Three's Company

There are those days when Mackenzie is screaming, and Alex and Collin are beating each other up over the same truck, that I think these kids will never get along. But then there are the days, like this past saturday, when they all played together quietly and happily. It was wonderful, one because I was sick that day and needed the reprieve from the screaching, but also because I could see how close these three really are, aside from their daily differences I think they are going to be fiercely loyal and maybe even friends.

Of course, in this pic you can also see just how messy my house gets. It was straighted the night before, and this is only like 9am! But in my new, happier schedule I have decided that the mornings belong to the kids. They can watch their shows, pull out their toys, and generally have fun and make a mess, but at 10:30 the tv is mine (or just goes off), and I save cleaning toys until about 4pm when "calm down" time begins. I think I have recovered a part of my sanity because of this new schedule (well, I should say schedule at all because before was just me running around acting like a looney all the time, no real structure, LOL.)

My Big Girl

Today I took Kenzie to her 15 month check-up. It went very well, she is growing well and developing properly, though she still isn't walking on her own, her pediatrician isn't worried since she is crusing and starting to stand on her own. It is just a matter of time. But she is 21lbs and 31 inches long, with a big head-18.25 inches. LOL She is right around 25-50 percentile for her age in everything, for my kids that is an achievement!! LOL.

Another First for Alex!

Well, this weekend was another first for Alex, his first ER visit!! My mom took the boys for the weekend, and saturday night while getting out of the bathtub he slipped and fell right on his chin. My mom was wonderful, she scooped him up, called me, and then took him over to the ER since it looked bad enough to need stitches. As it turns out it was bad enough that he did need something, but because it was a straight cut they could use dermabond glue. So, no shots or needles, thank goodness. My mom and brother were great with him, and I can not thank them enough for that!! And a thank you to Sarah, my soon tobe sister in law for watching Collin that whole time too. Your guys rock!! If there is one constant with kids, especially boys, it is that they will hurt themselves!! His little cut will heal in just a few days, but my mom will have a great story to tell him when he grows up about his first trip to the ER!! :-)

As a side note, it is snowing here! Finally, really snowing. I love snow. And oh how I love our wood stove today. :-)

10 Ways to Tell You are the Parent of a Young Child

I saw this on another website, and it made me laugh so hard.

10 ways to tell you are the parent of a young child.

1. You’ve had intense, soul-searching discussions about your child’s bowel movements.

2. Everyone Poops, in your mind, is truly a classical piece of literature, deserving to be spoken in the same breath as On the Road, and Gravity's Rainbow.

3.While cleaning out your car, you retrieve enough cheerios to have host a large breakfast for struggling families on your street

4. You wonder if the cheerio dust left after cleaning your car can be used as a substitute for bread flour.

5.You find yourself randomly chanting “meeska-mooska, micky mouse!” and being disappointed when nothing magical happens

6. Spousal arousal standards fall. Exponentially. Wearing jeans and a shirt instead of frumpy clothes? OH LORD.HOT! HOT!

7. Ketchup becomes the savior of dinnertime. Kid won’t eat vegetables? Dip them in ketchup. Meat looks weird? Ketchup, ho! You ponder creating a religion dedicated to praising ketchup (My lord of pureed, sugared tomato goop. Heinz be thy name. Thy bottle pour; your contents cover, the dinner plate and my shirt).

8. The iPod finally fetches a good song so you crank your car radio to 11 and rock the fuck out. Queer looks from bystanders remind you that not everyone thinks The Imagination Movers are hardcore.

9. You begin to feel that childless people who take it upon themselves to dispense child rearing advice need to be tied up and locked in a room filled with sick and/or colicky kids.

10. You’ve been peed on, pooped on, barfed on, spat on, snotted on, coughed on, bled on, sneezed on, bit, scratched, kicked, punched, slapped, hit, had various food objects thrown or dropped on you, been spilled on, you’ve stubbed your toe, bit your tongue, changed everyone’s clothes multiple times, cleaned the same fucking spot several times over and the stain is still there, and it’s not even noon yet.…

...and you wouldn’t change a thing.

(P.S. I love the Imagination Movers! Just a little mommy crush I guess. Hey at least it ain't The Wiggles!)

The Next Rachel Ray?

Yesterday Mackenzie and Alex spent about 30 minutes emptying out my kitchen cabinets and drawers, then proceeded to "cook". What amazed me is that Mackenzie had the motion down! She sat with her spoon and bowl, would stir like crazy and then stick the spoon in her mouth. This kept her well occupied for quite a while. So, do we have the next great chef on our hands!? :-)

Raising Cain

Today Timm took Alex down to Amma's house so that he can put up her new tv she is getting, so it is me here with Collin and 'Kenzie. It is funny that it is almost a vacation! It is amazing the difference in either one of the boys when one is removed from the mix. They go from fighting looneys, to quiet "angels". LOL But last night I recorded a show on MPT called Raising Cain, and I decided to put it on this morning while I putz around. I would seriously recommend this documentary to anyone with boys. It is about raising boys in America today, how society views boys and the sruggles of boys growing up in schools and "on the streets". It has really made me think about my 2 little guys. What an amazing responsibility is put in front of me, not just the day to day process of taking care of children (feeding, clothing, educating, playing), but raising boys who will one day be in charge of their lives and have their own children to raise. To teach them what being a real man is, not what the media says it is. To teach them the meaning of hard work and responsibility, but also how to empathize and love each other without being afriad to show it. And what a blessing it is, that I have an amazing husband who is best example of what being a real man is. My boys can look at their father and see a hard working, loving, responsible, forethinking, educated man, who has faught for the life he has today. My husband MADE his life, and all the while being an emotional caring spouse. What a gift boys are, and what a challenge.

So, if you have boys, look up the documentary Raising Cain. I found it eye opening.

3 Year Old Philosopher?

Earlier today I was taking Alex to preschool, it was really sunny out, and he asks me this question "Mommy, why does the dark need the sun?" I had no idea what to say!!! I just kinds bumbled some words out and moved the conversation on. My god, my 3 year old is deeper than I am!! LOL

Happy New Year!!

Well, its a little late, but oh well. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Mine was rather uneventful. We watched the last episode of season 4 of Lost (can't wait till January 21st!!) and then we watched my dvds of Mythbusters (yes, I am a TOTAL dork, but I love that show!!!) my wonderful husband passed out around 10pm. So I sat up, alone, at 11:50 I tried to wake him up but to no avail. So at midnight I toasted myself and then went to bed. Then yesterday we spent the day working on remodeling the laundry room. We are putting up new drywall, paint, a new tile floor, and eventually a new washer and dryer. It is far from done, but I am excited for when it will be done. I spend a lot of time in that room (and it is off of the kitchen, so I get to look at it a lot too) so it will be wonderful having it nice. Anyways, I wish everyone prosperity and joy in the coming year! Bright Blessings to all. :-)

more pics!

Here are some more pics from Christmas morning.



Alex and Collin playing with their new train set that my brother and his fiance got them. They are absolutely in love with it!!

I had to post a pic of my hubby, anyone who know him knows he hates having pictures taken of himself. So the fact that I got a half way decent one made me very happy. :-)

And my little Colli. I was so happy he got into opening presents and all. I don't know if he quite understood it all, but he liked getting all the toys. LOL

Christmas!

So, finally I get off my butt and post some pictures. Here are a few to get started. I should say that we had a wonderful Christmas, thank you to my sister in law for hosting a really wonderful party on Christmas Eve, we had a great time! And thank you to my dad and step mom for coming up and visiting last weekend. It was so wonderful to have you. :-)


Here are Alex and Collin Christmas morning with the play kitchen they got from Timm's dad and step mom. They absolutely love it! and it worked well keeping them occupied until my mom and brother and soon to be sister in law got to our house!

Mackenzie on Christmas Eve at my sister in law's. She had a great time playing with the toys there and was a very good little girl.

Mackenzie being held by Jennifer, Timm's sister with her husband (also Tim) in the foreground. I was so happy she let other people hold her that evening!