Good day

It is not every day that I can seriously say "it was a good day."  A Sunday home alonewith two little kids tends to not be the most easy and fun.  I really am thankful that I am able to spend so much time with our kids while they are little.  I sure know I will miss have a 2-year-old running around someday.  But, some days I just feel bored and frustrated.  Like I spend my day attempting to entertain, break up brotherly fights about the silliest things, and picking up their piles of stuff.  Usually it all it takes is to step back and look at those little guys to enjoy the moments.  But sometimes I forget and get distracted away from looking into their eyes and seeing this little person who is mine.

But today was great.  Maybe it was because they didn't wake me up until 6:38.  But there was fights today, only lots of brother giggles.  There was no boredom.  They seemed to find things to do without a lot of creativity on my part, they helped me clean up, and they didn't bug me all day about watching shows.  

My favorite moments of this good were;

Watching Evan gather up some his money.  Change into jeans (which he rarely wears, but was yes the pockets to put his money in) and proudly purchase a nerf gun

Listening to uncontrollable giggles as Evan and Colin were throwing all the cushions down the stairs from the loft

Colin helping me make potatoes and Evan being excited about cleaning up his messy room, and not just because we were doing the chores, but because of their excitement of the activities

Reading book 2 and 3 of My Father's Dragon with Evan, love reading good chapter books that engage us both 

Rocking Colin to sleep.  I know he is a little old for that, which makes it that much sweeter.  But he wouldn't go to sleep at naptime.  I picked him up after a few tries of crying it out, and he cuddled right in and we rocked away.  

No where else I would have rather been today.

medium-sized kiddo

I was just asking Evan about swimming at the Y during this weekend trip to Neenah with Tony.  He was telling me there were other kids in the pool and I asked if they were little or big kids.  He replied with medium-sized.  Which lead to the question, "are you medium-sized?" YES.  Just a cute way to look at his world.

beach day… in January

 

All day yesterday I couldn't help but be happy with the sun!   I couldn't convince Colin to go out and play in the morning.  "Too cold" he says.  I'm thinking, "you're right, but we have to brave the cold eventually… this is Northern Michigan and we can't stay inside all the time."  But, its easier to just stay in and play.  Easier than fighting him into his snow gear.  Then, after we picked Evan up from school I had the idea that changed his mind.  The Jeep.  A nice little ride down to the beach.  And playing with the ice.  There is no where close to the ice  as last winter.  But a few ice chunks to climb on.  And the sun and beautiful scenery weren't too bad either.  Made my day!  

I did accidentally break off an ice chunk which dunked my foot into the water.  Which gave Colin the opportunity to use his new phrase of the week again "What happened to you?"  (in the cutest voice) and not just once but he seems concerns and keeps asking this question if someone gets a little bonk or bump.  

new years dress-up

Its been a couple of weeks since these 2 played dress-up with the bins of hats, scarves, and mittens.  But I can still hear their laughs and excitement over this new game.  And they would run over to me and what their picture taken in their new outfits.  Sweet smiles!

Arrival of elf on the shelf

I was avoiding Elf on the Shelf.  I didn't want to start this little craze at our house as first learned about it a few years ago and certainly not after it became a sensation that has taken over as this new Christmas tradition that everyone does. Plus, I don't want to tell the kids to "be good" just because an elf or Santa is watching them.  But, there is a story to share about how we came to meet Cheerio.

It started with Jingle, the elf that visits the kindergarten classroom.  He was an obsession for the class and if I only heard one story about the school day it was probably about where Jingle was hiding. Not only was there Jingle, but I think that every other child in Evan's class had a similar visitor to their houses.  The hiding places of those elves were the hot conversation topic.  After this started a couple weeks ago, Evan has said "we need to find our elf" in a way that showed he assumed that all houses had a magical elf that visited from the North Pole everyday and reported back to Santa each night and then took on a new hiding place.  I would then switch topics or tell we could do that after dinner or something.  Well, one day we were talking about how Jude told Evan that he was 6.  And I told Evan that I knew that Jude was 5 and that he may have told a lie and that sometimes kids lie even though it is not right.  Evan: "Mom, I told the kids at school that our elf was in the fridge."  That made me a little sad.  He wanted so much to share in the stories of the magical elves with his friends and lied to fit in.  I certainly don't think he should have everything that the other kids have.  But how can you explain why you don't have a magical elf that visits your house to a 5-year-old?  It is not like a video game can you can just say that we don't need to have that just because "so and so has it".  It is magic.  And why would magic avoid entering our world.  It is a little bit like if Santa didn't visit our house.  So, that night Tony went to but one and we put him in a bowl of Cheerios on the table so Evan would find him in the morning.  Evan was surprised and quietly amazed,mostly just staring at him during breakfast.  And that is how we met Cheerio!

a busy 4 months

I have been meaning to write down something since the first day Evan started kindergarten… almost 4 months ago.  It just seems there is always something else to do.  And this fall, most of my kid-free time went to working on the class I started teaching at NMC.  So most evening after bedtimes and during Colin's naps, I was cramming work into our busy schedule.  A nice, lovely busy schedule.  Busy, but enjoying the time.  

So, Evan started kindergarten without a bump.  Of course, I had my tears leading up to it.  And I held them in until I was in the parking lot after walking into Mrs. Rowney's class, the place he would be spending most of his days.  Evan walked in confidently and excitedly, and started life as a school-kid.  

It has only been 4 months, but looking at this picture brings me back to the feelings that day.  Excited and proud, and in awe that this is my little boy.  Here is in kindergarten!  How did this happen?!  I wish I could remember every story he has told me from school.  And of course, I want to know the ones that he didn't tell me too.  He has aced kindergarten to this point, and as far I as know never been in trouble.  I am amazed at this math.  He will randomly be seating in the back seat of the car adding 9+9, or counting by 4's.  He's confident, and walks in like he owns the school, and asks thoughtful questions out of nowhere, wanting to know how electricity works and how babies are made.  He wants to build a robot.   He swims in the deep end, brushes his teeth, draws and writes notes in his notebooks, and he saves everything.  His room looks a little like garbage pile.  But, he loves his life and I love watching him learn, explore, inquire, and grow!  

Dear kindergartener Evan

Dear Evan,

I am so lucky to be your mom.  I can't stop thinking about you right now, as I am teared up with thoughts of you going to kindergarten in 10 days.  I want to remember every moment of the past 5+ years that I have had with you.  I know… its just kindergarten.  But this milestone is a huge change.  I think that the 5 full days will be a little hard of you, but I know that you are ready for the ideas, friends, and new experiences ahead.  I just feel like I'm losing my baby boy.  This will be harder for me that you.  I knew that someday you would be your own person.  And I am amazed each day about the person you are becoming.  But, I just want to keep you little and snuggle you.  I am thankful for the time we have had.  I wouldn't have given up my opportunity to be home with you most days.  And have a front-row seat to watching your childhood.  There were moments and days that it was hard.  And it still is.  I just can't get into your Lego games.  I cringe every time that you ask me to "be the girls" and "is it one of their birthdays?".  I just want to sit back and watch you, and remember the way you look and the things you do.  I want to hold on to these days.  I feel guilty for wishing the hours by sometimes.  Because sometimes, I want time to stop.  Last week, I told you that you were going to turn 5 again on your next birthday.  Part of me doesn't want you to get older.  These exhausting days are such a mix.  I know that years from now I will wish that I could spend a little time with 5-year-old Evan again.  I will wish:

• that we could play some Legos
• that your random collections of rocks, feathers, ripped up papers, saved toy packaging, dirty clothes, and projects was thrown about your room.  
• I could watch you just run around the house with endless excitement and energy.  
• to look across the table from me and see you half falling out of your chair. 
• to see that cute nod you do after you ask me a life question
• have you reach for my hand when walking through parking lots or just because.

I know there is excitement ahead for both of us.  I just want to hold onto these days.  The ones where you don't want to get out of jammies or leave the house.  This was a special time for mom.  Our time.  Thank you.  Love, Mom