The Deep Dark Basement

When we moved into our house we were excited to have more space. Some of that space being the basement, unfinished with lots of possibility. I grew up with an unfinished basement that lent itself to hours upon hours of imaginary fun. I believe that is where I got my best teacher training, bossing my brother and sister around. It is where I built houses and was mom to my sister and dog owner of my brother. Sometimes as I walk in from the mailbox and look at our "Real" house I think...I am a real mom now. This isn't just pretend. Scary! I had those same feelings when I would walk down the halls of school and glance into a classroom and see a friend teaching...that is me. So when I took time off from teaching and then ended up resigning I brought home all my teaching stuff. We boxed it all up and put it in the basement and in the last two years I have found myself going down to search for the materials to do some off the wall project. Boxes would be ripped open, they would tip over, and let's just say...the pile of boxes became just a pile of crap! Most of the stuff Ed doesn't even understand.

Charley has been going to friends houses where they have gorgeous finished basements. He wants to make our basement like Elly's. No spiders, places to put his toys...etc. We are not going to finish our basement for a long time. However, we do like the idea of having a big room down there where our BOYS can run around, kick a ball, play a little hockey, do some crafts, and have fun. So finishing it enough so that it is safe, clean, and spider free...would be great.

So this weekend I descended into the deep and went through all my school stuff and reboxed it up, trashed some, boxed some to give to teacher friends, and piled some up to sell. I in no way want to get rid of my school stuff because it is precious. OH SO PRECIOUS! I have accumulated it from serious garage sale-ing. I have spent more than my share of personal money on materials that would make my classroom a place children would want to learn. I have invested in books that made me a better teacher. And I WILL GO BACK!

So I write this to the very few people who have journeyed into our basement and witnessed "THE PILE". I write this to my boys! I write this to my husband. I hope by the end of April that my crap will be organized and piled neatly in a different area so that this summer we can work on making that half of our basement a BOYS play area. Nothing fancy...some drywall, a few posters....and maybe some sort of ceiling. And next winter when the MN winter arrives we will have another place to play! Because playing is our life right now!

Happy 30th Birthday Uncle Greg / Brother Greg!

I have a brother.
His feet used to disturb me...they probably still would.
My sister used to earn money sitting in between us in the car.
Growing up he used to wear a blue robe cinched tightly over his skinny body when he woke up in the morning.
He devours cereal...any kind.
He no longer eats dairy but used to have a giant bowl of ice cream before bed.
His lifestyle helps make our world a better place.
I learn from him.
He finds my boys entertaining and uses the word riot frequently when with them.
Even though people think we live close here in MN - we really don't see each other enough.
He will be a doctor this spring.
He took his first official teaching job recently and it will be sad to have him move to Flint, MI but good for him! New challenges!
He is a passionate person who knows how to live life and have a great time.
He understands when his sister doesn't get a card there on time...it will be there soon.
Happy birthday little brother! You are now in the 30's....hope today wasn't too tough! 30 is the new 20...isn't it!

A present and a reminder to live in the present

I enjoy reading other mommy blogs and books on being a mom to motivate me, give me perspective, and remind me to appreciate the ups and downs of this journey. One of the blogs I read is dooce.com. Her blog can sometimes be in your face. But I love it. She just came out with a book and she had a book thing at a book store near my sister-in-laws house near Chicago. I pointed out this blog to her and she noticed this book gig by her house. And guess what! She went, she listened to Heather read a passage from the book, speak of her experience, and then she got in line, bought a book and had it signed To Sarah! It was a really thoughtful thing. It was one of the most thoughtful things someone has done for me in a long time. It was a surprise and it totally made my day. Becca could ask my mom about what I carried around the rest of that day. I just kept picking it up and saying, "I can't believe she thought of me and got it signed for me!" So thank you Becca. I am truly enjoying the book. It is great. And I will pass it along to Becca and my sister soon!

I have also been reading another book, What Every Mom Needs by Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall, that had a few quotes in it that hit home. I find myself struggling lately with Charley. The question he asks most often is, "Will you play with me?" He asks it so often that it kind of drives me nuts. If he would come and ask me, "mom, wanna play ____?" It would not be so much of a whine but an invitation. He is at a tough age. He wants to play pretend which is awesome but it is hard as his mama to do this all the time.
Play a game - I am in!
Do an art project - yes!
Puzzle - for sure!
Build something - heck ya!
Race some cars - bring it on!
But play house....play spy....play camping....not so much. Sorry buddy. Part of the problem is that when I try to do these things I don't get it right and I am told how to play it right and that is hard.

I also struggle finding time to get the laundry done, house picked up, meals made, and other little jobs done. This book reminded me that some days, it isn't worth worrying about the cleaning, laundry, and little things. If Ed gets home and the house looks a little dismantled and I haven't showered - I shouldn't stress. Instead I know he will know that his boys had a great day.

The quotes from the book that struck me on pages 168 and 169:

"These are the best days of your life. Enjoy them because they pass to quickly." This stage of mothering young children is a stage. It only feels like an era. And it will pass. It will not last forever. It will end one day. When we accept the myth that the best we can do is simply, "grin and bear it", we miss out on what mothering can mean. While we are wishing ourselves the next season, we miss the good stuff that is happening right now.....

This week we have the opportunity to get on the floor and build block towers. This is the season when you are invited to read, to play, to imagine, to dream! Your lap is the "favorite-est place to be." Your smile is more valuable than money. Your words mean more than those on the television, in a magazine, or in a classroom. Savor the moments of this season that will never come around again.

We tend to keep waiting for life to get better when, really, it just gets different. If the grass looks greener on the other side of your fence, it may be because you're not investing your time and energy in your own grass. Live in the present!"

So this week my goal is to be patient and take in the moments that we journey through. And realize that there is no one else in the world but my two little guys who think I make the world go round. Heck, I head out to the mailbox to get the mail and Henry watches me go out the door, and he panics and starts to cry, and makes his way to the door. By the time I get the mail and turn around and head back he is now watching me closely. And as he realizes that I have returned from my 20 second journey to the mailbox his face explodes into a smile and he squeals with delight! I am lucky to be loved by these two little gentlemen. And I hope they know how much I love them.

If I close my eyes....

and make a wish....

Will this gorgeous white stuff go away and let spring be here already!

You know you are a parent when....

it isn't even 9 am and you are coming inside from playing out in the snow...

Henry is 15 Months Old

Henry is now 15 months old. He continues to amaze us as he has quickened his walking to an almost run. My heart races as he races across the room to dive into my lap. I am waiting for the first bang up that is going to bring the gushing bleed that head wounds seem to result in. He is a picky eater - loves his carbs but won't touch things that are not the right texture. He is definitely communicating more and more. When we were visiting my mom last week it really seemed to pick up. My mom talked to Henry constantly and by the end of the week he would walk right up to her to tell her things. It was adorable. I am trying to follow her great example. He seems to say, Mama (of course), da (for dad), puppy, moo,....but the only one that is for sure is mama right now. He signs more, milk, please, and thank you. Henry sleeps through the night wonderfully these days. He goes down for naps and bedtime so peacefully. He is still taking two good naps and goes to bed from 7 pm until 7 am..if we are lucky. But anytime after 6am is normal. He likes to cuddle with mama before he fully wakes up. He is becoming a great helper. He puts clothes in the hamper, and will pick up toys and put them in bins when asked. His favorite treat is to chew on the upper right hand corner of his mini board books. I have thrown out two so far because they are so chewed. He knows he isn't supposed to do this and will actually hide behind the kitchen set thinking I don't see him. His facial expressions are hilarious and he is getting good at holding his own when it comes to wrestling with his big brother.

He is getting so big, so fast. Here are a few shots from the last two days. I put this green outfit on because I was worried it wouldn't fit if the snow continues to fall. So we pretended it was spring today inside our house.

Busy boys on a Saturday

Henry was busy getting into trouble. His favorite thing to do these days is climb up onto the couches and hang out up there. He gets so excited and his personality exudes the I AM KING - HERE ME ROAR attitude. Meanwhile, big brother Charley began coloring eggs. We had so much fun with the first twelve that daddy took Charley to get two more dozen that we will do tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Save the Easter Bunny Mission!

Charley saved the Easter Bunny this morning! He was stuck on an island...surrounded by alligators and he needed to cross the river. Charley's mission...to build a bridge so that Easter Bunny could get to the basket of eggs.

Mission accomplished!

#1 April Fools Joke I Experienced

Thanks to Sherry I didn't get to eat a scrumptious chocolate brownie...instead when we lifted off the tinfoil on this plate there were these....

I am the meanest mama in the world!

That is what Henry would be shrieking right now if he could. I just had to pry the newspaper from his hands and dig a huge chunk out of his mouth! What! He at lunch 45 minutes ago! When he saw me coming at him he turned and waddled as close to a run as possible. And now he stands and points at the top of the kitchen table and cries big crocodile tears.... because that is where the rest of the newspaper sits. Poor guy! What a mean mom - not letting him devour the coupon section!