Thursday 10.

I originally planned to write this post on Tuesday. But really, I typed most of it on Wednesday. I ended up having to change the post title three times - you get the drift right? Dang. I am bad with deadlines. I am busy. Okay, TRUTH. I am a huge procrastinator. There I said it. At least I had good intentions. Right? That's what really matters. Those intentions were to blog blissful nothings about my Tuesday Thursday.

1.  I really didn't want to "overdo" Christmas for the boys this year. I had plans to stick to minimal gifts; I even tossed around the idea of the 'a want', 'a need' & 'a read' type of gifts. It's not that I don't love gifts. I really do. I actually prefer GIVING gifts then getting them also. Especially for my kids. Except you see, my kids don't even play with toys. They would rather play with an old flashlight, vintage harmonica and a random measuring tape. Not real toys. We actually have bins full, they overflow. It's sickening. And most of them aren't ever touched. So when I walk up and down the aisles of Toys R Us aimlessly (Man is that place a cluster f*$# or WHAT?), I think a lot of toys are cute. And probably really neat. And I admit, I know my kids would love opening/receiving them. But then in less then a week, we'd be missing half the pieces and in two weeks, I'd be bagging them up to donate. Well, my plan went haywire. I'm afraid we overdid Christmas. Again.

2. I got an hour massage today. It was awesome. Apparently, I'm stressed and I didn't even know it. So says, my shoulders. I've decided that I am going to make a huge jug of cucumber water for my house, so that I can pretend I'm always at the spa. Even amongst the unruliness.

3. It's been raining so much lately. It's also really cold. Wet, freezing weather is the brewing of the perfect storm when you have children full of energy. Memo to self: you live in the age of technology. GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND. YOUR VERY BEST FRIEND INDEED.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS....they really do exist.

4. Alexander is at this really adorable stage lately. I love mostly everything he is doing these days (except waking up throughout the night like a newborn still, umm yeah). BUT MY FAVORITE....after bath, I take him upstairs all lotioned and jammied up (my euphoria). Smelling delicious I snuggle him in his rocker. We rock, I sometimes hum a little lullaby. He nurses and pats my collarbone, he looks at me and coyly grins. Then it happens. We begin to hear pitter patter of little feet the stampede of his older brothers coming up for bedtime stories. He knows it's them, to be sure. But, he has to double check. He quickly unlatches, squirms his warm little body to sit upward on my lap, tilts his little head and peers over his shoulder. Both boys barge through his door, giggling, breathing loudly and he lights up. The minute they leave he's back to nursing peacefully. He's so nosy. It's the cutest thing EVER.

5. I should really buy a highchair. We got rid of it after Max outgrew it. Highchairs are my very least favorite piece of baby equipment. They are bulky and obnoxious and oh, the crevices where food can be lodged. *gag* Most of our meals, look at little like this.

6. I burned a batch of bacon the other night, attempting this awesome new recipe we are calling eggy-toast-cups. I swear I can still smell it. I love all things bacon, allegedly. Minus the stench of a burnt batch.

7. I successfully wrapped all of the boys' (or is it boy's?) Christmas presents. *sigh of relief* I cannot wait for the excitement that will erupt in my living room on Christmas morning!!!


8. I'm still randomly finding stacks of Christmas cards. Already sealed in envelopes and addressed. They were just hidden or perhaps misplaced on their way out the door. Oops. So, here is it for the world to see.

Christmas Card 2011 front

Christmas card 2011 back

If I forgot you, I'm sorry. If your card is in the stack still hiding, I'm really sorry. But we hope your Christmas is awesome all the same. ;)

9. The piles of laundry are slowly dwindling. I think I only have 12 9 4 loads to go. It's a true Christmas miracle.

10. If there was any question who AQ looked like. The mystery has been solved.

SEND IN THE CLONE!!! I shall call him....Mini Me.

Happy Thursday!!

thursday's ten.

1. I started summer school today. And it's raining. Double yuck.

2. Nothing beats the smells of sunscreen.

3. I've already purchased close to 3/4ths of Mason's whole Fall wardrobe. But I'm not an overachiever. Not even close.

4. I want to plan a trip to New Orleans before September.

5. Max is totally full on walking and bottle weaning. I'd like a pause button, please and thank you.

6. I think margaritas have been half my caloric consumption all summer. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE SUMMER?! Because I love it almost as much as my children.

7. Two nights ago we started discussing and debating Halloween costume choices at the dinner table. Funny thing is my preschooler did not initiate this conversation. We really love Halloween. Maybe more than summer. And I swear I'm really not an overachiever.

8. We did our first summer 2010 Sea World trip with both boys Monday. It was too.much.fun.to.handle. The boys both loved it. I'll blog it later.

9. Fourth of July was awesome. Next year I need to get more festive on the kids outfits.

10. Photographic proof that my babies used to be babies, just a short year ago:

fairly certain.

I'm fairly certain...

... Max will never learn how to use a sippy cup.

...Mason will never sleep in his own bed. Or that I will ever sleep in my own bed a full night with no little feet digging in to my back.

I'm fairly certain I have a minor addiction to margaritas, Pandora radio, sushi & pedicures. Don't act like you don't too. And if you really don't, you really should.

I'm fairly certain this summer is going to be the best yet. I'm also fairly certain Mason will still not wear a hat in the sun & that Max will throw a tantrum when I attempt to lather him excessively in Coppertone.

I'm fairly certain...

...that I love my husband more than the day I married him. He totally rocks. I'd love him more if he swiffered the floors or loaded his dishes in to the dishwasher, you know not the sink that is hmm, 8 inches away from said sink. Cough, cough.

...that mother's day brunch is the best event on my May calendar. Hello mimosas.

I'm fairly certain that no matter how many recipes I print off to replicate from Food Network's website, I'm sadly still not any closer to becoming Giada. In fact, I'm fairly certain McDonald's would not even hire me to simply dump baskets of frozen french fried goodness in to pools of bubbling grease. Even if I volunteered. Certainly not.

I'm fairly certain...

...that I can text faster than I can talk. Allegedly, no, no certainly.

...that my coffee still has not learned to make itself. Still. After all these mornings, months, umm, going on years. Somethings never change. Certainly.

I'm fairly certain these tidbits are random and unimportant.

monday musings.

Mondays happen to be my least favorite day. I mean rightfully, right? Who wants to face reality after a weekend full of sunshine and fun. Not me. Mondays are not my friend. I want to petition that Mondays be a weekly holiday, an extension of a fun-filled weekend, but I'm assuming that will only make me dislike Tuesdays and I love Tuesdays, they are my calm after the storm. The Monday thunderstorm that is. I have time for Monday musings, which is random awesomeness I've concluded during this Monday.

• Happy hour is just as fun when it's at a park, post afternoon nap, with apple juice & goldfish. And the company is way better than anyone your bound to meet at a real happy hour location. Unless it's your super cool sisters or husband, in which case the company is superb.
• Dave Matthews Band does not drown out a pissed tantrumming toddler. Nor does Norah Jones, Train or The Script. No matter how much you turn the volume dial, you are going to lose. Your children can scream LOUDER. Lose.
• Traveling without benedryl but with two small children is probably not something Einstein would do. But hey, I'm not Einstein. Flight 494, back in March would probably concur.
• Raisins do not digest and Lucky Charms color Pampers not just the rainbow. Fabulous and too much information all in one sentence.
• The easter bunny is more frightening than a hockey masked fugitive.
• Baby wipes are the best mop and shower I've had access to in over a week year. And you should never pay the extra 2 bucks for brand name wipes. In case you wanted my buying advice.
• It is best to be friends with people who have children when you do. Because when you child is losing his/her shit with the fit of the century, you can rest assured theirs just did five minutes prior or will in the next five minutes. When said fit ensues, you can then whisper to yourself "Thank God it's not my kid again" and be glad people still hang out with you.
• Keep reminding your toddler that their baby brother is their pet and you will not be getting a puppy or a ferret or a killer whale for the next overly commercialized holiday or probably, ever.

Those are my Monday musings. You should take notes, because even though I don't play an expert on TV, I'm one in real life. My husband is in the process of throwing away his Encyclopedias as we speak. He married the wealth of all knowledge. Monday is for musings. I will not be held responsible for your actions based on my expert advice above. Can I get a drink?

Sometimes.

Sometimes when it's really quiet in my car, I'm sure I forgot someone waiting by the door at home; sometimes I have to sneak a peak in the rear view mirror and make sure there are two car seats.

Sometimes I think 5:30 is a legitimate bedtime, for all of us.

Sometimes lucky charms is a completely nutritious breakfast. And lunch. And sometimes dinner.

Sometimes I drink two full cups of coffee and still need a Red Bull by 3 PM. Sometimes I have that Red Bull and am still in bed by 9:30, child willing.

Sometimes I have to quickly hop on YouTube to seek out wild animal sounds. Because sometimes I don't know what sounds a llama, goat or ostrich makes. Sometimes I don't know everything my toddler demands to know.

Sometimes I'm genuinely confused how there is still laundry to be started and dishes to be put away.

Sometimes I take the boys to the park because I want to go. Hey, you never outgrow the love of fresh air, sunshine and swings. Every now and then I go down the slide with one bitty or another, sometimes I even slide alone.

Sometimes I go for a run just so I can think about somethings besides a potty break, refilling someone's sippy cup or a lost puzzle piece. But sometimes I'm the lead member in the puzzle piece search party.

Sometimes I catch myself watching Dora the Explorer and repeating "activate!" and "hola mis amigos". Then I realize Mason has been at school at least an hour and Max is surely not interested. Sometimes I don't bother to change the channel.

Sometimes I promise myself that tomorrow will be the day that I throw out the twenty some odd toys no one plays with and organize the kitchen junk drawer, but usually snuggles and Legos get the better of me.

Sometimes we stay in our pajamas until it is time for a bubble bath and new set of sleepwear.

Sometimes I go crazy wondering how neither boy's entire wardrobe seems to own two articles of clothing that actually match.

Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that, between Mason, Max and I, we've gone through nine full outfit changes, before noon.

Sometimes I think about a lot. Sometimes I think about absolutely nothing. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed beyond belief. But when Friday comes, I look back at my sometimes hectic week and I'm always overwhelmed with love and joy for my sometimes wild but always worthwhile boys.

Sometimes I don't know what I did to deserve so much.