boys will be boys

When you have boys you have to figure out how to use the big guns or how to speak their language.

Christian rolled around for 30 minutes without his shirt on after I offered repeatedly to help him get dressed. Now we were in danger of being late for school. Then I remembered all of their infatuations with their Dad's big Jeep toy that sits outside and rots. What was a mother to do? That is when I said, "All right boys if you are all dressed then I will take you to Miss Violeta's in the big Jeep. I smiled all the way to the Jeep after I witnessed the results that were happening right before my eyes. This wasn't the first time I'd used this tactic and probably won't be the last I reckon. Two of my older man neighbors got a kick out of watching the sight of us loading up that they had to come and inquire of what the special occasion was to fire up Jeepy. I wonder if they saw me having a hard time getting out of first gear as we jerked back and forth. Sheesh the things we do as mothers.

P.S. - While driving to school, Christian corrected my usage of calling the Jeep a car by saying, "Mom it is not a car it is a truck Jeep". His Dad would be proud.

quiet moments

Everything was so quiet. I had just dropped the boys off the preschool after a rough 24 hour bout of mothering. I have completely not been playing my best Mom game these last few days. There usually isn't very much that can get me to slow down but this morning I had already given in to the fact the I just didn't want to do anything today...like nothing..like sit on the couch and watch movies all day kind of nothing. I was not in the mood to execute all of the busyness that I had already had outlined...just have plain lost my mojo. As I walked around observing the mess that I clearly needed to pick up but did not want to pick up, I wondered if life is extra hard because of having 3 four year old boys or was there something else I need to be doing that would help me snap out of this little slump? I mean I don't know any different and think I have pretty great stamina but I also think it may be a little hard right now with all of these little kids in the same age bracket...but not quite sure though. Then I looked over at the window in dining area and saw Maile's kitty cat and her polka dot blankets that she has had from birth and that helped to spark something in my mother heart that gave me a little extra push to just keep on trying. I am so thankful for those quiet moments that help me when I just want to give in to life.

California

My camera went a little whack - a - do and I lost the majority of my pictures from our recent trip to California. What I really do not want to loose is the memory of all of us in a small hotel room. Every single day after we came back from our activities, the kids were beat so they actually fell asleep very quickly. We made a nice little beds out of sleeping bags for the boys. They still seem tho sleep better close together so the sight of 3 little kids sleeping close together on that sleeping bag is my favorite. Maile and Christian were partial to the beach and Maren loved the ferris wheel at Knott's Berry Farm.

As much as I almost wanted to go a little crazy from the whining and little spats that the kids had I realized that I was very lucky to have all of these kids very close in age... should make vacations fun being that everyone should be on the same page as far as all of the activities they want to do.

This week I will be focusing on all of the positive things because life as a Mom has been a little trying. My nerves are extra sensitive these days I suppose.

Dont Leave Me...But Just Kidding..But Not...

Miss Violeta is having a hard time telling the boys apart.

That's funny.

I had the worst but best feeling in my heart when I left them for their first day of preschool. Can't wait to see what transpires this year. I am so glad that I still get them all to myself for "Field Trip Fridays". What I am really wondering is if this is it for me. When you have a grouping of kids in 2 years they just seem to leave really, really fast. Still wondering what it would be like to have just one baby..hmmmm.

They are so stinkin' cute.

wildflowers

It is very hard for me to sit still for too long. We had been at Grandma and Papa's house out in the middle of no where for a couple of weeks so it seemed that I had gotten to the point to where I could only go a couple of days of staying at the homestead before I had to just get in the car and go somewhere. The fact that I didn't want to wear out my welcome just fueled the footloose and fancy-free way that I already lean towards. Besides I like the freedom that a car provides and sometimes I feel my best when I am behind the wheel. I had long told the kids about Fish Lake so decided to pack a lunch and spend the day exploring. The first place we came upon was a grove of trees with the roots exposed. It looked like we were in some kind of enchanted forest. We then made our way over the bridge and that is when we came upon the most beautiful patches of wildflowers. I love wildflowers. In fact when I was married I wanted everything to be full of greenery and wildflowers. We picked a few to bring back to Grandma and hoped they would stay nice until the ride home. The flowers proved to be quite hearty indeed. I think hearty and beautiful make a great combination. Anyway we walked around and did plenty of exploring. I'm sure we were not hard to miss especially with those little flutes a tooting everywhere we went. Finally Maren and Maile gave the flutes a rest and they somehow made their way under my belt and when we went to the old store at Fish Lake again the old man selling the Smokey the Bear items inquired as to where the flutes went because he could not hear them this time around. We truly must have made our mark the first time around with all of our tootin' and hollerin'. I wouldn't classify ourselves as the quiet type anyway but sometimes I become a little numb to how noisy we really are. I am just glad that when we got home we had something to offer Grandma so that her senses would be diverted from her ears to her eyes and nose with the beautiful wildflowers.

Wellsie, Wellsie, Wellsie -

I woke up this morning hoping you did not pee pee in your bed because I did not put a Pull-Up on you in fear of disturbing your sweet slumber. You see I found you yesterday evening at 5 pm all ready for bed. I tried to get you up to eat dinner with no luck. Don't worry though I did take off your boots, blazer and hat...which by the way was such a great look with those shorts. I wouldn't recommend wearing that little get-up again until the weather cools down though.

Lots of loves, hugs and kisses.

Love,

Mom

1st grade and nonsense

Today was the day. First time for ALL day school. First day to eat lunch in the cafeteria. I felt I went easy on these two today...only a half sandwich, chocolate milk, applesauce, cashew bites, chocolate covered granola square, water and a fruit snack. They better not get used to that. I told them they get carrot sticks tomorrow.

I noticed the following few differences in my girls this morning:

One got right in the shower without a fight..opposite day for the other.

One insisted on her shirt tucked in..the other out.

One said no way to any sort of hair accessory..the other would have worn five at one time.

One would not wear socks while the other could not live without them.

One wanted a kitty and a puppy on her folder..the other wanted a picture of a bug eyed cartoon girl in her bathing suit by a dolphin..with brightly colored peace signs.

As I drove away from the school this morning I took great comfort in the fact that they both were sitting right next to each other in nestled in their little desks on the front row.

Back to the girls school folders..I am still smiling about the little scenario that transpired after the girls came home from buying their school supplies with their Dad. After Maren walked out Maile came up to me and made sure that I was aware that she likes "nature and stuff "and that is why she chose animals and flowers. Then after a moment of silence she said "I don't buy the same kind of nonsense that Maren buys" (referring to Bratz looking type dolls). I had I good laugh inside. Seriously she had just called her sisters choice of school supplies "nonsense".