A Christmas to Remember- Part I

It's funny the way things work out. The night before we were set to leave on our eight-hour trek to Beulah, North Dakota, I shared with my husband how excited I was to visit my family and to see developments in my parents' home construction/remodel. I also recall watching Hunter eating breakfast that morning, marveling that he had not been sick in quite some time. I should have knocked (slammed my fist) on wood.

The morning of our trip, Hunter refused to eat and then put up a fight with almost everything we were attempting to do. Wouldn't get dressed. Wouldn't get off the couch. Wouldn't stop yelling. You get the picture. Now, I know my son. He has a lot of anxiety, which gets heightened when he is excited about something. I chalked his behavior up to anxiety and excitement. However, about an hour into our trip, Hunter's face became very pale and he started crying....and then throwing up. We pulled over on the side of the interstate (not safe, I know) and cleaned him up. We stopped at the next gas station to buy some essentials and determined that we would keep driving until he threw up again. Yes, we thought he might be throwing up from excitement. It's happened before. But about fifteen minutes later, he was sick again...and again...and again. Because we were so jam packed into the car, we had to start getting creative with what Hunter could throw up in. Barnes and Noble bag. Stocking cap #1. Stocking cap #2. Again, you probably get the picture. I really didn't think we'd ever make it home. After driving for 3 1/2 hours, we made it home. Hunter continued getting sick until 10 p.m. that evening. The poor little guy was so devastated about not seeing his Papa and Grandma and Cousin Hudson, but at one point, even he said, "I just want to be at my house."

We did make one more stop before heading home. We stopped at the Game Stop to purchase "Indiana Jones" for the DS. We wanted to cheer Hunter up a bit and wanted him to have something to do as he laid in bed "waiting" to be sick. It did the trick in terms of entertainment but as you know, he continued to be ill throughout the day and night.

So what were we confronted with besides having a sick child, you ask? Christmas dinner.... I hadn't anticipated cooking anything. And, the storm of the century was headed our way. After I bathed Hunter and put him to bed, I raced to Lunds, the only place I had even a slight chance of finding a prime rib. As I drove and as I shopped, I had to do a lot of self-talk. I'm not really great in crowds. To share some of my many flaws- I have no patience, I am quick-tempered, I am severely claustrophobic. I did keep everything in check as I shopped, though. I even chatted cheerfully with the lady in front of me as I stood in a line that weaved through the store. She told me that in her forty years of shopping at Lunds, she had never seen the store quite like it was that day. Must have been procrastination coupled with the brewing snowstorm.

When I arrived home, I sent Mitch out for the things I had forgotten to buy. He also made his way around the Twin Cities area looking for "Super Mario Brothers" for the Wii. When he got home, he said the same thing I had said two hours before: "I'm not going out there again!"

(to be continued)

A Note of Apology

I have to start this post by declaring that I think my firstborn son, Hunter, is absolutely the best. He has the best smile. He has the best laugh. He is genuine and loving and really wants to do the right thing.... and then sometimes stress gets the best of him and he lashes out. That happened at school today. I don't know the full story but was able to get bits of information from his teacher when I picked him up after school. What I do know is that Hunter did not handle his frustrations well. So, tonight I sat down with Hunter and helped him compose a note of apology to the teacher assistant. I did not know what else to do. What he said in the note: "Dear Ms. B, I'm sorry. Thank you for being my teacher." On the front of the note he drew a birthday cake. He was quite creative and worked very hard on the note. The funny thing was- during the process of writing the note, he forgot why he was writing it and decided to create a birthday card for himself! Too cute! I hope I approached this in the right way. I really want him to respect his teacher and learn how to manage his frustrations. I worry sometimes that I'm not the best model for how to deal with stress. I am most often stressed and sometimes react quickly, not thoughtfully. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day and that he learned a little something and that he grows a little bit stronger as a result of writing the note and giving it to the teacher.

Saturday's Song: Three Little Birds

This song is currently playing in the background at my house. Thought I'd share the lyrics to boost the spirits and perhaps force a song into your head!!!!!


"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!"
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry!
"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry!
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no!
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Pick me up Pic: Happy Halloween! May the force be with you, and you, and you!

The Force is..... driving me crazy!

Hunter is obsessed... I repeat, obsessed with Star Wars. Reasons I know he is obessed:

1. When I look at his papers from kindergarten, especially coloring pages, I see his efforts to color the actual assigned picture compared to his sketches on the back. On the actual picture I see a scribble (or two). On the back I see detailed pictures of Darth Vader, Yoda, and many many light sabers.

2. When my mom calls, Hunter demands to speak to her. First on the agenda- "Grandma, you need to buy me a green light saber."

3. When I ask Hunter questions about kindergarten, I am informed that "Darth Vader is good" and "Obi Wan carries a green light saber."

4. During trips to Target, Hunter tries to sneak the Star Wars movies into our cart. So far, we have caught him every time!

5. During trips to Target, Hunter has to make a visit to the Star Wars aisle. What do we look at? Light sabers of course!

6. What is Hunter going to be for Halloween? Darth Vader

7. I read to Hunter ever night before bed. Recently, the only book I am allowed to read is "Darth Vader and the Dark Side"

8. Hunter once told me, "Mom, I want to go to the dark side." In my head I said, "Oh Hunter, you are often there!"

9. Hunter is allowed to watch some TV before bed. As I type this, Hunter is watching a movie. You guessed it: Star Wars!

10. I admit, at first, I was so excited that Hunter was expressing a strong interest in something. But I tell you what, words like "the force," "Jedi," "light saber" are starting to make me want to scream!!!!!!!!

Monday's Pick-me-up Pic

Gaze at that face for a moment and all is well in the world! Happy Birthday Mason Bear!

P.S. Don't Expect Your Children to Behave During a Meeting

I should have known better. I have learned to expect high pitched yells and blood curdling screams the second I pick up the phone to talk to someone. I have learned that trips to the grocery store can melt down into a very messy show, with a crying mommy and all. I have learned, yes, but not well enough, because today I took the boys into work with me. Because I am co-coordinating the writing center at my school, a project for which we are basically starting from scratch, I thought it was very important to meet with one of my adminstrators and co-coordinator to start talking shop. Anyway... it turned into one big mess. At one point, Mason was lying on the floor underneath my desk scream crying. Hunter kept interrupting our conversation with pleas to go home. Mason hit me (love it when he does that in front of people) multiple times. But, I admit, it wasn't their fault!

It was mine......

I had toys along, but I forgot the most important thing: food! I set them up big time! I scheduled the meeting at 10:30 a.m. and lunch is typically at 11:00 a.m. at our house. I had no snacks! Nothing! Not even water. If you could sum up my parenting in that two hour block of time, I seriously sucked!

"Time in a Bottle"

I began the summer feeling very creative and energetic. I took the boys to the beach, to the pool, to the club, to the museum, to the zoo, to the grocery store, to Edinborough, to multiple parks, to North Dakota, to ................. and I'm beat! With only days left of my summer vacation, I'm struggling to find things for the boys and I to do. The one thing I have been doing- going through every nook and cranny of this house, cleaning, organizing, pitching, making donation piles. I'm determined to enter this schoolyear/workyear feeling prepared (hysterically laughing inside).

What I Learned About Hunter This Summer:
1. He is a Star Wars aficionado. His favorite characters are Han Solo and Darth Vader. He loves "Return of the Jedi." He knows minute details about the overall story line/conflict. He has tons of Star Wars books and Star Wars toys. He intends to include multiple Star Wars toys on his upcoming Christmas list.
2. He has very good manners. Just now I heard him burp. He is in the other room with Mason and he said, "excuse me," with no prompting from me. He is also a "please" and "thank you" man!
3. Hunter will make friends when he goes to school. I've been worried. Who wouldn't be? Do any of you have memories of trying to make friends? I do and I got burned a few times! Anyway... One day Hunter made a friend when he told a kid at the park that he had the same shirt (Lego Star Wars) as him- they started chasing each other around the park. That same day, at a different park, Hunter made a friend when he told a kid of about the same size that he was 5-years-old. "Are you five? I'm five." Chasing, pushing, etc. ensued.
4. Hunter has been nervous about kindergarten but recently asked me the following question: "Do you want to know where I go to work Mommy? Kindergarten." Hunter met the principle of Cornelia the other day and wishes that Mr. Holden (principle) was his teacher. Mrs. Pilcher is, instead. We will meet her at Thursday night's orientation. I sure hope Mr. Holden doesn't become the face Hunter sees most often!
5. Hunter is a climber, a runner, a jumper, a lightsaber-er, a smiler, a people-pleaser, etc.
6. Favorite fruit: grapes
7. Favorite animal at the zoo: Puma
8. Favorite treat- popsicle
9. Favorite color- red
10. Favorite TV show- Hi-5

What I Learned About Mason This Summer:
1. Mason has a really large vocabulary and can identify some pretty unique animals- "Macaw," "Elephant," "Eagle," etc. in his Big Animal Book. He loves that book and enjoys it most at bedtime.
2. Mason's first question of the day is "Where's mommy? Where's Hunter?" He wants to know this information immediately. He then wants milk and juice immediately. Or there is hell to pay!
3. Mason will defend his brother when needed (or not). This summer he really tried to get something going with Hunter's friend Kyle when Hunter and Kyle got into a little argument. Mason started following Kyle around, pointing his finger and demanding that he "go away." He did some pushing, etc. I sure hope this desire to fight doesn't carry over into his teenage and adult years!
4. Where Mason can be a pistol, he is also incredibly sweet. He asks me multiple times a day if he can "sit on my lap." He wants to watch "Hi-5" while we cuddle. Mason and Hunter share a passion for "Hi-5" which is a singing group on the Discovery Channel.
5. Mason is determined to overcome his fears. Last week at Dick's, Mason was afraid of the escalator. He went on it with Mitch, anyway, and when they got to the bottom, Mason said to Mitch, "I did it Daddy!"
6. Favorite Fruit: Banana
7. Favorite animal at the Zoo: Monkeys and sharks
8. Favorite treat: He always asks for cake, whether we have it or not. He also needs (yes, needs) to have two drinks going at a time. Milk in one hand. Juice in the other.
9. Current Obsession: He labels everything "good guy," "bad guy." Learned it from all of Hunter's Star Wars stuff.
10. Other things: Mason loves to give Bruiser treats; he loves to swim; he doesn't like to hold mommy's hand- wants his independence; still loves his blankies; favorite toy is the semi truck toy we have (based off of a character from "Cars")

The boys tired me out! And I can honestly say, if I could spend every single day with them in someone else's house, I would be all good. I have to say, though, that I'm sooooo tired of cleaning my house. I have to do dishes and clean the kitchen at least three times a day. I'm so tired of cleaning. But I'm soooo going to miss the boys. We have enjoyed our summer, especially our very lazy mornings (wake at 8 a.m., cuddle, eat breakfast, play on the floor, etc). When I think of moving on from that, I feel like I want to cry. I begin this school year with an almost two-year-old and a child who will be starting kindergarten in two weeks. By next summer, they will have changed so much and will be another year older. Oh, "If I could save time in a bottle!"

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that Id like to do
Is to save every day
Till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
Id save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
Ive looked around enough to know
That youre the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
Ive looked around enough to know
That youre the one I want to go
Through time with

Weekend Highlights

1. Hunter gave me an unsolicited "I very much love you, mommy" during our fun day at the Vikings training camp (I also loved watching Hunter throw a football and run obstacles at the camp).

2. Hunter's constant questions regarding my statement that TV/Video games melt kids' brains. "Were you kidding mommy?" "Yes, Hunter, I was kidding." Few minutes later. "Were you kidding mommy? Can the game melt my brain?" I sometimes forget how literal little ones can be.

3. Watching Mason play with his cousins, Grace, Emma, and Ava. He's like a puppy, seriously! Do you know how puppies will pounce and then move immediately into play stance? That's Mason. He pounces and then roars!

4. Mason's complete sentences: "I want to go see toys" (said at Target). "I want to go in there" (said at Edinborough Park on Friday- a rainy day in Minneapolis). That Park tested every claustrophobic bone in my body!

5. Running six miles at Lake Harriet and not having leg problems.

6. Watching Hunter, Ava, Grace, Mason, and Emma play on the slip-n-slide in the backyard on Sunday. I loved hearing their laughter and see all that energy being put to good use.

7. Hearing about Mitch's big victory at Buck Hill. He came in second (out of 2) in his class :)! But seriously, he did a really good job and should be proud of himself!

8. Taking the boys out for ice cream after dinner this evening.

9. Making pancakes for the five kids this Sunday morning. I let them put chocolate chips on them. Bad auntie! Bad mommy! But oh, they loved it!

10. Bedtime- quiet time. WINE TIME!

Just a Family Update

Mitch update: Mitch announced earlier in the week that he wanted to take Hunter on a Saturday adventure to Mankato, Minnesota for the Vikings training camp. Because I'm starting to dig football and needing family time, I told Mitch that Mason and I were tagging along! I'm excited. Mitch is also mountain bike racing on Sunday with his brother, Mike at Buck Hill. He was completely pumped to sign up for the Clydesdale class. I will be home with five little ones. I am also trying to convince him to sign up for an off-road triathlon, which consists of paddling (instead of swimming), mountain biking, and trail running. I think he could do it... we'll see if my powers of persuasion work their magic.

Beth update: I am in training for my 10 mile race on September 27th. I ran with my friend and training partner, Jodi, this past Wednesday. She mapped out a more-than-eight-mile-course and we ran the first 6.2 no problem. We could have easily continued had my leg not completely seized up; I have terrible I-T band issues (leg/knee). That prompted a new shoes purchase and a non-impact workout last night- weights, cross-trainer, and stationary bike. I will attempt the run again next Wednesday. I will remember that I'm old and that I need to hydrate and stretch prior to and after the run. I can honestly say that at this point in my life, I am stronger and more capable than I have ever been; however, the wear-and-tear on my body is getting me down. I didn't hurt in my 20s as I do in my 30s.

Hunter update: We are totally on our way to kindergarten. This past week, I tried to get Hunter excited about this new transition by taking him to Target to purchase his school supplies. What's cool about kindergarten is that basically the parents donate all the supplies and then all the kids share them; therefore, no one is left out for any reason- no one is without or has better than anyone. We bought boxes of crayons, markers, pencils, glue sticks, various art supplies, like wiggly eyes and pom poms, etc. We will very shortly be purchasing his school backpack which will probably be Star Wars themed. Hunter is a Star Wars expert and is convinced that Darth Maul and Darth Vader are good guys. I think he wants them to be good because they look so darn cool.

Mason update: Mason is just a sweetie pie. Besides his constant demands for juice, he is such an easy little toddler (knocking on wood as I say that). He understands the concept of time-out so will behave to avoid that tragedy and will say "no nigh, nigh" when I tell him it's time for bed. (I'd love it if someone would put me in time-out or down for a nap). Today, because of the rain, I took the boys to Edinborough Park to burn off some steam. Mason loved it and decided that he wanted to go up into the park, which is full of fun stuff to do. Unfortunately, I am extremely claustrophobic, so I have to do a lot of positive self talk when I'm up there. Nothing like your almost-two-year-old running away from you amidst thousands of kids to force you to get over your neurosis. He loved the huge slides and loved climbing the padded ladders. He also loved the hanging pads, which reminds me of something football players would do during practice. Mason just throws himself into them and through them and has a great time. Both boys loved playing basketball.

Bruiser update: today, Bruiser is getting groomed and has enjoyed playing with our neighbors' dog, Stella, in the backyard. Also, yesterday, Bruiser had an encounter with a calico cat in our backyard. Bruiser was terrified of it and would growl at it and then run away. It was quite hilarious.

I have about three weeks left of summer vacation. I feel like I blinked and the summer is over. Overall, we've had such a great summer at home. Yes, there have been some rough days, but for the most part, we've kept ourselves busy and had a lot of fun- pool/lake, park, zoo, coloring, museum, etc. I am going to miss them when I return to work in the fall. I've grown quite attached :).

Love is in the Air

I had the pleasure of watching my boys try to impress a girl today. We were at the "cool stairs" park (not the "snail park" or "rainbow park"), as we have lovingly named it. As Mason and Hunter played with the super cool water fountain (yep, just a water fountain), a little girl and her grandmother stopped by. For awhile, Mason just stared at her and Hunter climbed to the highest point of the jungle gym, announcing to the world how "big" he is. However, soon after, Hunter created an elaborate Star Wars game. He had two light sabers, Serenity (the little girl's name) had one, and Mason was of course assigned the role of "monster." And I tell you what, Mason embraced that role. He felt compelled to roar in the little girl's face any chance he had. He also thought it his duty to tell her to "go away" multiple times, only to then follow her wherever she went. I could tell that even for those brief twenty minutes, Mason was in love.

Speaking of love... it seems that my friend's little girl, Reagan, likes Hunter just a little bit. I told my friend yesterday that someday the following will probably happen: Mason will be totally in love with Reagan and Reagan will be totally in love with the older and more worldy Hunter. Mason will be heartbroken of course and Hunter will... who knows. I have no idea as I only had sisters and have never really understood men. The pet name that was being thrown around yesterday during dinner between Hunter and Reagan- "macaroni!"

Hunter Pants Update

This is a picture from Hunter's fifth birthday party in early May. I selected it because Hunter went through a stage where he didn't smile naturally for the camera. All kids seem to go through that stage and Hunter's just ended. He'll smile naturally but now actually turns his back on the camera. I wonder when that stage will end.

Hunter had his adenoids removed and ear tubes placed in late June, which has completely restored his hearing. His speech is very clear now and he doesn't seem as nervous about answering questions. I would imagine that his hearing loss made conversations very difficult for him. I'm so happy that when he enters kindergarten, he won't have problems hearing his teacher and classmates. In regards to kindergarten, Hunter is putting up a fight. He informs people when they inquire about kindergarten that he "just wants to stay home with mommy." I'm sure once he gets there and meets new friends, he'll love it. Right now, he seems very nervous.

Hunter loves his Wii Star Wars game so much that I have to incentivise the crap out of it. "Okay, Hunter... after you play with toys, play outside, do your workbook, etc..... you can play your game." "Hunter, if you don't stop messing with Mason's hair, I'll put the Wii controllers away." On and on and on.

I took Hunter and Mason to the Children's Museum last week and Hunter absolutely loved it. Because he loves dinosaurs, I'm thinking of trying to take him to the Science museum before school begins in the fall.

Hunter's Favorite book- Star Wars of course! I taught him how to "dog ear" a page to mark his place. He thought that was pretty cool.

Hunter loves to swim in lakes. If I allow him to play freely, he is very brave. The second I try to teach him how to swim, he is scared to death. I need to get him enrolled in swimming lessons but am afraid that he won't want to do it. Hunter is also a very fast runner and a strong climber. We discovered a very cool park yesterday. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park has the coolest, most elaborate play system I have seen. Hunter went wild and had so much fun!

Hunter was so excited about Mitch's surprise birthday ice cream cake that he spilled the beans the second Mitch walked in the door. "Dad! We bought you a cake. It's a surprise. We put it in the freezer!"

Hunter's favorite color is "red." Just like Mitch.

Hunter insists that Darth Vader is a good guy because he "turns good" in the end. Hunter has a red light saber just like Darth Vader but again, Hunter insists that he is one of the good guys. Hunter also likes to pretend he is Hans Solo.... Hunter actually has three light sabers- purple, blue, and red. He asked this morning for a Star Wars "gun" because Princess Leia has one. I'm not crazy about guns and I'm not crazy about adding more toys for the millions we already have. I told him to put it on his "Santa list." So, we begin talking about Christmas already, in July.

A Mason Man Update

This picture was taken at the beginning of May 2009. I selected it because it captures Mason perfectly. Mason loves to be included when it comes to Hunter and any of Hunter's friends. What you don't see in this picture: Hunter and cousin Hudson. They are watching a show and I'm pretty sure that Mason started laughing because Hunter and Hudson did. Mason is the "me too" kid. Anything his big brother does, he wants to do too. Yesterday, Mason reluctantly followed his brother into the child center at Life Time Fitness. Usually, Mason cries when I leave him, but on this day, he was allowed to play with the big kids. Watching him follow Hunter in was precious. Mason seemed so tentative but willing to do what his big brother was doing.

Mason is a chatterbox. This morning he informed me that he wanted "oatmeal" for lunch. He got it. He can also speak, not always but sometimes, in complete sentences. This morning he said, "I want to go in there." He says "please" and "pank you." Actually, he says, "pank you mommy." In Mason's world, all men are "daddy" and all women are "mommy." He often greets strangers in the store with a "hi mommy" or "hi daddy." The hero in Mason's world is currently Mitch. Mitch's leaving a room can make Mason dissolve into sobs. Mason cries a lot. He's at that stage. He tattles a lot too. While he cannot fully explain what happened, there is a lot of pointing toward a certain five-year-old and an accusatory name uttered, "Hunter."

Mason is currently asserting his independence by refusing to sit in his high chair. I do have to force the issue sometimes when he eats yogurt or something. Yesterday I made the mistake of giving Mason a yogurt while I was on the phone. Because I wanted to finish my conversation, I let Mason sit at the table. All was well until I realized that Mason had dipped his hand in the yogurt and was touching everything that could stain, including the carpet and our couch.

Mason's favorite possession is his "blankie." He still chews on it and loves to carry it around with him in the morning. Mason loves to play "downstairs" with Hunter (all words in quotations are words that Mason can say). He loves to play "outside." He loves to drink "juice" nonstop.

Mason will turn two-years-old on September 15th. We are planning his first birthday party. Last year he didn't have one because he had something contagious. It may have been RSV. Here's hoping that everyone stays healthy for this year's bash.

Tri Tri Tri Again

It's Tuesday and the triathlon was Saturday and I'm just now starting to feel a bit more normal. The days leading up to the race were difficult and long. I don't deal well with anticipation so I was super nervous, jittery, agitated, you name it. I took something to help me sleep every night, including the night before the race. On Friday, Jodi and I drove into Minneapolis to pick up our race packets at the Convetion Center. I spent the rest of Friday, literally, pacing. I had a hard time eating (that's been an issue for a couple weeks). Anyway.

We set our alarms for 4 a.m. because we were told to arrive at Lake Nokomis for body numbering no later than 5:30 a.m. Mitch was our one-man entourage. He walked both of our bikes while we carried all the stuff we needed at transition. I was shocked at how packed the place was at 5 a.m. The transition area was chaotic to say the least and full of very athletic, competitive looking people. Setting up the transition area was tricky. That's something I guess I'll learn with time. And the time went fast that day. Just as I finished setting up my transition, we were instructed to get out of the transition area, as it was closing. Before I knew it, I was by myself on the beach with thousands of others ;) and in line to start. Jodi started about twenty-five minutes after me. Overall, the race was pretty good. The one-mile swim was shockingly long and people were crazy on the first right turn. I felt like people were thrashing around me. My leg cramped up once after I kicked into the person swimming next to me (accidentally) and I felt myself go into a little panic. I wasn't sure whether I should stop then and wave over a lifeguard or keep going and hope for the best. I opted for the latter and did make it out of the lake. I can't stress enough how long the lake swim was. I think I need to upload a picture just so you can see how long it was.

So many people told me that the bike course was flat. Hmmm. Didn't seem flat to me and I cursed my damn hibrid bike the entire time. Road bikes whizzed past me no problem. I had to stand up to get up hills on my thousand pound two-wheeler while others just seemed to leisurely pedal upward. I can't say much more about the bike except that I still haven't forgiven my Trek and am in the market for a new road bike. I'm serious. I don't even want to go out on a family ride I'm so pissed at it.

We ran around Lake Nokomis and then some twice during the last leg of the race. I felt pretty good on the first lap and then something happened during the second. As I've told some people, of all the events we do during a triathlon, the run is my best and I can usually kick it into high gear near the end. During the second lap my chest and lungs started really hurting and I couldn't seem to pick up the pace at all. Some nice lady started running next to me during that time, wanting to talk (probably as a distraction) but I was in a very bad place at that time and feel bad that I wasn't a bit more personable. The run took me about ten minutes longer than it typically does. I guess I was pooped after swimming and biking.

My family was very supportive during the race. My mom, sister Sarah, and Mitch were there to cheer me on after each leg. Mitch was really cute during the race, as my mom has informed me multiple times. I guess he was running alongside me after the swim yelling "good job honey! good job honey!" At the end of the race, he yelled to someone he knew in the VIP area, "that's my wife!" It's nice to know that he felt so happy for me. He was as nervous as I was before the race!

As I crossed the finish line, I heard the announcer say something about "Here comes Bethany crossing the finish line." Now, in that moment, I thought, "That's weird, someone else named Bethany is crossing the finish the same time I am." I guess in times of extreme exhaustion, I have trouble putting two and two together.

Post-Race News: I am going to start training for a 10 mile run (September 27th- Women Run the Cities). Training for something rather than just working out keeps me motivated. I went for a run (/walk) tonight. Hilarious!

A Detour from the Usual

Let's call this week "The Week of Obsessing About Not Drowning in Lake Nokomis When I Attempt to Swim a Mile and Not Falling Off My Bike During the 25 miles of Road I Have to Race and Not Passing Out During the 6.2 Mile Run After Doing Everything That Came Before."

Stuff About the Swim: I have completed two lakes swims to date and will have my third and final practice in the lake tomorrow night. Getting into the lake calmed some fears and ignited others. I can do the freestyle in the lake and I can sight okay. However, lake water moves, so I felt like I was fighting the current. I also felt like my body was stuck in the middle of the lake. I felt I was making absolutely no progress.

Oh, and I've found that so many people feel compelled to share their horror stories just before you step into the water. In the past four days, two people told me about triathlon drownings. Then a couple clever fishermen thought it would be funny to talk about the giant fish swimming in Cedar Lake just as I was stepping in. A 5 foot musky (spelling?) you say? I could take him! An alligator sighting in 1965? Alligatros don't scare the likes of me!

Stuff About the Bike: I biked a bit yesterday. Yep, those clipless pedals are still causing me some angst. I can get my feet in and out no problem except in times of stress. :) Let's hope that I see no bumps, potholes, other bikers, etc.

Stuff About the Run: I ran 6 miles on Friday night and felt pretty good. I'm really not nervous about the run, other than the fact that it's the last leg of the triathlon. I expect I'll be tired. Hopefully the adrenaline will continue pumping through my veins during the entire race. Too bad I can't bottle up and give myself intravaneously some of that infinite energy my little ones have.

And Being the Girl I Am: I now I have my pink tanktop to wear over my tri suit prior to the race. It matches the cute flowers on my tri shorts and the pink water bottle I purchased yesterday. I have my waterproof mascara. I have my Luna Moon "Nutrition for Women" snacks for the bike ride. I also have plans to head out for a night on the town after the race. Yeah, so a day of work is enough to make me go to bed at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'll so be ready to go out and celebrate.

Word of the Day: Poop

I love summer vacation.... but, today has been one of the days that I yearn to go back to work. I awoke with a child literally stomping on my head. Soon after, the yelling and the crying began. Hunter usually has a reason when he is yelling and screaming. The reason might be utterly ridiculous but I usually know why. Mason is another story altogether. He will cry if the wind blows his hair in the wrong direction, I swear. Anyway...

Another reason my head is about to spin off my neck... Hunter won't stop saying "poop." Poopy, poop, poop. All at random. I don't know why it's driving me mad, but at one point, I thought I would start throwing things, maybe myself, against a wall.

I love my children. They are the most important human beings in the world to me and I'd gladly do anything for them and for their happiness, safety, and well being. That said, they are driving me bonkers and I don't know what to do. Luckily, it's now raining outside, so we get to be couped up for the time being. Hunter has pushed the couch away from the wall (yes, he has the strength to do this himself) and they are now playing behind it, on it, in front of it, etc. And with light sabers, so I'm sure at some point, one of them will get hit in the face and the crying will start again.

Oh, and Mason found a sharpie market and drew all over his face!

Do the Cookie Dance

I am starting to learn that I should always come home prior to picking up the boys from daycare to make dinner and get the house cleaned up. Because the boys want to eat the second they walk through the door, I find it's easier to have dinner already ready for them. Now that I've learned this, however, I now won't need to put it into practice until August as tomorrow is officially "my" last day of work! I'll probably forget this valuable lesson by the time August rears its ugly head.

Tonight after the boys inhaled their chicken fried rice (I made it), I gave each a cookie. Pure delight. I wonder when we all stop doing the cookie dance when someone gives us a sweet treat. My boys, especially Mason, literally shakes his little bootie when I give him a treat. I'm fairly certain that while I might do the cookie dance in my head when someone gives me a treat, I try to maintain my composure. I wonder how I got from there to here. I remember being a little kid and skipping around the room when my mom would let me have a cookie or even when I'd snatch a cookie without her knowing.

I wonder when we learned not to cry when the treat was "all gone." Tonight when I informed Mason that the cookies were "all gone," he burst into tears. Yes, now when I have a cookie, I might cry inside because it's all over, but again, I have learned, somewhere between my toddler years and my 32nd year, not to cry when the treats are gone.

I'm not complaining. On the contrary. I find something quite precious about this little cookie dance of theirs and how the world is so simple for them that the cookies being gone is their greatest tragedy. I don't want their problems to get bigger and I want them to keep shaking their little tushies when they get are treated to something sweet.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Our painters finally arrived to paint the house white. After weeks of beige and white (not pretty in our case, I tell ya), it is so nice to look at my house again and not cringe. Now we have to pay for it. Hmmmm.......

Carrier Monkeys

There is a scene in a movie titled "One Fine Day," starring Michelle Pfeifer (playing Melanie) and George Clooney where Melanie's boss looks at her little boy and asks, "Do you know what I think of when I look at him?" Melanie smiles, ready for a compliment that identifies her son as an angel or God's gift to all creation, or something like that. The boss's answers, instead, "Carrier monkey."

I thought of this scene today as I walked into the Urgent Care at Quello Clinic knowing in my heart of hearts that I had pink eye, contracted from none other than my oldest son Hunter, whose pediatrician confirmed his pink eye yesterday! "Why?" I was asking myself. Should I not be exempt from illnesses and ailments like this? Do I not have enough to deal with in a day? I can't say my visit was all bad, though. I got in to see the Urgent Care doctor immediately, which really could be labeled a miracle. Literally. The receptionist was friendly. There was a TV in the waiting room which was tuned to NBC's (I think) show "Doctors" on which the doctors were ironically discussing pink eye with a caller. The doctor on the show was telling the caller, as I filled out my health form, that mothers are more likely to contract pink eye from their children than anyone else! Awesome news for me I guess! The doctor I spoke to also encouraged me to get this sore throat of mine checked out. I guess it's not a good thing when a symptom persists for over a month with no good (or obvious) reason. Another awesome for me!

As I look into the near future, namely my evening with the boys, I know that I will need to battle Hunter to put his eye drops in. I will need to battle Hunter so he'll take his medicine for his zillionth ear infection. I will need to deal with dinnertime, bathtime, storytime, bedtime, and this damn messy house, which just never stays picked up and clean. The one easy part of the evening will be when I put my own eyedrops in, knowing it's the best thing for me. I'm the mom, I should know!

I shall write on a more upbeat topic in the near future.

What I Love about Hunter and Mason

What I Love About Hunter:
1. At his preschool graduation, he yelled across the room to one of his friends, "Hey, look at my mom! Do you see my mom? That's my mom! Do you like my mom?"
2. Hunter's laugh is infectious and his smile is so big and wide it seems like his face might freeze that way! His laughter touches my soul!
3. Hunter gets so excited about birthday parties that he cannot sleep the night before. He knows that his dad's birthday is next (33 is right around the corner), then Mason, and then him again!

What I Love About Mason:
1. Mason says hi to everyone! Mason says bye to everyone! Mason looks everyone in the face.
2. Mason is genuinely thrilled when he sees a plane in the sky. I wish I still carried the same amazement and awe of the workings of the world.
3. Mason can deliver the meanest (and sweetest, all at the same time) glare. He is mastering the temper tantrum. I have to remember in those moments that his emotions are complete and genuine. There is no gray area with little kids.

Weekend Highlights

Friday night- my sister Sarah treated me to dinner and drinks in celebration of my 32 years on this Earth! As always, there was plenty of laughter and silliness. We drank wine and ate yummy food at the Cheesecake Factory and then headed to Barnes and Noble where we each purchased a book. I started mine immediately upon returning home. Jodi Piccoult's Handle With Care. It's a page turner!

Saturday- I spent the first five hours of the day alone with the boys. They were actually quite pleasant. I was able to play with the boys, clean the house, and even read a little bit before Mitch returned home. At 3 p.m. Mel and Brianna arrived to babysit the boys. Mitch and I made our way to Penn Cycle where we learned that my new road bike was not quite ready. So we raced home, grabbed our regular bikes and then headed up to Lake Harriett, where we road. We circled Harriett, Calhoun, and traveled quite far on the Midtown Greenway before we turned around. Sweaty and covered in dirt, we headed to Sandy's Tavern in Richfield where we enjoyed the World's Greatest Hamburger- literally! I totally agree! I don't think I've ever enjoyed a hamburger so much! Afterwards, we went home, showered, and then met Sarah and Tyler at Southdale AMC for a movie- "Angels and Demons." I had read the book six years ago, so I was anxious to see how the story would translate on the big screen. It was entertaining.

Sunday- I spent the first four hours of the day alone with the boys so Mitch could work. We went to Target and purchased some essentials and non-essentials. When we got home, we found Bruiser having a seizure. He had gotten sick on the couch and the floor so we had a lot to clean up. Luckily, this seizure did not last very long at all. This afternoon, we set up our little pool in the backyard and ran through the sprinkler. Hopefully I got some sun on my face, arms, and legs. It's truly shocking how snow white my skin is right now! Tonight after dinner I ran 3.1 miles in 30 minutes. Not too bad! 10 minute mile is really good for me, at least right now.

An Eventful Trip to the ENT Doctor

After five years of wondering and numerous trips to the pediatrician, the Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist confirmed today that Hunter needs tubes in his ears and perhaps his adenoids removed. The ear infections he has experienced in the past months (and years) has caused some scarring on his eardrums. In consequence, he has also experienced some hearing loss that this procedure will hopefully remedy. While Mason's hearing is better than Hunter's, the doctor did say that Mason would also be a good candidate for the procedure as he also has some scarring on his eardrums. Sooooo, on June 30th we will be heading to Children's West where both Hunter and Mason will get tubes in their ears. I am really hoping and praying that this helps Hunter out especially as I have talked to numerous doctors about my concerns regarding his ears and his hearing. That's a long story overall..... It wasn't until last month that our pediatrician finally agreed that enough is enough and referred us on to a specialist. I have some bad feelings about all that.... Another long story.....

So guess where my Q-Comp money is going---- "new ears" for the boys! :) Better take a trip out to the money tree in the backyard. I say this but also realize how much this is going to help my little guys, especially my oldest little guy!

Celebrating 9 Years of Marriage

9 Random Things about Mitch and Beth's 9 Years of Marriage
Happy Anniversary Mitch! Married on Saturday, May 20, 2000

1. Our honeymoon occurred almost a year after we married. We headed to Las Vegas and drank ourselves silly!

2. Our second honeymoon occurred in 2002. I won a trip to Nassau, Bahamas. We saw Incubus play in a private concert on the beach.

3. After having children (and we waited quite a long time to have children), we headed to Las Vegas again for my sister Sarah's wedding. We realized during that trip that when we have the chance to escape the stress of everyday life, we are actually the best of friends.

4. One of our favorite things to do together is play Scrabble. We fight when we play, but we also have fun when we play. (Mitch makes up words and according to him, he wins more often then me, and I am an English teacher- a detail he really likes to rub in when I lose)

5. We are really in no way alike-- that must be what brought us together!

6. We both think are kids are the greatest two people who have ever walked the face of the earth. We talk about how awesome we think they are pretty much everyday. We wonder how many people feel the same way about OUR kids :) !

7. Mitch put lilacs in a vase for me this evening, knowing that it's one of my favorite flowers/scents. We had lilacs at our wedding.

8. We do value the same things and have a similar belief system. Our personalities set us apart from one another.

9. Neither of us sleeps well when the other is gone.

Hot hot hot

I love warm weather! Now, hot weather on the other hand is a little bit tougher, especially when you add little ones to the mix. I held out as long as I could and then cranked on the air conditioner. The temperature in our house read at a sizzling 87 degrees and both kids were crying, about toys and each other (not the heat), and literally hanging onto my legs as I tried to have a phone conversation with first my mother and then my sister. I raised my voice (nice way to put it) and then got Mason into the bath, as he was covered in sunscreen and dirt (such a yummy combination). I admit, the heat brings out the devil in me. I'm a lover of the 70s and low 80s where the weather is concerned! :)

Happy Happy Joy Joy

We celebrated TGIF by taking the boys to DQ for an ice cream treat. Hunter ordered his cone and changed his mind twice in regards to the flavor- white, then brown, and then back to white (his words). I guess that is three times. I ordered ice cream in a cup for Mason and really, the cup accomplished very little as Mason very effectively had ice cream all over his body- hair, shirt, pants, etc. Being at the DQ took me back to my high schools days of employment at the DQ in Beulah, North Dakota. There was once a time when one of life's greatest pleasures was cutting the snickers and reeses peanut butter cups in small, bite-size pieces. Everyone who worked there loved that job. Lots of snacking going on.

Mitch worked on Saturday and I cleaned, in preparation for our babysitter. Mitch and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary (which is actually May 20) with our best friends from college, Brian and Ann. We had a lot of good laughs!

On Sunday, I woke up at 6 a.m. and headed to Lake Nokomis for my first real bike ride of the season. We biked 15 miles and then ran two miles. Mitch and I also took the boys to the zoo. Again, fan favorites went to the sharks and the grizzly bears, which were actually "fighting" while we were there. It was really something to watch. Hunter loved it and Mason looked a bit scared. At one point, Mason actually put his hand up and yelled, "Bear! No!" After getting home, I practiced anchoring my new bike shoes into my new bike pedals. I have absolutely no skill where that is concerned and it's causing me some angst.

Not much more to report. I guess I did pay bills tonight and drank. I find that paying bills and drinking really do go hand-in-hand. At least for me. :) Three more weeks of full-time daycare and then we get some relief! SUMMER!

It was a Zoo at the Zoo Today

I woke up this morning with big plans. I knew that I had quite the day ahead of me--Mitch and his brother and nephew had a full day of work on the siding-- and the boys were under my watchful eye. I decided an outing to the Minnesota Zoo would be just the ticket. So we packed up and were out the door by 9:30 a.m. We stopped by Target on our way to Apple Valley. We each, Hunter, Mason, and I, purchased a new pair of sunglasses. Hunter opted for Transformer sunglasses which he refused to take off, even in the darker exhibits. Mason grabbed the Hot Wheels sunglasses and I a pair of flashy gold ones. Upon entering the zoo, I decided that our family needed to become Zoo members so I paid the 85 bucks, knowing full well that trips to the zoo will be plentiful this summer. We visited every single exhibit. Hunter's favorite was the shark tank and the puma, which was eating a cantaloupe. Hunter thought that was quite funny. Mason was pretty much stroller bound the whole four-hour trip, though I did free him a couple times, once to play on activity equipment and again to play in the Farm area. We enjoyed pizza for lunch. Well, actually Hunter and Mason enjoyed pizza and for some reason, I just couldn't stomach it. I waited until we returned home at 2:30 p.m. to eat lunch. Mason stayed awake the whole trip, that is until we were about two blocks away from home. That made putting him down for a nap a bit tricky. He did sleep though, until about 4 p.m. Then it was a trip to Home Depot, where the boys enjoyed the truck cart and I scoped out new lighting for our entrance and garage. Dinner was from the crockpot and then the night really began. Mitch cleaned up outside and I cleaned up inside, with the boys crawling all over me. Overall, it was a good, albeit extremely busy, weekend. I truly enjoyed the two beers I gulped down this evening while watching "Desperate Housewives!"

What is there to do on a Rainy Sunday?

Hunter, Mason, and I started our rainy Sunday on the couch- cuddling and watching something on the TV. I'm not sure what we were watching as I was not paying a bit of attention and neither were the boys. They were too busy jumping on me. We transitioned to the dining room table shortly thereafter and ate cheerios and I guzzled coffee and attempted to read the newspaper. I find that I know very little lately about the goings on in the world. When am I supposed to read, watch, or listen to the news? After breakfast, we raced ourselves to the basement. During that transition, I taught Mason how to scoot down the stairs. He learned amazingly fast. Downstairs, as the boys were dumping all the toys from their bins, I decided to finally get our toy situation under control. I helped them dump every single toy bin and proceeded to organize them into some sort of system that makes sense. This is what I came up with for categories: Super Hero stuff, infant toys, cars, puzzles and games, costume/dress up stuff, sport stuff, balls, farm, legos and blocks, choking hazard (stored in Hunter's room hopefully out of Mason's reach but he's also quite a climber), Mr. Potato Head stuff, etc. Seriously, we have too many toys and too many types of toys. I recall a time when my nieces were coming for a visit and I was in desperate need of some toys. Now, they fill rooms to the brim and start finding their way into "no-toy" zones like my bedroom and our fridge and the sink, etc. Anyway, I think I won the battle with the toys, even though Mason and Hunter continueed to take things out as I put things into bins. After the toy war, it was lunchtime. The boys ordered me around for a little bit. Sometimes, they might as well just yell, "more, woman." Mason went down for a nap and Hunter and I went back downstairs where I finally caved and let him play Wii. We have a new rules that he can only play Wii when it's raining or snowing. So, I guess today is the day. I played one game of bowling and then laid down. My allergies have really kicked in. I have terrible allergies--so bad that sometimes it feels more like the flu than anything else. I slept for about fifteen minutes and then decided it was time to battle the laundry situation. Mitch called in the midst of that--I yelled at him just because. Sorry Mitch. So, now here I type as Hunter sits behind me playing cars on my back. Mason is still sleeping and I wonder what else we are going to do today.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

Getting ready for church presents some very interesting challenges to our family. Because Mitch and I both lack true motivation during the weekends, we both sit around and drink coffee until the last possible second. We sat on the floor this morning playing and cuddling with the boys and before we knew it, it was 9:10 a.m. and church begins at 10:00 a.m. Neither of us had showered or gathered together the boys' church clothes at that point but being the optimists we "sometimes" are, we thought we'd try to make it in time. What follows is snippets of our forty minute "Get Ready" session: [Screaming children, slamming refrigerator doors, frazzled adults, shower water everywhere, clothes everywhere, Bruiser hiding from Mason, Hunter jumping off the couch and hiding when he realizes where we are trying to make him go, "Where is so and so's _____________? "There are no clean clothes in this house!" "Sit still!" "Stop it!" "Hunter stop pushing your brother!" "Mason stop hitting Hunter!" "Are we really going to try to do this?" etc.]. We were loaded in the car at exactly 9:59 a.m. We decided to have an adventure instead of going to church. By the time we would have made it to Mount Olivet, it would have been 10:10. By the time we would have dropped off Hunter at Sunday School and Mason at the childcare, it would have been 10:20 (drop offs are harder than one might think- see brackets above but keep in mind you're also in public when you are doing a drop off). Church would have ended at 10:40 (they move it along at Mt. Olivet). We drove to Saint Paul for some sightseeing. We found ourselves on Summitt Avenue and enjoyed looking at the beautiful homes and buildings. We tried The Red Balloon bookstore but it was closed. We'll try some other time. When we arrived home, I cooked a big breakfast- omeletes, rolls, hash browns, etc. Then I got to clean up the kitchen. Mason wasn't too thrilled about naptime and now I hear him ready to get up for more playtime!

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. ~Lily Tomlin

I decided this evening to take a moment to seek out some online wisdom. I stumbled across this gem from Lily Tomlin when I typed in "Quotes about Stress": "For fast-acting relief, try slowing down." Hysterical laughter ensued! My response/question: "What if no one lets you?"

It Happened One Night

I have been super productive. There was not a moment wasted during my spring break. I began painting on Monday morning and we finished putting the house back together at about 8:30 p.m. last night. Now, I do also have stacks of papers to grade and lessons to plan. None of that got done over break but today, my first day back to work, was very productive and I made a slight dent in that stack. I picked up Hunter at 3:30 p.m. and we headed home for a snack and to prepare for karate. I felt so in control I should have known something would go awry.

After karate and after picking up Mason, we headed home to make dinner and to get ready for bedtime. That's when it began. As Mason screamed and banged his spoon on his highchair tray, Bruiser stole a chicken strip off of Hunter's plate and proceeded to swallow it whole, though I didn't know that last detail at the time. I learned that detail after Bruiser threw up the damn chicken strip followed by the remaining contents in his stomach (this is pretty gross and it gets worse). I cleaned up the ickies the best I could and then finished cooking for Hunter and Mason. Because I'm trying to eat healthier, I opted to cook myself a can of lentil soup instead of consuming the yummy mac and cheese I was preparing for the boys. Not until I filled my bowl did I realize the mistake I had made. Just think about the Bruiser catastrophe that happened minutes earlier and then match that up with what I was spooning into my bowl. I decided to work through the nausea and set my bowl on the table. Now, Hunter has become extremely observant and vocal about his observations. He asked me if I was eating Bruiser's "stuff." I told him no but thought he made an interesting, albeit gross, observation.

Mason screamed through all of this of course and then during his bathtime I could hear squeaking down in the entryway. As I wrapped Mason in his bath towel and headed into the living room, I was surprised to find Bruiser lying on the floor of our entryway having a seizure. I raced Mason into the bedroom and threw his jammies on him so I could tend to Bruiser. As I was taking care of Bruiser, Hunter was screaming about wanting to go outside to play baseball. I told him that was no longer a possibility in light of Bruiser's health issues. Bad mom alert- I told Hunter to just go watch a movie so I could take care of Bruiser. Somehow, Hunter broke the DVD player. It has completely "frozen" up. I cannot get it to do anything- not even shut off.

I'm getting ready for round 2- bath for Hunter, snack for Hunter, bedtime for Hunter, and then I'm off for triathlon training. To follow that I need to grade some papers and try not to eat anything comforting or drink anything that might make me feel a bit better.

Spring Break.... not what it used to be

I have spent the last four days of this spring break painting my house. Going into the project, I knew I was taking on quite a job... I just didn't know really how big it was going actually be. It took me over twelve hour total to paint the bathroom purple and seven hours today to trim out the kitchen (and it's still not finished). I cannot imagine what Friday, last official day of break, has in store for me. Mitch will be home tomorrow and only time will tell whether or not that's a good thing or a bad thing. Sometimes we work completely fine with one another. Other times, not so much (understatement of the year). I plan to post some pictures after I finish this darn project.

Cute news for the boys- (the rest of this is so grammatically incorrect)

Hunter reminded me the other morning to recycle the cereal boxes. He sang "You are my sunshine" with me tonight during bedtime (my heart was melting, melting, melting). Hunter asked his father a recent morning ago for ten more minutes of sleep. Hunter turns five on April 29th. We have finally reached his birthday month. He's looking forward to wearing the birthday belt at karate! We've been waiting for this for MONTHS (literally).

Mason loves his "blankie"- also a new word for him. He chews on it and desires to have it wrapped around his neck in the morning while he's eating breakfast. My grandmother made the blanket and I was hoping to keep it as a treasure. I still do intend to keep the blanket always but it probably won't look or smell as nice as it could. Oh well, I find it quite cute that he loves that particular blankie so much. Mason also likes to pretend to talk on the phone. He knows how to get a diaper for himself and bring it to me for changing time. Mason is also a mad pointer and uses his pointing skills to get us to do his bidding. He's a natural salesman!

This is for you Kellie!

After reading the most recent post on "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beerholder," I felt compelled to follow directions- find the 6th pic folder and find the 6th pic- and here it is! I can't say that the photo scares me. I look kinda scary but oh well. I love the moment it captures. This is Hunter and I decorating Christmas cookies in December. We really enjoyed ourselves. Hunter was more into eating than decorating but he did a nice job of dumping sprinkles onto his plate and then dipping the cookie into frosting and then the sprinkles on the plate. I like that I'm wearing in this picture the Christmas gift I received from my husband- a 43 Palamalo jersey! Love it!

Spring Forward

You might not believe me but 18 month old children can actually growl. I couldn't believe the sounds Mason was making after we had to wake him this morning, one hour earlier than usual because of the spring forward time change! Both boys were beside themselves at the breakfast table. Hunter demanded that Mitch turn the lights out because they were hurting his eyes. He wanted the radio OFF! Mason cried in his high chair, and by cried, I literally mean growled. He was making the strangest little noises! :) Tonight Mason was in bed a little after six and Hunter around 7:30 p.m. I could tell Hunter was tired because his behavior was out of control- very aggressive and, dare I say it, a bit obnoxious :) ! I love my kids; I'm not a fan of this extra hour of sunlight yet. I'm just not sure it's worth all the commotion! :)

Two Boys With Ear Infections...Not for the faint of heart

If you read my last post, consider this an extension post where I confirm that Mason did in fact get sick. Both boys are currently being treated for ear infections- Hunter a double ear infection and Mason, one ear. I seem to really know how to predict these kinds of things! I should use my power to my advantage: I predict that my boys will, from tomorrow on, remain healthy for the rest of the school year! Let's see how that prediction goes!

I'm reading tonight- a Friday night- and Mitch is enjoying some beers with Wade across the street. Mitch was so excited at the prospect of some male bonding, he practically skipped! I'm so excited to enjoy some quiet and some reading for fun (rather than reading for work). I'm nearly finished with A Thousand Splendid Suns- it's really good!

I'm hoping that the weather is nice tomorrow so we can spend some time outside!

Untitled

So, yesterday I was thinking, hey, my children have been healthy for quite some time now. Ha ha ha. Daycare called today reporting Hunter's 101.3 fever. He will be home tomorrow. I plan to spend the day snuggling him up! I was always told to never share your good fortune out loud. I guess you're not even supposed to think it, as I now have one sick child and I'm sure another in the making.

On a more positive note, because we have absolutely no food in the house, we did decide to chance an outing this evening for our weekly, and quite official, family night. We ate dinner at Famous Dave's, which was a huge hit for both Hunter and Mason. Hunter was especially excited by the huge sink just standing there out in the open. He got his hands dirty JUST SO he could saunter on over to the public sink and wash his hands! Mason loved the huge wooden bear that greeted us at the entrance! He thought it was so funny!

Spa Day Sunday

In about three hours I will be heading to Life Time Fitness in Saint Louis Park for over three hours of pampering- haircut, facial (1 1/2 hours), and massage (1 hour). I think I will be "drunk" from all that me time!

The Thursday Plan

On Thursday, I will be reading to children and parents for Kindercare's Reading Night. I cannot decide what to read. Hunter's current favorites are Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car and How Do Dinosaurs Go to School. Should I read either of those? Should I read a tried and true classic? I'm so torn. This is a big deal. Hunter is super excited about this and told all of his teachers and all of his preschool friends that his mommy was coming to read to them. I have to make sure to do this right! Also, one of the other teachers told me that one of the other dads plans to dress up as Bob the Builder and read a Bob the Builder book. That's pretty cool, if you look at it from a five-year-old's perspective. How do I compete with that? Wow! Lots to think about!

Today, Hunter and Mason ran around wearing pants and no shirts! Hunter, in pure Mitch style, did a number of muscle man poses. Mason mimicked Hunter's moves! It was sooooo cute!

Last night we went bowling with my sister and her husband. It was a lot of fun and we were pleasantly surprised to see our friends Wade and Kelly and their friends arrive at the bowling alley as well and bowl alongside of us! It's been a long time since I've been out on a Friday night! I felt, dare I say it, carefree!

:) Happy Saturday!

A McDonalds Memory

I had a meeting after work today. In consequence, I picked the boys up fairly late- 5:30 p.m. Knowing my boys, I decided to head to the drive-thru window at McDonalds in order to avoid the screaming for food they usually do the second we arrive home. On our way there, I asked Hunter what he would like to order. Response: fries (of course) and chicken nuggets. I asked Hunter what we should order for Mason. Response: salad and turkey. I have a feeling that this is the start of an ongoing part of Hunter and Mason's relationship- Hunter will decide how he can mess with Mason. Today, case in point, give the little one the salad while he is forced to watch big brother gobble down greasy goodness. They both got chicken nuggets and fries. Yes, I can feel guilty. I'd be more inclined to call me wise, considering the meltdowns both boys have around this time of day. There is no way either of them would tolerate my attempts to warm something up, much less cook anything.

More Peas Please!

Right now Hunter is munching on some carrots. At dinner he refused to eat his peas and now has requested a brownie treat before bed. I told him he had to eat two carrots before I would even consider a bedtime snack. Mason on the other hand couldn't get enough peas tonight and I'm sure this indulgence will appear in some way shape or form in his diaper tomorrow. Let's hope daycare experiences the joy of seeing all that green poop.

Today I was feeling very much under the weather and so requested a half day sub so I could come home and sleep. Of course, in my world, sleep is difficult to come by. Not that I didn't try. I laid down, got all comfy and cozy, and then wham... I was alert and very much awake. So instead of sleeping, I did a little cleaning and TV watching and at least enjoyed a little bit of quiet.

Just a Quiet Little Saturday

This will tell you how old I am. Mitch and I went on a date last night. We ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and we saw "The Wrestler." We did have a nice time but GOING OUT IS HARD!!!!! You have to have fun and you have to engage in interesting conversation and you have to stay awake... all after a week's worth of work and working out and taking care of little boys who are much too heavy to pick up anymore (I hurt my back again earlier this week).

Which leads me to today, Saturday. We are doing NOTHING! We are not going anywhere and we are not doing anything. I plan to sit on the floor today and let the little ones climb all over me. My house is getting torn apart but I do not care. I will clean it when I feel like it. I have to pay bills, but again, I'll do it when I feel like it. I'm tired of this snowy weather but am thankful to be living in Minnesota and not North Dakota. My parents have been pounded this winter season. The drifts around their house are getting taller than their house and that is NOT an exaggeration. They do not anticipate this snow melting away any time soon. Yuck!

I'm hoping to do a little non-school reading today and tonight. I finally found a book that holds my interest for more than five minutes- A Thousand Splendid Suns (author of The Kite Runner). I also ordered three other books that I'm hoping to have some time for (ha ha): The Book Theif, So Brave, Young, and Handsome, and Going After Cacciato. An English teacher should read right? Lately all I've been reading is the stuff I assign to kids and I have literally read all of that about nine times before. I need something besides television to amuse me, though I have to say that "Lost" and "Top Chef" have been the bright spots of this dreadful winter!

Cute note about Hunter: He earned his second stripe on his green striped belt and his favorite new book is Five Little Monkeys Play Hide and Seek. I will be registering Hunter for kindergarten on Monday. He will be at Cornelia next year!

Cute note about Mason: His new word is "mine" and his loves Dinosaur books. He is also very into cars lately. He carries a car in each hand as he toddles through the house. He also knows how to get himself a diaper when we ask him to and he knows how to get his coat, all by himself, when we pick him up from daycare.

President's Day- No School

If you don't count the rest of this month, I have a little over three months left of the school year. I'm so excited for summer and am anxious to begin planning out what our days will be like... Hunter and Mason will be home with me full time this summer- no daycare at all. I plan to enroll Hunter in some kind of kids camp, perhaps through Lifetime. He will continue karate and will probably take swimming lessons. I think I'll get Mason into swimming lessons as well. I will also need to carve out some time in my day for training. I guess this is the summer I return to the Lifetime Fitness triathlon. I've started working out fairly consistently but am at a complete loss regarding how to approach training. My husband's friend Brian brought over some triathlon magazines last night which were helpful but also intimidating--- I guess training for this is a big deal :) ! I better get started. Yikes!

We had a pretty jam packed day today. Played cars on the kitchen floor, went to the club, visited with my sister, went to karate, made dinner, bathed the boys, and now need to start my schoolwork for tomorrow. I also hurt my back. I'm always hurting my back. I think it's from carrying Mason, who weighs around 30 pounds and is of no assistance to me when I'm carrying him. Solid weight! I took five ibuprofen. Not helping. I also need to do laundry and pay bills. Starting to feel overwhelmed! Better go!

Kellie, if you read this, I will be ready for Tuesday's kickboxing class!!!!!!! I'll be glad to have you as my partner! Last week was difficult!

Valentines Day Weekend- no gifts for me or Mitch

After today, it would be nice to say that I will have a three day respite from my job; however, I will be heading into EHS at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning after my workout (if I can get my butt out of bed) for an Images meeting. The students are now judging and selecting artwork for the publication, so Saturdays will now, in part, be set aside for work. Mitch and I have absolutely no Valentines day plans. Gone are the days when I care about being romanced on this particular day. That's not to say that I don't care every other day. We are simply postponing our plans for next weekend after all the hustle and bustle around V-day is over. My niece is going to babysit the boys next Friday night. Mitch and I might see a play/performance at the Guthrie. I feel like heading out for a theater experience.

A Gift for Valentines Day

I received wonderful new today! Hunter will be attending kindergarten at Cornelia Elementary School in Edina! A future hornet! I have been waiting on pins and needles for this news and received the call during my fifth hour. I could not mask my happiness (not that I should)! If we stay in the Twin Cities area, I will have the opportunity to someday see my little boy (future teenager) walk the halls of EHS. Wow!

We are readying ourselves for another signficant moment. The Valentines Day party tomorrow at Hunter and Mason's school. Hunter signed each and every Valentine and helped me organize the candy and valentines into little baggies. We wrapped Hunter's box in Spiderman wrapping paper. Hunter is convinced that this box is a birthday present and keeps reminding me that he is the "number five" (meaning he is five years old). I have to keep telling him that his birthday month is April and that while he is going to a party on Friday, it is a Valentines party and not a birthday party in his honor. He is convinced that I am wrong.

Mason fell today at school while playing outside on the playground and skinned up his cute little face. I guess he cried a little bit and then was ready for more play. I'm sure this is one incident of many more to come. I have found little boys to be quite rambunctious and very willing to take risks.

Mason's favorite new word is "book" which makes me very happy. He says it very well, adding extra emphasis to the K sound on the end. He is also very into carrying the remote around the house. He is completely happy just to carry it around. He is not into television, just remotes. He is also starting to fight back against his older brother. For some reason, Hunter follows Mason around and makes sure to poke him, touch his face, grab his hair, etc. at all times. Mason screams bloody murder in response. It's awesome :) !

Candy Land

I just threw away a Candy Land game because the board was ripped. I really think I need a vacation.

Just a quick update

This winter is dragging on and again, it is bitterly cold in good ol Minnesota. All I keep thinking is: March, march, march. At least by then we'll probably be through the worst of it.

Hunter earned his green striped belt at karate last week and was so excited to show me all of his new sparring equipment. Yes, they begin sparring and I'm really nervous about that. I guess we will see how that goes.

Mason has many new words, some of which include "book," "puppy," and "bath time" (he started saying the latter this evening). Very cute!

After reading student papers, what is there to say except....

hell!!!!!!!!! :)

We really had an enjoyable day. Mitch let me sleep in until 8:00 a.m. this morning, which provided me the opportunity to get some much needed rest. I have felt exhausted and just plan old "down and out" for about three weeks. We went to church which I always find to be helpful, no matter what. I get some alone time with Mitch and we get to just "be." We went to the carwash, which is great family fun (and I'm not kidding :) )! We went to DQ for lunch which was really fun. Mason tore his grilled cheese up himself and Hunter went to the counter following his main meal and ordered his ice cream sandwich all by himself. I'm really trying to give Hunter opportunities to advocate for himself, as I find this is such an important skill for kids to learn. I graded for three hours at Caribou and then we went to Best Buy where I followed Mason around the store as Mitch and Hunter shopped for Guitar Hero World Tour. I learned a lot about Best Buy by following Mason around. We ate spaghetti for dinner and I learned that Mason absolutely loves green beans and spaghetti. Bath time for the boys and then bed- Mitch read to Mason and I read to Hunter. Sounds like an uneventful day but for me it was balanced, fun, and productive!

All I Can Muster is a List

Things That are Good:
1. My mom traveled to the Twin Cities to take care of Mason. (I wanted to make sure Mason was good and healthy before returning to daycare, so thanks Mom!)
2. I get to drink a glass of wine tonight while watching Grey's Anatomy with my mom. And The Office, 30 Rock, Top Chef (last night), and perhaps Lost (again).....
3. I had a pretty good day with students. They were fairly pleasant even after I made them write for two hours straight during final exams.

Things That could be better:
1. I'm tired.
2. Essays and other things to grade are piling up around me like stacks of bricks. I'm starting to feel claustrophobic!
3. It's only January and I'm so sick of winter I could scream!

It's Snowing, We're Sick---and I'm sick of it!

I try, I really do, to remain positive but as I look out the window and notice the humongous snowflakes falling, I am not thinking "pretty." I'm thinking, "when is this ever going to end"...and it's only January! We've been battling illness for about 2 1/2 weeks now. Started with me and then made its way through our household, finally landing solidly in Mason's lungs. His RSV (Upper respiratory virus) test came back positive on Thursday, so I've been home with both kids since Thursday. Luckily, Mason's case is fairly mild in comparison to what some kids can get. He didn't struggle with breathing or anything like that, but did have a productive cough and a fever. Hunter also came home on Thursday with a fever. Other than that, he's doing well. The doctor I saw on Friday confirmed bronchitis for me, so I'm taking antibiotics now (since I've been sick for over two weeks).

Now as I read what I've written, I have to say, I'm quite the bundle of laughs!

We are looking forward to the Steelers game this afternoon. I'm baking BBQ Chicken drummies for dinner, which hopefully will be eaten willingly by my children.

Pumped for Kindergarten

On Tuesday evening, Mitch and I headed to Sheridan Hills Elementary School with Hunter and Mason for kindergarten orientation. Now, this was an experience because I think we all remember our time in kindergarten, and now here's my son preparing for his school-age years! Very emotional! Hunter was very excited about the idea of a new school and walked in with us quite willingly. He did get nervous once we were in. Because I completely dropped the ball on some of the forms I was supposed to complete (though I was by far not the only one), registration at the door was quite easy. We headed into the cafeteria where Hunter sat at the table and ate animal crackers and cut shapes with the new scissors the school gifted to each new student. Following that, we took Hunter to one of the classrooms where two of the teachers had activities planned for the kids while parents attended a meeting. Mitch had to leave with Mason shortly after because Mason was just not in the mood. I learned about the curriculum and volunteer opportunities, etc. I really felt like a grown up. I'm the mother of a child who will be a senior in high school before you know it. I think I'm going to cry. Anyway.... I digress.... The highlight of the evening was taking a bus ride with Hunter following the program. Words cannot describe his excitement! Now each morning he tells me that he wants to go to kindergarten today, on the bus of course. One of the things I love about being a parent is that my kids remind me that it's the little things, like a bus ride or eating animal crackers, that make life so special.

Untitled

So.... it's been awhile. I was under the weather all last week and am still not 100%. I have a sneaking suspicion I have mono but I am conveniently avoiding the doctor for fear of him confirming my suspicions. I finally made a committment to compete in a full triathlon this summer and have started making working out a priority (after five years of hit-or-miss workouts!). If I have mono, I know I would be out of commission for about six weeks. Not a good thing! Why mono do you ask? My throat is blazing and I feel beyond fatigued. Could just be that my life makes me tired. I'll opt on being dramatic for now :).

This past weekend Mitch and I went out two nights in a row! Yikes! Friday night tired me out completely- dinner and a movie. By the time the babysitter arrived on Saturday night, all I wanted was to change into my pajamas and watch cooking shows on the Food Network. Mitch had a work function in Eden Prairie. I knew no one so it was just perfect when Mitch completely disappeared without word. I had one of those high school moments where I had no one to talk to and felt completely beside myself. Such a great feeling! I finally found two other women to talk to. Turned out that they didn't know anyone either so I felt better after that. Even rocked out on two songs on Guitar Hero.

Yesterday my Steelers won! One more game and we're in the Super Bowl! Go #43!

You might be from Minnesota

I tell ya what (sound Minnesooootan?), I'm damn sick of this cold weather already. I included on this list those descriptors I find significant at this time of year!

Jeff Foxworthy on Minnesota :

If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights
Each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Minnesota.

If you know how to say...Wayzata...Mahtomedi.....Cloquet . Edina
...and Shakopee,
You might live in Minnesota.


If vacation means going "up north" for the weekend,
You might live in Minnesota.

You measure distance in hours,
You might live in Minnesota.

You know several people, who have hit deer more than once,
You might live in Minnesota.

You often switch from "Heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again,
You might live in Minnesota.

You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow
During a raging blizzard without flinching,
You might live in Minnesota.

You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events,
You might live in Minnesota.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked,
You might live in Minnesota.

You carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend knows how to use them,
You might live in Minnesota.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in Minnesota.

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in Minnesota.

You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and of course, road construction,
You might live in Minnesota.

If "Down South" to you means Iowa,
You might live in Minnesota.

You find -10 degrees "a little chilly",
You might live in Minnesota.

You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Minnesota friends.