Happy Monday

Just a little bit of cute to jumpstart the week.

…And it’s this sweet little baby’s birthday week. How in the world did that happen so fast?!

When in Rome…

Or the snowy tundra known as Chicagoland.

My dad and brother cashed in on some end-of-season deals and bought a couple of mini snowmobiles for the grandkids to drive around my parents’ yard. This brings me back to my youth when my brother and I each had one of these puppies—er, kitty kats. And before you start commenting on how—gasp—Mason isn’t wearing a helmet, let me tell you that these snowmobiles travel at a slightly slower than walking pace. So long as trees and air conditioners—ahem, Joey—don’t jump out at you, they are about as harmless as a nap on a couch. Looking very forward to the kids creating some of the same snowy memories as I did way too many years ago!

Mark my words.

After trudging through the first get-my-kids-to-stop-being-little-shits book, this is what I learned:

1. Be 100% consistent in your behavior.
2. Don't give warnings. The kids need to hear it once, listen to it, and act on it the first time.
3. Always follow through with what you say you will do.
4. Don't threaten the kids. You don't mean it, and you can't follow through with it.
5. Respond. Don't react. Use actions, not words.
6. Don't get angry. Don't let the kids control your mood.
7. Keep positive. Even when things SUCK!

And doesn't all of this seem so incredibly obvious?! So obvious that both Caleb and I have violated each of these rules at least once every 3 minutes of our parenting career. But no more! I'm taking a stand against my tyrants, and it begins today! The author said these changes will initially make things worse before they get better. But, well, the old way of doing things was getting us nowhere, so...

A Day in the Life

A beaded Ninja Turtle and a Pirate Buzz. This is how we roll.

My little wrestlers.

This is what these boys do. All. Day. Long. Sometimes playing. Sometimes not. And it almost always ends in tears. Amy Pohler said it best on “Ellen” when she explained that her friends all have girls, so when she takes her boys to her friends’ houses, those girls all sit quietly making organic bird houses while her boys roll through the house like a couple of wild animals. Amen, Amy. Looking forward to the day when Camryn and I can temporarily escape all the boy-ness going on in our world—though I’m thinking more pedicure and less birdhouse…

When I Grow Up

 

Jacob told me today that when he grows up he would like to be a physical therapist like his dad because “Daddy gets to do paperwork, and I would like to do paperwork. And he gets to wear a name tag, and that’s cool.” He also told me that he is going to work in the same office as his dad so that he can give Mason, Camryn, and myself Tootsie Rolls when we come to visit just like his dad does for him. When asked if he was going to go far away to physical therapy school his response was “No, because we are a family, and I don’t want to ever leave our family. Plus, how would I ever find my way to Daddy’s work if I didn’t live with you guys?” This whole conversation began when Jacob asked if he could have my awesome minivan when he is old enough to drive. I imagine this request may change once he realizes how the high school ladies feel about minivans…

What does a Camryn say?

“Uh-Oh!”

In context. Whenever she drops something. Which has made meal time one heck of a challenging game…