10 DAYS

10 days of:

no messes
projects
no making dinner
few dishes
projects
no yelling
little cleaning
did I mention projects?
NO KIDS

The kids are:
sleeping under the stars
playing legos
playing with kittens and dogs
apparently getting along
not missing mom (says Alex)
going on dates with Mimi (grandma)
having lots of fun

This is day 3. I've worked unusually hard until this afternoon when I curled up on the couch for several hours and watched movies and ate potato chips. I'm going to have to work up some will power to get back on schedule tomorrow.

words from Grant

"dat not wiwee nice"

(that's not really nice)

"you in biiiiiiiig twouble"

(you're in big trouble)

"Mom, hoe jyou me"

(mom, will you hold me? or hold me now!)

"hoo(n)k" (really light on the n)

(look)

"just a widdow bit mom?"

(just a little bit mom? - always in reference to candy - answer is usually no)

"I hit you mom"

this is what he says when he's mad and because he's strapped in his car seat he can't reach me

"I'm peeding"

(I need to go to the bathroom quick or there's going to be an accident)

"I'm Gumming!"

(I'm coming)

"When I'm biggow like Ouwex"

(When I'm bigger like Alex--always talking about being bigger)

"My name Gwant"

(My name's Grant)

Grant reading the funny papers

RELEARNING LESSONS

You know those lesson you seem to be always relearning. Here's my most common:

YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY LIKE YOUR KIDS ENOUGH TO DO STUFF WITH THEM

Much of the times they become obstacles to me, making it difficult to get MY STUFF done. Every few days I remember to like them. I mean loving them is a given right? We love them and would be so sad if anything ever happened to them but liking to be around them is a little harder. EVERY TIME I remember this, I set out to play with them, take them somewhere THEY want to go (as long as it doesn't cost anything) and DO what THEY want to do. I find myself saying YES more to "will you play a game with me mom" or "can I do some sewing." The crazy thing is, I FEEL so much happier when I do this and THEY FEEL so much happier and usually don't fight as much, because dang it they finally feel LOVED.

Father's Day - a little late

When I started wrapping a couple gifts for Carl on Father's Day afternoon the kids got their gifts together too.

Here they are:

Alex: 1 lego book end, some odds and ends and his favorite Frog lunch box

(a shell from Katie's collection)

Katie: part of her shell collection.

Jordan: painting (is it a Fiedtodon or did he have a different name for this creature?)

Grant: a coloring page

It amazes me how willing these guys are to give last weeks precious STUFF as gifts.