Little Finger Prints

Last night I was reading Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschoolers Soul and I can across this story in which woman talks about muddy hand prints on her front step and how she steps past them waiting for the next thunderstorm to wash them away. She knows most people would wash them away immediately, but her friend had taught her something. She says her friend is into "Heart keeping" rather then housekeeping, meaning if she has a spotless house and no one in the house is happy then she feels heartbroken. Her friend reminds her that there will be a time when she wont need to wipe greasy fingerprints from the windows or wash sun-baked mud off the front step.
Originally when I read that story I thought, Thank God I wont be wiping fingerprints from my t.v. forever! And then I thought of all the fingerprints on my t.v. and how comforting it is to see them sometimes. Or the mouth and nose prints on my window from where the kids saw the guy mowing the lawn or waited for Me or Jason to return home. And then I got really sad, really, really sad. To think that there will be a day when I walk into my living room and my t.v. is completely clean since there was no one to press their nose against it while they watch Little Einsteins or Wonder Pets for the billionth time or to turn to my window and there isn't a perfect mouth print staring back at me and thinking of them standing there waiting for Jason to get home or to think of the silence that will be in my house everyday, like the silence I treasure when the boys are in preschool. Suddenly I thought of all things that I would miss when they grow up and they don't want to cuddle with mommy anymore or they don't want to give kisses and hugs. So understandably you can understand why I was bawling my eyes out last night! All these things that I thought would be wonderful when my kids grow up now seem so empty. See now I am crying again. I just wish I could stop time and stay here in this time. Stupid pregnancy hormones and stupid book!

The Demons have Crawled out!!!!!!

The demons possessing my children for the last couple of months must have crawled out of their ears last night! My children have gotten along-yep you heard me they didn't fight! Die of shock now. None no fight--I am sorry to be repetitive but I can't get over it. This morning the blanket fell off of Matt (a act that normally would bring upon loads of fighting on who did it) and Matt started getting upset and Ethan says, "Calm down, you pull here and help me, so I can help you." Hello.. Where the heck did that come from???????? Oh and the have gotten philosophical on me as well. This morning Matt crawled in bed with me and said he was scared of the bogeyman from the Nightmare Before Christmas and I told him that the bogeyman wasn't real he was just pretend and he looks at me with giant eyes and a sad voice and says "Is Santa pretend too?" (Watch Nightmare Before Christmas and you will know that Santa is in the scene with the bogeyman) Still I was twice his age before I even questioned the realness of Santa! And my kids is three! Then on the way home Ethan was asking if I was dressing up for Halloween and I told him that I wasn't and he ask if I dressed up when I was his age and I told him I did. So he asks was I big when you were little and I told him that he wasn't born yet so this is the response I get "Where was I before I was born" So seriously how do I answer that question. I told him that he was in heaven with God to which I got "Did I meet God?" I said I didn't know, then I pointed out the giant cloud of smoke coming from a nearby fire and avoided the subject for hopefully a couple of years until I am smarter.

Does anyone else feel lost as a parent? Like how am I supposed to know the answers to these questions? Cause I feel like my kids are already a ton smarter then I ever was! They question everything and I feel so stupid not knowing the answers. Alright that is my pondering for the day, but if you know any good answers I should give if this subject comes up again, please let me know, cause I lost my parenting instruction book.

Gods Gift to Men

Gods Gift to Men

I know I wrote a blog today, but I have more things to say! A real shock for some of you I know.

I was cleaning tonight (don't die of shock), after I cooked dinner (again if you need to sit) and I started and I couldn't stop. This isn't the first time this week that this has happened. So I have come to the conclusion that I am nesting. So while I was binge cleaning I got to thinking that this must be Gods gift to men of pregnant women. I mean think about it, they wont let you help because you can't do it right and your house is cleaner then its ever been. Then I started thinking about how unfair that is (despite the fact that men deal with the mood swings,etc...) I mean I get to be poked and prodded (for this child my bladder is a particular point of interest) constipated, hot and cold, achy, tired and cranky and my husband gets a horny wife and a clean house! Something is so wrong with that picture I am totally sending God a memo!

The case of the Muffin thief

It was 12:53pm on a gloomy Thursday afternoon when a thief quietly snuck into the kitchen at the home of Jason and Tasha. Tip-toeing across the floor and then climbing onto the counter the thief took the last blueberry muffin, made by the Hyvee Bakery. But who could have done it? The thief with a big smile on his face brought the prized muffin to the table, set it on the plate and was then caught red-handed! It was the youngest son! Matthew!
When the mommy caught him and said "You was a naughty boy!"
Matthew replied with "No I was a naughty monkey!"

Kidism of the day (or well technically yesterday)
Ethan say "Daddy guess what mommy did?"
"What"
"Mommy squirted cream into our mouth!"

(Whipped cream, mind you! We had pudding and I thought they would love the whipped cream and they wanted it squirted in their mouth. Lets hope that when he repeats the story he remembers the whipped part so that I am not greeted at the

Teenager at heart

Matthew has decided that he is really a teenager at heart. In the last two hours he has tried to sneak outside twice, through the window. Yep you heard me right, he pushes the screen out of the frame and climbs out the window. And before you chalk this up to natural curiosity please realize this is a pre-meditated attempt at escape. He careful and quietly took the window fan out and put his shoes on before hand. He also tried this yesterday, but apparently I was too lenient on him as he tried it again today, twice. What he didn't count on was a brother who doesn't feel the need to be in trouble. At least I know I have one child who I can count on not to get into trouble. Except for yesterday Ethan didn't say anything, I guess he figured Matt would be caught eventually. Ethan has been really good all week, I think when Matt hit him in the head with the bulldozer it gave him a personality transplant back to his old self. Or else he is planning something--I hope its the first.

My menac

Current mood: crazy

So far this week the following things have happened-oh and have been caused by Matt:
1. Numerous bite marks have appeared on Ethan
2. My bathroom has been flooded
3. A bulldozer was thrown at Ethan's head causing a cut, lots of bleeding and several drama filled hours.
4. Ethan's head was slammed several times in the door

Here are all the reasons to these things:
1. "Ethan stole my toy" "Ethan wouldn't stop singing"
2. "I was thirsty" (Between the lines: I wanted a drink and failed to shut of the water while there was a wash cloth in the sink)
3. "Ethan wouldn't stop calling me pumpkin" (Ethan called him "Punk" not pumpkin, not much better)
4. "Ethan was being mean" (Ethan demanded that Matt open the door to their bedroom and let him in-wow mean)

All the reasons I want this week to be over:
1. I am going to be reported for child abuse if my son keeps showing up to school with bite marks. (Just a guess, but who knows)
2. I have cleaned the bathroom 1,070 times
3. I would like to make it through the week without anyone needing stitches
4. The bedroom door is not going to make it through all the slamming-not to mention I am pretty sure that Ethan's head can't take anymore hits.
Bonus
5. The fighting is driving me crazy-literally
6. Matt has screamed everyday I have dropped him off at school
7. I am seriously considering boot camp for my youngest child
8. Did I mention that I can't take the fighting?
9. I would like to have phone conversation that doesn't involve me yelling at my children to stop closing the door on each other, quit being mean, if you do that one more time and don't make me come up there.
10. I am thinking about begging my O.B. to put me on bed rest in the hospital forever!

It is days or weeks like this that I start to think I am might be crazy for adding another child to the pack.

Its a Girl!!!!!

We had an ultrasound done today and we are having a baby girl! She is going to be sooo much like me, I can tell because she already has an attitude! Jason is thrilled, of course. We told the boys about what we were having and Matt said "But I want my baby boy" and Ethan said "I can take care of the baby all by myself" It is such an exciting day for us and we really can't wait to have this new addition to our family!

Yesterday the boys were upstairs playing, quietly, which should have been my first clue and then Ethan comes down and when I asked where Matt was he said "I buried him" and "he is pretending to be dinosaur bones" Hehe. That should have been clues 2&3. I, however, was enjoying the quiet of them getting alone. Last Night when we went into their room they had taken out every toy and piled them (and I mean a huge pile) in the corner of their room. It did look a bit heavy, not to mention very messy. It was so cute though. Dinosaur bones! I still giggle when I think about it. They are just so creative I love it! Alright I think that is about it for today. Hope everyone is having a great day as well!!!!!!

School Days

Finally the day has arrived that I get to send both my boys off to school (okay well it arrived yesterday, but I'm a busy person!) I have looked forward to this day since they were born-alright not really, but I wasn't choked up about it. I do seem to have this anti-parent attachment thing going on and I'm not sure why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I have two boys that are 13 months apart. Its really okay because my kids have absolutely no desire to chose me over preschool either. My friend Patty says that this is a good thing because I have raised independent people. I'm not really sure about that one, but it does make me feel better about not feeling sad about sending them to school, although I was worried about Matt. I was sure that he would somehow manage to find himself in a situation that would require an embarrassing trip to the school while the teachers shook their heads and wondered how I raised such a wild animal! But he proved me wrong, so far, it has only been two days though. Other then waking up at the butt crack of dawn(even though school is in the afternoon) school has brought two changes in my house my kids no longer spend all day in only their underwear and I see sunlight twice a day. I have decided to leave housework for when the kids are home and spend the 2 1/2 hours of peace doing things like eating lunch, taking a shower and watching an hour of t.v. that doesn't include channels like Noggin, Nick, Sprout, Disney or PBS kids. The power of school. I know realize why parents want year around school, sure they go the same amount of day, but its easier to go through two weeks of vacation then three months. And then I just realized that I am about ready to start over again. Oh dear what was I thinking.

Matt's First Day

Ethan's First day

Matt Hanging up his backpack

Ethan writing his name

Matt and Daddy after the first day of school

The Secret Location of God

Since there has been so many thunderstorms lately I had to come up with a creative way to have the boys not be scared of thunder, but since I ran out of creativity like 4 years ago I just used what my mom used to tell me the reason for thunder is- God is bowling. This has worked wonders with the kids not being scared therefore it has worked wonders in keeping my sanity (Thank you God!). Anyway today we were at Merle Hay Mall returning some things and Jason asked Matt what he thought was down there (pointing down the stairs by Old Navy) and Matt say "God" So people who are searching for God look no further then Merle Hay Bowling Lanes! Apparently my bowling reason has caused a slight bit of confusion and lead to a really cute, sweet answer. If anyone of you people out there have something to ask or a bone to pick with God I would head in that direction, LOL. Some of the answers the kids give me are one of the reasons that being a parent rocks. The other day we were making a bee line for the van because of the rain and when we got inside Ethan asked why God was making it rain. (Oh for a little back story) My mom used to tell me that it rained cause God was crying for all the people who were sick or hurting, so again since one worked for me I gave him that answer, a while ago. But as many of you know kids love repetition he asked again that day and like any parent who is sick of repeating themselves I asked him why he thought it rained and he said, "Well I know you told me that it's because God is sad, but I think he is just watering the flowers". It was so cute. I love being a parent.

My Flashers

I have this really embarrasing problem with my children. For some odd reason they seem to think that it is apporiate to pee in public! Yesterday we went to splash water park with our moms group and some of the moms told me to turn and look and there is Ethan up on the hill of grass just peeing! So I went up there and asked him what he was doing and his asnwer "I had to pee" So I told him that he needs to tell me and he said sorry, but hearing the moms group laughing he ask "Is it funny?" Well to everyone else. It may have been funnier if last time (last summer) we had gone to splash Matt hadnt decided to pee in the grass! At least Matt faced the fence! Oh dear what am I going to do with them??????

On other note Matt was so tired and Ethan woke him so early that he fell asleep while watching Wallace and Gromit!


Matt has been going through this phase where is scared at night and after we put him in his bed this is where he ends up.

The Womanizer

Alright I have got my confirmation, Matt is going to be a ladies man! I know everyone tell me that, but today it really hit with baseball bat force. We were walking out of Ethan's school and a teacher was taking a little boy out to his car and Matt holds the door open for her and says "Hey Baby" I stopped for a second and was like wait a minute did he just say that???????? Oh dear. If he is this friendly with women at 2 then imagine 13. I'm in trouble. Then we were at the mall and Matt fell and hit his head on the corner of the boat at the play place and this lady gasps and Matt gets up runs and punches Ethan in the leg. Then he gets up on the bench and says "I'm so bad" So this just proves that I'm in for it. Hes going to drive me crazy!

We had a playgroup at the mall play place today, well more like just Carmin and I. The boys had loads of fun and after we were in the food court and the boys decided that they wanted pizza. Now as most of you know if you don't ask children like 50 times if that is what they really want you end up with a plate full of food that they don't really want. They stuck to it, so pizza it was. I was pretty excited cause I thought I get to get away with buying one children's meal cause the slices of pizza are gigantic. However since I only got one pizza and spilt it in half of course they gobbled it up and wanted more. If I would have bought two meals I would have had to beg them to try and eat. Instead of buying another slice of pizza I bribed them with cookies. I guess I will have to make up for it tomorrow.

When Hell breaks lose!

Ok so I just had to share this, because all along I have been trying to convince people that Matt is "different" Someone had posted a bulletin on myspace about this site where you enter your Name and it puts it in a movie quote, so like the nerd that I am I did it and afterwards I decided to enter Matts name and heres the quote "When there's no more room in hell, the Matt will walk the earth." Hmmm I'll let you decide.

Reward Systems

After giving advice to a friend of mine about her daughter acting out I decided it was time to take my own advice and create reward charts. I was thinking about it and I feel like what I am trying to do isn't working. My children are way too spoiled and I am tired of not following through. So starting Monday they are going to get stars for picking up their toys, eating dinner, good behavior and setting the table. I still have to work out the kinks, but I hope that this new reward system will work. I will give them a star for everything they complete on their responsibilities list and they will have to have so many sticker by the end of the week for the reward. I think that I will get pictures of rewards so that they will be able to remember what the reward is, or maybe I will have a variety of picture with Velcro on the back and let them pick the reward for the week. Quite obviously this plan needs some work, but I just decided this tonight.

Ethan brought home my first handmade mothers day card and present! Its too cute. It almost made me cry. Plus my child thinks I weigh 5 pounds, bless his heart! He really is getting way big! Some days its so hard to have children, but these are the days that are worth it. And those are what keeping you going through fighting, bruises and black eyes. The funny thing is that you don't need many of those days and they don't really happen that often, but when they do they are worth everything that you have been through. Sometimes we get caught up on all the negatives that we forget what all the good. Its that one smile and the I Love yous that you can never find any comparison for. So I am going to try and sit back and enjoy the ride, because someday soon, my boys will be sullen teenagers that really don't want to show Mommy the bug in the garden that he cant poke.

Well I was going to try to scan what Ethan gave me, but right now its having some issues so here it is and I will try and make it work in the morning (in like 6 hrs)

My Mommy

My mommy's name is Tasha. She is 2 years old. She weighs 5 pounds.
Her favorite food is Steak. Her Favorite color is blue. Her favorite song
is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Her Favorite thing to do is Play. I love
my mommy because I hug her.

LOL. I think Ethan's favorite color is blue. Other then total accuracy, especially the 5 LBS!!!!! Seriously.

One Rainy Day

Okay thanks alot Mother Nature, apparently my pleas for the rain to stop are going to go unanswered. Today was a remarkably ordinary day. We went for brunch with my family. Ethan and Matt were so happy to get out of the house that they were actually pretty good. Then we came home and the rain lulled us to sleep--ok not really. The kids fought a nap as usual, but eventually gave in to their exhaustion. Then we woke up and ate dinner. See nothing remarkable.

I did finally decide to put our extra t.v. in boys bedroom. Jason put it in there tonight. Ok seriously if you have something bad to say about this then keep it to yourself. I really don't care. There is only so many years of Blues Clues, Diego and Little Einsteins one can take and I have reached my breaking point. I want the boys upstairs in their room and possibly playing while they watch t.v. and I really want two minutes of peace. I really don't care if that makes me a bad mom or even selfish, I can no longer watch kids television. I have been singing Diego and Sponge Bob songs for the last week and guess what they are invading my mind! Seriously instead of sleeping those songs go back and forth in my head! Anyone that knows me will no that I don't really ever have trouble sleeping, but now instead of sleeping I am singing "Its the bessssssst daaaay everrrrrrrrrr!" over and over in my head. No more!

I cant wait till the rain stops cause I'm so bored I am baking!!!!

Boredom sets in

I really thought that April showers bring May Flowers, which means that it is not supposed to rain or be gloomy for longer then a day after April. Didn't mother nature get the news letter? Its gloomy and humid not a good recipe for a Saturday. Ethan and Matt are going for a world record of who can drive mommy to insanity faster! They are both winning. Between fighting over toys and running into each other I am ready to have a talking to with mother nature. After all she is a MOTHER, does she not realize that kids can only stay cooped up in a house for so long before they start driving their mother mad?????

Today I have realized that I did a very bad thing when I started buying two of everything instead of teaching my children to share. Because after Ethan's birthday yesterday there are three toys that there are only one of and only one that the boys want. My grandparents bought Matt a rocket ship to keep him from being upset while Ethan was opening presents. Well now both boys only want that toy! Go figure. So taking advice from my wiser friend I decided to timer the toys. Who knew that my morning would be spent setting the timer and then fielding the screaming of the other child who didn't get the toy this time. So I took away the timer and sent the boys upstairs. About two minutes later there is screaming from both boys. I wait downstairs praying to the Gods that it was a fight over a toy and one of them will move on. Well not quite. It was a collision over a toy. Now Ethan has a sorta bluish swollen eye and surprise Matt, the child with the hard head has....... you guessed it not a mark. After convincing Ethan that he does not need a band -aid I attempt to send them back upstairs. The whole time the are working their way up the stairs Ethan is trying to convince Matt to put his spaceship into the bag and they can "both" carry it. Matt's not buying it. So now I have both children downstairs, but alas no fighting, at least for the last 15 minutes.

Please Mother Nature if you are reading this, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee let the sun shine again so I can take my kids outside.