Valentine's Day

So, I found this card for Valentine's Day and it made me laugh, so I got it for Andrew. Then when I got it home, I started to realize that it reminded me of someone...

Now all he needs is wings and a little bow and arrow. Happy Valentine's Day (from our own little Cupid)!

Creativity...toddler boy style

I will admit that I am a bit of a control freak. Especially when it comes to kids' activities involving paint, markers, glue or any other form of crafty destruction. Sometimes, however, I try really hard to reign in my control freakishness and let them express themselves however they would like...which usually ends up like this:

Yes, Liam's hands ended up covered completely in black paint.

But we ended up with some lovely artwork. I even painted one myself.

It's not anything great, but it felt good to pause from housework, laundry, etc. to just hang out with my boys and stretch my creative muscles (which, clearly, are in desperate need of stretching). :) I should probably do it more often.

Thank heavens for washable paints. :)

He's a lover...

So, while driving in the car today we passed a dance studio with a sign out front and Liam asked me what the sign said. I told him, and our conversation proceeded like this:

"Mom, am I going to be a dancer when I grow up?"

"If you want to be a dancer when you grown up, you can. Do you want to take some dance lessons?"

"I don't want to wear the pink stuff."

"No, honey, you wouldn't wear the pink stuff. Boys were something else. But we can sign you up for some fun dance lessons, if you want."

Long pause. Then, in an enthusiastic tone...

"Will there be girls there?"

And that, my friends, is why I say he's a lover, not a fighter. :)

I'm SO that girl...

You know the one at the gym with her headphones on that's mouthing all the words and making the Metallica face and bobbing her head while she works out, practically dancing on the elliptical trainer. I must look hilarious! But there is nothing like a really great new workout mix to make you feel good. The kind that makes you smile with each new song that comes on. yeah...it was that kind of day at the gym. And I am that kind of girl. :)

Liam is 4!

Had some friends over for Liam's 4th birthday...it was a crazy fun morning with a house full of boys! They ran around yelling and chasing and hitting each other with balloons and laughing. And although Liam and I were sad that his friend, Sarah, was out of town and couldn't come to the party, it was probably better for her....as the only girl, she might have been a little overwhelmed by all the general "boy"-ness. He's gotten so big in the last couple of years, I just can't believe it! Happy birthday, sweet boy!

Things my kids do...

...that they probably shouldn't.

I'd tell a story about them, but I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves...

My Inspiration

I love my local YMCA. It inspires me to exercise. Not because it has amazing facilities, cardio and weight rooms, a full-size pool, basketball courts, rock-climbing wall, etc. And not for any of the many many options of classes they have: Zumba, Pilates, Family Yoga, Family Circuit Training, just to name a few. No, my local YMCA inspires me to work out because it has a wonderful child-care setup that my children love to go and play at. Lots of kids, activities, and a huge playland (like the one at McDonald's, only cleaner). And since my children love to go, and I think it is good for them to get out and about, play with other kids, and be with other people, I go. Even if I don't want to.

This morning, for example. After a pretty rough night night with the boys...okay, boy...I was more than a little tired this morning. "Get up and go the gym" I kept repeating in my head as Andrew got ready and left for work. I kept repeating it as the boys ran in and out of my room bringing me cups of playdough to open, cars to fix, and then to show me their latest playdough creations. Finally, Liam climbed on my bed and wanted to snuggle, so I told him we would be going to the "play place" (what they both call the gym). He excitedly started telling me about one of the boys he played with last time and wanted to play with again, and as I rolled over onto my side to talk to him, I experienced an excruciating sharp pain between my left shoulder blade and spine. Now, I am no stranger to back pain. Have dealt with various forms of it most of my adult life, so it takes quite a kick to make me gasp for air and cry out in pain. poor Liam had no idea what my problem was.

So, I grabbed the old ice pack, lay on it for 15 minutes, then seeing the look on Liam's face as he was processing this information and how it was going to effect his chances of going to the play place, I sat up, said, "Let's get dressed and eat, boys", fed them, dressed them, dressed myself (thought I'm sure everyone at the gym thought I looked totally homeless with my paint-stained baggy scrubs pants, oversized pirate t-shirt and huge zip up hoodie - hey, who feels like getting dressed when you hurt), and headed to gym. I took it easy so as not to hurt my shoulder area more...did the treadmill (that was a first), and the bike, and lots of stretching. And that is why my local YMCA inspires me to workout. Good for the kids, good for me. Now what can I eat...

No More Naps

So, in hopes of beating the bed-time battle (and middle of the night craziness) that has become the norm at our house, we decided we would try to have a go at no more naps. Now, the first time we tried this we ended up with a 9:30pm waking that was pretty much like a demonic possession as far as Caleb was concerned. Half an hour of screaming, running in and out of the room, throwing himself head first against anything...the floor, us, the sides of his crib, walls...yeah...it wasn't pretty. Needless to say, we did not move forward with the experiment.

Then, after a very successful "no nap" experience while staying over night with their cousins (thanks again, Allison and Dodie!), we decided we would give it another go. So, for about a week now, we have had some success. I say "some", because let's face it...until I get a whole night's sleep without being woken up then I don't consider it a complete success. A girl can dream, right? :) So, the number of night wakings have lessened somewhat and we continue to move forward. The transition is toughest on Caleb, of course, and most days last week he reached a point in the late afternoon where he couldn't take it anymore and just passed out...in my arms, on the couch watching a show, etc. The funniest one was when I put on a show for the boys, went to the bathroom, came back downstairs and found the following:

He was apparently so worn out that he didn't even mind being used as an armrest. Didn't even flinch when Liam said, "Look, Mom, Caleb fell asleep, see..." and proceeded to poke him the eye a couple of times.

WWF...Little Guy Style

Just a regular day full of "Cars" tattoos, fire pants, and a little WWF. And "bad guy" faces.

A Growing Boy

I forget sometimes that Caleb is so big...he always seems small next to Liam. And then I see him next to other little ones, like his cousin, Avery, and realize how big he's gotten. So strange to think how much he has changed in such a relatively short amount of time.