This weekend was really good. Saturday we spent the day with friends, one of which is writing about me for a journalism class, so she had to shadow me for three hours. Literally half the time she was with me, I was cleaning. I planned to be interesting on Saturday, but I don't know what happened.
We did go to lunch at Kinder's. Landon and Harper started slapping each other around as usual. That's when Laura told them the police were going to come and arrest them for assault and battery. To our lovely surprise, not 3 minutes later, a pair of police officers walked in. And if you don't know, Landon is obsessed with police officers. That is currently his career of choice, so he can "punch bad guys in the face". Anyway, he would not stop staring at the officers, so I asked him if he would like to go say hi. He enthusiastically shook his head up and down and asked if I would come with him. He and the officers chit chatted for a few minutes about how he can become a police officer. They told him he has a lot of energy, so he'd be good for the job, but he needs to work really hard in school. Then they noticed Harper standing beside Landon. They commented on how he must be the quiet one (true) and asked him what he wants to be when he grows up. Easy, "Hulk Smash". They laughed. I hope these boys are always friendly with police officers, but... not too friendly.
I just realized we have had Leila for 9 months now and she hasn't even made an appearance on the blog. This is my third child. She is a boxer we rescued in April. I am in love with her. She understands me better than anyone else. I have a lot to say about this girl... I'll save it for her own post.
We had a family date at Elephant Bar on Saturday night. We each got our own desserts for the first time ever, which I realize is totally unnecessary, but oh, so good.
Harper gave the prayer in primary today. He seemed super excited to get up there, but a few seconds after standing at the pulpit, he got really nervous. I whispered a few short lines of prayer into his ear, and he whispered into the microphone, totally jumbling his words. I think the only thing anyone could understand was, "Jesus Christ, Amen!" He was glad to get that over with. I'm proud of him though. Sunbeam today, General Authority tomorrow. I have high ambitions for these kids.
I took this picture to test the light before a session on Tuesday morning and I could not stop staring at it. Harper's my "baby" and I like to think of him as just that, a baby. But he's not. Sigh. He is so big. What I love most about Harper right now is how sweet and sensitive he is. He has such a kind soul. He is quick to say sorry, quick to obey, and the best snuggler in the whole entire world! He is still so squishy, I love it.
Anyway, I've seen those kid surveys floating around Pinterest. They suggest doing one every six months or every year, but I know I won't remember, so I'm just going to do them when it's on my mind. Here's Harper's from today, age 3 years + 3 months:
Favorite food: Ice cream
Favorite sport: Bowling ball
Favorite show: Wild Kratts
Favorite thing to do at school: Play with the dinosaur animals (at Landon's preschool)
If you could go anywhere on an airplane, where would you go: Animal land
Favorite color: Green
When you grow up, what are you going to be: A grown up
Favorite song: Wild Kratts
Favorite book: Animals book
3 words that describe you: Candy, puppy, poop on the potty (um?)
Favorite snack: Chocolate covered blueberries
Yuckiest food: Salad
Best friend: Jeremiah
People you miss: Thomas
Favorite place to go: Chuck E. Cheese
Favorite pet: Leila
I have to admit that this week kicked my tush. Big time. It's basketball season, and not only is Anthony coaching full time, working full time, and in school full time (superman, I tell you), he is crazy and started picking up overtime to score keep for the boys' games after his own practices!
What does that make me? A single mom. I should be used to it. Actually, for the most part, I am, but the kids have been cuh-razy this week. Have you ever just had one of those weeks where the kids are crying and whining about everything?
To top things off, Leila snuck into a package of Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate muffins (the big ones) and ate every single one. Then she crapped on the floor.
I'm happy to report that the week did get better. I think it started with these crepes. Thanks, Pinterest.
I had a few moments of childhood nostalgia. While folding laundry, I had to kick the kids off the couch, so I made a "birds nest" for them to snuggle in while they watched a movie.
Another high note, was finding these hilarious glasses. Thanks, Target.
For FHE, on Monday we went to Barnes and Noble and I let the boys pick out one book each. Landon picked out two Wreck it Ralph activity books, a Thomas the Train sticker book, and a science book about human anatomy. I told him he had to pick just one out of the three. To my surprise, he chose the science book. They are both obsessed with it and have already had me read it several times this week. Future, doctors? ...Buy me house? ;)
The best news of the week came after we got the Bob book beginner reading sets. Landon's been trying really hard to sound out letters, then make out words. The first time he read the first book by himself, I couldn't help but tear up. Of course I'm proud of him, but what got me so emotional was how proud he was of himself and how hard he worked to get there. He's a determined kid (which can be a challenge for me), but I'm thankful he's channelling that into something positive.
If your child is identifying letters and sounds, I would highly recommend the Bob books. What I love about them, is that they make reading so simple. I wish I would've had them for Landon sooner. The first book has 6 letters, then the next book uses those same letters plus 2, and they slowly add more with each book, so they build up to the rest of the alphabet gradually getting more and more comfortable and confident. I sound like a paid sponsor. Haha, I wish. But really, these books are awesome.
I felt pretty depressed yesterday. I've been unusually tired lately. Probably because I've slipped up and started eating gluten, but I found myself just feeling down about everything. After getting the kids to sleep, I looked around the house, feeling purely exhausted and overwhelmed.
The boys made a "couch fort" with all the blankets and pillows piled high onto the sofa. There were children's books scattered from the living room all the way into the bathroom (yeah, bathroom!). Laundry was piled even higher than usual. Dinner dishes were still on the table and I know it sounds petty, but I went over my calorie goal for the day and felt really bad about it.
Then I felt selfish.
We have the comforts of a sofa and warm blankets. My children have books to read and toys to play with. They have clothes to wear. We had a good dinner-- and better yet, got to eat it together, so rare during basketball season.
I found myself getting teary-eyed as I began to count my blessings. I no longer felt the burdens of the day, but those negative feelings being swept away and replaced with gratitude and happiness.
"Countyourblessings, name them one by one, countyourblessings, see what God hath done"
I hope I can remember this experience on other "bad" days as I complain about "first world problems".
And queue pictures of my babies-- I mean big boys.
^^ This was after I forgot to empty the bath water and Landon decided to sit on the edge of the tub. He slipped in. I died laughing and couldn't stop. He didn't think it was that funny.
This Sunday was Harper's second week in primary. Last week, we dropped him off in that big room full of big kids, Landon on the other side of it. He was quiet, but seemed fine. This week we dropped him off and he looked so sad. He said, "I want to go to my class", the class with the toys, the class with the snacks, the class without chairs, or high expectations. To be honest, nursery is where daddy and I preferred to be during second hour as well. Now we actually have to go to class. I guess we have some growing up to do, too...
Anyway, it's just becoming more and more real to me that these boys are no longer babies. They are growing up, and I'm not sure how to feel about it. Landon has always been so mature for his age, but it was easy for me to pretend Harper was a baby this long. He's still so snuggly and squishy! It's time for me to embrace these stages, encourage growth, and celebrate new achievements.
Well, the boys are feeling much better. That means, they are back to jumping on beds, making messes, building forts, and playing hide and seek. That also means Landon is back at preschool. His teachers tell me, he always has a lot to say. Apparently he told the librarian during story time,
"I just gotta tell you one thing... when you take a bath for a long, long time, you turn old and wrinkly, and you can't see anymore, and you talk different."
He's never lacking for information.
Couldn't be more happy that these crazies are feeling better. But oh, boy... they wear me out! I'm so tired all the time. I adore them though and wouldn't trade this stage for anything else. We were out to dinner last night and Harper suddenly put his crayons down, grabbed my face with both chubby hands, puckered up his cute little lips, and laid one on me. Can't tell you how much I love those surprise kisses! One of my resolutions is to not get so busy that I don't have time for the little things... playing hide and seek, building puzzles on the floor, reading stories (not just at bed time). In ten years, I don't want them to be too busy to do these things with me.
Just while I was finishing up my most recent post, Harper said, "Mommy, snuggle with me." I snuggled for a minute, tried to finish my post, then he said again, "Mommy, snuggle with me." I shut my laptop and we cuddled up in my bed. He is such a good cuddler, and I love, love that he will still let me hold him, and squish him, and love on him, even though he's a big 3 year old now.
A few minutes later, he got up and threw up all over my ikea rug and minnetonka moccasins. So glad I didn't just brush off his need for snuggles because before the puke, I didn't realize he was feeling so bad.
That night, he did a lot of puking and I did a lot of cleaning. The next day we laid low and watched movies on the couch. Landon puked too. For some reason, I thought once you became a mom, it wouldn't be a big deal to clean up puke because they're your kids. Wrong. So wrong! I hate cleaning up puke. I had to hold my breath and try not to do it, too. It's awful.
On a positive note, after all the sickness stopped, the week concluded with a one hour massage and girls shopping trip that had been planned for months. I couldn't be more grateful that I stayed healthy and still got to go! It's a miracle, considering most of what I've eaten has been holiday sugar crap for the last several weeks.
One of my many New Year's Resolutions is to blog more. I've averaged 50 posts per year since 2009... until 2012 when I pathetically posted 5 times. And I think 2 of those were food posts. Does that even count? Guilty. So guilty.
In order to avoid feeling completely overwhelmed, I'll start with today, the 1st of January 2013. I'm off to a good start for the year, right?
Today we surprised the boys and took them to the Oakland Zoo. Harper has been completely obsessed with animals, particularly wild animals for the past several months now. He and Landon love to watch Wild Kratts and know more about animals than I do. They're favorite exhibit was the elephants. I love, loved seeing their smiling, excited faces. Sweetest thing ever.
Christmas just gets more and more fun as the kids get older. This year was a blast. The boys were completely spoiled by our families. We feel very blessed and very loved.
Anyway, no one probably reads my blog anymore, but if you happen to read this... Hope you had a beautiful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here's to the best in 2013 :)
