Lincoln is really picking up on what it takes to go potty on the big boy potty.
He loves to sit on the regular toilet seat backwards instead of using the potty seat. For the past week or so, he will start to go, then gets to laughing when he sees his potty, and the stream stops. So, we've been working on pushing until it stops because there isn't any more to come out.
The other morning, Lincoln was doing his business, and I could tell he was really concentrating on keeping the stream going. When he was finished, he yelled, "Mommy! It stopped! It's all out!" I went and helped him off the potty. When he was standing up, I said to him, "Wow buddy, you went pee-pee a lot. See, you turned the water yellow!"
He was so excited. He couldn't wait to get to Chickadees so he could show Miss Monica that he could turn the water yellow!
Yellow being Jackson's favorite color, I'm using it to try to get Jackson going potty in the big boy potty again. So far, no luck. Maybe someday!
Our Family
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The light is broken...
This is my first conversation with Jackson each morning.
I get him up, take him to the bathroom, and sit him on the potty seat. As he sits on the potty, he looks around the bathroom.
Jackson: "The light is broken." (As he points to the one burned out light over the vanity)
Mom: "Yes, buddy, it is broken."
Jackson: "Have to get a new one to fix it."
Mom: "Yes, we need to get a new bulb for it."
Jackson: "This one is ok." (As he points the exhaust fan light over the potty)
Mom: "Yes, that light works just fine."
Jackson: "Daddy needs to fix it." (pointing back at the burned out bulb)
We've had this same dialogue for a week now! It makes me laugh to see that his throught process is exactly the same each morning. Still amazed at the conversations I have with my boys!
I get him up, take him to the bathroom, and sit him on the potty seat. As he sits on the potty, he looks around the bathroom.
Jackson: "The light is broken." (As he points to the one burned out light over the vanity)
Mom: "Yes, buddy, it is broken."
Jackson: "Have to get a new one to fix it."
Mom: "Yes, we need to get a new bulb for it."
Jackson: "This one is ok." (As he points the exhaust fan light over the potty)
Mom: "Yes, that light works just fine."
Jackson: "Daddy needs to fix it." (pointing back at the burned out bulb)
We've had this same dialogue for a week now! It makes me laugh to see that his throught process is exactly the same each morning. Still amazed at the conversations I have with my boys!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Undressed
My sister had a beautiful baby boy about 10 weeks before my boys were born. I often times look to my sister and her son for guidance on the "next steps" for the boys.
This past weekend, my sister and I were sharing stories about how they are at a pretty good age right now. They feed themselves, they walk to the car, crawl in their car seats - lots of things we used to have to do for them. I told her I was floored last week when I asked the boys to take their coats and shoes off, and both boys did it all by themselves. Her comment was "just wait until they can dress themselves". She also has a 4 1/2 year old...so she's definitely speaking from experience.
What I leaned from the shoe incident and from talking to my sister is that I need to let the boys to try more things on their own. Most of the time we are in a hurry, don't want to make a mess, or its just habit to do things for the boys. But, they are almost three, and we need to start teaching them to be independent, to let them do things on their own, and accept that it's not always going to be perfect.
Knowing this and putting it into practice are two very different things. It's a work in progress.
One night earlier this week I was cleaning up from dinner. I asked the boys to sit down and take their socks off, and their pants too so we could get ready for bathtime. Figured this would keep them out of trouble while I cleaned up.
Jackson went right to it. He pulled his socks off (using the "trick" that I taught him a few weeks ago), then stood up, unsnapped his pants, and pulled them down. I laughed a bit as he struggled with getting his legs out of them, but he did it! He was so proud of himself! I praised him for doing such a good job, and reached to help take his shirt off and I got a resounding "No, Mommy. I do it."
He struggled a bit at first with his shirt, and asked for help. I gently encouraged him...."hey buddy, pull your arm out first. you can do it!" Sure enough, he got his one arm out of the shirt, and a smile spread across his face. He ran around the kitchen for about 3 minutes doing a "happy dance", then got back to business. He next pulled the shirt over his head, and then pulled it down off his arm. It was off! We made a very big deal about how he's such a big boy!
Of course then, Lincoln wanted to join in the fun. He was still sitting on his chair at the table, but got his socks off. He struggled quite a bit with his pants, mostly because he insisted on being on the chair (vs. getting down on the floor). Jackson finally helped by pulling on the ends of his pant legs while Lincoln sat on the chair. The shirt was more challenging for Lincoln, and time was running out on us, so I helped him with his shirt.
Now Mommy and Daddy just need to have the patience to allow them to try more things. Wish us luck!
This past weekend, my sister and I were sharing stories about how they are at a pretty good age right now. They feed themselves, they walk to the car, crawl in their car seats - lots of things we used to have to do for them. I told her I was floored last week when I asked the boys to take their coats and shoes off, and both boys did it all by themselves. Her comment was "just wait until they can dress themselves". She also has a 4 1/2 year old...so she's definitely speaking from experience.
What I leaned from the shoe incident and from talking to my sister is that I need to let the boys to try more things on their own. Most of the time we are in a hurry, don't want to make a mess, or its just habit to do things for the boys. But, they are almost three, and we need to start teaching them to be independent, to let them do things on their own, and accept that it's not always going to be perfect.
Knowing this and putting it into practice are two very different things. It's a work in progress.
One night earlier this week I was cleaning up from dinner. I asked the boys to sit down and take their socks off, and their pants too so we could get ready for bathtime. Figured this would keep them out of trouble while I cleaned up.
Jackson went right to it. He pulled his socks off (using the "trick" that I taught him a few weeks ago), then stood up, unsnapped his pants, and pulled them down. I laughed a bit as he struggled with getting his legs out of them, but he did it! He was so proud of himself! I praised him for doing such a good job, and reached to help take his shirt off and I got a resounding "No, Mommy. I do it."
He struggled a bit at first with his shirt, and asked for help. I gently encouraged him...."hey buddy, pull your arm out first. you can do it!" Sure enough, he got his one arm out of the shirt, and a smile spread across his face. He ran around the kitchen for about 3 minutes doing a "happy dance", then got back to business. He next pulled the shirt over his head, and then pulled it down off his arm. It was off! We made a very big deal about how he's such a big boy!
Of course then, Lincoln wanted to join in the fun. He was still sitting on his chair at the table, but got his socks off. He struggled quite a bit with his pants, mostly because he insisted on being on the chair (vs. getting down on the floor). Jackson finally helped by pulling on the ends of his pant legs while Lincoln sat on the chair. The shirt was more challenging for Lincoln, and time was running out on us, so I helped him with his shirt.
Now Mommy and Daddy just need to have the patience to allow them to try more things. Wish us luck!
One track mind...
Last night, was a balancing act. Brian needed to mow the lawn, so we went home after work and he mowed the lawn while I played with the boys and made dinner. We all ate dinner together, then got the boys bathed and ready for bed.
We were running short on milk, so I needed to run to Costco to get some milk. I asked the boys to give me hugs and kisses goodnight, as daddy was going to put them to bed. "Are you going shopping Mommy?" one of them asked. I couldn't lie to them, so I said yes, we need some milk, so I am going shopping.
Then Jackson looked at me and said, "Will you get us some donuts too Mommy? Thanks".
All this boy thinks about is donuts! He thinks we should have them everyday.
We were running short on milk, so I needed to run to Costco to get some milk. I asked the boys to give me hugs and kisses goodnight, as daddy was going to put them to bed. "Are you going shopping Mommy?" one of them asked. I couldn't lie to them, so I said yes, we need some milk, so I am going shopping.
Then Jackson looked at me and said, "Will you get us some donuts too Mommy? Thanks".
All this boy thinks about is donuts! He thinks we should have them everyday.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Weekend at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's
We spent this past weekend at my parents house.
Uncle Aaron rode up with us, and the boys provided plenty of entertainment. They laughed and giggled for the first part of the trip as Uncle was tickling them from the back seat, or "scaring them" by saying boo! They eventually settled in for the ride, and started singing songs for Uncle...multiple rounds of the A-B-C's and the unending version of Old MacDonald (I think he had a zoo, not a farm Friday night).
Around 8:30, we stopped at McDonald's in Van Wert to change the boys diapers, and for the rest of us to use the restroom. Uncle bought a Rolo McFlurry, and made the mistake of giving the boys a taste. He ended up sharing it with both of them!
Once back in the van, the boys drank their milk, and went to sleep for the rest of the drive.
A few minutes after arriving at my parents, I was informed that the boys weren't the only ones providing entertainment that night. Somewhere along the way on Friday, the seam of my jeans (the one right up the crack of your butt) had freyed out! Who knows how long the full moon was out on Friday....and I greatly apologize to the man that I bent over in front of at McDonalds!
It was a full house...and camper at my parent's. RJ and Lyn were there with their kids, and RJ's parents rented a camper for the weekend as well. We visited for a bit, then put the boys to bed, drank a few beers, and stayed up till 2:30 in the morning. Typical Friday night with my parents.
Saturday, the boys were up about 6:30. Brian fed them breakfast and got them ready for the day while mommy slept a while longer. Pawpaw took the boys on a gator ride to see the moo cows, but most of the day was just visiting. We met Miss Quinn for the first time, and caught up with her mommy Carrie. Aunt Shirley and Uncle Larry came over to visit with us as well. A beautiful Saturday afternoon.
The boys fell asleep watching TV, so Brian and I snuck out to church with my parents at 4:00. We would have been fine, but we needed to go to the store afterward to get some beer. When we were walking into the house, Dick asked me if I'd been drinking yet...and if not, I might want to as my son had just thrown up.
Not good. It seems Jackson woke up from his nap, and got himself a little bit worked up over the fact that mommy and daddy weren't there. Luckily, he threw up on the blanket, and Uncle RJ was there to save the day (as Uncle Aaron doesn't do puke).
The rest of the night was our usual trip to mom and dads...good food, great friends, and of course, drinks. RJ's friend Joe and his girlfriend Caryn joined the party and stayed the night. Uncle Bill joined us for dinner too. We watched football and baseball, and just enjoyed the evening.
Sunday was the main attraction for the weekend - the 28th annual Lil' Chicago Canoe run. I believe this is the 8th year that Lyn and RJ have participated.
The day starts with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. - sausage gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs, coffee, juice, etc. for any and all who want to join. Around 9:00, everyone heads to Sodam Grange. This is the start of the canoe run. The participants and canoes go in the water, filled with beer, jello shots, Jagur-bombs, toilet paper, trash bags, and whatever anyone may need for their ride down the river. It's a beautiful ride...check it out.
This was the first year for the boys. They weren't sure about eating breakfast outside, but loved the sausage gravy and biscuits, along with the powered donuts Mawmaw found. They were excited when they saw the river and woods, and ecstatic once they saw the canoes with people in them. They waved to Uncle RJ and Aunt Lyn, Dick and Tasha, and Joe and Caryn as they started their adventure.
The canoe trip starts at Sodam Grange, and ends at a campsite located on my parents neighbors land. It takes most of the participants a few hours to get to the campsite, so after the boat launch, we went back to the house and Pawpaw took my boys and Knox to go see the moo cows again. When they returned, we went to visit Great Grandma and Pete for a bit, and were surprised to also find Aunt Ree and Uncle Jim there too. The boys had a lot of fun playing with Aunt Ree, and singing their ABC's for Great Grandma. We couldn't stay long, as it was getting to be lunch time, so we headed back to the campsite for lunch.
The boys had been looking forward to playing in the woods all week long. So, when we arrived for lunch, they were more excited about running around and checking everything out. We found some canoes that had already arrived, and we had to check the river out to see if there were any boats coming. Getting them to settle down and eat was a bit challenging, and I'm so grateful for Aunt Lyn's Mac-N-Cheese. They each also ate 1 1/2 hot dogs, and a cupcake. Thank goodness we were outside as the cupcake was messy!
After eating, the boys ran around and played with other kids, and we visited with the other people at the campsite. Around 2:00, I suggested we get on the Gator and go see if we could find where Aunt Lyn and Uncle RJ were, so mom and dad crawled on the front, then Brian and I sat in the back of the gator with our 2 kids and Lyn's 3 kids. It was a full ride!
Baby Nash was so excited to be on the gator. He waved bye-bye to all the people at the camp site, and continued waving his arms and bouncing up and down! The boys were loving being on the gator again, and just being outside!
We found a few boats along the river, but they weren't part of our crew. I believe there were about 24 or so boats this year. I was about to give up and tell dad to head back to the campsite so we could head home when we heard someone. Dad shut the gator off, and here came Lyn running through the woods toward us! RJ was right behind her. We visited with them for a few minutes, and then Lylah decided she had to go potty. Lyn took her potty, and then Knox decided he should go too. Wanting to be a big boy like Knox, Lincoln says "I need to go potty in the woods!" There was no talking him out of it, so we dropped his pants, unhooked his diaper, and let him try. Unfortunately, he hadn't had his milk yet, so as hard as he tried, he just couldn't go. He was very disappointed!
We piled back in the gator, found the other 2 boats full of our crew, enjoyed a few of their jello shots, then headed back to the campsite.
We were saying our goodbyes and getting ready to leave when the last boats (full of our people) came into shore. The bottle of Jagur was nearly gone (and it wasn't a small bottle), so the boaters had a great day. After a few more hugs and goodbyes, we packed up the van and headed back to Cincinnati. Just as we were pulling away from the campsite, it started pouring, so we left at the right time!
Thanks to all our visitors, the Willingers, and my family for making it such a great weekend! We'll definitely be back again for the canoe trip!
Uncle Aaron rode up with us, and the boys provided plenty of entertainment. They laughed and giggled for the first part of the trip as Uncle was tickling them from the back seat, or "scaring them" by saying boo! They eventually settled in for the ride, and started singing songs for Uncle...multiple rounds of the A-B-C's and the unending version of Old MacDonald (I think he had a zoo, not a farm Friday night).
Around 8:30, we stopped at McDonald's in Van Wert to change the boys diapers, and for the rest of us to use the restroom. Uncle bought a Rolo McFlurry, and made the mistake of giving the boys a taste. He ended up sharing it with both of them!
Once back in the van, the boys drank their milk, and went to sleep for the rest of the drive.
A few minutes after arriving at my parents, I was informed that the boys weren't the only ones providing entertainment that night. Somewhere along the way on Friday, the seam of my jeans (the one right up the crack of your butt) had freyed out! Who knows how long the full moon was out on Friday....and I greatly apologize to the man that I bent over in front of at McDonalds!
It was a full house...and camper at my parent's. RJ and Lyn were there with their kids, and RJ's parents rented a camper for the weekend as well. We visited for a bit, then put the boys to bed, drank a few beers, and stayed up till 2:30 in the morning. Typical Friday night with my parents.
Saturday, the boys were up about 6:30. Brian fed them breakfast and got them ready for the day while mommy slept a while longer. Pawpaw took the boys on a gator ride to see the moo cows, but most of the day was just visiting. We met Miss Quinn for the first time, and caught up with her mommy Carrie. Aunt Shirley and Uncle Larry came over to visit with us as well. A beautiful Saturday afternoon.
The boys fell asleep watching TV, so Brian and I snuck out to church with my parents at 4:00. We would have been fine, but we needed to go to the store afterward to get some beer. When we were walking into the house, Dick asked me if I'd been drinking yet...and if not, I might want to as my son had just thrown up.
Not good. It seems Jackson woke up from his nap, and got himself a little bit worked up over the fact that mommy and daddy weren't there. Luckily, he threw up on the blanket, and Uncle RJ was there to save the day (as Uncle Aaron doesn't do puke).
The rest of the night was our usual trip to mom and dads...good food, great friends, and of course, drinks. RJ's friend Joe and his girlfriend Caryn joined the party and stayed the night. Uncle Bill joined us for dinner too. We watched football and baseball, and just enjoyed the evening.
Sunday was the main attraction for the weekend - the 28th annual Lil' Chicago Canoe run. I believe this is the 8th year that Lyn and RJ have participated.
The day starts with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. - sausage gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs, coffee, juice, etc. for any and all who want to join. Around 9:00, everyone heads to Sodam Grange. This is the start of the canoe run. The participants and canoes go in the water, filled with beer, jello shots, Jagur-bombs, toilet paper, trash bags, and whatever anyone may need for their ride down the river. It's a beautiful ride...check it out.
The canoe trip starts at Sodam Grange, and ends at a campsite located on my parents neighbors land. It takes most of the participants a few hours to get to the campsite, so after the boat launch, we went back to the house and Pawpaw took my boys and Knox to go see the moo cows again. When they returned, we went to visit Great Grandma and Pete for a bit, and were surprised to also find Aunt Ree and Uncle Jim there too. The boys had a lot of fun playing with Aunt Ree, and singing their ABC's for Great Grandma. We couldn't stay long, as it was getting to be lunch time, so we headed back to the campsite for lunch.
The boys had been looking forward to playing in the woods all week long. So, when we arrived for lunch, they were more excited about running around and checking everything out. We found some canoes that had already arrived, and we had to check the river out to see if there were any boats coming. Getting them to settle down and eat was a bit challenging, and I'm so grateful for Aunt Lyn's Mac-N-Cheese. They each also ate 1 1/2 hot dogs, and a cupcake. Thank goodness we were outside as the cupcake was messy!
After eating, the boys ran around and played with other kids, and we visited with the other people at the campsite. Around 2:00, I suggested we get on the Gator and go see if we could find where Aunt Lyn and Uncle RJ were, so mom and dad crawled on the front, then Brian and I sat in the back of the gator with our 2 kids and Lyn's 3 kids. It was a full ride!
Baby Nash was so excited to be on the gator. He waved bye-bye to all the people at the camp site, and continued waving his arms and bouncing up and down! The boys were loving being on the gator again, and just being outside!
We found a few boats along the river, but they weren't part of our crew. I believe there were about 24 or so boats this year. I was about to give up and tell dad to head back to the campsite so we could head home when we heard someone. Dad shut the gator off, and here came Lyn running through the woods toward us! RJ was right behind her. We visited with them for a few minutes, and then Lylah decided she had to go potty. Lyn took her potty, and then Knox decided he should go too. Wanting to be a big boy like Knox, Lincoln says "I need to go potty in the woods!" There was no talking him out of it, so we dropped his pants, unhooked his diaper, and let him try. Unfortunately, he hadn't had his milk yet, so as hard as he tried, he just couldn't go. He was very disappointed!
We piled back in the gator, found the other 2 boats full of our crew, enjoyed a few of their jello shots, then headed back to the campsite.
We were saying our goodbyes and getting ready to leave when the last boats (full of our people) came into shore. The bottle of Jagur was nearly gone (and it wasn't a small bottle), so the boaters had a great day. After a few more hugs and goodbyes, we packed up the van and headed back to Cincinnati. Just as we were pulling away from the campsite, it started pouring, so we left at the right time!
Thanks to all our visitors, the Willingers, and my family for making it such a great weekend! We'll definitely be back again for the canoe trip!
Do all kids remember things?
Each day, I am more astounded by the things the boys remember!
Maybe it's not uncommon at their age, but I'm amazed.
Here are a few examples from yesterday:
1) We count the school buses we see each morning. This helps to reinforce counting, and the boys love their school buses (it's what they are thankful for almost every night at bedtime prayer!). When we picked the boys up from daycare yesterday, we saw a school bus (rare for the evening commute). So, I asked the boys if they remembered how many school buses they saw yesterday morning. I was expecting silence, or for them to just start counting, but instead Lincoln piped up and said "Seven. We saw seven school buses this morning." He was right! We saw eight this morning, so I'm going to see if it was just a lucky guess yesterday or not!
2) One thing we learned at Open House last night was that they have been teaching the kids about 9-1-1, and when to use it (not when we need help putting our shoes on, but if there is a fire, or you can't wake mommy or daddy). I assume it originated since October is fire prevention month, and the firetruck visited daycare.
On the video at open house, the kids were learning a special song about 9-1-1.
When we were putting the boys to bed last night, Brian asked the boys what number we call when we need help - they both answered him with a resounding 9-1-1! I never would have thought about teaching them about 9-1-1, but we will definitely be reinforcing this at home now!
Maybe it's not uncommon at their age, but I'm amazed.
Here are a few examples from yesterday:
1) We count the school buses we see each morning. This helps to reinforce counting, and the boys love their school buses (it's what they are thankful for almost every night at bedtime prayer!). When we picked the boys up from daycare yesterday, we saw a school bus (rare for the evening commute). So, I asked the boys if they remembered how many school buses they saw yesterday morning. I was expecting silence, or for them to just start counting, but instead Lincoln piped up and said "Seven. We saw seven school buses this morning." He was right! We saw eight this morning, so I'm going to see if it was just a lucky guess yesterday or not!
2) One thing we learned at Open House last night was that they have been teaching the kids about 9-1-1, and when to use it (not when we need help putting our shoes on, but if there is a fire, or you can't wake mommy or daddy). I assume it originated since October is fire prevention month, and the firetruck visited daycare.
On the video at open house, the kids were learning a special song about 9-1-1.
When we were putting the boys to bed last night, Brian asked the boys what number we call when we need help - they both answered him with a resounding 9-1-1! I never would have thought about teaching them about 9-1-1, but we will definitely be reinforcing this at home now!
It's started already....
Every parent knows that the day will come when their sweet little baby will start rebelling, and will vocalize just how unhappy they are with their parents. I always imagined it would be at age 12 or 13...not at 2, almost 3. I was wrong.
I don't remember what I did or asked Lincoln to do, but suddenly, he stopped, looked at me, and said, "Mommy, I don't like you!"
My first reaction was wow...did that really just happen? The shock must have shown on my face because I heard Brian very calmly say, "He said that to me yesterday."
I took a deep breath. I knew he didn't really mean it, but also knew I had to deal with this.
I marched over to Lincoln, looked at him and said, "I don't care if you don't like me. I love you...and I always will."
I heard a "No! No Mommy!", then silence as I walked out of the room. Then I heard him call..."I love you too Mommy!"
I know we have more work to do here. I want to teach the boys to be respectful. It's ok to not like something they are asked to do, but its not alright to lash out at the person. They should express their displeasure with the request - not the person.
I know I went through those feelings with my parents. No matter how angry I got at them, I still loved them. I know we will have challenges with the boys, and I want to help them understand how to focus their feelings appropriately. Being a parent is so much more than changing dirty diapers and giving baths...that stuff is tiring, but the really hard part is teaching your children values, molding them into the people they will become. Before becoming a mom, I never understood the immense responsibility of a parent. I pray that some day my boys will look back and say what a great mom I was, realizing it wasn't all roses, but knowing that I was only trying to make them the best men possible.
My love, respect, and appreciation for my parents grows more and more each day.
They raised 5 independent, responsible kids.
They were our parents, not our friends.
They had rules, and when rules were broken, there were consequences.
They were strict with us, but always had our best interest at heart.
And most importantly, they were independent and responsible. They taught by example.
I'm confident that Brian and I will raise independent and responsible kids as well. Why? Because it's a family tradition that I want to carry on. We work each day to instill values in our kids, values that I trust will lead them to make good decisions, and define their character. I look forward to the day when our relationship will shift - we will be friends with our kids, and build new relationships with our grandkids. A day when we will be proud of the young men that they have become, know we lived and taught by example, and pray that our boys will value and continue that family tradition.
I don't remember what I did or asked Lincoln to do, but suddenly, he stopped, looked at me, and said, "Mommy, I don't like you!"
My first reaction was wow...did that really just happen? The shock must have shown on my face because I heard Brian very calmly say, "He said that to me yesterday."
I took a deep breath. I knew he didn't really mean it, but also knew I had to deal with this.
I marched over to Lincoln, looked at him and said, "I don't care if you don't like me. I love you...and I always will."
I heard a "No! No Mommy!", then silence as I walked out of the room. Then I heard him call..."I love you too Mommy!"
I know we have more work to do here. I want to teach the boys to be respectful. It's ok to not like something they are asked to do, but its not alright to lash out at the person. They should express their displeasure with the request - not the person.
I know I went through those feelings with my parents. No matter how angry I got at them, I still loved them. I know we will have challenges with the boys, and I want to help them understand how to focus their feelings appropriately. Being a parent is so much more than changing dirty diapers and giving baths...that stuff is tiring, but the really hard part is teaching your children values, molding them into the people they will become. Before becoming a mom, I never understood the immense responsibility of a parent. I pray that some day my boys will look back and say what a great mom I was, realizing it wasn't all roses, but knowing that I was only trying to make them the best men possible.
My love, respect, and appreciation for my parents grows more and more each day.
They raised 5 independent, responsible kids.
- We bring our kids to visit their grandparents, watching the amazing relationship form between the generations. Why? Because I cherish the memories that I have of my grandparents...garage saling with Grandma Wappes, and begging Grandma Muehlfeld for a cookie out of the freezer. I want my kids to have those memories as well.
- We are socially responsible - giving to charity and getting involved in community events like Relay for Life. Why? Because I am thankful for all the blessings I have in my life, and want to help those who are less fortunate. Plus, I want a better, brighter future for my kids.
- We have a close and loving relationship with our parents. Why? Because I recognize all the sacrifices my parents made for me and my brothers and sisters. Spending time with them is the best way of repaying them for everything they have done for me. .
They were our parents, not our friends.
They had rules, and when rules were broken, there were consequences.
They were strict with us, but always had our best interest at heart.
And most importantly, they were independent and responsible. They taught by example.
I'm confident that Brian and I will raise independent and responsible kids as well. Why? Because it's a family tradition that I want to carry on. We work each day to instill values in our kids, values that I trust will lead them to make good decisions, and define their character. I look forward to the day when our relationship will shift - we will be friends with our kids, and build new relationships with our grandkids. A day when we will be proud of the young men that they have become, know we lived and taught by example, and pray that our boys will value and continue that family tradition.
Open House
Last night was Open House at the boys school.
Background:
The boys daycare does Open House twice a year. I went for the first time in April, and really enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the teachers, and find more out about what they do all day long. A few weeks ago, we found out there was another open house coming up, and I suggested Brian go this time. I could sense he wasn't really comfortable going by himself...just not a situation he wanted to be in alone.
Finding a babysitter:
Unfortunately, Brian and I don't get out a lot. There are 2 reasons for this:
1) Through the week, we leave them for about 10 hours a day, so we want to soak up every minute outside of that with them.
2) Asking someone to watch twins is a big undertaking. I never worry about the boys being taken care of, but I worry about the whole situation stressing the babysitter out! My parents have watched the boys a few times, and my brother and Scott have watched them once. Each time we leave them, it's stressful. The boys cry, and it can be hard to get them settled down.
Knowing that Brian probably wouldn't go to Open House by himself, I started thinking about finding a baby sitter. My parents live too far away to watch the boys on a random Wednesday night, so they were out. I asked my brother if he would be available...and he was able to rearrange his schedule to help us out.
We had a sitter. Check. Next, we had to prepare the boys to (hopefully) make it an easy transition.
Monday night at dinner, we asked the boys if they wanted Uncle and Scott to come over and watch a movie. Lincoln was excited, but also said that Mommy and Daddy were going to watch the movie too! When we explained to him that we were going to go talk to his teachers, Jackson emphatically said "I go see Miss Monica too. No watch movie with Uncle!"
(Did I mention before how stressful it can be to leave?)
We let the subject go, and brought it up again the next night...that Uncle and Scott were coming over to watch a movie. Lincoln was again excited, Jackson was skeptical. We again let the subject go.
When we got home last night, we started talking about how we were going to all have dinner, and then take a bath before Uncle arrived. We talked about how Uncle was coming to watch a movie, and told the boys if they ate their dinner and behaved, they could have a treat with Uncle - ice cream with chocolate syrup! They both ate their bowl of White Chicken Chili (they LOVED it), and were even cooperative in the bath tub. We were just finishing getting them dressed when Uncle arrived.
I was a little nervous as Scott wasn't with him. Scott handled the melt-down last time. However, the boys brushed their teeth, and sat down on the couch to watch the movie. As the movie was getting started, I reminded the boys that mommy and daddy were going to an appointment (we didn't mention school, knowing Jackson would want to go with us), and that they were going to stay with Uncle, watch a movie, and eat ice cream. I assured them we would be home before they went to bed, and each of them gave me a hug and a kiss goodbye. Then, they gave Brian a hug and a kiss as well, waved bye-bye, and watched the movie. That was it. We walked out of the house, and not a tear was shed! We were so proud of the boys...and Uncle was relieved!
The actual open house:
We arrived at open house right on time. We watched some video of the kids doing various activities (eating lunch, singing songs, playing outside, etc.) for the first 10 minutes or so, then we checked out the artwork and things on the walls in their classroom. The director of the school was there, and she came over to talk to us. I explained that Brian hadn't ever been to this part of the school, so she gave us a tour of all the classrooms, and shared with us the differences for each level. She walked us through a typical day for the boys too - explaining circle time, the stations, outside play, meal times, and nap time. It was a lot of information, but definitely helps a parent feel better about leaving their child at daycare.
Brian and I had some questions for her as well, based on things the boys have told us.
1) Breakfast - we get the boys up at 6:00 each morning, put them on the potty, feed them breakfast, then get them dressed for the day. About 2 weeks ago, Jackson made a comment about helping Miss Sally (the school cook) clean up breakfast. He's a helper, so I didn't think anything of it. However, then Lincoln made a comment one day about having breakfast with Miss Sally - "she gives me muffins"!
I was a bit shocked and concerned. How much ARE my boys eating each day? Plus, we are supposed to pay extra for breakfast!
So, we asked the director how breakfast works. She first of all told us that breakfast is now included in the tuition price (a change I evidently missed....so no worries on the extra money thing). However, she was concerned that we didn't WANT the boys eating breakfast there. We assured her that its fine, we will just ensure they are getting lighter breakfasts at home!
The director and the boys teacher both assured us that the boys are GOOD eaters. They often times ask for a second serving of most things, but eat almost anything.
Guess this explains why we are buying 4T pajamas!
2) TV time - the past few weeks, Brian and I have been a bit concerned about how much TV they are watching at daycare. Each day they were telling us about shows they had watched that day - sometimes listing 5 or 6 shows! So, we asked the director, and the boys teacher last night how much TV they watch at school. They were a bit dumbfounded by our question, but told us they have "movie time" on Friday afternoons where they watch videos, and that kids there after 6:00 at night watch videos to allow the aids to clean their classrooms for the night.
When we told them the boys tell us they watch it everyday, they were blown away! Evidently our little guys have quite the imagination! However, we are confused as to how they know some of the things they know - must be their friends singing songs or telling them things!
3) Potty training - the ultimate goal is to have the boys potty trained before they move into their next room (when they turn 3). We discussed what the boys have been doing potty training wise at home, shared with them that the boys are talking more about it (they know which kids at school wear "big boy pants", and last weekend Lincoln watched Knox), and inquired about diapers vs. pull-ups. Since the boys are showing interest, they will start trying to work with them at school more now, and Miss Monica gave us some suggestions for how to help the process along at home too. So, today we took in both diapers and pull-ups. Anxious to see how it goes today!
Summary:
Overall, I believe that our boys must be pretty good kids. In the video, we could see they were paying attention most of the time, singing along with the songs, and doing what they were asked. At lunch, they were sitting in their chairs and eating like they are supposed to. They were patiently waiting in line to see the firetruck, and so happy when they were swinging outside.
We asked the teacher about their behavior - they mention how much the boys wrestle at school, and I just want to make sure they are only beating each other up. They assured me that it's really just Jackson picking on Lincoln - they don't bother the other kids, but if that changes, they will definitely let us know.
I think the people at daycare enjoy our boys. Everyone knows who they are, and it still cracks them up that they spend SO MUCH time together. They know they are good eaters, and they know their personalities. Last night, Miss Monica commented as she was buckling the boys in the van that she just loves how they giggle EVERY day on their way out to the van. They are happy to see us! She said they giggle throughout the day with each other, but it is a different giggle when they know mommy and daddy are there to pick them up. They are excited to see us and go home. I thought that was normal for kids, but evidently not!
I'm a very happy and proud mommy today....and I love my boys immensely. I hope the giggles are their way of telling us that they know how much we love them, and that they love us too!
Background:
The boys daycare does Open House twice a year. I went for the first time in April, and really enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the teachers, and find more out about what they do all day long. A few weeks ago, we found out there was another open house coming up, and I suggested Brian go this time. I could sense he wasn't really comfortable going by himself...just not a situation he wanted to be in alone.
Finding a babysitter:
Unfortunately, Brian and I don't get out a lot. There are 2 reasons for this:
1) Through the week, we leave them for about 10 hours a day, so we want to soak up every minute outside of that with them.
2) Asking someone to watch twins is a big undertaking. I never worry about the boys being taken care of, but I worry about the whole situation stressing the babysitter out! My parents have watched the boys a few times, and my brother and Scott have watched them once. Each time we leave them, it's stressful. The boys cry, and it can be hard to get them settled down.
Knowing that Brian probably wouldn't go to Open House by himself, I started thinking about finding a baby sitter. My parents live too far away to watch the boys on a random Wednesday night, so they were out. I asked my brother if he would be available...and he was able to rearrange his schedule to help us out.
We had a sitter. Check. Next, we had to prepare the boys to (hopefully) make it an easy transition.
Monday night at dinner, we asked the boys if they wanted Uncle and Scott to come over and watch a movie. Lincoln was excited, but also said that Mommy and Daddy were going to watch the movie too! When we explained to him that we were going to go talk to his teachers, Jackson emphatically said "I go see Miss Monica too. No watch movie with Uncle!"
(Did I mention before how stressful it can be to leave?)
We let the subject go, and brought it up again the next night...that Uncle and Scott were coming over to watch a movie. Lincoln was again excited, Jackson was skeptical. We again let the subject go.
When we got home last night, we started talking about how we were going to all have dinner, and then take a bath before Uncle arrived. We talked about how Uncle was coming to watch a movie, and told the boys if they ate their dinner and behaved, they could have a treat with Uncle - ice cream with chocolate syrup! They both ate their bowl of White Chicken Chili (they LOVED it), and were even cooperative in the bath tub. We were just finishing getting them dressed when Uncle arrived.
I was a little nervous as Scott wasn't with him. Scott handled the melt-down last time. However, the boys brushed their teeth, and sat down on the couch to watch the movie. As the movie was getting started, I reminded the boys that mommy and daddy were going to an appointment (we didn't mention school, knowing Jackson would want to go with us), and that they were going to stay with Uncle, watch a movie, and eat ice cream. I assured them we would be home before they went to bed, and each of them gave me a hug and a kiss goodbye. Then, they gave Brian a hug and a kiss as well, waved bye-bye, and watched the movie. That was it. We walked out of the house, and not a tear was shed! We were so proud of the boys...and Uncle was relieved!
The actual open house:
We arrived at open house right on time. We watched some video of the kids doing various activities (eating lunch, singing songs, playing outside, etc.) for the first 10 minutes or so, then we checked out the artwork and things on the walls in their classroom. The director of the school was there, and she came over to talk to us. I explained that Brian hadn't ever been to this part of the school, so she gave us a tour of all the classrooms, and shared with us the differences for each level. She walked us through a typical day for the boys too - explaining circle time, the stations, outside play, meal times, and nap time. It was a lot of information, but definitely helps a parent feel better about leaving their child at daycare.
Brian and I had some questions for her as well, based on things the boys have told us.
1) Breakfast - we get the boys up at 6:00 each morning, put them on the potty, feed them breakfast, then get them dressed for the day. About 2 weeks ago, Jackson made a comment about helping Miss Sally (the school cook) clean up breakfast. He's a helper, so I didn't think anything of it. However, then Lincoln made a comment one day about having breakfast with Miss Sally - "she gives me muffins"!
I was a bit shocked and concerned. How much ARE my boys eating each day? Plus, we are supposed to pay extra for breakfast!
So, we asked the director how breakfast works. She first of all told us that breakfast is now included in the tuition price (a change I evidently missed....so no worries on the extra money thing). However, she was concerned that we didn't WANT the boys eating breakfast there. We assured her that its fine, we will just ensure they are getting lighter breakfasts at home!
The director and the boys teacher both assured us that the boys are GOOD eaters. They often times ask for a second serving of most things, but eat almost anything.
Guess this explains why we are buying 4T pajamas!
2) TV time - the past few weeks, Brian and I have been a bit concerned about how much TV they are watching at daycare. Each day they were telling us about shows they had watched that day - sometimes listing 5 or 6 shows! So, we asked the director, and the boys teacher last night how much TV they watch at school. They were a bit dumbfounded by our question, but told us they have "movie time" on Friday afternoons where they watch videos, and that kids there after 6:00 at night watch videos to allow the aids to clean their classrooms for the night.
When we told them the boys tell us they watch it everyday, they were blown away! Evidently our little guys have quite the imagination! However, we are confused as to how they know some of the things they know - must be their friends singing songs or telling them things!
3) Potty training - the ultimate goal is to have the boys potty trained before they move into their next room (when they turn 3). We discussed what the boys have been doing potty training wise at home, shared with them that the boys are talking more about it (they know which kids at school wear "big boy pants", and last weekend Lincoln watched Knox), and inquired about diapers vs. pull-ups. Since the boys are showing interest, they will start trying to work with them at school more now, and Miss Monica gave us some suggestions for how to help the process along at home too. So, today we took in both diapers and pull-ups. Anxious to see how it goes today!
Summary:
Overall, I believe that our boys must be pretty good kids. In the video, we could see they were paying attention most of the time, singing along with the songs, and doing what they were asked. At lunch, they were sitting in their chairs and eating like they are supposed to. They were patiently waiting in line to see the firetruck, and so happy when they were swinging outside.
We asked the teacher about their behavior - they mention how much the boys wrestle at school, and I just want to make sure they are only beating each other up. They assured me that it's really just Jackson picking on Lincoln - they don't bother the other kids, but if that changes, they will definitely let us know.
I think the people at daycare enjoy our boys. Everyone knows who they are, and it still cracks them up that they spend SO MUCH time together. They know they are good eaters, and they know their personalities. Last night, Miss Monica commented as she was buckling the boys in the van that she just loves how they giggle EVERY day on their way out to the van. They are happy to see us! She said they giggle throughout the day with each other, but it is a different giggle when they know mommy and daddy are there to pick them up. They are excited to see us and go home. I thought that was normal for kids, but evidently not!
I'm a very happy and proud mommy today....and I love my boys immensely. I hope the giggles are their way of telling us that they know how much we love them, and that they love us too!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Bedtime has changed....
Overall, bedtime is pretty easy in our house. Most of the time we are able to take the boys up to bed, give them a hug and a kiss, tell them good night, and leave the room. We've had a few spells (including the last month or so) where the boys have asked for us to rock them, or to lay on the floor with them for "2 minutes". Sometimes we oblige, sometimes we don't.
Lately, bedtime has seemed very chaotic to me. We try to say a prayer at night and thank God for all the wonderful blessing and fun things in our day....but with two chatty 2 1/2 year olds, it hasn't been easy. They want to rock, but they don't want to sit still anymore either. Chaos frustrates me...so daddy has been doing a better job of putting them to bed over the past few weeks.
But something changed this week, and I'm not sure what it was. We still (try) to say our prayer when we get upstairs, but the boys aren't really all that interested in rocking anymore. Their new thing is to show us how they can crawl into their beds on their own! This is pretty impressive since they are still in cribs. Now, they both go and crawl into their beds, then Brian and I give them hugs and kisses goodnight and tuck them in.
They picked up on something that I hadn't even noticed - I usually tell Lincoln to "sleep tight", and I tell Jackson "sweet dreams" - so now, they yell to us as we close the door those sayings and that they love us (even though they've already told us about 10 times already).
Last night, we went through our new routine, tucked the boys in, and headed back downstairs. When we turned the monitor on downstairs, we could still hear Jackson chatting away. He was telling Lincoln a story, and singing a song, and then all of a sudden we heard him yelling "I love you Mommy and Daddy!" He said it about 3 times, then just went to sleep. It was so sweet.
Keeping my fingers crossed that bedtime will return to being very easy, and the chaos is starting to settle!
Lately, bedtime has seemed very chaotic to me. We try to say a prayer at night and thank God for all the wonderful blessing and fun things in our day....but with two chatty 2 1/2 year olds, it hasn't been easy. They want to rock, but they don't want to sit still anymore either. Chaos frustrates me...so daddy has been doing a better job of putting them to bed over the past few weeks.
But something changed this week, and I'm not sure what it was. We still (try) to say our prayer when we get upstairs, but the boys aren't really all that interested in rocking anymore. Their new thing is to show us how they can crawl into their beds on their own! This is pretty impressive since they are still in cribs. Now, they both go and crawl into their beds, then Brian and I give them hugs and kisses goodnight and tuck them in.
They picked up on something that I hadn't even noticed - I usually tell Lincoln to "sleep tight", and I tell Jackson "sweet dreams" - so now, they yell to us as we close the door those sayings and that they love us (even though they've already told us about 10 times already).
Last night, we went through our new routine, tucked the boys in, and headed back downstairs. When we turned the monitor on downstairs, we could still hear Jackson chatting away. He was telling Lincoln a story, and singing a song, and then all of a sudden we heard him yelling "I love you Mommy and Daddy!" He said it about 3 times, then just went to sleep. It was so sweet.
Keeping my fingers crossed that bedtime will return to being very easy, and the chaos is starting to settle!
Random stuff....
- This week is fire prevention week. On Wednesday when we picked the boys up from daycare, they were wearing red firehats! When they got in the van, they immediately told us that they got to sit on the firetruck! They were both so excited! They wore their hats most of the night....then I think Daddy made the hats disappear, as I haven't seen them since!
- My boys are definitely Harts. They love their sweets. They (like their daddy) think that every time I go to the grocery store, I should buy them donuts. They even remind me that they really like the blue donuts....and of course, daddy likes the cinnamon roll with maple frosting - but only if it has nuts!
- The boys also really love ice cream with chocolate syrup. We were out of ice cream, but I needed to go to Sam's Club to get something Tuesday night, so we picked some up as a special treat since Daddy went to the Red's game. It was supposed to be our little secret, but Wednesday morning, Lincoln asked for ice cream for breakfast. Daddy told him we didn't have any, but Lincoln ratted me out! He told Daddy that he had some the night before, and that Mommy bought more!
- Lincoln stopped to pet "the dog" again this morning. This time, he even turned around to make sure we were watching him!
- Only 6 weeks to Thanksgiving, and just over 10 weeks till Christmas!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Morning funnies....
Some of you get your laughs from the comics. Mine just show up randomly in my everyday life.
Take this morning for example....
I put Jackson in his car seat to go to daycare, and Brian put Lincoln in his seat. Lincoln cooperated and was all strapped in when I was still trying to get Jackson to sit down. It was a bit chilly, so Brian told me he was going to jump in and warm the van up. When Brian started the van, it startled Jackson, and he looked at me and said, "Oh no Mommy! Daddy is leaving you!"
I assured Jackson that Daddy wasn't leaving me, and finished buckling Jackson in. I always get my "goodbye" hug and kiss at this point, as they get the boys out of the van at daycare. This morning, Jackson insisted I do the "kissy face" for him before he would give me a kiss. The "kissy face" is just sucking my cheeks in like a fish kiss, but Jackson thinks it is hilarious right now. So, I showed him, and got my kiss and hug.
I jump in the van (so that Daddy doesn't leave me), and Lincoln exclaims that he wants the "kissy face" too! Unfortunately, Daddy had already shut Lincoln's door, and we were running tight on time (as usual), so I did the kissy face for him from the front seat, and we blew kisses. Sometimes, they are easy to please.
When we got to daycare, no one came out right away to get the boys. Since I hadn't gotten my "goodbye" kiss from Lincoln, we unbuckled both the boys and Lincoln leaned up and gave me some kisses. Then all of a sudden, he exclaims, "I need a hug too!"
Finally, Miss Katie came out to get the boys. We always wait until they are in the building (don't want to run them over) before we leave. So, I'm watching them walk toward the door, and suddenly see Lincoln step over to the side. There is a dog statue (I guess that's what you'd call it - it's made out of like wicker/sticks, but looks like a real dog). Lincoln walked over and petted the dog! I was completely cracking up laughing!
Mornings like today are what gets me through the hard times....
Take this morning for example....
I put Jackson in his car seat to go to daycare, and Brian put Lincoln in his seat. Lincoln cooperated and was all strapped in when I was still trying to get Jackson to sit down. It was a bit chilly, so Brian told me he was going to jump in and warm the van up. When Brian started the van, it startled Jackson, and he looked at me and said, "Oh no Mommy! Daddy is leaving you!"
I assured Jackson that Daddy wasn't leaving me, and finished buckling Jackson in. I always get my "goodbye" hug and kiss at this point, as they get the boys out of the van at daycare. This morning, Jackson insisted I do the "kissy face" for him before he would give me a kiss. The "kissy face" is just sucking my cheeks in like a fish kiss, but Jackson thinks it is hilarious right now. So, I showed him, and got my kiss and hug.
I jump in the van (so that Daddy doesn't leave me), and Lincoln exclaims that he wants the "kissy face" too! Unfortunately, Daddy had already shut Lincoln's door, and we were running tight on time (as usual), so I did the kissy face for him from the front seat, and we blew kisses. Sometimes, they are easy to please.
When we got to daycare, no one came out right away to get the boys. Since I hadn't gotten my "goodbye" kiss from Lincoln, we unbuckled both the boys and Lincoln leaned up and gave me some kisses. Then all of a sudden, he exclaims, "I need a hug too!"
Finally, Miss Katie came out to get the boys. We always wait until they are in the building (don't want to run them over) before we leave. So, I'm watching them walk toward the door, and suddenly see Lincoln step over to the side. There is a dog statue (I guess that's what you'd call it - it's made out of like wicker/sticks, but looks like a real dog). Lincoln walked over and petted the dog! I was completely cracking up laughing!
Mornings like today are what gets me through the hard times....
Leveling the score....
Being a parent is hard. Being a parent of multiples (even more than one child, even different ages) is harder.
I am one of 5 kids. Now that we are all grown, we often times razz my parents about playing favorites.
"You made HER favorite meal. Well, she always was your favorite."
"He got a bigger piece of cake than me - there you go babying him again."
My mom has gotten pretty good at replying to these insinuations over the years..."I baby all my kids, just at different times." or "Of course she/he is my favorite....at least today. Maybe you will be tomorrow."
With twins, I find it hard to really keep things "equal". They have the same birthday, and rarely agree on what they want to eat, so how would we choose who's favorite meal they get? They are learning basically the same things at the same time, so we can't make a big deal about accomplishments without making the other one feel bad. Even on this blog, I try not to post a story about one without having a story about the other one too.
It's hard to be a parent of multiples. Especially twins. Especially twins with VERY different personalities!
From time to time, Brian and I discuss the equality balance. Often times, we feel we have a lot of stories about Jackson. Is it because....
So, I'm just going to share stories, and quit trying to make sure I keep things equal.
I am one of 5 kids. Now that we are all grown, we often times razz my parents about playing favorites.
"You made HER favorite meal. Well, she always was your favorite."
"He got a bigger piece of cake than me - there you go babying him again."
My mom has gotten pretty good at replying to these insinuations over the years..."I baby all my kids, just at different times." or "Of course she/he is my favorite....at least today. Maybe you will be tomorrow."
With twins, I find it hard to really keep things "equal". They have the same birthday, and rarely agree on what they want to eat, so how would we choose who's favorite meal they get? They are learning basically the same things at the same time, so we can't make a big deal about accomplishments without making the other one feel bad. Even on this blog, I try not to post a story about one without having a story about the other one too.
It's hard to be a parent of multiples. Especially twins. Especially twins with VERY different personalities!
From time to time, Brian and I discuss the equality balance. Often times, we feel we have a lot of stories about Jackson. Is it because....
- he's really learning more things than Lincoln?
- he has the more dominant personality?
- he's more of a "momma's boy" vs. Lincoln is more of a "daddy's boy"?
So, I'm just going to share stories, and quit trying to make sure I keep things equal.
Finger puppets....
A few weeks ago, Lincoln was playing with a door at daycare, and he smashed his finger. It turned black and blue, and I knew instantly that he would eventually loose his fingernail.
I noticed last weekend that it was getting loose, so I trimmed the nail down as much as I could. However, I don't want to cut too much off and leave his tender flesh exposed. I'm also concerned he is going to catch the loose nail on something and tear it off.
The logical answer to this dilemma is a band aid. However, Lincoln for some reason despises band aids. When he fell and got a cut on his forehead on vacation, we only convinced him to put one on at night so his pillow didn't get bloody, but he refused to wear one during the day.
So, last weekend, I tried to reason with him. I found the smallest band aid we had, and sat down with Lincoln. I showed him how tiny it was, and how I was going to wrap it around the very tip of his finger. Unlike the bright colored ones we put on his head, this one was brown, so it would blend in and NO one would know he had a boo-boo. I was trying to explain to him that it was really important that he wear the band aid to keep him from getting a bigger boo-boo, when he interrupted me.
"Oh - it will be like a finger puppet mommy!"
My mind was wondering where he came up with this one. Then I remembered that he had seen a cartoon where the kids had made finger puppets, and they put on a puppet show for their friends!
So, I ran with it. "Sure buddy, it will be like a finger puppet. Mommy will even draw a little face on it if you like."
That was all it took. He patiently waits for me to put the bandaid on each day, and holds steady while I get out the black Sharpie marker and draw a smiley face on his band aid, miraculously turning it into a finger puppet.
I thought this was our little secret, but yesterday morning I felt compelled to talk to daycare to let them know that he had a band aid on his finger, and to please watch it so that if it comes off, he doesn't tear his nail. The nice woman laughed hysterically when I brought it up and said, "Oh, we know all about his band aid. He's been calling it his finger puppet all week!"
So glad that I can turn a boo-boo into such joy for my son....and also for the daycare employees. I'm sure they think I am the nuttiest mom in the world!
I noticed last weekend that it was getting loose, so I trimmed the nail down as much as I could. However, I don't want to cut too much off and leave his tender flesh exposed. I'm also concerned he is going to catch the loose nail on something and tear it off.
The logical answer to this dilemma is a band aid. However, Lincoln for some reason despises band aids. When he fell and got a cut on his forehead on vacation, we only convinced him to put one on at night so his pillow didn't get bloody, but he refused to wear one during the day.
So, last weekend, I tried to reason with him. I found the smallest band aid we had, and sat down with Lincoln. I showed him how tiny it was, and how I was going to wrap it around the very tip of his finger. Unlike the bright colored ones we put on his head, this one was brown, so it would blend in and NO one would know he had a boo-boo. I was trying to explain to him that it was really important that he wear the band aid to keep him from getting a bigger boo-boo, when he interrupted me.
"Oh - it will be like a finger puppet mommy!"
My mind was wondering where he came up with this one. Then I remembered that he had seen a cartoon where the kids had made finger puppets, and they put on a puppet show for their friends!
So, I ran with it. "Sure buddy, it will be like a finger puppet. Mommy will even draw a little face on it if you like."
That was all it took. He patiently waits for me to put the bandaid on each day, and holds steady while I get out the black Sharpie marker and draw a smiley face on his band aid, miraculously turning it into a finger puppet.
I thought this was our little secret, but yesterday morning I felt compelled to talk to daycare to let them know that he had a band aid on his finger, and to please watch it so that if it comes off, he doesn't tear his nail. The nice woman laughed hysterically when I brought it up and said, "Oh, we know all about his band aid. He's been calling it his finger puppet all week!"
So glad that I can turn a boo-boo into such joy for my son....and also for the daycare employees. I'm sure they think I am the nuttiest mom in the world!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Saturday pictures...
Saturday was a bit chilly, but the sun was shining (which we hadn't expected), so we took the boys for a small walk around the neighborhood. About half way through our walk, Jackson found a piece of sidewalk that had broken off, and he picked up his "rock". We continued down the sidewalk a bit, then he stopped and squatted down into a catcher's stance. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but then I saw him pull the "rock" up to his face, and heard him say, "I'm taking a picture of the mud. Say cheese mud!" He was pretending his "rock" was a camera!
He proceeded to take several pictures of the mud, some pictures of the flowers, and even some pictures of the pool with his pretend camera. Each time, he would tell the inanimate objects to say cheese. It was completely adorable!
(OK....maybe I have taken TOO many pictures of them!).
He proceeded to take several pictures of the mud, some pictures of the flowers, and even some pictures of the pool with his pretend camera. Each time, he would tell the inanimate objects to say cheese. It was completely adorable!
(OK....maybe I have taken TOO many pictures of them!).
Friday night family time....
Friday night after work, we headed to Dewey's for dinner. Dewey's is a Cincinnati pizza place, and Brian has been craving their Southwest BBQ chicken pizza.
We arrived just before 6:00, and we got a table right away. They put us at a corner table with windows on both sides. The table was perfect for us. We had enough room to put the boys on the inside and we could sit beside them on the bench seats - so they couldn't escape. The windows overlooked the street traffic so we could point out yellow cars, and we could also see the small pond out front. The pond included ducks, which the boys counted several times. The entertainment for the boys helped fill the wait time for our food.
We ordered a 17" pizza and a side salad which Brian and I split. The pizza was half the Southwest BBQ chicken, and half extreme pepperoni (for the boys). We gave each of the boys a slice of pepperoni pizza, but they insisted they did NOT want it cut up. Lincoln started working on the crust right away, while Jackson slowly pulled the pepperoni off and ate it.
Brian reached for a half piece of the BBQ chicken pizza, but Lincoln's pepperoni was gone, and he wanted more. So, Lincoln ate the last half piece of BBQ chicken pizza! Jackson finished his piece, and he wanted more, but he wasn't settling for a half - he wanted the whole piece of pepperoni pizza that was left! He shared a few bites with Lincoln, but finished every last bite.
I thought we would have some pizza to take home, but it was GONE. The boys ate more than I expected, and so did Brian!
We arrived just before 6:00, and we got a table right away. They put us at a corner table with windows on both sides. The table was perfect for us. We had enough room to put the boys on the inside and we could sit beside them on the bench seats - so they couldn't escape. The windows overlooked the street traffic so we could point out yellow cars, and we could also see the small pond out front. The pond included ducks, which the boys counted several times. The entertainment for the boys helped fill the wait time for our food.
We ordered a 17" pizza and a side salad which Brian and I split. The pizza was half the Southwest BBQ chicken, and half extreme pepperoni (for the boys). We gave each of the boys a slice of pepperoni pizza, but they insisted they did NOT want it cut up. Lincoln started working on the crust right away, while Jackson slowly pulled the pepperoni off and ate it.
Brian reached for a half piece of the BBQ chicken pizza, but Lincoln's pepperoni was gone, and he wanted more. So, Lincoln ate the last half piece of BBQ chicken pizza! Jackson finished his piece, and he wanted more, but he wasn't settling for a half - he wanted the whole piece of pepperoni pizza that was left! He shared a few bites with Lincoln, but finished every last bite.
I thought we would have some pizza to take home, but it was GONE. The boys ate more than I expected, and so did Brian!
A walk in the park
Leaving Hocking Hills and returning to work/Chickadees on Tuesday was hard for all of us. Saturday was our typical shopping and errand running day, and Sunday the plan was to tidy the house and work on a few more "to-do's". However, plans are made to be changed.
I went to church Saturday night, and Brian went to 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. When Brian returned home, he couldn't believe what a beautiful day it was. He suggested we head to the park! We quickley packed some snacks, and put on our hiking shoes, and headed to Sharon Woods Park.
Sharon Woods is a beautiful park, and parts of it reminded us of Hocking Hills.
We hiked down the gorge trail, and took in all the beauty surrounding us.
After about a 3/4 mile hike, we stopped and had some snacks.This is when the boys sang their two versions of the ABC's that I posted earlier in the week. They munched on their raisins and animal crackers, and entertained us.
Their real focus was the playground....and as soon as the snacks were all gone, they were off to check it out. They enjoyed many trips down the slide, crawling through the tunnel, and just climbing on all the different parts of the playground.
I didn't get a picture of it, but the pole behind Jackson in the slide picture is half of the "telephone" game. The boys were amazed how you could hear the other person talk into it!
After the playground, we went over to see the small waterfall by the stream. Brian and I had some of our wedding pictures taken at this same waterfall! It was fun to see the boys exploring the rocks, and a challenge to keep them out of the water!
We decided to take another route back to the van, so we took the Parcourse trail. The Parcourse trail has various stations set up for different exercises. The boys really loved the rings station (like the Olympic rings), but I was too busy helping them stay on them to take pictures. However, here was one of MY favorite stations....the push-up station. The boys were trying to do the push-ups like Daddy, but then decided it was just more fun to crawl over the bars!
Either way...a priceless picture of all 3 of my guys!
As we were nearing the van, the boys spotted the elephants, and they had to check them out.
First, we stood apprehensively by the large elephant....
Then, Lincoln wanted to go see the smaller elephant, and didn't even hesitate when I suggested he climb on top so I could take his picture!
Not wanting to be outdone by his older brother, Jackson then decided he wanted to sit on the elephant and get HIS picture taken too. Look at that smile!
So many memories of a beautiful fall day! Much better than cleaning the house!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
These boys are too smart....
Brian worked from home yesterday as he had an appointment. I was on daycare pickup by myself.
Thankfully they put the boys in the car at daycare now, as I pulled a muscle in my shoulder earlier in the week.
As soon as the boys were in the van they asked if we could go shopping. I told them that yes, we were going shopping as we needed milk. However we were going to go home and pick up Daddy first (as I can't lift the boys into the shopping cart).
Soon, I heard Lincoln say "Mommy, what did Daddy drop?"
I was a bit confused at first, then I put it together....we were "picking up Daddy"....and we pick things up that we drop.
It was way too cute.
Thankfully they put the boys in the car at daycare now, as I pulled a muscle in my shoulder earlier in the week.
As soon as the boys were in the van they asked if we could go shopping. I told them that yes, we were going shopping as we needed milk. However we were going to go home and pick up Daddy first (as I can't lift the boys into the shopping cart).
Soon, I heard Lincoln say "Mommy, what did Daddy drop?"
I was a bit confused at first, then I put it together....we were "picking up Daddy"....and we pick things up that we drop.
It was way too cute.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
October 2012 Celebrations
Birthdays
Anniversaries:
Special rememberance
On October 7th, please keep the entire Hart and Gels family in your thoughts and prayers. Hard to believe it has been a year since the Good Lord called Grandma Janice Hart home. We miss her everyday, but know that she is looking down and watching over our boys!
A special mass is being said for Jancie and Joe on October 21 at 11:00 at St. Pauls Church in Sharpsburg. Please come out and join us!
- October 15 - Sean O'Connor celebrates a birthday
- October 24 - Justin Zank turns 30
- October 31 (Halloween) - Peyten Young celebrates her SWEET 16! (Stay off the roads!)
Anniversaries:
- October 5 - Bob and Norma Gels celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary
- October 9 - Larry and Shirley Maier celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary
- October 10 - Pat and Barb Brocki celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary (enjoy the Keys!)
- October 28 - Jim and Marie Woff celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary
- October 29 - Grandma Emmie and Pete Hug celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary
Special rememberance
On October 7th, please keep the entire Hart and Gels family in your thoughts and prayers. Hard to believe it has been a year since the Good Lord called Grandma Janice Hart home. We miss her everyday, but know that she is looking down and watching over our boys!
A special mass is being said for Jancie and Joe on October 21 at 11:00 at St. Pauls Church in Sharpsburg. Please come out and join us!
Hocking HIlls! (September 20-24)
Anyone with kids knows that vacation planning can be stressful. Finding the right place for the age of the kids is difficult. For this reason, we really haven't taken a vacation since the boys were born!
Early on in the year, my sister Lyn suggested we do another big Willinger/Muehlfeld family getaway to Hocking Hills like we did the summer of 2010. She did some searching, found a house big enough for all of us, and I wrote the check. Easy enough.
I'm not sure where the time went since that initial planning, but when the calendar hit September, I started to get excited for our little getaway. Lists were made, packing commenced, and Thursday, September 20, we were on our way (about 1/2 hour later than planned...but it all worked out).
First, we met my parents in Logan for lunch. It was great...not a lot of people in the restaurant, and the kids were pretty well behaved. We had lunch, and $1.25 beers that tasted perfect - after all, it was the start of our vacation! Lyn and RJ arrived at the restaurant about an hour later, and grabbed something quick to eat. The kids ran around on the patio, and we just enjoyed a slow paced afternoon.
After being at the restaurant for 2 hours, RJ and Lyn left to get the keys to the cabin, and we slowly made our way to the cabin. Kelly and Dave were at the cabin waiting when we arrived. We visited a bit, then started unloading the cars. Dave had the kids and they were all playing.
Of course, not an hour into being at the cabin, Dave came carrying a crying and bleeding Lincoln. Little man got too excited and slipped in the stones. He scratched up the side of his face, but hit a rock just above his eyebrow, and that was bleeding. I cleaned him up, and was going to put a bandaid on the big cut, but Lincoln insisted he didn't need a bandaid - "I'm good Mom." And off he went to play.
We unpacked the cars and settled in, spending most of the evening on the deck of the cabin, enjoying the fall air. We had a light dinner, a few cocktails, and called it an early night.
Friday morning, I was on breakfast duty, so we served everyone breakfast burritos and hashbrown casserole. Once breakfast was done and cleaned up, I was anxious to get out and enjoy the beautiful day. Lyn's family and Aaron and Scott decided to head out to a bike trail, and we headed off to Conkle's Hollow, my parents in tow.
Conkle's Hollow is one of the most beautiful places in Hocking Hills. The path is easy, and we had few worries with the boys. The boys loved the cave, and the water at the end. We were able to get a few pics of them...
After our hike, we had "daddy sandwiches" on the picnic bench, then headed back to the cabin for the rest of the day.
Sunday, we all decided to head out hiking together. We first stopped at Rock House, but quickly determined it was NOT kid friendly. Aaron and Scott went ahead and checked it out, but the rest of us headed back to Conkle's Hollow. Our boys were funny, showing Lylah and Knox the Hollow (they had been there once, so they were experts).
Next, we stopped by Ash Cave. The boys were more impressed with the sand at Ash Cave than anything.
It was right around 1:00 when we left Hocking Hills. We were planning to stop at a nearby town for lunch, but the boys went to sleep about 1:05. So, we kept driving, thinking we would stop once they woke up. They slept until we got off I-71 - 2 miles from our house! They were tired boys with all the hiking and playing they had done!
We had a light snack when we got home, unpacked the van, worked on the laundry a bit, then just relaxed and enjoyed our last night of vacation.
We love Hocking Hills, and promised the boys we would go back again soon!
Early on in the year, my sister Lyn suggested we do another big Willinger/Muehlfeld family getaway to Hocking Hills like we did the summer of 2010. She did some searching, found a house big enough for all of us, and I wrote the check. Easy enough.
I'm not sure where the time went since that initial planning, but when the calendar hit September, I started to get excited for our little getaway. Lists were made, packing commenced, and Thursday, September 20, we were on our way (about 1/2 hour later than planned...but it all worked out).
First, we met my parents in Logan for lunch. It was great...not a lot of people in the restaurant, and the kids were pretty well behaved. We had lunch, and $1.25 beers that tasted perfect - after all, it was the start of our vacation! Lyn and RJ arrived at the restaurant about an hour later, and grabbed something quick to eat. The kids ran around on the patio, and we just enjoyed a slow paced afternoon.
After being at the restaurant for 2 hours, RJ and Lyn left to get the keys to the cabin, and we slowly made our way to the cabin. Kelly and Dave were at the cabin waiting when we arrived. We visited a bit, then started unloading the cars. Dave had the kids and they were all playing.
Of course, not an hour into being at the cabin, Dave came carrying a crying and bleeding Lincoln. Little man got too excited and slipped in the stones. He scratched up the side of his face, but hit a rock just above his eyebrow, and that was bleeding. I cleaned him up, and was going to put a bandaid on the big cut, but Lincoln insisted he didn't need a bandaid - "I'm good Mom." And off he went to play.
We unpacked the cars and settled in, spending most of the evening on the deck of the cabin, enjoying the fall air. We had a light dinner, a few cocktails, and called it an early night.
Friday morning, I was on breakfast duty, so we served everyone breakfast burritos and hashbrown casserole. Once breakfast was done and cleaned up, I was anxious to get out and enjoy the beautiful day. Lyn's family and Aaron and Scott decided to head out to a bike trail, and we headed off to Conkle's Hollow, my parents in tow.
Conkle's Hollow is one of the most beautiful places in Hocking Hills. The path is easy, and we had few worries with the boys. The boys loved the cave, and the water at the end. We were able to get a few pics of them...
After our hike, we had "daddy sandwiches" on the picnic bench, then headed back to the cabin for the rest of the day.
Saturday morning, Mawmaw, Pawpaw, and Dick agreed to watch ALL the kids while the rest of the adults went for a more strenuous hike. We went to Old Man's Cave, then hiked over to Cedar Falls and back. We definitely found a challenging trail, but it was a beautiful day for it! We were pretty exhausted when we returned (we hiked close to 6 miles), but it was well worth it. 
When we weren't hiking, we were in the backyard of the cabin. We played badmitten, baseball, bouncy balls, and frisbie.
Sunday, we all decided to head out hiking together. We first stopped at Rock House, but quickly determined it was NOT kid friendly. Aaron and Scott went ahead and checked it out, but the rest of us headed back to Conkle's Hollow. Our boys were funny, showing Lylah and Knox the Hollow (they had been there once, so they were experts).
Look at these adorable kiddos! We tried to get them to the the O-H-I-O, but they just weren't quite ready for that.
Sunday was Pawpaw's birthday, so after dinner Sunday night, we had yummy cake and homemade ice cream. A perfect ending on our last night!
Monday morning was a bit sad for all of us. The end of vacation is always a little sad. We all packed up our vehicles, cleaned out the cabin, said our goodbyes, and ventured home.
Here were the boys on the deck of the cabin, saying goodbye (after they asked if we could stay there forever).
We were all on the road by 10:45. Since we only had a 2 hour drive, we decided to take the boys to a few sites they hadn't seen yet.
First, we headed back to Old Man's Cave. Parts of the cave are a bit scary with kids, but we kept a close eye on the boys. They really liked the rock and bridges! Here they are at Old Man's Cave.
It was right around 1:00 when we left Hocking Hills. We were planning to stop at a nearby town for lunch, but the boys went to sleep about 1:05. So, we kept driving, thinking we would stop once they woke up. They slept until we got off I-71 - 2 miles from our house! They were tired boys with all the hiking and playing they had done!
We had a light snack when we got home, unpacked the van, worked on the laundry a bit, then just relaxed and enjoyed our last night of vacation.
We love Hocking Hills, and promised the boys we would go back again soon!
ENT check-up
It's been 5 weeks since Jackson got tubes put in his ears. I've been nervous the past few weeks, as I've seen him pulling on his one ear, and he's been waking up in the night again. However, I haven't seen any drainage.
This past Saturday, we went to see Dr. Myer for Jackson's post-op check-up.
Appointments with Jackson always make me anxious - haircuts, doctors - it doesn't matter. The appointment usually resembles a wrestling match - and I don't always win.
As usual, Jackson talked about going to see Dr. Myer part of the week. Lincoln was excited because he was going to see Dr. Myer too!
We arrived at the office, and while I was checking in, the one nurse told me she could take us back to the room right away. This was a good sign - no waiting. Once back in the exam room, Jackson got fidgety - crawling on my chair, checking out the pictures on the wall. Surprisingly, when Dr. Myer walked in, he sat down on my lap to read a book. I was waiting for the kicking and fighting to begin when Dr. Myer scooted his chair over to us, but instead, Jackson squirmed a little bit, then tipped his head to the side and let the doctor look in his ear. I was amazed! Then, just as obligingly, Jackson tipped his head to the other side so the doctor could look at his other ear. We were done! It was unbelievable!
I guess the tubes really are helping.
The best part though was when Jackson was done, and we were fawning all over him telling him how good he did, he loudly exclaimed, "Now it's Lincoln's turn!"
This past Saturday, we went to see Dr. Myer for Jackson's post-op check-up.
Appointments with Jackson always make me anxious - haircuts, doctors - it doesn't matter. The appointment usually resembles a wrestling match - and I don't always win.
As usual, Jackson talked about going to see Dr. Myer part of the week. Lincoln was excited because he was going to see Dr. Myer too!
We arrived at the office, and while I was checking in, the one nurse told me she could take us back to the room right away. This was a good sign - no waiting. Once back in the exam room, Jackson got fidgety - crawling on my chair, checking out the pictures on the wall. Surprisingly, when Dr. Myer walked in, he sat down on my lap to read a book. I was waiting for the kicking and fighting to begin when Dr. Myer scooted his chair over to us, but instead, Jackson squirmed a little bit, then tipped his head to the side and let the doctor look in his ear. I was amazed! Then, just as obligingly, Jackson tipped his head to the other side so the doctor could look at his other ear. We were done! It was unbelievable!
I guess the tubes really are helping.
The best part though was when Jackson was done, and we were fawning all over him telling him how good he did, he loudly exclaimed, "Now it's Lincoln's turn!"
Different hair cut experience (from 9-14-12)
A few weeks ago, on a Friday night, the boys had haircuts. Honestly, I dread haircut days, and that Friday was no different. I think I was dreading it even more than usual because our appointment wasn't until 7:00, vs. the usual 6:00.
I knew we would be pressed for time, and I was burnt out on cooking for the week, so Friday morning I asked Brian what he thought about going to Cracker Barrel for dinner. He thought that sounded good.
On our way to get the boys after work, Brian reminded me that he wanted to stop at Denney Mac's and get fertilizer for the yard. So, we stopped in there, then headed on to daycare. The pick-up line was a little backed up, so we had to wait a little longer to get the boys than usual. Once they were strapped in the car, we had just over an hour till haircuts. I was concerned that traffic would hold us up trying to get to Cracker Barrel, so we stopped at Bob Evans just around the corner from daycare.
The boys were great. We ordered their food first, and asked for it to come out as quickly as possible. Wanted to give the boys as much time as possible to eat. When it arrived, they dove right in! Brian was actually worried that they were going to finish their dinner before ours even arrived. The boys ate all their corn, chicken, and maccaroni and cheese. They weren't too impressed with the broccoli, but I was ok with what they did eat.
We finished dinner in plenty of time. The boys were pretty good in the restaurant, other than when Brian took Lincoln to the bathroom to wash his hands, and Jackson had a mini meltdown. EVERYONE in the restaurant knew that Jackson needed to wash his hands too! God Bless the nice man who stopped me and told me we should pass the boys off to Grandma and Grandpa! He was there with his two grandkids, and they were being angels - they always behave for the grandparents!
After the restaurant meltdown, we were really nervous about how haircuts were going to go.
Jackson insisted that Lincoln go first (as usual), while he sat on my lap and ate his sucker. Lincoln cried and whimpered through most of his cut, but sat in the chair very still like he's done the last few visits. With Lincoln looking all handsome, it was now Jackson's turn.
He fought a little bit when I tried to put him in the chair. Miss Shawna tickled him a bit, then it was playtime for Jackson. Before I knew it, he let Miss Shawna put the new cape on him. (He never puts the cape on, and we all end up covered in hair). Miss Shawna tickled him a little bit more, and then told him if he was really good and sat really still in the chair, she would get him some M&M's. Wow - that got his attention. Jackson sat in the chair under his own power (meaning, I didn't have to HOLD him in the chair) for the whole haircut. He was laughing, and checking himself out in the mirror the whole time. He even liked the water bottle making it "rain"!
He was so good, he even let me take pictures!
I knew we would be pressed for time, and I was burnt out on cooking for the week, so Friday morning I asked Brian what he thought about going to Cracker Barrel for dinner. He thought that sounded good.
On our way to get the boys after work, Brian reminded me that he wanted to stop at Denney Mac's and get fertilizer for the yard. So, we stopped in there, then headed on to daycare. The pick-up line was a little backed up, so we had to wait a little longer to get the boys than usual. Once they were strapped in the car, we had just over an hour till haircuts. I was concerned that traffic would hold us up trying to get to Cracker Barrel, so we stopped at Bob Evans just around the corner from daycare.
The boys were great. We ordered their food first, and asked for it to come out as quickly as possible. Wanted to give the boys as much time as possible to eat. When it arrived, they dove right in! Brian was actually worried that they were going to finish their dinner before ours even arrived. The boys ate all their corn, chicken, and maccaroni and cheese. They weren't too impressed with the broccoli, but I was ok with what they did eat.
We finished dinner in plenty of time. The boys were pretty good in the restaurant, other than when Brian took Lincoln to the bathroom to wash his hands, and Jackson had a mini meltdown. EVERYONE in the restaurant knew that Jackson needed to wash his hands too! God Bless the nice man who stopped me and told me we should pass the boys off to Grandma and Grandpa! He was there with his two grandkids, and they were being angels - they always behave for the grandparents!
After the restaurant meltdown, we were really nervous about how haircuts were going to go.
Jackson insisted that Lincoln go first (as usual), while he sat on my lap and ate his sucker. Lincoln cried and whimpered through most of his cut, but sat in the chair very still like he's done the last few visits. With Lincoln looking all handsome, it was now Jackson's turn.
He fought a little bit when I tried to put him in the chair. Miss Shawna tickled him a bit, then it was playtime for Jackson. Before I knew it, he let Miss Shawna put the new cape on him. (He never puts the cape on, and we all end up covered in hair). Miss Shawna tickled him a little bit more, and then told him if he was really good and sat really still in the chair, she would get him some M&M's. Wow - that got his attention. Jackson sat in the chair under his own power (meaning, I didn't have to HOLD him in the chair) for the whole haircut. He was laughing, and checking himself out in the mirror the whole time. He even liked the water bottle making it "rain"!
He was so good, he even let me take pictures!
I'm still pinching myself, as I can't believe how easy it was! I hope this is the new trend for haircuts!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)