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.