i don't want to miss a thing

5/25
i am soooo grateful that when i take you boys to the store and we look at the toys you don't ask for a thing and you leave when i say it's time to leave without a fuss. HOPEFULLY that will always last. i can't stand watching the kids who throw a fit to get everything they see; you look so confused every time you witness that. please, please, please always be so easy in this way!

5/26
Sam: you accidentally peed your pants at play group today because you didn't know where the bathroom was. it reminded me of a time a few weeks ago when you peed your pants out of nowhere. when i asked you why you did it you informed me that you just wanted to know what it felt like. i guess i can buy that.

Will: you have started telling me as soon as you poop or pee your diaper. you get excited saying "POOP! PEEPEE!" and then you want to sit on the potty. i think you think you are going because every time you get off you clap your hands. i hope this is the beginning of early potty training for you! :)

5/27
Sam: today was pete's birthday. all you wanted to get him was a batman remote control car. needless to say we couldn't find one, so then you wanted to get him a shirt. we went to patagonia, and you instantly found a red t-shirt with a picture of the earth on it. you were certain it was perfect for dad and had no intention of leaving the store without it, so that's what you gave dad for his birthday.

Will: you LOVED daddy's chocolate birthday cake. we took it to his school to share with the faculty. you were pulling pieces off the table, and you probably ate 2 pieces. i'm really struggling with your eating habits. you will not ANY vegetables; every time i force you to taste vegetables you spit it out and say "YUCK!" the only fruit i can get you to eat is bananas. you love meat, cheese, and sugar. you don't even eat bread. anytime i make you a sandwich you take the bread off and eat only what's in the middle. you are probably not getting all the nutrients you need, but i have no idea how to get you to eat vegetables!

you both LOVED beating the pinata at dad's party tonight; you both were a little crazy with it like you had oodles of pent up aggression!


5/28
you boys LOVE having your car seats side by side. you were fighting so bad in the car today though that i pulled over and separated you. you both were so sad and crying hysterically! i finally put you back together and you wouldn't stop holding hands. now you hold hands in the car and everywhere you go. every time they start holding hands will always says "mama! mama! mama!" and shows me they are holding hands. it really is sweet.

5/29
Sam: you still love story time at the library, and i'm always so proud of you for how well behaved you are there. i also love that you always have a topic you want books about and you always ask the librarian. you've been set on farm books and books about the earth & universe lately. i love that you have so much awe and reverence for the earth. you checked out educational/factual books about the universe, and i find you laying in bed looking at them during your resting time. you are always wanting me to explain them to you. even your prayers are precious. you always say thank you for the earth, trees, sky, sun, air, house, and just everything. it warms my heart every time. we say you are going to be our hippie child.

Will: one of my favorite things that you say is "again". any time you want more of something you always say "again". if you want to repeat something you always say "again". i've never heard you say "more", always just "again", and it's so cute.

5/30
Sam: you've turned into a list maker, and you love checking it off. dad helped you make a list today for your jobs, and you were totally into it and wanted to add more and more to the list. you were so excited about his help with it you told me that you don't like me anymore and you only like dad now. i was CRUSHED! you quickly covered that by saying you like us both. that's better, but i didn't think it would hurt my feelings so much to hear those words come out of your mouth. up until then, you've thought i was the world. :(

Will: you scrapped your knee, and you want to show everyone, especially sam. you follow him around saying "AM! AM!" until he looks at it. sam is getting a little tired of it and always says "i know. i've seen your owie already!" you don't cry much at all if even any when you fall down or get hurt a little.

5/31
we would've given you both away today! you were driving us crazy! i don't think i've ever heard so much whining in my life! especially sam. he wouldn't stop talking or whining. EVERYTHING we said he asked why and then whined about our response, and he never wanted to do what we asked and of course whined about that. he was always hungry or thirsty in the very second we couldn't do anything about it. pete and i both had a breaking point moment with him. after mine he wouldn't stop crying and saying sorry. after pete's he was crushed. tears were brimming, and he didn't say another word for about 10 minutes until he told us his feelings were hurt. i know we both felt horrible, but come on, enough is enough! glad these days are few and far between, and i'm hoping will is not learning from that example!

dear pete...

dear pete,
i just don't have enough words to thank you...
thank you for going to work everyday and allowing me the privilege of staying home every single day to...
tote our children all over town in the bike trailer like little hippie kids,
teach our kids about life by modeling the way we want them to live through endless hours of play, crafts, "school", & talking,
spend time planning & preparing meals and not forcing us to eat what is most convenient & normally saturated with things we don't need,
allow me to relax, read a book, watch a show with the boys,
let my mind be so free to think without the demands entertaining a job,
allow me to explore my mind's most pressing adventure,
give me the time and space to make our house a home where we can all be happy,
seek out opportunities that mold me into the wife, mother, and woman i so badly want to be.

something about feeling that wind on my face today, seeing that perfect blue sky, and hearing will squealing "weeee" with such delight made me realize that there is not a salary big enough that could replace what you've given me at home; thank you for not making me have to choose the salary.

8 school days and counting until you will be joining us on these daily happy little adventures. can't wait!

love,
your wife

i don't want to miss a thing

5/18
Sam: your physical look seems to be changing! it's happening so subtly i don't want to miss it! your perfectly porcelain skin is starting to be dotted with freckles. that little button nose of yours is beginning to be covered with them. your hair is getting blonder from endless hours in the sun. you have lost that baby huskiness, now you are just tall and slimmer but still stout. your smile is getting bigger, your teeth are so straight and perfect, and that little over bite seems to be correcting itself. your eyes can't make up their mind on the color anymore. some days they look blue and other days green. you tell me you want them blue like mom's; we'll keep watching. you are having less bruises on your shins and more scrapped knees and elbows. your feet are huge! now a size 10 1/2- 11. we are no longer shopping in the baby section. you are in size 5 now. it really is happening. the time is flying by, and you are getting bigger! you don't love it though. you tell me all the time you want to stay my little boy. every night we smash you back down in an attempt to fulfill your wish and keep you little. it's obviously not working. you've gone from a toddler to a kid right before our very eyes.

Will: you are changing, too. you have had a major growth spurt up. you have gotten tall, but still so skinny and lightweight. your hair is finally where it started when sam gave you the buzz cut. it's also getting so much blonder from the sun. your brown eyes are just as big as ever, and i hope that never changes. you love smiling all the time now. you love the scrunched up face smile, and every time you do it i want to scrunch you up it's so cute. you're running all over now, and thankfully you still have that baby run that i love... the stomach out, the one arm swinging, and the feet moving so fast under you that you look like you could fall any second. your fingernails are always so long; they grow like CRAZY, and you can't stand it if one starts peeling, but you don't mind clipping them. it's hard for me to believe that you are growing up, too. you still seem like our little baby will, and you are constantly reminding us that you are the baby. it's one of your favorite things to say.

5/19
Sam: sorry, sam, but you were driving me crazy all day long! we go to the store, and you insist on riding in the bottom basket of the cart; of course you don't fit there! we go to the other store, and you spend 5 minutes getting in and out of the car. at home, you're whiny. you unroll a whole new roll of toilet paper. you're wild and climbing the walls. so wild in fact that you knocked by green flower bowl off the shelf and break it. you cry because you want to go to bed, and then you cry when you are in bed. ahhhh! that's how you were the whole day!! thankfully we normally jive better on these days.

Will: my favorite thing you say is "oh". anytime i give you an explanation you look at me like you totally get it, tilt your head to one side, and quietly say"oh". you seem very content with answers instead of always asking why like your older brother always has. thanks for always being so content.

5/20
Sam: you are always talking about your 10 year birthday. you can't wait, and you are always asking when you will be 10. i'm not sure what the fascination is. i just want to remember how excited you have always been to turn 10 and see if you are just as excited about it when you actually are turning 10!

Will: you LOVE basketball and always have. now that you are getting older your love for it is getting more advanced. i will find you out in the back yard already playing basketball; you just wander out and help yourself. you will play forever quite some time all by yourself. you like the little goal if it's raised up. if i'm out there with you, then you always pull me to the big goal and have me help you shoot it. you could very well be our basketball player if this interest and skill keeps up.

5/21
Sam: you love parties, especially if your "friends" are going to be there. you've been telling people that your mom already had her birthday but you are going to have another party at your "friends" house (kol & luk). you keep asking everyday if we have missed the party. missing anything would devastate you.

Will: this is going to get interesting. you started climbing out of your crib today. you got out after your nap and came downstairs and i was so confused. when i asked how you got out you told me the baby did it. since you've showed me how you climb out seamlessly. you just flip your leg over and then slide your body down the railing. you are so proud, but i'm not loving how long it takes to get you to sleep!

5/22
both of you boys are getting better and better on your bikes every week. we do a lot of riding. sam started popping wheelies on his bike today. you were so proud and wanted me to keep filming you. then you wanted to be my coach and teach me tricks. of course you're always racing, too. you always say you are the winner, but half the time no one even knows they are racing you. :) will has gotten excellent on his bike, too. he has a ton of control and NO fear! he is already wanting to fly down hills, and it's crazy how well he can steer. he loves riding down the gradual incline on our driveway. i think he's going to go in the road every time, but he always turns onto the sidewalk; he's pretty smooth and controlled already. he loves it; he always asks to go on the bike. we have to bring it most of the day when we can't be outside. now that's fun.

5/23
Sam: every night i put you to bed i always say... "i love you. you are my very special boy and nothing is ever going to change that." tonight he responded by saying "i know that. you tell me all the time!" i guess it is sinking in!

Will: we may be turning over a new leaf with you. since you learned to climb out of your crib you will not go to sleep at night or for naps. oh, and add that you are now sucking your thumb at night. wow, a lot can happen in 3 days! i'm hoping the sleeping works itself out. now that your mattress is lowered to the floor and you can't get out you just stand in your crib saying "OUT! STUCK!". i can hardly think you're ready for a big bed; you still seem like our little baby.

spiderman/batman anyone?

i've slacked a little on getting a friday activity post up, but don't worry, we've still been full of it. one of our latest creations has been an ongoing hit. it takes a little prep work and a little messy, but oh so worth it... PAPER MACHE! we used our paper mache to make spiderman and batman masks, but i'm sure the possibilities are endless of fun things to make. here's the recipe we used...

Paper Maiche Recipe

Begin with one cup water; mix in about a quarter cup of flour, until the mixture is thin and runny. stir this mixture into five cups lightly boiling water. gently boil and stir for 2-3 minutes. cool until you can dip your paper in it without getting burned. pour the paste into a shallow tray. dip strips of newspaper (2-3 inches wide) and paste the strips over a form, such as an inflated balloon. add as many layers as you like. put it outside in the sun to dry or dry overnight in the house.

once our mache forms dried, then we cut it in half and cut out the shapes of our masks, painted it, attached elastic to the back, and there you have it... spiderman and batman masks that provide endless amounts of dress up entertainment.

not a creature was stirring...

...until will learned to climb out of his crib. i thought he would sleep in his crib without ever having to lower it until he was at least 4. that proved wrong today. i was downstairs sewing this afternoon while he was napping. he surprised me by walking into the room with sam still sleeping soundly in his own bed. he was so happy and saying "OUT! OUT!" i thought it was surely a fluke, a one time deal. man, was i wrong! we are going on 2 1/2 hours of attempting bedtime. we lowered the crib all the way, and he is still climbing out. i forgot what these long nights were like; i'm not so sure i'm ready to go back...

crockpot thursday

this is not a crockpot recipe, but it might as well be since it is sooo easy! as the weather warms up i'm always looking for quick recipes that are light & easy while still being healthy & delicious. this is an old stand-by favorite. i recently made it and was pleasantly reminded of why i like it. it fits the requirement of quick, easy, and delicious.


Greek-Style Pitas

3 chicken breasts
1/2 bottle Italian salad dressing
package of whole wheat pitas
1 8 oz. carton plain yogurt
1 lemon, juiced (appr. 2 tbsp)
1 garlic clove
1/2 cucumber, skinned and diced
1 tsp. mint

marinate chicken in dressing overnight or 5 hours. grill chicken and cut into 1-inch chunks. to make dressing combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and cucumber. stuff pitas with chicken and sauce. i also love stuffing sprouts or lettuce and tomatoes in mine. i love the sauce and go a little crazy with that, too.

ENJOY!

take that humble pie, adam!!

i was definitely a kris fan. adam could use a little humility, so take your humble pie and EAT it! way to go, kris!!