One of Our Finer Moments!

May, 2007: This is not one of our better moments...but its a reality of raising two boys the exact same age..

I promise...

On the way home from dinner last Sunday...Owen asked me to open up his "keetles" (skittles)..they were actually M&M's..anyway..he asked me to open up his M&M's that Grandpa had boughten him. I told him to just wait until we got home so that they were not all over the van. I said, "When we get home I will open them up." He responded by, "Promise mommy?" Wow! I was floored..after I quit laughing and reassured him that I promised that I would open them when we got home I began thinking about all the things I wanted my kids to experience and how much I have put off. Either I am too tired after work, we have other things going on, the weather is not nice out...whatever the excuse, I need to start on that list and crossing them off.
I decided to make a list of things that I want to do this spring/summer..lets start out slow here.
Here is what I have compiled so far..

1. I want to take the boys on a choo choo ride.. Even if its from Carlinville to Springfield, I want to do this this spring..perhaps during Spring Break

2. Go on a vacation this summer...fly perhaps. Am I crazy? Perhaps, but the boys would just love it

3. Start going on walks once the weather is nice. Allow the boys to wander and explore on the walk..take as long as they want

4. Get pictures of the family done..I need to talk to Stella about this

5. Have more playdates with Owen and Peyton's friends. We had one last weekend and all the kids had a blast

6. Go to the zoo.. I am curious how their perspective on the zoo will have changed since last year

7. Let the boys help me make cookies or a cake...really let them help..despite the mess we make! This may have to wait until nice weather!

8. Start planning for Christmas. We have decided this year to try to do something otehr than gifts. We have seriously talked in place of gifts, giving out our time to ourfamilies to help them accomplish something. I am hoping my family will do the same and we can do away with gifts, except a few for the boys. I hope this will teach the boys the true meaning of Christmas.

9. We want to get together with Chris's best friend from North Carolina...we are planning a trip to Gaitlinburg. our kids will love playing together.

That about does it for now...I guess I need to get planning on some of these.

I am open for any more fun ideas for kids that we can try! I am getting spring fever and I am so ready for some nice weather.

I also have some new pictures that I am going to post soon!

Homesick...and at home

Most mothers will be able to relate to this after reading..This weekend my brother moved from one place in St. Louis to another place in St. Louis. We volunteered to help him move on Saturday. We loaded my van up with furniture and loaded my parents truck with stuff and headed to St. Louis..minus two little boys...Owen and Peyton. This leads to my heading...homesick. We dropped off the boys at my mother and father in laws and headed to St. Louis. I know that my kids love their grandma and grandpa and love spending time with them, but still, I hate to leave my kids anytime. We moved my brother and at about 1 I began to be very homesick. I just wanted to see my boys. I know that most mothers can relate to this homesickness. I really missed the boys and was almost sick that they were not there with me. Chris and I both work, so on weekend or days that we are not working, we spend every minute with the boys. We really are never away from them unless we are working. Perhaps is the working parents guiltiness, but we hate to be away from them for any length of time.

On top of my feeling sick for my kids, the boys woke up on Sunday with terrible colds and their eyes matted shut. We used warm washcloths on their eyes and they took some dimetapp and they recovered enough to make a snowman outside. I hope that my whole family can get over their colds and be on the path to recovery.

Here are some pictures of the boys from December and January..I have finally figured this thing out

Football

So we have discovered the Owen loves football and sports. I am not one to push my kids into anything. Chris and I both played our share of sports, he more than I and with him coaching basketball, I figured that one or both of our kids would be into sports. I was not however expecting Owen to take to sports like he has. He found an old football helmet of Chris's in the basement and decided to try it on..it fit like a glove! He does not take it off and some nights it sleeps at the foot of his,or our bed...depending on where he is that night.
Needless to say..Chris is pumped about someone being into football and science..oh yeah, we discovered Owen loves the science channel and watching nature shows as well. Chris has found his soulmate!

My wonderful husbnd

I just want to take this time to congratulate my husband on earning his Masters in Education. He finished up in December and I am very proud him. In our house, its difficult to find a quiet moment to study or do homework, but he succeeded and it only took him 2.5 years.
If anyone sees Chris, tell him congrats!

Hide and Seek

Owen and Peyton has started loving to play hide and seek at Nana and Papa's house...that is my parent house if you don't know. The last 4 times we have gone over there have been in the evening and its been dark out. The minute we get there, they want to play hide and seek. Only they call it "Wolf". I should explain the rules of Hide and Seek that we follow. One of the boys or both of them go hide with someone...you could to 10 really loud and then say,"Ready or not, here we come." Here is where we have changed the rules a bit...the hider then makes noise like a wolf howling....the boys usually are the wolves and they continue it until you find them. I guess its easier to find them if you can follow the sound. Once someone is found...they yell, Surprise! Not sure why.
So, on Saturday we were at my parents house and playing "wolf" Peyton decided that he was brave enough to hide by himself. Which is think is pretty good, since I get a bit scared when we are playing...he went downstairs and we counted and howled and went upstairs to fine him...we then hear him saying, "I am down here." I guess we did not find him quick enough.
So we go into my parents room and find him laying on the bed with his face down...hiding! He then jumped up and said," surprise." I guess it is true, if I cannot see you, you cannot see me

Playing this game with my kids has shown me how creative and imaginative they really are. I love to hide with them and see how excited they get just standing there hiding. I love to see their faces when we are found, they jump out and try to scare us. I love how they are a bit scared and nervous...I admit..I am a bit nervous and get a twinge of fright when we are found...its the surprise I think...
The boys have really turned into little boys these past few months...they love to sing songs that start out.."Trick or treat, smell my feet", they love to play crocs and act like they are being chased and eaten by crocs, they love to play with my mom's thousands of cars, they love their trampoline and don't care if its 10 degrees outside...they will wear their snow suits and gloves and the special jumping socks and will be out side for hours while Chris and I are outside freezing our tails off!
I love this age and Chris and I are learning how to play again...we are loving it!