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!