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!