17th Nov2008

Monday Mornings

by The Boss

I woke up this morning with Zion on my head, twirling my hair in his fingers. Aidan was laying her head on my thighs, and who can blame her, they do resemble pillows. She had bad dreams about robots, and WALL-E, from the Disney movie was there. Which is weird cause we haven’t even seen that movie, but we have WALL-E band-aids because they were on clearance at Wal-Mart.

Today I put a Thomas shirt on Andrew, you can be assured that he’ll still be wearing it on Thursday. He has a general rule for himself that once Thomas goes on, it can never come off. I wrestled with Zion to change an incredibly stinky diaper. He actually yelled at me to “STOP IT!” Then Ben’s boss made my morning and told Ben not to go in till 8. I immediately gave him the job of taking Aidan to school. Hooray!

As soon as Aidan knew that Ben was taking her to school, she was ready to go. I told her that she wasn’t allowed to be at school earlier than 7:30 and that she had about 30 minutes before she could leave. She said, “I can count to 30 and then it will be time to go!” I told her that she had to count to 60, 30 times and then it would be time to go. Which doesn’t make sense to me this morning, but I’m pretty sure that’s right…I think. It doesn’t matter, she thought that was to much work to do before school and quickly found something else to do.

Right now, the boys have begun their morning rituals of arguing and falling in the floor to protest the others actions.They will continue this for most of the morning. Protesting gets you nowhere in this house. I know, I’ve tried. Or, maybe they’re just better at protesting than I am. Maybe they are protesting my protesting and I am just figuring it out. I’m always the last to know these things.


Category : Memoirs
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16th Nov2008

::le sigh::

by The Boss

Aidan is a 5 year old know-it-all.

Category : The Children
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15th Nov2008

Friday Felicities

by The Boss

I completely forgot to do this yesterday. So, I’m doing it now.

  • I love it when my husband is off on his off day.
  • I have a TV card in my computer now. I can surf the Internet and watch TV at the same time. Productivity has decreased by 50%.
  • I’m creating a new blog and recruiting the writing styles of Laura, my oh so fabulous sister-in-law.
  • Zoe is in LOVE with her big sister.
  • Thunder storms.
  • Changing my mind.
  • Aidan says,”For Real” at the end of every sentence now.
  • She also argues with me, and on the inside I’m proud of her.
  • On the outside, she’s grounded.

Thanks to Becky!

Category : Featured, Friday Felicities
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13th Nov2008

by The Boss

Dear Internet,

You weren’t working this morning so the cable guy had to come and fix you. It makes me a little angry that you always go out on me when I need you the most. To be clear, I always need you the most. See, I am working on this new blog. A very special blog, that needs lots of work because I want to launch it BEFORE the holidays, even though chances of that seem very slim. I will endure.

I’m sorry if I am a little cranky. The kids are sick and I had to make a midnight run to the store to gather up things like ibuprophen, tissues and hard liquor to get me through the night and today. I’m just kidding, I already had tissues. Ok, I didn’t buy any hard liquor, the iles were blocked off and I thought it would seem strange to cause such a fuss about not being able to get down that perticular isle.

I am also expecting my grandmother and aunt today. Since my mother would find it unheard of for them to visit without her, I know she’ll be here to. While you weren’t working this morning I cleaned up the house superfast, then the cable guy came and I missed my opportunity to shower while Zoe was sleeping. I guess one more day wont hurt.

Oh, and this morning while cleaning I discovered what Andrew has been peeing on that makes the bathroom smell so horrible. I don’t know why it never occurred to me before. I will never use toilet seat covers again.

XOXOXOXOXO,

Brandice

Category : Featured, Memoirs
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12th Nov2008

It Takes Determination

by The Boss

It’s about 3:45am when two little eyes pop open and a little mind starts conjuring up amazing ideas to include in his day, unfortunately for his parents, that day begins now.

“I think I’ll go talk to Mommy now.” He gathers up his belongings, a stinky stinky blanket that he refers to as “button” and an oversized Thomas pillow that his Aunt Laura made for him, drags them through the house, climbs into his parents bed, squeezes his little body in between his mommy and daddy,  and stares at his mommy’s face. When she doesn’t respond he taps her face and says “Hey Mom” then sticks his thumb back in his mouth.

“Zion, what’s wrong?”

“Hey Mom, what are you doing?”

“Zion, do you need something?”

“Look Mom, Thomas pillow!”

“Zion, do you need something?”

“It’s morning Mom.”

“NO, it isn’t Zion.”

“Yes.It.Is.Mom!”

“OK, it’s morning, but it’s not time to get up yet,”

“OK Mom.”

[10 minutes pass]

“Hey Mom.”

“WHAT Zion?”

“Hey Mom.”

“Yes?”

“Hey Moooommmmmyyyyy”

“HEY ZION!”

“I want some milk Mom.”

“GO. TO. SLEEP. ZION!”

“OK Mom.”

[10 more minutes pass]

Ben’s voice: “Get off of me Zion.”

“Hey Dad”

“Zion, it’s bed time”

“No, its morning Dad.”

“NO ITS BED TIME, ZION!”

“Hey Dad.”

“What Zion?!”

“I got a boo boo Dad.”

“I’m sorry you have a boo boo Zion.”

“It’s OK Dad.”

“Hey Dad. Can I have some milk Dad?”

“As soon as it’s breakfast time Zion.”

“Hey Dad.”

“GO TO BED!”

“Hey Dad.”

::exasperated:: “What Zion?”

“It’s breakfast time.”

“Let’s get some milk, Zion.”

Category : The Children
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12th Nov2008

Boxes are for Hiding Things, Not Living In

by The Boss

Megan at twitter moms and Global Wonders asked the question How do you inspire your children to learn more not only about their own culture, but the customs, languages and lifestyles of others?

For us, it’s a simple as exposure and answering their questions. Children are naturally curious and we all know they LOVE to ask questions. For example, something as simple as a Blue’s Clues video on Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan and Kwanzaa led to this question while grocery shopping;

“Mommy, can we celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa?”

It took me a second to figure out where she was coming from, then I remembered the video. I couldn’t think of a reason why not. I can sit down with her and explain that the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah to celebrate the miracle of light and military victory, or we can light candles for 8 nights and I can teach her about it. For the record, we haven’t done this yet, but it’s my plan this year.

My mom got her Spanish degree while I was in High School. After that she got her Law degree. Now she works in a small town with a high Hispanic population. She’s working on a project right now to help bring the community together. When we go to her office and the clients are speaking with the secretaries, and it’s all in Spanish, Aidan’s eyes will light up.  She’s very curious about the Spanish language, I think my mom has really instilled that in her.

A good book can take you places! My best friend went to Amsterdam last year. She brought the kids a book that showed them a map and explained that Amsterdam was mostly built on water. The book has drawings of houseboats with gardens on their decks, and other sites you would see around the city.

Another fun way to teach about other cultures is to talk about our ancestors. Like, everyone from my side of the family came from Europe or was Native American. Ben’s family is French Canadian, German, Dutch and Irish.

I think the biggest thing is YOU have to learn and make friends with people who are not like you. You can’t spend your life in a box, or your kids will too.

What are your ideas?

Category : Featured
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10th Nov2008

Mom Candy

by The Boss

Rolling over onto toys in the middle of the night

Amazing children despite MY mistakes

Singing in the car

Dried cheerios stuck to various pieces of furniture throughout the house

Tickle Giggles

Knock-knock jokes that always end with the same punchline

Baby coos

Dirty faces

100 questions at bedtime

Spontaneous weddings

What makes you smile?

Category : The Children
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09th Nov2008

I Got Married Over Coffee This Morning

by The Boss

Ben and I were drinking our coffee at the breakfast table this morning and he gave me a kiss as the kids were walking through the kitchen.

The next thing we knew, we were in the middle of our wedding ceremony. Aidan was officiating. She yelled the WHOLE time.

“KISS MOMMY AGAIN! This is your wedding!”

“PRETEND TO GIVE MOMMY A RING!”

“SAY I LOVE YOU TO MOMMY!”

“SAY I LOVE YOU TO DADDY!”

“SAY YOU’LL HAVE COFFEE TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES!”

“MOMMY, YOU SAY WE’LL PICK APPLES OFF OF THE APPLE TREE”

“DADDY, SAY OK!”

“MOMMY, SAY THAT YOU JUST HAD A BABY BUT DADDY CAN LOOK AT HER”

“DADDY, SAY MOMMY IS SPARKLY!!”

“MOMMY, SAY DADDY IS PRETTY!”

“PRETEND TO GIVE MOMMY A RING AGAIN!”

“MOMMY, GIVE A RING BACK TO DADDY!”

“DADDY, TELL MOMMY SHE’S THE BESTEST WOMAN EVER!”

“MOMMY, TELL DADDY HE’S HANDSOME!”

“MOMMY, TELL DADDY YOU LOVE LADY BUGS!”

“MORE THAN ANY OTHER BUG!”

“BUT I LOVE YOU MORE!”

“DADDY, TELL MOMMY YOU LOVE DADDY LONG LEGS!”

“MORE THAN ANY OTHER BUGS!”

“BUT I LOVE YOU MORE!”

“NOW KISS YOUR WIFE!”

“MAKE SURE YOU MAKE THAT *SMACKING* SOUND OR ITS NOT A REAL KISS!”

“NOW I WILL CRACK THE MAGIC EGG AND WE’LL RETURN TO OUR HOUSE!” [referencing Oscar the Pig:Mommy Goes to Work]

Once she heard us aruging and she dictated an apology letter to Ben that he was to give me. It said;

“I am sorry I was mean to you. I didn’t mean it. You are my woman and I am your man. I love you.”

Category : Featured, Memoirs
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07th Nov2008

Friday Felicities

by The Boss

Maybe he thought it was a spaceship

This weeks felicities will be dedicated to Andrew. He turned 4 yesterday.

1. It makes me CRAZY happy that every night when I am tucking the kids in, Andrew makes a point to ASK for a hug even though he knows he’s gonna get one regardless of weather or not he asks.

arrgg!

2. Every night I fall for it because he’s just trying to lure me in so he can lick my face because he thinks he’s hilarious….and so do I.

3. He is SO crazy about the color blue right now that he has gotten it in his mind that our blue bathroom belongs to him and him alone. Be warned, He will not even hesitate to question you about your business in said bathroom.

4. He begins most sentences with, “Hey mom, how about…..” and ends most sentences with some sort of food request. For example, “Hey mom, how about a pop-si-cle?”

“Hey mom, how about some choc-o-late?”

“Hey mom, how about some cake?”

He never asks for vegetables.

5. He loves Thomas the Train so much that EVERY knock knock joke he tells sounds like this:

“Knock knock!”

“Who’s there?”

“Thomas!”

“Thomas who?”

“Thomas! Thomas!”

Really? Who would have guessed that?

Category : Featured
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05th Nov2008

Maybe I’m Just Ovulating

by The Boss

I love my kids. LOVE them. But the past few days, I have loved them so much that my eyes literally well up with tears and my heart fills with pride every time I look at them.

I could not have been more proud of Zion last night as he mischievously ever so sweetly fed the dog pieces of his barbecue sandwich under the table, and when he saw me seeing him he just smiled this big smile that immediately threw me into some sort of emotional state where I just wanted to squeeze him till he popped.

That’s my general mood, I just want to squeeze them! I find everything they do adorable…more adorable than I normally do. They can sense it too. Zion is starting to run when he sees me looking at him for fear I might pick him up and kiss his face till it’s numb.

Maybe it’s because I know they are growing up BEFORE MY VERY EYES! Everyday that passes they are getting bigger and needing me less. Aidan is already talking about when she’s a grownup she can do stuff all by herself and she wont need any help. Mind you, she still insists on living with us because she doesn’t want to get married and she’s afraid of the dark. So that does bring me some comfort, but we all know that the moment she’s 14 she’s gonna realize that we don’t know ANYTHING and she’s just as safe in the dark without us, safer even, and that moving out right then would be her best option. Fortunately, I don’t plan on teaching her any life skills and that might slow her down just a little.

I am just full of all this extreme pride and joy where every thing they do, even the the things they should not being doing make me so happy. I just wanna have their faces put on billboards across the country with the words “I fed the dog my barbecue sandwich!” I mean, don’t you think it’s adorable? Wouldn’t everyone else agree they are the most amazing creatures ever put on this planet?

…OR maybe I am just ovulating.

Category : Daily Video, Featured, Raising Boys, The Children
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