out her new camera lens, of course! (Insert sounds of evil cackle.)

Yes, for my birthday, Brad got me a new camera lens. Unfortunately it had been back-ordered until now...but I finally got it! Weehoo for my new glass! (That's camera talk for you common folk. Aren't I so cool??) I must admit, everyone was actually excited about our little outing. The boys just couldn't believe there was a bridge at the park...to them this was another childhood adventure!

Here's a pic of our little angels walking hand-in-hand, as usual. (Ahem! Excuse me.)
Now...my little Sawyer is a pretty easy model. He's agreeable, happy, and usually does what Mommy tells him.
Jackson, on the other hand...is not quite so simple. He's busy. He's not as agreeable. And he'd rather not take pictures. But every now and then I can make him smile without saying "CHHEEEEEEEEEEEESE!"
Now...something I've discovered about these little family "photo outings" is that the boys have to have fun. You have to let them play. (Here they are playing "checkers" with rocks.)And you have to remember that little boys cannot sit still for long.But if you let them have fun, then you will be surrounded by happy boys. And happy boys are loving boys...
And loving boys make for happy mamas and papas.

The End.