Best Week Ever

If you had asked me last year at this time what would constitute the best week ever I would have thought of a vacation or a week with time to do all sorts of projects at home by myself.  Funny how when circumstances change, you find yourself changing, too.  Spring break was the best week ever simply because I was home with my boys all week with nothing else that I had to do. And I am so in love with them.  I was already mourning on Wednesday because it meant we were already more than half way through.  Monday came all too soon and I was at work once again.

I find it interesting that without this new experience of working I wouldn't feel this way.  I used to begin my week with a bit of dread wondering how to be a good mom and feel excited about the monotony of it all.  Now, I relish the moments with them.  Don't get me wrong, I still look at the clock and wonder what in the world I am going to do with them all day, but it is not with trepidation.  Being with them is a gift and I can appreciate that gift because I work.

The week was full of pancake making, bubble blowing, shopping, going for walks and runs, playdates, trips to the park, cuddling, reading, cooking, hiking, laughing and loving.  It was also fabulous to have my evenings free.  I generally have papers to grade, lessons to read over and plan, or emails to respond to.  It was incredible to have so much time.

Collin requested walkie talkie pancakes.  I was proud of myself for delivering!

Avind likes to eat with two utensils and he bangs them on the counter to make lots of noise.

Super heroes!

The Power Rangers

Hiking with Daddy

It was a perfect day to hike!

One day we made cars for the boys out of cardboard boxes and then watched Tangled together.  They were so adorable sitting in their cars.

They sat in these "cars" every time we watched a show for the next two weeks.

 I couldn't take enough pictures of them. We finished the movie in the evening together as a family and it surely was a treasure moment sitting all together with Collin laughing at the little jokes and Avi explaining in his simple words what he saw happening.  Ah.  I would rather be there at that moment than anything else in the world.  

Since I have had a chance to spend such a great amount of time with them, let me update you on my boys:

Avind

• This is the best age! In just the last week or two he has really caught on to putting words together into 3-4 word phrases.  Some of my favorites are:
• Help me please!
• Hands dirty! (This is one he says a lot.  He hates having dirty hands.  If we don't get to him quickly, he says it over and over with an increase in volume and desperation each time until we get to him)
• Let me in please!
• Clean it
• Cut it please 
• Avi's turn
• Happy birthday to you cake!
• He loves when I make pancakes. Almost every morning he begs me to make them for breakfast.  (Which, btw, whenever he is hungry he asks for breakfast). He especially loves that I made him "Di Mouse!" pancakes.  He likes "butter!" and syrup on them and all cut up. 
• He wants Blake and me to sing songs about "thomas! choo choo" and mickey for bedtime.  If you are not paying attention to him, he grabs your face in his hands and puts his lips right on yours so you cannot talk and whispers "choo choo!"
• He loves to be funny and tries to make everyone laugh.
• He is defiant! The other day I was making dinner and he continued to put the fridge farm toy pieces in the kitty water.  I told him to stop several times and finally grabbed his arm to stop him.  He still flung the toy towards the water so I swatted his behind and told him to go to time out.  He began his way out of the kitchen with his pouty face and changed his mind after about 3 seconds.  He turned around and marched right back into the kitchen with his arm up to swat me back. The look on his face was priceless. :)
• He is so excited for his birthday.  I started telling him a few weeks ago that his birthday is in April and that he will be turning two.  We then celebrated my birthday and went to a birthday party that Collin was invited to.  Avind now cannot wait for his birthday, especially the cake.  He talks about his "thomas choo choo take" all the time.  And he insists we sing happy birthday to him regularly.  
• He is hungry!  That boy is starting to eat.  It is funny because he is so little.  We took him to the doctors last week because he had a fever of 104.  They weighed him at 20lbs.  

He ate the entire thing.  And then ate some of mine.  And Blake's.

"Hands! Dirty!"

Collin

Collin loves his Flight Jacket!

Oh my big boy. His is ever inquisitive and wondering.  If he has a question and you do not answer it in a timely manner, he will ask again. And again. And again. And again for good measure.  Sometimes when I answer he assures me that I am actually wrong and he knows the right answer. Some of our oldest's fun highlights:

• He is on a power rangers kick which is unfortunate for the rest of us.  :)  He now has added red as a favorite color because he wants to be the red ranger.  Fits his personality actually.  He has made us each power ranger cards with our symbol and color on it.  I am yellow in case you were wondering.  
• We had a fun conversation the other day when he asked, "Does it hurt when you have a baby?"  I assured him that it does, but that it is okay because I am strong and it is worth it.  The next day the question was, "why does it hurt?"  I explained that the baby comes out of an opening that is usually much smaller than the baby and the muscles have to work hard to push it out.  Naturally, the next question was, "Where is the opening?" :)  I am not too surprised we are already having this discussion.  Collin and I talk a lot about our special bodies and our special private places.  It was very natural to talk about something as special as having a baby.  So, I told him the opening was where mommy's special private place was. He was nodding as he said, "Ah. Okay!" I took a minute to talk about how cool that was and he said, "Well, boys are still cool because I can run faster than you."  I am glad he has some consolation! And I am glad I can be teaching my son about something so wonderful. 
• We are still working through reading "Farmer Boy" the second book in the Little House series.  I love sitting and reading together.  He likes to pick out the words he can read on his own.  
• He is a very giving boy.  He is thoughtful and kind.  He helps Avind out and shares his candy with us freely.  He finds such joy in giving us part of what he has.  We bought him a pez dispenser with some refills and he loves it.  But you know what he did? He gave Blake and I each a pack of our own.  I am continually impressed with his graciousness. 
• He is also very obsessed with money.  He is always talking about the money he has and the money he is going to get. I hope we can harness that and teach him to work hard!
• He likes to get himself dressed in the mornings.  And he always tucks his shirt in.  Lately he wants to do his hair every day so he can look like the red ranger.
• He spends about an hour in the bathroom when he has to go because he starts playing.  I can hear him making up all sorts of stories.  
• He likes school.  I am so glad.  And I love when I am on my way to my classroom and I can see him outside playing.  I knock on the glass and he looks so happy when he sees that it is me.  We wave and blow kisses to each other.  He has such a sweet little handsome smile when he sees me.  

Quite a view from here!

I am counting down to summer vacation.  10 more weeks!  And I can be mom full time again for awhile.  It's gonna be awesome.  :)