Giving

We collected paper goods instead of gifts for King's 5th birthday this year.   We talked about the Grand Central Station Soup Kitchen and how some kids and grown ups don't have as much food at home as we do.  This quickly led to a discussion about kids that don't have many toys or ANY toys.  Oh, the horror.   My tiny blonde duo immediately ran into our well stocked playroom and started grabbing toys to take to kids that "need more happy" in the words of Henry.  Among all the mom mistake and screw ups, I guess I've done something right along the way somewhere.  Well, me and my village!

Boys Belong Outside

My boys are outside.  All. Day. Long.

Hot, cold, rain, sleet, snow, you get the idea.  They are all boy.  Riding four wheelers, jumping on trampolines, chasing neighborhood dogs, terrorizing ants, trick-or-treating (all year), we even eat lunch outside most days.  

But I'm not much of an outside person.  Don't get me wrong, if it's 60-80 degrees and I have a chair and a glass of wine, I'm IN.  But I just can't get into the outside adventurous stuff.  The idea of fishing or hunting or camping makes me want to twist my ankle and get a Dr's note.  I'm not much of a girly girl but I don't like to be dirty or uncomfortable.  And even more so now than in my twenties and early thirties.  How does a boy mom get used to and eventually enjoy all this sticky, bug infested outsideness?  Anyone?

Mama Ramblings

Does anyone else feel like they are screwing up this whole parenting thing?

I am constantly second guessing myself and wondering if I'm the only one.

Are my kids getting enough vegetables?  Henry wants only fruit and veggies but King only wants meat and bread and will only eat 2 types of fruits and 2 types of veggies.  How does this happen in a kitchen full of a variety of food!  Should I lie to him when he looks me in the eye and asked if I put vegetables in the macaroni and cheese.  Or should I tell the truth?  

Am I reading enough to them?  Do we stay up later to read more?  Are they getting enough sleep?  Enough hugs and kisses?  Should I work less and be with them more?  Should I work more so they can have more vacations and activities?  And then there's college, that will cost $2 million in 13 years.  

Enough outside play?  I need to just let the laundry pile up and go outside more.  But then my house is a disaster.  It's hot, can't they just run around naked so I don't have to do 2 loads of laundry everyday?

Enough one on one mommy time?  But I'd feel bad if King and I went to the movies without Henry.  Why do I always feel bad every time I leave one or both of them?  Maybe I hover too much?  King has no fear and the ER nurses know us well.  Do I need to back off and let them make their own mistake, settle their own arguments and skin their little knees?  I'd feel awful if one got hurt because I wasn't right there.  Is this what prepares them for life, so I need to stand by and not jump in?

Why is Henry so snotty all the time?  Should I give him the allergy medicine everyday or not at all.  And why does King crave sugar and why does it make him crazy?  Too much gluten?  Is it because I stopped breastfeeding him at 8 months when I got pregnant with Henry?  I didn't know I had an option, why didn't I read more about that!?!

Are they happy enough, disciplined enough, healthy enough, exposed enough?

And I can't even get started on this whole spray sunblock thing.  It's too early for wine.

King Questions

I've tried to take down as many of these as I can the couple of days.

King Questions

"Mommy, when I'm 15 and I'm a dad, will you be big and fat?"

"Mommy, when you get old and die can I go live with Cici?"

"Mommy, you should get daddy a purse so he can keep his phone in it and not loose it all the time."

"Henry's hair looks like a girl, is he going to turn into a girl and run slower?"

"Why do grown ups want to work all the time?  It doesn't sound very fun."

"Mommy can you find the instructions and take our house apart and build it again closer to the beach?"

"Can I have more water so I can water more flowers?"

Dishes

I will never ever understand why a person will rinse a plate and place it in the kitchen sink, 16" from a perfectly good appliance that is made to wash dishes.  Seriously, how busy can you be to not have the extra 28 seconds.  Actually I'm pretty busy, maybe I'll just start leaving dirty dishes on the table and let the kids have those room temp leftovers for a snack later.  Honestly I'm so busy that I think I'll leave the patio door to the house open all night so wild animals can come in and lick the plates clean.  Then I would just need somebody to help me put them back in the cabinets.  I'll let you know how this works out for us. 

It's not over till the fat lady sings

We've been busy wrecking shop and growing up for the past two years.  I've been re-inspired to get the blog back up so here it goes.  The things that my children say and do are just too wonderful not to share.
Every morning I sing songs to gently wake my boys.  Some songs that my mom sang to me and some made up cheesy songs about the day ahead of us.  This morning King, age 4, opens his little eyes and says "mommy your singing is NOT pretty."  He then quickly reads my face worried he's hurt my feelings and adds "you are pretty but your singing isn't."  Out of the mouths...

What you staring at?!?

Walking into Albertsons everyone was staring at us. Of course they are admiring my gorgeous children. After we got inside I went to put Henry in the cart and noticed that while I was carrying him in he had my vneck tshirt pulled down exposing my entire left boob (thank God for my full coverage grandma bra). Oh the joys of motherhood!