Not So Wordless Wednesday: Third Kid Edition

So I had these photos on my phone from Thanksgiving. I was just about to delete them. I have a habit of sometimes taking several photos over a few seconds to get at least one with a good smile from everyone. Look who popped into the shot for the last four to make faces. Hilarious. And to think I almost missed it.

Catching Up

So I'm sitting here staring at this page and wondering what to write. One of those times I don't even know where to start. I know that I need a vat of coffee this morning. I'm in catch up mode again and I don't love that.

This week however, has been pretty exciting.

The twins commercial came out - which you can see on actual TV if you live in Massachusetts or Connecticut. If you don't, you can catch it online or watch it here. (I may have watched it like a million times now.)



The Big Guy started cooking lessons this week. A few months ago he started watching the Food Network - like really watching and loving it. He saw some kids competing and decided on the spot that that was what he wanted to do. He wanted to learn to cook (and eventually be on one of those shows). But it's the learning to cook that is most important and he started asking me for lessons.

I have wanted him to have his own thing for so long - apart from his brothers. It's hard when you have 3 kids separated by one school year. They are always going to end up with not only most of the same friends, but into the same activities. I am so happy for him that he found something he really wants. All the months he spent waiting for his braces to come off his front teeth so he could start auditioning like his brothers for movies and more? No longer important to him right now.

If something comes up, he might still want to give it a try - but overall he doesn't want to pursue acting like his brothers. And that is totally OK with me. I couldn't be more proud that he made that decision on his own.

He started cooking lessons this week with my friend Jason and he can't wait to go back again for more! (Future blog post to come about the lessons!)

Yesterday we took a last minute family trip of sorts to New York. The twins had an audition on Long Island. We don't yet know the outcome, but will hopefully hear something soon. It was a long and exhausting day but I wouldn't change a thing. (Except maybe how much I end up packing for auditions ... so many bags.)

Driving home last night with the boys all asleep in the back of the car? I couldn't get a good photo of all three of the boys because the Big Guy was leaning the opposite way - but I love turning around to check on everyone and seeing moments like this.

My last baby

Here we are.

Another month has gone by without a blog post. I swear I am jumping back into this. I miss it like crazy. Writing is who I am. But as usual, life is crazy.

We are in a constant state of packing - unpacking - and packing. Settled in again, but looking ahead to the next. (More on that later.) The boys had their very first trip to Disney. And we have been on the go ever since.

Sometimes I get caught up in the chaos that is our day to day routine. A little voice this morning made me slow down. This guy came downstairs before his brothers got up to tell us his front tooth came out. Last week he lost the first front tooth and I knew it was just a matter of time. It took me a few moments ... but then it hit me. My last baby to lose his front teeth.

Again, I want time to stop.

He crawled under the covers and told me how excited he was to see the tooth fairy again. And that pretty soon he was going to be 8. I told him he still had almost a year to go and how about we just be 7 for now. Or maybe Mommy would have to find Dr. Doofenshmirtz and shrink him back to say ... age 3 or 4. He gave me the biggest smile (oh my gosh no front teeth!) and told me Mommy that's just an animated cartoon.

Ouch.

I need ET.



Or Dr. Doofenshmirtz's shrinkinator.

Like professionals

As usual, it's been a whirlwind around here trying to balance everything - school starting - and so much more. My heart had been feeling heavy the last few days as September 11th drew closer. We were all up early yesterday morning because the twins were scheduled to film a commercial together in Connecticut and as I got the boys ready, I told the Big Guy I didn't want him watching the news ... especially today. (How many kids do you know that sneak the news? I have one.)

The boys and I were out the door just after 6am and I found myself listening to Z100 out of NY on the way as they remembered 9/11. A town over from where the commercial was to be filmed, flags lined both sides of the street all the way down the main road and I found myself in tears as I tried to explain to the boys why the flags were there. I silently told myself I would find positive things in this day - even if we had just spent nearly 3 hours in and out of traffic driving to the set.

Believe it or not, this was the first time I was able to see the boys film anything together. When they did the movie, they were switched in and out. The Doodle Bop has done commercials since, but this was the Bunny Bee's first - and I was thrilled they got to do this together as brothers.

I love watching the boys film. I stand there in awe of that fact that they are my babies. I don't think that I could do what they can do - and yet there they are, doing it. They showed up exhausted between not sleeping well the night before and the long car ride there ... but the moment it was time for them to start filming? They were on. Smiling, laughing, following directions. Getting it done. Like professionals. Only they are 7 year old kids. They even picked up an extra scene or two, replacing a child who was having a rough time.

They got their school work done in between scenes and occupied themselves with coloring, the iPad and video games after that. It was an incredibly long day. I watched them smile, tell jokes, and after lunch have to eat more cereal and pizza for takes than I thought would fit in their stomachs. They didn't complain once in their 9 hours on set (not counting the do I have to do my homework complaint).

On the way home, we called Al and the Big Guy to chat. The Big Guy filled the twins in on his day, even asking about theirs and how they did - and told them the dog missed them and so did he. The Big Guy told me he made another new friend, and I was so excited for him. Not to mention so proud of how he spoke to his brothers.

I listened to the twins talk a bit on the way home, and I heard the Doodle Bop sleepily say "Congratulations on your first commercial by the way, you did a great job!" The Bunny Bee thanked him.

And then my heart exploded.

We were out of the house a total of 14 hours and everyone would be going to bed later than I wanted on a school night. We let them all watch a little TV together to decompress, and then it was bedtime.

I expected fights and tears this morning from over tired kids. Instead, I had semi happy guys ready for school. How they can transition like that, I don't even know.

All of that? That's my positive. Through the stress, the chaos ... those boys ... they melt my heart and I couldn't be more proud of all 3 of them.

Getting unstuck

Ever feel like you are stuck right where you are - while also being pulled in several different directions? I'm being pulled, but my feet are still planted. I think that's how things are right now. I feel like I have been composing this very post in my head for what seems like days now. But I can't make all the words come out right.

Things with the dog? I know you know how that is turning out. I guess that's a blog post for another day because right now I just can't.

Last week brought some serious changes. In addition to leaving some things behind, there were new things we started as well. We buckled down and started seriously looking at new areas. Houses, neighborhoods, schools and more.

And I have done so much ... soul searching I guess. This house that we live in? Has never really ever felt like home. Just the place that we lived. Our first apartment? That felt like home. An entirely too tiny one, but it was home. Moving into this one over 10 years ago, I told myself that it would feel like home over time. In what seemed like the blink of an eye it went from too much space for the two of us, to crazy small for the five of us. I realize that we spent so many years talking about moving on, having one foot out the door ... I mean our first child wasn't even supposed to go to Kindergarten where we are (by original plans) ... how could it ever have felt like more than just the place that we live?

The last year and a half has been a constant roller coaster when it comes to trying to sell this house and move on to where we want to be. We never imagined we would still be here now, still trying to work it all out. My mantra for over the last year has been hold the vision trust the process. No matter how hard it has been, how much I started to doubt it, I held on to that. I said it to myself all the time. I packed up part of the house, took all the photos from the walls ... surely something would come.

Last week I thought I found what we were looking for. And it couldn't have been at a better time with less than 2 weeks till the start of school for the kids. For 3 days we went back and forth with someone who misrepresented who they were. I knew something wasn't adding up but I wanted it to work ... only to find out it was all a scam. I am so thankful I knew better than to give out certain information - or send money - but I was so mad that I wasted my time. And that someone would do such a thing.

Our relator is getting a list put together for us of places we can start checking out tomorrow. To rent instead of buy - so we can take more time and figure out what it is that we really want. Because everywhere we really want doesn't seem to be available right now.

I'm trying hard to go with the flow, see where things take us ... but I think we all know I'm not really a go with the flow gal. I'm a planner and I will plan that ish to death. (Ask my husband who I am currently driving crazy.) The up in the air stuff is really hard for me. I'm taking today to just ... do nothing. Do what I have to do, but house wise, nothing. Tomorrow I will wake up and it will be on. Pulling out the boxes and going room to room.

Getting rid of what we don't need, boxing anything that I can. With all the things I have let go of in the process, how can there Still be so much stuff left. Endless.

If there really is something to this whole manifesting/visioning thing ... now is the time it all needs to come together.

Decisions

Because I needed more chaos in my life, we got a dog 16 months ago. A tiny adorable puppy that we all loved from the moment he came home. We had wanted to fill that space that Merlin left a few years before when he passed away, but knew the boys needed to be older first.

I thought they were old enough. I thought 3 boys, a dog and a fenced in backyard would be the perfect combination. I pictured them all running around for hours in the yard. In the beginning, it was all adorable.

And then he grew to the size of a small horse. A most of the time dirty one (no matter how many baths he got). The boys could no longer hold his leash. He became stronger than they were in what seemed like an instant.

I knew he would be giant, but I didn't think it would be a problem. The problem was, I had boys who would rather spend hours cuddling with the dog and being low key - which sometimes he loves - but in reality he needs so much more.

When he started destroying the house, I blamed it on him being so young. Surely he needed training, obedience school, heck let's ship him off for a week of intensive training. Only over the last month or so have I realized that that isn't the problem at all. As he started choosing the boys most precious stuffed animals from their beds that he had never before touched, eating things from the inside of my pocketbook, getting into all the things that are actually most important ... I realized what it really was.

He's bored.

And it's our fault.

I spend half my day chasing him down to retrieve whatever he is eating. Chew toys? With the exception of those super hard rubber balls, he takes them apart in minutes. (Even the ones we bought that said extra tough and practically indestructible. Ha!) No match for Captain America. No matter how much we spend, a typical toy lasts less than an hour from the time of purchase in the house with him.

He's an amazing dog with the boys though. How many dogs do you see that let 3 boys constantly lie on top of him whenever they feel like.

He's never once growled at them - or any of us. It's tough to have people over though, because he gets so excited all he wants to do is jump on you and lick you to death. For hours.

We have been doing him a disservice though ... and I finally see it. For weeks on end I have been lecturing the boys. Go play with him. Throw him a ball. Take him out in the yard. They don't want to hear it. When I do force them all out, I watch the three of them stand on top of the play structure where he can't get to them. It's not fair. I spend my days yelling about this dog we were supposed to love.

Yesterday I hit the breaking point. It hadn't even been 24 hours since I had given a huge lecture to the kids - that they need to play outside WITH the dog for at least a half hour a day (which isn't anywhere near enough but I figured it would be a start) or I would be finding him a new family. They promised they would play with him - until the next day when they decided they didn't want to go in the yard.

Then he got to Mr. Monkey again - and ran right out the back door with him. I spent several minutes chasing him around the yard as he chewed him and it broke my heart a little. He knew it was important to one of the boys and that someone would have to come after him. Al and I had a talk when he got home. We took the boys and the dog for a long walk together. When we got back home, we sat them all down.

There are no more second chances. This isn't about not loving Captain America. This is about doing what is right - and fair - for him. Because he needs so much more. The boys have one week to show us a few things. To play outside with him every.single.day. To throw him a ball. To spend more time with him instead of closing him out of a bedroom so they can play a game without him. If they can do these things for an entire week Captain America can continue to live with us. If they can't? We will be finding him a new home with a family who Can spend more time with him.

And there will be no more pets for a good long while. Not until everyone is older. And IF we get another dog someday, it won't be a puppy. Maybe an older dog.

I thought back to how easy it was with Merlin. The Big Guy was 3 when we had to put him down, the twins about a year and a half old. There was no chaos with Merlin. He would follow them around, cuddle with and lick them ... lie down in the backyard while they played. He was so old by the time the boys were born. He was great with them - but if I'm honest with myself, I have to remember what it was like in the years following Al and I picking him out from the pound. Disaster after disaster. He had so much energy and he destroyed everything. The years passing by sort of make you forget that.

The boys cried and said they didn't want to give him to a new family. But then a few minutes later, the Doodle Bop asked if we could go say goodbye before we drop him off to a new family. The Bunny Bee asked if he could take some extra photos to remember him by.

It kind of sounded like they were throwing in the towel.

This morning though, they took Captain out in the yard on their own and have been playing for over an hour without incident. They may not really be playing With him, but at least they took him out. And they are filling his water bowl. I don't know if it will last past today, but I guess time will tell. There will be no more lectures or reminders. The kids know that. As much as I want things to work out - and I don't want to take this dog away from the boys - I'm not sure how this is going to turn out. Deep down, I have a feeling this will only last a day or so. A week from now we may very well be looking for a new family for Cappy.

And it feels terrible even though I know it would be the best thing for him.

The Saga of Mr. Monkey

Mr. Monkey has been with us since before the Big Guy was born. I was pregnant with him - my first baby - and Lianne and Mike gave him to me. I put him aside knowing that he would be THE stuffed animal. The one that never leaves a child's side.

Only because I didn't have time to pull up all the photos from our old BabyCorbo website tonight, I pulled the oldest ones I could find with Mr. Monkey from Facebook.

They were together from the beginning, and no matter where the Big Guy went, Mr. Monkey came too.

These days he may act more like a 15 year old than an 8 year old - and Mr. Monkey has been staying behind the last few years (with the exception of big things like the shark tooth being removed) - but he's still always there at night. The "stuffed-da animal" (as the boys always called them) of choice.

This morning I heard sobs like I don't think I have ever heard before. Something was different. The twins brought the Big Guy over to me and he was devastated. Holding Mr. Monkey in one hand and his eyes in the other, trying to tell me that Captain America was eating him in his crate, tears streaming down his face. Puncture holes all over his little fur.

My heart broke for the Big Guy as I hugged them to me. I promised we could fix him. I got the kids ready, put Mr. Monkey in my pocketbook ... and straight out to the craft store we went. The twins tried to cheer the Big Guy up on the way. The Doodle Bop said he should get him Google Eyes. The Bunny Bee thought it would be cooler to get him two eye patches and rename him Pirate Mr. Monkey.

We went through the aisles and settled on a package of eyes that looked about the right size. I put him in the washer and dryer when we got home.

Later, I found the boys all talking to Mr. Monkey. Or maybe it was more like yelling. Into his eyes.

He doesn't have eyes to See - he can still hear with his ears!, I laughed.

The boys laughed too ... but continued to talk into his eyes so they could be heard better ... or something. When the boys went to wrestling practice tonight we started the surgery. Well, truth be told, Al performed the surgery. I wasn't getting the eyes in right so Al took over while I assisted and took photos.

There was so much damage we couldn't really sew where I wanted to. We had to break out the big guns. The Kragel if you will.

He doesn't exactly look the same anymore, and he's not soft around the eyes anymore because of the way the glue hardened, but he has eyes and he can see again. It's a Mr. Monkey Miracle!

(And I may or may not totally be shopping for the second Mr. Monkey that I should have purchased 8 years ago for just in case something ever went really wrong with this one.) We made it through the baby stage, the toddler years, crazy younger twin brothers ... but I'm not sure we will survive the Captain America puppy years.

Summer days

Has it really been nearly 2 months since I last blogged here?

I've hit a rut.

I think about it at least once a day, but something ... else ... always gets in the way. Or I open up a new post and stare at it, waiting for something to come. But nothing does. Which is crazy because it isn't like we aren't doing anything. We have been on the go more than we are home lately.  Homeschool is finished. And I feel like THIS



Al and I have managed to get out a little bit. I had almost forgotten how nice it feels to spend some time without the boys in tow here and there.

 

We hosted a 6 boy sleepover a few weeks ago. Um ... we might be waiting for our next - bigger - house to host one of those again ... but the kids had a great time! (Right up until they finally fell asleep at 2am.)

 

 

The boys spent an afternoon with some friends helping to feed the homeless last weekend. We were so proud of what a great job all the kids did.

 

 

The boys and I have been hitting up the beach. Three times in less than a week ... and I wish it was more. Hello Summer! Love my little surfers.

Even though it was cool outside this morning I was ready to pack the car, call my sister in law, and drag them all down anyway ... till the boys revolted and decided to stay home. Um, who are these kids. They can't be mine because I could spend Every summer day beaching it.

Instead we stayed home (minus the trip to the market to order the twins cake).

There is something that is breaking me down. The twins turning 7.

For more than a few reasons I feel like I have not been able to get out of my own way lately. Being in limbo over the house being sold, where the boys will be in school for September, backup plans for everything ... I even skipped the gym Wednesday night, missing the workout with the girls. And I really look forward to that workout.

As I sat home beating myself up over what was wrong ... it started to hit me. All the things I mentioned are definitely contributing, but oh my god, my babies are turning 7 next week. Officially. SEVEN. How do I have babies that are going to be 7. I don't even think I can take it ... because you know, they were just ....

this big and all like yesterday. Wasn't it?

Right now we are planning for their friend party this weekend, and I am telling myself that I will be OK next week when the actual day hits. Because right now, they are still 6. And maybe I can find a way to stop time over the next few days.

I have also been struggling a little with what exactly to Put in this Space of mine. Once upon a time I blogged nearly everything. Very little was off limits. As the boys get older, they have started to tell me what I can blog, Facebook, Tweet ... it's sort of funny.

Put this online.

Don't put that online though. (And so on.)

The more things that happen with their careers as well, I know I will have to re-examine things. No new movies yet, but the Doodle Bop has done a few commercials and actually caught the first one airing last week while he happened to be watching TV.

It's a pretty quick one, but here is the one I could pull from YouTube.



For now, I'm just going to take things slow. Blog here and there, see what comes. Re-evaluate as we go along.

4-5-7

This last week was CRAZY!

We started the week with just one audition in Boston scheduled, but ended it with 4 trips for 5 auditions in under 7 days.

Plus school (half days on audition days) and sports. How we still managed to fit in swim, gymnastics, wrestling and ninja challenge ... I have no idea. I can not say enough about how amazing these kids are.

Are you tired? I'm still tired.

Coming up later today I have a healthy snack post (kids approved) and tomorrow will be that giveaway I wanted to run last week ... followed by a little bit about the giant leap we are taking. That's right, double posts the next few days so I can get back on track over here.

AND starting later this week? You can also find me blogging over at Launch Trampoline Park!

Danny and the terrible horrible no good very bad week - or two

The last 3 weeks have been a whirlwind of sickness around here.

The Doodle Bop would be sick for a few days, get better, then get sick. Repeat. 

Last Tuesday night he started complaining at wrestling practice that he didn't feel good and sat out for awhile. Looking completely fine, I made him get back to practice after a half hour. A few hours after he went to bed that night? Hit with what I thought was a stomach bug. Complete with the I told you I didn't feel good tears.

Mommy guilt like you wouldn't believe.

Once his stomach started to get better, he ended up with a pretty good fever and missed the rest of the week at school. He and Cappy spent days on the couch watching the Olypmics I would DVR for him, or the Cartoon Network.

We skipped out on Sunday's wrestling tournament just to make sure everyone was healthy once and for all. He was finally feeling good but I wasn't taking any chances. At some point on Sunday, I started to notice a rash popping up. He has had them after fevers before so I wasn't too concerned. Until he fell asleep and didn't remember ... and continued to get more itchy.

Monday morning I took him right into the pediatrician. I started to wonder if I had missed cox sackie (which made an awful appearance last summer). No, it was Scarlet Fever. Like in the Velveteen Rabbit. Who knew people still got that! While he never complained about his throat hurting, he had strep ... which likely caused what I thought was the stomach bug ... and the fevers ... and now the rash (still following me?) ... which turned into Scarlet Fever.

I wanted to cry for my poor baby. How did I not see this. Antibiotics, no school or sports till Wednesday at least the pediatrician said ... but maybe wait till Thursday depending on how he feels. As much as I wanted him back in school, he was still so itchy and miserable I kept him home Wednesday. I can not say enough good things about Aveeno Naturals anti-itch cream and their soothing bath treatments. I discovered the bath treatments when the boys were babies and always have some on hand at home. This was our first time using the cream they make.

Snow day Thursday which worked out just fine. Weeks ago, Channel 10 had made an appointment to come interview the boys. I mistakenly made it for during the day because I was thinking it was February vacation. The Doodle Bop was FINALLY better and it was going to be an exciting day!

The news truck pulled up in front of our house and when one of the boys called out that they were here, the Doodle Bop went running to see. Only he slipped, fell and cracked his chin open on the tile floor - at the moment they were walking in the door.

Because of course.

It's almost funny. I didn't know what to do ... cancel the interview? We put a band aid on it and iced his chin while we watched them do a weather report outside of our house.

Then we sat down to the interview (which will run next week sometime).

Once we were done, I took another look at his chin and it was still bleeding. Despite his protests, we grabbed a few things and I headed out with him in the storm to go get it checked at Hasbro. Three stitches to the chin.

I nearly passed out trying to hold his hand and watching them stitch him as he cried. They had given him a medicine to make him a little loopy but I think he had so much anxiety it didn't completely work ... until After they had finished.

Mommeeeee! My head is so heavy. I Can't Lift it! HAHAHA

We had to have at least 4 conversations about what was on his chin and why it was bandaged. Followed by a shocked and teary I got stitches? What?! When did that happen!

I carried my baby into the car, and then the house when we got home. He hugged me, looked into my eyes on the steps and said Mommy I'm sorry you have to do this for me.

My heart just about exploded. Oh no baby, I said. I would do anything for you. 

I sat him on the couch and his brothers were excited to help 'take care' of him. Handing over his video game controllers, tissues, anything he needed till he was feeling better. Daddy went out and picked up the pizza and cheesy bread sticks of his choice for dinner.

It was incredibly hard for me to drop him off at school today. He needs to get back into the routine, but after being out sick over a week, plus a snow day, plus stitches? Why was I sending him back for just one day when 3pm starts February vacation for the kids.

Because he needed the routine. And his friends.

I cancelled an appointment I was really looking forward to this morning, because as much as he wanted to go in he was still pretty teary on and off ... and I just knew he could be calling me to come back and get him. Only it's now almost lunch, and the school has not called.

I guess I need to remember he is tougher than I think.

My poor guy is out of wrestling for a minimum of a week - if not two. Due to where the stitches are, he needs to be healed enough before he can get back to practice and tournaments. Gymnastics and swim are OK for next week, but no wrestling per the doctors. He's hoping he can wrestle in next weekend's tournament. If we do allow it, that will most likely be his first time back on the mats in weeks.

I am so proud of him though. He loves wrestling more than anything and while he is upset he has to take a break, he is still going to practice tonight to sit with his team and watch. And he understands that he will have to cheer his brothers and friends on from the sidelines this Sunday.

He suddenly seems older than six to me.

Wordless Wednesday - Brother in the laundry basket edition

Muddy dogs and clean floors don't mix

Crazy last few days, as usual. I shouldn't even call them crazy - because crazy is really my normal.

I pulled something in my shoulder side planking (don't ask), so I had to sit out Fit Squad on Friday. I told myself I would still get in my C25K run ... but I didn't. Instead I moped about my sore shoulder, missing Fit Squad, and stressing over cleaning the house for the weekend's showing.

Al and I cleaned the entire day on Saturday, stopping only to take the boys to Ella's birthday party. By the time we went to bed last night, the house was pristine. All we had to do in the morning was get the kids out early to avoid any new messes.

Overnight? Monsoon rain.

Because of course.

You know what I'm going to say next. That giant puppy we have? He needed to go out. Dug a few holes, wanted to come in... a drenched, muddy mess. And we were off and running to clean the dog, fill the holes, sweep and mop all over again inside. I won't even tell you about that thing that we had to break out the paint for. Disaster of a morning.

I could not believe we pulled it all together in time, but we did.

Disappointing to hear that only two people showed up to the open house today (after all the chaos this morning), but like Laura said, it only takes one person to want to buy our house. Fingers crossed one of those people came by today.

Catching up and moving ahead

So I'm missing the old blogging machine that I was. Before Boston, before life and the end of the school year for the boys ... and so many other small dramas got in the way. Blogging is my outlet and I hate that I have let it go lately. It's been months since I was regularly posting on Buy-Her and lets be real, I only get a post or two a week up here. (And one of them happens to be Wordless Wednesday so that isn't really writing writing.)

Changes I am making. I am telling myself that by the end of the summer, I will find a way to combine Buy-Her with Cira's Lyrics here and maybe add some other things as well. That's right, I want an entire blog overhaul. A little bit of everything - all of the pieces of me - all in one spot.

The last few weeks have flown by. The week before boys last week of school? Al was on vacation and we took the boys out for a day and played hooky. Their first trip to the Boston Museum of Science. So much fun! Even before we went into the museum, the Doodle Bop was dragging us to the giant dinosaur outside for a photo.

The Bunny Bee wanted to look like he was floating in space. Do you see it?

School ended a week ago. My babies graduated Kindergarten and will advance to first grade. My oldest is now going on to second grade in the fall. That alone deserves an entire blog post or two, but right now I just can't even do it. Having a hard time even thinking about all three boys in full day school after the summer.

We took another trip to the Boston area (can you tell how much we love it?!) and visited Uncle Pete. He took head shots for the boys and it went great. Not only are the photos amazing (and I promise you will get to see them soon), but the boys had a blast.

It took us till the end of June, but we finally made it to the beach for the first time with Laura and the kids. We had to squeeze it in before her surgery - and hopefully in a few weeks there will be many more trips to come.

Last week was also Give and Glam. Me and Li Li below. Love her!

My adorable niece G ... who happens to be getting entirely too big. Look at that tiny ponytail! I can't handle the cuteness.

This one below? Came out smaller than I wanted. A few weeks back I bought the boys a $5 sprinkler at the Christmas Tree Shops. On super sale as I like to call it. An octopus that should have shot water everywhere. But it didn't. Which is what you get when you only spend $5 and I should have known that. We set it up for the kids this weekend and when it didn't work correctly they spent an hour or two chasing poor Captain America with it.

This morning he exacted his revenge. Chewed half of the tentacles off of it and ate them. Take that!

And the Big Guy's first Big summer injury. Had to happen sooner or later, right?

 

He was trying to take the dog for a walk - with help on the way - but the moment he opened the front door Cap went flying out and my poor guy got dragged down the driveway before we could even blink. And he never.let.go.of.the.leash.

 

Two scraped up elbows, a bloody finger, two bloody knees (one that required two giant bandaids). From tears to smiles. Just like that. And now we will look for one of those harness leashes that go around the body for Captain America. The boys can help us hold the leash, but at 2 days shy of only 5 months, this puppy has gotten too big for my littles to try and handle themselves.

 

Call me crazy but I think Cap actually felt bad.

 

And that's what you've missed the last few weeks!

 

Making it my mission to get a post up a day again from here on out. The boys have made their summer list, we have praying mantis (or 'pretty mantis' as the boys still say) egg cases hatching in a few weeks, and so many more fun things going on. I will be posting it all!

16 days

16 days without blogging. Might be some kind of record for me... although I suspect I may have gone that long with all the Boston stuff I could not blog about. I hate having so much to say and not being able to say it in this space. Especially when I want to shout parts of it from the rooftops.

The Doodle Bop is shouting it from the rooftops if you see him. I will just tell you that the twins got recognized for the first time this morning and while I wasn't sure how I felt about it, they were ecstatic and grinning from ear to ear. After that? Every stop we made ended with the Doodle Bop telling a random cashier his news. And every single one ignored him. My poor guy.

Part of me gets it. When a five year old is telling you something sort of unbelievable of course you don't believe it. But it would be nice if you gave the littlest smile, nod, or even an oh really?

The last few weeks have been crazy as usual, and crazy different at the same time. The Doodle Bop and I got rear ended by a car full of teenage boys on our way to the market a week and a half ago. We were just one block away, stopped at a stop light for a good minute ... and bang. I could not even comprehend what had happened because I had not been in the act of stopping. We had been stopped. What the heck happened?! 

I was so thankful to be in a truck. LOVE my Ford Explorer. While we are still waiting to see what is wrong with ours, it appears we may only need a new bumper. The other car? The entire front was smashed up. The teary eyed kid admitted to me he took his eyes off the road for a few seconds and he was so sorry - and then tried to tell me we didn't need the police because only his car was damaged. Um...no. I explained that I had a 5 year old in the car and we were calling the police. The Doodle Bop ended up being taken to Hasbo by ambulance as a precaution and it was horrible to see him on a backboard in tears.

He ended up being 100% OK. That news alone left me teary. I was beyond thankful. I hurt my neck and shoulder but all I cared about was that my baby was OK.

This week I need to repeatedly remind myself of what is most important - that he was OK and everything else can be fixed. Because I am oh so aggravated right now. When I say everything that could go wrong with this insurance claim since then has gone wrong? It has. From the kid not reporting it, from an adjuster who acts like he is doing me a favor, to fighting with rental car companies. I spent so many years working at an insurance company handling these things for clients myself that I thought this would be so easy to take care of now. I couldn't be more aggravated. And if you follow me on Facebook you really saw me lose it over the last few days with the rental car situation.

Changing rental car companies on the advice of a friend yesterday afternoon was the best thing we could have done (till the adjuster gets wind of it I'm sure - but the amazing girl at the company vowed to fight for us). We went from a small SUV that did not fit 3 booster seats in it (which was Not OK) to a newer Ford Explorer with 7 seats that the boys are beyond in love with. And I can start to breathe again. (I think.)

Trying to get back into the daily routine of blogging again. More posts this week to come, I promise. The boys got word they are finally allowed to cut their hair so you KNOW that will make the blog. I'm so sad! I hated the in between stages when it was everywhere, but I am loving the way it looks now. Just as they are ready to pretty much shave their heads. We will see what they end up with - but I can assure you there will be before and after pictures.

See you all tomorrow. There WILL be a Thankful Thursday post. I promise.

xoxo

Thankful Thursday and Boston

Thankful Thursday! Changing it up a little today because there are some things I feel like I need to say first. It has been a week since I posted last. I actually have a few posts in the can ready to go, but was waiting for different reasons. Monday morning I got a post written about the boys and the dog but then Boston happened and it didn't feel right.

In fact, nothing has felt right since then.

It took such a toll. Born and raised in Rhode Island, a piece of my heart has always belonged to Boston - especially with what we have been doing with the boys lately. Red Sox, Fanueil Hall, The Freedom Trail, the North End ... Al and I used to love spending entire weekends there. Something about living in New England, having everything so close, you feel a part of it all. The morning of the Marathon I debated on taking the boys down. I felt braver after all of our recent traveling and thought I could do it OK without Al (who was at work). I then started to think about how much I hate crazy crowds and decided we should just skip. Plus I had work to do. Maybe next year I decided.

I took a break from work and the boys and I met Al on his lunch break, then we were back home again. From my laptop, with the Bunny Bee next to me, I caught a blurb online about a possible bombing at the Marathon. Could not be. I couldn't turn on the news so I started asking my girlfriends what they heard. Once I realized just how serious it was, I put the boys in front of a DVD so they wouldn't see anything by accident and turned on the TV in my room. I was horrified by what I saw. And sick to my stomach. Blinking back tears all I could think was that I had almost taken my kids.

The girls and I were glued to our laptops talking while watching the reports, all of us in disbelief. I was IM'ing Al. This just was.not.happening.

But it was.

While we managed to keep any knowledge of Sandy Hook from our kids, we weren't so lucky with the Marathon coverage. I shielded them from the TV reports, we didn't talk about it in front of them, but I forgot all about radio coverage. (They boys go to sleep with their radios on at night... during Sandy Hook I remembered to put on Cd's... not this time.) I didn't know they knew a thing until we were sitting at the Rhode Island Blood Center the next day. They asked why so many people were donating blood. I simply said that there were lots of people who needed some and they asked people to come in and help.

It wasn't until we were in the truck on the way home that they asked about it again - and mentioned that they had 'heard things' on the radio about people getting hurt badly at a race. I struggled with what to say. I told them I hadn't wanted to talk about it, that I didn't want them to be scared of anything. I told them at the Marathon someone exploded some things (I could not say 'bomb' to my little kids) and lots of people got hurt. A few died. Mommy donated blood to help the people who got hurt get better.

They nodded their heads. I explained that this does not happen all the time and again, I didn't want them to be scared. That they could ask me anything. They told me they would not ever be scared, because whoever did that was the 'baddest person ever' and once the police catch him no one will ever do bad things like that again because he will be in prison forever.

My heart.

We went into Dunkin Donuts and right at their eye level sat the stack of newspapers with the photos from the day before splashed across them. The Bunny Bee's mouth opened. I just grabbed him and moved him along. I don't want you to look at those things I told them. I don't want you to watch it on TV either. Promise me that if you are changing channels and see something you change it right away. Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network only - do you hear me? Again they nodded. I hate that I even have to talk to them like this. The Big Guy often turns on the news (we have had chats about this) because he likes to see them do the weather. I explained that I do not want them talking about this at school because we wouldn't want to scare kids who may not know or understand.

And I made it my mission to make sure the boys got their mind off all of it. Easier said then done. They have talked about it daily. They want to know if all the people are better and if they have caught the bad guy. All I can say is they are all getting better and they think they will have the bad guy soon.

Yesterday we went to the beach. Today we had a family day. I still can't wrap my head around Boston and I don't think I ever will. I am running my first 5K in a year next weekend and the thought of the boys at the finish line scares me. But I know that that is no way to live. They are excited to come watch and watch they will.

I know this post doesn't exactly fit into the usual Thankful Thursday, but trust me when I say I am beyond thankful for everything that I have ... this week has really hit that home. I am thankful that we were not at the Marathon on Monday and that my kids don't have the images of being there and the panic in their heads. I am thankful that my babies are not scared, and that they still believe there are not more people out there in the world who would do things like this (when the rest of us sadly know different). I am thankful I can hug my husband and boys. I am thankful for April beach days.

I am thankful for crazy kids. Chaos as usual. An insane puppy. Every last bit of it.

And even if we are technically Rhode Islanders, I still consider us Boston Strong.

I am thankful for it all.

The adventures of Captain America

Yesterday just might have been the craziest day we have had yet.

Up at 5:30am, on the road by 6:30am...

two hours of traffic before we hit our destination. Talk about being tired before your day really even starts. Stress that comes with it aside, the day was beyond amazing. My face is sunburned from spending the day in the sun, but I am so thankful it turned out to be such a great day weather wise.

By the time we were on the road to head home again, it was past the boys bedtime and we still needed to stop for dinner. McDonalds at 8pm on the road was the best we could do.

We didn't get home till after 9pm. The boys burst into the door yelling Captain America's name. Followed by screams of Ewwww!

I'm saying it now. We totally had our reservations about leaving a puppy home for an undetermined amount of time. Though we are crating, knowing it would be a a really long day didn't seem fair to leave him in the crate when he's still getting used to it. Al made a huge space for him in the living room, complete with food, water, pee pads, toys, his blanket ... all enclosed by the big superyard we used to use for the boys. He called it Captain America's Palace for the day. And just in case he got out (though he assured me it was not possible) he blocked off the kitchen door.

Guess what y'all. This puppy hopped the superyard. He can barely hoist himself onto the couch most days, but he could hop the superyard ... which is Higher than then couch. Because of course. In fact, from the looks of the living room he may not have spent a full 20 minutes in that enclosure before going on to wreck the living room, pee on my sweater and cover half the room (himself included) in poop.

Oh.my.gah!

We got the kids to bed, Al started cleaning the living room and I dragged Captain America into the bath tub. This 22 pound puppy fought me like crazy and I ended up just as wet as him. I'm also sure he was not.sorry.at.all. Just upset he had to get wet. Look at this face. It says Mommy is torturing me.

By the time I finished getting him dry it was after 10pm. And I don't think Al finished cleaning till about 11. Don't even get me started on the issue of Danny's dream light that should not have been in the living room. (If anyone has any tips on how to clean THAT without ruining it, I would greatly appreciate it.)

I would like to say the night calmed down after that... but you know it didn't. This morning I nearly lost my ish on the boys - and the dog - none of whom slept in at all after getting so little sleep. The first thing I did after getting the Big Guy to school was get.coffee! And now I am trying to get caught up from yesterday.

Never a dull moment anymore with Captain America. Never.

Preparing for the puppy

I have so many things I want to write about lately... but only so much I can say. Which is when I stop writing as much. And I hate that. I get sidetracked by what I want to talk about but can't, and forget to focus on the stuff I can.

The twins inspired today's post.

In case you missed last week's Facebook announcement, we are bringing home a puppy in a few weeks. Surprising the boys and everything. A friend of ours has two purebred American Bulldogs - that had two puppies last month. Al and I spent some time talking it over and I picked one out.

How freaking cute is he!!! They are BOTH adorable. And so small right now that two of them fit into a laundry basket with extra room. Which one to pick was not the easiest choice. I fell in love with the little gray spots on the side and back on this guy in the front and that was it. He was mine. (Did I mention he let me hold him like a little baby too?)

Right now his name is Champ. Al thought we would leave it up to the boys whether we keep the name or change it. I told him no way could we do that, they will come up with Poop ... or Cuddles ... or something else crazy.

Want to know how well I know my kids?

Over the weekend Al told the boys he was thinking of changing his name and he was taking suggestions. The Doodle Bop told him he should change it to Poop.

This morning I was at Target with just the twins (the Big Guy was at school) and the boys happened to spot the aisle with dog food as I drove the cart by. We have NOT talked about the puppy while the boys are awake. Out of nowhere they point to the dog food and start asking when we can get a puppy.

What does Mommy say? I asked.

We know. When we get a new house. They even answered together (because of course).

From there they went on and on about how they were going to get a puppy - a boy puppy - so there will be FIVE BOYS in Mommy's house and no other girls. And then? They started in on names. All without a word from me. I was pushing the cart and wondering where this all came from.

Want to hear the list?

Poopie
Mr. Poopie
Steak
Hulk
Thor
Captain Puppy
Dog
Cuddles (what did I tell y'all!)
Buttercup (yes for a boy dog)

And then they came up with it. The perfect name for their puppy.

Butterscotch Beef Jerky.

Butterscotch would be his first name, Beef jerky his middle name. Obviously.

Oh.my.gah.

Insistent too. They laughed over dinner while telling Daddy and the Big Guy their story. The Big Guy decided he loved the name too. You know, for the puppy they don't even know that they are getting.

I have a few weeks left to do some damage control. Throw your names at me!