Graham Scissorhands

I can't even be that mad since it's my own fault. I left the scissors out without even thinking. Or maybe I was thinking my 5 year old was past this. Nope. But the first thing Greg said was "Scissors are for paper ONLY mom."

Good thing I just got a coupon in the mail for Cookie Cutters. Looks like I'll be making an appointment for hair repair today.

And did I mention the writing on the stairway? Graham wrote "CTR" on the stairway wall. I asked him about it and he said that Greg did it. BRILLIANT!! My super smart almost 3 year old suddenly has the coordination to hold a pencil, write acronyms in a legible manner and write them a foot over his head. Clear the phone lines! The Ivy League schools should be phoning in their scholarship offers any minute now.

Graham quietly admitted to me what he had done. At least I know something from church is sinking into his head. Or he is so smart he knows that mom can't get too upset if "I write on the wall, especially if I write something like 'Choose the Right!"

Am I the Only One?

Really, this came up in conversation with a friend today. But apparently my list of foods I dislike is longer than anyone else's on the planet. I refuse to eat:

Bananas

Avocados

Tomatoes (raw, I don't mind spaghetti sauce, etc. )

Onions (again, raw, like on a hamburger)

Beans (refried, black, pinto, garbanzo - you name it. SICK)

Shrimp (it's still too much in its animal form, and Mike once told me it was a bottom feeder so that did it)

Crab, Oysters - most seafood really

Liver

Eggplant

Mushrooms

Beets

There is more but it's late so they evade me right now. But that isn't that bad - is it?

New LDS Doctrine?

So today I was talking to Graham about President Hinckley passing away yesterday. This is a snipet of our conversation:
G: So he's dead?
M: Yes. But he was very old and now he's living with Heavenly Father again.
G: How old was he?
M: 97
G: How old is grandma and grandpa?
M: Not nearly that old
G: How old is Nanny and Papa?
M: Not that old either.
G: So he gets to go to Heaven and then he will be born again?
(This is where Greg pipes in, very loudly)
Greg: YES!!! He is BORN AGAIN!!!!!

So I guess my Greg is taking on a more Evangelical approach to all of this. Graham just asked if he could finish watching his cartoon and the conversation was over.

I Don't Do Pet Stores

Graham has a last minute rescheduled field trip in the morning....to a pet store. I hate that the teacher hypes this up with the kids and then you look like a bad parent for not wanting to take them. I'm all for fire station, bank, bakeries and other such field trip destinations. I am NOT all for pet stores. I hate them. Dan takes the boys often to look at Pet Smart, the Aquarium and other places around the valley to look at fish, iguanas, etc. Alone. I don't go on these excursions.

I think pet stores stink. I cannot stand the smell of them. I don't even like animals. Dogs being the exception, but even with those I'm super particular and if I touch one I have to wash my hands immediately afterwards. My house will never have snakes, cats (the worst) lizards, birds or anything else that requires a cage and poopage clean-up. Graham can count his lucky stars that he has a fish tank in his room. I have a feeling someday that Dan will get his saltwater fish tank when we finish the basement. But that is not anytime soon either. So it looks like Dan will be taking the boys out on Saturday to a late version of the field trip while I'm off getting my pre-baby pedicure. Just as it should be I think.

My Amazing Husband

I love Dan. I love that he knows when to spoil me - like today. The boys went with Grandma and Grandpa to the Train Show at Thanksgiving Point so we had the entire morning to ourselves. We went out to a nice, leisurely breakfast came home and Dan took care of some office work, picked up our new license plates at the car dealership and then did the shopping for us at Costco. Then he comes home and gets the boys, loads them in the car and tells me to take a nap. I have been so tired and this baby has been hurting me a lot these last two days. So I did and it was HEAVEN! He's made the boys dinner, done baths and bedtime almost every night this week. He's done about everything on his "to do before LuLu comes" list this week also. I feel like I am been wandering aimlessly through the house while he has been running circles around me taking care of you name it. What would I do without my sweet husband?!!
I'm sure he's looking forward to me getting back to normal (um, by May?) but in the meantime he's taken over like a champ and has no clue how very much I appreciate him and all his hard work!!

Poor Dan - I really don't know how this happened but he has two boys who are (in his words) Gear Heads. They love cars. Dan loves computers. Hopefully they will find a common ground before the teenage years hit.

But I was so proud today while taking the boys to Target to get their Valentine's. Greg went straight to the Cars and would not let go. OK. Graham then did the same. Then he noticed the Lego ones. He asked me which ones I wanted him to get (???? whose kid is this and since when does he ask my opinion on anything?) After telling him I would be happy with whatever he choose as long as it made him happy, he did a two step bounce and excitedly said, " OH MY GOSH MOM! THEY HAVE NASCAR!"

Wha???? He started telling me things about the Nascar world that I never knew of. We don't watch it nor have never seen a race. From that standpoint of tv watching the boys should know more about HGTV and all things house and home than cars.

This means he is hopefully phasing out of his love of Lightening McQueen. We love McQueen but enough is enough, right? And I might have to see about Dan taking boys to a real racetrack to see the cars very soon.

"I Going HOME!"

Greg and I had some nice quiet time last night. The boys had a full day of sledding, hot chocolate, cookie making and then more sledding. Greg is not known for his love of being cold, but does a great job at tolerating it just so he can join in the fun.

He looked over at me last night and said "I got snow in my face." Me: "Uh oh - did you like that?" Greg; "NO!"

Dan told me later that Greg had wanted to go down the slide at the park and with the slick snow pants and wet slide, he went really fast and plopped hard at the bottom getting snow all over his face. He then proceeded to give up the sliding adventure (on the playground and the sled hill) and started wandering around aimlessly. Dan had to call him back over and when asked where he was going?.... "I going HOME!"

I guess everyone has their limits. Greg had just met his. He is so like me, when the fun is over, we are SO outta there!

Just a Little Crush!

I volunteer to help at Graham's preschool once a month. I love it. It's interesting to see how he is doing on his school work first hand and how he interacts with the teacher and the other children.

Graham is not as shy as he was last year, but is still a bit reserved when it comes to school. Which is not a bad thing, I've noticed that he stays away from the one trouble maker kid "because Mrs. S has to tell him to be quiet a LOT, Mom!" So when I was helping today I looked over at the story time area to see Graham sitting there nicely and a little brown haired girl walked right up to him with her carpet square and got it as CLOSE to him as she possibly could.

I could tell he wasn't too sure about this, but tolerated as much as his little five year old self could. Later on Mrs. S told me that they have been doing everything together at school over the last two weeks but could tell Graham might be feeling a bit "smothered." (And really, what boy likes that? None that I know.)

She is just darling... I almost wanted to whisper to her "Offer him your animals cookies at break time and you will have his heart forever!" But decided I want his heart to be only mine a little while longer. Ah...young love. So glad Grahamie is still oblivious!

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Yesterday I had Dr.'s appointments for all three of my babies. My 35 week appointment was in the morning and I spent an HOUR in the waiting room. I was seriously getting a bit ticked off, but what can you do? I've never had to wait longer than 15 minutes so I figure I can't be too mad about it. Good news is I only have two more appointments before baby girl comes and I didn't gain any weight. So far I've kept the gain at 22 pounds this pregnancy. Thank goodness as I still have to work off weight from Graham and Greg and at least I won't be adding more on top of that!

Greg had his 3rd year well child visit and was an angel! So good and sweet - did everything like he had rehearsed it 100 times. Even sweet nurse Vicky commented on how 3 year olds are usually so difficult to do the eye exam and everything else, that she had never seen a child more agreeable than Greg. Well, I could've told her that! He liked sitting up on the table and giggled when Dr. W pushed on his tummy. He is in the 80th percentile for height and weight and 105% for his head. Nothing we didn't already know, healthy kid with a big brain!

Graham's 5 year Kindergarten appointment was not as kind to him. He liked everything till his finger was pricked for blood (Greg went white as a ghost watching!) He is in the 97th percentile for height and weight, just like he has been since he was born! I thought he was getting one shot and told him about that to try to prepare him. Poor Graham ended up having to get FOUR - two in each hip. Oh, the disgrace and the loss of dignity! He was trying so hard to be brave but there were BIG tears.

We of course had to go to the Nordstrom Cafe afterwards to get a big sugar cookie to ease his pain. (And because I never drive all the way down to Orem without sneaking some shopping in, um, hello.)

We didn't stay long which was a good thing. The boys were tired and I came down with a 24 hour bug soon after we got home last night. So make that weight gain 20 pounds now after the night I had - I've never thrown up so much in my life than I have in the past 9 months!!

Graham requested Bajio for dinner but I knew that was not going to happen - Dan fixed the boys a quick dinner and had to carry Graham up to bed because "the shots make my legs not work." Brave little man - he still won't let us take the band-aids off since "the shot are not all better yet." But we are officially ready in all aspects for Kindergarten and he is done with shots for quite some time!

Why Boys are Fun - Reason #832

Because they give a mom exciting projects to put on her to do list. Today - is patch the holes in all six (6!!!) pairs of jeans that I just bought for him at the end of October. Next on the list is buy more jeans to keep for when we go somewhere nice and I don't want him walking around with holes in his pants knees.

WHAT?!?

How did this happen? I just signed my baby up for Kindergarten today!!

SAD!!! (and a bit of YAY!!!) He is very excited!

Greg will be so lonely without him!

The Bucket List

I'm trying to cram in some outings before I'm home and basking in the yummy new babiness of it all. Last week a few of us went and saw "P.S. I Love You." I read the book and it was ok, but the movie was really good. Even with me not loving Hillary Swank. Reminds me of how I used to not be able to stand George Clooney until I saw him in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou." Still want to see "27 Dresses" also.


Dan and I had a fun date last night and ended up at Red Robin for dinner. I have been craving red meat this week and they have my favorite hamburger in the world there, The Banzai Burger. YUM! Afterwards saw the movie "The Bucket List" which was a bit more serious than I had anticipated but still enjoyable. One scene has them racing cars - one of which is Mustang Shelby - what a gorgeous car. I remember my mom and dad car shopping for me when I was about to turn 16 and looking for a 1965 Mustang. OH! My hopes were up so high, what a perfect car! (Well, any car of your own at 16 years old is perfect really) but I still to this day have a thing for Mustangs!


So I having been thinking today about how a busy mom of 2.5 is supposed to have a Bucket List. Do I write it down and go all out? Do I stay more realistic about what can really be accomplished given my current occupation that is, let's face it, more than a 9-5 job? I'm still thinking....nothing major on it, I have no desire to skydive or see the Himalayas. I don't care about meeting anyone famous (growing up in So Cal, been there, done that, not impressed) I'd like to be a bit more mischievous, it's fun. I'd like to never have to clean my house again, but tell the maid what I want done. I'd like to go to Italy, Spain and buy a house in Montecito. Actually, if I make it to the last of being in Montecito, then I'll just end the list there on a good note!

Mind Over Belly

I like to be busy. Dan laughs (or rolls his eyes) when I announce a new project. That means I will hunt, research, inquire and shop in a one track mind sort of fashion until I find what I am looking for or have finished what I have set out to do. Call it being OCD if you will, I call it being motivated.

Current problem is that my mind is moving 100 miles a minute with things I would like to get done before LuLu arrives and my belly is not allowing this to happen. I think I will get more done in the evening after kids are in bed. But by then I just want to get cozy and sit.

I really should finish the nursery. It's sort of half done. The thought of shopping now is dreadful (!!!) I would like to de-clutter my house more. I would like to de-junk the basement. I would really love to get rid of maternity clothes from my closet and see what I really have in there without the mess. At least I have my office somewhat taken care of and organized, but I have a list of these little projects and a sense of dread that time is escaping from me as the belly grows larger. Then LuLu will arrive and all I will want to do is snuggle with my baby before she is suddenly 13 and snotty (you know, because what comes around goes around, and I know I've got some serious "coming round" coming back to me.)

I have a friend, Marcy, that I know through church and book club - and her house always looks amazing. It's warm, inviting, personal with her cute pictures everywhere without being overdone or cluttered. I think she has a great sense of style. I was there Tuesday night and then came home and I try to pin point what it is that makes my house not feel "done." Curtains? Photos? What? I couldn't put my finger on it so I just got my pj's on and watched tv for a little while. Let my mind think of the next project while I rest the belly.

Back to School

I woke up SO incredibly happy this morning! Why you ask? Because you only have 35 more days of being pregnant? No...(but yes) Because book club is tonight? Noo..(but I do love both of these reasons.)

I am happy because my bored out of his five year old mind son is going back to school today.

Even for the short time that he goes, he loves it and I love him gone for a little break. Greg will actually still take a nap most days, but only if Graham is gone. I have a few hours to run an errand with one child instead of two, or get 10 things done instead of one thing: which was keeping one five year old busy.

Graham is smart. I mean, like his dad, SMART. I don't say this in a boastful way. He honestly is. He likes to be busy. Building things, making things. He is not a quiet child who will sit and color for hours on end. The only kinds of books that will hold his interest very long are "The Human Body" etc. He likes to be running and playing outside. He would rather come up to me and say "Mom, Let's talk about electricity. Do you know how that works? I will tell you." (not kidding)

I am learning the balance of having things for him to do without overwhelming him. So school today is a happy thing. Starting soocer again will be a happy thing also...counting down! And Kindergarten is when?