Oy! It has been way too long since I have had a chance to sit down and do some blogging. It's not that I haven't tried, I have three stories saved in my drafts folder, just somehow can't seem to get around to finishing them. Once agian just a testament to how busy life has been lately and... okay how sometimes I just end up on the couch after a long day catching up on episodes of"Glee." There I have outed myself as a "Gleek." You are caught up now on at least my party animal lifestyle these days...
Here is what every one else is up too....
The boys are driving, Evan has been accepted into Stanford University for his discovery of how to fly planes through a large pile of volcanic ash. He is also currently working on writing his Memoir called "How to solve all Earths Mysterys by watching Scboy Doo." Jeepers!!!
Kidding.... Of course, but not so far off of their little personalties. Oh how these little guys have grown up on me in the past few months. We are the the end of the school year, 2 more weeks left of preschool and I marvel every day at how much they have learned and how smart and very different both boys are. Why the other day when I picked them from school and asked them how the day was the conversation went something this:
Me - "So guys how was school today?"
Evan - "I made a telescope."
Ryan "It was very Jesusy"
So there you go!
I am somewhat sad to see this year come to an end. It is the last year of pre-school for Evan who has had the nerve to grow up on me and will be attending Kindergarten in the fall ( Kleenex and Valium on hand of course). So I am trying to savor having only one commute to school, both kids still on the same schedule, in the same building at the same time. I have loved watching them come out of school together holding hands, smiling at me as I pick them up and getting home early enough in the afternoon to watch a movie together and just be. Next year will bring a big change in routine and a pretty decent does of reality for both boys as they go separate ways for school. I think they will handle this fine, they always seem to amaze me by adopting to change pretty quickly. I am the one who will probably be a wreck for awhile. But at least I know this about myself and have plenty of time to prepare and work on a theroy of how to stop time.
The boys and I at a recent school function.
We have had a decent spring so far. The weather has been both great and awful at the same time. Great because it has been warm and awful because of the record breaking pollen amounts accumulated over the last few weeks. The second week in April was the worst which also (conveniently) was the same week as spring break. For 4 days Evan and I turned into red eyed, runny nosed, sneezing, tired, wandering, ommpa loompas. We were cranky and miserable and as it turns out, misery really doesn't like company.
Ryan, however (the one who doesn't eat vegetables mind you), was not effected at all. This wasn't too bad at first until he grew just as cranky and bored with being inside. He then decided to protest by refusing to put clothes on for the duration of spring break.
Isn't he cute when he is being defiant?
A few other updates, The boys are more than half way done with their second season of playing soccer. Two more weeks and we can say goodbye to Wednesday night practice and Saturday morning games. The boys have seemed to enjoy soccer much more this season. I think it's because they are better now, getting used to playing and getting used to working on a team. I also think it has something to do with the fact that there is almost always a cool snack provided at half time.
I am still playing guitar and still learning new songs. I am and have been learning for months now that playing the guitar is not only very, very hard but also very, very time consuming. I had no idea how involved and technical this music stuff was. Did you know that there are 4 beats in a measure? And that there are things called "half measures" and I have to stay on beat ( not easy for me since I have no concept of musical rhythm except after a couple of beers). My guitar instructor is wonderful and very patient with me and even spent an entire class on teaching me how to clap. I thought child birth stripped away most of my dignity, but ohhh nooo... I still had some to be stripped away after a lesson on how to clap to the beat only to realize that I am completely and utterly tone death. I am sticking with it however. No need to stop the dignity stripping anytime soon. Until then I just keep strumming.
The other members of our family (Bruno and Josie) are doing well for the most part. Bruno has been off and on sick. For extra fun he came down with a stomach bug (also conviently over spring break) and proceeded to vomit just about every where. If you ever are looking for an activity that will complety memorize a 4 and 5 year old, have them stare at you slack jawed and wide eyed, try being on all fours scooping up large amounts of dog barf while cursing and gagging.
Good times....
Bruno has also been diagnosed with the beginning stages of hip dysplasia. He is 7 years old and the life expectancy of Great Danes are typically 9-10 years. So I realize our big boy is getting older (and also quite expensive). He has had three visits to the animal hospital since March all racking up close to $1,000. My way of handling this is complete and utter denial. Chris on the other hand keeps eyeing Bruno with a "You cost me any more money I will have to off you myself." look. So it's been a bit stressful lately. Especially since there seems to be no exact reason as to why he keeps getting sick. However as of date he has gone 2 weeks now with no incidents so fingers are crossed.
One of my favorite pics of Bruno.
Josie,our yellow lab mix who is also up there in years is her usually cranky old lady self. Since she never quite forgave us for bringing Bruno home as a puppy then a year later- a baby, followed by another baby, she pretty much spends her daily life eating the children's crayons and sleeping in the closet. She has also taken to rather loud and obnoxious snoring at night. I firmly believe this dog is still holding a grudge. But every now and then I catch a glimpse of the old Sweet Joise and reward her with a tummy rub and doggie biscuit.
I caught Evan and Josie watching the rain together and had to take this.
Let's see what else....
Favorite new TV Show from the past few months, Other than Glee, (OMG I so want Rachel and Finn together....OMG did I really just say that?) has been Jamie Oliver's Food revolution. First off Jamie is just a cuite pie and secondly what a great insight into what we put into our kids bodies. I have to admit that I haven't done a stellar job to date. No wonder Evan is allergic to anything and everything related to nature. and Ryan (who refuses to eat vegetables in case I haven't mentioned that yet) will only eat anything remotely healthy if and ONLY if he can dunk it honey Mustard (grapes included). I learned a lot from watching that show and now make my own homemade chicken nuggets. Yes I have become "that" Mother. I avoided her for awhile but she found me regardless. She is funny that way....
Favorite Media Story - Joe Biden dropping the F-bomb on national T.V. I loved this for many reasons but mainly because I get busted for cursing by the boys at least once a day so it's always cool when someone else does it. Especially over a live microphone.....in front of the whole world....standing next to the President.....played back endlessy for days...Classic!
Favorite new thing I have done just for "Me" I have joined a gym and work out 3 times a week now. I am loving this not only because it gives me a chance to do something for myself, (even if it is only for 30 minutes). But also because the gym I belong to has free child care!!! This is a bloody fantastic motivator for on the days I am feeling lazy and tired. Boys are acting up and driving me crazy.....Play room at the gym here we come!! Let someone else deal with it for a little while, even if it means I have to take a spinning class, fake enthusiasm (and the ability to spin) and end up on the floor with oxygen and an IV.
Most recent wake up call - Getting de-friended on Facebook! That was interesting. BUT... I de-friended that same person back (so there!). It only took me a year to apparently piss someone off but who knew how liberating it feels to hit that little "remove" button. So cool and so unbelievable childish too. I am oddly proud of how this feels but at the same time recognize the fact that I might need to get a life.
Favorite moment with other Mommies - A recent get away trip down to Hilton Head (thank you Chris for a much needed mini-vacation kid free). Five Mommies, no children, no husbands, no laptops. Plenty of beach, good weather and of course cold beer. I laughed more than I ever thought possible and bonded with these women in ways that only the other 4 women can understand (sorry guys no pillow fights in our underwear). But what a treat to get away and be outside my life for awhile. I came back refreshed, re-energized and tan. What else more can I say about the magic of that.
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the trip.
So that is about it form the life of our little world. It' has been busy, it has been crazy it has been all over the place. But after taking some time to write about our happenings and my "favorites" I have to say that life is exactly where it is supposed to be. I am learning that I enjoy life better this way because, darn it all there really is no way to slow things down anytime soon. I hope to post more, especially with summer coming. Surely there will be plenty of pool stories, park stories, bruised knee stories and (hold your breath) can master Margaritaville on the Guitar stories. Now if I can just find time to sit, play, write, breathe.... Yes, that would be perfect. Until then, my plan is to just keep strumming.
