Have you ever done something that may indicate that you are spreading yourself a tiny bit thin? Oh, like I don’t know, accidentally throwing away your children’s spring portraits (yes, a brilliant money making scheme done at the boys’ school that clearly and cleverly exploits the cuteness of my children). I searched my house for forty minutes (FORTY MINUTES!!) to no avail. I kept thinking how much of life is wasted looking for stuff? Eventually, I was faced with my only logical option. I had to explore a less than hygenic bag of kitchen garbage and found the missing photos. They are a little curled on the edges, but are mostly intact due to the plastic envelope that encased them. So, if you happen to get a wallet-size photo from this batch in the mail, I apologize in advance if they smell like gym socks.
Tag: cute kids
Kung Fu Fighting
A lot has happened in the past 24 hours. First and foremost there was some serious kung fu fighting. I think these post pictures will prove that my boys could cause serious damage with bow staffs. I am allowing them to use nerf swords with the stipulation they only play against Mad Dog one at a time. The sparring matches were hilarious. The boys may have a ways to go in terms of technique, but they have the spirit of true warriors (just a note, Full Speed’s eye is patched for vision issues, not an injury sustained during the fighting).
For a lady who enjoys quietly sitting on her lanai watching birds as a favorite pastime, it was a bit much. I was more than ready for bed by day’s end and I didn’t do any of the fighting. Unfortunately, little T.Puzzle’s allergy symptoms had other plans for all of us. He was incredibly fussy and couldn’t be soothed by the normal routines. He wound up in our bed late in the night and the only way he would sleep is if his head was nestled in the crook of my arm with his face smashed (and yes I mean SMASHED) up against mine. He also could only lie in a mostly perpendicular angle to me and had to (and yes I mean HAD to) have his feet resting on Mad Dog’s back. Little sleep was gained by anyone.
I took him to the doctor the next morning and prayed (and yes, I really did pray) that he would be cooperative. Shockingly, he was an absolute angel. Maybe he was just too tired to be feisty. Turns out he is on the verge of a sinus infection and was prescribed an additional allergy medication to use as part of his daily regimen. Because not only did he inherit my incredible kung fu skills, my little T.Puzzle inherited my allergies. Now, if only he could inherit my love of sitting quietly. Then, we’d be on to something.
Safe!
We hosted a low-key cook-out. My in-laws joined us as well as my friend from down the street. As the evening was winding down, I set T.Puzzle, Full Speed and their friend, Miss Cutie, up with a Hotwheels DVD in our upstairs loft so the remaining adults could enjoy dessert uninterrupted. Now Miss Cutie is a very laid-back gal but on occasion she can get herself into unintentional trouble (where as with my guys, the trouble is always intentional). So, I left Full Speed ‘in charge’ and he was to yell downstairs if Miss Cutie left the couch.
We were in the process of finishing up our desserts when we hear a loud, desperate yell from Full Speed. It sounded like something awful had happened. Her mom and I leap to our feet and race upstairs. Would we find Miss Cutie poised to jump off a bookshelf? Would she be dangling from the ceiling fan? What would we find?
Turns out all that happened was a snag in the DVD and it had froze. I look at Full Speed and said, “What did you do?”
“Nuffing! Nuffing! I swear. We were all seated SAFELY on the couch and it stopped.”
Somehow the word safely and the boys just don’t mix. I then safely turned off the movie and we all headed downstairs together.
All Mine
I love baseball. My Mom loved baseball. So, to play baseball with my boys is pretty awesome. Mad Dog had purchased some whiffle balls, a bat and some cones for bases and we all took turns batting out in our cul-de-sac.
Of course the dream in my head of idylically playing America’s past-time did not quite match up to my reality. It was hard for the boys to take turns (make that impossible!), T.Puzzle had to be in time-out three times, and then Full Speed was angry because T.Puzzle threw a ball at him.
It still was awesome.
It ain’t perfect but it’s all mine and I love it.
Attack Bubble
When I was a small girl, I played lots of quiet lady-like games. I often played alone and would make up games like I was a teacher or that I was a bookkeeper just like my Mom (all this required was access to a calculator). My imagination was as boundless as the variations of games I used to concoct to entertain myself. In most of these self-created games, they tended to run on the calm side. For instance, if I was an imaginary teacher I wouldn’t break into spontaneous karate moves or try to high-kick a student’s head.
Playing outside is a fundamental aspect of raising two active boys. I try to come up with new ways to engage their attention and attempt to expend some of their endless reserves of energy. Most activities I did as a child just don’t cut it.
Since the Easter Bunny was so kind and generous and left the boys with several types of bubble-blowing options, I thought I’d give them a try. I used to adore bubbles. I would play with them for hours as I would lazily chase one bubble to the next. I figured my guys would be bored out of their minds.
Within seconds it became the most ferocious game of attack bubble I had ever witnessed. Maybe this is their gift. T.Puzzle and Full Speed can take any quiet, calming activity and turn it into something physically aggressive in seconds. It’s important to play to our strengths.