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)