Premeditated acts of greediness

David is going to VBS this week. Today, when I picked him up he was clutching a cup full of candy. I didn't think about it much, I was just trying to get across the parking lot. Drew likes to spy teeny tiny rocks and bend down in the middle of the road to pick them up. Today he was having one of those moments and he just wanted to stop in the middle of oncoming vehicles. Couple that with it being one hundred degrees outside and you can understand why I was just focusing on getting them to the car and getting the AC on.

Anyway, Drew starts in on wanting candy too, so I start in on negotiations. "David give your brother one piece of your candy and I will give you three more when we get home." After David had finished interrogating me on where I hide the candy at home he nicely handed Drew one lone Lifesaver. Whatever, just let me drive in peace.

Once I got home and got the boys down for a nap, I went to put the promised candy in the cup. And noticed the pipe cleaner handles on the cup. And saw this, "This is a random act of kindness from a child at MRCC." He was supposed to give away his treasure. Wonderful! I love that someone took the time to help him make this and that he is being taught sharing and kindness in a really fun way and on a level that he can understand. Well, somewhat understand. I would have driven him anywhere when he got up from his nap to leave it on someones door knob. Gram's house? Uncle Sam's? Not a chance. "I won't eat it mom, but it's mine, just let me sniff it." Somehow I don't think the point of the activity was to walk around huffing into red plastic. Guess I'm glad he has many more years of VBS ahead of him...

If they hear it, they will say it

You can't always understand what Drew says, which is why it was so funny when he came up to me yesterday grinning and said, "Hey Nat, Nat, hey Nat!"
"Um, yes Drew?"
"NAT! Where is Keith?"
"At work Drew, please call me Mom."
Then we were in the parking lot and Drew's pacifier fell on the pavement. I snatched it up and did the disgusting thing that a lot of moms do when a pacifier drops. I put it in my mouth to "clean" it. I know it's just adding more germs to an already funky smelling paci, but it makes me feel better. Anyway, Drew just watched me put it in my mouth and giggling, he said, "NATALIE!!!" I guess he figured my full name was more respectful than the shortened version that Keith usually calls me.
Not to be outdone, David was in his fort playing with the neighbor girl yesterday. I was handing Chex Mix up (all food must be eaten in top level of fort or Hank the Tank will get it) and the girl, Kaitlyn, says, "I don't like it!" To which David calmly replied, "Try it. Try it and you may. Try it and you may, I say." Guess that's what happens when you read Green Eggs and Ham every night for two weeks.

Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug

We went to a pizza night at a nearby restaurant earlier in the week. It is always fun to see how protective of Drew David is when they are out in situations like that. Lately they have been randomly/spontaneously hugging and I just love it.

I was checking out at the grocery store after a long, semi-rotten morning (David smashed his finger in the car door, the boys have slight colds and are whiny, we had to leave a very fun music concert at the library early due to grumpiness) and there were two ladies in line behind me that were observing the boys like they were zoo animals. I had the boys in the back of a cart and here is the stuff this other customer was saying very loudly.

"Oh, my what loud little boys!"

"Look, they are hugging."

"Look at that, the big one is hugging the little one's head. I think he's hurting him."

"They are going to fall out."

"She needs to watch them better."

I just ignored her, but it drove me crazy. Maybe because she was morbidly obese with a cart full of Hostess snacks. But did I have a running commentary about her life? And, the "little one" can hold his own. If he's not screeching like a hyena he's not hurt. Drew rather enjoys headlocks from David. That's just what they do.

Not THAT kind of girls trip

I started college in the fall of '98 and by the spring of 99' I had made some great friends. Thus this is the ten year anniversary of these friendships. And what better way to mark the occasion than to gather these girls in Tulsa, OK to have some spa and shopping time. I kind of didn't realize that to get a good price on a room and have massages and breakfast included we had purchased the "Couples Package." This meant that my best friend Jessica and I got to enjoy whirlpool bathtubs in a dimly lit room while listening to soft music. Thank goodness we had both brought our bathing suits and we were in separate tubs. Also, our massages were on our own so nothing got uncomfortable. I have no idea what the hotel people thought of us. Hopefully they got that it was a girls weekend and not a lover's escape.

I value these friendships so much. Two of my friends live in Texas, one in Tulsa, one lives here and the other lives in California. While I have checked their blogs, sent texts and had the occasional phone conversation nothing compares to being able to talk and catch up in person. No one really posts their private struggles on their blog and you don't send texts that say, "I'm having a hard time." I really want to work to make time and meet up and see these friends rather than just taking a quick peek at the highlights in their lives. I don't want to end up just Christmas card friends. So, Erin, April, Jessica, Keitha and Anastasia- join me again next year? Just as friends of course.

Full sentences and phrases

Drew started saying a few full sentences a while back. "See me, I'm naked." and "Give it back!" are two that come to mind. However, I think I will choose to remember his words this morning as his "first sentence."

He and David were watching cartoons in our bed first thing this morning and Keith and I were still half dozing. I opened my eyes and I saw David reach over and hold Drew's hand. Then Drew said, clear as a bell, "Oh Dabid, I love you." David nonchalantly replied, "I love you too Drooby."

David has moved on to alliteration. He likes to say, "pineapple poop" at random times. Don't laugh at him if you hear him say it, I am trying to just ignore it, but this is going into the third month of hearing "PINEAPPLE POOP!" from the backseat. The English teacher in me is proud. The third grader in me is mildly amused. The mom part of me pretends I don't hear him say it.

Live and Learn

There is a saying that goes, "The road to wisdom is paved with mistakes." If this is true then we got a little wiser this week.

David learned that if you run and put both feet in the fountain in front of Red Robin then you don't get to go with your friends to Orange Tree (thus punishing his parents as well.) He also learned that wearing wet shoes the next day (generic Croc had gone missing and cowboy boots wouldn't do) isn't very comfortable. In addition to these life lessons he found out the hard way that boys that get up and down at restaurants are boys that get to sit in a high chair. Our overworked waitress was more than happy to go find one for David since he had already spilled a glass of water while being wiggly.

And then there is Drew. Who figured out that it's not always a great idea to go up the slide while David is going down. I probably shouldn't have allowed them to do this... It's even worse that I thought it was so funny that I got the camera. Have a laugh at my Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Drew-

Two sides of fear, please.

At the beginning of summer, I always wonder how to give my boys a healthy dose of fear without turning them into scaredy cats. Case in point- Drew would jump head first into a pool without thinking and David will climb anything without regards to how dangerous it is. Nowadays, David will converse with anyone. The other day, he said, "Mom, that man is waving at me, he is a friendly guy." From the looks of the man, I quickly replied, "Yes, David, he certainly looks friendly (pedophile-ish/creepy) get in the car now."
David and I went on a mother/son cowboy night at church yesterday evening and there were horse rides. Not ponies, but massive quarter horses. There was one little boy David's age that started bawling as soon as he got on top of the horse. David stood there with his eyes wide and said, "I'm not scared, give me a turn." And true to his word he sat there and held on for his short ride. Now, of course, I was happy that he rode the horse (didn't have my camera) but I can't blame the crying boy. The kids were so small compared to the horses and all it would take was one wrong move, a loud noise to startle the animal and David really could have gotten hurt. Probably the little boy that was frightened is intelligent enough to realize that and to weigh whether or not the two minute ride was worth it.
I don't think that my boys are dumb. I do think that their desire to try out, conquer and explore completely overrides any thoughts they might have on the outcome. If you read about boys in general you will find out that being impulsive and fearlessness go with the territory. They are wired differently. That's why there are some professions that are male dominated. While there are plenty of women in Keith's line of work- he is suited to it because he can face daily rejection from arrogant doctors day after day. I would crumple after one "no." He takes risks, they are just of a different kind.
Keith loves to say to me, "We're raising sons, not daughters Nat." Well, I suppose he is right. And if the end result are two people who end up a lot like their dad, the world will be a better place and I'll be happy. So, I'll be in the icy cold pool when I would rather be sitting on the side. I won't bring my library book to the park for a few more years and I'll continue to follow close behind. Rather than tell David that Very Bad Men sometimes drive ice cream trucks I'll just tell him we don't talk to strangers. Because that's what moms of little boys do.

Life is like a box of chocolates...good!!!

David has been picking Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory to read pre-nap and before bed EVERY day for the past thirteen days straight. (Another reason why I asked for book suggestions on my previous post.) He also has started doing one "curtain call" (coming downstairs) a night. I can't really blame him- he still takes a long nap and he really isn't tired when we put him to bed. Nonetheless, I wanted to break this habit and indulge something he has been dreaming about.

I promised him if he would stay upstairs for three nights in a row, I would get him his own box of chocolates. He stuck to it so much that I realized he wasn't even coming downstairs in the morning, he would just lay in his room until I gave him permission to get out. When Keith reads him the story David tells him which family members will get which chocolates. (David gives himself the most.)

Today, Keith went on a pharmacy call and picked up a box of Russell Stovers. He then realized he shouldn't leave it in the car on this hot day, so my sweet husband put the box in with his big bag of sample drugs and kept it with him for the remainder of the day.

The chocolates were everything David hoped for. Did he start acting like a dog and get a bit hyper? Yes. In turn, Keith told him dogs couldn't have chocolates. David's reply was, "Oh Dad, I am only a pretend dog, boys can have chocolate!

I don't think I will ever forget seeing my snuggly three year old in his motorcycle pajamas cozied up with his dad and reading the box to pick which chocolates he wanted. It was so worth it.
Disclaimer- He only got to pick three, I brushed his teeth afterwards and this was a one time deal.