Little Devils

Stinking cute, but 100% STINKERS! Yesterday was our first snow day of 2009 and could very well be our last. We're not lucky enough for a true winter with lots of snow ... so we'll enjoy every little bit we get.

We started the day with a trip to the pediatrician for #1's four year old physical. Here are some highlights:
He is 40 lbs and 42 1/2 inches ... and full of answers...
Dr.: "Do you like green vegetables?"
#1: "I eat peas."
Dr.: "Oh good, how about broccoli or green beans?"
#1: "Um, No. Broccoli and Green Beans make me want to throw up. I only eat peas."
Dr.: "Do you ever eat a salad?"
#1: "No. Salads are for grown ups. My Mom and Dad eat a lot of salad, but I eat steak! I also drink milk. My parents don't drink milk, they drink wine."
And there you have it. So we crawled home from the pediatrician with the rest of the drivers that never drive in snow. The whole way #1 cries out from the back seat, "WHY ARE WE GOING SO SLOW?" There is a reason cars have DVD players in them now ... so parents don't throw their kids out of the car and keep on driving.

We made it home just in time to inhale lunch then head back out. Mr. Right took #1 sledding (a HUGE hit) and I took #2 to the ENT for his post-op check up. #2 is doing just fine ... his parents are on eggshells waiting for the next green nose to hit. He's been off of antibiotics for a whole week ... if we can make it to two it might be a new record. Think good thoughts ...

Everyone was home for the afternoon and I spent most of it refereeing a wrestling match between the dueling Power Rangers. I don't even know what Power Rangers are ... we have no action figures or TV or video - I don't know how they crept into my house. But they are here and they are physical! A father of 3 - two boys and one girl - that I work with says his wife is famous for throwing their boys into their basement while saying, "don't come up unless someone is bleeding." I get it ... more every day. These boys are only 4 and 1 1/2 ... I will be heavily medicated when they are 16 and 14.

Me: "Why are there 6 umbrellas in the basement?"
#2 runs and hides in the tee-pee. He thinks if I can't see him, I couldn't possibly think he's up to no good.
#1: "Silly Mommy - we're using the umbrellas as our swords."
Me: "Well I think umbrellas need to stay upstairs and get ready for our next rain storm. Umbrellas are for keeping us dry in the rain. They are sharp and someone might get hurt."
#1 (with this look of Duh! ... of course someone will get hurt - that's the point): "But we're Power Rangers, we need our swords. It's OK for Soldiers to carry guns and Power Rangers to have swords."

We went on and on with this for awhile (surprise, surprise). It finally ended after encouraging them to make the diapers.com box into a rocketship ... Hope you're blasting off somewhere fun today!

Bacon

We've been struggling a little bit with school lately. #1 is in the middle of lots of organized "play group" sessions for the schools we're applying to for next year. Yes - applying ... and Yes - he is only four ... don't get me started. I do my best to keep the whole situation light - we're just going to meet some new friends and play for an hour, then we'll do something fun just the two of us ... But, I can imagine it is a stressful situation for children, even our love everyone Mr. Mayor. Anyway, there has been a lot of morning tears (mostly fake tears, but some real ones too) and drama about not wanting to go to school.

#1 says "I don't want to go to school. I don't like school."
Mr. Right says "I know buddy, I don't want to go to work."
#1 says "Then let's stay home and play."
Mr. Right says "No, I can't. I have to work so I can bring home the bacon."
#1 breaks out in laughter, the mood has changed, all is good.
#1 says "Bacon? That's silly Daddy."

Yesterday was a disaster upon returning from Grandma's house. It normally is and has nothing to do with the spoiling by Grandma, and everything to do with coming down from the the extra special big boy trip - packing his bag, flying on the plane, spending time away from your parents and all things normal. We're learning somewhat quickly that even though #1 is an excellent communicator at age 4, he's got some trouble with expressing disappointment ... unfortunately it is expressed as most 4 year old minis express it. He dumped his lunch on the floor yesterday at school. When his teacher (which by the way, HE LOVES) asked him to clean it up he screamed at her, "I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND. I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN YOU SAY THAT TO ME. WHAAAAAAAAAA!"

So on the car ride home from school last night I asked #1 how his day was. He is brutally honest and will throw himself under the bus when necessary - I can only hope this continues.
#1 said, "I didn't have a very good day today. I told Daddy I didn't want to go to school, but he made me go and I wasn't very good."
We talked about how it was disappointing to be home from Grandma's house and what a special trip it was ... and how much #2 and I missed him and that we're so happy he's back home so we can see him. He was all smiles ... for 30 seconds.

#1 says, "Is tomorrow a school day?"
I said "Yes, it is. Mommy and Daddy both have to work tomorrow."
#1 says "But I've told you a thousand times, I don't like school." (wonder where he got the thousand times ...)
I'm starting to panic, I can feel the tantrum coming on, I'm sweating ...think Momma think ... change the mood! Bacon! I've got it!!
I say, "I know you would like to stay home tomorrow, but Daddy and I both have to work so we can bring home the bacon."
#1 says "Well I don't like bacon, so you don't have to bring it home."

Full House

It's been so quiet since Mr. Right and #1 left last Saturday. And not only quiet ... CLEAN. I've only had ONE messy boy to clean up after, not the usual three. A few observations over the last few days ...
- beds were made and toys picked up and put away each day; total "yard sale" of the playroom was able to be intercepted
- dirty clothes were IN the hamper instead of piled at the foot of the hamper, on top of the bed, in the middle of the floor, hanging off of any piece of furniture that may be around when someone decides to strip
- assorted veggies, cheerios, parts of meals that landed on the floor got cleaned up instead of stepped on so many times that they are mashed into the wood floor and now part of our dining room ambiance
- making lunch for 1 child at 9PM doesn't piss me off nearly as much as making lunch for 2 children at 9PM
- laundry is quickly checked off the "to do" list when there are only 2 loads
- "No! No! Noooooo!" from a 20 month old didn't seem to count as back-talk or not listening ... and redirection was met with interest instead of negotiation

BUT ... Mr. Right and #1 are home and I never thought I would long for the chaos ... but I did. Life is full of goodness once more.

"What a Country!"

Today I miss Tim Russert. It doesn't seem quite right to celebrate this historic day without my favorite political voice. That said, today is the kind of day when I feel so lucky. The energy of this country is unbelievable and it is about damn time to have individual citizens committed to the future of this country. What a great day for all Americans - regardless of your voter registration card.

Mr. Right took #1 away on a business trip, so I'm home alone with #2 - who is recovering from an adenoidectomy. We've been having a snuggle fest since last Monday and he is just about back to normal. He thought he was in for a fun day of playing with "Mommmmeeee" ... only she had other plans for today. At 20 months #2 got his first significant lesson in American history - which had nothing to do with building blocks, zooming cars, or playing endless amounts of cover me up with pillows and let me jump out and say "Boo!" He may not understand the significance of today now, but he could see and feel the importance from my face as I watched the TV. Little brother, I hope you are feeling a little part of how great this day is all the way across the pond.

I'll get back to the business of the boys tomorrow ... but today is all about this historical day. Wow! "What a Country."

Happy New Year!

We kicked off 2009 the only way this family knows how ... lots of friends, food, drink ... and football (and car racing and movies when the kids said enough!). Here are some of the minis after surviving Santa and lots of holiday get togethers with their parents. You can almost see the sugar oozing from their pores. They ate lots of black eyed peas last night, so there is goodness on the horizon (and some very foul diapers today). And who is responsible for giving my sweet baby a beer with his dinner?!! At least the Coke was caffeine free...I hope, hope, hope that sleep and schedules return to normal immediately. If not, I'm officially putting ear plugs in my ears at night and will have to live with whatever happens.

May 2009 be as awesome as Lightening McQueen and superheroes.