Randoms

Today for breakfast Gavin announced to me, while chewing his Cheerios, "My mouth is making music."

James is becoming super attached to me again. It started right before our vacation to Cali and peaked at school yesterday when he was crying for me to not go, and has now petered out to a more normal attachment. It's hard. It's hard to give him boundaries when I want to just give in, even though I know that wouldn't do any good either. For example, he wants to be with us. Always. I mean, that means we are really cool, right?? He said he'll sleep in the middle of our bed so he can be with us. So sweet! Buuut... not going to happen.

I wrote this a while ago and I'm going to publish it now. These boys are just too awesome

Smart Kid

Last night, as usual, the boys did not stay in their beds. It's been mostly confined to the two littlest, who share a room and have waaaay too much fun together. But last night was James. Instead of sending him back to bed, we let him stay up a bit with us. What is the first thing he does? Tells Brad he didn't give him his good night hug and kiss. What is the next thing he does? Hugs us both, saying, "You guys are the best parents ever.". Ah, straight to our hearts!! You better believe he got to stay up for at least twenty more minutes. And what did he choose to do with that time? Tell Brad how smart he is, that he knows everything, and, again, so smart. Then we had a spelling game. He gave Brad and I words to spell, then I'd give him a word to spell and we'd sound it out and spell it. This kid... oh James loves to learn. It's amazing to see this spark come to life. Just in time for kindergarten (eek!).

Own Language

As hard as it is, I really love having the boys being so close in age. Mostly because of their bond with one another. If James is leading, the other two follow. If Gavin is leading, the other two follow. Jack is still working on the leading, but there has been an occasional following of Jack... which usually involves screaming. Two-year olds. 

A few months ago Gavin came up with a word. And this word became their word. "Badobe". They will say this over and over and laugh and laugh. I'm not quite sure what is means but it is definitely used to create laughter. 

Really, I just want to remember this. Because I forgot it and it was driving both Brad and I mad not remembering it. Brad wins for getting it right. Now it's on the internet for-ev-er

Phantom Camera

Sometimes there are moments through the day that I wish I could permanently capture. Whether it's the boys playing together, our tickle fights, reading books, just resting together. Whatever is special, but so unspecial. But seeing as how I'm usually a part of said moment, it rarely happens. Like tonight. I "had" to go to Target to get some things because a coupon was expiring tonight (hey, those coupons are important!) so Brad put the boys down while I was out. I came home to realize I forgot to return our redbox movie so out I went again. Brad was in with Jack, who I could tell was having a hard time settling down. When I came back again, Jack was definitely still awake even though Brad had sung and laid down with him in his bed. Jack only wanted me. Which can be a tiring role sometimes, always being the one he needs. But it is my job and I am (usually) happy to oblige. I came in and he about spazzed out just to have me instead of Daddy. I laid down with him and he just couldn't contain his excitement and laughed for a good five minutes. Out of happiness. Because his mommy was laying down with him. It was so sweet. Anyway, after many songs, moving around, and finally getting him to stop laughing out of nowhere, he started to settle down. He kept trying to get just the right position of cuddling with me- on top of my cheek, right next to my head, my arm around him, my arm off, his arm next to me, his arm on me, on his back, on his tummy/back. He finally settled on foreheads together, his arm around my neck while the other one held on tight to his papa bear, slightly on tummy, my arm around him. It was ideal. And I finally had good access to his back. Rub this kid's back, and he will for sure slip into sleep. And slip he did. So there I was, laying down in my two-year old's bed, wanting so bad for a random photographer to quietly come barging in and capturing the beautiful moment. My sweet baby's arm around my neck and finally asleep. But the memory was not captured for posterity's sake, but thankfully it is imprinted on my mind. And now on this blog. 

And my oh my, how I live for these moments. 

Spider Monkey

The boys have gotten back into puzzles. Which I love. The best part is Gav and James are getting more to the point where they can do it themselves. Hallelujah! One of the puzzles we have is of baby animals, and one of those animals is a spider monkey. While Gavin and Jack were taking a bath, James was doing this puzzle. Here's our conversation-

JP- What do spider monkeys eat?
(the boys love to talk about what animals eat)
Me- Oh you know... bugs, bananas, other fruit. Just like other monkeys
JP- Oh. How do they get around? Do they shoot webs out of their hands?
Me-... What?
JP- Do they shoot webs out of their hands?
Me- *laaaaaugh* No, no, they don't shoot webs out of their hands. But that would make sense, because of their name, huh!
JP- *smiles and giggles because he made me laugh*

I mean, it makes sense! But alas, the spider monkey is not like Spider-Man (or a spider from which their names derive). Some silly scientist named it a spider monkey because it's small (and their exceptionally long limbs, which i just read. learn something new everyday). Heaven forbid they just call it 'petite monkey' or something along those lines. But it's not as interesting and will continue to confuse little boys who hope the monkey is like one of their favorite super-heroes.

Our Day Yesterday

Yesterday felt like so much happened in such a small amount of time. In a good way :) 

Shortened version- Rach and Thomas came over, I went to my ward's RS birthday luncheon, we went and bought flowers, came home and weeded, planted flowers, Brad mowed the lawn, came in, made and ate dinner, went to Target, came home and James was sick with a fever, he passed out in his bed, put boys to bed, let Jack stay up while I did my Primary lesson, put him to sleep with two songs and cuddled, and then finally got to veg. Screw the dishes in the kitchen, I needed a break! It was a really great day. Buuut with any day, some not so great and almost funny kind of scary things happened. Such as...

- James pulling down his pants in our front yard to go potty. We do it at parks (waaay too much), why not at home??

- Jack keeps going into our neighbor's yard. All. The. Time.

- Jack fell into our neighbor's pond and got soaking wet. Thank heavens we noticed him missing (again- such a TWO YEAR OLD) and Brad saw him fall in. He could have seriously drowned. Ugh, kids. Love giving us heart attacks.

- Like I mentioned, James got sick with aches and fever. Still sick today. Did not see it coming.

I'm so grateful for the good and the bad. Makes life interesting. And you truly appreciate the good so much better with the bad being thrown in. 

Gavin the Sassy

Gavin is our ham. Gavin is also our sass. He cracks me up. Which is great, because it could easily aggravate me (and does often enough). I am learning to roll with it and find the beautiful humor that is his sassiness... because it is quite silly and cute.

Here is an example from yesterday- I was on the computer either reading an article or looking at a recipe and Gavin comes up to me to tell (not ask- that's not his style) me to get off the computer.
Me- No, I am using this right now.
Gav- You are a crazy woman.
Me- (trying not to laugh too much) I'm crazy??
Gav- Yes you are. Do I need to close this (said in his best mothering voice)?

Oy. He is going to be such an interesting kid when he gets older. Mr. Know-It-All. Mr. Bossy Pants. Mr. SASS

Red Lobster

Tonight we finally got to use our Red Lobster gift card from Christmas. Seeing as how Christmas wasn't even a month ago, using "finally" sounds silly, BUT we've been planning it for a few weeks. So, yes, we finally went tonight. I cannot even remember the last time we've gone to a sit down restaurant. Probably Red Robin for our birthdays almost two years ago. The boys feel so cooped up and are so very impatient, why take them to restaurants. But since they have grown up a little, we figured they wouldn't be so bad. And they weren't! (well, Gavin was kind of a sour puss... but that's part of his personality if he isn't getting what he wants right away... which is totally fine...). 

We were able to get seated right away, which is always a great sign. Our server, Shannon, came by a tad later to get drinks and let us know biscuits will be on the way. Um, yay! Looove Red Lobster biscuits. We got the boys excited for their dinner (popcorn shrimp and mac and cheese) and then tried to decide on our own dinners. Holy cow. So very hard to decide what to eat with three chatter boxes and you haven't been to the restaurant for YEARS. While we were deciding, our angel of a server said she would take the boys order and split it up three ways for us. Yes! We don't like to get the boys too much food when we go out because they rarely eat it all- there is just so much going on for them! Anyhow, we finally decided on our own dinners and we got our salads and the boys' food soon after. They did a great job and ate a pretty good amount. We got french fries and broccoli for their sides, and of course they didn't touch their broccoli. Shannon quietly asked me if I wanted her to get the boys some ice cream, split three ways again. I said of course! Before she brought it out, though, she told them that they had to have at least three bites of broccoli. Ha! So very awesome. The second she said that, Jack took a piece of broccoli and stuffed into his mouth. "Mmm, broccoli!" He ate at least two more pieces. James ate two pieces and Gavin, true to form, fought us on it. Though he was still happily devouring his fries (who can blame him). He still got some ice cream :) 

I have to say, I really appreciated her encouraging the boys to eat their veggies. I had already said it, but they were definitely aware that I was not in charge of their food and she was. She was such a grandma to them! Apparently they were all talking about our cute little boys in the back and were ready to babysit! After our food came out (and ice cream devoured), she took the boys to go pet the lobsters. How fun!! Jack, who had been fine alllllll night sitting across from me, all of a sudden went into Mommy-attachment-mode and could hardly be out of my presence without having a panic attack. Brad went with them, which pacified him for a bit. I went with him after a few minutes to look at the lobster and was with the boys while they showed me how brave they were. Seeing as how Brad and I had barely started eating our food, Shannon put the lobster away and promised the boys to take them back later. They were so excited. I got crab since the boys have been wanting to get some lately and showed the boys how to crack its shell open. James actually ate some meat (yay!!) while Gavin liked playing with the legs. Once I was all done, I let James play with the cracker and he kept cracking the legs open even more. After we were done, Brad took the boys back to the lobster tank where the hostess was able to show them another lobster. The boys did not want to go home, they had so much fun. It was such a great night- couldn't have asked for a better experience!

Little Boys

Resolution for 2014- write on this blog once a week! There is just too much awesomeness (and not so awesome things as well) happening that it all needs to be shared more. I am horrible at journal keeping and this is that for my boys. So. At least once a week. Done.

This past week James came into our bed at least two or three times at night to sleep. It's always at a time where we are just too tired to put him back and put the energy into that. And I'm a sucker for a little boy who just wants some cuddle-sleep time. I always ask him why he's in our room, just to make sure I don't need to take care of him and he needs more than just a spot in our bed. He's getting better with his reasons. Totally buttering me up. The second (or third?) night he came in, I had barely gotten to sleep and was really groggy, so I'm impressed he even understood me. I asked him what he was doing and he replies, "I think you're beautiful and I love you and I need to be next to you." Well, how can I say no to that?? So we both drifted off and he woke refreshed while his parents both had aches from a little boy being in bed with us. Seriously. He cuddles me whilst kicking Brad's back. Ah well.