End of October

This picture was taken on the way to make our first trick or treat stop at my friend Kristen's house. Drew was a much happier elephant this time around. David wanted to be his favorite stuffed animal, "Blue Hank," for Halloween. My friend Jayme, found a Blue's Clues costume at a consignment store. And David was one very happy blue dog. Who wouldn't be?

Maybe on Halloween Eve I dressed up as Superwoman and had a really good time at a party while my boys slept and my fourteen year old cousin played video games back at the house. Nope, won't post any pictures of that, but I will say that I like to dress up as well. Even in borrowed costumes that reveal slightly more than I like.

But it's a toss up on which night was more fun. October 30th or 31st. Because two Super girls and two happy animals make for a pretty good time as well.

Sad Elephant, Macho Man

Just as I have been thinking of posting about how great Drew is doing at school and how we have worked to overcome his fears, he had the saddest day at school. I had several people at the boys' school come and tell me that he had been crying most of the day. He didn't touch his lunch so he must have been miserable. We can hope that he is getting sick and this is the reason for the change in behavior. That is way preferable to thinking that this reluctance to have fun is going to be the trend.
We read stories about going to school, sing songs on the way, repeat the mantra, "Mommy always comes back," and play who can spot the playground first on the way to school every Tuesday and Thursday. Today, I let my guard down, talked on the phone to my mom on the way, and assumed he was going to be happy. After all, he was wearing an elephant costume. Who wouldn't be thrilled? The director had to drag a sobbing pachyderm out of my car and when I went in to the costume parade to take pictures he became despondent again when his class left the auditorium.
I am going to give it a little while longer, but I may end up trying the whole school thing again when he's three. Not sure if days like this are worth it.

You'll get to see David's real Halloween costume in a few days. This is a stand in because there is no way he could go to the bathroom in the one I purchased for him. Trust me that this thrown together construction worker is the much manlier than the one he will be wearing on October 31. Poor little worker. All his success in school and good behavior has been overshadowed by Drew's drama.

Four walls

A few years ago we visited some friends who had a toddler. This was before we had kids, so, of course we thought their little boy was the best thing ever. He would run up to us and lift up his shirt and say, "eat corn on cob." Our friend quickly and sheepishly explained that he wanted us to eat his belly like a piece of corn on the cob because that is what they did. We politely declined his offer of corn and just laughed. We weren't about to slobber on his pudgy belly.
Now we have lots of little things we do that probably is best reserved for our house. Case in point, as I put on my make-up every morning, Drew likes to play the Bum Bum drums. And while I think it's both funny and a relief that he is occupied so I can do my face, I wouldn't want him to try the same with someone else. Can you imagine if Drew went to school and started messing with teacher's fannys saying, "Bum diddy bum bum bum!" You can only slap mommy's rear Drew. And there is a cut off age.
David has all the openness of a four year old. He's pretty used to just telling it how it is. But I doubt that the people at the store wanted to see him walking around with his hands stuffed in the back of his britches. "David, do you have to go poop?" I didn't even realize as I said it that this is a phrase that is best whispered. David was equally loud in his response of, "No Mom, my bottom just itches." Lovely.

Where the Frustrated Things Are

Weekends have a different meaning when you are a parent. I have to remind myself that before I had kids that weekends were when I had to do laundry and grocery shop. But Keith and I also could sleep in and do just about anything we wanted and RELAX. Today, David didn't seem like he was going to take a nap, so, for once, I was spontaneous. I took him out of his room, looked up movie times, and told him we were going out. I knew Keith would be watching football, and Drew would still be asleep for a while longer, so I seized my chance. Yeah, laundry needed to be folded and there was clutter from being gone at David's soccer game all morning, but who cared. I needed a little adventure. I wanted it to feel like a Saturday. I wanted to get out of the house with David and take him to his first movie.
I made the mistake of telling David the movie names as I looked up the times, and he insisted that he wanted to see Where the Wild Things Are. He's not even keen on the book, but I am, and I figured it would be cute. Plus the time worked perfectly. I should have known better. I really should have. I have since heard/read that it is a better adult flick. Ugh. I knew that once the initial Wild Thing introduction got over, it would get happy. Which is why I just held David on my lap and tried to whisper him through the scary part. I didn't want to leave the movie on a bad note and he think that the creatures were mean. I wanted to get to the part where they became friendly/funny. To my dismay, a lady came over and said, "That child is scared to death. And, you know, he'll probably have nightmares tonight." I couldn't say anything. I wanted to cry. I just wanted him to see that it did turn out okay. Yes, I should have taken him to the Greek Festival instead.
I have since thought of what I could have said- "You know, when I walked in there were some people smoking while their kids sat next to them, perhaps you should go champion their little pink lungs instead." But of course by the time I thought of these it was too late. I just wanted to do something really fun for my little boy. We got to the part where they all became friends, but ended up leaving early anyway. I am praying that David doesn't have bad dreams. I think by the time David is ready to see another movie, Drew will be old enough to go, and we'll all go as a family. We'll definitely stick with animated flicks with a "G" rating. I had no idea that "damn" was an acceptable word in "PG."
Here's to hoping for some better adventures.

Things I don't want to hear

1) "Look, I'm a Mermaid Boy!!!" Yes, Diego, I know you are trying to save the manatees and so you turned yourself into a mermaid. But Holy Cow, it just sounds... Well, you sound like a Nancy Boy, Diego, and that's the nicest term I can come up with. And it doesn't help that you have a boy friend who plays a magic flute. My kids are impressionable. Cut the queer crud out or we are only watching PBS Kids.
2) David saying, "Fred let me play with him today!" Apparently there is some kid (not really named Fred) who grants David permission to be his friend and play with him. Ugh. Son, just go find someone else to play with and stop hanging your hat on what this little wart says.
3) When Drew says, "Corndog please Mom." This is said after he has eaten his Sonic cheeseburger. I give him the choice of which one he wants and somehow he thinks that means that I have a lap full of fried food to pass back to him. The scary part is, I think he would really eat a burger and a corn dog given the chance. David played a soccer team with this huge, husky, beast of a kid who ran around happily knocking our team over like bowling pins. I think Drew is just growing a lot, but still... This evening he had broccoli, applesauce, and turkey breast. I won't let you become the Biggest Loser Drew.
4) Either boy saying, "Mom, what's the Debil?" Drew asked me that at bedtime. What am I supposed to say? "A very evil being, hon, sweet dreams." I tried to explain that he was grouchy like Oscar, but I have also joked saying my dad was a grumpy grouch. Great, now they are going to get Poppy and the Devil mixed up.
5) "Mom, I have poop on my hand." If you've potty trained a kid this needs no further explanation.

Pumpkin Patch

Some guys are meant to be dads. And some evenings are meant for having fun with the ones you love the most.
I love our happy times together as a family. I have been getting bogged down with petty stuff and I needed a successful trip to the pumpkin patch to put things in perspective.
Thanks Keith.

Happy Birthday David!

Dear David,

I am writing this on the eve of your birthday. Yes, you were supposed to be born on October 7th, but you took a long time to make an appearance and finally came shortly after midnight on the 8th. Birth is proving to be the only thing you were ever slow at.

Your dad and I feel so blessed because we truly enjoy spending time with you. At this age you are happy, talkative, kind, competitive, friendly and funny. You probably won't understand just how much joy you bring to our lives until you are a dad and have a little boy of your own. We have always said that we, "hit the jackpot" with you.

This evening we were walking through a store and as you held my hand and tried to get clues about your birthday presents, I told you that YOU were the best present that I had ever received and that four years ago I just couldn't wait to find out what you would be like.

I turned on your lamp after you went to sleep to capture your last night as a three year old. When you wake you will be four years old! These have been the best years of our lives!

Daddy and Drew and I love you so very much.

We hope you have a very special day,

Mom

Little Pest

I had several roomies in college and the year after I graduated. I am still in touch with all but one and I love those girls dearly.

However, I never would have stood for any of them throwing my clean folded laundry off of the couch and demanding to watch a DVD. If any of them had climbed up on the kitchen table and yelled, "I'm finished," after eating the dinner I had cooked I would have been very perturbed.

And if they had crawled into my bed at three o'clock in the morning to snuggle with me I would have been more than disturbed.

Yet I still let this non-rent paying turkey reside with me.

Can't stop time

I was all set to post a picture of David playing soccer and to write about the season thus far (three wins and the Tigers experienced their first defeat today.) However, that will have to wait.

Drew didn't nap today because of David's one o'clock soccer game and David's naps are becoming increasingly rare. Since Keith had gone to watch football with some friends, the chore of putting both boys to bed fell to me. Overtired kids equal clingy kids, so I started early and determined to remain patient. Somehow, we all ended up in Drew's room and I ended up patting him like a baby until he closed his eyes and surrendered to sleep. David was curled up on a pillow watching and when I went to carry him back to his room he said in a small voice, "I just want to sit in your lap Mom." So I wrapped him in his blue blankey and held him tight.

David will turn four on Thursday. And I have been telling him for the past several months to, "Stay little, please don't turn four." David tells me that he has to get big. He's right. He doesn't fit in my lap any more, even curled up and sleeping. While I remember spending hours holding him as a newborn he doesn't resemble a baby any more. He looks like a kid. I held him for a long time tonight. At some point I realized my cheeks had tears on them. I am so excited about his birthday, the thought of taking him to his first movie, soccer, and all the fun things he learns at school. But oh how I wish that I could slow the clock down a little. People are always telling me it goes by so fast. When I was covered in spit up and getting no sleep, it used to just annoy me. Sometimes I wanted to ask them how to make the years go by faster. Now I know exactly what they mean. Once again I am purposing to stop sweating the small stuff and to enjoy the boys-because gosh I love these two little people.