Late Night Mommy Things

I saw my mom staying up late to sew dresses for her daughters.

I stay up late to learn how to draw a recognizable McQueen and Mater. 

(which is worth more than any of my cool dragon drawing skills right now)

It is when the boys are in bed that I am able to fold the clothes and procrastinate putting them away for a couple of hours. 

It is when the boys are in bed that do my office work, catch up on my email, watch my new episode of White Collar or Bones, and work on my lessons. 

It is when the boys are in bed that I get to eat more than 1/2 an inch of my York Peppermint Pattie.  My boys love it when I share.

It is when the boys are in bed that I am able to attempt a phone call. 

It is when the boys are in bed that I am able to actually sweep and mop and have it make a difference.

It is when the boys are in bed that I can think of all the things I should be doing that require no interruptions, like cleaning the office or my closet or the garage or the pantry; but I would rather be just sitting and doing nothing without interruptions.

Tonight, I am putting the finishing touches on our game board that I made for our road trip.  The boys are going to love it!

And the funny thing, I miss the boys when they are in bed.  I don't miss the fighting, though.

Chills and Thrills

Three Months of the Broken House

'cause we got lots to fix

the tile guy is supposedly coming this week to fix the tiles damaged in the leak repair

(BTW, the floor is finally cool again, took weeks for the "heat" to dissipate)

the cabinet guy is supposedly coming to fix the cabinet that cracked from the movement of the foundation in the leak (or from the jackhammering)

our back fence fell down

we replaced it last week

in the middle of staining it

I'm touching up our front door tomorrow---sooooo hot to paint.  Paint is cranky, my friends.

Don't get Erik started on the status of our grass. He has lawn envy.

Two windows need to be replaced

Garage door won't open

I'm waiting for Merritt to learn to stop poking the screens so that I can replace the 40,000,000 screens that he has poked holes in . . . .

BUT, we have electricity, AC, water, a bug guy that keeps me ant free, and a infinite supply of water balloons.

The boys have been hitting the pool bigtime.  Last week was great for them and the pool.  Erik is a Rock Star.

We are getting ready to drive to Erik's 20 Year Mission Reunion.  It may be his reunion, but I love talking to his missionary peeps . . . people that opened countries like Russia, Estonia, Ukraine, and Latvia . . . I'm sure I've left some country out.  Well, and we all know he'll probably have to tell the Iron Story.

Merritt was a CHAMP at today's all-out-super-we-used-a-sound-proofed-booth-hearing test.  And, he does not have hearing loss.

Me, well, I'm on an internal tirade to find better words to describe what I do . . . I'll get back to you on that.  For now, what I have is "I am awesome and getting better all the time."  There is this store called "Hello Gorgeous" and EVERYTIME I pass it--reading the name of the store aloud, I giggle to myself and respond with, "Why, HELLO?  How are you today."

word.

Evy said today,"Mom, I have about 100 questions right now in my mouth."  I believe it.  His goals, right now, are to "ride in a balloon while I'm four" and "go to a Rock Star show."

Merritt said "cereal" on Sunday.  He is potty training himself, when he wants to.  One thing about Merritt, it has to be *his* idea.  I guess you could call that "strength" . . . .

Good Things

Today at breakfast we were talking about the things that we are good at . . . these are Everett's thoughts:

Dad
good at going to work
good at making macaroni and cheese
good at playing cars and hide-n-seek
good at "getting me"
good at swimming

Mom
good at playing tag
good at putting Merritt to bed
good at writing on mirrors
good at planting plants
good at making cookies

Evy
good at volleyball
good at soccer
good at making goals
good at playing in the sprinklers
good at playing cars with my friends

Merritt
good at eating vitamins
good at running
good at climbing stairs
good at climbing webs.

And in the middle of all this goodness, Everett pauses, looks at me and says,"Do dogs like to get wet?"

Questions

Everett asks great questions.  He asks volumes and volumes of questions, actually.  And, every once in a while, I have to ask for a moment of pause before the next question.  He will pause and when the pause is over, he keeps asking without missing a beat. 

Often he'll say,"Mom, can we talk about  ______?"  I love how he is constantly questioning the world around him.  Later on he'll say,"Can we finish talking about _________?"

Yesterday, he asked,"Mom, are there any animals that don't dig?"

We have many animal kingdom related questions at mealtime and while we are in the car.

This morning we discussed the pros and cons of looking at the sun with a magnifying glass.

Other questions he has asked this week:

• Is he bad because his mommy didn't teach him to be good?
• Will we always have to protect Merritt?
• Do lions have superpowers with their manes?
• Mom, the clock is on 'E.'  Should we get gas?  (referring to the gas gauge)
• If I have strong bones, will I get strong muscles?  (we spent a huge portion of mealtime talking about what is good for our bodies)
• Do killer whales live with penguins?
• Is Texas bigger than the ocean?
• Why does saying HI to her make her happy?

Just to See You Smile, Part II

I would have predicted that to have a photographer take pictures of us outside would have been the perfect scenario for Merritt . . . and that is true, except if we were trying to get a family picture.  The studio was the best place to decrease the distractions and have a happy family photo time.  And, that, we did.

We love our guys so much!

Our Little Fashion Plate

He had to accessorize before we left for the store.

(hat, Mom's watch, Evy's woodcookie necklace)

After fully accessorizing, he rushed passed me and chased a bunny only barely pausing at the edge of the sidewalk before jauntily walking into the street despite how crazy I was threatening him and looking like some harridan.

He then had to sit in time-out for his poor listening and disobedient behavior.

It is a wonder I get anywhere on time.

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Like many toddlers, Merritt is a handful, Ilovehimso.

His tantrums will be the stuff of legends, Ilovehimso.

It has to be HIS idea, Ilovehimso.

He loves to shred books, Ilovehimso.

Instead of calling to us when he wakes up, he kicks his door down, Ilovehimso.

And he gives the best hugs and kisses, Ilovehimso.

Just To See You Smile, Part I

It Was My Birthday

And I had a great day.  I avoided as many chores as possible.  I introduced Superman the Movie to the boys and we had Mexican for dinner--that I did not cook.

The boys made my custom chocolate birthday cake the next day.

Later in the week, I went out with the Girls for dinner at LaMadeleine.  Yummy!

My birthday flowers still look great a week later, and even though I am officially, undisputedly, closer to 40 than 30, life is better than ever.

Chills and Thrills

The heat is killing me.  Makes all of us feel like we are moving in slo-mo.  The garden is so sad.

Last week we repainted our front door, cleaned a bunch, and did stuff that I can't remember.

Marvelous Father's Day!

We are gearing up for Erik's 20 Year Mission Reunion.

Here are a couple of pictures from our family reunion:

(Evy is trying to help Merritt get organized with what everyone else is doing.)

This picture CRACKS me up!

(thank goodness Aunt Mandy had animal crackers to give  . . . he just wanted to watch the water and eat)

Ahh, Couldn't Be Any Cuter

Happy Father's Day

This is the boys' dad.

He is cool.

He loves to travel.

He always has a story to tell.

He loves to sing songs and make-up songs and more often than not they end with the word "pee" or with a word that rhymes with "pee" since that was probably part of the lyrics before the ending  (true story).

He is adored by his boys (and his wife).

He loves white chocolate . . . brown chocolate, no, not so much.

If he is cranky, a nice strawberry shake usually jiggles him out of the mood.

He is so funny.  You can never stay mad at him.

He works hard for his family.

He enjoys yardwork and swimming in the sunshine.

When he comes home from work,

the house explodes with screams and exclamations of welcoming  . . . his boys love him so.

He is always ready and willing to share his time with his boys and wife. 

He patiently reads just *one* more book anytime he is asked.

He'll let the boys take a bath *whenever* they ask for one . . . and will tirelessly scour the house for that "shark" or "whale" that they must have with their bubble bath.

He loves broccoli.

Tator tots.

Green grapes.

Fajitas and steak.

Cheesecake.

and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.

And, yes, he'll share all of that with anyone who asks.

He'll make it happen, really, whatever you want, he'll do his best to make it happen.

He bought a toy for our kids before we even had kids . . . a soft lamb with a rattle hidden in the belly.

He doesn't like casseroles.

When he takes the kids on errands, they feel like the are going on vacation.

"It is Daddy time!"

Evy:  Mom, where you going?

Mom:  out to __________

Evy:  Can I ______?
Mom:  Ask your dad he is in charge.

Evy:  WWAAHHHHOOOOO!

He dances like he is in an 80s time-warp and his performances never fail to cheer up the most ragged toddler.

The boys love Dad's Mac-n-Cheese the best.

Truthfully, he is the best!

Thanks, Erik, for all you do.

(I love this gnarly picture of the four of us.)

Randomness

The things I didn't think I would say, but I said both today:

• Merritt, we don't use alligators as weapons.
• Do I need to pull this car over because you are not behaving?  (the answer was  . . . yes)

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We were at a splashpad that had a HUGE playground right beside it.  Everett was so helpful with Runner Merritt.  I seriously could not keep up with Merritt and Everett together since Merritt is like a bouncy ball in on a racquetball court . . . changing directions with split second turns and always towards the danger zones. . . but Evy was so helpful by being willing to stay with Merritt.  At one point, Merritt stripped his shoes off and kept on running.  Evy picked up the shoes for me and we kept following Merritt.  At another point, Merritt took off towards the parking lot because he saw a school bus.  I flew like a gazelle (or an ungainly giraffe) to intercept Merritt before he got to the bus; I mean, I had to HAUL BUTT!  I caught him just has he reached the curb.  That kid is FAST.  I won't be going back to that fun location without Dad along for the outing.
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Tonight, Dad was reading an animal book with Merritt.  On one page there is a bear and a bee.  Merritt held his hands as claws and ROARED pointing to the bear.  When Erik pointed to the bee and said,"Buzzzz," Merritt *slapped* the book with his hand.  (he is, evidently, a highly trained buzz killer).  Merritt was so pleased with this that he did it again, and again, and again laughing HYSTERICALLY at his own antics.  Pretty awesome.

Pretty soon, after he kills all the bees in our books, I'll let other people hire him out to kill the bees that he finds in their homes.
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Tonight at the pool,  Merritt walked around the pool with a HUGE bag of Cheetos . . . and orange hands and face . . . there was so much "orange" with wet pool hands, it was Cheeto Paste (bet you didn't know that existed).  Everyone thought he was the cutest thing ever.  I'm just saying I'm glad he spread the cheeto fun around at the pool and not in my house (on my walls, etc).

"Look, Mom!" Anything to Delay Going to Bed

All About Merritt

When Merritt is supposed to be asleep (but isn't), he'll fake sleep and make fake sleep sounds like one of the Three Stooges. (snore, wewewebeweeweeeeee, snore, wewewebeweeweeee)

When his feelings have been hurt or when someone else gets hurt, he cups each eye with a hand and cries.

He loves to be on the highest surface in every room.

Recently, he has started saying two word phrases.  The one that is clearest is,"Eat hungry."  He'll also say something that has the same intonation as, "here you go!"  He loves to make animal noises and may greet you with his "claws" extended accompanied with a growl.  It is a sign of play, not anger.

He LOVES to read.  It is what he begs for at the end of the day before bedtime and cries when storytime is over.  "eed,eed, eed, eed!"

He loves to sit in your lap and snuggle, when he isn't climbing the couch and trying to stand on your head.

If he thinks someone is hurting me, he'll come to my defence . . . unless it is him who is beating me with his windmill whirling arm punches.

He loves, loves, loves to wrestle and play chase.  He is rarely still.

If there is a "chase" on TV, he will scream and squeal in excitement.

He loves to cheer and heckle at sporting events more than anyone in our family.

He hates to be outside when it is hot.  Outside events are super hard for him when it is hot outside.

He refuses to sit in any kind of "chair"---makes eating at restaurants very, uh, busy.

He loves to give hugs.

His favorite . . . TRAINS!  and boxing.

This is our Merritt during our Family Reunion.  He got close and personal with a bajillion goats . . . well, he just smelled like he did afterwards, but, really, he hugged LOTS of goats. 

(yes, that is a monkey harness that we use . . . saves his life and our lives again and again. Just the weight on his back seems to help him attend better.)

PottyTime

No matter how you beg, plead, illustrate, show, cajole, or threaten . . . this is his version of how you go to the potty.

Did I mention he is a climber?  Yes, I painted on orange underpants for privacy.

Chills and Thrills

We've been traveling, having good times, eating good food, and making great memories.

Oh, and today, it is  my BIRTHDAY!

A Daily Pleasure

Hide-N-Go Seek

If you are at our house, for any length of time, you will assigned to "count" or "hide."

Don't worry, Evy usually gives you a hint if he thinks you'll have trouble finding him.

"If you have a hard time, be sure to check my bed."

or

You can listen for the Merritt whispers of "hide, hide, hide, hide, hide, hide, hide . . . ."

Um, no, Merritt prefers to wear no clothing no matter how cute or cool I try to tell him and show him that being clothed really is.  Let's just say the propensity is genetic.  When he is 40, he'll usually recognize the appropriate times to have his clothes on . . . .

"uuch" again

Yes, he got stuck again!

this picture is his charming response to whenever I get the camera out.  the following shots are after the "novelty" of smiling for the camera got old.  he was really stuck.

And, it is time to upgrade the "Merritt proofing" in our house.  We need more latches and more "child-chicken wire."

Sweet Merritt

Merritt was up at 4:00 this morning with a crazy fever.  It was a really rough day for him.

No nap.

Wonky fever that I could barely keep below 104 for any length of time.

We went to the doctor at 5:15.

Ear infection.

Dad found something he would eat . . . Cheetos.

Merritt just wanted to be cuddled all day long.  As hot as he was, he just needed some TLC.

Poor guy.  Hope tomorrow is a much better day for him.

Rain, Rain

Two weeks ago, the boys were dying to run out and splash in the dorrential downpour and massive puddles.  They waited all day until the rain lessened so that they could see while they splashed.

Lot of good times!

check the expression on Merritt's face

after months of practicing, Merritt finally has air under both feet when jumping

t.a.s.t.y.

Boys

I remember when I first started teaching . . . I think it was my first year teaching, there was one day when my students just would not take the risk and start a project on their own.  Every little detail, jot, and iota had to be verified by me . . . I remember gads of hands raised in the air and I became frustrated.

I was frustrated because I knew I couldn't get to all of them in time and answer each and every question to make them comfortable.

I was frustrated because so many of my students were afraid to take a chance and just try it.

I was frustrated because I couldn't think of a better way to address the situation, and we really needed one.

I was frustrated because I was getting frustrated.

So, I took a step outside of my classroom door, took a breath, and stood there trying to figure out a way to remedy the situation.

When I stepped back into my classroom, with a new plan, every single one of my students had their hands raised with the most comical smirks on their faces.

It CRACKED ME UP!  They so knew that I had been frustrated with the questions, questions, questions and they made me laugh over it.

This picture reminds me of that time.

My boys know that they aren't supposed to climb on, climb over, straddle, jump on, launch from, or otherwise cause bodily harm to the couches.  On this afternoon, I guess it was all I was talking about . . . .

I was trying to make dinner amidst the interruption EVERY 30 SECONDS . . . and, yet again, I heard a 'Hey, Mom!'  I look around the corner and see this:

Little Stinkers!  And, yes, it was very funny!