What's So Great About Tuesdays & Thursdays

I'd just like to reiterate how awesome it is for Sam to be going to school right now.

Reasons being...
1 - Grey and I get some one-on-one time. It's like he's the little sidekick that Sam used to be when he was the only one.

2 - I get to take care of some things around the house. Or rest. Really, I'd rather rest.

3 - Sometimes I take advantage of the time and exercise. Sometimes.

4 - Sam is getting exposed to a different social environment. The biggest change I can see here is that he is really learning to share better and be more kind and gentle with Grey.

He's in a class of 8, 4 boys and 4 girls.
He told me Tuesday none of the girls were there. This morning, he casually said, "I hope da gurls will be back today." Glad you feel that way, buddy, glad you feel that way.

Also, with the cutest little smile, he told me the other day that his teacher was saying he's an angel. Cuuute, cute. Either she explained what that means or he just knows it's a good thing.

Now, every morning he has school, he tells me he doesn't want to go and pitches a mini-fit.

Every time, he ends up getting excited while we're sitting in carpool. Maybe it has something to do with getting to sit up front with me...

And every day he gets back in the iVan smiling and super happy telling me what a great day he had. (Sam, remember this when your kids tell you they don't feel good and they don't want to go to school.)

Also every day, he wants me to drive up and back down this tiny little hill in the parking lot.

Kids are so interesting.

Talk About Mixed Emotions

There are lots of days around here where I feel like things are juuuust about to spin out of control.

Toys are scattered everywhere, especially under my feet, laundry is piled up all over the place, both kids are being incredibly loud, someone is crying or whining, my phone is ringing, and we're running late to get somewhere.

There are lots of days where I think, "it was so easy with one kid, I wish I had known!" (And then I think, "I'm sure I'll look back and think, it was so easy with two kids, I wish I had known!" ha.)

There are lots of days where I would give just about anything for a break...for some quiet...for a chance to empty the dishwasher completely, put away the folded clothes, work out, read.

And then came today. It's Sam's first day of school.

He's been there since 9 this morning and I pick him up in about 20 minutes. He was so excited and so was part of me. The other part of me cried like a little baby after I dropped him off.

He's old enough that we go through carpool instead of me having to lug in Grey and drop Sam off in his room. This is excellent, especially since I'll have a newborn in a couple months to add to that mix. However, it meant that I had to unbuckle, climb in the back and unbuckle Sam, all while we were waiting in the carpool line, to give him a goodbye hug and kiss.

Upon exiting the van, he hopped right out, looked at me with the slightest confused face, and headed on in. I'm sure he's having a blast.

But me? I had to go qwell my emotions with a Pumpkin Spice Latte and peruse through Target.

I vividly remember when this precious "big boy" was the tiny baby inside me. Now he talks like an adult and poops in the potty...and goes to school! Granted, it's only 2 days a week, but apparently it's a pretty big deal since I'm tearing up just typing this.



Ahem, I did get to empty the dishwasher completely. I put away a ton of laundry - including some clothes that were still in bags from our beach trip. (Shame, shame, shame.) And I got to work out. I'm even getting to blog! But I'm also kind of counting down the minutes before I go pick him up.

So how's that for mixed emotions?

The Many Uses of Diapers and Why I, Now, Keep a Roll of Paper Towels in the iVan

Dear Sam,

Today we went to meet Daddy for lunch. It was supposed to be fun, a special treat we don't do all the time. It didn't start off so well and it ended even worse.

Spilling milk all down your shirt was no fun for anyone. Sadly, I don't carry around extra clothes for you anymore so you just had to keep that one on. Also, whoever said, "Don't cry over spilled milk," obviously wasn't around a toddler, on a hot day, with dried milk on his shirt.

Ending the meal with a free Frosty was nice, even though you yelled, "Don't eat-it-all!" every time I took a bite. Way to make me feel like even more of a chunk.

However, when we got to Target (an errand we were running after lunch) and you crawled up on the center console (a no-no), picked up my very full cup of Mr. Pibb, ignored my, "No! Sam, put the drink down! Get off that! Put it dow-....", I'd say it ended badly.

I didn't react like the calm, cool, collected mom I am. Ahem.

I groaned, probably said something like, "Ohhhh Saaam. Ugh." BUT, I quickly caught myself and reassured you that it was ok, I could clean it up.

Too late.

You were completely flipping out. Full-on tears, yelling at me to clean it up and shaking those hands. I felt pretty bad thinking I made you feel like you messed up big time. No, no. You were upset because you didn't get a sip of the drink. After trying to explain 3 or 18 times that you couldn't have a sip because it all spilled, I finally just stuck you in the cart and headed inside.

I had about 4 napkins in the van. You probably don't know how much Mr. Pibb 4 napkins can soak up. The answer is not a whole lot.Now I have a roll of paper towels in there.

Thankfully, I thought to use these to catch the Pibb that was spilling onto the floor.

Do you still want a sip?

I love you (even more than clean, dry carpet in the iVan AND Mr. Pibb),

Mom

To North Carolina and Back in 2 1/2 Days

Wanna try something tiring? Take an 800 mile roadtrip, with these two precious babes,



in 2 1/2 days, sleep in adjoining rooms, stay at a house with more breakable antiques than you can count...oh, and be pregnant.

We took a trip to North Carolina last weekend to see grandparents, meet Brad and Lindsey's (our cousins) new baby, Shiloh, and say "see you later" to those same cousins who are headed to Uruguay in 13 days!

Really, it wasn't too bad. Grey sleeps like a champ in the car and when he's not sleeping, he's pretty content anyway. Sam is content for quite a while watching his DVD player, eating, or identifying each and every truck or contruction vehicle we see on the interstate.

It was great to see our grandparents and let the kids have some more great-grandparent time.


We were thankful to get to say "see you later" to Brad, Lindsey and Shiloh. And it was fun letting the kids, well really Sam, do some of the stuff that my sisters and I have such great memories of from our trips to visit our grandparents.

We went to the barn to feed the cows,


ate at Bridges BBQ,



and played on the spiral staircase. I'm not sure why, but that staircase provided hours of entertainment for us growing up.



And for the record, the extra space the iVan provided was wonderful. Bob, maybe I'm coming around. Maybe.

iVan

I woke up early Saturday morning to Bob stirring and eventually getting out of bed around 6. 6 a.m. On Saturday! Needless to say, I did not get up then.

I did end up getting up around 8:00 and that's because Bob couldn't contain his excitement. Excitement about what you may wonder. About going to look at a minivan.

We had planned on going to Panera, part of our Saturday routine, then running a few other errands. Those other errands quickly became going to look at this van.

The rest of the day went a lot like this:
Cinnamon Crunch Bagel, French Toast bagel, hazelnut cream cheese, Dr. Pepper and coffee.
Talk about buying a minivan.
Talk about missions.
Talk about spending money....on a minivan.
Talk about missions.
Talk about how we're going to need a minivan in about 6 months.
Pretty day, minus the pollen. Long drive.
Passed one of these.
Got swarmed by used car salesmen.
Checked out the minivan.
Was shocked at how forward the little Asian lady was who pratically got in the van while we were very obviously checking it out.
Test drive.
Awkward conversation with salesman.
Almost walked out without further discussion when salesman came back with first number.
All the back and forth you expect at a car dealership.
Held our ground. (Super easy when you honestly do not want to buy the vehicle.)
Got deal down to a number we were comfortable with discussing.
Left the dealership.
Saw this again. (Guess that guy was just driving up and down the same stretch of road all day.)
Decided to buy the van.
Went to decorate for a baby shower.
Cut grass. Motorcycle ride.
Traded in Altima.
Got a ticket to the Indy Race.
Got keys to the minivan.
Became part of a not-so-elite club of proud "iVan" owners.