Valentine Loot!!!

Wow...all I am going to say is TIMES HAVE CHANGED!! I am getting OLD!! The boys had their Valentines Day exchange and check out the loot they got and how fabulous all the different cards were! I must admit, I love getting into it too because they are only in preschool once and it is fun. I am just the last minute type mom and do not plan ahead so I never have all the right stuff in the household.....you get what mama has in this household! Sometimes I wish I had more time to run errands or better planning. But I am happy with what we do! For example, we were supposed to have photos for the boys boxes they made at their party and I couldn't find a freaking recent photo so as I was scrambling at 12 am last night...well the only photos I could find printed copies of were these....one where Christian is about 16 months old and only a few teeth and Nicolas from last December when he wasn't even 3!! Hysterical, I didn't give a shit actually thought it was cute!!

Me....well for our card, I just went to Walgreen's and printed up a photo card (like a Christmas Card) since I had a coupon!!! LOL!! And I spelled my child's name wrong in my last minute rush.....go figure!! I did make little cute baggie treats though to put in each of the kids cubbies at school as a treat but I think they got thrown in the card box. I realized I didn't even do 2 sets of cards (one from each of my children)..so the kids only got one card from this crew! But I made up for it with my little Valentine Treat in their cubby box! Right?

I didn't feel bad until Nicolas said "All the kids put cards in each mailbox and we only did some because you had only 1 card...." Talk about mommy guilt. I love this class and love the mama's in this class. They have to coolest little things, someone once said it is called "Mom-competition" but I don't think so, I just think these moms are wicked crafty and gifted in this area ( I am a beginner, no time level but learning to make the time) and all the moms share the love. It is HYSTERICAL we all do this instead of the good 'ol days and go to the store to get the 50 cent box of cards with no lolly pops attached, no candy ...just a plain good 'ol XOXOXXOXO. But...they got some SERIOUS LOOT!! To precious to forget! Good ideas for another year for sure or for any of you moms with younger kiddo's who like to plan ahead or are not crafty!!

Boxes the kids made at school for their valentine cards. Had a cute handle on it. Notice my kids photos- not current! The Loot!

We have bubbles......Homemade yummy pretzels

Creative Smarty Pants Card

Probably my ALL TIME FAVORITE CARD!! A BANANA!!SMORES Friendship Card...yummyKisses And so many more!!!!! We had a little spiderman card with spiderman pencil, lollipops, sweet tarts. You name it, they got it!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day....wishing you a day of love!!

Even Rocky has gotten lots of extra love this past week and snuggling!!

The boys surprised me with a beautiful ring that I absolutely loved. It is engraved with the word Faith and is engraved on the inside - that was from Nicolas and Christian gave me a beautiful matching necklace that says "Faith, Love and Happiness".

What the boys gave daddy....beautiful photo memories of our family (from a year ago that I never had framed which I am so delighted to get framed)!! Mommy, gave him a round of golf!

Nicolas

Nicolas just said to me....

"This house AGAIN is a mess"!

Me: "Really..I don't think it's too bad".

So I felt a little bit like a slacker mom so I moved 2 trucks against the wall- why am I listening to this?

Nicolas: "Agghhhh, mom it's still a mess right now". Very annoyed at me. Like this is all you got?

Me: " Well little man then get cleaning up".

Nicolas"Christian this house is a mess, can you clean it up".

Seriously? Seriously? What child wants a nice tidy house?

It makes me want to break out the old pictures and say..."See Nicolas, the house USED to be nice and tidy and actually was quite beautiful and modern PRE - CHILDREN". But, I can't so that thought will stay locked up in my frontal lobe of the brain.

SLEEP PLEASE!!

I can't stand that these guys have been waking up between 5:20-6:00 AM. I would say since we got home from Christmas it is averaging about 6 am. I thought it was because they should transition to no naps because maybe they are getting too much sleep? (Not possible in Jody's world). Even though they take a nap, they still go to bed fairly early instead of staying up late BUT they just get up early. Well, yesterday proved my theory wrong. What the hell!! Ken took them to Busch Gardens Theme park, no nap, they stayed until 4 pm and were falling asleep at the dinner table. I was SURE they would sleep in. Nope 5:30 Christian was awake saying, "Is it morning time"? These are the words we wake up too each day. Plus they have colds which also has been going on back to back since xmas so maybe that has contributed to it. Or because we cut the binkies (pacifiers) so they don't have that sucking soothing process. Now, I am not saying I get up each day at 5:30 because Ken does it most days however for me to fall back asleep knowing I have to get up at 6:30 my mind races.. races and I fall back asleep for about 15 minutes then I am more miserable. If I know I have a few more hours like on the weekends, I can go back to sleep at the drop of a hat.

The most torturous part is I have had a ton of resume work so I thought I would try a new schedule for myself and get up around 5:55-6:00 am everyday that I put into place last week. Either for some peace and quiet before the day starts, a nice cup of coffee, play on the computer, or get some work done before the rat race begins.

Now, most moms reading this are probably thinking, suck it up I get up each day at that time. However, my plead of pity is this. I take my "happy pills" a.k.a. my mood stabilizers at night that I have to take or else I would be a complete WHACK JOB. They keep me mentally stable. I haven't had a depressive episode since the boys were born when I had Post Partum and this medicine keeps my moods stable. Lets me live a happy mentally healthy life (now I am not saying I don't get pissy or irrational because I do, everyone does). My point is that people with mood disorders, if they are going to live a happy productive life they need sleep, workouts and balance. If you have a mood disorder you know this 100%! Unfortunately my fabulous little pills that keep me stable also make me a SLUG in the morning. I move like one, I look like something from the war in the morning and I feel like I have cob webs in my brain. This is normal until I have about a half hour to adjust. So, this early morning before 6am nonsense has BEEN torture! Pure torture! I think Christian is going to be our morning bird, he gets that from Ken. Nicolas is going to be our morning sleeper like me. He loves sleeping if his brother would let him.

As soon as I hear those little sweet voices at 5 am, I do say a prayer..."Lord reduce the meanness in me keep me stable, happy and help me SUCK IT UP"!! Ken, normally is great at getting up with them is sick of this early business too. This morning I got up with the kids and he must of just woke up and I heard him talking to himself out of habit , "SHHHH, go back to sleep, its not morning"!!! I don't know who the heck he was talking to? He has done this a few times lately and I can't help but laugh because I know he is doing it half in his sleep, half out of habit of what we say to them each day.

He came home Friday night and said, "I ordered a "light" alarm for the boys today".
Me: Why would you do that- no alarm for the boys are you crazy".
Ken: No, its a light alarm, the light goes on for them at a certain time so they know only then can they get up!!!
Me: Ohhhh, very cool but it better not wake them up more or it is going in the T.R.A.S.H !!

Lack of sleep isn't the best for my mental well-being hence mommy's little naps that give me my perk up with no guilt and help me catch up. When you have twins you get POUNDED in the morning with questions and all the same questions. All my foggy brain can mutter out is ""Yep", "Please wait" "No" "Quiet Voices". The questions that pound us every single morning are:

• Is it morning yet?




• Mommy can you change me?




• Mommy can I wear my batman /superman PJ's




• What are we doing today?




• Can I have something to drink?




• Mom help me go to the bathroom?




• Whats for breakfast?




• Mom where is my "certain" toy?




• I left my stuff animal upstairs, mom can you get it?




• Do we have school today?




• Is Daddy staying home today?




• MOMMMMMM HELLLPP (loudly...oh so loudly).

If my sweet little handsome men would just sleep until 6:30-7:00 I could get up at 6 am , enjoy the quiet, take a shower in peace and do whatever I wanted for me. Maybe my husband and I could even have a cup of coffee together or a conversation without interruption without being dead tired at 9 pm. I know, it's not their fault, they just want to be with us and don't get me wrong, I love hearing their voices, their voices of happiness but for the Love of God...I want quiet in the morning, or at least until 6:30 am. Oh well, part of being a mom. If this is my biggest problem, than I am and should be VERY THANKFUL, but I can still growl in the morning can't I? Nicolas and Christian enjoying a quiet moment on their choice of time (notice they chose the children' bible...humm is god telling me something? Suck it up Jody

Ever Feel This Way?

I don't know which is worse, me dropping a small fortune on the boys shoes this week because their little feet are growing so fast or BEING THIS LADY BELOW? E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y ! Incase you can't read this it says "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is PARENTS". I seriously have been in this exact position MANY times but instead one stands on my butt while the other sits on my shoulders!! GHEEEZ.

Bikes! Bikes! and More Bikes!

Well our little guys are doing their first fundraiser. It is a "TRIKE - A - THON" for St. Jude's Hospital Cancer Research. It is such a cute little event. Their school is blocking off the parking lot and all of the 3-4 year old's bring their tricycles or bikes,they ride around for a certain period of time. I think it is hysterical because now all of the moms are asking .."Do your kids ride a bike already to each other? Are they supposed to?" My one friends had me laughing so hard because this morning she said "Jody- can Nicolas and Christian ride a bike ~ are our kids supposed to be riding bikes?? I'm so embarrassed my kids can't ride bikes!"Rapid fire coming at me, almost on break of mass hysterics!! I actually love the little trikes, I think they are adorable, I almost wish we didn't by-pass those because they just went to big bikes. I think it is a cool event because it gives us information to read to the boys to teach them about Charity and what it means to help others in need. However, I skipped over the first lesson and I explained it to the boys myself and I realized I better stay on their plan talking to the kids because.....

Christian said:

"Mom, I think I am going to keep some money in my pocket I get and I should put some saved in my bank". OH LORDY SON!!! We are giving...not TAKEN....

Anyways, other than my child thinking he can pocket some cash flow... and become a white collar criminal, we would love it if you could or know anyone who would want to help support the boys in their very first fund raising! Any tiny amount will help if you are able. Donations can be make on their personal pages at:

www.mytrikeathon.org/nicolas or www.mytrikeathon.org/chughes

Faith Begins At Home

This post is turning out to be something "a tad more deep" than I expected. Ken and I are trying our best to set strong Christian values in the boys. By doing simple things like praying before meals, bed, what compassion is, praying out loud when family or friends need prayer, explaining why we pray to God and Jesus, who they are (that part gets tricky). VERY TRICKY. I have always had a strong faith but as an adult I am realizing more and more what it is to have faith. Yes, I have been angry at god but now I don't get angry with him, I just accept it as it is face value when something is happening and although I still get feeling of being scared and anxious I just pray and I am given the strength to get through it (especially 2 whining children)! Tonight Ken and I are going to a study where the boys go to school on a parenting class called "Faith Begins At Home". THANK GOD BECAUSE I NEED IT. For one simple reason...explaining death to my children at 3. Which I didn't get a answer for in the class (I am finishing up the blog next morning).

So this blog was supposed to be about our silly fish.....see in the picture below... this is me. Happy at the fair, a mom holding a million traditional "FAIR" items for their enduring children and family. We have a giant lemonade, cotton candy, a giant blow up sword, a normal sword, my purse and yes...2 FISH. Just what we need in this house. But my husband loves games and we never thought we would win but the boys were the ones that actually won, so it was exciting. It was a great day with Grandma and our family, although I was struggling with bronchitis again and the crowd was kind of scary, we still had a ton of laughs and fun! The boys finally decided on the names of their fish "Oki and Tower". It took some time to get those names and initially it was "Flower and Tall Feet". When we won the fish as I was handed a bag with 2 little live creatures and my "maternal thing" kicked in. I had one simple question to the fair guy-"What do I do" ? His response, "Feed them, you have 24 hours to feed them". But I was not going to take chance of these Fish croaking on me because we were all getting attached and I did not want to have the conversation about death with the boys again.

So, we put them in the little porta-potty in the back of the car on the way home (yes they began their life with us in the toilet - probably not a good thing). Nicolas was very concerned they would get "bumped in the bag back there or bump into each other and get hurt". But in the toilet they stayed...... So I ran out and got them some food after they went to bed. They were not looking so great. We had this list of instructions- CRAZY instructions:

Temp water of 70-75 (which we measured with a meat thermometer).

Soak food for 1 minute in water then put in bowl.

Get a water filter for oxygen- if they are gulping at top they need oxygen (new water).

Change water if it is cloudy.

Distilled Water.

I have to admit, I get very confused with filtered water, spring water, distilled water. I thought it was one and the same. So I put them in warm spring water. They started GULPING at the top. As you see in the photo below it didn't look good from the start. I couldn't keep the water from not being cloudy and every time I looked at them they were gulping for air. So all night all I could think of was they were chocking and what a crappy way to die. Ken and I were determined!! I had Faith these guys were going to last a long time. You see the last time I had fish was about 11 years ago when ken and I were dating and we won 2 fish. Having the heart I do, I cried and said a prayer when they died and got flushed 2 weeks later, so I said, "NO MORE FISH".

Meet Oki and Tower

Day 2: Ken went out and got them a nice little tank, filter, blue lighting over them, distilled water and Ken even went to our back patio to get some cute little rocks . Again, we were determined!! Yes all for fair fish. Ummm...they croaked within a few minutes of putting them in the water. SHOOT!!! They they were floating dead. The rocks with chemicals from our yard? Wrong water? Shock to their system? So I quickly covered them with a towel. When the boys asked what they were doing..."umm sleeping, we need to keep the towel on them to sleep". Boys noticed they were not there early the next day so I quickly said..."Oh they had to go to the fishy hospital to get their spots removed, they were not feeling great but they will be home later today". Ken ran out fast and got 2 more. Aghh... all because we didn't want to explain death and because the boys were so happy they had little pets. Now these fish looked normal except boys noticed they were smaller and no more spots. I just blew it off and said " oh the doctor must of fixed them and look how happy and bright they are". We had one little fish that really enjoyed swimming at the bottom. I thought maybe that was normal?


Day 3: All is good. Boys happy, parents happy, grandma happy (yes we give grandma daily updates as she is part of this dilemma and I think getting a little attached herself). Then last night the swimmer at the bottom- died! SHOOT! One little guy left , swimming all alone.


Day 4: Boys immediately notice and asked where the one went. I have debated telling them the truth but when my grandma passed away this year and when I slipped and told them they could die if they kept sticking metal things in electrical circuit ( I know horrible thing to say- I over reacted and was scared) I got slammed with questions like:


"What does die mean"?
Why did she die"?
"Why do things go to heaven when they die"?
"God is in heaven- why do they have to live with god"?
"Can we see God"?
"Why doesn't god come here with them"?
"Can we go to gods house in heaven"
"Will you go to god if you get real sick"?
"Will we"?
"Am I going to die"?
"When"
"Will we have to go to god away from you" Then finally what I expected because they didn't understand: "I don't like god, he's not nice". So that took some explaining and gave me a migraine!!

So when the boys asked this morning where the fish went, I was going to tell them the truth but I had a flashback of all those questions and I panicked and said "Fishy is sleeping in the rock, you just can't see him". Yes, we are going to go get another fish until I can figure this out but it has become more of a process for me - yes it has become more of how do I explain death again to the boys without them being mad, sad. Even though that too can be a normal reaction to death. It's not about the fish anymore. I am over that part. Isn't that bad? I have faith still, faith this is a conversation that is going to happen and faith god will give me the right answers for a 3 year old. So for now- at 5 pm Weds - day 4 we have one little fish left out of 4. I had faith this little guy would make it but my friend just stopped over who has fish and said..."Nope, sorry Jody- you are going to have to get 2 more fish, this one isn't going to make it through the night". I STILL HAVE FAITH HE WILL!! I also just found out there is a children's book called "Heaven Is For Real" which I will be getting.

Day5: Fishy Still Swimming!!