An Update...

Not much to say except that everyone here remains healthy for 24 hours now. It might be a new record. We even made it to Costco for our fabulous Friday night dinner of churro and cheese pizza (and to think I won the biggest loser competition this week...). We used to just get the cheese pizza (1 slice) and share it, but Ethan has decided to start a growth spurt and is out eating me at every meal. His teacher told me he ate 4 plates worth at daycare today. Sheesh kiddo... I see large grocery bills in my future... good thing we're moving in with my parents :)!!
Lucas was in great spirits and even showed off in the car that he can "neigh" like a horse. Really loud. For a really long time. He definitely does not have attention span issues. And Ethan sang us a song he made up. Really loud. For a really long time. It waslike battle of the bands - who could be louder. Excuse me while I go hide in a quiet closet for a while.
We're trying out the gym daycare tomorrow morning - I didn't get a babysitter lined up, but since they'll be together, I think they'll do okay. Fingers crossed anyway. Hopefully Lucas will mind his manners. He got in trouble for chewing out his teacher today. Apparently she wasn't fast enough with the crackers and he just let her have it. No one knows what he actually said, but I'm sure it was bad.
My boys are charming.
Thanks for the encouragement friends! I needed it.

Shoulda Known...

Lucas woke up sick today - throwing up everywhere... Not fun. He seems better now, but Ethan is super crabby, so I'm sure it'll be soon from him. It's like a bad joke - once I start feeling in control, here we go!

I did get lots of snuggle time. And I got my certification application in the mail. So at least something got done. We even did some gymnastics in the living room. I'm finding myself much more limber than I was when Ethan used to be in gymnastics. There were lots of giggles and squeals. I like those.

I don't have much to say - except that I'm quite possibly going to bed right now, at 6:30. I can barely keep my eyes open.

3 more months. I can do this. Right?

Blue Skies

Oh these boys they make me happy! As does the sunshine, and getting things done... And people doing nice things for me - that's pretty great too!
This weeks been tough, but today was great. It didn't start great, but by the end of the day I have my application for WA certification ready to be proofed by my mama, my fingerprinting in the mail, and tired boys from playing in the sun.

Ethan spent the morning with me in 5th grade. He woke up with crusty eyes, and so got rejected (nicely) by daycare. So, I just took the afternoon off and prayed he'd do well in my room. He did. The kids loved playing with him and he enjoyed being the center of attention. He did announce to everyone that he needed to go potty and hook/unhook the tetherball 20 million times, but overall, he wasn't an issue at all. That was good. That way I only had to leave my kids for 1/2 day - much easier. And so we came home and I made great headway on all I had to get done.

And then we went to the park and Ethan learned to jump off the slide. Lucas ran all over but wouldn't slide by himself - only with Ethan or me holding on tight.

And then Lucas discovered the chapstick. Gross. I don't think I'll use it anymore. It'll probably end up in the trash anyway...

Bedtime Stories with Ethan

"Once up a time, there was an oooold steam engine. His name was Franco."

"His name was Franco?"

"Yep. Like at my party."

"He didn't have tracks and he didn't have wheels. He was a... (eyes open wide for emphasis) boat!"

"Franco was a boat? Franco from your party? What party?"

"My red party."

"When was that?"

"6 o'clock"

Sunny Sunday

Another great trip to church and the zoo. Lots of animals were out sunbathing today - it was great! Ethan was concerned about the giraffes,"That's the mommy and the daddy. They can't find their baby." He always thinks the animals can't find their babies. Too much Diego? They're always in crisis!

Lucas loved the slide - going down with Daddy anyway. It's really fast, so I said no way to a solo trip. I'm sure he'd have loved it though- quite the daredevil.
And then it was time to say bye to Daddy. It went much better this time. No screaming, no tantrums. Just a "I want to go with daddy. I wish he could stay here." I said me too, and that was that. We even had a great evening - they ate their dinner, my dinner, and everything else in the house, took baths, watched a movie, and snuggled like crazy. I couldn't be much luckier.

We also stopped at Old Navy today because I have officially grown too small for my clothes again - hooray! So i am now down to a 1 digit size (8) for the first time since the middle of college. Crazy! I'm getting oh so close to my goal - less than 7 lbs to go.

Busy week I'm sure, but I feel like I'm entering it with a peaceful state of mind. I'm sure that'll only last for about a half hour, but for now, I'm soaking it up! (and making myself dinner #2 because mine was thieved!)

accomplishments

"Daddy, you going to be here a long time?"

"No, I have to go to the airport tomorrow because I have to work on Monday."

"Oh."

"In lots of sleeps, you're going to drive to Seattle and see me and stay for a long time."

"Um, I can't stay for a long time because I have work at home. I have to shower, play games, go to daycare. I have a lot of work at home to do..."

Thanks to our friends Steve and Linda who loaned us their truck, we got to take a whole bunch of stuff to the dump today. 2 loads in all, lots of broken or damaged stuff. Ethan got to go on the 2nd trip and loved it. So much to see!

Lucas enjoyed cleaning the driveway when they got back, as well as climbing in the back of the truck with his big brother.

Other than that huge job, I baked granola bars and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, we played and played, and ate a free pizza from Domino's (came with a game we bought a while back) that was delicious. While the big boys were gone, Lucas and I had a giggle fest here at the house. I think he just soaked up that alone time with me. It's a rarity these days...

After dinner we packed up my Christmas Village. I've been collecting since I was about 7 years old - so fun to look back over it all. It's been up on the plant shelves for the last couple of years - so there was a bit of dust, but luckily Lucas and the Swiffer prevailed.

So now I am waiting for Brian to get back with a movie, popping some popcorn, and enjoying being with him, even if just for one more night!

Ethanisms....

"Mom, I don't feel good..."

"Oh yeah? What's wrong?"

"I gotta honker in my mouth."

"What's a honker?"

"You know, when you honk honk!"

At Costco, when kids hand them the receipt, draw a smiley face on the back - very sweet... Ethan gave them the receipt, they handed it back.

"Oh man, another smiley flace! Everyday a smiley. All I want is a dinosaur. No one gives me a dinosaur."

At Target, in the checkout line.

"Lucas opened this box mom."

"How did Lucas open that box? You're holding the box in the back of the cart. Lucas is in the front."

"You're right. I did it."

At home...

"Lucas broke this mom."

He shows me the exercise bike, which is now missing it's seat adjusting knob.

"How did Lucas break that? He can't unscrew it."

"Oh. I guess I did it."

"Well, where is it?"

"It's in the trash."

I commence to empty out the trash bag - at which I am now a pro. I find no knob, but I do find a sippy cup and a thermometer.

"It's not here Ethan, where is it?"

"I don't know, that was yesterday."

I think my hair is graying.