Like Totally Awful

Holey, Moley, Cannoli! (my boys think that this phrase is hysterical.  In fact, they laugh at everything I rhyme with moley)

We are sick-o-la.

All three of us.

Yoda, Yoda, lee---iiii----whooooo  (they like that one, too)

Chills and Thrills

So far, so good!  I believe it is like a 14 hr difference.  awesome.

This past week Evy cashed in his ice hockey ticket that he earned and went with his dad to a game.  AWESOME!  Merritt and I came home to watch a show and eat cookies and candied popcorn.  AWESOME!

Evy had a blood draw, getting ready for March Neurology Madness.  He did a great job. No tears.  He even, after it was over, said,"Sometimes getting a shot isn't bad."

I'm starting to feel better.  Yay!

Hockey Game with Dad

Evy earned the chance to get tickets to an Allen American hockey game.  He was so excited to go with his dad!

A trip worth all that work to earn!

Gifties

One of the things that we do as a family, pretty regularly, is we give things to people.  One of our favorite outings is to take goodies that we have made and leave them anonymously at a friend's house.  I grew up doing this with my family and my kids love doing this.

We also bring stuff and claim it as we say hi to our friends at their door.  The boys like this interaction as well.

Right now, the boys are taking turns bringing each other "gifts" to the doorways of their bedrooms.  Evidently, as I listen in, there are rules:

• The other person cannot know what you are going to leave in the gift box (Evy's is an actual gift box, Merritt's is a Lightning McQueen lunch box).
• Fill the box with stuff from your room.  No rules on this, can be cars/animals/toothbrushes/random pieces of trash.
• You have to knock at the CLOSED door with box in hand.
• The person on the other side says,"Come in!"
• The door opens.  (Merritt likes to say "FOR YOU" when he is the giver.)
• You sit down together and open the box.
• The giver outlines the details of the gift with whatever "fun" story he wants to tell about buying the gift.
• Then the receiver says 'thank you.'
• Then you take turns.

They did think of me.  I got a white stuffed kitty cat that only sleeps at night.  The gift (from Evy to Merritt) that received the most exclamations of joy, a naked babydoll.  "SOOOO CUUUTTEE!!!!!!!"

Playing cheetah

Priorities and Perspectives

Evy cracks me up.  He is pretty adept at communicating his thoughts and needs.

Today, I sat down with the boys and asked them to help me pray for a friend who is having a hard time.  Evy started the prayer, but it was clear that he had a special purpose for the prayer.

Evy:  Dear Heavenly Father, Please bless that Merritt will listen BETTER!!!!  Amen.

----

I am still trying to teach Everett that he needs to write the letters of his name down in a particular order so that people recognize that he is spelling "Everett"--working on it today, I wrote down his name.

Evy:  Mom, (pauses and looks at me with pity) you don't really know how to write.  There isn't a 'K' in my name.
Mom:  That is supposed to be an 'R' . . .
Evy:  (clearly knowing who needs to be schooled now)  An 'R' is like a 'P' with a line from the circle on the 'P'.  That's okay.  You just didn't know how to do it right.

One would never guess I actually taught kids how to write in school

---

Merritt is off doing something. I don't know what.  I am laying down, feeling sick, coughing, sneezing, and kind of not caring what is destroyed in that moment.

Evy:  Are you going to check on Merritt?
Mom:  In a minute.
Evy:  I think you should go take care of him.
Mom:  Got it.
Evy:  (not impressed with my lack of action)  Well, are you going?

---

I am feeling yucky and put on the movie "There's No Business Like Show Business" . . . I can usually entertain them for about 30 minutes with a show like this.  They love the singing and dancing.

Evy:  (watching the chorus line dance and sing)  Are they wearing feathers to be modest?

Evy:  (watching a dance number with guys in kilts doing something similar to Riverdance)  I wuv their dancing.  I want to learn to do that.

---

He loves to earn money by doing work.  We don't pay him for doing his chores, but we do let him earn money for doing extra chores.  He puts 10% aside for tithing and 20% aside for his savings bank.

We've been doing this with him for a couple of months now.  He vacillates between wanting to keep his payment clenched tightly in his fist so that he can buy something "expensive" now vs being excited about putting money towards tithing which will help those that aren't as fortunate as him.  I love having conversations with him about tithing and helping others.

---

We recently were at a fast food joint and there was a worker who looked physically different than the rest of the staff.  After Evy made a couple of comments to me, quietly, about he looked, I gently corrected him and let him know that if the boy heard him say those things it would hurt his feelings. 

Although, no one but me heard it, Evy felt so bad.  He cradled his head into my chest and just cried with remorse.  We talked about how Evy wasn't in trouble and that we all learn how to be nice and that it is good to learn how words affect people.

That was about a week ago.  Every once in awhile, Evy will turn to me and clarify his thoughts by saying,"We all can look different, right?"

He is such a tenderhearted guy. 

Night Out

Erik and I had a chance to see Keb' Mo' in concert a couple of weeks ago.  It was AWESOME!  It was the first time that I had ever sought out a concert and bought tickets for it.  I was so excited!  The setting was great . . . not a bad seat in the house at South Side Music Hall.  He used his resonator guitar for a couple of songs and that was so much fun.  I wish he used that guitar for all his songs.

One of the best loved songs of the evening "Shave Yo Legs"--(He is using a resonator guitar here.)



One of the moments I will remember most:

There was a couple sitting on the row behind us. They were closed lipped and almost angry looking through the opening performer . . . but when Keb' Mo' got on stage, their frosty looks started to melt. And, not but 3 songs into his performance they were relaxed swaying to the music and enjoying themselves. I honestly loved watching music bring them happiness.

Another highlight is we were able to go to a new restaurant Wild Salsa. The food was just amazing! I wish we lived closer because we would go more often.  It was the kind of place you can go and forget that just 30 minutes earlier you were trying to convince a kid to to pee and frantically eyeballing the house to make sure your underwear wasn't sitting in a pile "in plain view" to greet the babysitter.

A fun, fun evening!

Today in School . . . First Stop, Singapore

It it time to tour Asia next week.

We'll be exploring Singapore first.  We'll talk about where it is, conservation on beaches, the food (I'm thinking curry puffs and hainanese chicken rice at Lion City Chinese Cafe for our finale night. . .  the only place near us that serves Singaporean food), Singlish, festivals, and I'm still looking for some art/craft thing to do with them.  Just as when we studied, Dubai, there is little of preplanned ideas for preschoolers to learn the culture aside from commercialism.

SingaporeExpats
Wild Shores of Singapore
NationalLibrarySingapore Picture SG
Tchoukball
Durian Fruit
Sri Mariamman Temple
JC Sum the illusionist, of course
The Merlion

Lots of world domino records were achieved in Singapore.

Frankly, their toilet program just makes me want to move there.

I wonder if there is a Jet Li film I can show the boys.  He's from Singapore, evidently.

From Singapore, we'll go to India (our participation in The Color Run will help them visualize the Holi Festival), and then China.

Chills and Thrills

We had a busy week.  It ended, thankfully, with a trip to Austin for the Color Run.  I'll post more later on that.

Evy is more and more interested in writing.  He isn't convinced that I understand exactly how to write or how to spell his name.  So, he's been working on his own way to write stories and his name using the letters of our conventional alphabet.

Right now, he is using the *real* tools he got for Christmas to take apart his laser gun to get parts to make a robot.  He has full confidence that he'll be able to put it back together in working order.

"Which way is Lefty Loose-yyy?"

Merritt has some fun responses these days to basically any announcement we make (what's for dinner, where we are going, etc)  Here is how it goes--

M:  What?
Me: Yes, peanut butter and jelly.
M:  No WAY!
Me:  Yes, way.
M:  You are KIDDING me!

or

Me:  Do you want to ____________?
M:  Toadawwee
Me:  Okay, let's do it.
M:  Sweeeeeet!

I love my boys!

Chills and Thrills

This past week we enjoyed some awesome weather!  Lunch with Dad!  Monday night at a special dinner place with arcade and video games.  Rock it!  The boys now have their first whoopee cushions.

Saturday, we spent watching Star Wars!  All of us had a great time!  "Too great, perhaps," is what I thought as we cleaned the TV room this morning. Awesome time!

Merritt went to school without crying.  YAY! 

We had church today.  Bleh.  Seriously.  I don't think I will enjoy church until Merritt is like 25.  It is, but it isn't, him.  What can I say?  Church is not designed for an active, exploratory, and fun loving three year old.  I love him to pieces and will probably start avoiding church instead of, well, you know.  At least that is my fall-back plan that I think about as I continue to push us out the door and off to church each Sunday.   This kid can't seem to catch a break.

Evy had a splendid time at church and came home with an absolute MASTERpiece that he colored in class.  I'll have to post it soon.

CREPES tonight with some fun friends!  I've been using balsamic vinegar for awhile now and we loved our balsamic chicken savory crepes.  Evy loves Nutella and whipped cream on his sweet crepes.  Merritt just likes to faceplant the whipped cream.

We have a fun and full week planned. 

Chills and Thrills

I've been spending an enormous amount of time on my church calling. It is going to continue to ramp-up until mid-March.  And, I can see I am gaining some personal benefits from it.  So, that is good.

Merritt had an awful day in church on Sunday.  Well, that is not quite true.  He did great in Sacrament.  The idea that he needs to sit for *two* more hours smack in the middle of lunch and nap time is a horrific nightmare for his parents.  We swapped places with each other to share the load, trying to help him maintain some decorum in Primary without irritating everyone else and overwhelming him.  I'm not liking things right now.  It would be WAY easier to stay home and sing Primary songs.   In fact, I was so bothered by it, I woke up early on Monday just at a loss as to what we are going to do, especially when Erik flies to the other side of the world for weeks on end.  Sundays should not be about reverence warfare with a 3 year old when the expectations aren't age appropriate.  You can tell I'm still bothered.

Erik is working like a madman doing his best to balance his calling, work, and us.  He sure does his best to be a great husband and father.  The boys hang on his every word.

Evy started back at his museum preschool.  I love hearing about all the things that he learns about.  Today, it was about the solar system.  LOVE IT!

Merritt did not cry for the FIRST time this morning when I was dropping him off at school.  Evy even remarked about how he didn't look upset.   And, he is doing a splendid job of being a big boy in the bathroom. 

Other than that, there is the usual tedium of life (flat tires, bills, etc).  But, we are trying to enjoy it as much as possible.  I did buy some music support books from the church website and LOVE them.  We are also using some new resources in reading the scriptures to the boys.  I don't know if they are getting more out of it, but the new stuff holds my attention longer.

One of the things I am starting to use on a daily basis---nothing Earth shattering in the book.  But, it has great and simple ideas that I don't have to think of to teach my boys the songs.

A Children's Songbook Companion

This weekend:  CREPES!!!

It Is Friday, People!

Keb' Mo'

She Just Wants to Dance

Highlights From Today

Merritt grabbing my face and pointing while saying,"Eyes beautiful, face beautiful, gasses (glasses) beautiful, nose beautiful . . . hair pretty, cheeks pretty . . . ."

Merritt asking,"Where am I?" after I had to rush him into a locker room to take care of his bloody nose.  I love it when he shows progress in asking about what is going on around/to him.

Evy very seriously telling me that he would take care of Merritt's potty treat this morning.  I said,"sure," and went to get the treat to hand to Evy.  In the meantime, he went to his own Christmas candy and took out a chocolate coin while telling me that,"no, thanks, I've got it, Mom!"  What a nice boy!

"Mom, when can I buy one of those balloons that sounds like a toot?"  Evy.

I have the best job in the world.

Ups and Downs

Today . . . lost an earring of my most beloved pair.

Merritt had a successful #2 drop at the toilet.  We are on our way, Baby!

Prepped for 12 meals.  Nice stash in the freezer and fridge now.  Trying out some new ways to get my boys to eat protein. 

Crackerjack swim at the pool.

Mount Vesuvias of Applesauce at lunch.

Lots of mud in the backyard.

Merritt is not napping.

It is 2:25 and I have the freedom to get back in my fleece pajama bottoms.  NICE!

Cool Stuff . . . Press Here

One of the best books that I have ever read and used with my boys.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

The author is a freaking genius!  And, they have activity sheets online to spur your own imagination.

Whenever we read this book, the boys clamor with, "AGAIN, AGAIN!!!!"

Here is more on his other books.  HELLOOOOO!  Guess what is on my wish list?

Chills and Thrills

Um, I seriously cannot remember what we did last week.  I am sure it was awesome.

This weekend I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.  I did just that.  We are all feeling a bit better after this weekend.

Evy wants to know what we are doing this week, and, uncharacteristically, I don't know.

Here are some options:
continue to potty train
exercise
do stuff for my calling
return stuff to stores before it is summertime
go to the post office and mail stuff:  the all time #1 place I avoid
go to the grocery store

None of that sounds great.  An upside, I already did our laundry for the week.  Go.  Me.

Here is what I want to do:
make the weather 75degrees and go to the zoo
fly for a little while under helium balloons
eat cake
take a nap
read a book
go for a road trip
play

We tried a new game today:  Build a Robot by eeBoo

It was AWESOME!!!  Each "game" is fairly quick.  We had all kinds of conversations about robots and physics and personal choice with this one.  Great basic game for Merritt and it is easily made more difficult for my Evy.

We can't wait to show Dad!

Thespians Behind the Curtain

The boys held a rousing puppet show this afternoon.  Per their own plans, there was lighting, lots of action, and lots of laughs!

Perpetual Motion

Merritt is growing by leaps and bounds.

Yesterday, he came up to me and said,"I have an idea."

YYYAAAAHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I love that he is beginning to finally have the skills to express himself.

One of the most frequent phrases he is saying,"I wike that."  or "I wike _____!"

BTW, his idea?  I'm not sure.  Something about the letter 'e'----

He does know all the letters and the sounds that they make. 
He is almost counting to 20 correctly. 

And all that is from picking it up from what is around him.  I don't sit down and teach him numbers and letters.

He loves superheroes.  Ironman, Batman, and Spiderman reside at the top of the list.

The other day we walked through Target without a cart.  And, he was able to navigate the toy aisle, the make-up aisle, and the long wait at the checkout just like a big boy being a good listener (and did not take any merchandise off of the shelves without neatly putting it back . . . AMAZING!!!)

Doesn't really like bread but he loves meat, macaroni, treats, and whatever I am drinking.

Last Sunday, he actually managed to put up with the whole Sacrament meeting thing for almost 50 minutes before running out of the Chapel.  He had his first day in Primary as a Sunbeam on Sunday (we fed him a LARGE snack at 12 since church is 11-2 and they aren't allowed to feed the kids anything).  He did pretty well with Erik's support during Sharing Time.  And, since no one came to fetch us for the third hour, we are going with the assumption that his behavior was at least close to being appropriate.

He thrives on pears and go-gurts and, basically, any illicitly gained items he takes from the counter.  He runs on a pretty high activity level and burns calories faster than anyone else around us.

He loves doing what his brother is doing.  When he tires of it, he is known to go find something else to do . . . and recently, sometimes it is to get a book and read it. 

He is doing a great job becoming a preschooler!  His teacher reports that she enjoys having him in her classroom, that he participates fully (that one made me giggle), and he doesn't shy away from working on his "sounds" work.  (He attends a speech therapy preschool.)  He still has a problem transitioning from the car to the school, but he is always smiling and happy when I pick him up.

This evening he asked me where his "packpack" was.  I reminded him that we put it in the laundry room.  He went in and quickly came out with a PRIZE.  He had earned a prize from the treasure box at school.  All of us were so thrilled for him.  (It was one of those sticky hands that you fling and it breaks in about 30 seconds.)

Erik put a large mirror in his room today at his height so that he can see himself, full body and all.  He loves it!  (Thanks, Aunt Mandy!)  He just stood there in awe and then struck some awesome dance moves.

I figured out a spot for our piano keyboard, recently, and he can often be found working out the tunes on it.

I am never bored when he is around.  I love my Merritt!

Holiday Happenings

One of the big things we did was go through toys.  We donated most of them and sold some of them to a second hand store.  My major pressure was to get rid of the stuff.  So, I purged and purged and purged.  Currently, the house is almost perfectly organized.  That makes me so happy!  Thanks to Erik for doing much of the "out of the house" legwork to get this done (I loved having this as my Christmas present).

The boys worked together on a present for me and they decided on a chocolate party cake with green icing and sparkly rings . . . . it was so much fun and the perfect present from them.  Suited me and my personality and love for chocolate and sparkly just fine.

You'll have to excuse the red eyes.  Our camera is on it's last legs of existence.

Candy cane Reindeer.  My mom used to have us make these and I loved doing that.  Evy improved on the model, though, and added legs and two tails.

more cookies.  Need a good icing recipe?  Look here.

A sweet aunt sent this for the boys and they love it!  Each picture is taken from a separate car crash or win incident.  Nothing like a kid laughing!

We had a special visitor over the holidays.  Max.  They love that dog!

We've enjoyed hours of air hockey over the past couple of weeks.  Evy is quite the competitor.  If you come to our house, prepare to be challenged.

Another hit:  Cash registers

If you play with Erik, he'll charge you tax.

Our favorite events:

seeing holiday lights

making cookies

going to the movies

learning about Christmas traditions

learning the details of the Christmas story

movie night with junk and IBC rootbeer

helping me decorate the Chapel (Evy is a pro)

reading many stories about giving

having Aunt Debbie, Uncle Arthur, and Madeleine over for Christmas dinner

PARTY

chocolate

We had a party here at the house.  The boys were upstairs with a sitter having their own party.  The adults were downstairs using things like stemware and real plates.  It was awesome.  Here are a couple of pictures of some of the decor.

Prefestivities preparation:  Cakepop eating

Those are some of the paperwhites we grew.  Can you believe how tall they are?

We had a wonderful time at the party.  Having a sitter here made a huge difference between a great party and a not great party.  We LOVE our sitter.

We kept it low-key on New Year's Eve.

Here the boys are enjoying chocolate fondue for breakfast.  That was totally awesome.

Later that day, they had their own special mixed drinks!

We were thrilled to have Erik around so long for the holidays and have had a hard time with him being at work during the day.