In a matter of 5 minutes

I'm sure every mother will be able to relate to my blog today.  It has to do with the "joy" of getting kids up in the morning, dressed, fed and out the door to school in time.  In our house let's just say some mornings are better than others. 
I follow a normal morning routine and rarely deviate from the routine.  I wake the boys up at 6:45, breakfast is at 7:00.  Yesterday morning didn't quite go as planned.  I woke the boys up and in a matter of 5 minutes (it happened so fast my head was spinning) the dog was barking like a maniac around the house - I seriously thought something was wrong with her.  The boys started in with their "Yo Momma" jokes, gaseous fumes were heard loud and clear (and smelled too) from the cat walk, the arguments began and did I mention the dog was barking?  Somehow and I'm not sure how they made it to breakfast on time - dressed none the less. Jay gobbled his food and was out the door by 7:05 to ride his four wheeler before school and before I knew it I and the neighbors were "blessed" to hear a four wheeler riding around in the snow with Yes, Copper barking right along side Jay.  And all this began in a matter of 5 minutes!!!  

Sibling "love"

Recently there was an "incident" between the boys (imagine that?) that required Jay to write an apology letter to his brother.  Nick has the letter hung on his peg board so he can be reminded that although his brother may be a jerk (Nick's most favorite descriptive word for his brother) at times, there was one time he was truly sorry.  Doesn't every younger sibling need that reminder at times?  The letter goes like this:
Dear Nick:  I am very sorry that I was mean to you.  I also forget that you're younger than me and I think you are stronger.  I am sorry that I tried to make you eat the dead frog.  I am also sorry for making Copper lick you.
Personally the dead frog part is what really gets me laughing.  I remember there was a time when I made my sister drink milk but it was "spiked" with elmers glue. She in turn got sick and my mom was completely baffled why Kim was throwing up.  Bless my sister's heart, she stayed mum about it.  I'm sure there are details to this story my sister can remember better than I.  Whenever I inflicted terror on her she always seems to remember more of the pertinent details. 
So at age 39 (my sister is 35) my apology letter to my sister would look like this:
Dear Kim:  I am sorry I was so mean to you growing up.  You were such an obedient little sister and really went along with my show most of the time.  You are a wonderful sister, aunt and mother.  I am blessed to have you as my sister and be able to spend time with you and form a relationship with my niece and nephew.  For all those times I mistreated you and made you drink the elmers glue milk I am truly sorry............but just be thankful I didn't force you to eat a dead frog.  Just remember it could have been worse.......I could have been your older brother.  LOL! 

Nothing in particular

I have a few cute stories from this week.  The first story involves Jay.  We were in the car when he said, "If I don't get into the NBA then I think I'll be a farmer."  I just loved that comment.  I love his thinking about the NBA and by golly if that doesn't happen then a farmer he will be! 
I like to "play" with my boys but shy away from it because I usually get hurt.  Last night I played basketball with them and Jay forgot we were playing basketball and not football and tackled me.  I lost my balance and literally fell to my knees on the concrete floor (Yes mom you can gasp now).  It hurt and my knees are bruised today.  After I played with Jay I played some bball with Nick and got the basketball right smack in my face.  However, Nick's little mishap was an accident.  Jay's, not so much. 
We've had the flu this week in our house.  The only one still standing is me.  I'm sure my time is coming.  I can never avoid it as much as I try.  Ugh! I hate being sound asleep at night and being awoken by the sounds of my kids throwing up.  It's the worst sound and as parents we've all been there.  At 2:30 this morning Mike and I were high-fiving each other, however, because we realized we've finally crossed over to our kids making it to the toilet in time!  Yippee!  I remember Jay running to our room in the very early morning hours on Christmas Day 2007 and announcing he was going to get sick and proceeded to do so all over our bedroom carpet.  It was awesome!  I have spent a lot of time on my knees cleaning up puke - which is probably why I always get sick after the fact. 
Nick has a project due at school where he has to make an artic habitat.  He's been so creative.  He researched how to make snow on the internet, wrote down the directions and sent me to the drug store with instructions to buy diapers.  Nick cut open the diapers and used the "filling" for snow.  It seriously looks like glistening, fresh snow.  Way to take the initiative, Nick!!! 
Our weekend consists of basketball, basketball and more basketball...........lots of butt time for me - not a good thing, especially in December.

Lauren's 6th birthday - American Girl Style

 My 2 lbs niece turned 6 yesterday!!  And what a sweet and fun 6 year old she is!  Yesterday was all about Lauren and she loved it.  My sister, my mom, myself and Lauren's other grandma and aunt all took a trip to downtown Chicago to The American Girl Place.  We had so much fun and speaking from a mother of 2 boys.........I sure did enjoy the girl time.  That store was unbelievable.  Had the American Girl store been around when my sister and I were girls, my mom, sister and I would have loved going! 

 Mike and I got Lauren her bed (behind us in the pic) for her American Girl. 

                                                                My sister and her girl. 

                                                         Lauren and her Aunt Mindy.

 Lauren picked "Caroline" as her doll of choice.  She wanted a doll with long hair and my sister wanted a doll with hair that was easy to manage........don't all girls want that?  Ha.

 My sister's best friend, Amy and her daughter, Avery came to join us.  They live in Chicago so it was convenient for them to meet up with us. 

 American Girl even has their own restaurant..........Al the waiters are decked out in pink aprons.........Hey, real men wear pink, right?  Our waiter was great.  He told us a woman recently came to American Girl to buy her first doll and to celebrate her 100th birthday.  Clearly you are never too old for an American Girl.  As you can see Caroline joined us for lunch. 

Happy Birthday, Lauren.  Thank you so much for sharing your special day with me.  I sure had fun and I loved spending the day with you.  You are a sweet, funny, thoughtful and energetic little girl.  Love you to pieces.........

The art of normalcy

This blog literally just came to me as I was cleaning up after dinner tonight.  Tonight is our only night this week at home with no activities.  I tend to make a good meal on those "no activity nights."  It is true I usually strike out with one of my dishes and tonight it was the mushroom pilaf.  I knew it was not going to be a hit when even I thought it smelled like a zoo as I was making it.  I have to just laugh about it because it's all just part of the normalcy of my house - my boys getting a good laugh and jibe in at something I've made that is not so good (although things have improved greatly since I've become BFF's with The Pioneer Woman).  As I was doing the dishes after dinner I could hear Mike and the boys "practicing" basketball moves together in the basement.  I could hear Mike coaching Jay and being so intentional in the time he was spending with him.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of my 12 ft xmas tree that is only decorated 6 feet up (we're getting there) and honestly I'm in no hurry to finish it.  I see my house that is still a work in progress and to me it's all so normal.  I have close friends who are having marriage problems and health problems, just to name a few and it's made me stop and just be thankful for each and everyday my life is normal - not perfect but just normal.  I try to always be thankful but I know I'm not as thankful as I should be.  If I've learned anything in my 39 years it's that your life can change in an instant. You have no idea what tomorrow will bring or what obstacles are coming your way.  The only constant I'm certain of is God's love for me.  So today I am thankful for my normal life, the love of my husband, the laughter of my children and the roof over my head - even if I have a leaky roof, a half decorated Christmas tree and no master bath, it's all just the normal that is part of my life and I am thankful. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 We spent Thanksgiving at my mom's house and it was so relaxing and the food was delish!  Thanks Mom. 

                                    My sister and I enjoying a glass of wine..........quite delightful. 

 Aunt Mimi enjoyed getting a little love from Jay.  You have to take it when it comes with Jay these days.

 My mom did a craft with Lauren and Nick.  They liked it.  Mom is doing to do an ornament craft in December so she wanted to try it out with Nick and Lauren first.  It was success!

 Funny Luke.  My nephew makes me laugh.  I love his little two year old voice.  He's so darn cute.

 I so wish Jay was looking at the camera b/c this would have been a cute picture.  The boys were singing Happy Birthday to Lauren.  Her birthday is Tuesday and the boys won't see her because us girls are taking her to American Girl in Chicago.  More pics to come from that fun day.

 The four kiddos!  Jay looks like a giant compared to his brother and cousins in this picture.

 Jenny is in Haiti so Mike and the kids came out on Thanksgiving night to hang out.  Nick designed these basketball shirts for the kids.  I loved the Tshirts!  So thoughtful of Nick. 

The day before Thanksgiving

 The day before Thanksgiving started with Jay getting sick........all day.  Remember when Jay and Nick got sick 2 year ago in TN?  Yeah, it was TN style.  Jay threw up all day.  He finally came to life around 3 p.m. 

 Mike came home wearing a respirator in the hopes of avoiding the illness.  We'll find out in a few days how that worked for him.  He scared Copper half to death with his ridiculous new fashion statement.

 Nick and I getting ready to make his thanksgiving pilgrim hats (below).  I did this with Jay a few years ago.  Nick and I enjoyed it.  As I'm blogging right now Nick is over my shoulder whistling in my ear - literally........never a dull moment in my house.  Happy Thanksgiving, all.