The Abyss

Everyone has one, right?? That one place in the house that things disappear into and never seem to be found again. It might be the dryer, the junk drawer, an entire room (or rooms - I've seen it happen), or, in my case, a hole in the floor. Technically, I guess it's really not a hole in the floor - it's a heating vent without a cover. You know - the old "take the baseboards off to paint the room and replace them later" trick. But it's been almost 2 years now....gotta love it!

With 3 little monkeys, many things have disappeared down into our abyss. I know there's several balls down there and matchbox cars I couldn't reach. Probably lots of other interesting items that Mark will find when he opens the duct from the basement crawl space. The other day, I had noticed that the matchbox car case was empty and I couldn't seem to find more than 1 or 2 cars lying around. Ryan led me to the abyss and said, "Down here, Mom." Notice the MOM, not MOMMY, btw.

Well, I stuck my hand down there and proceeded to pull out 18, yes 18!, cars! No wonder I couldn't find any! Ryan thought this was so funny when I kept reaching down and bringing up another handful. I actually think there's a few more there that I just couldn't reach. I was afraid that my arm was going to get stuck in the vent ~ and that would be a whole other story!

I guess I know where to start looking the next time something goes missing around here...

Saturday Soccer

Evan started playing soccer for the first time this year. He's on the 4 - 5 year old team at our Y. Needless to say, it's been interesting....

The first game, he kept running off the field in tears. The second game, he didn't cry, but he held back from the game even though he was IN the game. The third game, he got to kick the ball a few times, but didn't really go after the ball. When he did kick the ball, he was so excited, he turned to us cheering on the sidelines with this HUGE smile on his face and gave us a thumbs up. Mind you, this was while he was still running and he ran into a fellow teammate! Got that one on video.

Writing this down, it's kind of funny to see the natural progression of his playing. It seems like he's the only one on his team that's never played before. The girls especially are quite aggressive and are typically the ones scoring the goals for his team.

Life on the sidelines is a trip and a half. The games are usually at 10 or 11 am. so that means we're either in the middle of Nathan's naptime or approaching lunch for everyone. Inevitably, someone wants to get out of the stroller, someone's crying, someone's hungry, someone's moody, someone's thirsty.....you get the point. Keeping everyone happy while still trying to cheer Evan on is a tough job that I don't particularly like, but I guess it's worth it to see Evan having fun.

I almost wanted to leave Ryan in the stroller basket predicament that he got himself into just to keep him contained, but I figured the other parents/spectators might think I was horrible.

Here's to Saturday morning soccer games! (How many more weeks are there????)

You know you've lost complete control when...

...your 4 year old cuts your 2 year old's hair and you don't think it looks half bad.

...you decide it's a good idea (trust me, it wasn't) to take all 3 children to a lunch at church on Sunday solo (i.e. without hubby). NUTSO!

...you have to brace yourself every time you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Hey, there's more than one definition of the word control.

...your elastic headband that you've been looking for has suddenly turned up, only to find it's been repurposed into a slingshot. "Mommy, watch how far it goes!"

...you visit the dentist like a good little patient at your regular 6 month check-up only to be told by the dental hygenist to lay off the homemade sweetened iced tea (my only, o.k., not my only, my favorite, vice). She also told me I should join a mom's club - DO I LOOK THAT DESPERATE??? This coming from a woman who also told me that her 3 and 4 year old girls go to school 4 days/week and she's looking to add the 5th day because she can't handle them....um....maybe she needs the mom's club....

...you're arguing with your 2 year old about why he can't have a "Big Boy Cup" anymore. (Mommy's really, really tired of cleaning up spilled milk, juice, propel, water, etc.)

...you're driving in the car, YELLING to the cherubs in the back seats, "STOP YELLING!!!" I know, I know, probably not the most effective way to get them to listen, but hey, I was driving.

...you come downstairs for the second day in a row to find your 4 year old and 2 year old standing on top of the antique sewing machine and jumping onto the couch, stripped of its pillows (they were on the floor - hey, I guess they were trying to be safe). Luckily, the only thing that was broken was a picture frame they threw off the sewing machine prior to using it as a launching pad.

...your 10 month old is already throwing food off his highchair tray and onto the floor.

...your feet are sticking to the kitchen floor. (I can't imagine why...)

One of the mentor moms in my MOPS group said someone once told her that her life wouldn't feel "normal" until her youngest was 3. I hope she's right....

Binky Junky

That's all I have to say about that....

Party in My Tummy

Tonight at dinner, Evan was talking to his plate, saying, "Wanna come?" I didn't realize he was talking to his food until I heard, "O.K., let's go to the party in my tummy!" and then saw him take a big bite. SMILE.

After dinner, Evan was standing at the doorway in the kitchen eating his popsicle. The other two were still strapped into their seats. I was running around trying to clean up when I overheard, "So, fellas, what are we going to do tonight? Sleep?" Not only does Evan say this with a completely straight face, but he's got his legs crossed and he's leaning over to one side, like Mr. Casual. HYSTERICAL.

I don't know if Ryan answered him or not - I know Nathan didn't - but I hope the answer was a resounding YES! Or in Ryan-speak, Eh...

Whew!

Well, the first day of school was a rousing success! Evan got up, ate, got dressed on his own. We drove to school and he wore his "Cars" backpack while we waited outside the classroom door with all the other anxious kids and parents. Evan was really excited and smiley. We took a bunch of pictures, including one in front of his cubby. He didn't want to get a picture with his friend, Hannah from church, so I took one of Hannah and her mom, Tamara. Everything was going smoothly...until I tried to leave. He started crying and of course, even though I tried really hard not to, that made me cry, too. Mrs. Mellinger picked him up and hugged him as I was leaving. It was one of the hardest things for me to walk out the door and leave him.

When I went to pick him up....he was all smiles again. He LOVED it! He played outside, colored a picture, learned some new songs, sat next to his friend, Hannah, from church, had yogurt for a snack - "one girl didn't like her yogurt, mom." Today when I dropped him off, he gave me a hug and kiss, said goodbye and as I was walking out the door, he smiled and blew me a kiss. So I guess that means he likes it :)

Bringing Home the Moon

Tomorrow is a REALLY BIG day for Evan. Tomorrow he begins preschool 3 days/week. I cannot believe my little guy is going to school - I guess it's going to be a really big day for me too! We went last Tuesday to the "sneak-a-peek" to see his classroom and meet his teacher. He got to color a picture of himself while we were there and of course, I had to take a picture...he's so cute, isn't he?

He seems to be pretty excited about tomorrow, but I'm a little nervous about how he'll react to mom leaving. I'm hoping he'll be fine, but sometimes he gets shy in new situations (for about 5 minutes!). When Mark & I went to Open House last week, Evan's teacher, Mrs. Mellinger, shared with the parents all the things that they'll be doing as a class. Evan will be presenting his poster about himself (his 1st homework assignment) and sharing lots of other things in front of his classmates. Just thinking about this made me kind of sad...my little boy is going to be "on his own" in these situations and I won't be there to see him shine. Don't get me wrong...I am SO excited that he's going to be learning new things and having new experiences but it's bittersweet because it means that the separation from mommy & daddy and the blossoming into his own person is already beginning.

Just last week, on the way home from Grandma & Pop-Pop "with no beard & with no pool"(this is truly how he identifies the grandparents) 's house and there was a full moon. I was driving and Evan & Ryan were talking about the moon in the back seat - always amusing to just listen in to their conversations. Evan all of a sudden says to me, "Mom, we're bringing home the moon." I laughed and agreed with him. It brought back so many memories for me - coming home from my grandparents house and watching the moon seemingly follow us all the way from their house to ours. I always thought it was so amazing that the moon would follow US! I love that Evan thinks the same thing - makes me marvel at his innocence and imagination. I hope that my little boy can keep these little boy thoughts for as long as possible, even though he is starting school. We'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!