Free Stuff (that no one will take)

I now know where Hunter gets it- his persistence, insistence, stubborness, etc. Mitch! After weeks (months?) of talking incessantly about buying a new TV (and researching it and dropping constant hints about it) I finally broke down and said, "Whatever! Buy one!" He, of course, was already at the store when he called me to "ask" if he could buy it. Anyway, he now has a 50-inch flat screen plasma in what he has named his "Man Room." He moved the other clunker of a TV (huge, weighs a ton) out to the curb and posted an ad on Craig's List in their free stuff category. So many e-mails later from people promising to come pick it up, it still sits on our curb making our house look very classy. Why will no one take our free stuff? Rewind to the Dining Room Table debacle of this past summer. Someone came and picked it up and then brought the damn thing back. Seriously. Anyone else could put a pile of newspapers out on their curb and someone would be there in an instant, probably fighting off hundreds of others who are just desperate for some old paper. Now we are going to have to pay our waste collecting company to pick up the TV- forty-five bucks. I wonder what would happen if I posted this ad on Craigslist- "We will pay YOU to pick up this TV"? I really think it would continue to sit. That's just the way things go for our free treasures!

Merry Christmas and All That Jazz

Hi, my name is Bethany, and it's been nearly two months since my last post. Why so long? Well, I have two small children who really don't give me a lot of free time to work with. Even now, Mason is doing cannonball jumps off the computer chair I'm sitting on in our office. Things go terribly awry when I'm not paying attention to them.

So here goes a quick update:

1. I ran the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Half-marathon. Very little training this time= no injuries and a very solid run. People ask my official time. Officially they clocked me at 2:32. I have to say though that I waited in a portapotty (spelling?) line for 10 minutes and then had to stop a couple times so Jodi could fix her race number (2-3 minutes total probably). We ran the entire 13.1 and if you subtract all the wait time, etc. I'd say we officially ran it in 2:20 or less, which is consistent with what we typically run that distance in. The trip overall was quite fun. I would do it again, though I'd say that being gone for four days was hard on the boys and did me no favors professionally.

2. According to our measurements, Hunter grew a 1/2 inch in 10 days. Mason grew a 1/4 inch in 10 days. They eat constantly and I guess it's not just "eating out of boredom." They eat because they are growing like weeds (cliche yes, but so very true).

3. Mitch purchased a 50 inch TV for what he's calling the "man" room downstairs. If you want a free TV, you're welcome to our old one. It's quite large. You will need to find transport for it. But again, it's FREE!

4. My sister Shannon welcomed a baby boy on December 13th! Welcome Chanceler James! Sarah will welcome a baby boy in April. I'm done having kids (why I'm choosing to share that, I'm not sure).

5. I'm tired of training for things. What does 2011 hold for me regarding races: don't know. Shorter races. Maybe a marathon. Can you see the inconsistencies in this item?

6. I'm tired of teaching- burned out right now. I want to go to culinary school.

I guess the theme of this entry is: TIRED!

Argh, etc.

Mason does the best imitation of a pirate. The best part is how his chubby little cheek crunches up when he shuts one of his eyes.

Hunter has a double-dutch jumproping talent!

Mason and Hunter now demand what they've termed "Family Read." We cuddle up in Hunter's bed at bedtime--mommy in the middle, of course--and read all sorts of good books. We are currently reading Halloween-themed literature :)

Mason will be Superman this Halloween. Hunter is Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Mommy made her first presentation to the School Board after eleven years working in the district. I can now mark that off my Life's To-Do list.

Mommy finished her second half-marathon yesterday. This year's race tally- 6. The goal was 10 in 10, but various injuries have gotten into the way.

Hunter's artwork is on disply at the District office. I'm so proud!

Mason's cute new saying- "I don't live here." He says that everytime we visit a new place.

Hunter LOVES "Iron Chef America." His favorite chef: Michael Symon. Hunter really wants me to sign him up for some cooking classes.

Mason can sing the following songs- "A B C D's" (Mason includes the D's when he requests that particular song), "Twinkle Twinkle," "Baby Mine" (He has created his own lyrics- "Baby mine stay alive"), and a Duffy song (I guess he listens when I'm cleaning dishes in the evening)

Steelers are doing awesome this year! Go D!

Family Pic 2010

Here is a recent photo of our family, taken at Mason's birthday party on October 2nd:

A Wonderful Autumn Day in the City

While Mitch is away, mommy and the boys will play! Here is a list that details out Super-fun and super-tiring Saturday:
1. Wild Rumpus Books in Linden Hills: They have live chickens running around the store. While I would have been happy to curl up with a good book, the boys were much happier chasing the poor chicken through the store.
2. Rose gardens at Lake Harriet: This was the boys' idea. We parked by the gardens and they thought it would be the perfect place to run! They were right. The picture above is at a fountain in the rose garden.
3. Brueggers Bagels for Lunch: The boys ate cinnamon sugar bagels and I ate a breakfast sandwich and enjoyed a pumpkin spice coffee. You may not think cinnamon sugar makes for a good lunch, but my boys would beg to differ.
4. Lake Harriet Park: Lots of running and climbing and sliding and reminders about treats. Each boy was rewarded with an ice cream treat. Mason's was so messy I finally couldn't take it anymore and took it away from him. Bad mommy, I know. But we all have our moments.
5. Life Time Fitness: After all that fun, I needed a little quiet time. The only place I can get it is LTF. I can check the boys into the Kid Center and get my workout on. The boys got even more exercise there and were looking pretty rosy-cheeked and tired on the way home.
6. The boys set up a "Wipeout" inspired obstacle course in our living room. Cushions and pillows off the couch. Lots of jumping, falling, flying through the air, etc.

Summer 2010: an overview

Summer 2010 is starting to come to an end. I will be spending Monday and Tuesday of this week training student writing coaches to work in the writing center. I officially head back to work on Monday, August 30th for the start of workshop week. This summer has been incredibly fun--and very busy. I think the one downside of summer is how often I have to clean my house because we're doing what you're meant to do in a house- LIVE. I think if I could spend the day with my boys in someone else's house, I'd be all good.

I'd like to share with you some of the highlights of our summer:

1. The summer was event-full. Mitch competed in a number of mountain bike races, many of which he won first. I competed in two triathlons and one 5K during the summer months. I won nothing, except an increased level of fitness (which is disapearing because of an achilles tendon injury). Mitch and I do love to participate in these events though. I love the atmosphere and comraderie. He loves winning.

2. The summer was active. I took the boys to a number of parks and pools this summer. I think our favorite pool is the LTF Savage pool. While it lacks the pizzazz of the Edina Pool, it's more fun for swimming, relaxing, and socializing. Mason recently realized the joys of lifejackets and floaties and now insists that he swim by himself. He is gleeful as he spins and moves through the water. And he loves to jump in (as long as someone is holding his hands). Hunter took one session of swimming lessons this summer and is slowly learning to swim. Yesterday we practiced and he was able to swim a much greater length than he has been doing. He has no fear of the water, however (at least when we're just playing at the pool). He jumps in and goes underwater if he knows he can touch the bottom. Some other parks we enjoyed: Bryant Lake, St. Louis Park's Splash Pad, the Apple Valley park comparable to the Splash Pad, Washburn Elementary's play park (which Hunter named the Wishy-Washy park), and numerous others in the surrounding area.

3. The summer was memorable. We took three family vacations this summer, one more memorable than any other. Our first was to Red Wing. Now, that might not sound like a vacation, but it was for us-- because we stayed in a hotel and played in a pool and ate out at restaurants and watched Mitch compete in a mountain bike race. Our second was to my parents' place in N.D. I drove by myself with the boys to Beulah, which is eight hours west of where we live. Hunter is a champion traveler. Mason- not so much. We did, however, have a great time visiting. We spent a couple nights with my sister and her family in Bismarck and stayed a few nights with my parents in Beulah. My father took the boys fishing. We went to the pool. Our third and final (and best) vacation was to Wisconsin Dells where we stayed at the Wilderness Resort. This vacation deserves a blogpost all its own (coming soon).

4. The summer was water-parky. (Wisconsin Dells post coming soon!)

5. The summer was color-full. With paint. Since we moved into our home, over six years ago, we have been making improvements- slowly but surely. This summer has been devoted to making better use of all the space we have. Our house isn't enormous but I'd like to think we have a pretty good amount of space. So, we decided to finally give Mason a big-boy room and a big-boy bed. We moved him downstairs with Hunter. So the guest room (which is only used a few times a year) became Batman's bedroom. Mason's old room became the new home office/guest bedroom, which increased the amount of space we have in our basement and our kitchen (which is where we were keeping our computer). Now we're using two more rooms in the house that typically go unused and have more space in others. Now we're looking at our bedroom as the next room to paint, but I'm perplexed by color. I don't know. We just painted our office Eqyptian Green (what makes it Egyptian is a mystery) and Cottage white. Mason's bedroom is blue and blue (two different kinds). Hunter's room is blue. Our bathroom is purple. Our kitchen is blue. Cottage white is everywhere. I don't want to paint the room yellow. So what does that leave me? Perplexed I tell you!

6. The summer was brain-stimulating. Hunter took a three week reading class at Cornelia. We made many trips to the library and picked out some very fun books. I think Hunter's favorite is "Super Hero School." We also got some encyclopedia's focused on the U.S. Presidents. Hunter is fascinated by the presidents but wasn't real interested in knowing much more than their names, what number they were, and if they were still alive. Mason pretty much follows Hunter's lead and loves books about super heroes and the like. If you didn't know, his favorite character is Batman, so we checked out some books that are all words and no pictures. There aren't many Toddler Batman books.

Well, I'm tired, so that's all for now. I'll add more as I think of more. Sorry about all the parentheses. A stylistic choice that's often overused. Count em. I overused them!

Welcome to the Batcave

We decided it's finally time to let our little Batman grow up. It all started by emptying the guest room closet of all the clothes I've been saving for the last six years. Then we moved everything out, including the Queen size bed (now sitting against our treadmill). We painted the cave in Batman colors- light blue, dark blue. We ordered a pretty cool wall decal and a new comforter. My sister-in-law gave us a twin bed (so no more crib- which in some ways is liberating and in other ways sad). We moved everything out of Mason's old room, which was once Hunter's room and will be the new office. While Mason's batcave is still a work in progress, he's very pleased with the results.

Now I have to start working on the office. So much to do before I go back to work.

Don't Shake it

Mason found me out! Because he is such a juice-"diva" (what is the masculine equivalent for "diva"?), I secretly add water to his juice so he's not taking in too many liquid calories. Well, for the last few days, this has been a conversation happening in our household:

"Mommy, I want some ja."

"Mason, say all your words."

"Mommy, I want some juice."

"What's the magic word?"

"Ple-ease..... and don't shake it mommy, okay? Don't shake my juice, okay?"

So, he saw me shake the juice/water to mix it together and now knows that I've been depriving him of the full juice experience!

My Little Fisherman

A Trip Down Memory Lane

This little boy was made possible because two people decided to enroll in the same speech class in this building in 1997.

Last weekend, Mitch and I divided things up a bit. Hunter traveled with me to Fargo for my sister's 30th birthday and Mason stayed home with Mitch, but had the opportunity to attend his mountain bike race in Elk River and see his Auntie Steph and cousins, Grace, Emma, and Ava. On the Sunday before we left Fargo, we went over to visit Moorhead State's campus (now Minnesota State University at Moorhead, but wasn't for me). Being there made me yearn for the good ol' days. If I could just go back for a week that would be great.

Mitch and I had a lot of fun in college and did the things kids typically do in college. I probably wouldn't have the energy for even a night of it now. But it's fun to think about nonetheless! :)

Get me to the Ho and Tel (Hunter and Mason)

I thought I should devote an entry to the darn things my boys say and do that are worth remembering years from now:

When we took Hunter and Mason to Red Wing, Hunter asked if we would be staying in a "Show and Tell." Before we even had a chance to respond, he said, "Oh wait, I said that wrong. Are we staying in a ho and tel?" Love it.

Mason and Hunter like to replace words in songs. One of their favorites is Lady Antebellum's "Need you now." Instead of "And I wonder if I ever cross your mind," they say, "And I wonder if I ever cross your butt." Oh "butt." That is one of their favorite words. Just uttering the word makes them break out into hysterical laughter. Their favorite words: butt, poop, poopy, pee, Anakin, Obi-Obi-Obi, etc. So bathroom humor and Star Wars is our world.

Mason likes to say only the first half of words now. I don't know if I can replicate it in print, but here goes: "I want to watch a sha" (show), "I want some ja" (juice), "I want a sna" (snack). You can probably also tell them my boys make thousands of demands each and every day.

During our niece Emma's birthday party, Mason spotted a DVD on the floor and with no help from us called out "New Moon!" "But that's not our New Moon."

Mason's new favorite word and question: "Why?" You can have pretty deep conversations by simply saying that one word.

Speaking of deep conversations.... Hunter has started to ask a lot of questions about Mitch's father, who passed away in June 2003. He is struggling to understand the concept of death and remarriage and everything else that goes along with that. On the night we spent with the boys in Red Wing, Hunter and I hung out at the pool while Mitch and Mason headed back to our room. Hunter asked many questions about Papa Roger and came to this conclusion: "Jesus is helping Papa Roger come back." I was very moved by his questions and thoughts.

Hunter completed a full two week session of swimming lessons. And he did it all for "Smash Brothers," a Nintendo Wii game. He was so frightened of the water at first. He told me he didn't want to get his eyes wet. When I told him to just close his eyes, everything turned around. Now he jumps into the pool no problem. Goes under water. He spent about six hours in the pool the other day. He has one heck of a tan!

More to come (when I can think of them.... I need to write this stuff down when it happens so I don't have to rely on my flawed memory)

The Dreaded Moment

It happened this morning- June 28th, 2010- after swimming lessons. Hunter has been pleading with me to buy him "Smash Brothers" which is some kind of Super Mario Brothers game for Wii. The game costs fifty dollars and I had fantasized about Hunter earning the money to buy the game by doing little chores around the house. That will honestly take forever, even on the dollar-a-day allowance. So... I told Hunter that if he worked really hard at swimming lessons (10 total lessons), I would buy the game for him because he worked so hard. Well, 10 lessons in Hunter's mind isn't what 10 lessons is in mine. Somehow he had decided that if he completed one full lesson, he would be playing "Smash Brothers" within the hour. Not so, however. I told him again, "Nope, Hunter. Ten lessons. Then I will buy Smash Brothers." We went back and forth like this for a good ten minutes. I finally had it and told him that if he wouldn't stop complaining, I would just say NO to the whole thing.

Then he said it.

It broke my heart.

"I don't want to live with you anymore. I'm going to a new house." (So, it wasn't the teenage "I hate you" yet, but still... it burned)

My response: "I don't want you to go. I love you. I would be sad without you."

Hunter: "I don't want to live in your house. I'm going to live at Hudson's house."

We went back and forth like this for a few minutes. When we got home I asked Hunter what his plan was. We were in the garage at this point.

"I'm going to Hudson's."

Me: "How will you get there."

Hunter: "I'll drive."

Me: "Okay. I'll see you later then. I love you. I'll miss you."

I walked into the house and shut the down.

Hunter stood out in the driveway for maybe two minutes before he came in and said:

"But I don't know how to get there. You need to take me."

Me: "No, I can't. It's too long of a drive. You'll need to drive yourself."

Silence. We went back and forth a couple more times, Hunter insisting I drive him eight hours to Hudson's house and me telling him it was an impossibility.

More silence.

Finally, Hunter said, "Oh, I'm sorry Mom. I want to be with you. I'm sorry I said that."

All is well again!

I'm sure we'll go through this again tomorrow after our second swimming lesson. One down. Nine more to go.

Tornado Drill

We had one helluva storm last night. Thankfully no tornadoes but my flowers were basically ripped apart. One minute I was letting Bruiser out into the backyard; the next, I was racing outside to collect the darn dog as sirens blared. We moved the boys into the basement bathroom. Without our instructing him to do so, Hunter immediately moved into that crouched position we all learned in elementary school. He told Mason to do the same and became quite agitated when Mason completely ignored him. I could tell that Hunter was extremely frightened, even though he hardly spoke. Mason was more concerned that the power was out- not because he's afraid of the dark but because we were just prepping to watch "Bolt" on DVD. We were without power for over three hours. I hate to admit it, but it was brutal. No TV; no music; no computer; JUST TALKING! :) I did read to Hunter by flashlight. We were able to get the boys to bed despite the lack of light (they both require nightlights to sleep). After the boys went to bed, Mitch and I sat on the couch and drank some Miller Lite and discussed how/why men and women are so different. We so don't see eye-to-eye on some things. Anyway... when the lights finally came back on, Mitch and I both breathed a sigh of relief. Don't get me wrong- we do love to talk to one another and spend time together but if you take the option of TV/Computer - "quality time" can feel downright torturous!

A Bug's Life (a Mason-focused entry)

While this isn't a new development in our son's life, I think it's worth mentioning that Mason possesses an intense fascination for bugs. This has actually helped my fear of bugs diminish. No use passing on my fear. I might as well embrace it. Anyway. Mason absolutely loves bugs; so much so that he will lay right down on the ground and stare at them. Ants. Junebugs. Grasshoppers. Spiders. Worms. He stares at them. He talks to them. Picks them up between his fingers. Shows them to people. And then stomps on them.

If you want to capture his attention, all you have to do is mutter this four-letter-word: "Bugs."

Other things I'd like to share about Mason today:

He is an expert on chocolate milk and all things sweet.

He won't eat anything (please do not disregard the first point)

He loves to chatter and has a very large vocabulary

He believes he IS Batman (After one of the daycare teachers tried to talk him into using the "big boy" potty by telling him that Batman doesn't wear diapers, he proved her wrong. He went up to her shortly after, dirty diaper and all, and said "Miss Kimmy, Batman pooped)

He loves to play; he has always been very good at playing on his own but has recently starting asking people to play with him. "Do you want to play with me Mommy?" He proceeds to take my hand and lead me where he wants me to go.

He loves the song "Itsy bitsy spider" (lover of bugs I tell you)

When I put him in a time out, he starts yelling "I love you Mommy! I love you!"

He is incredibly strong and has started tackling his brother right back.

He calls our two twin neighbor boys by one name "Carter Dylan."

He is not a fan of shirts. Last night he insisted that he wear his pajama bottoms but no shirt. A little man in the making!

Wordless Wednesday

Metaphorically speaking

Damn that Leona Lewis who had to go and title one of her songs, "Bleeding in Love." The other day when I was driving Mason to school, that song came on. I wish I could say I was listening to NPR or something scholarly. I have to admit that I had the radio tuned to KDWB. Well, Hunter was along for the ride and heard the song and, utterly perplexed, asked me, "Mom, why is she bleeding? Did she get cut? Does she have an owie*?" I tried to explain that she felt so sad that she felt like she was bleeding but I really don't think that answer satisfied him. I teach high school English and I spend most of the year helping high school students understand non-literal, figurative language. Most of them don't even get it.

Another example- today I was listening to Vanilla Ice. I'm not going to try to explain myself- it's bad, I know. Hunter's response to the song: "What's this song about? Is the baby made of ice?" As I ummed and awed*, he came to a conclusion: "Oh, wait a minute Mom, I get it. The baby is blue. I got it." I thought that was a pretty good explanation because I realized that I don't even know what "Ice Ice Baby" is about.

*I realized in writing this entry that I don't know how to spell owie or awed (ahed). Add that to the list of words I cannot spell, which includes popsycle/popcycle/popsicle. Yes, I teach English. Even though it's a popular belief, we can't explain every grammatical rule and we can't spell every word in the English language. At least, I can't.

Our Kindergarten Graduate

It was soccer all along

Our first night of soccer was Thursday. I agonized a bit during the day, worrying that Hunter might refuse to play. You see, other activities I have ever signed him up for haven't gone the best. Case in point- Cherub choir (we dropped out), swimming lessons (haven't done it in about four years), karate (um.... it was stressful), vacation bible school, etc. I could run through all of the reasons why I think those activities didn't go very well but I don't have the energy.

What I do have the energy for- telling you about how much Hunter absolutely loved soccer! Hunter knew as we headed into the evening that two of his schoolmates were going to play on his team- the Patriots. He changed into his uniform all by himself. Compare that to changing into his karate gear. Like night and day. Anyway.... Mitch helped Hunter with his shin guards. They're tricky, especially for those of us not well versed in the art of soccer. We took a number of pictures before we left. And I even remembered to pack diapers and wipes for Mason and water and snacks for both boys. I'm typically not that on top of things :).

The soccer time was divided up into 30 minutes of practice/drills and 30 minutes of play/game. Our first opponent- the Buccaneers. They won. While they don't really keep score, the other team scored on us about five times in comparison to our one or two goals. Hunter worked so hard on the field and showed really good instincts regarding the goal. He had a number of really good kicks. He was hesitant to get in front of an opponent who was kicking downfield. On the sidelines, Hunter cheered with gusto. He and some other little guys were chanting, "Patriots. Patriots." When we got into the car after the game, Hunter said, "I want to play soccer again next week." My heart was bursting with joy. It was the perfect way to celebrate our ten-year anniversary. We went out for ice cream after the game.

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday Hunter

My cellphone calendar alarm starting ringing at 3 a.m. this morning! "Happy Birthday Hunter" glowed from the screen and I remembered inputting that information sometime in the recent past. Hunter crawled into bed with us this morning at 6 a.m. and I was immediately reminded of the moment he entered our world! He is growing up so fast that his pants are too short and his t-shirts are too small. Mitch measured him against our doorframe this morning and he is about two inches taller than he was last year at this time. This morning at breakfast he quizzed me- "Mom, do you know what 100 plus 10 is?" "Mom, this is a hard one. Do you know what 50 plus 50 is?" He got himself ready for school this morning. He wore his brand new Yoda t-shirt, given to him yesterday. I'm going to eat lunch with him at his school today. I'm going to go buy him a cake for later tonight. We celebrated his birthday this past weekend with my family and some of our friends.

What I want to say about my son on his 6th birthday:
He has, by far, the best laugh of any little boy I know. When he laughs he glows!
He is crazy good at the monkey bars
In my world, he is a math whiz :)
He loves "The Princess Bride."
He cares if he hurts my feelings, as he kind of did yesterday when he said he didn't like the present I bough him. When he realized he hurt my feelings, he started saying things like, "Wow! This is great!" "Look mom, this is COOL!"

My heart is FOREVER tangled up with his!

I love you my son!

"Bad Day" song lyrics insert here

This has been the hardest week I've endured in my professional career since my first year teaching. You'd know it to look at me too. Tonight as I stood in line at Target balancing a salad and cheetos (that's the combo I was craving) on top of a case of diapers and reminding Hunter to just chill out, I couldn't help but compare myself to the super-trendy and cute woman standing in front of me. She looked fit, tan, and was dressed to impress. She did not have a hair out of place. I looked at her shoes- leopard print pumps- and thought- "I'm just wrong." My hair had that static fabulous thing going on and my clothes were just not right on my body- I felt like that alien on "Men in Black" that stuffs his massive self into the skin of another person. I had no color in my cheeks and my eyes were "I cried a lot today" puffy.

At least I have the weekend to gain some perspective and somehow get "this" situation(referencing myself from head to foot) under control! Take Care!

Let's Talk about Teeth (a Hunter-focused entry)

Last night as I left the theater with my two neighbor friends, Kellie and Jessica, I checked my cell phone for messages from Mitch. If you don't know, everytime I leave the house for an extended length of time (two hours or more), my husband bombards me with picture messages and text messages and sometimes a phone call or two. Last night I received two picture messages and one text. Description to follow:

Picture Message #1: Hunter and Mason standing patiently at McDonalds- waiting like angels for their food and Star Wars toys. This might have been Mitch's reminder to me that he is "Super Dad" and can control our boys when in public. "Super Dad" is not in quotes because I'm being sarcastic. Mitch gleefully calls himself this anytime he does anything with our kids :).

Picture Message #2: Hunter, Mason, Carter, and Dylan showing off their muscles. No shirts! My boys have taken to de-shirting and running around the house shouting to the world how big and strong they are. This started a couple weeks ago. Watching "New Moon" yesterday only inspired them further. Yes, my boys saw "New Moon." It's actually pretty tame. You know, I guess I realize that I won't be taking any Mom-of-the-Year awards home for letting them watch "New Moon." It is what it is. I don't think it will hurt them if that makes it any better. If it does, I'll blame Mitch- he's the one who wanted to see it actually :)

Text Message: Hunter has a loose tooth!

Ahhhhh! My son is officially turning into a big kid. From my perspective, he just grew those darn baby teeth. And now they're just going to fall out? Also, I remember those adult teeth coming in- they oftentimes aren't pretty at first! We're in for a couple years of school pictures of toothless smiles! And just when Hunter is done losing teeth, Mason will start losing his.

"Sure" (A Mason focused entry)

Mason is a little man! His new thing is to respond with "sure" not "yes." This might not sound like a big deal but it is. "Sure" is kid-talk. Kid. He's growing up and in so many ways it's exciting and in others, frightening. Mason's first two years have already been a blur and now he's responding with "sure." I wish you could hear him say it- I absolutely melt when he says it.

Mason is a chocolate milk monster if there ever was one. I was such a good mommy with Hunter and didn't venture into the world of chocolate milk with him until after Mason was born. Even then it was never the norm because it made his tummy hurt. This does not hold true for Mason. When I ask Mason in the morning what he'd like to eat, he says "choco milk." When I tell him that's his drink and ask him what he'd like to eat, again "choco milk." Chocolate milk is sometimes a cure-all and it's sometimes our biggest nightmare, especially when we run out or when we realize he probably should not have a diet that is based solely on the scrumptious stuff and we try to hold our ground (hysterical laughter about that last one). I struggle with Mason and eating. He really doesn't eat anything and I know that's typical of the age, but it's disconcerting nonetheless. Eat something Mason, please!!!!!


Mason is still the best snuggler in the house. He loves to be held. He loves to be close. Tonight I just laid down on the floor and let him climb all over me. Sometimes I think that's what my boys need most- their parents on the floor willing to be jungle gyms for a good hour or so. They have so much fun and I find that my spirit is rejuvenated as a result. I know I sometimes complain about how hard things are but when it comes down to it, I know I'm incredibly blessed. My boys bring me peace and joy. They are what truly matters!

"Check it off, Mom." (A Hunter-focused post)

I spent a little over an hour in Hunter's classroom this past Wednesday for kindergarten hour. It was fun spending that time with him. He showed me his portfolio and journal. Most of his journal entries focused on his daddy and love for Super Mario Brothers. His teacher told me that reading is starting to click for him and that math is a strength. Hunter was very proud of his symmetrical drawings and read me two books (very fast). We were also given a list of "things to do" while we were together in the classroom. The activity turned into, at least for Hunter and me, a game of "check it off, Mom," which confirmed (if there was ever any question) that Hunter is a truly Mitch's son :)! He is Mitch's clone! We would spent about one minute on a task before Hunter decided we were finished. "Check it off, Mom. What's next?" Next activity. About a minute of fun. "Check it off, Mom." Kindergarten hour ended with Hunter showing off his computer skills and telling the other kids how it's done! When it was another child's turn, Hunter was right there giving support and feedback. Mostly feedback and instructions.

Good news since last time- we visited McDonald's yesterday. Things went much better. Hunter ordered his own food and behaved like a perfect angel. We were a picture perfect scene of familial happiness :)

The Honest Truth

Being a parent is difficult. Look at my previous post and you'll see I was unable to muster the energy to explain the play-by-play that led to my dragging my oldest son out of McDonalds by his coat. I will say- I had no other option. What is a mother to do when she's trying to safely get two children across the parking lot and into the car? I will also say- I was able to hold it together during my child's entire temper tantrum. Anyone watching, though, would've said I had also lost my mind. Picture this: a woman laughing as she's wrestling with a fifty pound boy in the parking lot and also trying to keep the two-year-old from running headlong into a moving vehicle. As I was laughing, here is what I was thinking: "This is my life.... yes, this is my life." And I love my life and I love my children but I will shout from the rooftops that there is nothing easy about raising children. I guess there is one easy thing- loving them. The rest of it is hard.

Breaking News: Kindergartener Loses Mind at McDonalds; Mother has to Drag Him Out by His Coat While Stunned Brother Looks On

It was awesome

Hey, I Thought Books Had All the Answers

This morning, in an effort to teach Hunter to love his brother and treat him with respect, referenced The Chronicles of Narnia during a displine session. "Hunter, remember, Peter (from C of N) is the oldest brother and his job is to protect his brother and sisters, right?" Bright blue eyes stare at me, unblinking. "Hunter, you're the oldest. You should act like Peter and protect your brother, love him, be nice to him." Hunter ponders this for about a milisecond and then gives me a self-assured and mischievous smile. "No." That was his answer.

Finally started....

It's amazing how long it takes to get in shape and how quickly you can lose all that hard work! Until Christmas, I was working out fairly regularly but when Christmas hit, something snapped and I just all out quit. Looking forward to what this year has in store, I feel like I need to get back on the wagon. Last week was the first week I really worked it! :) Walking on the treadmill Sunday and Monday (some running), spin on Wednesday followed by a run, and then an outside run on Thursday (about four miles or so). The good news: I have immediately noticed a difference in how my clothes feel and fit on my body! The not so good news: I guess I have to keep it up. In a couple weeks I may participate in a spin class that is dead set on setting a world record! I think the goal is 2000 people for 2 hours or something like that. I will probably do one full-distance triathlon. I will definitely run the 10 mile (women run the cities) and perhaps the 1/2 marathon- Monster Dash. My friend Jodi and I might top off the year with a trip to Vegas in December for the Rock-n-Roll marathon. It sounds like I'm really committing myself, huh!?

Poop Rangers and Other Things

Hunter and Mason were playing in the bathtub last night. They each had a wash cloth stuck to their chests and somehow that meant they were "poop rangers."

Hunter and I have been playing "Go Fish" each evening.

Last night Mason gave me his first unsolicited "I love you."

Mason realized a few nights ago that his mommy has "two bellies." Can you figure out what I mean there? The two bellies are above the one belly I have in reality!
He told me he thinks I'm "funny" because of my "two bellies."

Valentines Day is approaching- Hunter is handing out Star Wars valentines. Mason is handing out Batman valentines.

I read to Hunter's kindergarten class last Friday. I read "What Pet to Get." How are kindergarteners different from high schoolers you ask? They smile, they raise their hands, they ask questions, they answer questions, they like you without you having to really try, etc. I love kindergarteners!

I spoke with Hunter's principal last week..... Yes- he has now been sent to the principal's office. Crossing fingers. Prayer sent up to heaven! Please God, let all be well! :)

Mason is the best end-of-the-day greeter! He barrels into me when I arrive at daycare. He gives the best hugs.

Hunter is my pal. We read stories together every night. Right now we're enjoying YOU CAN READ Chronicles of Narnia books. I remember being enchanted by those books.

Super Bowl Party 2010- 4 little tykes running around wreaking havoc! It will be fun to see what summer 2010 brings. I suspect the four boys will be great friends and bring out the absolute best in one another (mischief). They are also looking forward to welcoming another little bundle into the group in July!!!!! (Hey Kellie and Wade!).

LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING! (sending another prayer up right now!)

Hunter and Daddy's Day of Fun- Q and A with Hunter Mohs

I'm typing what Hunter tells me to type:

What did you and Daddy do today? We played bowling and golfing

What was your favorite part? To bowl

What else did you do today? I played kindergarten class.

What did you do at kinderg--- Hunter cut me off with an "I'm done." He walked away.

The Mohs Family Needs Spring

We want to run and play outside! We want the windows open! We are sick of winter coats, boots, hats, gloves, etc. We want to go swimming! We want to hear birds singing! We want to see green grass instead of white snow! We want to play at the "cool stairs" park! We want to play at "Bryant Lake Park." We want to ride our bikes and write on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. We want to sit around a bonfire with our friends and listen to "Like a Boss" (more my husband and me than my two kids). We want to go to the Farmers Market and buy yummy produce. We want time off from work/school. We (more I) want to go on long walks again!

This is really all I'm thinking about tonight! I just really want these next two months of winter to melt away!

Put my foot in my mouth

While I was completely within my right to react, I probably should have counted to ten and taken three deep breaths. Mitch e-mailed me at work today with the grand news that he is working both Saturday and Sunday...ALL DAY! After I read his e-mail, I scrolled down and read the message that his boss had sent to Mitch's team. At the end of his e-mail was a line that read something like this: "Feel free to forward on to your friends and family that you are busy this weekend." RAGE boiled within my chest. I quickly zapped off an e-mail to Mitch that read something like this: "Since _____ encouraged you to forward his e-mail onto friends and family, feel free to send him my response...." The ..... I'll leave to your imagination. I really didn't say anything too bad, but I think I made my point. Anyway, shortly after sending off that e-mail, Mitch's boss e-mailed me at work with his apologies. Of course, I felt quite the ASSHOLE but also pleased with myself. I am currently in the midst of grading around 200 essays (all of which need to be graded by end of the day Monday). I am currently taking care of/raising two little boys and oftentimes go it alone. I am tired of my husband's job dictating how our family life functions. Will my sarcastic e-mail to his boss change anything, probably not...but at least he knows that I know that this is TRULY RIDICULOUS!

Go Vikings

After weeks of battling a neighborhood thief over the Christmas gifts he had cruelly stolen, Mitch finally has his two Vikings jerseys- one is a Favre (Brett Favre!) and the other is a Harvin- just in time for the NFC championship game!

Weekend Resolutions:

To make a new recipe. Here is what I've chosen:

Croque Monsieur from Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten (my favorite food network personality). They look and sound like grilled cheese sandwiches but seem a little fancier. I'll need to make a trip to Lunds. I haven't ventured there since Christmas.

To see a movie with my husband, though this might be an impossibility because our little Mason man is home sick. We are heading to the doctor at 2:30 p.m. today. I have been wanting to see "Up in the Air" forever! I guess I'll have to wait a little bit longer to get my Clooney fix.

To workout at least once. I have to admit that after last year (all that training and all those events), I've grown a bit tired. The thought of doing it all again sounds really hard (inside I'm screaming "I don't want to" and stamping my foot like a child)... Sigh.

To devote my undivided attention to my two boys for a chunk of time. I am oftentimes so distracted by everything I HAVE to do that I forget about the things that I luckily GET to do. They are two really cool boys.

To grade at least 10 blue book essays. So I guess I'm resolving to torture myself for at least two hours sometime this weekend!

Cheers!

Misc. Hunter

Hunter is very into Super Mario Brothers on the Wii gaming system. We do, however, have our own system in place. He has to earn five stars to play the game. How does he earn the stars you ask? I need a "good" report from his kindergarten teacher. So far this week he has earned two stars and it's Tuesday. So far, we're having a good week. Funny thing though... On Monday, his teacher told me, "Hunter had a WONDERFUL day." In the car, Hunter shared, "I got just a little bit naughty. I got silly and ran all over!" Too cute! He was so excited to return to school on Monday! I agree with Mitch- I bet that first day back with elementary school children is an interesting (er, uh, hectic) one.

Hunter has decided he is afraid of his bedroom at night which means I figure in to his falling asleep BIG TIME! Currently, our bedroom routine is as follows. "Hunter, it's time to brush your teeth and go potty." "I'm hungry- I want a yogurt." "Okay, after yogurt, it's time for bed." Process occurs at least three times. We finally arrive downstairs in his bedroom. We read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I instruct him to lay on his tummy. I scratch his back and sing (in this order or I have to start over) "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "You are My Sunshine." Then I lay there until he falls asleep.... Okay, so I'm sure we can all agree I'm completely ruining my son for his future wife. She is going to have to pamper the shit out of that kid (man).

Hunter knows how to read and spell the following words: I, will, go, to, the, mom, etc. He has very neat handwriting. He is also very good at symmetrical drawing. His favorite subject is math. According to the "I am Thankful" book his teacher sent home, Hunter is thankful for "baseball." I'm not sure where that came from.

Hunter loves to take songs like "Frosty the Snowman" and make them very silly. For example- "Frosty the Doughman, was a jolly, happy soul. With a corncob pipe and a pickle nose and two eyes made out of chocolate." We sing together after school/daycare. We get very silly. The boys also like for Mitch and I to pretend we are tigers and to chase them around the house.

We now call chocolate milk "chocolate milk river" thanks to Hunter.

Hunter loves to torture Mason. Seriously. He does what he can to piss Mason off.

He figured out how to spell "video" so he could access YouTube all his own. Now he doesn't need me to do it, which means I now have to do additional things to keep him off of the computer.

When Hunter eats his dinner, he likes to tell us that a "muscle just popped out." "A muscle just got bigger." We tell him his brain is also growing when he eats his carrots, etc. For some reason, the kid will eat any vegetable I put in front of him. Fruit- not a chance!

Misc. Mason

The other night, Mason woke up at 3 a.m. Both Mitch and I tried to comfort him and put him back to bed. Did not work. Eventually, we decided he would need to "cry it out" in his crib as this had been happening much too often. As Mitch and I tried to get back to sleep, Mason laid in his bed screaming "I love you, Mom! Come back! I love you Mom!"

Mason calls Obi Wan-Kenobi "Obi Obi Obi"

One night when Mitch and I were wrestling around, Mason became very upset and got right in my face, asking me over and over "You okay mommy? You okay?" He proceeded to tackle-punch Mitch! He yelled, "Don't do that to my mommy!"

He chatters nonstop from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed.

He carries ALL his blankets around in the morning. About five....

He calls chocolate milk "chocolate milk river"

He loves "cutie" oranges (they are small seedless clementine oranges)

He blames Hunter for almost everything, even if Hunter is nowhere near him.

He has an amazing vocabulary. Again, he chatters nonstop.

He loves to cuddle on the couch.

A Christmas to Remember- Final Chapter

It all comes down to this: Illness and inclement weather kept us from traveling anywhere for the Christmas holiday; what we received in return was five days of uninterrupted family time, something we haven't had, well, ever.... We really had a wonderful time! It was so much fun playing Santa after the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve. We arranged the gifts and the stockings under the tree- Hunter's were wrapped in Star Wars paper; Mason's in Batman paper. It was fun waking up Christmas morning and watching our sons' faces as they saw their piles of gifts. Mason was all about opening presents. He yelled as he usually does. Hunter was a bit more matter-of-fact. He picked up one gift prior to opening it, shook it, and said, "I think there might be Legos in here." Again, very matter-of-fact and serious. He was right though- he did get a really cool Darth Vader's starship Lego set. Mason's highlight gift: about a zillion Star Wars figures and a case to keep them in. We played a ton of Super Mario Brothers on the Wii. Hunter became sick again, this time with a fever. Mason hardly napped. I cooked a really huge Christmas dinner, most of which no one ate. I made the same amount of food my mother does when she has our whole family to feed. Mitch and I watched movies. I napped (a lot). All in all, it was a wonderful, memorable Christmas!