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!

Autumn

 

Camera Trouble

We lost the adapter to charge our camera, so, I can't take pictures or download pictures right now, actually haven't for a while.  I am so busy that buying a new charger has not been high on my list, but, one should be arriving in the mail this week. 

In other news the boys are doing great, big and little!  Ryan continues to work long hours, but, he loves his job.  I too have been working a lot.  I won my first jury trial a couple weeks ago.  Yes, that means I got an acquittal!  It helps when your client actually is innocent.  I also took a trip to Lander for our office's annual conference.  I learned a lot at the CLE, but, I also suffered with a bad cold the whole three days.  I always seem to get sick when I travel anymore. 

Andrew is thriving in preschool.  He is really becoming a leader in a lot of ways and that makes Mom and Dad proud!  He is such a smarty pants too.  He loves to hear and tell jokes.  I am trying to teach him the classics, so, the other day I told him, "why did the chicken cross the road?"  - "to get to the other side!"  Lol.  He then made up a joke, "why is there ketchup on the table?" - "because someone picked up the bottle and squirted it on the table!" Lol.  I was pretty impressed because his joke certainly followed the exact logic of the chicken joke and was basically just as funny/or not funny as the case may be.

Henry is beginning to talk more and uses a fair amount of sign language.  He was doing so much, "UHHH!"  asking for things that his daycare started teaching him signs for - more, please, thank you, eat, milk etc.  Truthfully, since the signing has taken off his word use has too.  He says, shoes, door, please, duice, hello, bye bye, mama, dada, patti (daycare), and he really tries to say Andrew, but that's a hard one.  He did unfortunately pull down the metal baby gate on his face the other day though and he a has a big gash under his left eye.  I'm just relieve it didn't hit his eye! 

The basement is well on its way to being finished.  All the walls are up and mudding a taping are done.  It should be finished by Thanksgiving!

Weekend Away

Ryan and I in front of Split Rock, the destination for our first day's ride.

Ryan riding on Bullet and me on Chief.

Ryan during a hike the second day.

My camera cannot do justice to all the beautiful scenery.

Our tent, stove included!

The kitchen tent.  Complete with propane and a shower!

Ryan and I spent a long weekend outside of Alpine, WY, up in the Wyoming Range near the Grey's River in the Bridger/Teton National Forest.  We were there with Outfitters Jenny and Gary Amerine of Grey's River Trophies.  We highly recommend them for anyone who loves to camp, horseback ride or hunt.  We were obviously not hunting in early August, but, we spent two full days horseback riding and camping and we absolutely loved it!  No cell service whatsoever.  I missed our boys, but, it was a really great break!

Summa, Summa, Summa Time

Andrew turned 4 and got his first real bike!

Andrew learning to ride with Lauren

Blowing out the candles on his Cars 2 cake

Andrew is Spiderman

Henry and Daddy and sparklers on the 4th of July

More 4th fun!

Henry loves corn - what a good Cornhusker he is!