Ordinary Days

Brian's 32nd

We are getting older by the second.  However that I've decided that things get better with time.  This past year has been our best yet.  Brian and I get each other - and that's such a nice thing.

We celebrated with our little family, some of Brian's long time best buds, and Dunford donuts. What more does a guy need?

Dr. Suess Day

One of our very favorite days of the year! Gavin totally thought this was his party. He hand-delivered each invitation to the door of all of our neighbor friends and said, "Come to my party!" We talked about it for weeks. He and McKay were both super helpful in eating the fruit rollups for the bookworm rice krispie treats.

We had a pretty good turnout - about 20 kids. We colored hats, read our favorite book The Tickle Monster and then wandered the room hearing books from different moms. A tradition worth keeping.

Hours after the party, Gavin was still wearing his hat, playing Duplos with his little friend Kaylee for hours. I wanted to snatch him up and eat him whole. I took a picture with my camera, but the cuteness of this moment and how happy he was the day is forever filed in my mind under Happy Mama Moments.

Spring?

Today was a GORGEOUS day. My favorite kind of day. We were outside for three hours at least. That pile-o-laundry never got folded and beds were never made. Every time I tried to go inside to 'get something done', both of the littles protested. I am so sick of sitting inside. We all do better with a little sunshine. And I have to remind myself that playing outside is 'getting things done.' Fun and love and spontaneous need to be done as well...probably more than most things.

McKay's almost two...can't even believe it. And Gav already thinks he's four. I am so proud of Gav riding his bike like a pro. And McKay is ready for the action. I push him around on the scooter and he's ready to take Gavin's trike as his own. It's going to be a wonderful summer. McKay is talking and copying words really well. We pretty much have conversations, the two of us. I understand him second best - next to Gavin. When I don't know what McKay's talking about Gavin translates and is generally right on.

I do hear that tomorrow and some days after it will be back to freezing again, but I think I got just enough to get me by.

Funny kid

Yesterday I snapped at Gav a little because I wanted to be alone in my room during "quiet time." When do I get to be alone? I wondered in my sassy I-just-need-a-little-break voice. He's been seriously struggling with napping and I have accepted the fact that he isn't going to nap every day. Maybe twice a week. But he has been doing okay at staying in his room and being fairly quiet while McKay is sleeping. Gavin's been lonely for 'snuggle friends.' I sent him back to play with his legos - or something. Anything! About ten minutes later I called him in to snuggle on my bed and watch a show with me. He laid his head on my tummy and said, "Mom? Are you sorry?" At first I was deciding whether or not I should be offended but quickly realized that he was right. And yes, I was sorry. These kids keep me in check, I tell ya. Serves me right, I guess. Gosh, I have a lot to learn.

Today when I praised him for going to the bathroom on his own (which he does regularly now) he said, "Thanks. I was in my office." Guess that's where the business gets done. :) Later he came in and informed me that he and McKay were playing Laman and Lemuel. I asked him if he'd rather play Nephi and Sam instead. He told me I could be Nephi and "you have the power of God." Then he asked if I would play Jesus. I told him we don't pretend to be Jesus and when he knew for certain I wasn't going to do it, he said, "Okay...do you want to be a dolphin?" I'm not sure how Jesus and dolphins are so quickly interchangeable, but it made me laugh.

We had a lovely Valentine's meal with our little family tonight. Jello pudding jigglers were a hit. The boys could have eaten those alone and it would have been a success. Guess I should spend a little less energy trying to make things nice and well-balanced.

February

It's snowed once this winter. It's so odd - but I actually quite like it. The only downside is that we haven't been able to use the new sled Santa brought us. I'm sure it will come...I'm slightly nervous that the hold up is going to come back and bite us all in the butt.

Things have been good around here. Usually low-key, stress-free weeks mixed in with occasional busy back-and-forth days as well. The busy days keep us interested while the at-home days keep us grounded. I am continually working on that balance of wife/mother/homemaker and of course, some days are better than others.

McKay is so fun lately. I've always loved him but I'm starting to really enjoy him. He is talking and babbling and all over the place. I am one of the few who can decipher his language, but he's got things to say, alright. He is busy busy busy. A monkey for sure. He is climbing up on every piece of furniture we own. Can get up on my bed and in his crib. Luckily, not out of the crib! He puts on my makeup and is up to all sorts of mischief. But I love that little boy.

Gavin has been a bit of a stinker lately. He is certainly asserting his independence and wanting his voice to be heard. He yells "NO!" to us often and is giving lots of sass. The bright side is that our sweet boy is still in there and it's always fun to visit or snuggle him when that Gavin shows up instead.

Brian is so busy working his two jobs - Summit and his internship for counseling - that we feel lucky whenever we have a chance to see him. Pretty much Monday and Friday nights and Saturday. The boys always wonder why he's leaving yet again. But even then, sadly, they are used to him not being home. That makes his presence all the more special.

What else? Exercise and green smoothies are my activities lately and I sure wish I had something to show for all of this effort I'm putting in... Always other things to fix, dangit.

Open Again

I made the blog private for a few weeks because I was trying to figure out how and where to write other stuff that mattered to me that I didn't want so public. I've got it all worked out... My own private journal on my computer and my blog here to share pictures and stories and whatever else I feel like for the few friends who are interested in looking. Sometimes I get a little distracted knowing that other people read this, but know that in the end it is for me and my family.

Here's to keeping record in 2012!