Cuddled up

I am about to go to sleep in my own bed without little boys touching me.  I am looking forward to a night of sleep with being kicked or distracted by them.  For 2 nights, I have been sandwiched between Nicholas and Colin at my parent’s house. It was so cozy! Both were usually touching me and I love having them right there.  We turned off the lights, chatted for a few minutes, snuggled in, and then I just listened to them sleep. Well one night Colin coughed so much that I put him on the floor for half the night. But otherwise, we were enjoying this time together!

He knows more

Frequently, well most of the time, I don’t realize what Nicholas actually understands or knows.  He throws so many ridulous tantrums still about what cup, shirt, or other item he has that I can’t believe it when he does something intelligent. Two different sides to that boy. 

A couple days ago we were driving to work/Daycare. Just me and him. And about half way there he asks for Lulu.  Well, of course, I had other things to get ready for our early departure so I forgot Lulu. 

Mom: “I think she is still in your bed, we forgot her”

Nicholas: WWAAHHHHH!!!! LULUUUU!! Tears.  Turn around!!

M: I can’t. I have to get to work I cant be late.

N: more crying..... wwwhhhyyyy? 

M: because it is important that I could go work when I am needed

N: more crying.... wwhhyyyyy?

M: well, I need to help the ladies get their babies out of their bellies

N: silence.... babies in their bellies?

M: yep, some babies are ready to meet their mamas today

Quiet for 5 minutes until we arrive at the parking lot

N: how do the babies get out of their mamas bellies?

M: a brief quick explanation and then we hurry into school

After school

N: did the babies come of the bellies?

A few days later on the way to work/Daycare

N: do you have to help the mamas get their babies out of their bellies? 

Start of school- two days down

Lots of new stuff this school year, including a brand new school.  How lovely to think of spending the day in the new Eastern.  Colin did awesome on day one of kindergarten.  As soon as he woke up, he ran and grabbed socks and sat by the door.  It was just an hour before he had to leave. Lots of excitement and he was seeming more confident that last year when separation was tearful for at least a month and even some days in the second half of the year, it was hard to say bye. But, day one this year made me so proud of him. Day two, he woke up not wanting to go... excuses were the day is too long, one girl is mean to me, I don’t like music. So we had a few years at drop off... but big smiles at pick up! It was a good day!  He doesn’t want to go tomorrow, he really just likes to stay home with us. It is endearing! Really. I want him to be brave and smart and love school, but I want to wrap him up and never let go sometimes too. 

Evan is off to TAG without a problem.  It definitely has helped the transition to have Ben in his class. They weren’t really friends until baseball this past spring. But, it took away some fear and he was happy to pick lockers by him. He is not the most studious child. His writing is messy, he currently prefers to play Minecraft in his free time instead of reading, and his organization could be better.  But we are so proud of his accomplishment making this program and his ease into this school year. Today, our plan for after school wasn’t exactly clear because we didn’t know if I would be done with work in time to get him or if Tony would sneak and get him.  So I gave him the instruction to head down Seventh Street until about Oak, and one of us would meet him there. Turns out, I actually made it to his school very early and thought I would catch him coming out the door.  Wish I would have known what door he exits from from, because after the school cleared out I still didn’t see him. I rushed over to our planned meeting spot and my heart leapt when I saw him standing there in the sidewalk in the drizzle rain, looking like a big kid. And with a smile. I love that kid! 

Running out of yogurt

A couple months ago, we accidentally started a habit with Nicholas.  It’s not a bad one, but now we are kinda stuck wth it. We started buying him a yogurt during a shopping trip.  We stop at the store a couple times a week with him and he now doesn’t let it go by without him getting his yogurt (usually chocolate fluffy).  And once he has his hands on it, it is hard to get him to give it up (even to scan or in the car).

Today we were driving to the library, with no plans to stop at Family Fare.  Nicholas points out the window “we need to stop there!”

Me: “no, we don’t, not today.”

N: “yes, we are running out of food.”

Me: “I think we have everything we need, what kind of yogurt are you talking about?”

N: “yogurt!”

Somehow I thought not stopping would lead to a tantrum, but luckily it didn’t.  Just a cute conversation and his recognition of the store and his reasoning was surprising!

Words from our baby

Nicholas is such a talker now.  He is smart enough to remember thing and then tell us in whole sentences about it again.  It is amazing to watch tbis stage of development.  I love hearing that little voice from across the house, “mama, w’are you?” Kinda combining the ‘where’ and the ‘are’ into his sweet little voice.  And he sings the abcs and happy birthday and usually correctly counts to ten.  Oh, this sweet little guy!

2 wheels

Little awesome Colin cruised on bike without training wheels today.  I held the back for a second and told him to just take a couple steps like a balance bike and put his feet on the pedals... and he took off! Such a awesome feeling for me even, because I could feel his joy!  The accomplishment, being brave, and the independence of taking on the world because of just coasting on a bike for the first day!  So awesome!

Evan is nine

He’s nine.  And seems a little touch taller every time I hug him.  He is obsessed with football cards.  A little too much. Maybe.  Really this started in October after we went to a badger game.  That’s when I saw the interest of football.  Of course, he played flag football in second grade but seemed clueless about the sport.  But this year, the boys at school got super into it.  Lots of card collecting! And he pretty much wanted football cards and a Jordy Nelson jersey for his birthday.  I keep hoping that he will be interested in something unique or intelligent.  Like playing the guitar or something. Or even reading more.  Maybe someday.  He tends to just like bumming around home, with his football cards.

The night before his birthday he ate at Harvest for dinner and had Cherry Republic for dessert with grandma and grandpa bray. Then for his birthday party, Holden, Aiden, and Christopher came over for a sleepover.  They played football, traded cards, played laser tag in the dark.  Nothing too crazy.  A pretty calm group for a boy who doesn’t like kids to get too rowdy.

Another long weekend

Ironically, I opened this blog and up and I immediately posited my details of a day a few months back about a long weekend with the boys.

Same thing this weekend.  Counting the minutes til bedtime.  I couldn’t focus on much fun today at all.  I felt like it was survival mode this weekend.  And too much screen time for Evan and Colin! I just didn’t have the energy to think of something less to engage them all in.

I just need to make a plan to have fun again tomorrow.  This weekend is gone.  I can make up for it.  Not all days can be perfect.

Coliny

Yesterday

Me: “I’m lucky to be your mom.”
Colin: “I’m lucky to be your Coliny.”

Love you

I was leaving for work last night and said “love you” to the boys quick.  Nicholas responded “love you”.  Aww.. so cute!

He has also been saying “yes” very deliberately with clear pronunciation of the ‘s’.  And just today he was talking about his birthday.  Randomly he will say “birthday” and then I need to talk about how it’s ckming and how fun it will be!

Christmas 2017

Last night, we had happy kids.  Tired and over-sugared, but happy.  We had a relaxing evening at home with a few gifts from just us, one of family favorite meals, grilled cheese and tomato soup, and some Lego building.  And I was happy taking it all in after a couple busy days and weeks.  I used to be a little jealous of families that would be “home” for Christmas morning. Having those lazy but excited filled Chris stays morning hours.  Then, I became thankful for having our schedules align to travel to both our families this week.  Because Christmas isn’t about seeing what santa brought Christmas morning.  Spending time with family is more important. So we made the trip to Muskegon and pleased the grandparents and fostered the memories of Christmas time with family in our boys.  Maybe they will see how we value this above all... and come see us a lot in 20 years. 

But, I still felt the cozyness and togetherness with just our little family I’m those hours last evening. Those moments that nothing else matters. 

A couple kid moments to share.  Evan woke up at 4:30am.  His excitement prohibiting sleep.  We were in bed together, since Tony slept in another room because we were worried Nicholas would have a bad night.  So I got to lay there for a couple hours (yes, he didn’t fall back alsep until 6:20) and just feel that Christmas excitement in his little head.  Of course, I was slightly frustrated that I wasn’t sleeping, but looking back... there probably won’t be many more moments like this for Evan and me.  At least not sharing the little kid worlds.  I will be surprised if he still believes in santa next year.  

Nicholas loved grandmas village.  I have this cute little picture of him in my mind.  It’s dark, lights of the village on, and he is just walking along it, touching things at his height. And of course... he is so cute singing jingle bells and Santa Claus is coming to town. 

Cheerio is our other Christmas memory.  The boys wake up every morning eager to read his letter and write back to him.  Evan wrote him a copy of The Secret Ornament, that he wrote last Christmas season.  And Colin drew him pictures and worked so hard writing his letters.  It is so cute to see them with this friend. 

Heading to WI in a couple days to continue this Christmas week with family.

From the Colin’s mouth

I love this family, I’m going to stay in it forever.

Weekend with nicholas

Tony made a somewhat last minute decision to bring Evan and Colin for a quick weekend trip to WI. Nicholas and I stayed home.  At first this idea seemed to bring me down. Of course, I didn’t want to travel that many hours in the car in 2.5 days, but I was thinking it was going to be a long weekend at home with someone that can’t have conservations and throws tantrums for no reason.  I love him, but he has been known to be exhausting and I was worried without his dad and brothers around to create distraction or help that I would be one busy tired Mom.

Turns out, I was tired.  He didn’t sleep well cause of this little cough.  But I used that to bring him into bed with me for part of the night... one of my favorite things to snuggle in bed with those little bodies. And we actually stayed entertained the rest of the weekend.  He was happy.  Maybe the extra attention helped. I don’t recall having ever spent an entire 50 hours with just him.  And I loved that actually.  We bonded a little extra!  And as I focused on him, I realized how his language is taking off.  He said some many new weekend I can’t count... Wisconsin, orange, helicopter (copter), snuggle. He is interested in trying to guess the color of an object and he was excited to read and play trains. There was a little injury that scared me.  He fell off the back of the ottoman in his room and hit the back of his head on a wooden puzzle and one of the little pegs punctured his skin and bled pretty good.  Glad when it stopped with pressure and a sucker/show to calm him down.

Thankful for this weekend dedicated to this little boy that is growing up too fast!  But a sweet and goofy one!

Just about perfect Saturday

Well, maybe perfect.

Here’s how it went: slept until 7:40 when I heard little bodies up.
Went for a run (first one in at least a month) with Jess
Played  with happy Nicholas while Tony ran and the other boys were happily playing with each other, We all went to Meijer together and survived and the boys even had some responsibility helping wth check out and scanning and bagging
Lunch and food prep for expected dinner guests
2 hour quiet time where I did a little around the house, but mostly worked on knitting a sweater, while Tony did some work for a class and Evan and Colin played legos and watch a movie
A busy hour of cleaning, laundry, cooking, with good helpers
Nice dinner and visit with Vidors with more happy moments from the kiddos
Bedtime stories rocking with Nicholas and pointing out some colors, he repeated ‘green’ after I said it
Just a little down time again for me and off to bed now

Can’t think of anything I would have changed.  And it was even rainy, which must have made all the indoor time seem cozier and content.

Long days, short moments

I spent greater than 20 hours alone with 3 kids this weekend.  This doesn’t happen regularly at all.  Which may be the reason is why it made it seem like a day to write a bit. So, I was actually dreading the weekend a little.  We had a brief time with Tony in the mornings before he worked the rest of the day.  But, that was brief.  And that resulted in a little feeling of overwhelm.  

I know it’s the ages.  Well, mostly Nicholas’ age.  He is adorable and sweet and goofy now, but he requires 90 percent of my energy leaving only a smidge of attention for the other two.  This is the age of climbing on everything that looks dangerous, using markers on any surface, riding his bike immediately into road, tantrums for not getting to drink milk and eat cookies whenever he wants, saying ‘uppie’ minites after a meal starts, breaking his brothers forts, and constantly moving his body.  Exhausting.  Love him, but he wears me out and leaves little time to enjoy a moment with him or Evan or Colin.  I try to.  And there were a few quiet moments this weekend where I tried to actually look at them as the kids they are rather than the bodies of constant neediness and yells for Mom. 

Colin was up first this morning, so I got about 10 minutes or snuggles in bed.  One of my favorite things!  

Evan and I had a bonding moment over Minecraft, which I tried to figure out a few basics.  

Nicholas started doing this sweet thing.  Well, it started off as a hit or kick.  But we started telling him no hits, just hugs.   Ow when he hits and we say ‘no’ he reaches  over a gives out a hug.  Those hugs are adorable.  He runs into the big boys room at bedtime and gives out hugs too.  That little body squeezing his arms around me is priceless.

So, I am tired.  But missing those sweet kids while they sleep.  And as I sit here reflecting on how hard it was a share very many special moments this weekend because I was on toddler duty, I decided to sneak into their rooms to just give them a little bedtime kiss while they sleep.  My babies. My boys.  

And a reminder to slow down, when I can sneak in those bonding moments with them.  When I can see them for minute.  And appreciate this life.  

Lake Superior Provincial Park

Amazing weekend!

My favorite moments:

Laying down to go to sleep in a cozy tent with my sweet family

Evan's excitement for the mossy hill, more magical for him than Disney

Colin hiking almost an entire 5 mile hike with boulders to navigate and lots of hills

Evan finding a frog, just one, but one was enough to bring that smile

Nicholas climbing by me to cuddle when we woke up that first chilly morning

Time with the zeratsky crew

The 4 kiddos being buddies, and Nicholas joining the group sometimes

The views, the hills, the rocks, Lake Superior

Swimmer

Colin can swim.  It started with diving for toys at the bottom of Aunt Denise's pool.  I missed it.  But 2 days later we were in a hotel and witnesses his courage and excitement to have figured it out.  So cute! He was so proud!  He said, "now you just have to teach me how to eat vegetables."  And not only did he learn to swim short distances.  But can do handstands and front flips underwater!

Been awhile

Oh boy!  So much going on and so much to try and remember about the past couple months.  Well, it's summer!  And we had a great first day!  The boys and I went with Zeratskys  to North Bar lake.  Lovely sunny day, with lots of water and beach fun.  I loved watching Nicholas get into it.  He has always been. Decoys of the bathtub and I will can't get him in without tears.  But he sat at the edge of lake and splashed, and scooped sand and water in buckets, and threw rocks in the water.  4 hours of happiness!  Beats the random temper tantrums he throws at home.  Love his little words too.  He waves and says 'hi' to random people and of course random dogs.  I think he just said bubble and flower for the first times today.  And the cutest little 'dada' word is the best! Colin has been so happy too.  He can't for his preschool party tomorrow (last time at ALSH) and for camping this weekend. He is a talker and goofy and cuddles when we read books.  He has become a fan of Dragon Masters books.  He still wants to do almost everything Evan does.  Soccer was not his thing this year.  Last game we left early because of tears and refusal to go on the field.  Oh, I can't rush him.  Sometimes it is easy to forget he is 4.  Sweet Colin!

The things they say

Colin: (in his sweet innocent face) Can we get married?
Me: sure, sweet boy
Colin: (as he is somewhat quiet and unsure of the right words) I don't know any other girl to marry.
Me: aww, you are so sweet.  I love you so much.  Maybe you will meet a girl when you are 25.  (In a voice that doesn't know how to break it to him that life changes from when you are 4).

Then later tonight when I was saying bye on my way to work.
Evan:  have a good night!  I hope you deliver babies and get some sleep too!  (It didn't take him too long to figure out what makes a good night and what our conversation will be about in the morning).

8th birthday

Evan turned 8 a couple weeks ago.  He was so proud and happy on his day.  We spent the evening going to Cherry Republic.  The annual birthday event.  Special night to celebrate Evan and see the boys play happily and we get a dinner treat.  Then, we had 7 boys over for a party on Sunday.  They were a little wild! We played a few games outside in the couple inches of snow we had left.  Then some loud donut eating and nerf battles.  Evan- I miss those days of you being little, but it's so amazing to see you as a big 8 year old.  You are smart and  nice to your brothers.  Two things mom just is so happy about.  You are quiet, well not all the time!  But certainly quieter than some of those friends of yours.  Quiet, and respectful, and a thinker.  You remind me of myself.  Thanks for being you.