6 year anniversary

Josh and I recently celebrated our 6th year anniversary and it was SO blog-worthy but I am just now sitting down to write about it. You see, Josh did it up right after a pretty darn stressful year, sometimes you just gotta celebrate, right?

The most amazing thing about this is Josh surprised me. Which he NEVER does. Not that he doesn't try, I just normally figure it out. I had made plans for the kids to stay with my mom thinking that we could at least go to dinner and a movie and sleep in (woohoo!). I had told J that all I wanted for my anniversary was to not have to make a decision. And man, I sure didn't! We dropped the kids off at my moms and we were free. I was told to dress cozy/cute so I was thinking maybe a sporting event or something. Anyway, we took off to OKC. We passed the south side, Bass Pro, Bricktown and finally exited on NW 63rd. I'm still thinking dinner when we pulled into the Waterford Marriott, where we spent our wedding night. I was told by J on the way there that there were two rules, one, I have to do whatever is planned with no concerns about money/time or whatever and two, no talking about the kids. DONE!

SO, back to the hotel. We pulled in and just walked into the hotel. With my purse. That's it. J checked in and we headed up to our suite. When we got there I saw white gift sacks and our luggage. J said that I had about an hour to get ready and handed me a sack. Inside was a new black dress for dinner. He said he had all my toiletries and make up and jewelry options and even shoes waiting. SERIOUSLY?

So I got ready, yes, the dress fit, J knew that b/c he had compared it with another dress of mine... wo.. and we got in the car for dinner. J dropped me off at the door of my most favorite restaurant in the whole wide world- The Melting Pot. We were there before our reservations so of course, we hung out in the bar and enjoyed some wine...Until my mother called- Lyla was having diarrhea every where. Great. So much for rule number 2...Despite a sick baby dinner was awesome and even though they are no longer serving my most favorite dessert ever we had a wonderful time!

After dinner we went back to the hotel where there was a jazz band and champagne. We tried real hard to not worry about L and just sit back and have a relaxing time. Until we got tired. Of COURSE. We get time alone and fall asleep!

The next morning J brought me breakfast in bed and handed me another sack. This sack had cozy clothes in it. We had gone on an 8 mile run the day before so I was like, are we running again? No... We packed up and went to check out but not before a detour in the hotel's spa for a much needed couples massage. Remember, 8 mile run the day before. Perfect timing!

Our time was up after that, but it was SUCH a perfect night I told J we can just do that every year!

Somethings a little wrong with me...

Ever since I became pregnant with Carson I have realized that I am a little...uh...slower...mentally. During pregnancy everyone referred to it as "pregnancy brain", after pregnancy "exhaustion", 18 months later I was pregnant again, then exhausted, but now, almost TWO YEARS since having my last baby, I find myself still...slower...metally.

I constantly lose words. Which is tough and sometimes embarrassing for a college professor. I mean words I JUST said, I go to repeat them and POOF they are gone from my brain. I lose track of my thoughts during a story. I forget things like CRAZY before leaving the house in the morning. Names are just a lost cause. Getting everything off my grocery list is a thing of the past. Feeling mentally stable in general, is well done for.

Since I can not longer blame it on "pregnancy brain" or even "exhaustion" thanks to my wonderful sleepers, I started thinking elsewhere. And I have come up with "Multi-tasking Overload" as my official diagnosis. What the *$%# is that? Well, here's my explanation and there are two main parts...

The minute a mom becomes pregnant she no longer EVER loses her child from her thoughts. EVER. We become very egocentric and feel everything is about us, and that everyone know we are pregnant, even if we don't look it a bit. We NEVER EVER EVER stop thinking about that baby. Ever. Then when the baby is actually born, it goes into over drive. Now not only do we think about the baby, we worry about their safety, replay their morning behavior in our mind all day, wonder what they are doing if we are away from them, think about what we are going to do after school, we plan birthdays 6 months in advance, fret about scrapbooks, or new clothes, or extra curricular activities. We worry about our sick kids if we have to leave them behind, we wonder if our kids are having fun at school. We think about our love for them. They NEVER. EVER. LEAVE. OUR. MINDS. even if we ARE focusing on something that is OURS. Our job, our friends, our spouse, shopping. We always have them in the corner of our mind.

Then on top of that, since having Carson, Facebook and Iphones have taken over our lives. We now know more about our friends lives than we EVER have. Hear more news than EVER, work can always track us down, we have access to our emails on our phones, our phones are most always in our hands, it has become normal to have a conversation with a girlfriend while emailing, texting, checking facebook. Two girls, carrying on a conversation with our faces in our phones due to one of the many things the phone allows us to do. And we of course also parent while looking over an Iphone or Ipad... We feel productive. We feel efficient. We feel like we can do it all. We multi-task like MAD!

But how is that interfering with our ability to just focus? Between kids on my brain at all times, wondering if anyone commented on my super cute pic of my kids, or replied to my text about babysitting for me tonight, or to the email I sent to co-workers, trying to remember to blog about the funny thing the kids did that morning or to upload pics for family to see, my brain NEVER focuses on just one thing. Cognitive overload the books would call it, but that applies to so much more. I feel MY problem is just due to doing SO DARN MANY THINGS AT ONCE thanks to technology and having children.

Am I saying that I don't WANT my Facebook or email on my phone? HECK NO!!! This is the world we live in. I teach online, I work at home, I need to be reached. I am just simply wondering when my brain is going catch up to me. Or if there is a way to learn to focus again, or if that was lost when I became a mom... I mean even while typing this, I am talking with C, disciplining L and checking emails from work. Seriously- multi-tasking overload.

Realizations

I had to take a minute to blog this morning before diving in to essays from my online class (yikes!) not because I'm feeling overwhelmed and frusterated by my kids but because I am having one of those days that I just feel thankful, and for strange things. I realized this morning that there are some things my kids do that on most days annoy me, or GET annoying, but that real soon won't happen and I'll be lonely.

For example, SOMEDAY, I will be lonely when I take a bath. All by myself. With no little heads peeping over the top or asking if they can wash my back or get in. I'll be wastful when I don't "recycle" my bath water b/c Carson wants to get in THAT water to take HIS bath. I'll be super lonely and bored on those days J goes to work early and I get up on a day off and don't have to make two breakfasts, two drinks, two hot chocolates, change diapers or have TWO sweet babies fighting to sit on my lap.

I am going to be so lonely driving around town running my errands without answering 100 quetions from the backseat. I'll be lonely going to the gym all by myself, grocery shopping alone,or having a meal. It'll be so strange to listen to my music, watch my shows, be out of the house after dark. I won't get compliments every morning about my shoes, or my sweater, or my hair. I won't get to wake up in the morning to an additional person in my bed. And what will I do when I have to go to the BATHROOM by myself?!?!?!

So today, rather than being frusterated because I have NO alone time. I choose to realize that someday I will miss it, I will be lonely, and that I need to soak it up right now.

And so it begins...

This week, both my four year old and my 1 year old began something that I am just not ready for. They showed REAL interest in their clothing for different reasons.


First thing that happened was with Lyla. I had carried her to the closet to pick out her shoes. I grabbed a pair that would match and went back to the changing table. She started screaming on the way there for "pink shoes!" I tried to put her silver ones on and she grabbed them and threw them on the ground and yelled again for her pink ones. I let her walk back to the closet to show me what she wanted and she grabbed her pink Crocs, put them on, and said "there." REALLY? She's ONE!

The second thing that happened was with C. It actually got cold here this week, so of COURSE I thought he should wear a coat to school. Well, it was quiet the fight, but I got him in it. As soon as we walked in school he shook it off. I asked why he didn't want to wear it and he said "because my friends will laugh at me." WHAT??? You're FOUR! And a BOY! "What coat do you want to wear?" I asked. "A green one" C replied...

That afternoon I was determined to get to the bottom of this so I asked C why he thought his friends would laugh at him. And he told me "Cason thinks it makes silly sounds". When I explained that Cason was NOT laughing at him by saying his puffy coat makes silly sounds, his response was "You are right Mom. Cason's my best friend. He wouldn't laugh at me." So I thought I was done there. Patted myself on the back for clearing that up and moved on thinking the coat thing was behind us.

The next day- still no coat. He wanted a green one. So,I have decided to give up this battle for now. I'm just NOT gonna go buy him a "green coat" that he thinks his friends won't laugh at. I just don't think swooping down and spending money to fix the problem WILL fix the problem. I think that being the "Parent to the Rescue" will only set expectations I can't always meet and make him expectant of all his desires. BESIDES, the next day, he insisted on wearing his KD JERSEY and blue SHORTS and COWBOY BOOTS to school when it was 34 degrees. I don't really think fashion is the issue here...

One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

We are entering February with the beginning of a new era- pull-up free Carson. WHEW! I know, I know, he's FOUR! Why was he wearing pull-ups at night? Well, here's why...
When I potty trained him he still would NOT get out of his bed unless I got him up. Even in the mornings. So, of course, I couldn't get him to get up to pee at night. Also, he sleeps 12-13 hours EVERY night. That's a LONG time to hold your pee. AND, I was hearing from doctors that it would just work itself out. So for those three reasons, primarily the third, we used pull-ups. And over a year later, things were NOT working out. So after his fourth birthday I just told him we were done.

Since December 28th, I think I've washed/changed sheets 57 times. But we are now to a point of no accidents. I wake him up and take him to potty right before I go to bed. He hardly even wakes up, in fact some nights we hold him in the air b/c he can't even stand. He then wakes up on his own sometimes in the early morning- 3-6ish. And we've been dry for 11 mornings in a row. I'm not even asking any more.

HOWEVER, when he does wake up at 3-6 he does NOT go back to his bed. And as of last week, he doesn't even go to the pallet I keep by my bed for him, he crawls in with me to cuddle. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE it. I never co-slept with my kids because they were such loud sleepers and I just didn't want that habit, so I dig the cuddles, the problem is, he is STILL such a LOUD sleeper! Except now he talks and laughs and of COURSE kicks and kicks. OH well, at LEAST he's not peeing on me any more WHILE he cuddles.

SO, I am no longer cleaning C's pee, or getting peed ON, BUT we got a new addition to our family, our sweet Golden Doodle, Cooper. The kids LOVE him and J ADORES him. In fact, he's with J at work right now. He's a great work dog (and home dog) because he is just SOOO chill. AND he has long wavy hair that you can't PULL out. AWESOME. However, now we have someone elses pee to clean.

When will I ever stop cleaning PEE???

I've contemplated potty training Lyla right now too. Go big or go home right? I would LOVE to just knock it all out right now, let them pee all over the carpet in the living room, train them and then get hardwood floors. :) but I just don't know if I'm ready for TWO kids interrupting my dinner out b/c they have to pee, pulling over at gas stations every ten miles, etc. etc. So, I'm gonna have to think on this one...

Oh January

January is normally one of my two least favorite months of the year, second only to February. I just don't like the cold. That's really the only reason. March can be cold sure, but at least there's hope by then. But this January hasn't been bad at all. We've had some cold days, but nothing (SO FAR) like it can normally be.

We have spend the whole month trying to get ready for school to start I feel. The first part was spent prepping classes and organizing from Christmas- which honestly, is STILL going on... School started the middle part of the month and there are ALWAYS things that you kinda forget have to be done during the first few weeks, so I always feel a little like I'm drowning, but I'm to the point now that I feel I have my head above water.

The kids have an adjustment to me being back in school as well. They go from being home with me every day to being woken up in the morning, rushed to eat, get dressed, get in the car, and then off to school, which they LOVE, for the day. Then when I get home with them I normally have more work to do from home. It's kinda sad. I always think, well, at least I am HOME with them, but really, I kinda think that may be more frustrating to them than being with a sitter. At least the sitter gives them ALL their attention...

C has had a hard few weeks and I feel that my being so busy has something to do with it. He ALWAYS has a hard first 3 months of a new age. EVERY YEAR he feels older and fights for independence. I'm yet to figure out what he needs this year. Of course it always takes about three months and we are only one month in. But I am thinking REALLY hard about what it could be this year that "does it" for him because he's bigger and meaner this year. The other day, my sweet baby gave me the MEANEST scowl EVER and slammed the door in my face. WOW! Last year the trick was giving him access to his own drinks. Seriously. I put his cups low and taught him how to use the fridge water and we had no problems. He was able to meet his own basic needs. So far this year I've tried letting him dress by himself for school, he doesn't WANT to do that, I've been letting him not wear a pull-up, he still pees, I tell him it's his responsibility to keep his playroom clean, na, apparently the things I want him to do are NOT on HIS list...So, I'm living with a ticking bomb most days... But we will work through it. We always do...Luckily when he is minding and being sweet, he is SO sweet and cute. Good thing, because being ignored by your child REALLY tests your patience. REALLY. TEST. YOUR. PATIENCE. In fact, it may be the most frustrating thing I've ever been a part of. Wanting someone to just mind you and not run in front of a car... Is that really so much to ask???

Lyla is just trucking along. Talking away, acting all sweet, still being shy of others and mostly as serious as ever. I still can ONLY get her silly CHEESE face when I ask for a smile. Most people on facebook must think she's silly looking b/c if she smiles it's all goofy haha. She has been moved to her "big girl" bed, however, the funniest thing is she lays in it, says night night, then she crawls down, opens her door and goes to sleep by her gate. Even if we are walking by her room she just watches and falls asleep. We move her to her bed before we go to sleep and she stays there all night long. SO funny! And sweet. She also is showing interest in what she wears. Like last night, she wanted her leg warmers on with her night gown. I guess you need things covered when you plan on sleeping on the floor... Her favorite thing to do is to give high fives on both hands, she say "haya" then asks for a kiss then says "bye bye".

Overall, January has been good. We have started daily routines to keep me focusd on them.... Movie Mondays, Crafty Tuesdays, Gymnastics Wednesdays, Pink Swirl Thursdays, Family Movie Night Fridays and PLAYDATES (A BIG HIT), Saturdays have mostly been spent with one parent or the other due to Freshman Seminar and duck hunting season, Sunday's church and Sushi Sunday.

I almost forgot about the highlight of my month! J has decided to run at least a 10K with me this spring!!! And due to the nice weather, we have even been able to do some runs with the kids in their stroller and then go to the park after. I have really really really enjoyed having this physical activity time with my family and the chance to share something I love so much with my husband. I'm just convinced everyone will love running if they give it a chance. So, after this weekends long run, J will be half way to a 10K. So exciting!

That's all for now! Gotta clean up for playdate at our house.

Christmas/Birthday Tour 2011

Well, it's only about a month past Chrismtas and I am finally getting around to blogging about it. Needless to say, I have been catching up since.

Christmas this year was much less crazy and much more enjoyable this year than others we have had. We started the season off like normal, decorating the house.




This was extra fun this year because Carson actually helped me out while I decoated.




We then continued our tradition of having family advent activities every night. Well, almost every night, we did take a break when we took our cruise. But even on the cruiser, C got to be in a Christmas play and visit Santa! Other advent activities this year included, Christmas carols, hot chocolate by the fire, pictures with Santa, letter to Santa, Christmas movie night, painting our windows (a Carson favorite!), we hosted a Christmas, we donated money for others Christmas, and a night learning about our new family visitor, Crispy the Elf, which was a gift from Josh's grandmother.





J and I decided to limit the number of Christmas celebrations we have in one year and we saved them all up until two days before Christmas. Then we took off. First stop was my mom's house. We joined my mom and my grandmother for yummy food and lots of gifts. Big hits included C's Batmobil, C's dinosaur park, army men, Lyla's pots and pans, her stuffed cat, sun glasses and a new baby. We got home that night, unloaded and got to bed to hop up the next day to go to Josh's mom's house.






We joined J's mom and her side of the family for lunch and more gifts. Big hits were C's guitar, another baby, cute clothes and movies. We then went home to get ready for Santa.


This year, C had reindeer food from school to put out for Santa's reindeer, C was also very careful about picking Santa's snacks. The kiddo's both climbed in Lyla's "big girl" bed which she wasn't sleeping in yet, to listen to Josh read the Christmas story as well as The Night Before Christmas.



This year was also the first time it was tough getting C to go down because he was SOOOO excited. So, he ended up falling asleep in my bed while J and I did some last minute things ;) to get ready for the big day.

J & I had a great time making sure things were pretty and ready while enjoying a little Christmas time with just us. We got to bed around midnight and got an early 6am wake up from C, who was wanting to "go see if Santa liked his snack." He is so sweet. I snuck out leaving C in my room with J, got Lyla, brought her in the room, turned on some music, started coffee, got my video camera, and my regular camera then told the kiddos to come out.

And man were they excited!



C had been wanting Santa to bring him drums and a toothbrush. And Santa DID! And C also wanted Santa to bring L a kitchen, with a grill for him, and Santa DID! They played with each others Santa gifts for a while before ever getting into their stockings...




However, they soon moved on. C didn't get a toothbrush from Santa because Santa know he just got a new one at the dentis, but he did get some flossers...



Carson was very excited about everything he got, but had to keep drumming in between, and cooking. He was so sweet helping his sister open her gifts and wanting to see everything she got. Little bit had gotten down opening gifts by this point and was so sweet wanting her daddy to help her with everything, including little play jewelry...



We got lots of kissed and hugs and cuddles and enjoyed the morning SO. After gifts, bubble bread and a little clean up we all got ready and went to church, came back and spent the rest of the day playing and straightening up and cooking for another Christmas the next day.

Here are some more pics of Christmas morning:










By noon the next day our tree was once again surrounded by gifts
and my home was full of people laughing eating and drinking on my "awesome" homemade sangria. (I actually ruined it by putting the Ginger Ale in it the night before, but my family is not picky, lol). We had J's homemade chicken and dumplins, lots of candies, fudge, chips, dips, sausage, and of course opened lots of gifts. Big hits were the quiet impressive clothes my DAD picked out for L, C's remote control car and my dads, I mean, Josh's, or Dillon's, oh YES CARSON'S remote helicopter. This helicopter is bought every year, the big boys fly it all around crashing it into walls and usually breaking it before C ever gets to try. I THINK it survived this year...

That evening we caught our breath. I honestly can't remember the 27th, I have NO clue what went on that day. But I DO know that I decided last minute to make C some cupcakes for his birthday the next day.

I know I know, why was this a last minute decision? Well, we had his bday party in MEXICO and I was determined to let that be IT. BUT, we did need to let family come wish him happy birthday, so we had a come and go the 28th. We had not given C his bday present yet, so we decided to let him open that up before J went to work. He had been asking for "boots like Casen's" for a year and I made him ask for them for his birthday (trying to teach patience) and the day had arrived!

I did a HORRIBLE job of taking pics this day, but her are a few...

Love this pic of my dad and L bc I have one like it from when I was her age.





So that wraps up the Christmas/Birthday Tour 2011. I loved every second with my sweet children. THEY are what make Christmas.

I can now finally start blogging for 2012!