Family

We typically get the kids' pictures formally taken about twice a year - during Christmastime and then around their birthdays. You never know how children are going to act during pictures and if the time you choose will be the best time for that particular day for the kids. So, I did everything I could think of to get the kids to cooperate for picture time. We had Thing 2 take a nap at such a time that he would wake up, be able to eat, change clothes and get to the studio happy and well fed. We had Thing 1 take a rest and I begged and pleaded with him to be good and cooperate for the picture.

Well, everything that we did worked this time. Thing 1 was comfortable, therefore making Thing 2 comfortable. He has a way of making his little brother relax around people he doesn't know and in environments that he may be unfamiliar with. Thing 1 can do this better than anyone, including us. He was a huge help throughout the picture taking ordeal.

Anyway, here's our family:
We thought that bringing the bubble makers would make for a great picture. Unfortunately, the pictures with the boys actually playing in the bubbles didn't turn out well. Thing 1 was constantly in front of Thing 2. Great idea in theory, but not so great in execution.


My boys are getting so big! Thing 2 has such funky hair. Not much we can do about it - trust me I've tried. It's always been that way...even when he was very little.

Here we all are. Aren't we cute?

Weekend Fun

Since The Mr. started his new job just about a week ago and part of his job includes working every weekend, I have to come up with activities for the kids to do all weekend so we don't go crazy! I am not very creative so all of my ideas ran out by the end of Saturday. Hopefully I can come up with something by this weekend that will cover both Saturday and Sunday or I could be in trouble.

So, after Thing 2's nap on Saturday we went to the park. It was extremely warm out so we stayed until the water ran out - which was about an hour.

After the park, I did something that was probably not the best idea, I took the boys to the grocery store. Alone. Without any assistance. Crying ensued when the TV carts were not in service. Luckily I got them calmed down so that we could move on to phase two of our fun for the evening. We purchased items to make our own pizzas.

The boys seemed to enjoy this project as anything that involves food works for them. They are probably going to eat us out of house and home before they turn 10 at the rate they are going! Of course, they put tons of cheese on the pizzas. There also seemed to be "a little cheese on the pizza, a little cheese in my mouth" going on.

They also seemed to enjoy eating their creations:

Wish me luck in coming up with ideas for this weekend and all the following weekends. I'm not sure how long I can keep this creative thing going. I may need some help!

Ready to Talk

So there have been some changes in our household within the past 6 weeks. At the end of March my husband lost his job. We were devastated as we didn't see it coming. We immediately pulled the kids out of daycare and changed the way we were spending money. The company did give him a severance package which helped us make it through the month of April and could help us with the month of May.

The Mr. spent time with the boys by taking them to the park, to the beach, and to the library. He continued to help Thing 1 with his writing and is assisting him with learning his address and phone number before starting kindergarten in the fall. It was a mixed blessing having him home. It was nice to see him and have him be able to spend time with the kids. His job had him traveling so much that we hardly saw him and Thing 2 saw him even less than Thing 1 due to his bedtime. We had had many conversations over the past 6 months to year about his schedule with his job and how I felt that it wasn't allowing him to spend time with his family and focus on what is important.

Well on April 26, exactly one month after The Mr. lost his job, he started another one. It wasn't the best of jobs but it brings in money and allows him to stay home with the kids during the day. The Mr. is working in a restaurant for the evening running a cash register and cleaning (much different than training people in a division that covers multiple states). We worked out our schedules so that we don't need childcare. The Mr. cooks dinner for us before going to work and me arriving home so that we wouldn't have to eat out (thus saving money).

On his third day of employment, The Mr. got a promotion to managing the restaurant. The woman who owns it is a franchisee and needed a manager for that store. During his interview she had said that if he liked the company, she would start management training within a week. Well, management training started on day 3. So did the schedule change. She is trying to accommodate his need to take care of our children, thus making it so he works 3-4 evenings during the week and every weekend from open to close (essentially from 8:30am-10pm). This schedule allows him to see the kids during the week but we will never get time together.

The thing that has always gotten me through when we have had rough times is the fact that it won't last forever. I know things will turn around and everything will work out. I am thankful for what we have as I know it could be much worse. Many people have been without jobs for much longer than my husband had and I am lucky to be with a company that is so supportive. Yes, this new schedule sucks but I know that it is what is best for us for right now. It is allowing The Mr. to spend much needed quality time with the boys. It is allowing us to see what is truly important and only spending time and money on those things.

I am thankful for my friends and family who have kept us in their thoughts and prayers during the past 6 weeks. I know that this rocky road is not quite over as we still have obstacles to overcome but I also know we are on our way out of it. Thank you.

Now You're 5

To My Oldest,

Today is your 5th birthday. It's hard to believe that you are now 5. Over the past year you have grown so much! You have increased your self-esteem tremendously and are becoming independent (even made your own peanut butter & jelly sandwich yesterday!). You are so kind and loving. In the evenings before bedtime, you even enjoy cuddling on the couch with Mommy while watching a little TV! You enjoy doing things for your little brother and helping out.

We are starting to prepare you for this next year as you are very into having a schedule. You signed up for Kindergarten a few weeks ago and in just over a week you and Mommy will be in a summer bowling league. You have a lot of friends and have had many "girlfriends" this past year. You can write your letters and your name. You enjoy reading books and building with Legos or blocks.

Mommy and Daddy are looking forward to watching you grow and seeing you experience new things over the next year. We love you!

Love,
Mommy

To My Littlest

To My Littlest,

Today is your 2nd birthday. I have found every moment with you to be an adventure and I know that we will be expecting more adventures as you get bigger. You are a wonderful little boy and are very good at making sure everyone knows what you feel you are entitled to! You have really increased your vocabulary recently and will now try to talk over your brother and answer for yourself. You are very independent and enjoy climbing, running, and jumping. You have even started talking about using the potty! This makes Mommy very excited! You have become much more interested in books recently and love it when Daddy reads Goodnight Moon to you before bed. I think your most favorite thing to do is to play outside with a ball or be chased by Mommy or Daddy. You have gotten so big (even if you are a little small for your age) and are very "tough." I love you very much and have enjoyed watching you grow from a baby to a little boy. I am anxious to see what other changes you encounter over the next year! Happy Birthday!

Firsts

There have been a couple of firsts in this house the past couple weeks. On March 27, we took the entire family to see a movie. It was the first time Thing 2 had been to a movie in the theater. We decided to see How To Train Your Dragon. Excellent movie, by the way! Thing 2 did extremely well. Before we went into the movie, The Mr. and I were discussing which one of us would leave the movie with Thing 2 if he became loud and rambunctious. We were both being overly polite as we both said we would leave the movie if needed. Luckily, the only time we had to leave the movie was to take Thing 1 to the bathroom and change Thing 2's diaper! As long as Thing 2 had full access to the popcorn, he was fine. He ate a piece at a time and drank the water we brought with us. He really seemed to enjoy the movie and would point at the dragons as they came across the screen. The movie did become a favorite in our house and everyone talked about purchasing it once it's released on DVD.

The next first that we encountered occurred yesterday. We took Thing 1 to sign up for kindergarten! It wasn't an emotional experience as I thought it might be. Mostly we just filled out paperwork. We only have one piece of paperwork left to bring before Thing 1 starts school in the fall and that is to prove that he has had a physical. (His annual check-up is at the end of the month.) We will be attending some sort of open house at the end of May so that we can learn about the kindergarten class and Thing 1 can see his new school. Very exciting! I am a little nervous and feel there should be a support group for parents of children who are about to enter kindergarten. I believe the kids will be fine, it's the parents who need some support!

I am sure we will have many more interesting things to discuss, with the boys birthdays this month and Thing 1 starting school in the fall.

Happy Easter!

We have a lot of news to share that has occurred over the past couple weeks. Until I am ready to share, here's some pictures of the boys enjoying Easter.

Painting eggs:

The Mr. sprinkling the eggs with glitter:
The finished product:

The boys outside posing for pictures after church this morning:

The baskets the Easter Bunny left for us to find once returning home from church: