That's what I love about you

Every year for Valentine's Day I make the boys dress up and we have a formal dinner right here in our dining room. I love this tradition but the boys hate it. Well at least the dressing up part. I keep thinking this will be the perfect opportunity to introduce some basic rules of table etiquette but alas my efforts were again in vain. Any time you get candles, silverware and shish kabobs along with four boys at one table it is bound for disaster.

The flame in the candles lasted until about the last person sat down to the table. The skewers turned into swords, Darren kept belching from the sparkling cider and somehow Cordon managed to survive sticking a knife into the outlet that was feeding electricity to the red neon heart hanging in the dining room window. The knife however, is toast it burned two holes right into it. As well as blowing the fuse in the circut breaker and cutting out the electricity to the room. It was chaos but the food was good and no glassware was broken. Bottom line is I love these boys no matter what happens and Im glad to have a day to celebrate it.

Here are the basics about my boys:

Lance

Lance is a good sport to be married to me. He is working hard trying to be supportive with all my hairbrained ideas. He works hard and is gone a lot but is always willing to give me a break from the boys. He funds my travel addiction and graciously poses for all the pictures that I take. He loves spending time with me and I never doubt that I am the most important person on earth to him.

Darren

Just turned seven and obsessed with books. He reads everything he can get his hands on.

Cordon

Cordon is my little sweetheart. We are still dealing with some temper issues but he is such a teddy bear most of the time. He is just now starting to do some basic reading and math. He loves gymnastics and coloring. His little bum is prone to wedgies and prefers going commando.

The other day as he was getting his PJ's on he said to me, "Aren't you so proud of me, I wore underwear all day."

Cameron

Cam is still fascinated by all sea life and can name way more species of Sharks, and whales than I can. He is making tons of progress on his speech and loves preschool. He loves to make people laugh and makes up his own knock knock jokes. His favorite lullaby is "Happy Birthday to you"

Joshua

Good thing he is cute cause he can be a little devil. He rivals any of my boys on mess making and is obsessed with playing in the toilet. He is a picky eater and even a worse sleeper. He laughs when I say, "No" and runs away when its time to get dressed. He does love to cuddle and is completely "Daddy's boy." When Lance comes home Joshua is first in line to say hello (pronounced Aaaaghh). He has "class clown" written all over his personality and I know he is going to give me a run for my money over the next umpteen years.

All different and all wonderful. I love these guys!

bummer

I found Cordon in my closet looking at the big white bag that holds my wedding dress:

Me: Cordon, do you want to see my wedding dress

Cordon: yes yes

Me: Do you want to try it on

Cordon: (shy smile) uh huh

Cordon with the dress on "I can't wait until I get bigger and I can have my own wedding dress!"

Lance: I hate to burst your bubble but....

These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray....

....Right through the very heart of it, New York, New York

If someone were to ask me, "What do you enjoy doing?" My number one answer would be traveling. However, technically that is incorrect. I love being in new places. Traveling I actually hate. But I can't have one without the other so I suffered through another self-medicated all night flight to get to (drum roll please) NEW YORK CITY. This has been a destination I have long wanted be apart. I grew up in a small town, I went to college in a small town and I currently live in a small town so NYC, needless to say, has always seemed very intimidating to me. My curiosity though has always kept a pin in this destination on the map. And since my SIL and BIL are currently and probably temporarily living there while she gets her master's at NYU we jumped on the opportunity.

I just have to say that I am so lucky that Lance loves to "travel" just as much as I do because I can get him on board for just about any trip that comes into my flighty little mind. (As long as we can find a place for our kids.) So that being said I will get to our big city experience.

Even though I survived the flight our travels weren't over. I had to brave the subway. Lance loves public transportation but I loath it. I know it sounds princess of me but one bus ride with a bunch of teenage boys and a rabid cat and I am always on my guard when riding public transit. And our first experience on the NY subway did not put my fears at ease. Some crazy racist guy was very loudly cussing out some people on our train. When he started getting close to my baby I thought "I was going to contribute to the city's crime rate by killing this guy" but he just looked at Lance and said "Your baby is cute." and then continued on is expletive filled racist rantings. An unnecesary two hours later we got off at our destination.

Boy were we glad to see Kristy and Bryson and Kristy made us some super yummy pancakes that hit the spot after a long night of traveling. We detoured through central park on our way to Church with them and I got in a much needed power nap during the service so I was ready to go by the time church let out. We headed over to our hotel at Times Square and Kristy and Bryson graciously watched Joshua while Lance and I enjoyed some culture watching "Wicked" on Broadway. I loved it. Absolutely wonderful. Then we got some take-out at Junior's and ate it back at the hotel and watched the end of the Superbowl. I enjoyed the food way more than the football but it was fun to be there when New York won! I hit the pillow hard that night but was refreshed and ready for fun the next day.

Monday we were total tourists. We walked by Radio City Music Hall, went skating in Rockefeller rink, Joshua made an appearance on the Hoda and Kathie Lee hour of the Today show, we met up with Kristy and Bryson at the Hard Rock for Lunch and I got my shot glass.

Then Krysty and Bryson agreed to watch Joshua again while Lance and I got back on the subway and went to see the 911 Memorial. The memorial is not finished yet but it is sobering to be on the spot where thousands died in such a horrible act of terror. We then walked down to Battery park to look at the Statue of Liberty at sunset. Then we walked back up past Wall street and caught the subway back to our hotel. Then we all went out for dinner at a steakhouse called (aged.) It was fantastic! I don't claim to know a lot about food but I do know that I love it. And I do know that crab cakes can either be really really bad or really really good and this place had the latter. I had a spinach salad and crab cakes and Im pretty sure that good crab cakes are my most favorite food ever. After that it was another night going to bed exhausted.

When my alarm went off the next morning I was half tempted to ignore it but I was more determined to GET ON TV! This was my day, the one I was waiting for! I have been watching the today show for years and now it was my time to shine. I got up and ready and headed over to Rockefeller plaza to needlessly save us places. This is February and even in a city of millions your not going to find a whole lot of people standing outside for hours for 3 seconds of fame. But I sure as heck was! Lance and Joshua met me about an hour later. I was hoping that since we had a baby that Matt or Ann or Al would come talk to us but the little girl next to us happened to be her birthday so they talked to her instead. Anyway, we did get on TV a few different times and I have it recorded and show everyone that comes in my front door.

After that Bryson introduced us to the "Shake Shack" and ooooh baby wish I could take that home with me. Good burgers, but the concrete creations (ice cream) are what sold me. That is some good stuff right there. Then we headed on over to the American Museum of Natural History. My guilt over took me there. My boys (mostly Darren and Cameron) would have died! A larger than life blue whale swimming through the air and all the sea creatures you could even look at. Not to mention the dinosaur and space exhibit. WOW! I would make another trip to New York just to bring my boys there because they would absolutely LOVE it!

Anyway, after that we had to say our good-byes! Kristy and Bryson, you guys are just awesome and we were so glad we got to hang out with you even for just a short time. Your hospitality was awesome and we can't wait to see you again!

So this small town girl survived the big city and even loved it. But as much as I loved the visit I sure wouldn't want to live there. Besides the subway there are some pretty odorous smells floating around NY and getting caught in Rockefeller center at lunch time was dizzying. But I would go back in a heart beat just for the food!

Outside the American Museum of Natural History

Outside of K & B's Party pad

View from our room (not too shabby)

Lady Liberty. Isn't she beautiful?!

Hangin at the Hard Rock

Top of the Rock ( Our hotel is behind his head)

The boys and the Empire State building from Top of the Rock

I got Lance on skates!

MMmm All the yummy food. My favorite part!

Just talking with Al (off camera of course)

January 14

On Darren's big day he turned seven. SEVEN! Amazing he seems so much older yet I still call him "My little first born babe" which he loves because he thinks that makes him that much more special. If I could use one word to describe Darren it would be smart. Book smart. He loves to read non-fiction, science, trivia, quizzes whatever, if it is a fact he wants to know it. He could care less about stories or fairy tales though he has gotten into Harry Potter but he does not waste much time on the made up tales. Socially he borders on nerdy. He has no sense of personal space and can be a tad (understatement) boastful. But he is a witty little boy that knows what he wants and then goes for it. Life sure moves at a different pace and volume when he is gone at school during the day.

Darren is such an amazing kid and I wish that I had just a toe full of his energy. He is non stop sun up to sun down and then hits the pillow hard. I love this little guy!

The traditional texas doughnut birthday breakfast!

Look Mom, Im SEVEN!

PARTY PEOPLE

Harry Potter Birthday cake!

I will never...

...Have better in laws,

...Drink hot chocolate with a better view
...Eat more than I did New Year's weekend,
...be good at nertz,
...laugh harder than did when Matt gave Fred the Heimlich in a game of charades,
....forget New Year's 2012 with the in- laws (or as Fred says "the out-laws")

Favorite moments of Christmas 2011

* Watching Darren flirt while he is supposed to be singing in the Christmas program at school

*Trying to take a presentable christmas picture
*Watching my kids enthusiastic performances in the Nativity story
*Continually capturing Cordon's fake smile
*Knowing Darren still believes!
* Watching Cam literally beg on his knees for a humpback whale

*Having an infant find joy and not terror in Santa Claus.

*Having a packed house for Christmas
*Watching Grammy read book after book about sea life
*Mary teaching big J how to go for broke at spaids
*Sisters!
*That *%#!*^$ Shark
*Static electricity
*The reindeer that got left behind
Other favorite memories not caught on film include but not limited to;

* My dad teaching Cordon how to get all of your Christmas shopping done on Christmas eve.

*Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

*Taking a nap, actually many naps. Love having extra hands around.

*However, we have no picture of it but my all time favorite memory of Christmas 2011 was bringing to fruition the dream of a Little 3 year old boy uniting with his humpback whale. Thank you Santa Claus.

The first

Just after I had Darren and I was still in the hospital I tried so hard to take care of my first born babe. I didn't let him out of my sight. When I was delirious I would not let the nurses take him I stayed up and listened to every sound he made. Then I got home and tried even harder. I changed his diaper like clock work whether he needed it or not. I sterilized and sanitized. Any little noise I considered a call for help. And then later when he got a little older any bump or bruise was treated as a mortal injury. I worked so hard with my first born and I worked so hard being a first time mom. Was that wrong? Was it overreacting? A lot of first time moms get made fun of for doing that. It is called learning. Darren got the most care out of all of my babes but I wouldn't say he got the best.

Because I stayed up all night many nights with Darren I now know the difference in the sounds of coughing and choking. Im expert (thought not as good as Lance) at determining superficial wounds and wounds that need stitches. I can tell you how much toothpaste a child does not have to eat when you call Poison control (as well as some other household items), and now without fail I can tell by ear if scissors are cutting something appropriate or not. It is all because with a first born you check double check and triple check and everything is new and everything is a big deal. As it should be I say to all first time moms because that is how you learn. You have to learn the difference between a big deal and something that is not so much somehow. So sterilize that binky and dress that babe in 5 layers because that is what you need to do...right now.

Darren turned seven today. That is why I am writing this. I have never had a seven year old before and I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to deal with seven year old issues and I know I will overreact, over teach, and over do just about everything that has to do with Darren being seven. He is different now. He is a kid. Not a little kid. A full on kid and that is new and scary to me. All of a sudden the days when I freaked out about him not sharing or if he pees the bed don't seem so bad. Now I have to explain what those words mean that he hears on the playground and thinking about when we should have "the talk." First doesn't always mean best, it just means first.

Darren always wants to be first at everything and being oldest he usually is. From dawn to dusk he wants to be first to wake up, first to get done eating, first up the stairs, you name it he has to be first. There is glory is being first but now if there is anything I could teach him is let others go first, learn from them and then be the best. Be the best that you can be because you were able to learn from those that had to be first. But when you have to be first do it the very best that you can so that you can learn how to do it better.

Unfortunately, Im not really talking about doing anything specific. Just talking about being seven. Because he's never been seven and I've never been mom to a seven year old. I know this is a lot of rambling but I guess that is what happens when you don't know what you are doing and you don't know what you are talking about. So lift up your glass of sparkling cider and hear is to overdoing it and learning from it the best we can. Cheers!

It's tough being a kid

A while ago Darren and I made some scrumptious deep dish brownies. These are some super thick fudgey made from scratch brownies. The next morning before school Darren wanted one for breakfast. Of course, I said no way and made him eat a healthier breakfast before he left for school. To say the least he was bummed. After, I dropped him off I came home and cut out a piece of brownie and popped it in my mouth while fixing myself a bowl of cereal. As I did this I thought to myself "You know sometimes it is really hard to be a kid."

It has been a long while since I have had someone dictating my every move. And I really just don't realize from a kid perspective how hard it can be. If I want to eat a brownie, I eat it. If I want to rent a movie, I go rent it. If Im not tired I stay up. And as much as I want my kids to learn to make their own choices they are my responsibility and ultimately subject to my will.

As I raise my kids I often think "Boy, wouldn't it be nice if a plate of food was just placed in front of me." or "Man, I wish someone would make me take a nap." But then again I don't think about when that food was placed in front of me I would be forced to eat it whether or not I was hungry and whether or not I even liked it. Same for sleeping. Would I want to be forced to take a nap at the will of someone else whether or not I was tired. I am not saying I am going to change, I am just saying it has got to be tough.

Kids don't understand that they don't yet have the knowledge or judgement to make all of their own decisions. They just know that they don't get to make them and someone else is telling them what to do. And no matter how much I explain to my six year old a brownie is not a great way to start his day of being bombarded with knowledge and learning he still wants it and there is nothing he can do about it.

Another thing I have noticed is that my children's emotions are only skin deep. Their world falls apart much more quickly than an adult. For instance my three year old fell in LOVE with a toy humpback whale at a local store. He literally cried for days when he couldn't take it home. And not the whining annoying cry but a you-took-my-best-friend-away kind of cry. He asked for that humpback whale EVERYDAY for 2 months before he got it for Christmas and could not have been happier. I can't help but feeling bad for making him live with a broken heart for 2 months though.

Emotional meltdowns. Has your kid ever had one or more, or one or more per day for that matter? A few days ago I got to witness Darren try to beat the stuffing out of his winter coat because I guess he didn't know what else to do with himself. He was sledding and kept going off the trails and hitting the trees instead of hitting the jump and couldn't figure out how to fix the problem. Not to mention he was tired from staying up late the last two nights over New Year's. So watching him tear off his coat and stomp on it, then fall on his knees and start punching it all while he is next to tears of frustration. I have to admit it was quite amusing to watch him beat up his coat and when he looked up at me I just said, "keep going. If it makes you feel better, keep going." He looked at me astonished like I should be scolding him instead. Then he said "It doesn't make me feel better" and then he walked away. By the time he got back to the house he was fine and even better after a good nights sleep. But I just can't help but thinking that even though my children have it pretty good, It is still not easy being a kid.

My boys forced into the Christmas pageant