Some thing never do change....

Some thing never do change....

Last June 2008. This is Tyler shooting me with his squirt gun from the other side of the sliding glass door.

This weekend. About 8 hours ago.

It's amazing how some personalities, and children, never change...

How many of these movies do you recognize?

Something fun for Friday!

See how many of these movies you recognize! Almost all of my favorites are here, and some I didn't remember until I saw this! (Mom! The meatloaf!!!) he he he...

http://entertainment.todaysbigthing.com/2009/05/27

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Since we've been spending most of every breathing moment outside lately, the boys were going to turn inside-out if they had to spend the evening in last night, and so was I.

When the weather is nice, we do everything outside. We play, we run, we ride bikes, we eat, and we go to the bathroom. Yes, I said go to the bathroom. Not me, but Tyler will. I will frequently find him peeing on some random tree, which totally horrified me at first, but hey - what does it hurt. Then he also doesn't track dirt/mud in the house. The neighbors might not agree, but they're our trees. We'll water them however we please!

Last night the weather was horrible. It was so humid at first, and just yucky. Then the rain started.

At first, I tried to keep the boys in the garage, then I gave up. I just let them run. And they ran, and ran and ran. It downpoured for probably 20 minutes, and during that whole time, they played in the rain, the puddles, and even the street. (I considered it a special occasion!)

I've found that even the things that I would consider to be "annoying", my children can find joy in. Maybe I need to open my eyes, and my mind, a little more often...

This mom

I said I would never be this mom.... but I am... This is Tyler and Connor watching Spiderman 3.


I said I would be this mom, and I am! The boys had a blast with the Slip N Slide!

Sometimes it just falls apart

Tonight was one of those nights with Tyler. Not one of the worst nights we've ever had, but definitely not the best. Just one of those nights where he decided to push almost every limit he could find.

He started by throwing dirt in his brothers face. Then, when it was time to come inside, he looked right at me, and called me "stupid". I hate it when he says that, and he says it just to get me going, and he knows it works. Then he proceeded to walk backward in the yard, while giving me the "I dare you to come get me" look.

By the time I finally got him inside, he was pissed. He knew he finally lost (when I finally caught him and literally drug him inside. I WILL NOT let him disobey me) and was not happy about that. He had a total meltdown in the middle of the living room, and although I walked out of the room during the height of the tantrum, I could hear things being thrown all around as he tried to get his hands on anything he could chuck at the walls.

Then I lost it.

I hate it when that happens.

Something literally snaps in my brain (I can almost feel it), and I simply cannot handle the crap anymore. Period.

I yell, I scream, it's almost as if I'm trying to force the words into his head, that he so defiantly won't listen to.

After those episodes, and sometimes even during them, I have to calm myself down. I tell myself that the reason he is doing whatever he is doing because he doesn't know any other way to express his emotions at that time.

And then I do the same thing.

All night then, I feel a tremendous amount of guilt that just finds a way to my shoulders, and sits there like a giant dumbbell for the rest of the night. Then the guilt weighs even more heavy when I go check on him while he is sleeping, and he's so peaceful. So quiet, and so precious.

I really suck at this parenting thing sometimes.

Did we honestly just have that conversation?

I was in my bosses office tonight when my cell phone rang. It was my husband. It rang, again and again and again and again, and he knows the "sign". If I don't answer and he needs me to answer, he will text me. It's our secret "meeting language".

Finally - after about his 5th time calling, I finally interrupted my boss, and had to answer it.

"I JUST PICKED CONNOR UP FROM DAYCARE HE HAD TWO BLOW OUTS TODAY WHERE ARE YOU WHEN WILL YOU BE HOME I TEE OFF IN 20 MINUTES!", he yelled into the phone. It was all one sentence too, and sounded just like that.

I explained to my boss that Kyle was going to start having convulsions in about 10 minutes if I didn't hop in my Delorean and time travel back to earlier this afternoon so I could be there to not interrupt his golf game, then I politely excused myself.

The whole way home I was thinking, "Okay, how are we going to do this tomorrow?". It's the typical game of "who gets what shift", when the kids are sick.

Upon my arrival home, Kyle was sprinting to his truck when he asked me, "What are we going to do tomorrow?", and then proceeded to list the numerous people that have jobs, that could also watch Connor tomorrow.

(Are you ready for this? This is the good part. Are you ready??? Sit down.....)

I asked, "What time do you have appointments tomorrow?".

His answer, "I don't have any appointments tomorrow, I'm in a Golf Tournament in Amana with Mike!"

A-hem. "Really? A Golf Tournament? And you either want me to miss work, or even better, one of our relatives or friends, so you can play in your golf tournament?"

He ended the conversation with "FINE! I'll just tell Mike I can't golf with him tomorrow!", and he jumped in his truck and left. I'm sure this isn't the end of this conversation.

I really do love Kyle's passionate quest for perfection in everything he does. He doesn't do anything half-assed (except laundry sometimes), but this gene he was implanted with does not stop. It never slows down, and makes for some very interesting conversations at time.

Stay tuned. I can't WAIT to see how this one turns out. But I'm getting up and going to work in the morning. (Although, since I'm on my 7th day in a row of feeling like dog poop, I would LOVE to stay home and at least nap when Connor naps. This cold I have is defeating me. My body is desperate for sleep, but I don't want to let this one die!)

I need a party coach

The 2nd birthday party was a success!!!!

Connor had an awesome time, as did everyone else. We had such a good time, the adults kept it going until about midnight, when we finally closed it down.

I did decide though that I need either a coach for the next party, or a detailed project plan to keep with me at all times. I forgot almost everything!

As Kyle was serving the food, someone asked for ketchup. Oops. Forgot to get out the ketchup for the hot dogs and hamburgers! Then I almost forgot about the cakes in the fridge, and we never did get the ice cream out.

I made up cute party favor bags for the kids to take home with them too - and they are still sitting neatly packed in the pantry. I forgot to hand those out.

I guess regardless, the party was fun. If anyone wants bags of candy, or a gallon of ice cream, head on over!