New Rules

The other night Wesley and Ryan were playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors." 

Rock - not THE Rock, but rock all the same

Paper

Scissors

Okay, so all know how the game is played. Scissors cut paper, paper covers rock and rock smashes scissors, right?

So imagine my surprise when I saw the following "signs" come into play.

Know what this is? This is "laser." It cuts rock and paper, but not scissors for some reason.

And this? This is Earth.

Apparently this is how the game is played at school. I asked Wesley what "Earth" did and he matter-of-factly replied, "Earth destroys everything."  As an adult, that statement is sobering and sometimes feels almost too accurate. I'm sure the kids are thinking about the sheer size of a planet, but somehow, I still like the old version better.

Not Loving It

I often get cravings for certain foods. I'll get in the mood for something and nothing else will really satisfy me until I've eaten that one food. Some women only have food cravings when they are pregnant, but I have them very frequently.

After a busy day on Sunday we decided to just pick up McDonalds for the boys dinner. I wasn't very hungry, so when Duane asked if I wanted him to bring anything back for me I told him I'd just like some fries and a Shamrock shake.

I don't order fries very often and I only get one Shamrock shake a year, so I was kind of looking forward to my junk food dinner. I should have known better than to actually look forward to fast food from a drive thru. Duane returned with the food, but no shake. Apparently the lady at the drive thru said the shakes were special for Valentines Day and they didn't have them anymore.

What?! A bright green mint flavored shake for Valentines Day? Hmmm...something about the color and the fact that it is called a SHAMROCK shake made foolish me believe it was for St. Patty's Day? But what do I know? And if that wasn't a big enough of a disappointment for me, the fries I wanted as a treat were stone cold.

Now I will be honest and tell you that there was some pouting going on upon discovering that I would not be having fries or a shake. Like I said, when I am in the mood for a particular food, I can't just switch gears. I was really bummed out. So bummed out that the words, "I can't stand McDonalds. It's the worst restaurant!" came out of my mouth.

You should have seen the look of horror that crossed Wesley's face upon hearing those words. "Mom! You don't mean that! McDonalds is the best! I love McDonalds! It's my favorite restaurant!"

The story does have a happy ending though. While I was busy mourning the loss of my fat-filled and nutritionally lacking dinner, Duane quietly left the house, went to a different set of arches and got me fries fresh from the fryer and the artificially colored and flavored shake I was so craving. Is that love or what?

And Wesley and I put our differing culinary opinions aside and shared the hot fries.

Aww....it's almost like a storybook,isn't it?

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not spend several minutes cursing at my camera because I couldn't get the charger to plug in, only to discover I was trying to use the wrong charger. Never happened.

I know I didn't totally geek out over starting the new Anne Rice book. 

Speaking of geeking out, there is no way I geeked out about the Hunger Games movie and bought my tickets a full month before opening day.

There is no way I suddenly became that old, uncool mom/librarian at work when a middle school girl came up to the desk and asked for a CD by a certain  band and I had absolutely  no idea who she was talking about.

I would have never asked Duane to make a "choice" of attending a PTA meeting on my behalf next month or standing in line at a bookstore (same night, same time) to get a book autographed by a writer I am convinced is my BFF (she just doesn't know it yet). Wow, that certainly didn't sound stalkerish, did it? :-)

Accidents Happen

Ryan has been pretty much potty trained for six weeks or so. Oh, the freedom! I have dreamed of this day!!

Oh! Sorry! Please excuse my little celebration.

Anyhow, last night Ryan had his first accident in probably a month. Poor little guy was mortified!

"I'm not a baby! I'm a big boy!" he yelled. "I DON'T need a diaper!"

We had to reassure him that accidents can happen and he his still a big boy. I guess we don't really have to worry about him backsliding though.

Wesley Wisdom

I may be stretching it a little bit to call the following two short stories "wisdom."  Maybe they should be considered more like "Wesley's Words to the Wise."  Hmmm....that does have a nice ring to it.  So what sage advice was young master Wesley sprouting this morning? Read on, dear friends.

Let's start with Wesley's words to the wise for me this morning.  I was making his bed and my dear oldest son was standing a few feet away from me getting dressed. Suddenly he turned to me and said seriously, "Mom, you might want to leave the room."

Here I asked the stupid question I knew I shouldn't ask, but had to anyhow. "Why?"

The response? "Cause there's something I've gotta do and it isn't a burp." 

Ewww...thanks for sharing. Or not sharing as the case may be.

Wesley's words to the wise for Ryan were a less disgusting, but no less practical. On the way to school, we drove past what will be Ryan's preschool next year - which was Wesley's school last year. 

Wesley told Ryan, "Ryan, when you start preschool you have to be sure to listen to the teachers. And preschool lasts a long time, but they've got snacks."

The secret to preschool success is apparently to listen to your teachers and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel - or at least a snack.

Basic Math

I think Ryan really liked being a family of six last weekend when Sho and Kei were staying with us.  Today he looked around the van and said, "Our car has six seats in it. One for Daddy, one for Mommy, one for me, one for Wesley, one for Sho and one for Kei."

When I reminded him that Uncle Kirk and Aunt Susan rode in our van the other night, he said, "Yeah, in Sho and Kei's seats."

Funny, I didn't think minivans came with reserved seating.

Do NOT Pull His Finger!

But at least it isn't the one he picks his nose with

Making Friends

This morning when Ryan and I dropped Wesley off at school, Ryan noticed that several kids greeted Wesley as he walked into the building.

"Those kids talked to Wesley," Ryan told me.

"Yes," I answered. "They  must be friends of his."

"I have friends!" Ryan shouted from his seat.  "I have Danny and ..... Mom, who are my other friends?"

And that's when I realized that Ryan doesn't have too many little friends. He's mostly just "Wesley's little brother" to people. I don't know if he plays with anyone at Sunday School and there aren't really kids for the boys to play with in our neighborhood. I know he'll make more friends next year when preschool starts, but I also knew that I couldn't really say that to him.

"Well......there's Colin and J and G (my friend's kids who are closer to Wesley's age). They are your friends.  And......isn't there someone you like to play with at Jump Bunch?"

Ryan thought for minute, then said, "Yeah! There is! But I don't know his name."

Guess friendship isn't quite as complicated when you're three.

Brother Can You Spare a Dime?

Duane and I give the kids allowance each week. Okay, we give the kids allowance when we remember.  Ryan is a spender. When he gets his two dollars, it never lasts long. He falls prey to dollar area at the front of Target and wants to collect all the Dagedar balls. Wesley is a saver. We have even raided his stash when we need some cash (and yes, we do pay it back). He says he is saving for our trip this summer and he wants to make a donation to Cat Welfare.  What a kid.

Yesterday Wesley asked if we could stop and get hash browns on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's.

"Wesley, I don't think I have any money in my purse and hash browns cost money," I told him.

"How much do they cost?" he asked.

"They cost a dollar."

He thought for a second, then said, "Okay, then I'll go get a dollar from my allowance and we can get hash browns."

I answered, "That would be fine, but what if Ryan wants hash browns too?"

"Oh, I have money. I can buy him some hash browns. I'll go ask if he wants some."

Ryan declined Wesley's generous offer, but I was so proud of Wesley offering to buy his brother a treat. Sometimes I could swear they actually like each other. But only sometimes.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not forget to add sugar to our special Valentine's dessert until after it was already in the oven. That would have been very embarrassing for someone who loves to bake as much as I do.

There is no way I started crying the morning that my coffee maker died as I was trying to make a cup of coffee. Certainly a broken coffee maker isn't worth shedding tears over - especially not in front of one's children, and on a holiday. And I did not practically fall down on the ground and kiss my mother's feet when she offered to run out and pick up a new one for me while I was at work.

I did not suddenly feel very grown up after getting a crown at the dentist and then going to a PTA meeting.

I did not find myself in awe of my husband's patience and humor as he entertained and cared for four boys under the age of ten for the weekend while I worked. 

Family of Six

The W. family has been a family of six this weekend. Aunt Cathy had to take a trip, so Sho and Kei have bunked down with us for past couple of nights.

Let me tell you, having four boys in the house is a lot different than having two. The swagger wagon (minivan) has been used to it's full potential this weekend, which is a little weird in and of itself.  For the most part everything has gone very smoothly. Duane has done most of the caregiving as I have had to work this weekend, but he's so incredible at being a dad and uncle that it barely seems to phase him. 

There have been some definite highlights though

• Sho and Kei loved the homemade mac and cheese we had for dinner one night, even though my kids wouldn't touch it.

• Sho is so sweet and wonderful with Ryan.  We took the guys to a buffet for dinner on Friday and Sho helped Ryan with his plate, got him dessert and even helped him with his coat. Ryan thinks Sho hung the moon, so he was quite happy.

• The guys completely rocked out to "Party Rock Anthem" in the van one night. We had it cranked up and everyone was singing along at the top of their lungs and dancing in their seats. It was one of those moments I wish I could do over and over again. There was just happiness in the air.

• Movie night campouts on the living room floor have been a big hit. Tons of pillows and blankets, a big screen tv, and the lights out made for a fun (although not exactly sleep inducing) bedtime.

Ry-Day

Forget Friday. That's so 10 minutes ago. Today is Ry-Day!  That's right a day that ended up being pretty much all about Ryan.

After taking Wesley to school, Grandma and I took Ryan to an indoor play place we've never been to  before. It's actually the showroom for a place that sells backyard play equipment that I could never afford in a million years, but they allow kids to come in an play on the stuff for a small fee. Ryan LOVED it!

This is possibly my new favorite picture of Ryan. He was totally fearless on the climbing walls.

Sorry for the fuzzy picture, but you try catching a kid in motion at an inside playground on an iPhone camera.

My little acrobat.

Ryan took his first spin - literally - on a tire swing.

His favorite part was playing basketball with the big kids. Of course, to Ryan "playing basketball" meant holding on the one Cavilers basketball and occasionally rolling it around. But he sure felt like big stuff hanging out with the big boys.

Coincidentally, the is a cupcake bakery right around the corner from the play place. So of course, we took a little detour on the way home. Ryan picked out a superhero cupcake that had a Batman ring on it.  He also got Grandma to buy him a plastic cupcake carrier that is shaped like a cupcake. Ryan couldn't wait to put the remains of his cupcake in it. Too bad all he really had left was a big pile of crumbs. That didn't stop him though, he just mushed all crumbs into a pile and crammed them in the case.

After our pre-lunch cupcakes, we had to go to the dentist so I could get my crown adjusted slightly. That may not sound like much fun - and it wasn't for me - but Ryan got to play with my iPad while I was in the torture chamber (just kidding, it wasn't bad at all)

We wrapped up our errands with a small cheese pizza just for Ryan. Now that's a day in heaven for a three year old boy!

How Do I Love Thee?

I know Valentines Day has passed, but I had to share some sweet nothings that the boys gave me.

Last night Wesley and I were snuggled up together when he told me he loved me.

"I love you too, bud. To the moon and back," I told him.

"You always say that Mom."

"That's because it's always true."

"Well then I love you to Pluto!"

Ryan knows how to melt his mommy's heart too. This morning I hugged him and asked if he'd be mine.

Ryan hugged me back and answered "Forever.". Of course, in his little three-year-old voice it sounded like "for-wev-er" which was even sweeter.

I am one lucky mommy.

Valentine's Day Recap

This is probably the first time in nine years that I don't feel the need to recap my Valentine's Day in great (some may even say excruciating) detail.  It's not that I had a bad Valentine's Day, because I really didn't, but it was very low key.

The low key thing was my idea. Santa Claus was VERY generous to me at Christmas and I hated the thought of him spending more money on me. Then there is the family vacation we are planning for this summer, which isn't exactly going to be cheap. An extravagant Valentine's Day just didn't seem like the thing to do.

Duane and I exchanged candy and cards in the morning. In my world, Valentine's candy does not count as a gift - it's a right - but that was pretty much it. There were no surprise flowers or anything during the day and that was actually okay by me.  We celebrated by eating takeout from our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner, a delicious truffle cake for dessert and watching the anniversary production of Phantom of the Opera after the kids went to bed.

Duane did sing to me, just as he did on our first Valentine's Day together and that added the right touch of romance to the day. 

So that was it. Probably not one for the record books, but it suited me just fine.

Memory Man

I've always known that Wesley has a pretty good memory. This is not a kid you can skip pages in a book with!  However, I was extra impressed with his ability for recall while we were on the way to school the other morning. Picture if you will a white mini-van cruising north on the freeway with the following conversation taking place inside.

Ryan: Someday I want to see a real monster truck.

Mommy: You have seen a real monster truck. Last year we all went to Monster Jam and you saw lots of monster trucks.

Wesley: Yeah Ryan, remember? It was really really loud and there was a blue monster truck named Sampson. 

Now, I all I recall from that night about a year ago is that, yes, it was very loud, and the boys had a really good time. Once Wesley mention the Sampson truck, I remembered it, but honestly, I had no recollection of it before.

Mommy: Wesley, how do you remember things like that!?

Wesley: I just do.

Maybe I should start asking him where I left my car keys.....

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not forget to send spare clothes for Ryan to the grandparent's house. That would have been tempting fate with a newly potty trained three year old.

There is no way I lost the key fob to my remote start on the van the day before we got snow for only the second time this winter. The timing of that would have just been cruel.

I did not feel seriously less stressed and a million times better after I forced myself to exercise on a night I didn't want to - it would have been almost ironic for someone who hates exercise to admit that.

I did not tell Ryan that the reason he didn't like carrots before was because he was a baby - but now that he's a big boy, he should love them.

You Know You Live With Boys....

You know you live with boys when:

• burping and farting are the height of humor in your house (Mommy: Please don't do that. Wesley: But that was just my fake burp.  Mommy: It's still disgusting.  Wesley: I know!)

• you constantly have to tell your three year old to get his hands out of his pants. (Ryan: I was just checking it, Mommy)

• your special Mommy power was the ability to put together a five piece Megazord without the instructions.

• wedgies, power slams, and noogies are common ways your children show affection.

• ketchup is a food group (I know I am stereotyping here, but I don't know any girls that are like this)

Bounce Buddies

Old Man Winter blew into town overnight, dropping temperatures to the coldest they have been all season. We decided to let the boys work up a sweat inside and took them to a bounce house to meet up with a couple of their friends.

Ryan is infatuated with the hula hoops. Maybe someday he'll even figure out how to use it!

Wesley and his buddy Jack busted some dance moves while waiting in line for the slide.

What cute guys!

Ready to slide! 

Danny built several block creations while he was warming up to the bounce place.

Once the boys really started tearing around, I gave up on pictures. I am so glad Jack and Danny's dad was willing to horse around and get pelted with balls. Duane usually fills that role, but he's a bit under the weather today.

I can't tell you how happy I am that Wesley and Ryan have friends who are brothers who have fantastically nice and fun parents. We are so lucky!

He's a Big Boy Now

Things sure have changed around the W. household since Ryan finished potty training. The first big change has to do with getting him dressed in the morning. While I won't lie to you all and say it's a picnic, it has gotten much better. What has made the difference? Big boy superhero underpants. Every morning Ryan gets them all out of his drawer, spreads the out on the bed and very carefully considers which hero should adorn his tushie that day. 

Of course, now that Ryan is a big boy he wants even more big boy privileges. The one he is asking for most frequently is to have a big boy car sear like Wesley's. Trust me, we are ready for that too. Wesley's seat is so easy to take in and out and move from car to car. I think we may make the Ryan switch this weekend (if we remember).

The hardest thing for me about Ryan being big now is that he gets very offended if I call him my baby, or babe, or any form of the b-a-b-y word.  This morning when we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's I said, "Okay Baby, we're here," without even thinking about it.

No sooner than the words left my mouth, a disgusted little voice came from the backseat. "Mom. I am NOT that thing you said!" 

Beg your pardon sir.  But you'll always be my baby.

Conference Night

We had our conference with Wesley's teacher last night. His report card was pretty darn good, if I do say so myself, so I wasn't the least bit concerned about the conference.  Sure enough, we heard very good things about his academic performance and Mrs. C. gave us a few things to work on with him at home.

It always amazes me to hear what his behavior is like at school though. Mrs. C. told us again that Wesley is "shy and serious" and school - although sometimes his shyness comes out by him acting a little silly.  I am still floored to hear my Wesley referred to as shy and serious. Those are two words I would never in a million years use to describe my oldest son. When Wesley is with us he talks non-stop and knows no strangers.  We usually have to reign him in a little.

Apparently Mrs. C. saw a glimpse of our Wesley yesterday. The school will be having a talent show in May and the kids are being encouraged to start thinking about what they might like to do in the show. Wesley raised his hand and told Mrs. C. he was going to sing and dance. She was so surprised "shy and serious" Wesley would want to do that, so she asked him to give the class a preview. Wesley hopped right out of his seat, burst into "Party Rock Anthem" and proceeded to dance around with full on "rock star moves."

Mrs. C. told us that when he finished there was dead silence for a moment because everyone was so surprised that quiet Wesley had it in him - then everyone started clapping for him. She also told us that a girl in the class (L.) who has a little crush on Wesley was looking at him with full on adoration after his performance. Mrs. C. is pretty sure Wesley's act put L. over the edge and turned her crush into full on puppy love.

I guess he has his first groupie.