Just an afternoon...just one, please?

Can you imagine a life where all you worried about was which couch, bed or pillow you could get unlimited sleep in? Then in your next life come back as one of my pets.

I have to admit that ever since I saw Marley and Me, I have been especially in love with all of them, my favorite being Bailey. He is just wonderful with the kids, and I love him far too much!

A temper tantrum update... We have been tantrum free for almost a week now. I realize Dylan's limits more and have adjusted our days to avoid random encounters with balls that not ours! Dylan is growing so much and is all about animals, colors and numbers. Loves to count, loves to color, and loves to play chase. Little boys really love to rough house. Very cute, he chatters away the days. My favorite words are MOE! (No), and BONGE BOD (sponge bob), he will, willingly repeat them for me all day long, as I cannot get enough.

Still here!

Well, hi again. I have to apoligize for being such an unblogger, but as all you parents of toddlers know...shit happens!

Today was one of those days.

I took Dylan to a local train museum. He was so adorable, checking out all the engines, counting all the RR tracks, tossing the gravel. I was almost in tears as we left, he was saying "bye bye and blowing kisses to the engines" OMG I could eat him!

Then. On the way home. I stopped at Toys R US... and the tantrums began! He is one of "those" kids that you hear (anywhere) and say a silent prayer inside to thank God, YOUR kid is not like that. Oh yah! That one screaming, turning purple, twisting about on the floor. THe one arching his back, kicking off his shoes and socks, snot EVERYWHERE...is my kid....Today it went on for 2 hours straight, and then an encore at 6pm for 30 minutes. His all time record is 2.5 hours. My favorite part to all of this is the well meaning moms that share there own person horror stories, the gentle pats on the back from total strangers, as if we re all in this together.

Todays tantrum was over a ball. We have about 100 at home, and Dylan loves them. We have balls from every store, including a starbucks ball. Loves balls with all his heart. Loves them so much that when I walk into a store with the great big cage of balls it is like heaven opened up a door and is hanging a ladder and a light over those bloody balls. I try distraction, blindfolds, sprinting by them, and it worked today almost. A sweet well meaning 5 year old boy handed a ball to Dylan. It was almost as if he handed him a beer or a dead animal, my response was about the same. So after awhile the ball needs to go back, and Dylan will not have any of it. The best part is, he knocked me over as we were leaving the store (wailing at the top of his lungs), there I am on my bottom, he is screaming, and I just am like trying to be a good mom and not loose it.

So now here I am. He is sleeping, it is over. Tomorrow is a new day. A day with out balls, we are ball-less, the anti-ball, just say no to more balls. Love the balls you have at home. Life is to short to have so many balls. reminds me of an AC/DC song I used to love!

The artist!

So a few weeks ago as I was walking out the door carrying Dylan, his diaper bag, a work bag, an over sized purse, the garbage, and 5 other things, I noticed the bathroom door ajar. Of course I was running late for work. I noticed some toilet paper trailing outside the door, and the real horror came as I cautiously opened the door. Dylan 12, Mommy 0. He is beating me at the game of life. I thought he was being so well behaved as I emptied the dishwasher (he tried to climb inside, and even pulled the appliance off the wall). So off with my coat, put down the bags to clean up the mess. Late for work again.

Yes that IS an ENTIRE roll of paper!!!!

His other favorite pastimes include raiding the pantry and hanging on the refrigerator door screaming for BaBa! Also, chasing the cats, throwing toys at the walls, at us and down the stairs.



So who is the cutest terror in the world....
This guy is!

Worst Haircut of 2008

It is one thing to get a bad, bad haircut, but when you come home and Daddy says, hey it looks the the haircut Jim Carrey had in Dumb and Dumber.....!!! Now it is all I can think about. Grow hair grow!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all my blogger friends. I am sure I am not the only one who feels like this year has been a blurr! I always thought life in the fast lane was a glamorous adventure of parties, travel and martini's over business lunches. I now realize it is paying bills, cleaning toilets, homework, diapers and keeping toddlers from hanging on the chandeliers. I am in the fast lane. I am a fine tuned supersonic speed machine. That would be me, and everyone else I know who has been blessed with the gift of a family.

If there were no little hands plugging up the toilet with rolls of paper as I am running late for work where would I be. I would have no one to kiss all over as I am waiting on line in the grocery store, I am safe singing in public and dancing in the aisles because after all, it is for my kid. I also have a built in excuse for being late for work. Blame it on the kid? Absolutely. They are probably wondering why Dylan has so many explosive diapers perfectly timed as I am leaving for work. It won't work when he is 12, but for now I'm good!

In my diet programmed mind all things sinful are allowed when you have kids. Pumpkin, apple pie, cookies, ice cream, and pepperment bark. All good, as the kids really love it. Same for the toys. All over the room? I try to remember by sweet Aunt Irene who never had children. When we all descend upon her she loves the noise and chaos. She gets very sad and lonely when we leave. He house is always clean and perfect with original 1940's appliances and furniture in mint condition. How could a sofa or toaster last for 68 years? I cannot get a kitchen chair to last for a year. Anyway, the last time we left for home, she called me overjoyed to find a car and sock we forgot. A car and a sock? About 8 years ago the girls had put stickers on her bedroom door, she left them intact. "Signs of life" she tells me, her voice cracking with emotion. I feel how much I miss her, and know how much I will miss these "little signs of life" when my kids grow up.

So for a moment there is no traffic, no hustle and madness of this holiday season. There is only Dylan- umberella in hand hitting the ornaments off the Christmas tree, and climbing up the mantle by way of the stockings. Emily is texting AND listening to her ipod while IMing her friends on AIM,( in her skinny jeans and DC shoes). Claire is throwing her socks and shoes everywhere and giving everyone a hard time because she can! I love them all. I love them all. I never knew how much I would love them, worry about them, and crave them. Dylan padding towards me, blanket trailing.."MOMMY!" he says and hugs my leg like I'm his universe. Emily sharing laughs with me, arms wrapped around me in front of her friends! Claire shyly showing me the gumball ring her first crush gave her for Christmas. All these things are my gifts, my treasures from the family that I love so so very much!

I wish you all beautiful memories of you life, enjoy every minute. Signs of life is what we are.

Breakfast politics and peanut butter puffins