My husband and I are celebrating our 5th anniversay today. Yay!! We are not doing much to celebrate because I did not line up a sitter in time (I'm bad about that). Actually, a friend had offered to watch the boys and our boys like to play together so I was thinking we might do that but one of her sons got sick. I called our sitter and she was already booked for tonight so she is going to sit for us tomorrow for a little while in the afternoon. The boys are very excited to see her. They had been asking for Katy to come play with them.
It is odd how in some ways it seems that it could not already be 5 years and in other ways it seems so much longer. It is the same with the boys. It seems they have always been here but then it seems like it was not that long ago they were such little babies. Time is a funny thing.
But back to the anniversary. It is a wonderful thing to be married to your best friend. If I had made a list for God of all the qualities that I wanted and thought I needed in a mate and if God had really listened to me, I would have really missed out and would probably have been a very unhappy person. Thankfully God knew exactly what I needed in a mate (He did make both of us, after all:) and I ended up marrying my husband. I would never have thought to ask God for half of the things that I so greatly appreciate in my husband. He is a very special man, my best friend and I am so very thankful to God for blessing me with him as my husband. The last 5 years have been the best 5 years of my life.....and I think it's just going to keep getting better:).
In other news, we are preparing for our trip to Arizona, where we will spend a week visiting my SIL and friends in Tucson and Phoenix. It has been two years since we have been back so we are really looking forward to seeing everyone and having a nice vacation with family and friends.
I looked up the weather forecast and the prediction is for high sixties to low seventies during the day and high thirties at night (I think - it was a few days ago but I think that is what it said). Yesterday the boys tried on clothes and sandals from last summer. They were so excited about it, it was really cute. Today we bought a few new shirts. I think we have enough shorts that fit to get us by and their sandals from last summer still fit. These shorts and sandals from last summer will not fit for long though. They grow so fast.
My brother will be house sitting for us so our cats and house will be well cared for while we are gone and I will have peace of mind:).
In other news, I booked my flight to go to the homeschool conference in Cincinnati in April. My friend from Kansas City will be meeting up with me there and we are both very excited about the trip. It will be the first time I have ever gone off on my own, since I have been married with children. I think I will enjoy the relaxation but will be very homesick for my guys. They are planning some fun things to do while I am gone, although Ben and Nick both said they wanted to come too and Ben got a bit teary eyed. It will only be for 3 days and 2 nights so I am sure they will do fine and will have lots of fun. When we started discussing the things they could do with daddy while I am gone, they were all happy and excited again.
I have been doing more research, trying to decide what to do and when, in regards to homeschooling. Once we are back from Arizona and are settled back in, I think we will begin doing a bit of reading and writing each day. Not too much and we will spread it between some fun stuff and getting lots of exercise in, but I think they are ready to start doing a little more than we have been doing to date. I will post more on this as we go along to let you know how things are going.
The boys are doing very well with our new night time routine of them going to sleep without us in the room. Actually, they would rather us not be in there with them now, for the most part. When we are in there, they have to be quiet and lie down. When they are on their own, they can talk and play in their beds. We usually have to go back up at least once or twice to remind them to stay in their beds but they normally do very well and we now have a bit more time in the evenings to ourselves, which is nice.
We have been watching the olympics and the boys get very excited when they get to watch it for a little while before going to bed. Nick especially ooooo's and aaaahhh's over it. The first night we had it on, they were both running back and forth through the living room, jumping in the air, spinning around and generally trying to imitate what they were seeing on the tube, all the while saying, "mommy, daddy, watch me!". It had us laughing a few times, for sure.
We had a couple of beautiful days here this week. The boys played outside in the yard and on the driveway one of the days and we went to the park for the afternoon on one day. Nick really surprised me. I looked around to see he had climbed and was grabbing the bar above his head to do the hand over hand thing above your head. I can't remember what that's called but I was shocked at how well he did it. He made it across to the other side and there were 5 rungs, which I thought was pretty amazing for a 4 year old.
We have had two nights recently when Nick was so over tired that he became impossible at bedtime. It is so difficult when that happens and we try very hard not to let it happen but sometimes it sneaks up on us. When he gets this way, there is no pleasing him. Last night he was exhausted after playing so hard in the park. He didn't want to brush his teeth so I said that was fine but he had to let me brush them in the morning (normally mom and dad brush them at night and they do their own in the morning). Then after we were all done in the bathroom and the lights were out, he wanted his teeth brushed. I knew that if I said ok, he would say no. This is just the way it goes. So I said I was not going to do it but he could do it if he wanted to so he did. There is constant crying and fit throwing during these episodes. After he was back in bed, he was upset because he wanted to say goodnight to daddy again. Daddy had already said goodnight when Nick was throwing his fit about teeth and generally not wanting to go to bed. Daddy was already downstairs so I told Nick that we had already done that and it was time to go to sleep. If I had relented, he either would have refused to say goodnight to daddy or he would have found something else to draw his line in the sand about. This is how he gets when he is so tired. There is really no pleasing him and he is just a mess through the whole thing. I think this was the first time he had been this way since we have not been sitting with them while they fall asleep so I was not sure how this was going to end. When I left the room, he was still crying and complaining. I listened to him on the monitor and within 5 minutes he was asleep. Very tired little boy. When he came down this morning, he was all smiles:). He is really normally a very happy little guy.
What else? The boys are doing great with their swimming lessons and continue to have a blast. I am starting a 6 week Bible study on Monday. I am totally ready for spring. My birthday is next week. I will be 47 years old. Wow! That's so close to 50! I don't feel that old and I don't think of myself as that old....not that there's anything wrong with 50 or that it is old or anything:). Actually, it seems to get less old with every year that goes by. Funny how that happens.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
February 9, 2010 Part 2
Yesterday Nick ran to the bathroom but he had waited too long and he had an accident on the floor, right in front of the toilet. I was in the kitchen and he yelled to me that he had had an accident. I yelled back (in a sweet voice) that he knew what to do. He complained once, and not very loudly, that he needed help but that was all he said.
The next thing I heard was Ben, yelling from upstairs, telling Nick to come see something. And then I heard Nick yell back, "Ben! Sorry! I'm busy cleaning up a pee pee mess!". I couldn't help but laugh and I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget.
And then I asked Nick how he was doing. He was doing a great job with a great attitude so I went in and helped him a bit and he was back to his playing in no time.
Yes, we need to do something about the yelling in our house:).
The next thing I heard was Ben, yelling from upstairs, telling Nick to come see something. And then I heard Nick yell back, "Ben! Sorry! I'm busy cleaning up a pee pee mess!". I couldn't help but laugh and I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget.
And then I asked Nick how he was doing. He was doing a great job with a great attitude so I went in and helped him a bit and he was back to his playing in no time.
Yes, we need to do something about the yelling in our house:).
February 9, 2010
Tonight the boys went to sleep without the dad or the mom sitting in the room with them. This is the first time this has happened since they moved out of their cribs, a very long time ago. This is huge people!!
When I talked to them about doing this last night and again earlier today, they were both on board with the idea. I talked it up several times today and promised them they could watch a movie tomorrow morning if they could stay in their beds and go to sleep without us sitting with them. When it came time to actually do it, Ben decided he did not want to try it. He wanted me to sit in the room and he cried for a little while. I should have expected this because he does not like change.
At one point Ben told Nick that he wanted to tell me something so Nick came downstairs and got me. I went up and talked to Ben and basically repeated what I had told him earlier. He was still crying a bit when I left again. Nick came back down a little later to tell me that Ben was bothering him with his crying and they both wanted me to sit with them and they didn't want to watch a movie tomorrow morning. I gave them another (firm) pep talk and told them we were going to do this and they are big boys now and don't need us to sit with them, etc. I told Nick to ignore Ben for a little while and he would quit crying and I also told him he could talk to Ben about what movie they wanted to watch in the morning. I told Ben that he needed to quit crying because he was bothering Nick. I was very sweet about the whole thing and tried to encourage them.
After my second visit to their room, I was listening to them on the monitor and Ben had stopped crying and they were both talking happily with each other. A bit later Nick was singing. He tried talking to Ben again after he finished his song and Ben answered very sleepily. Nick fell asleep during quiet time today and Ben did not so Ben was very tired and Nick was a bit peppy-er than normal. He sang a little longer and then he was quiet too.
I am surprised and very happy that it went as easily as it did. Hopefully this is the first of a new bedtime routine in which the dad and the mom no longer have to sit with the boys while they fall asleep, although I will remember those times with fondness.
They are such sweet boys. I love them so much. They are growing up too fast.
When I talked to them about doing this last night and again earlier today, they were both on board with the idea. I talked it up several times today and promised them they could watch a movie tomorrow morning if they could stay in their beds and go to sleep without us sitting with them. When it came time to actually do it, Ben decided he did not want to try it. He wanted me to sit in the room and he cried for a little while. I should have expected this because he does not like change.
At one point Ben told Nick that he wanted to tell me something so Nick came downstairs and got me. I went up and talked to Ben and basically repeated what I had told him earlier. He was still crying a bit when I left again. Nick came back down a little later to tell me that Ben was bothering him with his crying and they both wanted me to sit with them and they didn't want to watch a movie tomorrow morning. I gave them another (firm) pep talk and told them we were going to do this and they are big boys now and don't need us to sit with them, etc. I told Nick to ignore Ben for a little while and he would quit crying and I also told him he could talk to Ben about what movie they wanted to watch in the morning. I told Ben that he needed to quit crying because he was bothering Nick. I was very sweet about the whole thing and tried to encourage them.
After my second visit to their room, I was listening to them on the monitor and Ben had stopped crying and they were both talking happily with each other. A bit later Nick was singing. He tried talking to Ben again after he finished his song and Ben answered very sleepily. Nick fell asleep during quiet time today and Ben did not so Ben was very tired and Nick was a bit peppy-er than normal. He sang a little longer and then he was quiet too.
I am surprised and very happy that it went as easily as it did. Hopefully this is the first of a new bedtime routine in which the dad and the mom no longer have to sit with the boys while they fall asleep, although I will remember those times with fondness.
They are such sweet boys. I love them so much. They are growing up too fast.
Monday, February 08, 2010
February 8, 2010
The amazing husband fixed the washing machine on Thursday evening (Yay!!). He found instructions on the internet detailing how to take it apart. He had to replace a part and then he put it all back together again. He is amazing and I am so happy to have my washing machine working again. It is easy to take something like that for granted.
It is snowing again here today. We may get up to 6 inches. No ice this time though, so that is a good thing. Just snow by itself is not nearly as troublesome. I am really done with this now though. I am ready for spring.
Nick is coming down with a cold.
I have signed up for a Bible study class at church that will start in a couple of weeks.
That's all the news for today.
It is snowing again here today. We may get up to 6 inches. No ice this time though, so that is a good thing. Just snow by itself is not nearly as troublesome. I am really done with this now though. I am ready for spring.
Nick is coming down with a cold.
I have signed up for a Bible study class at church that will start in a couple of weeks.
That's all the news for today.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
February 2, 2010 Part 2
Today after swimming lessons I bought the boys each a pair of goggles. The two little girls who are in their swim class have them and the boys had been asking for some. I waited for a while because I wanted them to get used to having water in their face and not freak out about it. But today I finally bought them, after their lesson, when we were getting ready to leave.
We are having our quiet time and Ben is here in the living room with me, while Nick is in the library. I just looked up to see what Ben was doing. He is sitting in the big rocking/recliner recliner, looking at a book, while wearing his goggles. Very funny.
They are quite anxious to try them out in the bath tub. The husband has to go to a late meeting this evening. The boys and I will have a quick, easy meal and then they will spend a couple of hours playing in the tub, while I relax. Sounds like a good evening, yes?
They are both still really enjoying their swimming lessons and they look forward to them each week. They learn a little more each time and become a bit more comfortable in the water. It will be interesting to see if the goggles make any difference.
We are having our quiet time and Ben is here in the living room with me, while Nick is in the library. I just looked up to see what Ben was doing. He is sitting in the big rocking/recliner recliner, looking at a book, while wearing his goggles. Very funny.
They are quite anxious to try them out in the bath tub. The husband has to go to a late meeting this evening. The boys and I will have a quick, easy meal and then they will spend a couple of hours playing in the tub, while I relax. Sounds like a good evening, yes?
They are both still really enjoying their swimming lessons and they look forward to them each week. They learn a little more each time and become a bit more comfortable in the water. It will be interesting to see if the goggles make any difference.
February 2, 2010
Last week I was washing a load of clothes and the boys were at the kitchen table playing with play dough. The washing machine shifted cycles from washing to rinse or spin or something and, all of a sudden, there was this very loud, obnoxious sound coming from the laundry room that startled all of us. I ran in and turned it off, looked inside (it looked normal), switched it from a fast/fast rotation to a slower rotation and turned it back on. It immediately started making the same noises and then I smelled a burning smell so I quickly turned it back off.
Later I removed all of the clothes and, when the husband got home, we worked together to bail out all of the water. He found a web site where you pay a small fee and a washer repair guy walks you through some steps to see if you can fix it. The husband took it apart and tried what they told him but it did not fix the problem. They said we probably need a new part so he ordered it. It is suppose to arrive today. If this does not fix the problem, we will either hire a repair guy to come in and fix it or we will buy a new one.
In the meantime, the dirty laundry is building up fast around here. We actually stopped by WalMart and picked up another package of underwear and socks for the boys last night, only because they were needing them anyway. Otherwise I would have washed some out by hand.
I have never seen a laundromat since I have lived here. I am sure there are some, although I suspect they may be in areas of the city in which I may not feel very safe. My plan is to head to my sister's house tomorrow with a car full of laundry, if the new part does not fix the problem tonight.
Later I removed all of the clothes and, when the husband got home, we worked together to bail out all of the water. He found a web site where you pay a small fee and a washer repair guy walks you through some steps to see if you can fix it. The husband took it apart and tried what they told him but it did not fix the problem. They said we probably need a new part so he ordered it. It is suppose to arrive today. If this does not fix the problem, we will either hire a repair guy to come in and fix it or we will buy a new one.
In the meantime, the dirty laundry is building up fast around here. We actually stopped by WalMart and picked up another package of underwear and socks for the boys last night, only because they were needing them anyway. Otherwise I would have washed some out by hand.
I have never seen a laundromat since I have lived here. I am sure there are some, although I suspect they may be in areas of the city in which I may not feel very safe. My plan is to head to my sister's house tomorrow with a car full of laundry, if the new part does not fix the problem tonight.
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