Mid-winter SUN and FUN

The forecast for today was SUN and mid-50's which meant it was time to pack some snacks & head out for an "urban hike" of sorts. Today's destination was Mercer Slough- a place I've been wanting to check out for awhile. It was fantastic! We'll be back this summer for the u-pick blueberries (I'm guessing it's the closest u-pick to our house).

During our short urban adventure the boys:
1. Fell in love with a car with lizards glued to it
2. Enjoyed tacos 5 minutes after starting the hike
3. Had an impromptu Star Wars battle after consuming said tacos
4. Almost ran away into the blueberry fields, by crawling under the fence
5. Had another snack break
6. Climbed a tree, and
7. Engaged in some paleontology by going on a "dinosaur dig"- both boys found "dinosaur eggs"- you might recognize them as rocks.

A metaphor? A declaration? A WTF?

Is this what life with a 2-year-old is like for other people? Or are we just extra blessed with such a spirited child? Or should I be watching Supernanny for some parenting clues?

Tonight's festivities:

Don't let this cute face fool you-- look! He has DESTROYED A BOOK!

The damage

s.e.r.i.o.u.s.l.y.

Last night's destruction was a little neater

So now he decides he'll wear a hat?!?

Let me introduce you to the fun from 2 nights ago:

No boring moments here...

Just a quick recap of my afternoon with the boys...

G is really moving along with his writing, as evidenced by his "No Lucs" "sign" that he wrote on the door. With a marker.

What was behind the door? Apparently G has become a beaver of sorts? He called it his fort.

I had him do a few homework assignments and suddenly his entire hand is red. Seriously, how does this happen?!?

At least Lukie was being mellow, for the moment. Look at that lovely track Chuck put together.

Tonight at bedtime. Lukie decided to tear apart a book with his mouth.

Some fun from last week:

One night Lukie pushed G into the bed frame causing quite the owie on G that was initially swollen worse than the elephant man. The next day? He woke up with BLACK EYES. FTLOG. Thankfully G's teacher has known Chuck for over 20 years.

Here's a gem for you. Lukie's new MO- getting into anything that makes a mess. Here he decided to have some fun with toothpaste, q-tips, baby wipes and I have no idea where he got the jackets from. He said "Look mommy, I made a mess".

And that my friend, is life with two boys. Never a dull moment. But here's my question, IS THIS NORMAL?!?

Life During Session: Its all about perspective

Tonight Lukie reminded me of something: it's all about perspective. I was working in the office and he snuck out of bed & came downstairs. He was being so adorable that I took a short break to chat with him (with his hair short, his eyelashes appear 20 feet long, just one blink, and believe me, he'll have you mesmerized). He then decided to trace his hand on my bill files.

Should things go south tomorrow while I'm presenting the bills- his doodles can be a reminder that it's all good.

He insisted that I trace his hand twice in the same place.

I came upstairs and found G asleep in our bed. No surprise but what was surprising was his cuddling with an ice pack? He's really into ice cold drinks lately and maybe he just wanted to snuggle with an ice pack & some farm animals?

So have I shared with you our fool-proof method of putting Lukie to bed? It's so ParentOfTheYear. He comes out his room once or twice, which he knows he's not supposed to, then I put him in the room and close the door (which he can't open due to fantastic 50's door that gets stuck)...you wait and let him cry for up to 5 minutes. Then you go in and he goes right to bed pleading that you leave the door open. Whatever works, right?

(Lukie pictured, in part, during those few minutes where we let him cry)

Life During Session...

During session I need to squeeze in work whenever I can on the weekends- trying to maximize both working and spending QT with the boys (and stuff like cleaning, groceries, and whatnot)...so I try to get up as early as possible on the weekends, as early as my exhausted body will allow. And then back to grind after the wee ones go to sleep.

So here I sit downstairs working and Lukie walks in with the entire container of cat crackers and announces, "Hi mommy, I'm home". It's 8am, where could he possibly have been?!?

Is he adorable or what!

Celebrating MLK

At work on the MLK holiday, they had Kid's Day, inviting kids to come for a resolution on the floor & pizza. Good excuse for Chuck to bring the kids to visit me at work although it's crazy busy. And by their visiting, I actually left my office and discovered that it was SUNNY! and WARM! outside!

Kasey!

As I mentioned earlier, I got to meet Kasey last week- definitely the highlight of my week- it helped mitigate the trauma of working so.many.hours. the first week of session!