Yet Another First

Tomorrow marks another first in the life of Thing 1.  He will start his first day of Kindergarten.  I have been stressed and worried about this day for weeks.  However, after the parent-teacher conference on Tuesday this past week, I have calmed down a lot.  Before my concerns were about my little 5 year old being in a school with big 5th graders, getting on a bus with a bunch of kids he doesn't know and a bus driver he doesn't know, and just all of the things I know can go on in a school.  On Tuesday evening, we decided that Thing 1 would not ride the bus.  We had multiple reasons for our decision but the biggest one for me was the time that the bus would drop him off in the afternoon.  He would be the last child dropped off and based on our work schedules that time could be a problem.  We drive by the school everyday to get pretty much anywhere we want to go so it is not an inconvenience to take him and pick him up.  Plus, Thing 1 said that he wanted Daddy to drive him to and from school so that just sealed the decision for me. 

Thing 1 is getting more and more excited about this new adventure in his life.  He keeps saying that he wants to sit by other 5 year olds and not next to a 2 year old anymore (poor Thing 2!).  He has been to his school twice in the past two weeks where he saw his classroom, met his teacher, turned in school supplies, and found his locker.  (Yes, my kindergartner has a locker!  Who knew?!)  Friday, we took him to dinner as that was the last time The Mr. would be around for a meal with us due to his work schedule and we took him to the bookstore to buy a new book since that is what he wanted to do.  Yesterday, I took him to buy a new outfit for his first day, take him for lunch and got him ice cream for dessert.  Today, our plan is to play games, read books, and bake cookies before dinner.  This evening we will start into our routine that we will have for the school year - bath, make lunch, and double check that all supplies are in his bookbag.  I have become very calm about him starting school.  He seems really happy and anxious to make friends and be around other kids his age.

Thing 2, on the other hand, is who I have become concerned about.  He has been around his big brother since the day he was born.  Thing 1 is the first one Thing 2 looks for in the morning when waking up and after taking a nap.  He follows his big brother around and idolizes him so much.  I'm just not sure what type of a day The Mr. will have tomorrow after taking Thing 1 to school.  I'm sure Thing 2 will be looking for his big brother throughout the day and may even feel a little lost.  I am just glad I will be at work and not have to see my baby sad while he is without his best friend for the day.

Mini Golf

We took the boys miniature golfing yesterday as The Mr. had the day off and I am winding down on my vacation.  Thing 1 was starting to get the concept down as we played mini golf while we were visiting my family last week.  Thing 2,  however, would hit the ball around for awhile and then just got bored with the whole thing!  Anyway, here are some pictures from our outing.

Look at that technique!

It was quite bright and sunny and by this point we were about halfway through.  They were getting tired!

Of course, we had to get a snowcone before we went home.  Thing 1 was sharing with Thing 2.  Such a great big brother!

Vacation

Last week the boys and I traveled to visit family for about 5 days.  The Mr. had to work so I took the boys on an airplane by myself.  When I booked the trip, I was trying to determine if I was brave or stupid for traveling by plane with a 2 year old and a 5 year old by myself!  I decided to wait until I returned home to make that decision.  Well, lucky for me the boys did very well on the plane rides both to their grandparents and back home.  They even slept the entire plane ride home!  Anyway, here are some pictures of our trip.

First stop - the zoo!

Next - the park.

Of course we had to ride the tractor with Grandpa!

I couldn't leave the post without adding a picture of my parents' papillion - Dew.  Isn't he cute?

We really had a great time.  I also took the boys to play miniature golf with friends and I had an afternoon child-free to spend with a great friend of mine just catching up.  The vacation was relaxing and I don't have to go back to work until Monday!  How wonderful!  Once Monday comes, it will be back to directing two programs, starting back-to-school clothes shopping for my kindergartner, and the first day of school!  I will enjoy these last few days of relaxation, that's for sure!

Little Manipulator

This evening I put my children to bed as I do every night.  We did the typical bath, teeth brushing, book reading.  There are also many nights that I spend getting up every couple minutes to tell the boys to stop playing, jumping, yelling, or whatever else they may be doing that is not sleeping.  Today, I put the kids to bed and had to go back into their bedroom right after I had just sat down.  (Which I hate, by the way.  They can't have the decency to let me sit for like 10 minutes before starting mischief?)  I had already told both boys what would happen if I had to go back into the room.  So away I went to find Thing 2 in the top bunk with Thing 1.  I then put Thing 2 back in his bed and took away his stuffed dog.  He cried!  He loves that stuffed dog.  As I left the room I thought about how I was a horrible mother for taking away my youngest's most favorite toy in the world.  I then sat down.  Almost immediately the crying stopped and the ruckus started.  It's like they can hear my butt hit the sofa!  I got my butt off of the nice soft couch and walked back into the bedroom to find Thing 2 on the ladder attempting to get into Thing 1's bed.  As soon as he saw me, he climbed down, ran over to me, hugged my legs, and said "I love you."  Now, would someone tell me what am I supposed to do with that?

Benefits

I have determined that parenthood needs some more benefits.  Sure there is the love and joy that having children brings but I am talking more about the benefits that a person would get from a paying job.  You know, health insurance, vacation days, sick days...those types of things.  I love my children dearly and enjoy the time that we get to spend together.  I also like being the one they turn to when they need comforting, either because they got a boo boo or because they aren't feeling well.  However, during this past week I have been fighting off something that has decided it would be a good idea to invade my body.  I really just need some rest and quiet.  But since I have two small children, I do not get rest or quiet.  Sure, I took part of a day off work on Monday and The Mr. was home for part of that time so I got to take a nap.  Once he left for work, it was all over for me.  I was back to working, but this time it was around the house.  Kids constantly need something: a drink, something to eat, a toy that is too high to reach...anything.  Then if you do not give them enough attention, they start destroying things, or at least my children do.  By the end of the day I end up more tired than I started out just because I was chasing children around the house.  So if someone could work on getting benefits for parents as it is a very difficult job and there is no break, that would be fabulous and I would be forever in your debt.

Human Beans

The other day my kids were watching The Emperor's New Groove.  For those of you who haven't seen the movie, at the beginning it shows the Emperor as a llama who is about to tell his story of how he became a llama.  It then switches to the beginning of the story.  It was at this point that Thing 1 said, "Now he's a human bean."  I then responded, "A human bean?"  Thing 1, "Yes. You know like us.  A person.  A human bean."  I couldn't help laughing as I explained that it is a human being not a human bean.

Admitting Defeat

The past few nights have been difficult around this house. I work all day and then come home in the evening to The Mr. leaving for work, which is how it has been around here for the past 2 months. (Although, it seems like this has been going on longer than that!) Anyway, the boys have decided not to nap for The Mr. during the day so by the time I get home from work, they are exhausted. They are not the type of exhausted where they want to go to bed or lounge on the couch. They are more the running around like crazy and drive Mommy nuts in order to stay awake type of exhausted.

Well, Thursday night I attempted to get Thing 2 to bed at his usual 7pm bedtime. He was having none of that. He kept getting out of bed and coming into the living room. I kept putting him back in bed. If he did not come into the living room, he was trying to climb into the top bunk into his brother's bed. Of course, with him only being 2, I was not happy with that. Once 8 o'clock came and he still wasn't asleep, I put Thing 1 to bed and took Thing 2 out of the room. (The two of them in the room together awake ends up with much bigger problems.) By 8:30, neither of my children were sleeping and I had tried keeping Thing 2 in the living room on the couch with no TV and the lights off. Here I am, completely exhausted, sitting in the dark in the living room with my oldest in his room playing instead of sleeping and my youngest on the couch next to me talking. I wanted to go to sleep. By 9pm my oldest had finally fallen asleep and my youngest was still awake. I was about to wave a white flag and let him take over the house when he began rubbing his eyes and laying his head on my shoulder. I was able to put him to bed at 9:30 without hearing any complaints.

Friday night wasn't much better. I tried all of the above tactics. I even had Thing 1 in my room watching a movie for awhile to keep him from bothering Thing 2. Thing 2 fell asleep at 9 and Thing 1 fell asleep at 10pm.

Once Saturday came, I was a zombie from not getting enough sleep as the kids didn't sleep in any later after going to bed so late. Thing 2 was up by 6am and Thing 1 was up by 7am. I tried everything on Saturday. I ran them around. We played outside. I took them shopping and to lunch. Thing 2 fell asleep in the car on the way home after shopping but woke up once we got in the door. I tried to convince him that a nap was a good idea. However, once 4pm came, I gave up on the nap in the hopes that Thing 2 would go to bed at his usual bedtime. Seven o'clock came and I began the bedtime ritual of teeth brushing, diaper changing, and book reading. Again, he started with the getting out of bed and coming in to the living room or climbing into his brother's bed. I tried laying in his bed with him at 7:30 hoping that that would keep him in bed long enough to go to sleep. But instead he began beating me up (pulling on my classes, trying to bite me, etc.) so I left him in his room alone. Again, when 8pm came, I put Thing 1 in bed. I tried keeping the boys in the room together but after pulling Thing 2 out of the top bunk twice in less than 5 minutes, I brought him into the living room. Again, I sat in the dark with Thing 2 trying to get him to go to sleep. Again, Thing 1 sat playing in his room until falling asleep at 9pm. I called my mom and asked for advice. What do I do with a child who is refusing to sleep? He is exhausted. He had dark circles under his eyes. My mom suggested I put him in bed with me and see if he goes to sleep. I admit that I was skeptical as when I tried laying with him in his bed he tried to bite me. When Thing 2 saw that we were going in Mommy and Daddy's bed, he got all excited and asked to watch a movie. I told him "No, it's bedtime." He was not happy about that but did lay down with his stuffed dog. While laying in bed at 9pm, I sent my husband the following text:

"I have decided to let the children take over. Who knows what type of government is in store. All I know is I'm tired and they will allow me rest as long as I allow them full access to the fridge and cupboards and give them all the TV they want. Due to my exhaustion, it seems like a fair trade."

Thing 2 did finally fall asleep around 9:30, as did I. Today hasn't been too bad so far. I think they have worn themselves out from staying up so late the past few nights as Thing 2 hasn't been getting into too many things he shouldn't and Thing 1 has been pretty quiet (which is VERY unusual - he talks all the time and always wants something). We shall see if this means they will go to sleep at their bedtime tonight.