A Survey

My sister-in-law sent this survey to me, so I thought I'd fill it in and post it here.

Two Names you go by:
Beth and Buffy

Two things you are wearing right now: Jammies and makeup

Two of your favorite things to do:
Read and go on long walks

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
sleep (Hunter woke up at 1 a.m. and we haven't slept since) and money (who doesn't want more money?)

Two favorite pets you have had/have:
Duchess and Bruiser

Two things you did last night:

Went to kickboxing and drank a beer after kickboxing (I'm sooooo healthy!)


Two things you have eaten today:

Oatmeal and a cookie (yep, I needed some comfort after being awake all night)


Two people you last talked to:
Mitch and my mom

Two places you have been in the past year:
Beulah and Duluth (we're wild and crazy people, I tell ya)


Two favorite beverages: Blue moon and diet coke

Here's hoping

One thing I failed to mention in my previous entry is that Hunter did get sick on Christmas eve. Over the past 2-3 years, Hunter has gotten sick on every major holiday or family get together. Here's hoping that he does not get sick this New Years Eve. Fingers are crossed. Sending a prayer up as I type this very brief entry.

Proud of myself- I graded ten essays this evening, just as I promised myself I would. Trying to grade in small doses. I'm trying to avoid that overwhelmed feeling I get before I head back to work after a break.

Today we played at Edinborough Park with my sister-in-law Doreen and her kids, Anamaria and Henry. Clare stayed home with Joe.

Tomorrow, we are heading to the pediatrician at 8:45 am. Mason has been a bear for the last few days and I fear that his most recent ear infection did not clear up.

Tomorrow, I get to visit the LifeSpa at Lifetime Fitness! I will have "new" hair for the new year!

Christmas in North Dakota

Hunter, as a baby, was a wonderful traveler.... He slept often and amused himself with books and toys. Mason and Hunter do NOT have this quality in common, much to our dismay! If Mason had not mastered his high-pitched, blood curdling scream before our trip to Beulah, North Dakota (eight hours west of the Twin Cities), then he definitely did so during this particular car ride. What is typically an eight hour trip became a ten hour trip easy because of our frequent stops. We actually stopped in Fargo, North Dakota and let the boys run free for about an hour at Dinosaur Land at West Acres. About a half hour after we left Dinosaur Land, Mason was screaming once again.

We did make it to Beulah, in time for dinner, thank goodness. We also knew going into the trip that my mom had purchased a Wii play system for my father. Hunter knew this as well and headed straight to the downstairs television for bowling and boxing, etc. Hunter was so excited to play with his cousin Hudson, who is a year younger than Hunter. They got along swimmingly this year. I think I can say with confidence that there was only one crabby exchange between the two boys.

We decided not to attend the Christmas Eve church service as it was at 7:30 p.m. which is an hour past Mason's bedtime and Hunter's actual bedtime. We did not think the boys would really appreciate having to sit still in dress clothes for over an hour. I was sad to miss church but also felt like we made a wise decision (for the sake of the little ones). After the three little boys fell asleep, the adults exchanged gifts! We were given very generous gifts- gift cards, pajamas, Chanel perfume, a North Face fleece, Vikings sweatshirt, etc. I truly felt spoiled.

Christmas morning was very special. Because Hunter was highly aware of Christmas and Santa this year, I really went overboard in the gift department. I was so excited to see his excitement. On top of that, my family also treated the boys very generously. The highlight for Mason was his fourwheeler. The highlight for Hunter was pretty much everything he opened! He truly reacts the "right way" during gift giving. He is very thankful and excited.

My two sisters left with their families on Christmas day and traveled to their in-laws. We stayed and enjoyed a dinner of Prime Rib and lots of wine (for me) with my parents. I sat on the floor pretty much all day with the two boys and played with toys. So much fun!

We played a ton of Wii at my parents' house. I was actually sore the next day, after having played tennis and boxing. Hunter built his first snow fort. My parents have drifts as high as their back windows!

We left mid-day on the 26th for Wadena, Minnesota. Mason screaming started about a half hour into the trip....

Coming soon- a post on our "Christmas at the Farm and Golf Course House"

My own personal hell.....

....is an hour-long wait in a 3x5 room waiting for the veterinarian with two screaming boys and a pissed off and freaked out dog. Mason might as well have been licking his hands after touching the floor and garbage can, etc. and Hunter was basically throwing himself off of the exam table. To top it off, I took the boys to McDonalds following this disastrous trip....what kind of a mother am I?

First Haircut

After listening to Mitch complain about the length of Mason's hair for months now, I finally agreed to the first haircut. I almost cried as she snipped his curls... Mitch tried to assure me that they will grow back, but I agreed with the hairdresser who told him they probably will not. I was sure to take a ton of pictures- befores and afters, etc. Mason was a good little customer. He sat very still and looked worried but did not cry. He was fearful of the blow dryer and reached out for me as she did that.


We do have an envelope of curls from this first trip to Kids Hair.

Congratulations to Mason, the boy with the "world's softest hair" (this fact confirmed by multiple teachers at daycare).

C'mon Lady!

Before you continue reading, please note the title of this post........... So, basically, Hunter yelled this earlier in the evening, followed by the comment, "just learn how to drive." Now the signficance is this- Hunter overheard me say (forcefully) this yesterday when we were driving to karate. Kids really do repeat everything you say. I need to be more careful.

Last night we attended Mason and Hunter's school Christmas program. Mason was quite the performer. As he walked out on stage, he did a little dance and started clapping. He was described to the crowd (by the narrator/coordinator) as an "extremely silly" boy with "the bluest eyes" and "the world's softest hair." Mitch overheard the people behind us commenting on how cute Mason is. I couldn't agree more.

Hunter also performed at the program. He knew all his moves and sang (yelled) and at one point, gently moved a piece of hair away from the face of the little girl next to him. She elbowed him. I have a feeling we might have a little ladies man on our hands! :)

Our Christmas Letter 2008

I composed a Christmas letter that did not actually make it into the Christmas envelopes I purchased for our cards. Hunter wouldn't let me on the computer (yes, sometimes he is the boss of me and I didn't feel like arguing) so I gave up and decided to post it here and send it out via e-mail (I'm just THAT lazy)! Today was filled with Christmas cookie baking and Christmas present wrapping (all me). It's a winter wonderland outside and I'm enjoying the cozy warmth of our home!

Here's the letter if interested (it's a bit lengthy):

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

On the day after Thanksgiving, our family decorated our home with Christmas decorations. At the end of that day, Mitch and I rejoiced, as it was our first experience in eight-and-a-half years of marriage where we did not get into a fight putting up the tree. Yes, I begin this Christmas letter with a healthy dose of honesty. We sometimes have our bumpy times as a family but, at the end of the day, we feel incredibly blessed to have each other and our many experiences, whether they are good, bad or something in between.

Hunter turned four-years-old in 2008 but, when asked, he will tell people that he is five-years-old. Hunter has grown up a lot this past year. In July, Hunter began karate at National Karate in Edina. While the start was a “bit” bumpy, he now excitedly enters the room and proudly shows all of his moves. He participated in his first tournament this fall. At first he was hesitant to go in front of the judges, but eventually did and earned his first trophy for doing so. The trophy is taller than he is! At this point, Hunter has earned a white belt with two gold stripes. We are very proud of him! Hunter also taught himself how to play Guitar Hero. He has shown that when motivated, he will just figure things out himself, which I think will serve him well in life, but can be a little frustrating when we don’t want him to do something. Hunter truly is a music lover and chooses Rock as his favorite genre by far. Hunter also loves drawing pictures of garbage trucks and can write a few words, including his name and the word As, which happened by accident but was exciting nevertheless. Hunter will begin kindergarten in the fall of 2009. Amazing!

Mason is a little man! He began this year as a baby and has grown into a walking toddler with attitude. He already speaks a few words, including Hunter, Bruiser, ball, and NO (which is certainly his favorite). He absolutely loves cheese sandwiches, cereal bars, bananas, and graham crackers. He is content to play with toys, especially balls and cars, but is not the most enthusiastic napper. He points and waves and also knows where his feet are. When prompted to do so, Mason will put his feet up so mommy or daddy can put his shoes on. Mason has also been quite intrigued by our Christmas tree this season. Much to Hunter’s dismay, Mason pushes the train below the tree off its track and pulls the ornaments, especially the ball shaped ones, off the tree. Mason has kissable cheeks and loves to snuggle. He is also a tank, weighing in at nearly thirty pounds…all muscle of course.

I (Beth) greeted the new year by returning to work after a four-and-a-half month maternity leave. The transition back into my professional life was challenging. Not only was I leaving my new little baby, I was also entering into a teaching situation where I was perceived as the substitute instead of the teacher. I continued graduate school and spent spring break composing my final paper anxious to bring that experience to a close. I proudly announce that in June 2008 I graduated with a Master’s degree in Education. I entered the summer looking forward to nothing other than spending time with my boys and enjoying some free time for the first time in two years! I am currently teaching at Edina High School and have enjoyed being the only teacher in my classroom this year. Also, while I did say in my Christmas letter last year that I planned on participating in a triathlon in 2008, I now vow that 2009 will be my comeback year! We’ll see!

Mitch had an excellent 2008. Professionally, he has experienced great success this year, which has, from my perspective, reignited his passion for fitness and personal training. Personally, Mitch has been able to enjoy some hobbies that he has had to put on hold in the past. Mountain biking has become his new thing. Mitch is anxious to introduce his friends to this new passion and will talk about his biking experiences to anyone who will listen. Mitch has also really loved being the father of two little boys. Hunter is his father’s clone, thus Mitch has enjoyed nurturing Hunter’s interest in four-wheeling, biking, and rocking out! Mason, while a more sensitive soul (perhaps more like his mommy), thinks that Mitch is the best and loves to use him as a jungle gym.

Bruiser continues to live a life of leisure. I wish I could get that much sleep! Currently, his favorite hangout is the area around Mason’s highchair. Mason has already learned that giving Bruiser scraps is super cool.

We hope that this holiday season and the coming year brings you happiness and fulfillment. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Until next year!

Mitch, Beth, Hunter, Mason, and Bruiser Mohs

We Still Like Each Other

Yesterday, Mitch and I "played hooky" from our jobs- I requested a compensatory day and Mitch took the day off (sort of- we both went to the club for about two hours- I worked out; Mitch made a sale) and went on a day-long date. I am always amazed at how well we get along when it's just the two of us. Of course, I would never begrudge my children the time we spend with them (or anything for that matter), but it is nice to revisit, every once in awhile, why Mitch and I are together. There was a point in time when it was just the two of us and we were together because we "liked" each other :)! It was nice to see each other as human beings rather than the other parent. It was nice to have a day to see that we are actually more than two people raising children together. We are friends, among other things. We went out to lunch at Pei Wei, which Kelly recommended, and then went to "Quantum of Solace," which I reluctantly agreed to but enjoyed nonetheless. Man, Daniel Craig is one "bad ass" James Bond! He's my favorite Bond by far (I'm losing focus here). We did a little Christmas shopping and then the day was done. The time went too fast but I really had a fun day with my husband. I love you Mitch!

Go Steelers!

My Steelers won! No one can beat the Steelers's defense! Sadly, I did lose in the first round of playoffs (Fantasy football). My team put on an admirable performance, but "Show Me the Money" (my opponent) beat "The Buffs" (my team) 120 to 97. Mitch will head on to the second round of playoffs. I guess I should cheer for him now.

Hey Santa

After church this morning we headed to Southdale mall to purchase the boys their Christmas outfits and to see Santa. There was a line when we arrived but it actually moved fairly quickly. I was able to run up to the Children's Place while Mitch waited in line with the two boys. Hunter was so excited to see Santa but refused to smile for a picture. Mason was intrigued by Santa and spent most of the time looking up at Santa's face instead of toward the camera. The boys will match this year at Christmas- white and blue sweaters and khakis.

We are now watching the Vikings play pathetically. We will be cheering on the Steelers later on this afternoon!

One Mommy Irritated

I want Mitch to come home. Just wanted to add that detail to my most current posts.

Second Little Dude at Home

At 1 p.m. daycare called with news of Mason- 101.1 temperature. So, if you see the post below, my efforts to protect Mason from illness were in vain. He is currently sleeping and Hunter is climbing the walls. Why can't little kids just sit still when they're sick.

Little Dude Home today

Hunter was running a low-grade temperature yesterday when I picked him up from school. I walked in and saw him lying on a mat in the "library" of the classroom. When Hunter stops moving and proceeds to lie down, you know something is not quite right. After I gave him ibuprofen, he perked up a bit; however, he entered our bedroom this morning at 4 a.m. with news that he did not feel well. He wanted, in his words, "medicine." Because we're never quite sure what to do in these instances, we opted to keep Hunter home for the day. Better to live on the safe side than risk it and have daycare call mid-day, which makes things difficult from all angles. So, he's enjoyed a morning of toys, hot chocolate, and some holiday shows and snuggling with mommy. Mason is at school today. We'll pick him up around four o'clock this afternoon. If Hunter is contagious, I'd like to keep their contact with each other minimal. When one gets sick, we usually ALL get sick.

A Delightful Day

After recovering from our Thanksgiving Meltdown, the Mohs family enjoyed two fun-filled days. On Friday, we headed to a birthday party in Eagan where Hunter bounced and bounced and bounced in the bouncy house and then shared gifts (Hunter announced to Kyle, prior to Kyle's opening the gifts, that he had given him a "racecar" and "Olivia book") and ate pizza and cake. Mason toddled around and waved at anyone who looked his way. Today, I bundled the two little boys up for a trip to Edinborough Park, where we spent two hours of fun. Again, Hunter bounced to his hearts content in the bouncy house and then shot baskets (he's a talent where basketball is concerned) and climbed and played in the Peak. When Mitch returned home from a few hours at work, we decorated our home for Christmas. For the first time in eight-and-a-half years of marriage, Mitch and I did not get into a fight while putting up the tree. I really think we've both learned our lessons. Mitch put up the tree by himself and then I strung the lights by myself. We busied ourselves with other things while we completed our self-selected jobs. Hunter was soooooo excited by the decorations, especially our singing snowman and electric train. Mason was excited as well, but I do suspect that this Christmas will be a challenging one where the decorations and Mason are concerned. He has already pulled ornaments off the tree and knocked over the train. Tonight we briefly drove around and looked at Christmas lights. Right now, Mason is in bed and Hunter is jumping off the couch, wearing his new "Incredible Hulk" jammies.

A Graceful Exit

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy shopping!

Mitch and I, along with Hunter and Mason, celebrated Thanksgiving in Elk River at Mitch's sister Missi's house along with his brother Mike and brother Dennis and their kids and wives. Hunter learned a new game- Wii Bowling- which he loved so much he threw the worst tantrum we've seen in a long time when we had to leave in the evening (hence the title of this entry). I think he screamed for about thirty minutes straight! I will say that Hunter was extremely worn out from an intense day of sharing and playing and eating, etc. Mason was extremely quiet through the storm, which in retrospect, is something I was very thankful for :).

I did get out of the house for about an hour and a half this morning with the boys for a little crazy shopping. Target actually wasn't so bad. I was able to snag two DVDs for a total of ten dollars and purchased my nephew Hudson's Christmas gift and my friend Jodi's son's birthday gift. It was fun to be a part of the biggest shopping day of the year, though I doubt I'll head out again today with the boys even though all of my shopping instincts are working in full force. We have a birthday party this afternoon and plan to put up our Christmas decorations tomorrow. I also bought some hanging snowflakes that I attempted to untangle from the box when we returned home. I am going to let Mitch figure that out. Wouldn't want to fly into a rage myself. I tend to overreact sometimes :) ! I'll keep everyone updated regarding our holiday decorating party. While in my mind I envision a cozy experience of putting up the tree and stringing lights, etc. Mitch and I usually end up fighting. We don't always see eye to eye regarding how things should be done.

A Little Gentleman

Hunter surprises me sometimes. His tantrums can leave me speechless but sometimes he reveals his "inner gentleman." Yesterday after battling over what to buy at Rainbow Foods and how many "special prizes" should really be a part of our purchase, Hunter, as I was paying for our cart of groceries, started bagging the food with no prompting from me. The store clerk actually commented on "my little helper." To add to the charm of the situation, Hunter did not even realize his degree of cuteness. A colleague recently shared with me the following. She said that little girls are cute but oftentimes know (are fully aware of) how cute they are. What's so amazing about boys is that they are desperately adorable and do not really know it. For example, his new saying is "oh, nevermind." Now, you would probably have to be there but to hear that little voice declare "oh, nevermind" makes my heart melt. Also, Hunter wrote his first letter to Santa Claus yesterday. He would like the following, according to his letter, which I wrote following his direction: a fourwheeler, a snowmobile, Incredible Hulk gloves, Heroes (Mitch and I had to guess regarding that one while we were shopping recently), and, in Hunter's words, "that monster thing." He signed his name to it and we set it outside for Santa. Santa is already off to a good start for this Christmas season!

"Santa" is struggling regarding Mason, however. What do you buy for a baby who has so many toys at his fingertips and who wouldn't know either way if he got one present or one hundred? Because bathtime is a favorite time of day for our little Mason Man, we have purchased a number of bath toys that can entertain between the hours of 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Also, I do see "new pants" in Mason's future. The child is growing so fast, we can hardly keep up in the clothing department.

Some new news in the Mason department- THE KID CAN WALK! Mitch does a great impression of Mason's walking skills. It's hilarious! Mason has also mastered the following words: "NO NO NO NO NO." He can also say "Bruiser" "ball" "Mama" adn "Dada."

"Twilight" Fan

Okay, so to avoid embarrassment, my friend Jodi and I purchased VIP tickets for a late showing of "Twilight." VIP really was for those 21-and-overs who wanted to avoid the teeny-bopper crowd and also drink adult beverages while watching a film meant more for screaming, swooning "Edward Cullen" loving girls! Well, I freely admit, I'm an "Edward" loving 31-year-old. The film, while cheesy in its special effects, was everything I hoped it would be. The film only added to my obsession with Edward (I am exaggerating somewhat). I don't think I'll be buying and wearing an "I love Edward" t-shirt any time soon, but I might be tempted to purchase and hang an Edward poster somewhere in my home :) !

Holding my Breath and Running

It has been one of "those" days and I suspect that tomorrow will be one of "those" days as well- I have Parent-Teacher conferences tomorrow night and I feel more anxious than I have in the past few years. Last year I was on maternity leave during conference time so never really had the opportunity to converse with parents about their teenage children. While I've been doing this teaching thing (nine years actually) long enough to know that conferences usually go off without a hitch, there's always one conference that blind sides a teacher. For example, one year a mother sent me a scathing e-mail after I was unable to meet with her after the "conferences are now over" announcement was made over the intercom (Hunter was nine-months-old and still at daycare- 8:00 p.m.- I was already in a panic). In the e-mail she demanded that I send her my credentials and discuss my vision for AP American Literature. Yikes! Another year a father told me he'd be "watching" my absences. I pleasantly informed him that if my children needed me at home, I would use my sick time. Seriously! During my first year teaching (which began with a long-term sub position in Rochester), I noticed that one of the fathers was unable to make eye contact with me. After the conference, I looked down and realized that two buttons on my shirt were unhitched- Awesome! Why am I thinking about this you might ask? I guess I don't really know. I wonder what the unanticipated conference will be about this year....

Today is one of those days where I feel like I've been holding my breath and running, running, running. When I return home with the boys in the afternoon, I feel like I'm running circles around the boys and dealing with their every demand. Tonight Mason screamed and screamed- high pitched and constant "ah ah ah ah ah"- as I made dinner. As I was making dinner, Hunter repeatedly interrupted with "Mo-oooooo-m, get me this" and "Mo-oooooo-m, get me that." I was literally eating off their plates and trays as I traveled between them--- I was starving...hand't eaten really all day!

That's all for now. Hunter is asking me where his Buzz Lightyear is and where Woody's other hat is...

Teacher's Note

So, when I picked the boys up from daycare today, I was greeted with two "accident" forms, which is standard procedure when a little one scrapes a knee or bumps his head, etc. I learned from these two forms, both provided by Mason's teacher, that Mason is starting to assert himself. At 10 a.m. this morning, "Mason bit another child on the back." At 12:25 p.m. "Mason laid on top of another child when she bit him." This actually gave me quite the laugh! The thought of my sweet, precious baby initiating a "baby brawl" was quite funny. I can't believe how early it starts. Mason has already initiated some wrestling matches with Hunter. Hunter is still gentle but can be a little protective of his toys, especially the ones he would never play with except when within Mason's reach.

I took Hunter on a date tonight. It didn't go well. I might actually write a letter of complaint to "someone." I find it ridiculous that the theaters did not begin the actual movie at the start time specified in the papers. By the time the movie started, Hunter had eaten most of his snack and had enjoyed enough animation from previews to keep him happy until early 2009. We saw about half of "Madagascar 2." I was able to convince Hunter to sit still for about twenty minutes and then gave up. When I asked if he was ready to go home, he happily dressed himself in his winter coat and we were on our way. Now my complaint really is with the previews at a children's movie. I understand that previews are fine and good for adults that can sit still. But for a four-year-old who is anxious to see the movie promised, not so much.

Good news on the workout front- I worked out four days in a row this week. That hasn't happened since sometime this summer, before I sprained my ankle and quit for a couple months. My friend Jodi and I have decided to train for a full triathlon this summer-- she thinks the only way we'll actually train is if we commit to a full race instead of the sprint. She fears we would just try to "wing it" on race day. She's probably right. She also says that we can no longer brag about our having completed a triathlon in 2003. She's probably right about that too.

What is it about toilets, garbage cans, and small spaces?

Okay, so over the last few days, Mason has managed to throw some type of toy into the toilet. Yesterday it was a small ball and today it was his Buzz Lightyear ball. He is also insistent that he touch any part of the toilet he can. He also got a toy into the garbage can this evening. Also, Mason and Hunter have created a new game. Crawl behind the couch and start screaming when you can't figure out how to scoot out or are stuck. Pots and pans are the new craze, as well as grabbing things off the bathroom counter top (Mason is now tall enough to reach up and grab anything I leave near the ledge). We're now in a new stage of baby-proofing our home.

Mitch texted me at 2 a.m. this morning to let me know that Hunter woke up with the stomach flu. By this evening, he is on the mend and is entertaining the crowds once again.

Mason and I had a fun filled day of sleeping in, cleaning the house, reading books, returning books to the library, and spending money at Target and Rainbow. It's almost Mason's bedtime. I plan to spend the evening grading papers. Awesome!

Best Day of Their Lives

Hunter's day could not have been better. Friday is Garbage Truck day, so of course, the day was off to an awesome start. He went to school for a little while and then drove with his dad to Wadena for opening weekend- deerhunting. On the way there, they passed the Vikings ship on 494. They stopped and bought a little candy and some apple juice. They planned to go fourwheeling! Like I said, in the world of four-year-old boy, all is right in the world!

Mason ate with his mommy and her colleagues at the Edina Grill this evening. This was the first time he showed his mommy what a little ham he is. He worked the crowd of teachers like you wouldn't believe! Because I could not find a close parking spot, Mason and I had to walk quite a ways and Mason was thrilled by all the lights on 50th and France (cars, streetlights, lamps, etc.). He ate up all of the attention and seemed very happy to have his mommy all to himself! We cuddled before his bedtime!

All in all, a good day. My students were even quite cooperative today- actually answered my questions and laughed a little when I attempted some jokes.

The Choice is Yours 2008

I have a headache! I'm ready for this election season to be over!

Hunter has a girlfriend!

About a week ago, Hunter informed me that he had a new friend named Petra. He introduced me to her one day when I picked him up on the playground after school. Petra informed me that Hunter was HER friend. Well, today, Hunter was playing, once again, with Petra when I picked him up after school. This time, Hunter made sure to say goodbye to Petra and then proceeded to tell me, as we drove home, that Petra was HIS friend and that no one else was allowed to play with her, not even Anika (don't know who this Anika is). SO, I guess it's serious!.... :) I did make sure to tell Hunter that he is allowed to have more than one friend. This seems to be something going on at school currently. According to Hunter, one of his friends from last year, Isaac, is now ONLY friends with Devin. I remember this all happening in grade school. I guess it happens in preschool now. Breaks my heart a little that little kids are already experiencing what it feels like to be left out.....

Yes, It's a Bit Early...

I have started listening to Christmas music. Yes, it's early and yes, I was as shocked as the next person when I stumbled across a HUGE Christmas display (and aisles and aisles of Christmas stuff) at Target ON HALLOWEEN! But listening makes me happy. Singing along as I wash dishes and clean up the kitchen for the millionth time in one day makes me even happier!

Since Last time and until the next....

In October, Mitch traveled to Wyoming with his brothers for the purposes of hunting and family bonding. The boys and I survived just fine until the end of the week. I started feeling a bit stir crazy and ready for my husband to return home. Sadly, after Mitch returned, it was only to pack his bag for a second, but briefer, trip to his hometown. Mitch lost his grandfather that Friday and attended his funeral, which was held in Wadena on Monday. Mitch is anxiously anticipating his next hunting trip coming up next weekend. I will be staying in Richfield with the little ones and Bruiser, who is always on high alert when Mitch is gone.

We had an eventful Halloween season. I took Hunter and Mason to the Halloween party at their daycare/preschool. Hunter costumed up as Buzz Lightyear while Mason assumed the role of fluffy puppy. Each room had its own theme. Hunter's favorite part was the maze. One of the teachers in the maze was dressed up as a witch, which really freaked Mason out. He clung to me like you wouldn't believe. Hunter was also happy to see his favorite teacher, Miss Nicole, dressed up as a wizard. He pretty much followed her around the entire time we were there.

The next night was Halloween. Together, Mitch and I traveled to our friends' homes in the neighborhood. We saw Keith and Jessica and their two little "pumpkins" and Wade and Kelly and their Kobe, who was "happily" wearing his piggie costume. After visiting with friends, I brought Mason home and Mitch continued around the neighborhood with Hunter. They came home soon after- Hunter became frightened by the dark. He was completely happy to come home and hand out candy. He demanded that the trick-or-treaters who knocked on our door say "Happy Trick-or-Treat."

Saturday brought our Halloween escapades to a close. Hunter was allowed to wear his costume to karate. Watching all the little kids do their karate while costumed as various characters- a fireman, batman, a fairy princess among them- was too cute! Following karate, Hunter, Mason, and I drove to Savage to visit Auntie Sarah, who treated Hunter literally to BAGS of candy.

New details about our growing little boys-
Mason is learning to walk. Each day he takes more steps unsupported by the couch or ottoman, etc. He has a number of words- "Hunter," "No," "Ball," etc. He points to everything and jabbers. He still has a winning smile and kissable cheeks! He also now has a voracious appetite and has mastered a high pitch scream, which he uses when I cannot get food on his tray fast enough.

Hunter now loves to draw and is able to draw pretty impressive pictures of Buzz Lightyear now. He also loves "There Was an Old Lady" books. I was able to check out every single one at the library and Hunter was thrilled. We read them every night.

Work is just okay. I have stacks and stacks and stacks of student papers to read and grade. I could be doing that now, but I won't. I'd rather just dwell in the fact that I should do it.

Update- October 20

Mason, Mason, Mason. He has changed so much. Mason practices new words everyday. He now utters consistently, "Hunter," "No," "Ball," "Mama," "Dada." I have also heard him say "Boat" and "My." He LOVES climbing things, especially the hope chest in the living room. He likes to pretend to touch the hot lightbulb. He has also mastered his scream, which is high pitched and piercing. He uses that when I have forgotten to place more food on his tray. He loves to stand in the tub. He delights in my "sit down" reminder. This weekend, he also mimicked my mother's "Donald Duck" sneeze. He was absolutely precious to watch.

What I Love Every Single Second of My Life

I can honestly say that no matter what, I am always genuinely happy to see my two little boys every single morning, no matter what time they get up. Yes, the rolling out of bed at 5 a.m. is tough, but once I get to the room and pick up the little (not so little) bundle and carry him from his crib, I'm never sorry. This morning after Mason had finished eating, he treated to me to his toothy grin and said "ba ba ba" in a way that I know translated to "that really hit the spot!" Hunter came up the stairs shortly after with his "I'm so wonderfully naughty" grin and gave me a hug and then demanded (yes, demanded) that he be allowed to watch "Yo Gabba Gabba." For some reason, that's his new favorite show.

Quick Update/Report: Hunter earned a new belt at karate this evening. Auntie Melinda and Auntie Doreen traveled to Edina to watch him. Mason is struggling with the transition to full-time daycare again. He is refusing to eat and nap at daycare. I remember this was also the case when Hunter was a baby.

Back to Work, Back to Reality

While I could bore you with the mundane details of the 2008-2009 school year, I will simply fast forward to 4:00 p.m. when I picked my little boys up at their daycare/preschool. Hunter was happy to see me and was quick to not only hug me but to also inform all around him that he was heading home to "rock out." He ran ahead of me to the classroom that housed his belongings and surprised me when he put his backpack on his back, not mine. I followed Hunter to Mason's room, who was sooooooooo happy to see us! He smiled and bounced and was very upset every time I put him down to get his things together. He did not eat well today but was able to eat a graham cracker. Because he's been struggling with table food, I raced to Target and purchased a box. I gave him three! Anyway! Mason's daycare note also stated that "Mason Loves Bubbles." We're going to have to give that a try. This evening was a whirlwind and I struggled to keep pace with my new life. We did manage a walk/bike to the park before bath/bottle/snack/stories/bed. After I put them to bed, I started my school work. Summer is Officially Over!

Quick Thought

Hunter, as he was informing us for the eightieth time that day that he was going to "Chuck E Cheeses," told us, his parents, "Don't say no; just say yes."

One a Flirt; the Other, Still Mommy's Biggest Fan

Mitch and I attended the wedding reception of a couple who is good friends with our neighbors across the street this afternoon and took Hunter and Mason along for the ride. What I learned is that my son, Hunter, four-years-old, is a shameless flirt. He set his sights on three of the ladies (that we know of) at the reception, all over the age of twenty-seven. He played with their hair, brought them bugle chips, hugged them, waved at them, etc. When we asked later who his girlfriend is, Hunter's reply was "Kelly," our neighbor across the street. Now, watching my son work the ladies during the reception was strange though Hunter did bring me one or two bugle chips just to make sure I was somewhat still a part of his life. At least Mason still thinks I'm awesome! He was only happy when I held him and treated to me to his wonderful toothy grin a number of times. He thinks I'm quite witty and hilarious! He has a few years before he starts setting his sights on a world outside of our home!

The Things They Say and Do

Hunter calls Grandma Mohs- Grandma Penny and Grandma Black- Grandma Caxi

Mason kicks his feet together when you pick him up, especially if he's mad

Hunter wants to buy a motorcycle (for one dollar)

Mason likes to touch the toilet and hang out in the area behind the toilet

Hunter told me, after seeing balloons decorating displays at Borders, "Mommy, I like balloons." Oh the simple pleasures in life!

Mason still does not quite trust that I will have a bottle in his mouth within moments of his waking up.

Hunter likes Chicken with Stars Soup

Mason still does not want regular food. He gags in panic and then throws up.

Hunter did the monkey bars by himself today (four rungs)- July 24, 2008

Mason can pull himself up to standing. He smiles a big toothy grin!

Hunter now knows that people who ride motorcycles need to wear a helmet or they might get a big ouwy (How do you spell owy?)

Mason refuses to drink any formula except for Similac Sensitive!

Why is it that?

Why is it that when parents take their children to church, the children act as if possessed by naughty little spirits? A few months ago, we could send Hunter to Sunday School during our service and could hold and cuddle Mason as he slept in our arms. No longer. Now that it's summer, Hunter sits (I use the term "sit" quite loosely) alongside us as I forgot to enroll him in Summer Sunday School (who would have thought you would need to enroll) and Mason has found his voice and has decided that cuddling with mommy and daddy is a very low priority. He laughed quite loudly as he hit Mitch in the face with both hands during church today. He threw his bottle. Etc, etc, etc. He and Hunter have now joined forces and are determined that their parents burn zillions of calories during a forty minute church service and miss most of the sermon because Hunter wants to talk about why they dimmed the lights and how much longer we need to be there. Actually today went better than usual as I was able to coax Hunter into my lap for some snuggling and rocking. I even heard some of the sermon as I cuddled him. I'm not sure if Mitch heard much. He battled Mason's newfound energy and desire for independence. To end- Hunter yelled as we walked out of church today, "WE DID IT!"

Through New Eyes

I had the opportunity this afternoon to view my two sons through new eyes. My husband and I, along with Hunter and Mason, attended a work function at his boss's father-in-law's home in Medina (quite the house, by the way!). Hunter was thrilled by the sight of the pool in the backyard and spent the majority of his time working the water. Hunter became more comfortable in the water the longer he was in it. He even used a water noodle and kicked his way around the pool. You can only imagine how intensely nervous I felt. I really was beside myself, as I had Mason on my lap, who was more than happy to stay snuggled up to his mommy, and was concerned that Hunter would get nervous, or go under, and we, his parents, wouldn't be able to get to him quick enough. All was well, despite my nervousness. Anyway... to capture the point I wanted to make. Many of the individuals at the party commented on Hunter's muscular body. Already at four-years-old, Hunter has broad shoulders, muscular arms, and abs (for goodness sakes). I imagine he will be quite an athlete. And girls beware! He is a flirt, as is Mason! He also has the most joyful attitude. He bonded with many of the guys that Mitch works with. He played water basketball, etc. with them and fit right in. Mason debuted his flirtatious self the other night at karate and has been going strong ever since! Today at the party many of the women commented on Mason's bright blue eyes and snuggability factor! Mason even allowed one of Mitch's coworkers to hold him, as long as he had me in sight. Mason even showed has ability to problem solve. Because the area around the pool was paved, Mason, who has recently started crawling, crawled around on hands and feet, to preserve his knees, which are already quite red from all the carpet crawling! Baby genius!

Both boys were placed into bed this evening exhausted and happy, which is one of the best feelings a mom (or any parent) could have. I know my boys had a fabulous time, loved life, and are exhausted because of something truly positive!

Best!

Karate Focus and Into Everything

Hunter earned his white belt on Tuesday evening after he completed his first full session of karate. Because we had talked about the importance of listening to the teacher and doing what the teacher says, Hunter made sure to look in my direction every five minutes or so to either wave or give a thumbs up! As a mother watching her son, I felt nervous and proud and giddy all at the same time. As I watched Hunter walk around the large room with the padded floor, I wanted to jump up and help him as I sensed he felt lost and uncertain about what to do next. I stayed put.... He figured it out. As I watched him yell out Choo Be and mimic what his classmates were doing, I cheered (in my brain). I really cheered when Mr. Dingman presented Hunter with his white belt and then proceeded to hug him and follow him over to Chuck E Cheese, a well-earned treat in my opinion! We head to karate again tonight for a second go and probably more Chuck E Cheese games. We don't stay for dinner but we do play at least five games before we head home.

I've made some observations about Mason this week as well. For one, he claps his feet when he is happy and when he is down-and-out angry. He hates his high chair and I now know why. He wants to be on the move at all times. This morning, as Mitch and I drank our coffee and read the newspaper, Mason crawled around the baby-proofed areas of our home, probably in search of anything that might be dangerous and overlooked by his parents. Even as I type this entry, Mason knocked over a lamp. There's no way around having a lamp, as it IS a source of light in the evening, so I don't know what to do about that. Mason is still unable/unwilling to eat anything other than pureed foods and formula. When I give him a cracker (or anything of that nature), he proceeds to gag and then throw up. He threw up after a bit of oatmeal yesterday. The doctor said Mason might not be ready for table food until 12 months which is completely fine.

Mason and Hunter are bonding as brothers more and more everyday. We headed to Bennigans for dinner last night and Hunter was careful to stop everything every once in awhile to give Mason a hug and a squeeze (you'd need to see it to know what I mean). We followed dinner with a trip to Macy's to buy Mitch a new shirt and tie before tomorrow's very immportant SNS presentation. Hunter ran circles around the stroller and made Mason laugh everytime!

Thoughts I Want to Hang Onto

Hunter ran nonstop from the moment we arrived at the farm until we left. He is very concerned that everyone be included in the fun and wants to make sure that whoever we are visiting is in sight when we are driving somewhere. If they are in the car ahead of us, he yells, "Go Dad Go!" If they are in the car behind us, he constantly questions, "Are they behind us? Are they still behind us?"

Mason has the most genuine smiles and most curious personalities I have ever seen. He can only eat pureed foods (chunky foods make him gag and then.... ). He loves cords and paper and anything else that is NOT a toy. He can crawl... And Fast! He prefers that Mommy hold him. He crinkles his nose when he smiles and he has the cutest teeth! He likes to show them off. He looks like his mommy as a baby as Mitch and I confirmed tonight as we took a stroll down memory lane with our picture albums. Mitch and I were once young, as illustrated in our photos.

We set up the slip-and-slide today and Hunter thought that was the best- for about twenty minutes. Mason experienced an ice cold pool for the first time and was not pleased.

Focus, Mason, Focus

Have you ever heard yourself speaking through your child? Today, on the way home from preschool, I asked Hunter if he would help me feed Mason while I made dinner (in preparation for our trip to karate class and Chuck-E-Cheese, Hunter's promised reward if he behaved at karate). He said he would. As I scrambled through the kitchen, trying to get dinner going, I could hear Hunter encouraging Mason, whose mouth was clamped shut, to eat. I could hear Hunter saying, over and over, "Focus, Mason, focus." I heard also, on our drive home, Hunter saying to Mason, "Hi, Mason, hi! (high pitched voice- I'm sure mimicking mommy) are you hungry. Do you want to eat? Hi, Mason, hi!"

Other Hunter-isms-

Papa-scules- for popsicle
Lizzers- for scissors
"Mr. Brown Can Do Can You?" for "Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You?"

Motivation

I realized today that my boys are quite motivated by anything gadgety. My son Hunter has always been that way, but today, my nine-month-old son Mason crawled on all fours (first time I've really seen him do it) across a room to grab a controller for Playstation 2. He's so into cords right now too. Lamp cords. TV cords. Anything dangerous is just fine with him! I recall this being the case a few years ago with Hunter, and now, here we are again. It's fun and exhausting all at the same time.

As we put Hunter to bed tonight, I was struck by the fact that he was once a tiny baby and now he is a four-year-old boy who insists his father show him pictures on his cell phone before bed and who knows how to use a touch pad on a laptop computer. I'm amazed by what he can do. I wonder what they'll (Hunter and Mason) be like as teenagers?

Under No Circumstances

My family and I returned home today, a day early, from our family vacation in northern Minnesota. Our four-year-old son fell ill with the stomach flu. He was ill all day yesterday and opened our morning today with an episode of vomiting in the kitchen of our lake cabin. Needless to say, we came home and have stayed in all day, playing, sleeping, "rocking out" (Guitar Hero), etc. An interesting story stemming from my son's sickness is one that involves a boat and a reservation. One of the things I most wanted to do during our vacation is take our son on a boat cruise. I thought he would get a kick out of it. I made a reservation on Tuesday afternoon and was told that I would not receive a refund under any circumstances if we were unable to make the trip. Being an optimist, for once in my life, I made the reservation thinking that all would be well within the next twenty-four hours. The next morning, Hunter awoke proclaiming an "icky" stomach and began a day of throwing up. I was amazed by how strong he was. He was such a good patient. He even managed to run around laughing with his cousin between episodes of sickness. Kids are so resilient. A couple things I have learned as a result of our first family vacation. When you have children, everything needs to be spur of the moment. Advance planning will only prompt the forces of nature to turn on you :) ! Also, every time my son has fallen ill, he has recently consumed chocolate milk at a restaurant. So, no more chocolate milk for Hunter!

Another funny story from our vacation involves, again, dinner. My sister's family and our family thought we had selected the perfect restaurant for the evening. According to a travel booklet, the restaurant had the best outdoor seating in Duluth and featured a children's menu, which meant the restaurant would be family friendly. Not so. When we arrived we realized it was pretty much just a bar that served food on the side. Not really knowing the area, we ventured to another restaurant nearby. When we walked in, we knew we had made a terrible mistake but there really was no turning back. My husband would have had a meltdown. The restaurant was quite nice and the hostess was quite irritated at the sight of our small children. Of course, my younger son, who is always quite quiet and agreeable, decided this would be the night he started to talking (and loud). He yelled throughout our dinner, "ba ba ba ba." The groups around us, as well as the waitstaff, watched us throughout our meal. I waited to eat until my husband finished. My brother-in-law ate quickly and took my older son and his son out of the restaurant. We basically ate everything within twenty minutes and got the heck out. I left feeling partly embarrassed and also partly irritated by the fact that our society basically declares children a nuisance when it comes to eating out. Hey, parents are people too. Kids can be loud but they're also 100% genuine and we can actually learn a lot about loving life from them. I don't know. I guess the next time I go out without children, I'll keep my irritation in check when I see someone out with their kids. They want to eat and enjoy love a bit too.

Windows Open

I'm someone who enjoys keeping the windows open whenever possible. That's not always the best idea when a person has the kind of seasonal allergies that I have during the months of June and July. My right eye was nearly swollen shut this morning and this evening, after my walk, both eyes are swollen, itchy, and feel as if there is sand in them. I don't have much more to say, except "ah-choo!"

What's in a Name?

As I walked my dog last night, following my four-mile route through the streets of Minneapolis, I began thinking about the names Mitch and I have chosen for our two sons, Hunter James and Mason John. Interestingly, at least to me, is that Mitch and I selected Hunter's name seven years before he was born. Early in our relationship, I can recall sitting on the living room floor in my college apartment talking about baby names with the guy (later man) who would eventually become my husband. Mitch would say he picked the name and that he picked it because he enjoys Hunter, which is actually incorrect. I picked the name years before while reading a teen mag, probably YM, and discovered that a model during that time had twin boys, one of whom was named Hunter. I loved the name and decided that if I were ever to have a baby boy, that's what his name would be. Also, on another interesting note, I remember reading a book as a young adolescent/early teenager that featured a young man who became a father during high school and decided to raise the child on his own. He named his little boy Mason. I remember liking the name and did not remember that particular book until after my husband said he'd like to name our second child Mason, if we did in fact have a boy. In terms of middle names, James is my father's name and John is Mitch's grandfather's (his dad's dad) middle name. According to my mother, if I had been a boy, my name would have been James Weston. We almost selected Weston as our boy name. A girl name that I almost received was Rachel. Mitch's mother almost named him Harold! I'm so glad she and Roger selected Mitchell instead.

The Bike Catastrophe

Have you ever witnessed a four-year-old little boy, sweet, fresh-faced, and innocent, turn into a pitbull, teeth bared and ready for an hour-long stand-off with his mother? I was the lucky mother who had the opportunity to pick that forty-one pound pitbull-of-a-child up, his legs wrapped around his bicycle, and carry him, hooked to the bike, while pushing a stroller with a twenty-four pound baby boy home after a good idea (bike ride) went horribly wrong! This was after he, the four-year-old, made a beeline down the street (opposite direction from me) as someone was backing out of their driveway. I screamed like a maniac, just to let you know. The woman backing out of her driveway did not see him and my world began flashing before my eyes. I didn't know that happened when someone else was in harm's way, but it does, especially when it's your child!