Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Traffic

Everytime we have to stop for traffic, Bryce starts screaming "GO CARS!!" (I don't know where he learned that??) Tonight, when we were leaving basketball practice, he did his normal scream. When we finally got to go, he goes "WOOHOO, we're hitting it."

Where do these kids get these things???

More Firetrucks

So today, Bryce went to Mothers Day Out. He wore his fireman costume. I sent extra clothes and shoes, in case he decided he wanted to change. I told his teacher this, and explained that if he starts complaining about his feet, it is because his boots give him blisters. When I picked him up she said that not only did he not take his costume off, when she tried to take his boots off at nap time, he started crying. She put them back on and he slept in his costume, boots and all.

After I got him, we went to pay the water bill. Our firestation is next door to the water company. Well, their had been a grass fire shortly before, and when we were going inside the water company, one of the fireman asked if I was going to bring the little fireman over to see the firetruck. I said sure, and went in to pay our bill. When we got inside, everyone stopped what they were doing and came to see Bryce. He loves the attention!!

We went to the fire department and Bryce acted really shy. They talked to him for a while and 2 of the 3 firemen were there last time a firetruck came to see him. They asked Bryce if he wanted to go for a ride. Of course he wanted to!! We went for a ride around the block, in the front seat. Bryce got to turn on the sirens, lights, honk the horn, etc. He did not honk in those short little beeps the fireman do though. If you have never been in a firetruck, the passenger side has two pedals on the floor. The one on the left honks the horn. They showed this to Bryce and he decided to see how long he could stand on the pedal. It was REALLY loud and he loved it. I finally made him get off and he went back to pushing buttons.

I have never realized how much storage those things have. There are doors EVERYWHERE including the bumpers. They utilize every inch of space in that thing. I am thinking about getting one, I think it will be a better fit for us than the suburban we have now. The guys said they were only about $150,000 used. Anyway, Bryce asked for every door to be open, one by one. They did it for him.

There was this one fireman named Daniel, that Bryce became buds with. He would take Daniel by the hand and lead him to where Bryce wanted to go. He had to see both fire engines, inside and out, and check out their uniforms, house, etc. When it was time to go, he climbed back into the firetruck and said he wanted to go for a ride. I spent about 20 minutes trying to get him to go without throwing a fit. It did not happen though. The fireman kept asking him to come back tomorrow, but Bryce did not want to wait that long.

Daniel ended up walking Bryce to the truck. Bryce still screamed for about 15 minutes. Then when he realized he was not going to win, he started asking "Ride firetruck tomorrow." Unfortuately for me and the fireman, he has not forgotten!!

What is bad is that he has gotten these "private tours" twice now, and I did not have my camera either time. When we go back tomorrow, I WILL have my camera. I will post pictures as soon as I can. The fireman took some today, but he said it will be about a month before he finishes the film. He has gotten way to spoiled. I feel like everytime he puts on his costume, firetrucks appear from nowhere!!

Not Too

When I picked Isaac up from preschool today for therapy, I asked him if he had fun. He said "I play outside." "How exciting," I replied. "Not too." he said. It seemed like an odd response coming from him!

5 Feet Under

Last night we were playing the game Cranium: Family Fun. This is a pretty fun game. Caleb and Paul were on a team and Paul was suppose to be acting out sleepwalking without speaking, with Caleb guessing. Paul was walking around snoring with his eyes closed. It was pretty obvious what he was doing. Caleb, on the other hand, shouts out 5 Feet Under. We have absolutely no idea where he got this!!

Monday, January 30, 2006

Wonderful Compliment

I got a wonderful compliment last night at church. Bryce's Sunday school teacher came up to me and told me how much she loved having Bryce in her class every Sunday. "My Bryce?" I asked shocked and confused. "Yes," she said, "he is a wired little thing, but he is so sweet and fun." "Well thank you," I said still in shock. She then started telling me that with his buzz cut he reminds her a lot of her grandson. Also, Bryce has started doing this thing with his mouth where he looks like he is doing a half smile or something. She said her grandson also makes this face. I really love getting compliments on my children, who doesn't?

Bryce is a very active 2 year old though, and he never stops. If you MAKE him take a nap, he will, but otherwise he will go non-stop (literally) until you MAKE him go to bed. If I could just have a drop of his energy it would be so great. He is a sweetheart, but he can also be a real booger!

Paul thinks he has something wrong with his face because he keeps making this face all of the time. I told him there was nothing wrong, but he learned how to make this face and every time he does Daddy tells him to "fix your face." Anything for attention!!
If I ever catch him making "the" face on camera I will be sure to post it!

MY PLANT

I have a plant that came from Paul's dads funeral. I also bought another one to match it last summer. They do great outside during the summer, but it has never done well in the winter, inside or out, because it seems to like direct sun and moisture. Well, I have had them inside, but when the weather is nice I put them on the back patio for some fresh air. This morning I looked out the door and noticed that the one I bought this summer looked really odd. It looked kind of smushed down and a lot of the plant that had fallen off looked like live plant. I was trying to get breakfast fixed and lunches made, so I did not pay much attention to it.

Well, a few minutes ago I walked into the kitchen and noticed that the dog was laying next to the door, but not on the ground. I walked toward the door and realized the dog was curled up ON my plant. My poor plant, that I have worked so hard to keep somewhat alive over the winter, has been smashed! I took some pictures, but I had to take them through the door so that he would not jump off before I got them. This dog is insane! It is like having another child - literally. He plays on the playgrounds with the kids and goes down slides. He loves squeaky balls (that is all he will play with). He is also VERY protective!


Saturday, January 28, 2006

Too Many Distractions

Thursday when we were taking Isaac to therapy, Bryce was wearing his fireman costume. We walked into the clinic and a girl started coming towards Bryce. Bryce yells "My girlfriend!" The girl came and grabbed his hand and walked off with him. The funny thing is, we have never seen this girl before, but apparantly she loves a boy in uniform!

Then today, at the basketball game, Caleb was at the middle of the court staring off to never land. The game, however was going on all around him. We kept yelling at him trying to get his attention, but he never responded. I finally started looking around trying to see what he was staring at. The CHEERLEADERS! He spent a good 30 seconds to a minute staring at the cheerleaders while the rest of his team was playing basketball.

This is all getting to serious to fast!! I don't know what I am going to do with these boys. I thought I had a few more years before I had to start locking them up, but I guess the time has come!! We need alarms on every window and door that activate when they are opened!

Afternoon Haircuts

Well, after Caleb getting his haircut this morning, his little brothers wanted theirs done. Isaac sat very well while his was done. Bryce had to sit in my lap (that was the only way he would get his haircut), but he did pretty good sitting there. He kept picking up the hair as Paul shaved it off and was trying to put it back on his head. Caleb took some of the pictures of Bryce's haircut (since I was behind Bryce). I must admit I had a hard time with letting Paul cut Bryce's hair, all that baby hair - gone!! But, they all look SOOO cute with their new burrs!









Before the cut!










We are done! Best haircut ever!

















































What a cutie!










First shave!










Pouty Mommy!





















Another cutie!











First look at the cut




















Now, this is a mug shot!!

Morning Haircut

WOW! WHAT A HAIRY 7 YEAR OLD!

Caleb is wanting to get his hair buzzed. This morning Caleb came in the room with his basketball uniform to ask what color he was supposed to wear. I told him not to get dressed because we needed to cut his hair first. He asked if he could go to the barber and I told him Daddy was going to do it. It was 7:15 this morning, Caleb says "We don't have time, Daddy takes too much time when he cuts my hair." His game is not until 10 this morning, so if it took Daddy that long, we would have a real problem!!!














10 Years

Last night Paul and I were talking about how this year we have been together for 10 years. This in turn made us remember that we are coming up on our 10 year class reunion. It is so hard to believe that we have been out of school that long! Time flys when you are having fun, right? Maybe it is just that we get too busy! We spent quite a while last night talking about people we went to school with and wondering where they are now.

It was nice talking about the fun times of high school. I don't know that I would ever go back, but it was a lot of fun. (If I was going to go back, it would have to be to college). There are only a couple of people that we have kept up with from high school. We find out of others whereabouts from those that still live in the same town. It is nice to be married to someone that shares these memories with me.

I am proud to say that I love my high school sweetheart!!

Friday, January 27, 2006

He says he watched it because Screech was funny!!

DISTURBING


Paul and I are on different computers surfing blogs. Something very disturbing just happened. Paul is looking at a blog that has different tshirts with sayings on them. One says "I french kissed Kelly Kapowski" I said the name sounded familiar and Paul shouts out "Oh that is the girl from "Saved By the Bell." That show has not been around for a long time! How does my husband know who she is?? I guess we know what he watched! He said if I blogged this he would not buy me dinner, but I think it is probably worth not eating!!!

Bryce Baking

Bryce helped me bake some chocolate cupcakes today...yes, in his underwear, because that is the only way you will find him at home!! When we got started I thought I better get the camera because he was going kinda crazy when I was mixing the ingredients together.







Helping Mom beat the mix




















Always knew he had a big mouth, but...






YUM!

























End of phase one of "cleaning"










Begining of phase 2 of "cleaning"













"Oh, please don't take pictures of this!!!"











"Can't decide between the spatula and finger."






















"Wonder if I can eat the bowl too?"






















































"I need a power nap!"













Back to "cleaning"





























Now, phase 3, the final phase of "clean-up" (and the worst)











The Whistling Gorilla


this is an audio post - click to play
This is Bryce's gorilla and the sound that Bryce's gorilla makes. The day we got it we were running errands. Everywhere we went he would continuously push the button. He had people everywhere looking around to see who was whistling at them. It was pretty funny and Bryce still laughs when he hears it.

Cookie Monster(s)

Paul has this...habit, I guess you would call it. Every night at bedtime he has to have 5-8 of cookies (depending on the type of cookie) and a big glass of milk. I don't really care for this habit, because he usually leaves his milk glass on his nightstand and it gets that nasty milk ring on the bottom, that does not like to come out!!

Anyways!! Off my soap box. He is rubbing off on the boys. Isaac sleeps in a pull-up. Last week, he came in not long before bedtime and said "I will stay dry all night for a cookie." If you could control it, it would be one thing, but I know he would not stay dry!!

Then earlier this week, Bryce woke up from a nap and ran to the kitchen. I went in, not to far behind him, and he had a box of cookie in his hand. When he saw me he threw his hands in the air and proclaimed "I want cookie, I want cookie. I want cookie now." This sounds strangely familiar...maybe like a certain Sesame Street character!?!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Bryce's Artwork


Bryce fingerpainted this at Mother's Day Out. He says it is Daddy holding a balloon and painting with a marker. He has apparantly been watching me to much because he put it in the copier and stared at the computer waiting for it to "appear."

Caleb's Chalkboard

It is so funny to see Caleb work on his blog. For anyone who has seen it, you may notice that they are really short, only a couple of lines. It takes him about 20 minutes to type that much. He has figured out how to post and all of the technical stuff, but he has a hard time finding the letters while trying to keep in his head what he is trying to say and how to spell what he is trying to say (I can only assume that is the reason for the lacking punctuation throughout the blog!!).

His first post was a letter to Papa. He started it DAER Papa. Paul and I were looking at it, and started laughing. DAER is supposed to be dear, but Caleb is good at figuring out the spelling to different words by sounding them out. Unfortunately, he has such an awful southern accent, that he IS spelling out what he is actually saying. It comes out of his mouth as daer, not dear!!

I DON"T KNOW WHERE HE GETS THAT ACCENT!!

www.calebschalkboard.blogspot.com

Mud Puddles and Dandelions

I received this email the other day and I really liked it:

Mud Puddles and Dandelions

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children! Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.


It was kind of interesting that I got this though. I am taking a class on contentment. The last chapter I read I had this in it:
Two women looked through prison bars
One saw mud, the other saw stars.

It made me think on how I look at life. I see mud everywhere. I often look at what I don't have instead of being thankful for what I do have. I don't want to be one of those people that breeds negativity, although I am. Most importantly, I want my kids to continue to see the positive in everything. The only way they will learn to look for the negative in everything is if we teach it to them, by example.

It amazes me how simple kids make things (even when they are being incredibly difficult!!). They have such an innocence about them and some of the things they pick up on are amazing to me!

Now when I feel negative or I feel like complaining, I think of this email and this statement from my book. You never realize how negative you feel or how much you complain until you try not too!!! I catch myself often now, but I still wonder how many times I don't catch myself!! I want a life full of mud puddles and dandelions!

I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!

PS Do you think people would be offended if you said that to them, and they had not read that email? Maybe I should start saying it to people and see the different responses I get!!

Monday, January 23, 2006

"I SAID..."

Isaac has this funny thing he does. He is often hard to understand. If anyone ever ask him to repeat something, whether it is because you can't hear him or just can't understand him, his response is always the same and it cracks everyone up. He gets closer to your face and turns up the volume. If you still can't understand him, he again gets closer to you and gets louder. It is so funny though, because his eyes get bigger everytime he has to repeat himself. HE IS SO FUNNY!!

Sweetheart Isaac

Everywhere we go, we always hear how sweet and loving Isaac is. He is a cuddlebug - that is for sure!! He went and saw 5 different doctors on Friday. They all came out saying how great it was to work with him, and how patient he was. He had over 4 hours of testing and never complained or got upset. He did everything he was asked, when he was asked. I told the doctors that he is a people pleaser. As long as you give him attention, he is going to do whatever you want him too! He is a sweetheart and I hope he always is!!

Caleb's Chalkboard

Caleb is starting his own blog. It is called Caleb's Chalkboard. He wants to do it, but I am not going to continually remind him about it, so we will see how long it lasts!!

Bryce Goes to School

Bryce started Mothers Day Out a couple of weeks ago. I was really concerned about how he was going to do, since he has been home with me since he was born. The first time I took him, he did not want me to leave. The teacher started telling Bryce what they were going to do for the day. When she mentioned painting, he decided that it was okay for me to go. When I picked him up, his teacher said that he teared up at nap time, and she sat down and patted his back until he went to sleep. Other than that, he had a great day.

The second time he went, we walked in and he took off. He acted as though when I asked for a hug and kiss, I was cutting into his time!! His teacher said he did not cry at all this time. Since then, everyday when I am getting Caleb and Isaac ready for school, Bryce gets all of his "school" stuff together and waits by the door. Unfortunately for him he only gets to go once a week right now. He is on a waiting list for Thursdays now.

I should take comfort in the fact that he is so comfortable being away from me, but I don't. I am happy that he is a social little boy that likes to be around others, but I still want him to WANT me. I will instead, be happy that he has turned out to be such a wonderful, happy little boy. Somehow, somewhere in the future (can't promise how near in the future), I will come to grips with the fact that my children are becoming young men (most of the times), and need me less everyday (I don't guess less, just in different ways!!!)

Monday, January 16, 2006

Education?

Sometimes I would love to be a fly on the wall of Caleb's school. Some of the things I hear from him.... He was reminding yesterday that he does not have school today. He said the reason he does not have school is because the teachers are celebrating a man that got shot. I asked what else he knew about this "man" that got shot. He said that is all he was told.

Also, tomorrow Caleb has a program at school. He also has basketball practice that night. I told him he could choose which he wanted to do because he absolutely hates singing in front of a crowd. He decided he wanted to go to basketball practice because "he chose to play that, and he has a team" (that was what he said). I told him that was fine, but he needed to let his teacher know.

He came home the next day upset saying he HAD to do the program. I asked why and he said that his teacher said that basketball is not important and that he needed to be there. How dare a teacher tell a child what is or is not important to that child. I told Caleb the choice was his and that if basketball was important to him, not to let anyone tell him otherwise. I also explained that he does have a team that counts on him. He responded with, "well, I am not doing anything in the program but singing with the group of first graders. I don't sing by myself or anything."

I can understand a teacher wanting the children to be there, and I would love for Caleb to do it, but Caleb needs to start making decisions on his own. If I make him go to the program he is going to stand up on the stage and pout and not participate. AND, he could definently use the help with basketball!

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Responsibility

Each basketball practice, the kids are given a verse to memorize by the next practice. At the game on Saturday, Caleb's coach asked the kids if they were working on their verses. All of the kids said yes, except Caleb. Caleb instead announced to his teammates, parents and coaches that his Mom and Dad would not give him the magnet that has the verse on it. We won't even get into the fact that the magnet is on the refrigerator with his other magnets. He is getting a good lesson on responsibility out of that comment, though. We had a long talk about whose responsibility it is to do their homework, no matter what. Leave it to kids to try to make you look bad in front of a group of people! His turn will come though - I'll make sure of it!!!

Fire-Starting Firetruck

I just remembered one of Bryce's frequent stories. When we drive by some place that has a lot of trees, he always says there is a firetruck hiding in the trees. When I ask where, he says that it is in the trees starting fires.

Where do...?

Daddy bought the boys the movie Milo and Otis last night. The boys really like the movie a lot. Unfortunately, there is a scene that knowledgeable Caleb did not need to see. He asked Paul these questions first, but Paul told him to talk to Mommy about it. When the movie was over, Caleb came to my room and asked, "Mommy, why do some creatures have new creatures from an egg, and some have new creatures from their butts?" "Because that is the way God made things." "Why?" he asked. Before I could respond to him, Isaac came in and drew his attention away from what he was asking. Thank God for small favors!!! I am really not ready to have "the talk" with any of the kids!! And, Paul, I thought we had decided before we had kids that you would take care of these things with the boys and I would with the girls. Unfortunately for you, you obviously can't produce girls!!

Author: Bryce

I think Bryce is going to be an author of tall tales! Lately, the stories he comes up with crack us up. Bryce and I were in the car by ourselves earlier this week, and Bryce starts screaming "Booboo" I thought he was saying poopoo so I said we would be home in a few minutes and to hold it. When that did not calm him down, I asked what was wrong. Finally it hit me he was saying booboo. I asked what happened this is the way things went from there:

Bryce: I need a bandaid!
Mom: How did you get a booboo sitting in your carseat with no one else back there?
Bryce: A cow!
Mom: A cow?
Bryce: A cow bite my finger.
Mom: A cow bit your finger? Where is the cow?
Bryce: Bad cow, bad Trip!

Trip is our dog, I don't know where the cow came in. The dog was not with us and here was not even a toy cow in the car.

Lately, Bryce constantly makes up stories about anything and everything, and they are all so off-the-wall and out of nowhere.

Daddy, Superhero!

"This is my Daddy!!" - Bryce
For some reason, we have not figured out, Bryce has started calling Daddy HeMan. We have not seen HeMan, or talked about HeMan, but Bryce frequently refers to Daddy as HeMan. I think it is very cute, even if we don't know where it came from!!