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My Kids

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Try Something New
Jul 14, 2008 6:33 pm

WARNING! If you attempt to try the challenge do so with extreme caution. Challenge can cause extreme leg, back and ass pain. The kids are out and about all day,running, jumping swimming and all sorts of summer activities. So in a effort to curb my lazy I decided to join in on the slip and slide fun . Yeah not just slip and slide but large play set slide with hose running water down slide, down to large slip and slide. I never intended to do the deed but son was a little hesitant, mama had to reassure and take on for the team. Then I took a couple more trips down slide, because hell it was fun! T'was fun but now I have some pain. May you join in on the fun!

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5
Jul 11, 2008 4:03 pm

He loves the dirt but hates the bugs. He can play t-ball and football and then play house with his sis. He loves with his whole heart. His passions are endless. As much as he gets frustrated his excitement is ten fold that. He went to bed a toddler and somehow in the night he changed into a great "Big" boy! I love you my Five-year-old! Happy Birthday my Nollie Rollie Pollie!

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Craftastic, Craptastic, Disaster
Jul 06, 2008 1:29 pm

Not all crafts go exactly as planned here. A lack of ventilation, not following directions and a four-year-old's endless curiosity leads to, well a craft mutiny. With an inspiration thanks to my blogger friend Jane at Kidzarama, I attempted puff paint. As a side note I am deeply considering becoming a stowaway when sister heads to Australia for her honeymoon next year, just so I can meet Jane! My first mistake was deciding I knew better then an Aussie, typical American, and purchased rubber cement instead of the PVC glue. When I played mad scientist with rubber cement and shaving cream I had puff issues. Directions are there for a reason, and for some reason I turned into a man that day. My second mistake, all of a sudden I had a deep desire for mushroom posters, black lights, Pink Floyd and a craving for Cheetos. My head was a swirling tie dye mess. No I am not a 60's chick, I did not go to Woodstock, but I can finally say I know how it feels, VERY HAPPY. With my last working brain cell I quickly opened the nearest window. Note to all rubber cement plus no ventilation equals one trippy mommy. After the food coloring was added N and I were ready to paint. It went well and first N was having fun. We added shaving cream half way through, which N really loved. Everything was going well, I turned my back for one second, and that is when N decided to put both hands into the puff paint concoction. Both hands covered in red food coloring paint. I closed my half baked eyes, set son up at the sink for endless hand washing and threw everything in the garbage. I had a craft disaster to clean. So what have I learned? Open windows and watch four year old like a hawk around shaving cream and food coloring. More importantly though always listen to an Aussie that is more skilled in the art of crafting!

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Right Outside
Jun 29, 2008 2:25 pm

"If you can't find what you're looking for in your own backyard, maybe you never really lost it at all." Dorothy Gale Wizard of OZ I love watching my children's faces when they make a wonderful discovery. M spotted a butterfly in our flowering bush. We watched the lil' butterfly sit on our flowers for fifteen minutes. When he flew away M cried, and said "My bee." N discovered a blimp floating by our house. It was such an weird site, but pretty cool. Just step outside you will be amazed at what you find!

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her 2 year old self
Jun 29, 2008 2:21 pm

last night she went to bed a one year old and today she woke up a wide-eyed two year old.  as i watched her sleep as a one year old, i wondered if she would wake up and be a little older, say new things, be a little taller. i think she did.

she loves flowers and bees. she has a deep desire to be snow white, have all the animals come to her as she sings.  she never writes with crayons, a pen is her sword.  she is happy to see you and will always cry when you leave.  she has a pure love of life and her knees, they show it. she has a desire to be grown-up, walking a little ahead, but at night she curls up in my arms and nurses before sleep, as if to let me hold on to her lil’ self a lil’ longer. two years in my life and i am better for it.

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Down on the Farm
Jun 15, 2008 1:50 pm

Last weekend was a trip to Grandma Mimi & Farmer M's farm. The kids had a blast and Nolan got to ride the chopper. Basically the chopper takes the chopped hay from the field and puts it in a large truck. To see it is amazing, they are so organized, it is like watching a tractor ballet. This week after E mowed the grass N got out his own chopper and started to load the "hay" into his truck. M helped too. Meg was walking around the yard and I snapped this picture of her. Those are her rain boots and she wears them every day.

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Shiver Me Timbers Pirates We Be
Jun 08, 2008 5:12 pm

My kids are some mighty cute, I mean burly, pirates. They had a blast pretending to sail the seven seas and today they will have their own treasure hunt! We made treasure chest. I bought wood chests from the craft store, the kids painted and decorated them all up. Micheal's crafts has some cute kids pirate craft items. The hats were from Target's dollar bin, the bestest dollar bins ever! Thanks to Kid Craft Weekly, I found a cute parrot craft. The kids had a blast making them, they were so simple! Click link for instructions. We used one parrot to top our pirate ship. I had the kids sponge paint their sails. I attached the sail to a broom then attached the broom, with cable ties, to two chairs facing back to back. They sailed around the world and back again

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I Want my Mommy
Jun 05, 2008 5:33 pm

I am changing my name, no not my given birth name. No, that name I got four years ago with the birth of my son, the name "Mom." Yes ladies it has been one of those days, the day were the sound of your own name is like nails on the chalkboard. "Mom, she hit me." "Mom my butt hurts." "Mom da- da -da juice." Mind you it is not the lovely "mom," the chorus of my heavenly angels saying how much they love me. No it is the whining, screeching, crying "Mom" that has driven me to the brink of insanity.

To be a mom I have to take the good with the bad, but statisically the bad has outnumbered the good. Maybe it is my two wild beasts having their first taste of warmer weather. It could be that school is almost out and mommy is feeling the crunch, or the soon to be terrible twos is just around the corner. If I did change my "mom" name I am thinking Lisa.

My mom must have felt the same way X2. Four of us in a house screeching, yelling, whining all in unison. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to have a two year old whining wanting to eat and a teenager whining because their having a bad hair day. Having all those different ages whining in unison must have been like a bad version of the Vienna choir. How did she do it?

To this day I often whine for my mom. Being wheeled up to my hospital room trying not to push a baby out I cried to the doctor next to me "I want my mom." Sure I can laugh about it now, but at that moment I was in desperate need of some mommy love. When the day gets the best of me, and I am ready to lose it, that mommy love is what I turn to for perspective, a quick chat and I am ready to face life again. Being thirty I still turn to mom with all my troubles, and I want to do the same for my kids.

Getting ready for bed I told my dear son my plans to change my name. "But mom you are mom." Leave it to a four year old to put it in perspective too. Yes I am mom and it is a badge I wear with pride. My kids will always need me just like I need my mommy. So I take the bad, because mom is a pretty cool name.

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Taco Tuesday
Jun 02, 2008 6:52 pm

My son woke up this morning, and like every morning the first thing he asks is " what day is today?" Once a week before I answer I have to brace myself. This day is today because in our house it is Taco Tuesday. As soon as the day comes out of my mouth shouts of joy follow, proceeded by the endless question," Are you making tacos now?" Taco Tuesday has become a staple in our home, not a Tuesday has gone buy that I have not made tacos. So when the kids get older I hope they remember Taco Tuesday, and share Taco Tuesday with their own family! Do you have a Taco Tuesday or a pizza Saturday?

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And the Livin' is Easy
Jun 02, 2008 6:41 pm

Oh it is here, knock on wood, sprinklers, gardens, flowers, beach towels, sun block, barbecue, ice tea I can go on and on. This is the time of year I love! We are off and running already. The garden is in and starting to grow, the plants are in their planters and the kids finally were able to wear their swimsuits outside and get a little wet. Living in a cold weather state you enjoy warm weather all the more-blessed sun I worship you! and so do the kiddos. Here is our garden, tomatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, lettuce, peppers, onions and garlic. There are some strawberries on the right hand side. We also have a cherry and peach dwarf trees. Yes this is a Strawberry pot and coming out is mint. The top is spearmint, trailing out the sides in chocolate mint and ginger mint. This grows very well and needs lots of water. N & M love to pick the leaves off and eat them so I never have to maintain. Because I put the mint in pots it does not come back but is a lot easier to control! A nice summer treat is to use the ginger mint, sugar and water to make a simple syrup add juice of 10 lemons, then add a liter of ginger ale. I love fresh rosemary and thyme, I keep it on the deck along with basil. I love to warm up tomatoes with fresh spinach and add pasta. YUMMY! These are Symphony Daisies. I buy them every year, they bloom all year round and are so bright and welcoming for our front door. We are outdoor people, one of our favorite thing to do is take trips to the garden store and buy a plant or two every week. I have stepped up from my "blue" thumb last year to a novice "green" thumb this year! I might be jumping the gun- HAPPY SUMMER!

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Birds Nest Craft
May 22, 2008 6:38 am

Yesterday we did a quick and easy craft, birds nest. You will only need a few supplies, a small Dixie Cup, paper shreds, like you find in the gift wrapping section, glue and pom-poms. Cut your small Dixie cup 2/3 the way down. Use paint brush to paint glue around the cup. Place paper shreds around cup, wrapping all the way around, glue any loose ends in place. Allow it to be free flowing and natural like a real nest. Glue two pom-poms together for a lil’ bird for your nest.

*See more pics at http://lilmomthatcould.com/

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The Good, The Bad and (The Thought of Wearing )an Ugly Nun Habit
May 21, 2008 6:00 pm

Here is my Mother's Day Essay entry- i must have been cheeky when I wrote this!

I love being a mom, of course. I am partial but I have the best kids in the world. My kids inspire me, they keep me active and they make me see the world a little differently. It is hard to pick one thing, there is so much that make being a mom great. The truth is though it is not all sunshine and roses, if it were this won’t be the hardest job in the world. Heck if it was that easy we wouldn’t have Mother’s day, it would be Father’s Day, just kidding. So I will not talk about how great it is being mom, I am going to talk about the horrors of being a mom.
I have honestly questioned, on more then one occasion , why I didn’t join a convent. Those days were I can make no one happy. Nolan, whining, can’t find his special truck. Megan is at my heels crying because her incisor teeth are coming in. I swear I just vacuumed the living room, why are there Lucky Charms all over the carpet? Grab the Tylenol, hold Megan while I vacuum and grind blue horseshoes into the carpet, move the couch there lies said special truck. Crisis averted but alas it is only seven in the morning, I have a whole day of this!
On these days I consider the Sound of Music a horror flick. If I were watching it at that very moment I would yell at Maria, as she walked through those mansion doors, “ GO BACK! Be with your sisters, don’t go through those door.” Silly women all confident. She was lucky though she never had to deal with a toddler. She never had to stand at the kitchen cabinet trying to figure out what cereal a two year old wants. No she was lucky, aside from the frog in her pocket, she got to braid hair and sing merrily away.
As the afternoon winds down, and I have cleaned more messes then I can count and dealt with more tantrums then I care to, the hubbie comes home. Sweet relief. Then suddenly it hits me as soon as daddy walks through that door I have one more mouth to feed and one more mess to clean. He had a bad day and I have one more kid to take care of. Where is the local nunnery?
After the little ones are tucked in bed, and the dishes are in the dishwasher I have a minute to relax. It was a hard day, maybe tomorrow will be better. I go in to check on my sleeping children. I take a deep breath, they look like angels. How can these two little cherubs be the same two rugrats that caused me to pull out my hair today? No matter how bad a day I have, I can look at their sleeping faces and know it was all worth it. Yes being a mom is tough, but you can count on one less nun in the convent.
Mother’s day is a great day, I love the extra attention. It isn’t the gifts or the special breakfast once a year that I love as a mom. It is the unsolicited hugs and kisses, it is those moments when I am on the verge of tears and my kids climb in my lap and say “ I love you,.” There is not one great thing about being a mom just a whole lot of little things.
Happy Mother’s Day

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A Trip to the Park
more then a trip to the park
May 16, 2008 11:09 am

There are many ways to tell that my children are growing.  The fact that N went from the toddler section to the big boy side of the store was a scary thing for me, I actually cried in Target, one lonely tear cry.  Megan has also jumped to clothing that ends in “T” no more “months” for my baby.  My heart gets a little heavy, as my wallet gets a litter lighter, as my little ones become a big boy and girl.  Yesterday I discovered a new way to determine their growth, a trip to the park.  This is not our first trip to the park this spring but for some reason yesterdays trip was a vast remainder on how much N & M have grown.

N by the end of fall last year had allowed us to put him in a swing and push him gently.  All last summer he struggled with the idea of the big boy swing.  He enjoyed being pushed high in the baby swings but the openness of the big boy swing was a little much.  This spring there is no fear of the open swing, in fact we are doing “underdogs” or whatever monster truck he is at the moment.  He loves the wind in his hair and the higher the better.  He is letting down his guard a little bit at a time, it is so cool watching those insecurities of last year melt away.

M no longer needs mommy’s guidance, or as I called it the linebacker defense, as she toddles up the stairs and heads down the slide.  In fact the idea of me behind her brings out the sullen teenager in her.  Roll of the eyes and finger pointing down makes her look twelve not almost two.  I am still cautious but I take a step back.  M is my no fear girl.  I always think of the quote, my lovely sister-in- law told me once.  “Well behaved woman seldom make history.”  Watching Megan demand her independence in the smallest ways makes me know she will make

For a few moments I get to sit on the park bench and watch my kids play.  I get to watch and laugh as M tries to chase bird, or see N have monster truck races down the slide.  Being able to relax like this reminds me that my children are getting older, I can take a step back and watch them play.  But for the record I will always take my shoes off and play in the sandbox.

See pictures here!

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3 Days, The 3 R’s and 3 New Mother Earth Lovin’ Tree-huggers
May 09, 2008 12:01 pm

Neer entered my Earth day contest blog :) 

Day One:

I will admit we are not a very Green family. More so out of the force of habit I think. I can honestly say I do not recycle everything that I am suppose to and at any given moment of the day more then five lights will be on in the house. I decided the best way to start our first steps to make the planet a better place was to truly look at what we could do in our own home to “Go Green.”

After we woke up and had our breakfast we went to brush our teeth and noticed our first “r,” reduce. The water was running when it didn’t need to be. We turned the water off and only used a slight trickle when we were rinsing our brushes. I realized I usually do have the water on when I brush my teeth, a small change I can make for the Earth.

When I went downstairs to do some laundry, I took a peek at my washing machine to see what my settings were at . I noticed another “r”, reduce. I lowered the water level from extra large load to medium load. I also changed the temperature from warm to cold. I am happy to say that my clothes were clean! The other thing I noticed with my laundry were my dryer sheets, I tried running the dryer sheet through the dryer for two loads. This works okay, not as soft clothes but no static. I did notice the dryer sheet stilled smelled nice after being used. Perfect little sachets , take your used dryer sheets put them in some old pantyhose, cut to size, and tie with a bow! “R”euse!

All throughout the day we “r”educed by playing the lights off game. I yelled “marks, get set, GO!” We went all through the house turning off all the lights on in the house! The first round we had five lights on! Nolan loved racing around the house, he was laughing the whole time afterwards he said “for the earth!” Before we left the house we checked the lights and turned off the T.V. I will admit I do leave the T.V. on when we walk out of the house. Another small change for the big planet!

Day 2

We are doing everything we learned yesterday, teeth brushing, laundry and keeping lights off we do not use. We have to up an “R” today so our focus will be on “r”ecycling. So if digging through the trash and dry heaving doesn’t teach me to recycle maybe the fact that half, yes I said HALF, my trash was recyclable. Boy I am public enemy #1. On to the recycling bin it went, half a bag of garbage WOW!!! I think recycling will take a little work for our family, throughout the day I caught myself throwing away things that could be recycled.

Today was also a day I sat down and did a little leg work, I signed up at Greendime per a mommytalkers forum post. Super easy and you can do it for free! I found out that I can recycle my phonebooks. It seems every “little” thing I do is adding up and there is always something new I can do.

Day 3

We had some fun today, we planted seeds. We “r”eused some egg cartons to start are bean and pea seeds. We decided this year to expand our garden. Bean, peas , tomatoes, peppers and lettuce. We are excited to start planting, whenever the weather warms up. Not only are we encouraging healthy eating and sustaining the environment but we are showing the kids that hard work will have its rewards.

That has been the best thing out of these three days, one great lesson about protecting the earth has rolled into another great lesson. Nolan and Megan have enjoyed learning, and that is the best part. Watching Nolan’s excitement as he turns off the lights or seeing at Megan enjoy putting seeds into the egg carton. We have made some great memories, and learned to give back to a planet that has given us so much.

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Dandelions, Baseball and Birth Stories
May 08, 2008 6:11 pm

Yes the evil dandelion weed, E spends the better part of the summer trying to get rid of them. But a dandelion is a flower and for today we had fun with them. M went around the yard picking dandelions she looked like Laura Ingells roaming the prairies picking wild flowers. I followed M all around the yard tying the dandelions she collected and tied them into a crown. As I made the crown, a Tru Green Truck past. I swear I got the look of death from the driver. How dear I make something pretty out of something that they portray as evil. The kids got a kick out of the crown, they wore it as they looked at our tulips with a magnifying glass. M got a little silly.

Okay a little back story before I get to our next adventure. When I was preggers with M I had labor on and off for almost 2 weeks. I could not get my contractions regular. On the day M was born I woke up with horrible pressure I went to the doctor, not my regular doctor, who sent me home. I laid down and started contracting, they went from 10 to five all of our neighbors were gone and we had to take N to the hospital. My water broke en route and M was almost born in the car in the hospital parking lot. N saw the whole thing, he was three.

On to yesterday. N wanted to play baseball and so we did. A little boy, I could tell he was kinda get sick of flowers. As we were playing he stopped and said “Mom Megan came out of your pee-pee and was all icky when you had her in your big tummy.” I was floored so I asked “where did you see that?” He responded quite honestly ” the hospital.” I always worried seeing M birth might traumatize him, but I have no worries, we went on to play baseball!

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Flowers
May 07, 2008 4:30 am

We are only half way through the week and the kids and I are having a blast with our week of flowers.  Inspired by Kids Craft Weekly, I have used the crafts given and expanded on our daily happenings with my own ideas.  We have cooked with flowers, flower crafts, and we walked amongest flowers.  You can see some of our doings here.  I am going to contiue this every week.  The kids have had fun and Nolan has even been napping!  A sure sign of fun for mommy.

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The Sickness Shuffle
May 02, 2008 4:47 pm

I always seem to write about my appearance as a mom. I have to admit I am getting better. On those jogging pant’s days I try harder to do my hair, put on a little make-up. Our appearance says a lot about us. Today my appearance tells you one of two things, that I spend the better part of the week in a tavern or I have been taking care of two sick kids. Unfortunately I am sober.

Taking care of sick kids leaves me tired, very tired. Doing the blow nose, drink water, cold syrup, Tylenol, rub back shuffle at all hours of the night can make you lose some Zzzz. One of the first things to go is my decision making skills. Case in point today while discussing with Nolan how to deal with a bossy classmate I told Nolan to tell the kid “who made you king of the classroom.” I know not the best thing to teach your child, but the bossy brat classmate weighs on my nerves so I forgive myself ,and Nolan, if Nolan says anything.

The mind is always the first to go, then soon I am stumbling around like I have had a few drinks. Last night as I stumbled around trying to get the kids medicine I stubbed my toe and ran into a wall. Not to mention while trying to dispense cough medicine, in the dark I spilled some on the white carpet. Nothing like extra work for a mommy.

I do try to avoid the stairs at all cost on these nights, nothing like a stumble down the stairs at 3:00 a.m. Which brings up a question, if I did take a tumble down the steps would my husband hear? He certainly does not hear the coughing and crying at 3:00 a.m. How can he sleep through the noise perfectly content dreaming away. Last night the thought crossed my mind, but I remiss hubby’s life insurance is not that great.

We are moms and it is part of the code, we take care of our sick kids. It breaks my heart to see my kids cough, or cry. I do everything within my power to make them feel “all better.” After the last gallon of snot has dripped out of their precious noses and the last box of Kleenex is in the garbage I come to appreciate certain thing a little more. A full night sleep for one, but mostly the fact my kids are pretty darn healthy. Pretty soon they won’t need me to rub their backs or help them get drinks at the wee hours of the morning. One day I won’t have to tell Nolan “no tissue first then blow your nose.” They need me now and when the day comes that they don’t I will miss it, if only just a little.

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Real Mom- Art Curator
Apr 27, 2008 5:33 am

My talents in art consists of stick people and third grade flowers and hearts, you can say I appreciate art. One of the five best days in my life was the day I spent at the Chicago Art Museum. This was before children, I roamed the halls- Picasso, Seurat, Renoir. To make it even more special was a traveling display of Ansel Adams original portraits. Now you see his prints in every superbox store but nothing compares to seeing the original, the lighting, the signature at the bottom, heaven. I look at art differently now that I am a mom. I see the two red stripes that is suppose to symbolize blood- shed for all men-kind, more as two ketchup stains I know will be a bitch to get out. Was the true genius Jackson Pollock or the woman who had to clean the mess he made after his artistic masterpieces? And of course the true works of art do not hang in the museum but are on my fridge, and a couple of walls in my house.

Meg’s artistic tool of choice is a pen. I know she is only one. She gets vast supervision. I have tried to buy the longer crayons that look like pens, but she was not fooled. Her drawing and coloring consist of masterful straight lines and angles set off by a few sweeping arches. Her concentration to her work is awe-inspiring. Very precise, and very neat. When we got out the chalk she hated the idea of dust on her hands, no Pollock here.

Nolan’s skills have evolved beautifully. I had mommy-pride when the teacher showed me his self portrait. He was well above the other kids, even putting pupils in the eyes. So this is what daVinci’s mom felt like. Nolan is very fond of paint, finger paint. He has the skills of a fine modern artist. He is my Pollock if you will. I have a pair a pants that suffered the casualty of paint splatters, washable my right knee. His greatest days are when I fill up my little tins with green, red, and yellow paint, at school he heads right to the paint table.

I to enjoy coloring and painting with my kids, no masterpieces for me, but it is the fun that is more important. I enjoy the art I can put on the fridge, although I could do without crayon on the wall. My kids love to create and I love to show it off. So please Excuse me I must adjust my track lighting to the new masterpiece on the fridge.

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Curiosity Might Have Killed the Cat but it Made George Cute.
Apr 04, 2008 8:25 am

Everyday , like most mommies, I am face with an endless barrage of questions. From my one year old it is usually simply pointing to something in a picture book and saying “tat.” Her inquisitive nature is easily answered with “yes a dog.” She smiles as if to say thank you. The hard one right now is my four year old, when everything and the meaning of life itself is up for answers. No simple quick answer will do, and is usually followed by another question and “I don’t know” will just not do either. I have to very curious monkeys indeed

“Mom does Grandpa have gray hair?” That was the big question yesterday. Simple enough you think but when I answered that Grandpa did in fact have gray hair, a sad looked crossed Nolan’s face, “ I don’t want Grandpa to be old!” A reassurance that Grandpa was healthy, and not old seem to do the trick. I smiled at is deep concern for his Grandpa, as I am sure his Grandpa would too.

Curiosity does not stop at questions though. Megan, one, finds everything and has to examine everything, which ultimately makes one fine mess. She often will take liquid from one cup and put it into another, back and forth like a little scientist. Sometimes I imagine she is discovering the cure for the common cold, mixing chemicals to find the perfect balance. While I am imagining her claim her Noble Prize, the said balance is all over my kitchen floor. Anything in reach is up with for discovery and anything that makes a mess is best.

When we step outside it is another world. Nolan loves trucks and machines, I have become very informed in all construction trucks, what job they do on and on. This is something of course I would never know unless I had a little boy. Soon I will be wrapped up in all things Hannah Montana with Megan, and all thing girl. I will keep being curious as they grow, keeping track of the new thing. Staying curious in my kids life will keep me close and let them know I care. My kids curiosity has led me to be more curious. It is like I am look at things differently, I have a brand new sense of wonder, a brand new set of eyes. “What bug is that.” I look it up on the computer and I am able to share a new fact with my kids, we share a curious moment. Kids see the world and they see endless possibilities, endless questions to be answered, and endless messes to be made.

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e- mail to my mom...
Mar 25, 2008 6:30 pm

Okay after the Easter baskets were emptied and every toy was tested and played with I sent this e-mail to my mom...

I came to the realization today that somethings that I enjoyed as a child- you might not of enjoyed so much.  Case in point Silly Putty.  I put one egg in each of the kids basket- excited because my DC would enjoy something I did as a child- Well I just got done cleaning it out of the carpet.  So I am apoligizing if I ever got Silly Putty in the carpet when I was a kid- What a bitch to clean!

The truth is i never remember my mom complaining and with 4 kids with silly putty there was bond to be some in the carpet. It was tough to clean the silly putty but watching the kids smile and fun with it, was worth it.  Granted it will be a long while before those egg shaped containers find there way into the kids Easter Baskets!  You live and learn and laugh a little too.

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The Eccentric Ones
Mar 20, 2008 2:13 pm

One of the greatest things about children is their incredible knack of seeing things not how they were meant to be. Their sense of imagination and wonder turns the most ordinary things into the most extraordinary things. How a bowl can be a hat or a pot and spoon creates their very own rock band. I am truly amazed everyday at my children’s sense of wonder.

Nolan has a great imagination. Being four I get great detail on what is and isn’t. “Mom that’s not a bowl that is a ramp for my monster trucks.” He states this so convincingly that I sometimes find myself questioning my own adult reality. All this time I was mixing thing and preparing food in that bowl-silly me . The true testament to Nolan’s imagination was when he wanted me to build a circus tent. I helped him, he instructed me how to put the blankets on my four poster bed. I got a kick watching his face as we constructed and played in the tent, he saw something more then a bed and blankets, he saw a whole new world.

Megan not talking yet it is harder to say how she sees things, and I really would love to know. Meg being one means she will play with any and everything she can get her hands on, being that it is safe I will let her play. The newest one intrigues me though, a bit strange, feminine hygiene products. It came to my attention one day when I found a tampon wrapper in the middle of the living room then the tampon on the steps, a clean one ladies don‘t worry. I was quite shocked but happy no neighbor stopped by and happen to see female products strewed about the house. What she thinks tampons are I will never know, but when she does find out what they really are for she’ll realize they are not fun at all.

An adults cannot get away with walking around with a bowl on their head, if we did we would probably be committed . Was Johnny Appleseed sane when he planted apple seeds with a pot on his head. When we see a person walking around with some sort of eccentricity, are they certifiable or has that sense of wonder never left them? I do often wonder at what age I lost that pure creative thinking, or did I lose it at all? As a mom I often have to MacGyver it and find a way to appease the mass. A cold washcloth becomes a teething aid or a walk around the block becomes a hike through the rain forest. Children truly are eccentric beings, who else could break us out of our everyday adult shells and see the world as it truly was meant to be.

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Mall Rats
Mar 13, 2008 8:22 am

I am not one to spend much time in the mall- if I don't have the money I do not go there, mostly because I face the ironic fate that when I have no money I love everything, and when I am ready to spend nothing looks great.  Yesterday though I found myself at the mall for an Easter Bunny visit. 

The Easter Bunny was first of course. Big ups to Meg for not crying- she actually said "hi" to the bunny!  We took our picture and I paid for the ridculously expensive pictures.  I reserve the right to spend the extra dough because I feel it is a right of childhood.  Here is a hint to all moms, before lunch on weekdays is the time to see the mall Santas and Easter Bunny-no waiting!

Then we got to pick from the internatioal cuisine that is the mall food court.  Eating as we peopled watched, the best part about the mall if you ask me.  Man there are some weird people most of them seem to always be at the mall.

Okay is is the gross part of the story- we had to use the mall family bath-YUCK!  Nolan love for the mini toliet made him want to do #2 and I had to run defense to try to keep Meg from touching everything.  By the end-10 minutes-my anxiety was through the roof.

This mall visit I had the dough and a mission- and not a thing looked great of course.  Off to the book store.  This is the only reason to come to the mall- I love the kids books, the discount tables are the bomb.  Funny book store story- My mother in law had never really been in a Barnes and Noble and was not happy when my sister in law dragged her in, 30 minutes later they had to drag my MIL out. We played and looked at books-and of course I cannot leave without buying some.  I even found the book my cousin Jess modeled for- http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Real-Spirit/Elizabeth-Chobanian/e/9781584857303/?itm=3   Check out the cute girl on the cover that is her!

I am not a mall rat-but I had fun!

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Monster Truck Mania
Mar 09, 2008 6:12 pm

You find it hard sometimes finding good quality time with each kid.  If not competing with Megan I usually am competing with Daddy. The stars aligned today and I had over an hour with Nolan all to myself and I learned everything I need to know about Monster Trucks.

Nolan and I started our quality time watching Gravedigger and Batman plow over cars and do doughnuts. I learned that monster truck weigh over 10,000 pounds and have over 1,600 horsepower. If you asked me 5 years ago if I cared about trucks, the answer would have been “no!” Now this is the coolest information ever! I learned Scarlett Bandit and Pastarana are two trucks with woman drivers, girl power! I then watched Nolan put on his own show- packed with donuts, car crushing , barrel rolling fun. Oh yeah there was even a fire!

Nolan loves his trucks so much he is willing to do his chores to buy a new one. That is love! I have a bank so after he has completed his task he gets a quarter. Not many four year olds ask to vacuum or clean out the dishwasher. He gets so excited when he is done with his chore and even more when he gets a new truck.

I have to admit monster trucks have been the source of much frustration this week. I have been helping the Easter bunny with some basket stuffing and one favored truck is hard to find- but seeing Nolan’s love gives me a little boast to try harder. I love his passion and excitement for his trucks, and I love even more that I can share it with him!

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Megan's Hugs
Mar 07, 2008 6:54 pm

I know I am a bit partial to this but my little 20 month old gives the best hugs in the whole world. my little girls hugs are like the whole world hugging you-a feeling of great love and peace just surrond you. It is so amazing.

Upon your request for a hug, across the room Megan will look at you and smile the biggest smile, from ear to ear and back again. Then she runs, runs not walks, towards you at full speed. Megan then proceeds to hold her arms out and wrap them around you placing her head on your chest. You think it would end there but it doesn't . She then gives a tight squeeze, not a pat she actually holds on tight. After this great hug she looks up smiling again ear to ear, she has succeeded in her job.

I have to laugh everytime. The love she has in her little body could give world peace and hold anyone speechless, she is some girl.

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Megan's speech
20 months
Mar 05, 2008 6:54 pm

We had our 3 month check-up with Birth to Three, for Megan's speech.  She is still below her age requirements.  Her progression though and her above average comp. and play skills show there is not much to worry about at this time.  The speech therapist suggested the use of some signs to help curb the frustrations.  I was concerened this would keep her from speaking but quite the oppisite.  Megan will start to see the value of communication and this in turn will help her grasp more speaking communication skills.  Tommrow I will start with "drink" and "more."   So Megan is 20 months in three months we we re-evaluate her.  But I must admit one proud moment- they commented how smart she was- she can understand well beyond her little years- I am so proud.

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Wild children
Feb 28, 2008 11:58 am

I have the two wildest kids in the world. Nolan I swear needs an off switch. He can go morning to night . I really cherish the moments when he his still- meaning eating. His obsession with monster trucks latley is too cute. Yesterday he had his flag, his prize from the monster truck show, shoved in the back of his pants. "What are you doing dude" he told me he was a monster truck and "zoomed" off making his best loud truck noice. Now all you moms of boys know monster trucks will have flags on the back- it took me a minute then I died laughing. Right now in fact my coffee table is set up as a monster truck show- we have to sit and watch Nolan put on a show. He has the cars to run over the ramps and of course the bob cat to clean up the mess. What a card.

Megan-oh my God Megan. i have never seen such a fearless 20 month old. last night she tried to do the splits! She was slowly lowering herself down I had to stop her. Her fave thing to do is somersaults and she can almost do them on her own! She thinks it is the greatest thing ever. I think she'll be doing them own her own by spring. The thing that gets me the most is her jumping. She will jump on the bed -but in the air she lifts up her feet straight out and lands on her butt. That tiny little thing in the air scares the life out of me- but she knows the right moments to sneak upstairs and get her jump on.

I think if my children were calm I'd go crazy.

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Blog challenge #1
Nolan’s first day of preschool
Feb 26, 2008 6:25 pm

The thought of me sending my little boy to pre-school was hard.  We had spend 3 years together- the two of us.  Where ever I was, Nolan was not to far behind.  With the birth of Megan though it was changing and I knew he needed more interaction.  I was still reluctant though, so much so that I held off till October, after school had started.
The first day was going great, got dressed, took the traditional going to school pictures, then headed off.  The first obstacle was getting to the front door, this because the parking lot and the front door were about 50 yards away.  The first day we walked up calm, poor kid didn’t know what was coming.  We showed Nolan the classroom , and I stood around a bit then the head teacher told me it was time for me to go, she knew he would cry but it was best to not drag it out.  I kissed Nolan and the tears began to flow, his and mine.  I am tearing up right now thinking about it.  The teacher shook her head as to say it is okay.
When I got home I thought I would wait a half hour till I called the school, ten minutes later I was on the phone.  Nolan had calmed down and was playing.  When I picked him up he was as happy as could be he had fun!
Now the second day was a little more hectic.  Poor guy knew what was coming and threw a fit at home, in the car and in the 50 yard dash to the front door.  When I got in the building I was emotional drained, I walked out the door with Nolan in tow.  When the teacher called she was so understanding, she told me to park closer to the building in the front, which I had no idea you could.  Then when we started our new week it started to get better.  Each day we cried a little bit , then after a couple of weeks Nolan didn’t even lift his head up to say bye to me.  It was hard but this is one of those band-aid moments we have as parents, right off.   The pain goes away, and in the end the benefits Nolan got from his first year at pre-school are unmeasurable.  When he started preschool this year there was no tears- well just mine.

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Why I am going Crazy
Feb 18, 2008 6:26 pm

It has come apparent that the winter blahs have taken effect. I am happy to say that this year has not been as bad as other years-falling about two weeks short from turning into Jack Torrance. "Heeeerrrres Susan" Alas though I have been snowed in for more days then I care to be!
I have tried to pack the day with little surprises for the kids, baking and crafts. We have yet to spend more then a half an hour on those surprises. It keeps us on our toes, and keeps the T.V. off. I am happy that Nolan and Megan can find games and toys to occupy themselves, which helps with my Mommytalk checkups:). I still find myself looking out the window hoping to find the first sign of spring!

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Mommy the sucker
Adventures at Build a Bear
Feb 16, 2008 3:59 pm

I would like to congratulate the thinktank behind Build A Bear Workshop. What a ingenius idea, not only stuff the bears-but make them grr,meow,woof, sing, dress them in human clothing and make a gazillon dollars doing it. I think it more of a right of passage, the every other mommy is doing sort of thing I guilt myself into. Can I tell you I was right! We started off the trip well enough but once you enter the Build a Bear doors it is like prision doors come crashing down on you-the smily teenage girls who look so happy to serve you now only have smiles of pleasure, pleasure of you being at their beck and call. You are stuck in this cherry primary color cell until you have properly completed every step of the "birthing" process. After my children picked out their animal,my son questioning why it was flat, not yet grasping the situation. We waited in line to have our precious treasures to be stuffed for 15 minutes. 15 minutes for an 18 month old is an eternity, and thinking there would be no time to sit I left the stroller in the car. When are turn came my son suddenly got shy and refused to push the button to stuff his dog and my daughter was more interested in the racks of clothes, then we kissed our hearts & sewed them up. The next step I was at first confused a fake tub? But I guessed after 9 months of sitting in a huge bin you to would need a good washing. The next step was the dressing. My supermommy skills kicked in and I kept them to one small area-to many options would be more time incarcerated. Perfect I picked the section with the baseball gear for my son and the ballet coustume for my daughter. Yeah that went quick. Then onto the naming ceremony-which I have to enter everything but my childrens social security numbers. We named our pets and printed their certificates-and waited in line for 15 more minutes to pay! We got out of the store children smiling carring their boxed treasure. I let out a sigh of relieve!

I won't change this day for the world we spend time together and made a memory-5 hours later the animals and their clothing are all over the house and my children are running around with the Build a Bear boxes on their heads!