Pinterest... But not this year

Weekly confession time...

I didn't make a single treat for either of the boys parties, I bought them already made. Gasp!! I know right? You see, I started out with one child and making Pinterest project treats. Reindeer cupcakes, bat brownies, bunny cookies, chocolate dipped sprinkle covered marshmallows on a stick, etc...and this child one child had a special appliquéd shirt with his very own name on it, matching pants and socks for each holiday. I even got stressed about these outfits with their matching holiday socks. That's so laughable now. I was totally on top of things (in my mind anyway) I would stay up all night the night before to get everything achieved.

Then I had 2...I still managed some matching appliquéd outfits for them both, minus the holiday socks, and a Pinterest treat here and there. I stayed up if I had to to get these accomplished . Not for every party,  mind you, but some. Then these 2 boys got older, busier, more involved in activities and school. I guess I got older too ;) 

I don't take a snack for every party, but I still try not to miss attending a single one though.  

This year we are remodeling, tearing down part of the house and rebuilding and expanding just a little. Of course it's at Christmastime, making the usual chaos and mess more chaotic and messy. I am teaching an occasional art class. I am VP on PTA. I am also attempting to be "a runner" and train for a 10k. My house is in shambles. I have (not so) affectionately renamed the address "Mayo Street Mayhem" (if you know my address, you totally get it). It's very fitting for  both inside and out. Always chaos.  The boys' matching Holiday outfits went like this: I ordered them with just enough time to spare but neglected to try them on, or even open them for that matter, until the day of Santa pics. When L sat on Santa ' slap, it looked like the days of Noah were coming those pants were so high watered. A little late in the game to worry about it then. Our elves are still MIA. The Christmas tree is always leaning because the boys jump and run around it so much. It's still not fully decorated, but I manage to add an ornament or 2 each day. Maybe by New Years Eve it will be complete. 

We just finally finished most of our Christmas shopping, the freaking week before. Chuck almost had a nervous breakdown fighting the crowds in Birmingham. He used a few choice words at The Summit. I drank a lot of coffee and some wine on this overnight get away. We had a lot of fun. We came home to a sick (again) 6 year old who will have to miss his Christmas party...sad!

I had even forgot I had signed up for Law's Christmas party. Thank goodness another sweet Mother, obviously more clued in than myself (you know who you are ;) reminded me that I am one of the Christmas party Moms. I am also one of the Homeroom Moms. She also rallied the troops. Thanks, Other Mother :) 
 I usually love doing parties! My brain is just zapped. I seem to have a constant choice of flooring, doors windows and paint color choices running through my mind. The time is just flying by. There's not enough hours in the day to do every single thing I want to do. I am working on the very important ones first and foremost. 

So, you see, I dropped the ball this year. I bought premade cupcakes and iced brownies for the boys parties tomorrow. I decided against staying up tonight after returning from B'Ham  to make those  really cute Rice Krispie treat wreaths. I gotta say though, as much as I hate not being "that Mom" (thanks to another friend who used the term so accurately ;) the Mom who brings the cute treats, who doesn't have a Corn Pop stuck in her dirty hair, a stained Christmas sweatshirt on with Uggs like a hobo mixed with teenage girl, I am enjoying the lack of stress tonight. 

Maybe one day I will be "that mom"...the creative, always dressed and ready, on time (bahahaha! Big one), calm, patient, prepared, one. Hey, a Mom can hope right?! 

Until then, I am exactly what my boys need...and I guess that's good enough :) 

Obviousness

Obviousness...obviously, when your 3 year old whom you thought was asleep in his bed, walks into the living room with his hand held out and announces simply,  "my hand smells like poopy" you question why. Obviously, you question him immediately with "Well why does it smell? Did you go poopy? Did you wash your hands?" When he replies "No my didn't go", you obviously wonder how that could happen. You also, obviously, don't even get the least bit concerned because you have been in this rodeo before. You obviously know that it's a possible bedtime-procrastination strategy and could have nothing to do with any real poopy situation. So your Husband, the one who decides it's time to investigate this a little further, does the obvious and.....smells the hand. You remain seated on the couch thinking about how your go-to move to confirm whether something is in fact poopy or not has become the smell test. Which is so obviously disturbing due to the fact that it's not even a question, a decision, a repulsion, it's simply an instinct. It's "the way ". We are, very obviously, parents!

My Cup Runneth Over
~Shana~

Something about Mary

GW can strike fear into my heart faster than anyone can. I jokingly say he gives me at least 3 mini heart attacks a day. But for real, at least one. He does cause me much anxiety and if I didn't color my hair, I am positive I would be sporting grays. Thanks boys!  How does he cause me to worry so, at the young age of 3, you might ask...well let me count the ways...

He climbs everything
He jumps off everything
He runs everywhere
He jumps into pools with no floaties
He has NO fear, ever
He talks to strangers
He unbuckles his car seat
He stands up in buggies
He jumps out of buggies
He tips buggies over
He licks things in public places
He eats things off of the floor....in public places
He touches every.single.thing in a public restroom
He hides from me in racks in stores
He hides from me in closets at home
He refuses to make a sound while he's hiding, causing me to panic
He acts like he's choking and refuses to talk so I don't really know if he's choking or just not    
      answering, resulting in me frantically yelling "talk! Talk! Say something! 
      Can you  breathe?!" Over and over as people stare, until he says "hi!" And giggles
He sticks things in the toilet
He scoops water out of the toilet
He sticks toilet paper down the sink
He throws toilet paper wads at the walls
He likes to "forget" to aim while peeing
He jumps off the top bunk onto the bottom bunk
He uses anything and everything as a weapon
He runs while holding sticks
He falls while holding sticks
He jumps while holding sticks
He headbutts...me...in the hip or butt, randomly...or when he's mad
He completely ignores me when I tell him things he should/shouldn't do
He is extremely sneaky
He is extremely stealth
He is extremely good at acting innocent
He refuses to stay by my side when I let him walk around in public
He sneaks junk food
He sneaks juices
He sneaks candy
He even sneaks bread
He is extremely strong willed & going head to head with him,some days, is like beating your  
       head against a brick wall


That's the condensed version. But as you know, if you read any of my statuses on FB, GW is a very busy boy.

So once again, at Target, like so many stories in the past, we had an incident.

This is what it looks like when your 3 year old keeps climbing onto the side of the shopping 
cart, after repeatedly being told not to because it would tip over, and you have a cup of Starbucks in the seat part. It tips, (warm, not hot) coffee dumps onto his head, he cries for a minute only because his shirt is wet, rips it off and refuses to put it back on. Meanwhile his hair is drying standing up like Something About a Mary from all the sticky,sugary Salted Caramel White Mocha goodness  that's in it,and you realize the irony of your child being topless in the bra section.

He went shirtless until we could hustle over to the kids clothes and get a shirt right off the rack for him to wear. The hair was stuck like that though. Ha!!

With Garrison around, things are never, not even for one second, boring. 

To share a quote from his Bubba about him from tonight:
 On the ride home tonight Lawson says "Hey Momma do you know what I do sometimes when I miss my Brother?" I ask, "What darlin'?" He replies, "I act bad...because it reminds me of him." 

And from over in his car seat G says , "who meee?"  

My Cup Runneth Over....and over....and over
~Shana~

School Daze

So school has started and I have a little free time on my hands on Mondays and Wednesdays. GW is in 3 year old Pre-k from 8:00-3:00 on those days and Law is in 1st grade so he's in school all day. It feels a little weird after the summer and being so chill with our schedules. Lawson has homework, spelling words, and tests each week. He also gets mad that his Brother doesn't have homework. 
Now that school has been in full swing for about 5 weeks, I think we are finally getting in a good routine. Over the past month, I have realized just how much like me Lawson is. He is the pickiest eater, ridiculous even (yeah Mom, I am so getting payback for being so bratty about my food growing up:) He worries about doing things really well, perfectly even, and can be hard on himself if he isn't doing it perfectly, whether it's reading, writing, math, coloring, whatever. Like me, he also takes a while to get into to a routine when things have changed. For instance, going back to school after the summer break, when he stayed up a little later, slept a little later, got to play all day, take trips and have no real strict schedule to adhere to and then changing to bed at 8 every night, homework and studying each day after school, getting up early, etc.  It was such a challenge to get him up, fight him to go to school,  and then do homework that I thought I would lose it. Then I looked around the house, saw how messy it was, how dinner wasn't ready on time, how I was struggling with getting up and getting them both ready and out the door just as much has they were struggling with it,  how hard I was trying to balance gym time, housework , errands, and me time and realized that I had to have patience with them, and they had to have patience with me too. See Lawson got his lack of scheduling and need for a good adjustment period from me. As an adult, I know I can't act out, throw fits, refuse to go to school, or whatever because I am struggling with getting myself into a routine of sorts, but L's only 6. I felt stressed and anxious and frazzled for a while, just as I am sure he did, until things started clicking into place and we slowly got adjusted to our new routines. I actually got my kitchen cleaned and dinner cooked this week, went to the gym each day, Paid bills, went grocery shopping, and am feeling somewhat accomplished. Maybe I can do this :) 

So that kind of went further into detail than I had planned, but it's so funny to me how Lawson and I butt heads and argue and he can get to me like no one else can, and it's because how much alike we are. I have been told that by several people, my parents and Chuck included, but I really am starting to see it for myself. You see he's super picky with food, as am I, he has to have the last word, as do I (so says Chuck) which results in us arguing back and forth, and he worries about being good at things or doing things perfectly, which is a constant struggle of mine. I guess we may have a long road ahead, but I am going to try to always remember how much alike we are and to try to relate to how he's feeling since I can understand instead of letting it drive my crazy. Wish me luck :)

Back to the school situation now:

Well it happened, I finally went off the deep end. Last night as I was getting the kids clothes, shoes, snacks, backpacks ready for the next day, I laid out 2 different shoes for Lawson. I will admit, I was so tired last night and I had a migraine. So that makes it understandable right? 

You see, yesterday morning he got quite upset at me for not setting his flip flops "right next to the door like you always do!" Even though, truth be told, the shoe baskets where he and G keep all their shoes are right next to the door. Yeah, but I have to set them out for them..anyway, this morning his Grandma came to pick him up. About 10 minutes after they leave I get a text that says "Heading back. Lawson has on 2 different shoes." When they get here Grandma tells me "When I asked him how he got 2 different shoes he said it was his Momma's fault because she gets his shoes ready everyday." I guess I should make him get his own shoes from now on, maybe then they would match. 

And for the record, when G hollers repeatedly,  "I am not doing ANYTHING in here Momma." That's never a good sign. 

My boys are so unique, so challenging and rewarding all at once. 

My Cup Runneth Over

~Shana~

Questions I am shocked that I ask

When you hear your Husband walk into the bathroom where your 2 year old is, holler "Grrrrrrrrr! Why do you have poop on your hands? What is happening here?!", then your child replies "Cause there's no toilet paper." What is your reaction supposed to be? A. Run in and help B. Cry C. stay far away. I chose stay in the other  room and pretend not to hear any of it.....
The fact that we just had to ask him "Hey did you wipe poopy on anything in the bathroom?" Is concerning and disturbing. 

My two year old is a constant source of mischief and mess. He gets into everything and is tough as nails. Sometimes it is maddening and sometimes stressful....but it's always so very Garrison and for that, I love it. 


My cup really runs over....everyday.
Shana

It's Been A While....Just where did that TP go?!

Well it has been quite a while, but here is a story.
That isn't to say that blog-worthy things don't happen nearly everyday around here, because they do (At least in my opinion) but I just haven't sat down and wrote it all down in a while. Quite a while.
However, my cup still runneth over and I am enjoying every second of it.

Lindsey, one of my best friends and I took the kids to see the Zoo Lights. Rode the train, did some crafts at the parakeet habitat and fed the animals in the petting zoo (all 3 goats that the petting zoo consisted of). We had a blast and so did the kids! 

However, there were a few highlights...

My boys (and I) both forgot their jackets and it was like ice cold. But I did not realize this until we get out at the zoo an hour and a half away from home. We did have gloves though, for what that was worth. I had to put my fleece on Lawson and go into the zoo store and buy a "Montgomery Zoo" fleece for G in size 24 months. A souvenir, I suppose. And what did I tell my poor 5 year old? I said "I bet next time you will remember to grab your jacket when I tell you to." Yup, he's only 5 ;)

 Then we have to wait in line for a good 30 minutes. Lindsey's group of girls were wonderful..my boys, well Lawson was jumping up and down and punching and doing karate and all the usual very excited little boy "stuff". Can't tell you know many times I said "calm down" as he was hitting a stranger with his karate chops. Garrison was a whole other ball of fire. He was hungry, tired and wanted to "ride the train", which he said approximately 102 times. He had about 5 meltdowns, one a screaming "I want hot chocolate" one, in the time we waited. Then of all things, about 30 or so people decide to skip us in line while we were waiting at the little snack bar they had set up, still in the line, for our hot chocolate. I nearly lost it. Person after person just bypassing us, I couldn't take it. So I start "loud talking", "we ARE in line! We are in line!!" One guy stops, looks at me, and shrugs. Seriously! So I snatch up G, tell Lindsey to wait in line and fast walk to get our place saved before 30 more get in front of us. I couldn't believe it!! What is wrong with people?! Oh and at this point G thinks I have abandoned the hot chocolate and starts wailing for it. There are stares. He is inconsolable. I just hold him and he throws a tantrum. The fact that Lindsey will be rejoining us in line with his hot chocolate is lost on him. 

Finally, after someone in the snack bar had to go down to the river to get the hot water for the hot chocolate and then heat it in the slowest way possible and maybe even milk a cow for the whipped cream on top,  she arrives with the hot chocolate. She cuts in front of some people to do it, people who don't know that she actually had already been in line and got bypassed by about 30 other people, and joins us. I almost dare anyone to say something. I would have set them straight real fast. Then the hot chocolate is too hot to drink right away. G cries again. Have I ever mentioned how little patience my boys have? Maybe it is just a toddler thing. Or maybe it is something they got from me...

I give up and tell him "Well go ahead, but it is going to burn your mouth" and give him a tiny sip. He does a full body shake and says "hot!" Um, yeah that's what I tried to tell you. But he's 2, so what do you do? 

I just let him go for it. 

We finally make it onto the train and everyone's happy. It really was fun.

It's after the train ride that I realize why G has been walking so slow the whole night and kept losing a shoe...his shoes were on the wrong feet! No wonder. I just let him go as is. A little late in the game to worry about it now. 

We end up staying at the zoo so long that we just have to get some drive thru dinner instead of the "special" dinner we had planned. Some want Wendy's and some want McD's, so we go to both. Whatever makes them happy, right? They all eat, or don't in Garrison's case, and all fall asleep on the way home. It was silent except Lindsey and I lacking. Much different from the ride up there. 

But the best part of the story was taking both of my boys to the tiny little stalls in the freezing cold bathroom. Three of us couldn't fit into one so Lawson went in one and G and I in the other. The whole time I am hollering over to Lawson not to go out without me and stay close and make sure to wash his hands well and freaking out the he may decide to walk out with out me or someone may grab him while I am helping G tee-tee and taking my turn (darn hot chocolate!). While I am tee-teeing Garrison is playing with the toilet paper. (Keep in mind these stalls are tiny, like the kind you can barely be in while opening the door to get out type.) G is right next to me unrolling toilet paper and putting it onto the floor, or so I thought. Upon standing up I realize he had been putting it into the toilet behind my rear end. Ugh. Whatever, I quickly pull up my fleece lined leggings, as I am literally freezing my booty off, and put the long strip of toilet paper that is half in and half out of the toilet all the way in and flush. Usher him out, wash hands and rejoin Lindsey and the girls. It felt like forever later. It isn't until I get home late that night and go to put on my pjs that I realize where the rest of that strip of TP went. I start to pull of my fleece leggings and out comes a long strip of toilet paper. NO LIE! I had pulled it up with my leggings!!! I remember wondering about that strip of TP and how it was the way it was but being seriously cold and concerned about my 5 year old outside of the tiny stall, who I am hollering "are you ok? Don't you go close to that door! Don't touch things!" at all the while, I was less than concerned about figuring it out. Well now I know. 

I immediately started laughing. Like the border-line insane laugh. Chuck, who was in bed reading, just looked at me. I hold up the TP. He asks "what the heck is that?" 

How do I even explain?! 

But I did, I tell him the whole story. He just shakes his head and laughs. His usual response. 

I can't believe I am telling this story....ok, ok I can as I am not one to keep a good story to myself, but I am quite embarrassed. 

Modesty or lack thereof

So people have always told me when you have kids your sense of shame, shyness, modesty, whatever you want to call it goes out the window. I have to say for me that was true to a certain extent. I am a somewhat reserved person about many things and not so much about others. It just depends. I am not shy at all. I am slightly modest about some things and more modest about others. I can be embarrassed fairly easily depending on what it is pertaining to.  Having said all that, I must have hit rock bottom since giving birth to two boys and I will tell you why. Last week Lawson and I went to Subway. One of the 5 times we went. No joke, we eat there a lot. It wasn’t super busy so we were just going to sit down and eat but I had to potty first. While they were making our sandwiches (um, yes Barbara knows exactly what Lawson and I want on our sandwiches because it is always exactly the same and consists of no sauces and his is just meat and cheese. Haha. Barb also keeps an eye on him for me:) I let Lawson wait out by the drinks but told him I was going to leave the door unlocked in case he needed me and I go on in. The only  people in there was a group of guys in line behind us but I was pretty sure they all saw me going in. Hmmm.  I am mid tee tee when the door opens wide and a guy is standing there with big, wide eyes frozen. It seemed like he was frozen like that for 5 minutes as I was just sitting there, on the potty, like “um, hey”. It took him forever to snap out of it, but he finally did, said “Um, sorry, sorry” and shut the door. I honestly just had to laugh. I commenced with the flushing, hand washing and worked up the courage to walk outside and he was standing there. He apologized again. I said “Oh, that’s ok. I would have locked it but I didn’t want to leave my little boy out here and him need me and not be able to get in.” I think he said something like, “Yeah, we are just a little closer now. Haha”.

Honestly, I wasn’t even that embarrassed. Truly. I probably should have been. Pre-two kids Shana probably would have wanted to just leave Subway without a sandwich to avoid seeing him but now, meh. No big deal. So what, I mean I even had on a long shirt. I will say Chuck laughed hysterically when I told him about it. Especially that all I said to the guy while he was standing there with the door open was “um, hey”  and gave a little wave.

My children have helped make me who I am today. They have made me stronger and different from who I was before them. The mere act of having them has taught me that some things just don't really matter and we shouldn't let things get to us. Beauty is skin deep, our bodies are merely flesh, and no use crying over spilled milk (or a stranger seeing you pee).

I hope I teach them as much as they teach me.

My Cup Runneth Over!