Summer Trip

At the end of July we ventured to California for a vacation with the two boys.  We decided to just have 5 days away with 3 full days of activity in San Diego.  Our first day was Sea World then the Zoo then a day on the beach.  We don't have any pictures from the beach because we have a new camera and I wasn't going to chance taking it where there is sand and water.  We had a great time with the boys and I know it was memorable for them.

Eating ice cream at Ghirardelli

Enjoying the fishies at Sea World

Mommy and Henry on the sky tram at the San Diego Zoo

Playing on the Hippo

Heading up another hill at the Zoo

Most of the pictures are of all the animals we saw, so, I won't bore you with those.  But, we saw some incredible animals including killer whales, pandas, polar bears, giraffes, and flamingos to name some favorites of the boys.  It was an adventure to travel with the boys.  Henry doesn't like planes anymore than cars, so, thank goodness it was only a two hour flight each way.  We were also naive in thinking just because we had two little boys didn't mean we couldn't eat at the restaurants we wanted.  We headed in to Lou & Mickeys after a very long day at Sea World.  As soon as we were being taken to our table Henry wet his diaper and it leaked all over me.  So, Henry and I smelled like urine through dinner, very classy.  Then Henry refused to sit in his chair and I got to eat a fabulous steak with him on my lap.  We gave up on the nice restaurants after that and we ate pizza and fried fish.  C'est la vie!  We also of course enjoyed the side effects of sharing a hotel room together.  We could either go to bed with them at 8:00 pm, keep them up late so they were monsters the next day or lay in the dark awake.  We chose to go to bed with them at 8:00 pm.  Normally we would head to dinner at 8 on vacation...how kids change things!  We did discover Pinkberry and visited there more than once.  We also were happy to find out Henry did well being in a stroller all day long, that was a blessing.  Andrew just loved the ocean and couldn't get enough of the waves and seashell hunting.  Henry was very afraid of the ocean at first, but, by the end of the day he was scaring me just running in to it without a care in the world.

The trip was a success and we realized the vacation was really for the two boys not really for the two of us.  Now that we know family vacation isn't really a vacation we will plan our time off more accordingly to give ourselves some break time somewhere.  Ryan and I are heading for a long weekend to Austin, TX for the Wyoming v. Texas football game soon, sans kids, so that will be relaxing.

5

For some reason this birthday really seems like a milestone to me.  Our oldest boy, Andrew, is turning 5 on June 25.  He will start kindergarten this fall and he already writes his name and showers by himself, cleans his own room and helps with chores.  He just isn't little anymore.  There is no need for rocking him or dressing him or any baby things anymore.  Part of me is a little melancholy over the end of him being little, but, there are so many great things about him being older now.  Did I mention he showers by himself, cleans his own room and helps with chores!  Actually, the greatest part is the learning and the conversations and the meaningful time you can spend with a 5 year old.  He enjoys coloring and art projects, t-ball and swimming.  He asks millions of questions everyday and is so interested in learning as much as he can about everything he can.  He is also a gigantic fan of dinosaurs.  He knows all their names and tells everyone that he wants to be a Paleontologist when he grows up.  He was awarded the "Dynamic Dinosaur" award by his preschool teacher for his enthusiasm and love of everything dinosaur.  We read him books every night before bed and his favorite books are non-fiction books about dinosaurs or animals.  He has an insatiable thirst to learn!  We just love helping him understand the world around him.  He is most interested in geography, paleontology, and astronomy.  Maybe he really will be a scientist someday.  Until then we will love absolutely every minute with our Andrew.  We love you a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck:)

Through His Eyes

For Mother's Day my most prized present was the hand painted photo frame and hand drawn card that Andrew made at his preschool.  Because preschool is almost out and Father's Day has yet to arrive Andrew also gave Ryan his Father's day gift and card as well.  My card said the following:

It makes my mom happy when I give her flowers and stuff.

I know my mom loves me, because she helps me go across the monkey bars.

My mom is really good at helping my grandma and grandpa that are old.

When my mom is not working, she likes to stay home with me and my brother and we go to stores.

I like to stay home the whole day and play games with my mom.

My mom always says to me, "I love you!"

Spaghetti is my mom's favorite thing to eat.

Ryan's card said the following:

It makes my dad happy when he watches sports.

I know my dad loves me, because he gives me hugs and kisses.

My dad is really good at talking to grown-up boys like him.

When my dad is not working, he likes to play hide and seek with me.

I like to play the games in my room with my dad.

My dad always says, "I love you!"

Chicken and steak are my dad's favorite things to eat.

Wow!  Do you think Andrew knows his mom and dad?  Ryan and I really enjoyed seeing ourselves through his eyes.  Getting to see more and more glimpses into Andrew's personality and having him really get to know us as people, not just mom and dad, is the gift of a growing boy.

Totally Two



Are you all singing to me?

Our little Henry turned two on April 28th.  Boy does he act two these days!  He has begun to throw monster tantrums, mostly when he doesn't get something he wants, which is usually watching either Wiggles or Muppets.  Henry loves to watch the Wiggles and join in with dancing, his other favorite show to watch is the new Muppet movie or the old episodes of the Muppet Show.  He calls them the "muffins" which is completely adorable.   He also says "foon" for "spoon" and "Mister Mouse" for "Mickey Mouse." Even though his pronunciation could use some work, he can say basically anything now and talks in complete sentences.  This year when he began to talk he started every word with"a" he still does this some.  He would say, "a sock", "a shoes", "a Andew", "a Mommy", "a horse", "a ouch", "a sad"...you get the picture, every single word had the word "a" at the beginning.  This was a year of big change, he started walking right around his first birthday and now has become a master runner and climber.  His favorite past time is getting into absolutely everything!!  He is constantly opening containers and pouring the contents onto the floor.  He will help clean up though, he happily grabs a towel and crouches down to help scrub.  Sometimes I think he makes the mess because he has so much fun cleaning it up! 

Henry loves and adores Andrew too.  It melts my heart when on the way to and from daycare I often hear Henry in the backseat say, "I luv lu Andew"  and Andrew always replies, "I love you too Henry."  I actually have a video of Henry saying "I luv lu" it is so cute to hear his lisp.  The boys play pretty well together most of the time, they fight some, little brothers can become aggravating, but, usually they are happily together.

Henry loved his new Elmo "packpack"

My new Mickey Mouse costume!

It has been so fun to see Henry's personality emerge over this year.  He is quite the charmer.  Everywhere we go he says "hi" to everyone, especially pretty waitresses.  He enjoys attention and being social.  He is my snuggle guy too.  He loves sitting on laps and being carried and getting hugs, which everyone around him happily obliges.  Henry you are an amazing little guy and we can't wait to see you grow this year and continue loving every minute of it!

The Balance

This post is about the following essay, please read the essay first to understand my personal ramblings:
http://powerofmoms.com/2012/04/your-children-want-you/

As a mother of two who has a career outside the home parts of this essay really resonated with me. I am familiar with Pinterest and I have a Facebook account and I read blogs like Pioneer Woman.  All of these things do influence me.  I had finally heard enough about Pinterest that I attempted to become a member, but, then I had to be invited and apply or something???  It all became too complicated and time consuming.  Yes, filling out yet another online account is too time consuming in my world, but, I see enough Pinterest on Facebook to get the idea what it's about.  More projects.  I mean organizing my closets and junk drawers is on my list of to dos, but, making it so perfectly perfect, not likely.  I think all this Pinterest and perfect domestic goddess stuff is ridden with more Mommy guilt.  I already feel guilty that at the end of a long day I rarely cook and if I do it is something really simple, grilled chicken, frozen peas and baked potatoes would be a staple meal.  Then I spend as much time as possible with my boys before getting them to bed by 8 p.m. and crashing in my bed at 8:15 p.m.  Often the dishes aren't done and the laundry is in piles in the laundry room, but, in my exhaustion it just isn't a priority.  I have goals of picture frames full of family pictures arranged aesthetically on a large wall in my home, it may happen some day.  But, really what is more important, alphabetized spice racks or reading books and playing hide and seek with my two boys.  My boys won't remember the dishes or the closets (well maybe they will and maybe they won't be the best housekeepers someday) but, we are sure they will know they were/are loved. 

So, moms let's agree that we love the eye candy of these blogs and sites that show us how perfectly perfect our lives could be, but, that we will love our lives the way they are and just be moms to our children now while they need us more than ever.  Because, really what our kids want is us.

Winter Activities

Henry and T-Rex at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Beth's Maternal Grandparents and the boys

Grandma Jo, Andrew and Grandpa Pat

Henry playing in the snow- although freezing, he refused to go inside

Ryan the last two weekends- shovel, shovel

We have continued to be busy since the holidays.  We went to Denver one weekend in early January and saw the T-Rex exhibit.  Cameras were not allowed in the exhibit, so, I can only try to describe what we saw there.  There were life size robotic dinosaurs; a T-Rex, triceratops and some velociraptors!  Andrew was very afraid at first, they seemed so real he was worried they would hurt him.  We explained that they were robots and he felt more at ease.  He was completely enthralled and wanted to talk about everything he knew about dinosaurs.  He was also allowed to touch some dinosaur bones and we attended a melodrama all about dinosaur bones.  He sat upfront and answered some questions.  We decided that our boys like the Denver Museum of Nature and Science so much that we became members.  We will try to go back a few more times this year.

Also, in January we went for a quick trip to Nebraska to visit my parents and grandparents.  I am 33 years old and all four of my grandparents are still alive.  What a blessing!  None of them travel anymore, however, so, we try to make it back to Nebraska as much as possible.  The boys do well during the visits, even at the assisted living home. 

We have finally had a couple snowfalls.  The boys, especially Henry, love to play outside in the snow.  Ryan claims he also enjoys scooping the sidewalk, so, I get to play while he works! 

We will be having some visitors from Ryan's family this upcoming weekend.  I look forward to utilizing our finished basement and having a full house.

Happy New Year!

We had several pictures taken by Jaydub Photography this fall.  Above are a couple that I liked.  My favorite one went out as our Christmas card this year and pictures of the boys made our Christmas gift giving easy.  We had a wonderful Christmas at home this year.  My dad took most of the pictures so as soon as I get those from him I'll post some.  Andrew was extremely excited about Santa this year.  We counted down the Advent season with 3 Advent calendars this year.  He could hardly wait!  Santa brought exactly what he wanted and he didn't show him pictures of what he wanted, wow, how did Santa know?  Henry was a little overwhelmed with all the present opening commotion.  Henry chose to ignore it mostly and just wanted to sit on a lap and read books as usual.  Now, a week later, Henry can't get enough of his new toys! 

My dad visited briefly for Christmas Eve.  We were all able to watch Andrew's performance in the Church pageant on the 24th.  He did an excellent job.  We had several people tell us he stole the show.  Mostly with his hilarious antics.  He tickled the baby Jesus, was heard laughing behind the partition, and began crawling around the alter (he was a cow after all).  Andrew also knew all the words to the songs and all the motions that went along with them, so, he really was entertaining.

We had good friends over for Christmas Day dinner and enjoyed good food and company.  I hope everyone's year went as well as our family's has gone.  Here's to 2012!