After Easter egging hunting with friends, Brunch and family time with extended family and a short shopping trip I had no desire to cook tonight. Instead, we decided to stop at Outback Steak House's curbside to go and bring dinner home to eat while we watched the Caps game.
After the waitress brought the food out to our car, Peter asked the obvious question, "do they call this place Outback because they give you your food out back?"
Ba-dum-ching
Happy Easter everyone!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
And This Is Why I Married My Husband
I had over 5,000 hits on my blog today.
Wowza! Many friends and friends of friends shared my post about the boys and I am happy to say that I was met with not a single bad comment. That actually shocked me. I know there are people in my life who disagree with the way I feel.
Thankfully, my husband isn't one of them.
I had him proof read my post about the boys to make sure he was ok with everything I wrote. He came back to me with a small grammar edit and tons of praise. He said that our kids were blessed to have me as a mother and that the message was an important one.
Then he said "I just want the values we instill in our kids about marriage to be about being loyal and faithful to one person. Not the sex or color of that person."
And then I wanted to marry him all over again.
Wowza! Many friends and friends of friends shared my post about the boys and I am happy to say that I was met with not a single bad comment. That actually shocked me. I know there are people in my life who disagree with the way I feel.
Thankfully, my husband isn't one of them.
I had him proof read my post about the boys to make sure he was ok with everything I wrote. He came back to me with a small grammar edit and tons of praise. He said that our kids were blessed to have me as a mother and that the message was an important one.
Then he said "I just want the values we instill in our kids about marriage to be about being loyal and faithful to one person. Not the sex or color of that person."
And then I wanted to marry him all over again.
My Two Gay Sons
Two things you might not know about me:
1. I'm a Christian. I believe that Jesus was the son of God, and died to save me from my sins.
2. I fully support equality for all people to marry whom ever they choose.
I believe those two statements go hand in hand. Without going into a sermon, I will just say this. To me being a Christian is all about living your life to reflect the love and character that Jesus showed during his time on earth. I'm no Biblical scholar, but I'm pretty sure Jesus never held a rally with signs that read "God hates Fags"! I'm also pretty sure that in all accounts of Jesus's life he acted with nothing but love for all people he met that were not like him.
But this post isn't about my religious beliefs, it is about my sons.
Meet Peter.
Peter is 5 years old, he loves dinosaurs, dragons, princess movies and My Little Ponies. A week ago we had the following conversation.
Peter - Mom, I have to tell you something, but I'm afraid you won't believe me.
Me - What is it?
Peter - I think I was born a girl but when I was a tiny baby I was sleeping and someone put a boy costume on me.
Me - Why do you think that?
Peter - Because I really like "girl" stuff. Like princesses and My Little Ponies and other boys don't like those things.
Me - Can you tell me what makes a boy a boy and a girl a girl? Like how do you and Campbell look different?
Peter - What we have in our underwear.
Me - Right, so the way our bodies look tell us if we are a boy or a girl, and the things we like tell us what kind of person we are. Mommy really likes hockey, but I am a girl. And Daddy grew his hair long, but he is a boy. There isn't "boy" things and "girl" things, there are just things that people like.
Now, meet Aaron.
Aaron is 4, he loves race cars, fire trucks, video games and wants to marry his best friend Trey. He told us this about 2 years ago, when he deducted that:
1. Trey was his best friend
2. He loved Trey
3. He wanted to spend all his time with Trey.
Those sound like the best reasons ever to get married in my opinion.
As a parent I have a profound ability to do one of two things with these two situations.
1. Let my son's know the harsh truth that we need to stick with outdated social norms. Girls must marry boys, boys must play with cars and trucks.
That always turns out great, right? How many kids get that reaction from their parents? How many then stop communicating their feelings, become emotionally scared, and grow up thinking they were born "wrong" because of what or who they like?
My second option is simple - let my kids know that love is love, people can like whatever is in their hearts, and no matter what, I will love them.
Now, I don't really believe that my sons are transgender and/or gay. They are 4 and 5, they are just figuring out how to dress themselves, they have many years to figure out who they are as people. I do, however, believe that if they turn out to be gay they should know that their father and I are totally fine with it.
I just don't know how to do that when as a country there are so many people breeding hate and discrimination. It baffles me as to what the supreme court is even doing right now. Why on earth does anyone care who marries each other? If you don't believe in gay marriage, you probably shouldn't marry a gay person; but why are you trying to stop others from getting married?
Love is love.
It is simple enough of a concept for my 4 year old to understand.
1. I'm a Christian. I believe that Jesus was the son of God, and died to save me from my sins.
2. I fully support equality for all people to marry whom ever they choose.
I believe those two statements go hand in hand. Without going into a sermon, I will just say this. To me being a Christian is all about living your life to reflect the love and character that Jesus showed during his time on earth. I'm no Biblical scholar, but I'm pretty sure Jesus never held a rally with signs that read "God hates Fags"! I'm also pretty sure that in all accounts of Jesus's life he acted with nothing but love for all people he met that were not like him.
But this post isn't about my religious beliefs, it is about my sons.
Meet Peter.Peter is 5 years old, he loves dinosaurs, dragons, princess movies and My Little Ponies. A week ago we had the following conversation.
Peter - Mom, I have to tell you something, but I'm afraid you won't believe me.
Me - What is it?
Peter - I think I was born a girl but when I was a tiny baby I was sleeping and someone put a boy costume on me.
Me - Why do you think that?
Peter - Because I really like "girl" stuff. Like princesses and My Little Ponies and other boys don't like those things.
Me - Can you tell me what makes a boy a boy and a girl a girl? Like how do you and Campbell look different?
Peter - What we have in our underwear.
Me - Right, so the way our bodies look tell us if we are a boy or a girl, and the things we like tell us what kind of person we are. Mommy really likes hockey, but I am a girl. And Daddy grew his hair long, but he is a boy. There isn't "boy" things and "girl" things, there are just things that people like.
Now, meet Aaron. Aaron is 4, he loves race cars, fire trucks, video games and wants to marry his best friend Trey. He told us this about 2 years ago, when he deducted that:
1. Trey was his best friend
2. He loved Trey
3. He wanted to spend all his time with Trey.
Those sound like the best reasons ever to get married in my opinion.
As a parent I have a profound ability to do one of two things with these two situations.
1. Let my son's know the harsh truth that we need to stick with outdated social norms. Girls must marry boys, boys must play with cars and trucks.
That always turns out great, right? How many kids get that reaction from their parents? How many then stop communicating their feelings, become emotionally scared, and grow up thinking they were born "wrong" because of what or who they like?
My second option is simple - let my kids know that love is love, people can like whatever is in their hearts, and no matter what, I will love them.
Now, I don't really believe that my sons are transgender and/or gay. They are 4 and 5, they are just figuring out how to dress themselves, they have many years to figure out who they are as people. I do, however, believe that if they turn out to be gay they should know that their father and I are totally fine with it.
I just don't know how to do that when as a country there are so many people breeding hate and discrimination. It baffles me as to what the supreme court is even doing right now. Why on earth does anyone care who marries each other? If you don't believe in gay marriage, you probably shouldn't marry a gay person; but why are you trying to stop others from getting married?
Love is love.
It is simple enough of a concept for my 4 year old to understand.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Confidence
I think I've said before that my kids have some crazy awesome self confidence. I am not really sure what I did right to make them so self assured, but I'm glad I did it.
Although, it is sort getting out of control. Take this morning. Aaron brought me a picture he had drawn of the whole family.
Me - aww, thanks Aaron, you're so cute to make this for me!
Aaron - um, excuse me, I'm not cute. I'm totally awesome.
Me - haha, ok Aaron, you're awesome.
Then I went back to cooking their breakfast. Not two minutes later I hear Peter singing in the living room to Campbell and Steven. Aaron was sitting six feet away coloring again, seemingly not paying attention to his siblings.
Peter - if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Aaron - if you're Aaron and you know it, just be awesome.
Although, it is sort getting out of control. Take this morning. Aaron brought me a picture he had drawn of the whole family.
Me - aww, thanks Aaron, you're so cute to make this for me!
Aaron - um, excuse me, I'm not cute. I'm totally awesome.
Me - haha, ok Aaron, you're awesome.
Then I went back to cooking their breakfast. Not two minutes later I hear Peter singing in the living room to Campbell and Steven. Aaron was sitting six feet away coloring again, seemingly not paying attention to his siblings.
Peter - if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Aaron - if you're Aaron and you know it, just be awesome.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Tech Savvy
My kids are totally tech savvy. At 5 and 4 years old the boys can navigate to their web games on the computer, turn on and play the TV, DVD player, Wii and DS by themselves and sometimes even correct me on how to use an iPhone.
It is super annoying because now they try to use their devices without permission. However, we've been working on that and today the boys asked if they could watch a The Grinch Movie with Jim Carrey after school. We have that movie on VHS and our only VHS player is in their room. I told them it was fine and sent them on their way up to their room.
Fifteen minutes later I realized that I didn't hear the movie playing over the baby monitor so I headed upstairs to check on them. Peter and Aaron were both sitting in their bed staring at a blank TV.
Me - What are you two doing?
Aaron - We were waiting for you.
Me - I told you it was ok, you don't have to wait for me.
Peter - We can't watch without you.
Me - Oh, are their scary parts? Do you want me to watch it with you?
Aaron - No. We need you to turn it on.
Peter - Yeah, our TV doesn't have a remote so we don't know how to turn it on.
Aaron - And we don't know how to load those kinds of DVDs.
Apparently they are 2013 tech savvy, but 1993 tech stupid.
It is super annoying because now they try to use their devices without permission. However, we've been working on that and today the boys asked if they could watch a The Grinch Movie with Jim Carrey after school. We have that movie on VHS and our only VHS player is in their room. I told them it was fine and sent them on their way up to their room.
Fifteen minutes later I realized that I didn't hear the movie playing over the baby monitor so I headed upstairs to check on them. Peter and Aaron were both sitting in their bed staring at a blank TV.
Me - What are you two doing?
Aaron - We were waiting for you.
Me - I told you it was ok, you don't have to wait for me.
Peter - We can't watch without you.
Me - Oh, are their scary parts? Do you want me to watch it with you?
Aaron - No. We need you to turn it on.
Peter - Yeah, our TV doesn't have a remote so we don't know how to turn it on.
Aaron - And we don't know how to load those kinds of DVDs.
Apparently they are 2013 tech savvy, but 1993 tech stupid.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Peek-a-boo
I am frequently asked why we have so many kids. You know because I am not Mormon or Catholic so it's apparently confusing to people as to why I would voluntarily have four kids.
The short answer is this - it is what I wanted when I was a kid. I was super jealous of my best friend growing up. She was the youngest of four and I wanted so badly to be part of their family (they would all tell you that I still try to weasel my way in).
I've just always thought there was something so cool about the dynamics of large families. The constant bickering and unconditional love. Having a team of people to protect you at school or entertain you at home.
Then I became a mom of four, and holy cow is it hard work. Everyday I feel like my head is going to explode and every night I fall into bed like I ran a marathon that day.
There are moments when I honestly wonder what I got myself into and question my decision to have 4 babies in 5 years. And that's typically when something like the following sequence of photos happens and I know it is all worth it.
I give you Campbell playing peek-a-boo with Steven this morning.
The short answer is this - it is what I wanted when I was a kid. I was super jealous of my best friend growing up. She was the youngest of four and I wanted so badly to be part of their family (they would all tell you that I still try to weasel my way in).
I've just always thought there was something so cool about the dynamics of large families. The constant bickering and unconditional love. Having a team of people to protect you at school or entertain you at home.
Then I became a mom of four, and holy cow is it hard work. Everyday I feel like my head is going to explode and every night I fall into bed like I ran a marathon that day.
There are moments when I honestly wonder what I got myself into and question my decision to have 4 babies in 5 years. And that's typically when something like the following sequence of photos happens and I know it is all worth it.
I give you Campbell playing peek-a-boo with Steven this morning.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
So I Almost Burned the House Down Today
Let me just start this off by informing you that I am not on top of my game today (even more not on my game than usual I should say). I woke up this morning with a raging sinus headache, a horse voice and sore throat. It is Monday, so Peter has a half day, which means I have a fuller day. And it was cold and rainy. And Brett worked late. Perfect storm.
But really all those things were not to blame for me almost burning the house down. The real reason is because we don't have a pantry. I dream of the day when we own a house with a pantry. That day will be magical. That day seems so far away right now. Until then, this is my "pantry" - stacked wooden crates in the corner of my dining room.
Looks amazing right? That isn't actually the annoying part. Campbell is. She is an absolute piglet who wants to eat at all times, and when food is visible she screams for it. Her favorite thing to do is pick up that Utz container in the bottom left of the photo and bring it to me yelling - SNACK!!!
The container isn't actually filled with Utz pretzel Sticks - it is full of snack size zip lock bags that I prepackaged with snacks to make packing lunches easier. I HAD three of these snack tubs filled.
Many evenings when I am cooking dinner she will bring me this giant snack tub screaming for a snack because she couldn't possibly wait five minutes for me to finish cooking. It turns into her in tears at my feet and 80% of the items from my "pantry" on the kitchen counters because I take them from her and put them where she can't reach. It is super fun.
This evening I finished cooking and sat down to eat with the kids. Then I noticed a smell. For whatever reason I ignored it. I was in the middle of nursing the baby, attempting to assist Campbell with using a fork to eat rice while also trying to get a little food in my own mouth; so I guess I didn't feel like I had time for one more thing.
Then the smell turned into black smoke bellowing from the kitchen.
I dart into the kitchen and find that one of the snack tubs had been placed on a burner that I had been using and not only was hot, but it was also still on. The entire bottom quarter of the tub was melted into the stove, snacks on fire, smoke everywhere.
Me - EVERYONE RUN!
My older three kids ran out the front door coughing, realized it was raining, ran back in, there was a furious scramble for shoes and umbrellas as I turned the burner off and ran the snack tub outside.
This was around the time that Brett arrived home. Now, Brett is used to coming home to a little nonsense - we do have four kids under 6 years old - but this was a little much even for our house.
We stood outside in the rain until the house was enterable (I can't believe that was a real word) again. I did run inside to grab plates of food that hadn't been finished. We all stood together finishing our plates of dinner in the rain like normal people. I can only imagine what people driving by thought.
Here is an after photo of my stove. The photo actually doesn't do the damage justice, because most of the plastic is still liquid at this point and thus clear.
But really all those things were not to blame for me almost burning the house down. The real reason is because we don't have a pantry. I dream of the day when we own a house with a pantry. That day will be magical. That day seems so far away right now. Until then, this is my "pantry" - stacked wooden crates in the corner of my dining room.
Looks amazing right? That isn't actually the annoying part. Campbell is. She is an absolute piglet who wants to eat at all times, and when food is visible she screams for it. Her favorite thing to do is pick up that Utz container in the bottom left of the photo and bring it to me yelling - SNACK!!!
The container isn't actually filled with Utz pretzel Sticks - it is full of snack size zip lock bags that I prepackaged with snacks to make packing lunches easier. I HAD three of these snack tubs filled.
Many evenings when I am cooking dinner she will bring me this giant snack tub screaming for a snack because she couldn't possibly wait five minutes for me to finish cooking. It turns into her in tears at my feet and 80% of the items from my "pantry" on the kitchen counters because I take them from her and put them where she can't reach. It is super fun.
This evening I finished cooking and sat down to eat with the kids. Then I noticed a smell. For whatever reason I ignored it. I was in the middle of nursing the baby, attempting to assist Campbell with using a fork to eat rice while also trying to get a little food in my own mouth; so I guess I didn't feel like I had time for one more thing.
Then the smell turned into black smoke bellowing from the kitchen.
I dart into the kitchen and find that one of the snack tubs had been placed on a burner that I had been using and not only was hot, but it was also still on. The entire bottom quarter of the tub was melted into the stove, snacks on fire, smoke everywhere.
Me - EVERYONE RUN!
My older three kids ran out the front door coughing, realized it was raining, ran back in, there was a furious scramble for shoes and umbrellas as I turned the burner off and ran the snack tub outside.
This was around the time that Brett arrived home. Now, Brett is used to coming home to a little nonsense - we do have four kids under 6 years old - but this was a little much even for our house.
We stood outside in the rain until the house was enterable (I can't believe that was a real word) again. I did run inside to grab plates of food that hadn't been finished. We all stood together finishing our plates of dinner in the rain like normal people. I can only imagine what people driving by thought.
Here is an after photo of my stove. The photo actually doesn't do the damage justice, because most of the plastic is still liquid at this point and thus clear.
Once we re-entered the house we rushed the kids into a hot bath (to warm them up after the rain I made them stand in to eat their dinner) with fans blowing the harsh cancer smell away from their rooms.
I plan to enter this post in a mother of the year competition. I am a shoe in for the winner.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Happy St. Patty's Day
I love magic. Not like David Blaine "magic" - kid magic. The magic of Christmas morning, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. The Internet has been an amazing tool in my quest to make my kid's special events magical.
After going through tons of fun ideas from Pinterest, the Tooth Fairy brought this dollar (dusted with "fairy dust") and miniature note for Peter's first lost tooth.
St. Patrick's Day was never something I thought of as magical (except for maybe 6 years ago when I got married on St. Patty's), but then Peter came home from school with a "leprechaun catcher".
He is SUPER excited about the potential of catching a leprechaun. Apparently the fake pot of gold will lure a leprechaun. Kind of creepy.
Then a friend from high school posted a photo of "leprechaun foot prints" in her classroom and I got an idea.
When the kids wake up tomorrow and come downstairs, they will find a set of little green leprechaun foot prints going from our front door to the "leprechaun catcher". Magic.
After going through tons of fun ideas from Pinterest, the Tooth Fairy brought this dollar (dusted with "fairy dust") and miniature note for Peter's first lost tooth.
St. Patrick's Day was never something I thought of as magical (except for maybe 6 years ago when I got married on St. Patty's), but then Peter came home from school with a "leprechaun catcher".
He is SUPER excited about the potential of catching a leprechaun. Apparently the fake pot of gold will lure a leprechaun. Kind of creepy.
Then a friend from high school posted a photo of "leprechaun foot prints" in her classroom and I got an idea.
When the kids wake up tomorrow and come downstairs, they will find a set of little green leprechaun foot prints going from our front door to the "leprechaun catcher". Magic.
Pin-spired - Fruit Loop Rainbow
This afternoon we did another Pinterest inspired craft.
The boys made perfect rainbows, while Campbell enjoyed eating 3 Fruit Loops for every 1 she stuck on her paper.
It was super simple and was very little prep on my part (always a good thing). Definitely a good Spring time or St. Patrick's Day craft!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Baby
My mom came over tonight and the following conversation took place.
Aaron - Grammie, do you want a baby?
My mom - What do you mean?
Aaron - You can grow a baby in your belly for a long time and when it's big enough the doctor cuts him out.
My mom - I already did that!
Peter - She did it twice, Aaron.
My mom - That's right.
Aaron - Who was your first baby? Mommy or Aunt K?
My Mom - Your mommy was my first baby.
Peter - And that was a LOOOOOOOOONG time ago.
Aaron - Grammie, do you want a baby?
My mom - What do you mean?
Aaron - You can grow a baby in your belly for a long time and when it's big enough the doctor cuts him out.
My mom - I already did that!
Peter - She did it twice, Aaron.
My mom - That's right.
Aaron - Who was your first baby? Mommy or Aunt K?
My Mom - Your mommy was my first baby.
Peter - And that was a LOOOOOOOOONG time ago.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Imaginary Friends
My kids have been sick so we have been doing a whole lot of TV, movies and video games this week. This afternoon I was sitting next to Aaron playing on my phone while he watched Sesame Street.
Aaron - what are you playing on your phone?
Me - Words with Friends.
Aaron - um, Mom??? There are no friends here. I think you're just playing Words by yourself.
Aaron - what are you playing on your phone?
Me - Words with Friends.
Aaron - um, Mom??? There are no friends here. I think you're just playing Words by yourself.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Painful
This morning Aaron tripped in the hallway and then came running into our room screaming.
Aaron - Mom! Dad! I broke a bone!
Brett and I laughed (because we are good parents)
Brett - Aaron, if you broke a bone you would know it. You wouldn't be able to walk and you'd be screaming. A broken bone is the worst pain you could possibly be in.
Me - Oh really Brett, have you had a baby?
Brett - Have you broken a bone?
Me - Yes, I broke my elbow.
Brett - So what was more painful? A broken bone or being in labor?
Me - Kidney stones.
Aaron - Mom! Dad! I broke a bone!
Brett and I laughed (because we are good parents)
Brett - Aaron, if you broke a bone you would know it. You wouldn't be able to walk and you'd be screaming. A broken bone is the worst pain you could possibly be in.
Me - Oh really Brett, have you had a baby?
Brett - Have you broken a bone?
Me - Yes, I broke my elbow.
Brett - So what was more painful? A broken bone or being in labor?
Me - Kidney stones.
Honesty
Peter is a very honest child, almost to a fault.
For example, on Thursday when I pick him up from school the first thing out of his mouth was:
Peter - Mom, I have bad news. I had a timeout today, but I don't want to tell you what I did because I'll get in more trouble.
Me - you need to tell me what you did. I might be disappointed but I will not put you in time out for a second time.
Peter - I stole an Oreo from Marty and ate it.
Although I wasn't happy about the theft, I had to laugh at his honesty and remorse.
The next morning, Aaron came into my room to let me know Peter was sick and wouldn't get out of bed.
I went into their room to investigate and found Aaron's description to be accurate, then just about lost it when Peter told me what happened.
Peter - Mom I'm too sick to go to school today I have a fever and a sore throat and a cough. I think this is what happens to little boys to steal Oreos.
For example, on Thursday when I pick him up from school the first thing out of his mouth was:
Peter - Mom, I have bad news. I had a timeout today, but I don't want to tell you what I did because I'll get in more trouble.
Me - you need to tell me what you did. I might be disappointed but I will not put you in time out for a second time.
Peter - I stole an Oreo from Marty and ate it.
Although I wasn't happy about the theft, I had to laugh at his honesty and remorse.
The next morning, Aaron came into my room to let me know Peter was sick and wouldn't get out of bed.
I went into their room to investigate and found Aaron's description to be accurate, then just about lost it when Peter told me what happened.
Peter - Mom I'm too sick to go to school today I have a fever and a sore throat and a cough. I think this is what happens to little boys to steal Oreos.
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