Quiet Does Not =Being Good

When it comes to kids, quiet is not synonymous with behaving. I fall prey to this error more than I'd like to admit. Which is ridiculous because I should know by now, that in the preschool set especially, quiet= mischief.

Thankfully, I was listening in spite of myself. Zack and Ben were playing in the front room and I happened to overhear, "It's going to be a really wet ride."

Huh... wonder what they mean... fish tank ... (my thoughts aren't always in complete sentences. Should they be?)

I ran in and sure enough they had the lid off the fish tank. And the car they had been playing with was floating toward the top.

Sorry fish. I'm truly sorry.

Must.Stop.Doing.This

I must confess it makes me irritable when people say "You'll miss this phase someday." Usually because it makes me feel guilty for complaining about something annoying one of the kids have done. Also because sometimes I just want to say "REALLY? Am I?? Because something inside me can't believe I'm going to miss my child Houdini-ing his way out of the shopping cart seatbelt no matter how tight I get it. I don't think I'll miss tantrum after tantrum and meltdown after meltdown.

I do understand the sentiment of the phrase, because there are definitely parts of this stage that I will miss. And I feel like I have a pretty good handle on taking the bad with the good, and keeping things in perspective. So, sometimes, if I just need to vent about some kind of insanity the kids have done, the last thing I want to hear is "you'll miss this someday."

That said, I've been daydreaming lately about next school year. Dropping three kids off all at one time at one school just thrills my soul. Because as much as I adore everything about Zack being in preschool... he's learning so much, he loves his teachers and friends, I get three hours a day with just ONE kid at home (and usually he naps!)... the current drop off/pickup schedule is a little draining. Yesterday, once I finished that daydream I skipped ahead one more year to when Ben will be in preschool, and even with the crazy schedule of dropping off and picking up, I will be alone during the day for the first time in almost 8 years. And how nice it will be to be able to go volunteer in school, or eat lunch with the kids any time I want. How I could exercise during the day without worrying someone will do something ridiculous. How my house might stay clean for just a while (you know, until the kids come home.)

Then I snapped back to reality, and thought "slow down girl!!" I need to slow down a little and enjoy the time I have with the little guys before they head off to school. I can't help but look forward to those days, but I need to not be in such a hurry to get there. Because, I kind of suspect I'll miss them.

Raised by Wolves?

My youngest is a bit of a wild child. He's the one who has caused me grief by escaping the house (when he wasn't even two yet), he's hid from me in the playroom toybox, in the pantry. He likes to dump the dirt out of my patio planters. He's just one of those always into things kids that keep their Mommies on their toes.

Recently, he's adopted a behavior that has me puzzled. He jumps like a frog. Only instead of saying "ribbit" he's a puppy and his leaps are impressive in both height and distance. I've never seen a kid jump like that.

So, raised by wolves is clearly a joke, but I do wonder about this wild side of his.

Coming Home

Kevin and I went on a vacation just us this last week. It was amazing, and surreal, and to be perfectly honest, just something we needed. We are so thankful that we were able to go.

Coming home was a little overwhelming. I was so excited to see the kids and then shortly after it was back to normal.

Today was the first day back to school and I almost felt like I didn't know what to do anymore. It was my first day taking them since December 22nd. I muddled through and at the end of the day I feel like Mommy again.

And, while the break was incredible, that feeling was the best!

I plan to blog about my trip... but it all feels overwhelming, so it will come a little at a time.

New Year, New Goals

Okay, so we are mostly through the first week of the month. I'm not making a New Years Resolution exactly, but I've been thinking of some things I'd like to accomplish this year.

Continue making small changes toward a healthier lifestyle. I am entering this year 10 pounds lighter than I started last year. It's not as far as I would have liked to be, but I'll take it.

I have always dreamed of learning to play the piano. I don't have the time or extra cash to take lessons, but I'd like to do a little self teaching. We have a piano, and the internet is a vast wealth of knowledge.

I want to sew more. More specifically I want to use some of the fabric I already have and do some projects I've had floating around in my mind for ages.

Be more organized. Oh, this is always on my list. If I'm honest, I would have to admit that I am way more organized than I used to be. More put together than I was before kids, largely out of necessity. However, there is still room for lots of improvement.

I want to remember to enjoy my children. Not get as aggravated, and stay patient.

I want to make a positive impact on the people around me. There's a story behind this that I might tell a little later, but I want to talk to people more (yes strangers) and smile and make eye contact with people I encounter. Even the people walking past in the grocery store.

Be more compassionate...

That's all I can think of for now.

Happy 2010!!

Secrets

There was a secret meeting of 4 boys and their daddy in the laundry room this evening after he got home from work.

Today is my birthday. 2 + 2 = 4

Four year old boys have no volume control.

I heard all the voices, but very loudly and clearly I heard..."Daddy! How do you spell Mom?"

M

O

M

"Daddy, how do you spell WUV?"

L

O

"wait daddy! What's after L?"

O

V

"Okay, I got the B."

"No, V, not B..."

"Ohhhhhhhhh V. Then what?"

E

After a while Zack started fussing and said, "Wait! I need it back! I have to draw a heart!!"

I got a card from each boy. They all signed their own except Ben. They are so big! My heart is full!