Getting Pumped!

The male trainers on Work Out are doing the Mud Run tonight. Just seeing the commercial got me pumped for my race. I haven't run in over a week because of my bursitis but tomorrow I am going to plow through through the pain! This is us celebrating with a beer right after the race last year. I want to look less exhausted this year!

My Aching Heart

There are times when your child takes a step into the future that really tug on your heart. First Christmas, first word, first step, first day of Kindergarten, first lost tooth…

Lately I have found myself choked up by the smaller things. The things that I never even realized mattered so much to me.

My children brush their own teeth. We no longer sing the Raffi “Brush Your Teeth” song every night.

My children can plug can plug things in and legitimately understand the dangers of sticking anything else in the plug. No more outlet covers in our house.

My children can make their own breakfast. The selection is limited to cereal, toast or waffles with juice or milk but they can do it!

My children can put away their own laundry.

I no longer have a use for a double stroller. Or a car seat.

My children can open the garage door, call their friends on the phone and find something to watch on TV without my help.

My children can read.

My children can wipe their own tushies.

We don’t use training wheels.

My children understand saving their money and can budget to buy something for themselves.

My children can open a game, read the directions, set it up and play together without ever needing me.

My children can feed the dogs, walking sticks, caterpillars, silk worms and water their plants.

My children can put on their own sunscreen.

My children say words like sweet, awesome, cool, dude and my least favorites, butt and fart.

My son put a note on his door that says “please knock”

My daughter doesn’t want to play sports, just dance dance dance.

My children can get their own snacks, put on their shoes and socks and brush their own hair.

My children take showers, not baths, and no longer need me to wash them. Or their hair.

We’ve had “the talk” with my son.

My children can swim.

My children can make their beds and clean their rooms.

My children have their own library cards.

My children sleep through the night.

My children can tell time.

My daughter wants to paint her toenails and wear lip gloss every day. I won't let her.

My children Pray.

These are some of the things that make me stop and wonder where the time has gone. I can remember the moment I found out I was pregnant with both. I remember the moment I told my husband. I remember the song that was playing when each was born. I remember our first nights together. I can remember every birthday and Christmas. I can remember import milestones along the way, yet the details of the hundreds of days in between have somehow blurred together. I know there are many, many reason my children still need me. It just seems that each day they need me a little bit less.

Raising children is bitter sweet.

Damage Control

I am going to head this one off...I know my hubby is waiting for me to get in the shower so he can post this.

This is me singing American Idol on the Wii at 1am. I had been rattling the windows for 3 hours. I am not ashamed of this behavior!

I Love Sundays!

I really truly love Sundays. Today was no exception. We always start with Church, best way to start the day. I love our Church and am so grateful we found the perfect fit for us on our first try! Early afternoon we did a few maintenance projects around the house. The kids watched a movie and went to the neighbors while I went to my game. Jon napped and went to work.

We lost, but it was a great game 19 to 20. We are now leading only by one game with two left in the season. After the game I took my kids and a neighbor friend to the small skateboard park by HBHS. This was our first experience there and it was awesome. Dylan was fearless jumping right in there with the twenty-somethings that were "shredding". The neighbor was more timid but I still think he had fun.

My favorite part of Sundays is always from 5-8. The kids and I get to have Kids Choice for dinner and wind down early. We read some books and got settled in bed. I did a quick run through of the house and now I am ready to work and watch my shows! I love having a quiet house by 8pm!

Here's some pictures from the skate park. My son amazes me!

My Sheltered Children

My children are so sheltered.

Jon and I are both in need of new sandals so we decided to go to the swap meet. Jon bought his there before we were married so the time was way overdue! I was just looking for some cheap flip flops. The adventure was really for our kids since they had never been to the swap meet. They grabbed their wallets and were very excited! At one of the booths there was some skate boards, punk shirts and what I can only refer to as alternative jewelry I guess. Let's just say it was jewelry my kids have never seen before. So after looking at the skateboards, the kids were looking in this case of tongue rings and had the following conversation:

Dylan: Megan, wow look at those!
Megan: What are they (whispering with her eyes really wide)
Dylan: Those are little tiny wheels and trucks for tiny skateboards. SWEET!
Megan: WOW!

Seriously, they are way too sheltered. They didn't even believe us when we told them what they really are! So Jon got his tongue pierced to convince them!

A Lesson Learned From Laurel!

After Dylan got out of school we went to the library. When we came home, Megan asked Dylan to read her a book. I sat down on Jon's chair at 3:45 to read the paper. At 5:00 I was startled by my neighbor knocking on my door. Yes my friends, I had fallen asleep! I was embarrassed by the lines of the rocker indented into my cheek and the drool in my hair. He felt it was payback since I have many times woken him up from a nice nap on the couch. I cannot believe I did that. My children played a game right there in the living room, then were in Megan's room putting on a play. They were so sweet. Dylan just said "you looked so tired so we let you sleep". I am so proud of them for not fighting for over and hour! They were really good to me today!

Chatty Cathy

Thursdays are Mommy/Megan days. It is the one day she is home with no daddy and brother. We spend the whole day together while the boys are at their respective "jobs" I love having the one on one time with Meg. Sometimes we go someplace fun, sometimes we run errands, sometimes we stay home and play games, dance ballet, whatever strikes us! I truly love this time, HOWEVER, the girl wears me out with the TALKING!! She does not stop, EVER!!! She is just talks talk talk talk talk talk talk......!
It is exhausting!

Earlier when we were in the car I finally got a sentence in. The conversation went like this:
Me: Megan, do you ever just sit and think?
Meg: No mommy. I don't ever do that!
Me: Why not? Sometimes it is nice to just relax and think.
Meg: Because when I am thinking I can't be talking and I have a lot of important things to say!
Case closed!

We came home a few minutes ago and I was very in need of a few minutes of quiet. Thankfully she announced she had to poop which would mean I get 10 whole minutes without talking! I skipped over to the computer smiling from ear to ear, so grateful for the quiet. No sooner had my butt hit the chair when I hear Crash, "Mommy!" "Bark!" The crash was the stool tipping over and the bark was Serafina getting scared. The only thing is, once Serafina starts barking it is going to be 10 minutes before she starts. So I spent my 10 minutes of quiet listening to the dog bark.

Now Megan is happily coloring a picture in the other room and yes, she is talking to me across the house while I type this. She is s super sweet little girl, however I will be grateful for a bit of quiet when she goes to bed tonight!