Mr. Independent

Apparently, 21 months is the new 3, because all week long Grant has been VERY insistent on putting his own jacket on, his own shoes on, his own hat on, etc... all the while not being very successful, but giving it a good try. But, just in the last day or so, he has actually had some success with getting his jacket on (several times now). In this particular case, he managed to get it on (although upside-down) when we were leaving Culvers on Friday night. He was very proud and clearly poised to scream if I would have attempted to take it off him and put it on the right way. So, although I felt a little silly leaving the restaurant with my kid in his jacket the wrong way, sometimes you just have to let it be. It's just one of those things that "is not going to matter a week from now", ya know. Plus, good photo opportunity too :)

Today

Today, for some reason, a couple different things kept coming to mind... the first is that brothers, are special and the relationships that Mitchell, Joel, and Grant have right now are already very special and different from the relationships they have with anyone else in the world... even at their young ages. Today, for about the 5th night in a row, Joel requested (well, in advance of bedtime) that Mitchell read him his bedtime stories. Joel has never cared who reads him his bedtime stories so clearly this is a special time for him... (and for Mitchell too).

Today, (as I do everyday) I watched Joel and Grant play and interact in a way that is not even comparable to the level at which they play and interact with anyone else. Today, the first words out of Grant's mouth when he woke up were "I want to go see Joel". Yesterday, his first words were "I want to go see Mitchell". Today, as Joel and Grant were in the bathtub laughing at each other, I was thinking about how boring it would be for them in there (and how much more entertaining I would need to become) if they were looking at me instead of each other :) But at that moment, they didn't even know I was in the room... they were in their own conversation and in their own world.

If you know Mitchell (which you probably do if you're reading this) it is no surprise to you what gem of a big brother (and son) he is... Joel and Grant are so very lucky to have him, as am I.

The other thing that kept coming to mind today (and maybe helped me stay a little more calm during a night where Jeff is still at work and it is almost 11pm) is just how temporary so many of these daily moments are... the good ones, the bad ones, the funny ones, the precious ones, and the just plain frustrating ones... it's hard to believe that it won't be like this FOREVER somedays. I can't even begin to count the number of times that someone cried, or screamed, or fell down and was injured, or had a melt-down, or told me "No", or took a swing at someone, or spilled something, or was carried up and down our two flights of steps today, but I know that I can count the years that Mitchell will be available to read to Joel at night, that Grant will beg me to "hold him", and that Joel will need me to kiss a dozen different owies during the day and tell me that he "thinks pee is coming out" as we hurry down the stairs with his pants off, as he will only pee on "his potty", which is downstairs.Joel, helping Grant get some socks off that got wet, and Grant, willingly accepting the help. After Joel got the socks off, he said, "there you go, baby. Now I'll go in my room and get you some new socks, but only mommies can help put them on" .... :)

Good Weekend

Saturday morning was a basketball game for Mitchell and a new ECFE Sport's Sampler class for Joel, then a small birthday celebration for Nana Jane... she certainly got plenty of help with the candles:)

Later on Saturday, Jeff and I enjoyed a date night and saw the movie Valentines Day, which we both liked. And Sunday, before the kids got home from Grandpa and Grandmas, Jeff and I accomplished some much needed house-cleaning. THEN... Grandma brought over lunch.... AND dinner for us to heat up later. Wow, let's recap... date night, followed by a night with the kids at Grandpa and Grandma's, followed then by alone time to clean, and 2 meals delivered on Sunday. Okay, I swear it really was my MOM's birthday and not mine:)

I am so thankful that my parents are able to have a weekend home in Buffalo and help me so much by providing me time to myself, time to clean, and most importantly, time with my husband, which I cherish most of all. We are so lucky.

What We've Been Up To....

My blogging has been falling behind!... probably an indication that we are in the dead of winter (with not alot going on), and mom is busy (reluctantly) working more than usual lately, keeping me away from my nap time blogging sessions :)

Mitchell is keeping busy with school, basketball, and hanging out with friends, mixed in with some weekend trips to Wisconsin. Hopefully I'll get some bball pictures over the weekend. He has had a few games now, and is scoring some points and getting some rebounds.

The little guys have been up to their usual favorites which lately seems to involve a whole lot of wrestling (not my favorite) and the not so occasional confrontation. They now have conversations which are absolutely a hoot to listen to and Joel really appreciates it when Grant listens to him and does what he is told. Grant is totally DONE being told what to do or being pushed around, however... We have been seeing ALOT of the fiery side of this non-redheaded little one lately. At times I stand in disbelief at some of the aggressive moves he pulls. He has "spirit", without a doubt! As Grant edges closer and closer to age 2, it is becoming quite clear that he will NOT be the laid back little boy that I once thought he may be :) It won't be long before they are on equal ground...


Ahhh, the happy times... ah, but if you look closely, you can see what begins as a snuggle in the first picture turn into the infamous wrestling match in the second picture :)

An olympic sport around here, Laundry Basket Jumping!

Ice cream... can you tell which boy liked it and which one was not a fan?

Under the train table and another new olympic sport, Laundry Basket Wrestling...

More Wrestling...

Grant, consoling Joel (at my request) after splashing water in his face, which caused him to cry.

And last, but not least, Joel, about 30 minutes after I put him to bed (fully clothed of course), called me up to his room to request that he wear the batman cape he is holding to bed(that's when I find him completely naked). And yes, I did end up attaching it to his pajamas in order to get him to sleep :)

Florida Girl's Weedend... (plus Roy and Alex)

I was fortunate enough to enjoy a wonderful weekend in Florida with 2 of my 3 closest friends January 28th - 31st. This time, Sara (middle below) and I finally caught up with Desi (the one that is usually missing in our get-togethers), as she lives in Norway. Des and Roy welcomed their first baby in May 2009, and this trip was to spend time with them, as well as to meet Alexander Skadal (who is absolutely adorable, as you will see below). We SO missed our 4th roomie Steph, as she wasn't able to make the trip, but we are confident that next year, we will find a way to get all four of us together once again.

We had beach time, shopping time, eating time, talking time, and even alligator-spotting and teeth-whitening time :) Des and Roy spoiled with everything from chocolate on our pillows to treating us to dinner. They have always been VERY good hosts :)

First day, at a beach just minutes from their home, to watch the sunset. You can see it cooled off at night, but the day we left, it was minus 18 below windchill in Mpls, and 77 degrees when we arrived in Tampa.

Siesta Key Beach near Sarasota. A quartz beach of POWDER fine sand. Just beautful. It was my first time experiencing sand like that, and I was quite fascinated by it.

The little man, Alex. He is an angel and I am quite certain I never heard him cry while we were there.

Sara and I alligator sighting, at Mayaca State Park. There are blurry gators in the background here.

There he is :)

And last but not least, as little teeth-whitening... because, why not, when else am I going to have time to sit for 40 minutes in a mall and do nothing !

The one thing I can't believe I didn't get a picture of is our bright yellow bug that we had for our rental car. It was quite cute :)