I love summer.  I love getting tan (or attempting to get a tan), swimming, watching the kids catch fireflies, cookouts, and vacations.  This past weekend we went to a pool party.  I didn’t even know Aedan could swim but BAM she started jumping off the diving board in the deep end and swimming  across the pool. She didn’t even act like it was a big deal. Must of missed that one somewhere in the mix of I’m at work all day while my kids secretly learn to swim.   I really am enjoying the summer, though. Josh has been spending a lot of days at home with the kids. They sleep till 9:30 and are usually still in their pajamas when I get home from work.  They’re happy.  Tonight, though I was all alone as Josh was working.  It is quiet here since I forced the kids to bed earlier than normal (I’m evil like that)  because they had a long day and have to be up early in the morning.  I went around and took pics of them sleeping to entertain myself.

Silas started out in his bed but ended up here (my bed)

 

Sunday Night Blues

Another wonderful weekend.  Even though it included things like laundry, dishes, and cleaning….it also included kisses, naps, and being lazy in our newly redecorated family room!  We took the kids to see a movie this weekend http://www.despicableme.com. It was really cute although I unexpectedly started crying at the end. I turned my head and sunk down in the seat so Josh wouldn’t see me and make fun of me.  

It feels so good to just be at home.  I’m not used to being so content just being at home with the kids running around me like crazy! I love it! I’m really shocked at how enjoyable it is.  I guess because when I didn’t work I found it boring to be at home so much.  Now I cherish every minute.  Tonight Aedan and I practiced her Christmas song that she is singing in church in a couple of weeks.  We belted out The Twelve Days of Christmas (a church version) in the living room.  Josh joined in here and there from another room.  “On the First Day of Christmas, a baby came to you….and the angels said Whoo Hoo!”

Josh gave the baths, I put on the jammies, I flossed the teeth, Josh brushed the teeth, I read the good night stories, and Josh put the kids to bed. Whew…it takes a lot of man power to put those two to bed.  And when they’re asleep, I’ll sneak in and give the goodnight kisses.

It’s been a While…..

It’s been a while. I didn’t realize how much a 40 hour work week would take away from my life.  I am now in love with the weekends like never before.  I am to the point that I have become very stingy with my time.  I want to be home with my kids and Josh every second of the quickly passing weekends.  Not that I don’t like my job, because I do.  Yes, it is stressful and challenging and frustrating, but yet I feel like I’m finding my place and am settling in quiet nicely after a few bumps in the roads.  It’s just that every time I come home from work Silas looks a little taller and Aedan seems to be in third grade although I’m pretty sure she’s still in first.  I can’t believe she is reading! She’s so smart and I love it.  She is not only smart but observant as well.  This past weekend she asked “Mommy, what does it mean when people stick their middle finger up?”  She said one of her friends at school did this. Nice.  

Tonight we went to Silas’s preschool program.  He sang most of the songs and did most of the gestures while adding some pizzaz of his own to the show.  It was pretty funny.  When we got home I gave Silas a bath and put his pjs on.  Then I airplaned him into the sky.  Josh and I were then invited into the playroom for a gymnastic show by performer, Aedan, which included several cartwheels, some pretty snazzy dance moves, and a proper curtsy to end the show.  They crack me up.

Because I’m now working, the weekends have taken on a whole new meaning.  Saturdays are now called Mommy Days.  We sleep late, play all day and stay up a little longer.  I now look forward to every minute I spend with the kids.   Today consisted of thrift store shopping, visiting family, and lounging around the house. I love being at home now and I’ve actually managed to keep the house clean and the laundry caught up while working 40 hours a week. I’m impressed with myself .  Aedan and Silas have adjusted well and are having a fabulous summer.    They are so much fun.  As I type this Aedan is sitting in my bed.  She is supposed to be in her bed, but every time I look at her she smiles and says, I love you, mommy.  Oh my….

Weekend Times

I am loving my kids this weekend.  Silas started pre-school three days a week and I have been interning/going to school all week.  It feels like I never see them anymore.  After dance class yesterday we went to a movie with my sister and nephews.  The movie, Planet 51, was painfully boring for me, but the kids really liked it.  Later we went to dinner and made a walmart trip which was oddly relaxing and fun.  When we got home Aedan and I watched a movie called Edward Scissorhands.  Not exactly appropriate for a 5 year old, but it was fun to watch with her.  She felt a lot of compassion for Edward because he had scissorhands.  She said she was lucky to have normal hands.  So although the movie was…weird…it did have a lesson which was thank God for what we have and we shouldn’t judge others for being different.   I love that I have been able to enjoy my kids this weekend.  So many days go by when being a mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And then there are times like this weekend when I feel so blessed and lucky.  Last night I pointed this out to Josh right before we went to sleep.  Are there time we struggle? Yes, but we have each other to laugh, cry, fight, and love with.  We’ve got it all.  I wish it wasn’t always so hard to realize it.

Christmas Break

So I thought two weeks with me at home with the kids was going to be bad. I have about a month vacation and they are both out of school for two weeks.  I thought the kids were going to drive me nuts and cabin fever would set in quickly, but actually the exact opposite is happening.  I’m loving it! I have been able to keep up with the laundry and my house is clean. I’ve been to the gym! And most importantly I have been enjoying my kids! They have been loads of fun.  We’ve been to the movies, visiting friends, and just lounging around the house. We even elfed ourselves elfyourself.com. The kids are counting down the days until Christmas. They don’t have long to count because tomorrow is Christmas Eve! We are all excited and this break has been just what I needed.

And So It Begins…

Here are some of the questions I had to answer today:

How does Santa fit down the chimney?

How does he get the screen off the fireplace?

How does he get back up the chimney?

Reindeer don’t really fly, do they?

What if I wake up to use the potty christmas night and I see Santa?

I think this year will be the last year Aedan believes.  I really do hate to tell her lies even though I know its part of the fun.  She’s much too smart to believe another year.  The reasons I don’t tell her the truth this year is  A) It’s so fun to play santa and she really does still believe and B) I’m afraid she would tell all her school friends that her mom told her Santa wasn’t real and I would have 16 phone calls from some angry parents!

I took the kids to sit on Santa’s lap. Silas didn’t cry this year (a first). Aedan said “I want a scooter and an ipod and I’m afraid that’s all!”  One more year to leave out milk and cookies, to sneak presents under the tree in the middle of the night, and to sit on Santa’s lap – wait a minute, maybe I can keep Silas in the dark a little longer.

A Day with Silas

Aedan left early this morning to spend the day with her best friend, Molly.  Josh had to work so Silas and I had the day to ourselves.  I would tell him throughout the day that we were buddies today, so sometimes he would say “we’re buddies, right?”. It was fun to spend time with him alone.  We went to the mall. I thought it might be scary busy with the holidays right around the corner, but it really wasn’t.  We walked by Santa having his pictures taken with other children. Silas was eager to see him, but didn’t want to get too close.  We decided to wait until Aedan was with us to sit on his lap.  He did ride the train in the mall.  We shopped a little, had lunch, then he played on the playground.  Then we shared a cinnamon and sugar pretzel.  He only had one meltdown and that’s when I told him he couldn’t have icecream after the pretzel.  After our mall trip he took a long nap and I enjoyed two hours quietness.  Josh got home around dinner time.  Aedan decided to spend the night with her friend. Silas is in bed now, and I’m missing Aedan.  I bought her a stuffed penquin at the mall and put it on her bed for her to find when she gets home tomorrow. I can’t wait!

Halloween 09

It’s 3:00 am the morning after Halloween. I can’t breath thanks to this wonderful cold I have and so here I am.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  Josh had to work   and even though the kids and I were all sick, we still had a good time.  My family came over to help us hand out candy to all the trick or treaters who braved the rain and cold and there were a lot!  Supergirl (Aedan) did not make it very far on her trick or treating adventure.  She realized it wasn’t very fun trick or treating in the rain when you are sick.  We went back home and dumped all the candy out onto the carpet. Silas was VERY hyper after all the candy he had.  I can’t believe he went to bed so easily. 

Keeping it Together

I need to update.  These days are going by so fast and I will surely forget this time in my life if I don’t put something down in writing.  Aedan started Kindergarten. She loves it.  I turn on her light in her room in the mornings and she pops out of bed and dresses herself before I can even say wake up! This is the same child that I had to drag out of bed for pre-school.  I don’t know how long this enthusiasm will last, but I hope it will!  Her teacher even said that she wished he had a whole class full of Aedans’ because she behaves so well and is so smart! Whoo Hoo!

Silas started a mothers day out program one day a week. He really likes it. He didn’t even cry when Josh dropped him off the first day.  His birthday is right around the corner, but Josh and I couldn’t wait until then to buy him his first bike. He LOVES to ride his bike!  He is so cute riding up and down our street with his helmet and knee pads on.  Knee pads were necessary because both knees were scraped up prior to purchasing them.

With me in school 2 days a week and working an internship another 2 days, life has been more than busy.  Josh and I are trying to adjust to not seeing each other as often as we did during the summer.  He has had to take on parenting chores that he did not have during the summer as well.  For example, he will be taking Aedan to her first dance class this week while I am in school.  He’s such a great dad.  Oh how I think my kids are so lucky to have him as their dad. 

Although life is crazy/busy we are managing to work together to keep our family healthy & happy.  I don’t know how much luck we will have with the healthy part considering everyone has the swine flu right now. Ugh! But we will continue to try.