Don't Want to Miss a Thing!

But who could say "no" to this sweet face? Not me. Not about this request anyway.

My greatest confession this week - I built my first Lego ship. I crawled out of bed one morning, poked my head into the big boys room and said "Good Morning". They asked if I would play with them. Then, they asked the dreaded question I have been avoiding for a very long time... "Mommy, do you want to build a space ship with us?"


To be clear, I am not sure if I am confessing that it has taken me this long to pick up some Lego bricks and build something, or confessing that I sat on the floor for 20 minutes trying to make something that looks like something. Just so we're clear...

For years I have said I am not genetically conditioned to build Lego things. The 20 minutes it took to build this small vessel proved it. I used parts of the "Cars" Lego set AND "Star Wars" Lego sets. Can ya tell?

I also figured I'd post the pic my son took of me and my ship as well, I mean really, why not?











Stunning, I know. You didn't actually think I'd post my WHOLE "wake-up" face on the internet did you? Nope. I'm all about being "real" but wrinkly eyebrow hair and bed head, those glorious gifts are saved for the closest people who promise to love me forever.

Both fellas were pretty proud of me. Honestly, I was too.









Isn't rather odd that I wouldn't post a picture of my morning face online BUT I'd post this picture?

 It made me laugh so hard! When I first saw it, my kids came RUNNING to the computer to see what mommy was laughing at... it took them all of two seconds to break into gut-bustin' laughter themselves. "Mommy! You look funny!"

I participated in my second triathlon last weekend. My first was in September of last year. It was a major adventure. The funniest thing that came out of this one, other than me singing on my bike to take my mind off the burning muscles in my legs, was the boys asking me when we were on our way home,

"When I do a triathlon, can the day be all about me?"

Apparently Nana shared with them that the day was not about them, but about Daddy and Mommy, so they needed to celebrate us and not be so focused on themselves. We said, "yes, when you do a triathlon, the day can be all about you." My Love and I exchanged grins both thinking the same thing, "uh, every day is about you fellas. Every day." But, they are too small to get that. Someday, when they have kids their own... they'll get it. And they won't mind much either.

Here is a pic of me heading out for my 12 mile bike ride. My legs are numb and I have no idea I have massive cleavage hanging out, I am just focused on loving the sunshiney day!

 

Again, I have numb legs (that is what happens when you keep asking your muscles to do different stuff really fast) but I am clueless to anything but busting (hee hee) out a good solid run on a beautiful day. My favorite thought on the run, its easy now, one foot in front of the other!! Note the big silly grin. Crazy girl! 

Ultimate coolness is the goal here... is it the Lego Star Wars hat or the awesome shades?  He makes me think of Ponch, or is it Jon? (From CHiPs)

 How about the slick lenses on this baby! Mr. Cool for sure! or is that The Terminator? "I'll be back." And his most frequent saying, "MomcanIholdyourkeysIpromiseIwon'tpushanybuttons." Yes, he says it just like that. My answer, "NO."

I had this thought once this week. "I am glad that's not my kid". Yes, I don't do it often, but I did it this week. Now, before you get annoyed for my judgmental self let me tell you what happened. A small rant - over something - small?
This little guy, whose identity has been self protected, was the tiniest little guy on the opposing team. I considered him adorable until he threw a spectacular fit when tagged out at first base. At which point I yelled (this part I am not proud of, well, maybe I wouldn't go that far)

"There's no crying in baseball!"

(remember Tom Hanks in the baseball movie with Madonna in it from the 90s?) Some of the other parents laughed, but then I was mortified when the coach allowed the temper tantrum crier, to COME BACK to first base and run the bases. I know, I am a hag for being so insensitive. But really, WHEN do you learn that getting tagged out means you are out? Just curious. It reminded me of the people who get to a four way stop before me and wave me on to be polite as if I have no idea what the ACTUAL rules of the road are.

My favorite things this week have been about doing things I like to do with my boys since I am in "rest" mode after my triathlon. I built the above ship, played "Go Fish", and snuggled while watching cartoons. I wish I'd done even more with them. I really like them. Oh, and we did play Mario Kart too...

I continue to be fascinated by their growing up. Stunned almost at their growth, as if I haven't seen them almost every single day of their lives. I look back at some of these pictures and think "Where was I?" Of course, I was behind the camera, but WOW, time really does fly.

Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention... my new mantra... don't miss any of it. Even if it means building a lame looking Lego ship, sacrificing some dignity to push myself physically, or taking millions of pictures to blog precious memories so, when I am old, (40) I won't forget where we've come from.

Pudding for Breakfast, Mr. Incredible, and Belly Laughing... Still!

This seemed like a fitting beginning to my "Fess Ups"! Watch Out! I promise this will not be my most articulate, intelligent, brilliant.... but it will be amusing!

- I took the above characters as is to pick up my race packet on Thursday afternoon for my first triathlon of the season. They behaved as dressed in the bike shop, awesome. BUT, upon entering Target, they were angels. Weird.

- I fed my kids pudding for breakfast this week. Yes, I chose the path of least resistance. I couldn't help myself.

- We watched the Power Rangers movie for the first time. I am not sure if I regret it or not yet. I wasn't paying all the way attention. Some of the ninja moves I saw my guys performing were quite impressive and I was grateful they weren't making the fake "swooshing" sounds with their arm movements.

- My youngest has been practicing his adorableness lately. Here are a few pics that struck my fancy from his Mr. Incredible day yesterday

He was sucking milk up his straw then popping his mouth off so it splashed everywhere. He did this several times before I caught him. :)

I love that he still makes a mess... it reminds me that he is still only 3. I love that he is 3. Next week, a montage of one of my other fellas...







 - My race day jitters ---- I have spent the early part of the week doing bricks (2 workouts back to back), freaking out like an emotional train wreck that I am not ready, and now that the race is tomorrow, my brain is muddy with processing the event and taking care of household details and making sure everything I need is packed and and and... here are some photos my mother-in-law took when we went swimming the first time in our wetsuits this week... Don't tell me, I know, I look gorgeous. Spectacular even...

Okay, so maybe not. When I was belly laughing at the computer the kids rushed over to see what was so funny. They took one look at this picture and started belly laughing themselves... Seriously, I am STILL laughing!

God bless your week! Catch up with ya next week when hopefully my muddy brain will have righted itself and I will be a 2 time triathlete. :)

Warriors, Bike Stunts and Fashion Issues

This weeks "Fess Up" is heavy on photos. I just couldn't resist, between the holiday, the beginning of baseball season, and the characters I do life with, they are just better than words, well, maybe sometimes. I LOVE words! And Pictures! And little Boys!

My first "Fess Up" - I read through this blog, saw a couple of typos, grammar and punctuation errors and elected not to take the time to change them. You will forgive me I am sure. My fellas, they are hungry and sick of looking at the back of my head. 

We payed to be recreational visitors to our own city this week. I hatched a plan. My Love agreed. We would pack up our camper, squeeze in to a full RV Park with people from all over the place to watch the fireworks and recreate on the 3rd and 4th of July. It was a great place. The first discovery was the small patch of grass with a couple of hills. Note the man using the weed-whacker within feet of my sons. Yes, I thought about them getting hit by a stray rock, but what are the chances? And no, this time, it didn't happen. They had a blast!

After rolling down the grassy hills a few times we got out the bikes - we all rode bikes. Note, I am not photographed on my bike. If you really want to see that, you'll have to wait a few weeks and read my other blog after July 17th (hopefully there will be some triathlon pictures taken that I can post).

I would like to add that I am now used to his adorable face with glasses. His charm is even more evident, but then, I am just the Mom.

Working on a new skill, riding one handed. He practiced over and over and, as far as I know, never had a mishap.

My smallest is mastering the training wheels, wonder how long before he's tired of the extra help? Oh, they do grow up fast!

Even my Love enjoyed rolling around with the boys on his recreational bike.

We did have a few amusing cycling incidents - we swap boys with friends every other week - so they have our 3 and their 3 one week and then we have their 3 and our 3. So we each get a 4 hour date every other Sunday. It works great. We had the boys join us and we all rode up to one of the local parks. We had to cross train tracks. You know the kind that are embedded in the road with deep grooves? Yeah, well with my excess skill and knack for the ridiculous, I managed to squarely plant my tire in one of the grooves, almost upending myself. Awesome. Yes, there were observers, no one I knew. But they were laughing. So was I - seriously what are the odds?!! Also, on that same ride, as we are approaching oncoming riders my middle fella shouts out "Hey Mom! I am riding with my eyes closed!!" To which I replied, "Great job buddy, now OPEN them so you don't crash yourself or someone else!" The oncoming elderly cyclists were relieved I am sure, that he obeyed me just this once!

This next series of photos is Popsicle vs. Three year old. Popsicle loses, but you knew that...

Time to read the joke!

I wasn't crushed when he took his sticky, drippy stick to Nana to read it. She tried to read it without touching it.

But, eventually, she had to turn it right side up and hold it. God bless Nana!

Battle has become our lifestyle. Sounds tragic I know, with visions of Braveheart dancing in your head, but it's not that graphic yet. Mostly. The battle rules are No Shooting People (especially helpless Senior Citizens hiding out in their RVs), No "Forcing" (think Star Wars) People, and No Shooting Each Other (unless Mom or Dad isn't looking). Here are my warriors...

Nana seemed to think they were light wands. NOPE. Any self respecting Star Wars fan knows that despite the star on the end, they are LIGHT SABERS!! I did find actual glow in the dark guns for Church Family Camp this weekend - yep. I know. But I didn't buy the pitch forks - that seemed like too much!

We had our first baseball games of the season this last week. I must "Fess" that I was not entirely excited to figure out how to observe my two younger while my oldest was playing and still pay attention to the game. Baseball is my favorite sport and I really, really, really want my sons to love it too. Turns out the youngers didn't have too much trouble entertaining themselves.

I am such a great mom, I forgot to have him get his BASEBALL hat! He improvised though.

He's the one with the glove over his face.

This little girl hung around the whole time, talking, singing and entertaining my middle guy. It was hard not to wish I had a large fly swatter to shoo her away from my handsome prince. Nothing against her sweet self, I just wasn't prepared for the boy/girl focus thing to happen already.

My youngest always finds entertainment as you can see. He even unplugged the pitching machine. Yep, that's my kid!

Coach was sporting a nasty shiner. Made me wonder if one of the kids caught him with a bat or if he got in a bar fight. I prefer to think of him as taking one for the team. He's really great with the kids.

They insisted I take their picture together. Sigh.

Who actually needs words for that face? Also, I did insist he turn his shirt around that morning. I was just too prideful for him to walk around with a polo shirt on backwards all day. Sometimes I cave to my ego.

 
Oh my I have such silly guys. Their fashion sense makes me embarrassed and laugh and depending on the day I make them change their ways. I try to leave well enough alone.

Half way through the game he decided to tuck in his shirt and hike his shorts up high. Apparently pulling the shorts up over your leading leg helps you take off from the base faster. He does it every time. At least he's only grabbing the leg of his shorts... you know what I mean.

Sometimes their antics defy any frame of reference I have. It doesn't happen often since I am quite creative. This one, it blew our minds.

My Love was packing the camper last night. He looked EVERYWHERE for their bike helmets. We wracked our brains on where they could be. I finally, at 9:30pm resorted to contacting the babysitter we had that morning to find out what might have happened to them. She suggested we check the garage refrigerator, they were playing "Hide the Helmet" and the fridge was the BEST place. Sure enough he found them:

One in the fridge drawer, one in the freezer by the Otter Pops. Wow.

I conclude this epistle even Paul would have cringed at with this:

Dear Mom, I am glad that you are my mom. A love note from my oldest! 

 

Note my freshly done nails ;)

There it is friends. The reminder of why I do what I do. The tender scrawled words of a seven year old son who doesn't like writing or reading, lovingly writing a note to his Mommy. I am so grateful

I have failed miserably this week, many times. Don't get the impression that this is the entire play by play of my week. I have yelled. I have cried. I have pleaded. I have held faces in my hands and asked for forgiveness. I have eaten crappy. I have eaten well. I have skipped workouts and completed them.

All in all, it's this "Fess Up Friday blog that keeps me grounded in the reality of what matters, what doesn't and to keep laughing... as much as humanly possible. Even if you just can't bring yourself to let your son wear his shirt backwards. EXCEPT, I remember now, the other son, he wore his shirt backwards all day and I didn't notice til 6:30 that night! But, it had Batman graphics all over it, so it looked mostly the same... that's my story and I'm sticking to it!