Sick family

Hunter, "Don't cough into your hands!  Cough into your sleeve!!!  That's GROSS!!  That's a HUGE way to spread germs around.  Now I know who has been spreading the germs around here."

This is what I heard this morning coming from the toy room.  Not sure who he was talking to since all four boys were in there.

John took all of them to the walk-in emergency clinic this weekend while I was out on some shoots and they all tested positive for Influenza A.  Hunter also has an ear infection on top of it.  He has been home from school since Wednesday.  The school called for me to come and pick him up around 10 a.m.  Then Tyler and Brody came down with it Friday night.  And finally Greyson showed signs of it on Saturday.  Now John and I have a bad cough, which is how it started with Hunter.  John also is very achy.  It has been rough.  All I want to do is sleep.  There has been a whole lot of t.v. watching in our house in the last week or so.  We are hoping to send the boys back to school before Thanksgiving but it looks unlikely.  Good thing it's a short week.  Hopefully they will be well by Thursday so we can even have Thanksgiving.  So so sick.

It snowed last night and the boys were very excited to see it out our front window when they woke up.  They all want to go out and play in it but I'm not so sure it's a good idea.  They'll just have to wait.

Crazy mornings

To say mornings are hectic around here is an understatement.  Always rushing, constant commands..."eat faster...Chuck (bus driver) is coming!"

Well, today when the boys got off their half-day bus and Brody took off his jacket this is what I saw.



Of course I had to grab my camera and make him pose for a picture.  Well then Greyson saw me laughing at him and insisted that his shirt be backwards too.  My boys just crack me up!

I suppose we could get up earlier but then where would be the humor in that?

Outside

Greyson:  "Put boots on.  Go outside!"
Mom:  "Mommy doesn't want to go outside right now sweetheart."
Greyson:  "Yes do Mommy!" (as he's putting his boots on, wrong feet)

First day of school outfit

First day back teaching this morning I was in my bedroom figuring out my outfit to wear for the day and talking to myself in the process. Conversation went like this:
Me: "No, no, no. This is way too sexy and inappropriate for the classroom. I CANNOT wear this to school."
Hunter (dead serious): "You're right mom. You're a Spanish teacher. You need to wear a sombrero."

Hunter is 8!

Hunter had an awesome birthday!  I realize it is almost August and I am just now getting to blog about his birthday in May but at least I'm getting to it nonetheless!  Now let me fish around in my brain for those details...

We got him a basketball hoop (along with Noni & Nona) for his big gift since he was on a team this year and enjoyed it.  He couldn't wait to open the big box.  We made him wait until Daddy got home from work.  He was so excited!  We sang to him after dinner and enjoyed cupcakes.  He got his big cake at the party, which was two Sundays later because Memorial Day falls in there and we thought people would be out of town or busy so we waited to have a good turnout.

For the first time we did not have a home party for him.  We took him to play Lasertag with some friends and neighborhood kids.  The theme was Angry Birds.  I didn't do much other than make the invitations and order the cake.  It was nice but I felt weird like I needed to be doing more.  I always go all out for the parties and this year felt really bizarre.  Regardless they all had a blast, including Tyler, Brody & Greyson who hung out with Nona in the game area.

My morning

This morning Hunter caught me hiding out in my bed reading.  I hadn't even gotten out of bed yet and John told me Hunter and Brody were awake and downstairs.  I could hear they were just playing so I grabbed my book-club book for the month (Gone Girl...amazing if you haven't read it) and started in.  A girl has deadlines.  Book Club is tomorrow and I have 130 pages left.

A few minutes go by and Hunter creeps into my bed, lies down next to me and says, "Mah-ahhmmm!" (that's Mom but with a tiny bit of a whine to it) "Why are you up here reading?"
Me:  You caught me!
Hunter:  But I'm hungry!
Me:  Well then go make yourself some boo-bah (code word for breakfast in our house.  When the twins were little they called breakfast "boo-bah."
Hunter:  (very dramatically) "But I make HORRIBLE boo-bah!  You make the best boo-bah."
Me:  "Ok, what kind of boo-bah you want?"
Then Brody pipes in with, "I want ICE CREAM BOO-BAH!"

Then a little while later when I was on the stairs coming down Hunter comes up to me with the phone and says (again, dramatically), "Brody had the PHONE!"
Me:  "Ok."
Hunter:  "Not Ok!  He could have CALLED 911!"
Brody:  "I didn't call 911!"
Hunter:  "Brody, you have a 61% chance of calling 911!"

Quick quote

Summertime=very busy schedule for photographers.  Which is GREAT for us, but bad for leaving time to blog.  I am so behind!!!  I have two birthdays to blog about and a family camping trip.  Not to mention other fun things we have been up to including summer "school" and activities.  So, I will try to get to all of this soon but since I just heard little Greyson wake up from his little nappy and we will be out the door in a few minutes for a pool party playdate I will leave you with one quick story.

The other day I was drinking a blended margarita at home celebrating the end of the school year (yes, teachers celebrate too!).  Tyler came up to me and asked me for a drink of it.  I said, "No, I'm sorry honey but you can't have this.  This is only a mommy drink."  He asked why and I told him, "Because this drink makes your brains mushy."  A few minutes later after I had sat down to relax with my beverage he came over and starts massaging my head and says, "Mom...let me feel your brains.  Are they squishy?"

Treasured moments

I love my kids.  I really, really do.  I will be the first to admit that they drive me absolutely crazy at times but man, they are funny and make me laugh every day and I feel so very blessed that I get to wake up every morning with their (usual, but not always) bright, happy faces ready to love up their mommy.  The following mini-stories are but just a few that I can remember off the top of my head that warm my heart.

The other day it was particularly warm outside and so when I went into the twin's room in the morning to help them get dressed I told them that it was so nice outside that they "get to wear T-shirts today!"  Brody excitedly said, "Mom, can we wear T-pants too?"  Not wanting to let that one go, we have been calling them T-pants in our house ever since.

Then yesterday they were insisting on wrapping a "present" (hand scribbled, sticker fest piece of construction paper) and Brody told me that he needed a "scarf" to complete his wrapping job.  I quickly realized that he meant a ribbon but not after internally laughing at his description.  So funny!

Then the other day everyone was sitting down for dinner, except for me because I was at work.  John retold this story to me that night when I got home.  He said that he had put dinner on the table and suddenly Greyson was panicking, pushing all of his food away on his tray.  John was confused until he saw Greyson moving his hands to his head, chest and arms in a very deliberate yet inexact way and he realized that he was trying to make the sign of the cross, announcing in his sweet baby way that everyone had to pray before eating.  Unbelievable!  We have noticed that he folds his hands while we pray but we had no idea how much he was internalizing at only 19 months of age!  This has to be one of the cutest things he has done to date.

Today I wanted to watch the finale of American Idol, which I had saved on the DVR.  Greyson was napping and Tyler and Brody had just come in from playing outside for an extended period of time.  They crawled up on the couch next to me (one on each side) and it wasn't long before they both fell asleep.  It was so special to me.  I couldn't get up.  They were so peaceful and sweet and even had their heads lying in the same direction.  I will miss these moments and am so thankful to have them now.  I love my little boys!!!!!

Christmas in April

The boys got their play set delivered last week that Noni and Nona gave them for Christmas.  What fun to finally get to climb on it and swing to their heart's content!  Much different than opening a piece of paper with the picture on it.  We can't very well have a play set installed when the ground is frozen and covered in snow.  I think it was a great lesson in delayed gratification for them!

Our house has been the popular neighborhood hangout as a result.  Frankly I prefer it that way!  I can keep an eye on them and know exactly what they're doing and rest assured knowing that they are being supervised.  Not to mention when I need to call them inside I know exactly where to find them!  But the thing I like most of all is that they are playing outdoors using their imaginations and getting exercise vs. playing video games indoors.  And when I say "they" I mean Hunter, as he is the only one old enough to play video games.  Hunter has strict rules about his usage but the neighborhood kids do not.  I can and do tell Hunter that he can play with his friends so long as he is not inside playing video games at their houses and I trust that he will obey; however, I am making him "THAT" kid and me "THAT" mom and I feel the guilt.  I really think that having this play set as well as some creative ideas I have up my sleeve for fun activities this summer to do in the yard will help get all the kids playing outdoors (and at our house)!

It has already gotten so much use!  They've been on it every day multiple times and are having so much fun!

Hunter's First Communion

Today we celebrated Hunter's first communion.  What an exciting day for him and for us all!  He has told us of his excitement leading up to today for several days now.  He even agreed to wear "fancy clothes" with little argument.  This was especially welcomed because he normally puts up a very big fight when asked to stray from his normal attire of smooth shirts and jeans.

We prepared all year for this event, with many religious education classes, multiple parent preparation meetings, retreats and completing the "homework" (his Eucharist workbook).  We also spent some time at home making his banner.  It was really neat to see how creative and different everyone's banners looked when hanging on the stone wall at church today.  At the first communion retreat he also glazed this special chalice that was fired and ready for pick up today at mass.  He was excited to see how the glaze looked once fired.  We are to use it on special occasions when we are both celebrating as well as forgiving because as Father Mike told us at mass today, the Eucharist is all about forgiving.

Mass was very special today with all the children receiving their first communion.  They were very much incorporated into the gospel.  The gospel was about Simon Peter and the other disciples wanting to fish but catching nothing until Jesus asked them to cast their net again.  There was a boat in church where all the children were sitting and acting this out.  Hunter was one of only two boys who had speaking parts.  That was exciting!  He was John and his line was, "It is the Lord!"  There were 153 fish that they caught (signifying how many races there were when the Bible was written).  They were felt fish that they took and put on the fire (an unlit fire pit grill).

There was also a part of the mass that was special to me because Hunter's excitement really showed through.  The choir was singing a song about the Lord calling them by name and they came "running and running and running and running and running..."  Right before this line the lady leading the choir sang a few of the communicant's names at a time and when she said each name that child would run from where they were standing with their parents through the aisle, around back of the church and down another aisle over to where Father Mike was standing (with his shephard's crook) and hug him before standing before the baptismal font with their sponsors (Sara and Scott).  When Hunter's name was called he bolted so fast that when he got to Fr. Mike he almost toppled him over!  Both were laughing!  John said that during rehearsal when Fr. Mike told the children they were to run Hunter raised his hand and said, "Um, we're not supposed to run in church!" and Fr. Mike replied with, "You can run for Jesus!"

At the baptismal font is where the sponsors held the lit candles and passed them to the children to hold while the congregation held out their hands and blessed them.  They also renewed their baptismal promises before extinguishing the flames.  Fr. Mike blessed them (and us all) with water from the font.  He does this at every mass that has a baptism so members of St. Joan of Arc know what to expect but any visitors (like Sara and Scott) had no idea what was coming.  Fr. Mike goes crazy with the water.  Hunter did warn them by saying, "You're gonna get sprayed!"  He takes an olive branch and dips it in a silver bucket of blessed water from the font and walks around church dousing everyone with it.  It is true, you do get pretty wet!  It certainly livens the mood.  Hunter usually tries to hide under the pew on baptism days to escape the mayhem but luckily he didn't try that today!  Harrison was talking about it afterward with Sara wondering if he was going to get sprayed with the "broccoli."  Kids are so funny!

One other stand-out moment for me was when all the children were surrounding the altar (as they always do each week at mass) for the blessing of the bread Fr. Mike asked them what they were thankful for.  After some normal replies from some other children such as "Food!" and "Friends!" Hunter raised his hand and said, "Awesomeness!"

We also prepared for this day by baking a loaf of bread that Hunter handed out to a member of the congregation.  We made cranberry bread together yesterday and then wrapped it up like a present.  During the mass when the children handed them out Hunter took absolutely forever to decide who to give it to.  He walked all the way to the back on one side, came back to the altar (meanwhile the other children were assembling after having handed theirs out already) and then went to the back of the other side before almost giving it to Mr. Zwick (his Religious Ed teacher this year) and then finally deciding on a man in the furthest pew by the choir.  The children were instructed to give it out to people they did not know so Mr. Zwick would not do!

When it was time for communion all the parents joined their sons/daughters, standing behind them in a circle around the altar and Father Mike came to each of us and we took the bread together with him.  Hunter did not want to have the wine.  He tried it during the retreat (as all the children did) and did not like it.  It was one of the funniest things I had seen in a long time watching the kid's reactions to the taste of wine.  They were soooo funny sticking their tongues out and saying "yuck!"  I won't soon forget their facial expressions, Hunter's included!  He told us on numerous occasions that he did not want to have the wine and we told him that it was ok but he needed to just hold the cup and acknowledge it.  So this was his plan.  It surprised us then when he actually drank it during the ceremony.  I guess he had a change of heart.  It will be interesting to see what he chooses next week!

The children closed mass with a song (with motions) singing "Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!  Thank you for coming to us."  There was more to it but that was the refrain.

We had a small celebration at our house afterward with my mom (in from Arizona), John's parents, Uncle Hank, Sara, Scott (Hunter's sponsors) and their kids Bennett and Harrison.  We had lunch and cake.  Hunter opened his gifts and received several books (one all about Saints that he is particularly interested in), a religious bracelet, a St. Christopher's medal inscribed on the back with the date, and John and I got him his first wrist watch.  He has been wanting one and we've decided it would be a nice tradition to give each boy their first watch on the day of their first communion.  Uncle Hank also gave him a lapel pin that he wore during the ceremony that had been blessed by Pope Benedict XVI.

It was a very special and meaningful day that I know Hunter will remember for years to come.  We are so proud him!

Hunter skis!!!

When we moved to our new community a little over a year ago and passed by the ski hill on our way to our new house John and I commented to each other how convenient it was to have such an attraction in our new "hometown."  You see, John and I used to be avid skiers.  That is, BK (before kids).  Those were the days.  The days when we could up and take a vacation out west once a year for a week at a time and do nothing but ski (and take an occasional cocktail at the lodge for a much-deserved break).  Ah yes...those were the days.

After many consecutive years of no vacations together whatsoever (we're going on 8 years now) we have dreamt of a day when we could resume that activity.  We've always wanted our kids to be skiers (or snowboarders).  We'd love to take them out west someday on a family vacation.  So when I saw in the Parks and Rec that they offered ski lessons for kids 7 years and older I talked it over with John and we agreed to sign Hunter up!

We didn't tell him about it until about a week before lessons started.  We paid for a month's worth (so four lessons at once a week).  I don't know what he thought of it by his reaction at first.  I'm guessing he was hesitant but excited at the same time.  One of my best friends has a son who is Hunter's age and we signed them up together.  Hunter was excited to be taking the lessons with a friend.

That hesitant nature lasted all but about 3 minutes once he got his skis on that first lesson.  I could tell immediately that he was hooked.  They spent the whole first lesson on the bunny hill mastering the tow rope (as is standard practice your first time on the hill).

We stayed down on the hill for the first few runs to watch up close and then took the kids up into the lodge on the third floor where we had a great bird's eye view of what was transpiring below.  He seemed pretty comfortable and got the hang of it right away.  When his lesson had ended an hour later he begged if he could stay.  Since the lift ticket was good all night we agreed to let him continue to practice.  However, the wind was fierce that night and it was bitter cold so we called it quits about half an hour later and headed home.






He told me at least a dozen times that week that he couldn't wait to ski again.  My friend's son was telling her the same.  We agreed that the final night we would buy lift tickets and ski with them.

The second lesson the instructor had them riding the chair lift already!  Hunter told me in the car ride to the hill that he hoped they wouldn't ride it because he was nervous.  So when I saw them waiting in line to go up I started worrying for him.  I knew he'd do fine but it is a bit tricky getting off.  He rode his first time with the instructor so I knew he'd be just fine but I was nervous for him just knowing how he must be feeling.  Before long I could see him smiling and then before the night was over he was riding it up with his buddy.  When the lesson was over it was all he could talk about because riding the chair lift means being able to ride better, longer runs of course!

Before long it was time for my friend and I to join them on the hill.  I hadn't been on skis in at least 10 years, the last time being our trip to Mammoth when we lived in California.  My friend was in the same situation.  Upon meeting up at the hill she told me that her boot broke when she tried putting on her skis at home!  Luckily my skis held out and with the Entertainment Book two-for-one pass that my dad bought us for Christmas and no need for rentals it was a pretty reasonable outing (not counting the cost of Hunter's lessons, of course).  We had a fabulous mom-and-son-bonding night!

Hunter kept asking me to go down the black diamond run and meet up with him where it joined with the blue run that he felt comfortable skiing.  So, of course, aiming to please I went for it.  Once I got my ski legs it was like riding a bike.  Every time he requested me to wait for him to get to the joining point and then start down the hill.  One time while I was waiting for him to ski down to begin my run I saw that he had fallen down.  So I quick skied down to him worried that he was hurt and asked him right away, "Are you okay?"  I couldn't help laughing when he replied loudly, "YARD SALE!!!"  Soooo funny!  For those of you who don't ski, a yard sale is when you crash and your skis and poles go flying everywhere, as if you are having a yard sale right there on the hill.  How he even learned that term I have no idea!

Hunter's reconciliation

Hunter celebrated his first reconciliation about a week and a half ago.  Father Mike does it differently than when we had ours back when we were 2nd graders.  He does the sacrament in the church and as a family.  So we waited in line all together and when it was Hunter's turn we all went up to Father face-to-face and each said a sin.  Hunter had a "target" that he was to fill out with his sins ahead of time.  Father Mike explained weeks before at a parent meeting that over the years he has found this to be helpful to the kids because it serves as a reminder.  He learned that without the target the kids would have trouble remembering what sins they had.  Hunter received a wooden cross made in Bethlehem as a token to remind him of his reconciliation.  He's gearing up for his First Communion in a few weeks so this is one big step toward that big celebration!

Greyson's 2nd surgery

 
I've been a very bad blogger lately.  Been WAY too busy with other things going on in my life.  Good things, don't get me wrong.  Business is picking up and I hosted a party, which forced me to get the house clean and somewhat renovated!

Last Wednesday Greyson went in for his second surgery on the dermoid cyst that grew back and got infected.  Well, we thought it had grown back but the surgeon believed that it was mostly infected tissue that he removed.  We don't have results from pathology yet so only time will tell.  Regardless, he had this HUGE bump on the bridge of his nose (five times bigger than when he first had it removed a year ago) that had to come out.  Even the surgeon agreed when I asked about whether or not it was necessary, given that it wasn't a re-grown cyst.  He said he didn't even need to make the first cut to know that it was necessary; he could tell just by looking at it.  He told us that when he got down to his bone during surgery he found that the bone had a small pit in it that never grew shut which is a perfect place for bacteria to collect and cause infection.  I asked if we can expect
this to happen again and he said it could.  He also said that the only way of insuring that it won't happen again is to remove part of the bone which would cause deformation.  He suggested that smaller surgeries every so often is a better solution and we agree.  I guess it's something that he will eventually grow out of.  I don't know how that can be because that pit in his bone is never going to go away but I'm no doctor.

When he went in last year for the original removal he was mostly just really sleepy when he came out of surgery.  This time was much different and we were warned ahead of time by the nurses at Children's Hospital.  They told us that kids his age (between 1 and 5 years old) usually are mad when they come off of anesthesia.  Sure enough when we got to see him in the recovery room, he was crying and thrashing around a bit.  He couldn't get comfortable and would not stop crying, that was until he got his juice.  I couldn't blame him though.  He went 17 hours without eating by the time everything was said and done.  He fasted from after dinner the night before (about 6:30 p.m.) until he came out of surgery at around 11:30 a.m.  I'm sure he was just starving.  They gave him some saltines which he ate along with the the juice we brought with and that calmed him down a bunch.  They also gave him popsicles, which he loved.  He had never had a popsicle before so that was a real treat.  John and I thought it was pretty funny that every time he got down to the stick (after eating just the top of the popsicle) he'd start crying and the nurse would run and get him a new one.  This happened three times.  After the third one we switched to the crackers.  He looked a mess with the iodine on his face mixed with the orange-stained mouth from the popsicles and the bandage on his nose.  But he was a cute mess and he gave us one big smile right before he was released which made him even cuter.  He really liked that sliding glass door in the recovery room.  He was allowed to walk around a bit but we had to be really close to him spotting him because he was very stumbly from the anesthesia.  He was playing peek-a-boo for a bit inside and outside of the door.  We are happy that it's over with and are hopeful that it'll be the last.

Greyson at 16 months

I know at 16 months it's an odd time to write about Greyson but I don't want to wait a minute longer to blog what's been on my mind about him.  Usually common milestones are 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months but it's got to be done now, at 16 months.  I probably missed blogging on those official dates anyway so here goes.

I am loving this boy up so much lately.  At naptime and bedtime, and any time that he is feeling particularly tired, he has this habit of tucking his little arm down beside him, between him and me (or whomever is holding him).  It's his little sign that he's tired and boy is it ever cute!  It makes me want to sing one more extra made-up verse of his lullaby just so I can hold him and sway back and forth in front of his crib with his cute little arm tucked in before laying him down.

Another cute little thing he does that makes me laugh every single time is whenever I am lying down on the floor he will come over, pull up my shirt to expose my belly and blow raspberries to his heart's content.  I'm not exaggerating when I say EVERY time.  And it's not only me, he will do it to his brothers too.  It's super hilarious.

He spends a few hours at the Kids Corner at the Y (daycare they provide for members while they work out) at least three days a week.  I get such a kick out of picking him up (as do the Y employees) because he is BEYOND excited.  I can't begin to describe his huge smile and excited squeals he makes as he bolts for the door for me to pick him up and hold him.  It's irresistible.

He is such a little Daddy's boy.  Whenever John comes home from work, or the store, or wherever, he does the same excited routine but all the while saying, "Dada...Dada...Dada..." until he reaches him and John picks him up.  It's to die for.

He is crazy for balls. In fact "ball" was one of his very first words. He loves to go in the basement because there is a large bucket of balls he loves to dump out and play with. Whenever he sees people playing ball in the Y gym (which is across from the Kids Corner) he beelines for the doors saying "butt-baw" (basketball) over and over again, which makes the boys all laugh of course.

Oftentimes when he hears one of the boys crying due to minor injury or hurt feelings he will come over and give them a hug without anyone asking him to do so.  It's the sweetest thing that melts my heart every time.

He is officially as of a few days ago finally getting his third tooth, the upper left.  He has had only his two front bottom ones for so long now.

He is talking so much lately.  Besides the most common "mama," "dada," and "ball" he is also saying "jacket," "cracker," "ducky" "boat" and "socky" (sock).  Of course they sound more like "ja-ku," "ca-cu," "dk-y," "boot" and "ahk-e."  He also does the signs for "eat," "help," "shoes," "milk," "bath," "hat," and today he imitated "drink" after I demonstrated it for the first time.  He is communicating so much quicker than all our other little guys.  He just wants to be heard!  He also knows where many of his body parts are when you ask him.  He can point to his head, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, hands, belly, and toes.  He understands so much of what we say.  As soon as we mention the word "bath" he is headed for the stairs.  When we ask him if he needs his diaper changed he walks to where we change him.  He will go and get his shoes when I ask him.  We send him on little errands all the time asking him to take things to the toy room when we straighten up or throw things away.  He loves to be a helper and part of the action.

Every little moment with him is so precious and sweet.  OK, OK...I know I'm writing this as he is soundly sleeping like an angel upstairs and not dumping an entire box of Cheerios all over the kitchen floor (which did in fact happen today) or screaming wildly for more food but nonetheless don't wake me from my dreamy ideological state about our perfect little boy.

Little boys make me laugh

"Mom, I hide my weapons in my undies just like Ninjas do!"

Origami

Man is Hunter trying my patience with his new obsession with origami.  It all started with a Christmas gift from his Aunt Laurean & Uncle Tom.  Seemed pretty harmless...an origami book complete with paper to get started folding right away.  A gift he was eager to put to use.  And so the folding began, until step two (out of 24) when it got too difficult.  Enter mom or dad for "help."  When it's my turn, this help consists of me spending the next half hour silently cussing while I "youtube" how to make an origami tulip (or other said project) while Hunter runs into another room to play ninjas with his brothers and wait until I complete every last fold.  Mind you I cannot sit at the computer without Greyson demanding to sit in my lap.  So add my frustration in understanding the "push in and outside reverse fold" to keeping a toddler from pounding on the keyboard and thus losing my place in the ten minute video which took me 20 minutes to get through (pausing every step of the way to make each fold).  Origami is not for me!  I don't have the patience.  I don't want the patience.  I know it's a virtue but screw virtues.  I've got more pressing matters than folding paper!  However, if it's what my little boy desires I aim to please (sometimes).

There is however, one project he has mastered; the origami cup.  He has folded at least fifteen origami cups in the last week or so.  For his cub scout meeting last Monday he had to bring in and talk about a collection of something to his den.  He creatively stapled his collection to a piece of paper and answered questions such as, "do they actually hold water?" (which they do) and fueled his passion for origami.  He has also made origami cups for visitors to our house, mostly his friends.

This past Tuesday he was home sick from school with a bad cough and runny nose.  He watched a lot of t.v., resting as much as possible so that he could return to school the next day.  This was very important to him because he knows if he stays home from school he also must miss any scheduled evening activity.  That evening he had to miss his basketball practice.  Wednesday evening, however, was his first-ever ski lesson for which he had been eagerly looking forward to for a week.  During one of those television programs I spent that day watching with the boys I saw Hunter pull out a Kleenex and then a minute later say, "Hey mom, look!  I made an origami cup out of my tissue!" and held up his latest creation.

New job

Many of you know that I moonlight a few nights a week serving at a fine dining restaurant to help make ends meet and for "fun" money.  I've been doing so for as long as I can remember barring several years here and there depending on what else was going on in my life.  It wasn't always fine dining but it has been the last several years.

I recently changed restaurants and started working for a non-corporate restaurant about 20 minutes from our home, owned by a nice older couple.  What a breath of fresh air.  It is so nice to have such a human experience at work that is far from uptight and clinical yet still professional.  The staff is wonderful.  Very friendly, warm and helpful.  Very unlike the previous restaurant where I spent two years.  I would estimate that at least half the clientele are "regulars" and I can't stop gawking when I see them hugging the wait staff and talking about certain times when they were invited into their homes for this reason or that.  This happens at least five times every night I've worked.  The owners told me when I applied that "it's like a family here" but now I believe it.  I know I'm still in the "honemoon phase" but so far I really like it.

Anyway, the other night I was frantic to get out of the house to get to work on time but I couldn't find my tie anywhere.  I said out loud, "Has anyone seen my tie anywhere?  I need my tie!!"  And Ty replied, "I'm right here, Mommy!!"

Bedtime shenanigans

Tyler and Brody have been difficult to "put" to bed ever since getting their big boy beds months ago.  We thought this would let up once the novelty of the freedom that a bed (vs. a crib) provides wore off.  We're still waiting...In the meantime we continue to use the same tactics that were successful to get Hunter through this adjustment period.  It seems to be lasting much longer with them and I wonder if it will ever get better.  They find playing irresistible even when faced with consequences.  After one warning of either being out of their bed or being too loud they know that they face getting something taken away.  The first time they get to choose what that item is.  The next time I choose.  I always choose their precious "biko" (blankie) when it's my turn since it's the ultimate punishment.  (Heartless, I know.  But desperation warrants such cruelty.

A few nights ago they were up to their usual loud shenanigans when I made my way toward their bedroom.  It was Brody's choice what I would take and he immediately started crying, not wanting me to take anything.  Clearly stalling, I told him that if he didn't choose something in ten seconds that I would have to choose.  Unfortunately, those ten seconds quickly passed and nothing had yet been chosen.  I said, "Aww, that's sad that you didn't choose anything.  I guess I'll have to."  More serious crying ensued, somewhat hysterical.  With my heartstrings being pulled beyond what I felt like dealing with, I offered him a rare second chance.  "OK Brody.  Last chance to choose something then."  He frantically starts looking around his bed at the options of stuffed animals, several books, his soft comfy blankies...none of which he wants to part with and then finally holds up a crumpled up tissue he came upon, starts cracking up laughing and says, "THIS!"

Shovel

It snowed a few days ago.  When John got home from work he went out to blow the driveway.  As soon as Hunter heard the snowblower fire up he started asking if he could go out and shovel.  He was midway through his homework so I told him he would need to finish it first and warned him that by the time he would be done Daddy would likely be finished out there.  I was trying to avoid drama later but instead I got instant drama.  I tried to distract him by quizzing him with his spelling words, attempting to kill two birds with one stone.  In response to his whining, "But Mooooommmmm...I wanna go out and shovel!" I ignored and tried, "How do you spell "silent?"  He paused a second and came back with "S-H-O-V-E-L!"

So literal

Tyler and Brody got up from their nap and asked for a snack.  I said, "OK, but mommy's feet are cold and I need my slippers.  Do you think you could go get me my slippers and then I'll get you a snack?  You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.  How about that?"  And Tyler said, "ok" and then I felt him scratching my back.  My feet are still cold.

Yesterday at lunch

I overheard a conversation between Tyler and Brody yesterday at lunch while putting in a load of laundry.  It went something like this:

Tyler: "If you don't have a mouth you can't talk, right Brody?"
Brody: "Yeah, and if you don't have eyes you can't see, right?"
Tyler: "Yeah, and if you don't have ears you can't hear anything, right Brody?"
Brody: "Yeah, and if you don't have a nose you can't wipe it when you have snot all over."
Tyler: (silence)
Brody: "And if you don't have hair.............." (nothing)

Ninja Brody

I'll never forget this day when Brody came into the kitchen with this getup and pronounced, "Mom, I'm a ninja!"