The Tuesday Blues

My oldest (5) made up a song this morning. My middle (3) the Big D learned said song very quickly and soon was providing backup vocals.

Little Baby
Little Baby
Little Baby Troublemaker
Little Baby
Little Baby

Repeat x2

Little Baby
Little baby making trouble
Little Baby Troublemaker
Little Baby
Doo doo whoop doo doo
Little Baby

Mom
Could you move the baby to the couch
Little Baby
Little baby making trouble
Little Baby
Little Baby Troublemaker
Little Baby
Little Baby

Stop that baby
Stop making trouble

Doo doo whoop doo doo

I'm actually pretty impressed. Not being musically inclined,  I'm not sure if it has more of a Blues or Jazz feel.

In the end though,  Little Baby Troublemaker (aka baby sister) still wanted to knock over the blocks. Which Josh was painstakingly arranging by color before he could start building.

The Help

I am short tempered.

I lack patience.

I wish growing up I would have paid more attention to learning how to do things.

I have two young sons who love to "help".

This creates learning opportunities.

I know in my heart that letting them help is a chance to pass something on, to spend quality time together, build their self esteem, and make memories...etc.

However, I also know that:

I am controlling, have to have it my way, want to do things on my own, and without help.

I am at odds with myself.  I usually don't allow help and dismiss the offers with a distraction.  All the while knowing that I should be embracing the very thing I push away.

I am making an effort.

Letting the boys "help" me unload the dishwasher.  (I still struggle with them loading it)

Putting clothes in the washer/dryer.  Taking things out of the dryer. (the latter is the easiest for me)

Help sweeping and/or vacuuming. Drives me off the deep end...especially when everyone wants to "help" at the same time.  When I let the "I'm Do Its" win and let them take turns helping Mom clean, I tell myself this better pay off when they are older and I expect them to do it on their own. One at a time is manageable and I can usually manage a smile and enjoy teaching.

My oldest loves to scrub dishes and rinse.  Its not thorough but he likes the bubbles, water and mess.  I need to work on letting him help more before I load the dishwasher.  And allowing them to help me load...even if it isn't the ideal arrangement.

Both really want to help me cook.  But my youngest is the most insistent.  He will grab a chair and pull it over, take away my spoon and declare he is helping. Again I can handle one a time. In baking where they can take turn adding things I so alright...help with a one dish meal though while a baby is standing holding onto the back of my pants....well the temper is always close to flaring.

Baby steps. How do you practice patience and remember to enjoy the little moments? I try to remember how much I enjoyed getting to do something and help as a child. The pride of having my hand in making the meal.

Words with Friends...well Kids

Is there anything better than conversations with children? My 3 year old, Big D, says the funniest things.

Every morning as soon as he wakes up he comes into my room and says "Goodmorning Mommy I had sweet dreams. Can you get me breakfast now? I'm hungry AND starving!" Yesterday I was slow moving.  Bear was up 5 times and I was on deck for 4 of them.  The Big D crawled into my bed pried my eyes open and said "yay! She is awake and can get us breakfast"

Knife is pronounced without the first two letters.

To cut something is to "ife it" or "slap" it.

As in:

Big D: can I have a slapped apple?

Me: you want it cut up?

Big D: yay, can you ife for me?

Letters to Santa: Part 1

I'm not sure why this won't post. It has been hung up in "publishing" but I wasn't able to edit or report.  I added the pictures again...same thing.  Here is attempt #3.

We wrote letters to Santa. J was afraid Santa would come all the way to our house from the North Pole, find the wish lists, have to fly his sled all the way back to pick out presents and fly to our house once more.

Also he wanted to mail the letter at the Post Office himself. I told him to wait for the Big D to write a letter and we could mail them together. 

Letters to Santa: Part 2

While J was at Preschool the Big D and I worked on his Santa letter.

He was a little harder to direct,  but I wrote what he said. Though I did notice his Santa letter resembled his bedtime prayers... worring about bad guys was new. (I did interrupt playing with transformers in the midst of some serious crime fighting).

I was impressed at first all he wanted for Christmas was for Grandpa not to be sick. Then I asked if he wanted anything else and requests started coming.

Weekend Warriors

This weekend was the Hubby's drill weekend and Guard Christmas Party.  Last year the unit celebrated being home from deployment. The girls wore ball gowns and the guys wore the dress uniforms/suits. (A photographer also captured pictures of couples. There I am extremely pregnant with baby girl).

This year was almost shockingly different. For starters it wasn't -30, it also wasn't formal. Ugly sweater was the theme and the whole unit was not together. Apparently the MC portion is a pretty young group.

In the afternoon they had the family pizza party. With very few families. I'm not going to lie,  I missed the bounce house, face painting,  Santa Claus and activities of the past. Realistically though,  there aren't the kids. Most of the soldiers aren't married let alone starting families.

After the party I met up with a Great Aunt and took the kids to see Santa. We waited in line for 2 hours to see Santa.  Had I not announced the plan before hand I would have turned around after seeing the line. For the boys it was worth the wait. I loved the pictures, but the memory was the kid's favorite part.

The Big D asked about reindeer and if Santa had a puppy.  J wanted to know why he couldn't see Santa's lips. Bear only cried after starting to slide off Santa's lap and I grabbed her. (Santa did lift up his legs and catch her too) I think her big brothers would have visited with Saint Nick all day.

The kids were loved one by Aunty and the Hubby and I went to the Ugly Sweater Party. It was nice to get out as a couple, though I missed all the wonderful ladies I got to know during the deployment.

We got back in time to deal with a sick kiddo and in turn a sick Hubby. Now everyone else is healthy. ..and we have a sick Mom. Tis the season.

Thankful on Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving didn't go as planned. I still have so much to be thankful for, I just didn't get my way.

Tuesday a sudden onset of the plague caught up with me. Sore throat,  ear pains, the chills and a little of this and that enough to send me running for a fuzzy blanket on my couch.

I called off traveling to see my family this year. Which in my little world is a big deal, in the larger scope and I know it isn't.

At the end of the day, I can be thankful for a loving husband, adorable kids, and caring inlaws.  And drugs, I'm taking drugs to feel better so thankful for that too. I am also diffusing my thieves blend essential oils. 

My Hubby took the boys to do morning chores and had Thanksgiving dinner with his family.  Then stopped by to pickup baby girl so I could get a nap...and he brought Thanksgiving to me with love from the rest of the fam.