Chicago is a no go :(

Unfortunately we didn't make it to Chicago. The weather has been awful and although we tried (we really really did), we had to turn around and come back. When you have to go 15 mph on the interstate in Tulsa because the ice is so thick and then the car goes skidding on the ice and hits the cement barrier, it's time to turn around and head back home.

It didn't do a lot of damage, but enough to have us turn around because the bumper was rubbing against the tire.

McKinly and Cody were devastated. Cody kept saying, "but I just want to go to Chicago". Cade then would repeat, "I want Chicago, too". Ty was too busy playing his DS to even know what was going on (I honestly don't think he even realized we got in an accident) and Cole had started running a fever and just wanted to go to sleep.

It is really disappointing. I was looking forward to seeing everyone and really wanted the kids to see real snow, not this ice crap we get down here.

We're also having to miss seeing our friends in Michigan. Cade misses Evan and really wanted to play with him. We'll have to plan a trip to Chicago and Michigan soon!

In the meantime, the kids and I decided to make the best of the snow here and build a snowman.

First they had to find out just the right spot

Then they had to test the snow with a little snow fight

McKinly built some chairs for her and Cade

Then they started the snowman

Cade, Cody, and McKinly hard at work

(Ty took off to a friends house as soon as we got back and Cole was inside with a really high fever)

Our snowman is lazy and is lounging in a snow chair McKinly made.

He sure is cute though!

Then the kids came inside for some warm soup and hot Chocolate

It's probably for the best we didn't get to Chicago, Cole is running a high fever and just doesn't feel well. It wouldn't have made for a very fun trip!

The kids keep thinking of the waterpark we were supposed to go to tomorrow. I feel bad for them, so if you have any ideas of what we can do around here to make it up to them, let me know! Until then, we'll be building more snow forts and snowmen!

Merry Christmas

Three very happy boys wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

We were supposed to leave for Chicago in the morning but we're not sure that's going to happen right now. We're just going to play it by ear, but hopefully we'll get up there! There's about two feet of snow in our driveway from all the snow blowing around! It's going to be a White Christmas at least!!

Christmas Cookies

Who needs to go see a movie with Daddy and Cody when you can make Christmas cookies with mommy?

It's not a mohawk!

My sister called me last night with a little "concern". She wanted to know why Cody has a mohawk in the picture on the Christmas Card. It's not a mohawk! His hair is lighter on top than it is underneath, so when I spiked his hair for the picture, the darker part showed up. I couldn't tell it looked like that until the pictures came back.

So, just in case you were wondering, it's not a mohawk!

Although, it totally looks like that but I was just hoping no one else noticed!

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

thanks to my little brother who designed and made our Christmas card this year! I think he did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself...

oops...it's really all I can say at this point!

Two different instances occurred this weekend that have probably put me pretty far down on the "mother of the year" list.

I'm not perfect, even though sometimes I try to argue with my husband that I am, I can admit when I have done wrong.

Well, I can admit it when all the evidence points to me, and only me.

Oops!

You see, it was cold Saturday morning but Cade really needed a haircut. I have cut the boys' hair in the past and done a decent job, I think. It was too cold to do it outside though, like I normally do, so I decided to do it inside. I laid a towel on the bathroom floor and Cade and I sat down on it. Everything was going great; Cade was cooperating and I was going to town with the clippers.

Everything went smoothly, he looked very handsome, and I was psyched I got it done in less than ten minutes.

But then it happened...I took the guard off the clippers to do a little touching up, and at that same, exact moment, Cade leaned his head back and made contact with the unguarded clippers, resulting in a very noticeable bald line on the back of his head!

Let's just say, I'm glad it's cold and it's acceptable to wear hats this time of year!

TJ says we'll just tell everyone it's a scar, but he's not fooling me. He will be the first to tell everyone I did it, because nothing makes him happier than when I do something a little...less perfect, let's just say!

And speaking of less perfect...the next incident really wasn't all my fault. Cody was partly to blame too!

Cody and Cole like to rough house, it's what boys do. So it was no big deal for Cody to be dragging Cole around the living room by his legs, right?

I didn't think so either.

Cole thought it was hilarious and I enjoyed watching my boys laugh and play like little boys should. Nothing makes me happier than the sound of their laughter.

That is until that laughter turns into a very painful scream! Cody thought Cole was screaming because he had stopped pulling him around by his little legs. Once Cody yanked him across the floor again, Cole would burst out laughing again. After all, it did look like fun and Cody wasn't pulling on him hard enough to hurt him.

Or so I thought.

I was worried about how hard Cody was pulling him, not wanting him to pull his little legs out of their sockets. Now, that would be bad. So, it never occurred to me that all this pulling around the living room would cause painful rug burn all over Cole's back.

I didn't even notice it until I put Cole in the bath.

A bath that was too warm and resulted in him screaming again, but we wont talk about that right now, I would have to admit again I'm not perfect, and once is already too many for today!

Cole is such a happy baby and even when he gets hurt, he doesn't fuss for long. So, it wasn't until his bath that I realized his screams from earlier were not that of a child who wanted to keep getting thrown across the room.

My poor babies. I have one who, if he was a little older and realized what I had done, would be embarrassed to go out in public, and another who can't comfortably lay on his back.

at least they're fast to forgive

So, when are those Mother of the Year nominations?? I'm pretty sure I wont be getting any votes!

Naughty

Cade should be listed in the dictionary as a synonym for naughty. He is very manipulative. He knows just the right strings to pull and when to pull them. He must have a built in radar because he knows just that precise moment when his high pitched, blood curdling scream will send me over the edge.

Alright, he doesn't have to have a built in radar because his high pitched, blood curdling scream will send me over the edge any time, day or night.

However, he's very cute and that is probably why his manipulation works so well. He started talking at a very young age and there is nothing cuter than the sound of his little toddler voice. He can hold his own in a conversation and even persuade you with his bright, blue eyes. I have fallen victim to those looks numerous times. I have not always been proud of it, but I can admit it.

See, I just did and feel better already.

What is NOT cute is when he feels the need to play the drums...on his brother's head.

Naughty.

Or when he has a handful of 20+ cars and will not share, even one, with his siblings.

Naughty.

Or when he decides the cup he is drinking out of is not the one he wants, so he pries the cup he does want, out of his little brother's hands. This usually results in his little brother shrugging it off and grabbing Cade's old cup which only leads to an infuriated Cade who has now decided his first cup is the cup he wants.

Staying with me?

See...naughty!

Oh, but don't forget the whole book fiasco. You know, the one where Cade will tell Cody, "that's my book" just to get Cody riled up. But it doesn't stop at books, oh no, this little tactic of Cade's goes for anything. He loves to claim things as his own just to make his siblings mad. In fact, the words "that's mine" are banned from this house. They are bad words! My children are not allowed to say them!

That is probably why Cade does...NAUGHTY!

I think you're beginning to see a pattern here, probably a pattern most two year olds go through but the difference in my situation is, I have another one who will be there in 9 short months. Once Cade gets out of this two year old phase, my one year old will hit the dreaded milestone!

Awe, the joy of motherhood!

and yet, I wouldn't trade any of it...for anything!

One of those days!

Have you ever had one of those days, you know the days where you just can't wait for it to be over and it's only 9:00 am??

Yeah, I had one of those days today.

Most days, I look at my kids and I realize how lucky I am. They are great kids; they are happy, healthy, smart, well behaved (most of the time), and I love them with all my heart.

Today, however, I did not look at them that way. Today, I looked at them and thought I was going to lose my mind. They did not stop fighting for one.single.second today! It wasn't even over anything of importance, it never is, no it was just to see how much they could annoy the other!

and in doing so, annoy me.

I shouldn't say it lasted all day long because I did get a break. Once while Cody was at school (he only goes to school for 2 1/2 hours) and the other time while Cade was taking his nap. I guess I should rephrase and say they only fought the entire time they were in the presence of the other.

Cole is even picking up on their combative behavior. He decided he only wanted the little baseball figure that Cade was holding at the time. Who cares that there were 20 more of the same baseball guys in the box, but why would anyone want those? It's not as much fun if there isn't any screaming involved, is it?

The last little thread of dignity I was holding onto broke around 8:00 pm tonight. Cody was reading his book, and doing a great job with it I must add, and Cade came up to him and said "that's my book". Now, if it had been his book, that would have been a different story. But you see, Cade knew it wasn't his book. No, he was doing it to start yet another fight with his brother! Cody, of course, in return claimed the book as his. This is when I could feel those strands of my dignity start to pull apart. I tried to hold on, keeping it together, but then it happened...Cody yanked the book out of Cade's manipulative little hands, flinging Cade off the couch in the process and resulting in my two year old hitting his head on the corner of the coffee table. I probably should have gotten mad at Cody. I mean, he is the older brother and he knows better. But honestly, a little part of me, thought Cade deserved it.

What kind of mother am I??

Don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question!

I lost it at that point. Anyone who happened to be walking by my house at the moment probably were scared for my children. I walked over to them, yanked the book out of Cody's hand (hey, he did it to Cade first!), and flipped out! I quietly (ok maybe "quiet" is not the word I should be using here, but let's just pretend that's how this whole thing went down) told them that if I hear them fighting one.more.freakin.time.tonight they would be grounded for the rest of their lives. In their rooms. All alone!

They were then sent to their rooms, put to bed, and are now fast asleep. Probably dreaming about all the fun ways to start fights with each other in the morning so they can irritate me all day tomorrow too. I'm not going to think about that though. No, I'm going to sit here, with my itouch, and play scrabble because my only other option is to drink, but we don't have any wine or beer in the house and it's way too damn cold to go buy some.

I can't wait till Friday, when we have a babysitter coming. I enjoy paying someone else to listen to the fighting. It makes me happy!

Thanksgiving 2009

A little late, I know, but hey, at least it's getting posted.

We traveled down to Houston to spend Thanksgiving with my family. It was Cathy's year to have McKinly and Ty for Thanksgiving but McKinly really wanted to go with us so she could see some of her friends. (She spent a couple of weeks down there this summer with my dad, step-mom, and little brother and made some really great friends!) We honestly didn't see her much, at all!

Loading up the car for our 7 hour drive :(

The next day, Uncle Claydough came to see the boys

Cade and Cole helped Nana cut the veggies for the dressing

Cole decided to eat an onion...and liked it. Gross!

Aunt Chandler, Cole and Chelsi watching football Thanksgiving Day

Chelsi and McKinly making whipped cream for the pies

It was Chelsi's 16th birthday on Saturday so she got a Birthday Pie on Thanksgiving

Uncle Carl and Cole

My three little men

(don't mind Cole's chocolate face or the huge bump on his head)

We drove to College Station to see the Christmas lights at Santa's Wonderland. The kids loved it!

Cody, Taylor and Cade looking out the sun roof

Cole was so excited

Since it is in College Station, of course they had to have stuff about my Aggies!

They had fun stuff to do out of the car as well.

Cody playing in the "snow"!

Cole really liked the "snow" as well. He kept saying "peas" (please) for more when it would stop.

They had a live band and Cade danced the entire time. The boy has some moves...

he even tried a little break dancing...

Cole wanted in on a little dancing action as well...

We had to get up and leave the next day to come back to reality. It was harder for me to leave this time, not knowing when I will be back. :( However, we're off to Chicago in just a few weeks so at least we have another trip to look forward to!

Updates

Honestly, there really isn't much going on. Don't get me wrong, we still have our crazy day to day lives around here, but nothing out of the ordinary. In between school, screaming, fighting, homework, screaming, meal times, screaming, bath time, bed time, more screaming...there just doesn't seem like there is time left for me to do much else.

Oh, and some of that screaming is actually coming from the kids...a little of it is at least.

My boys are very well behaved and great kids...but they're boys. They have more energy than...I don't even know what. They can get just a few hours of sleep and still be bouncing off the walls the next day. Where their energy comes from, I have no idea.

I honestly can't complain too much because when I need them to settle down, they do. When I need them to go to sleep, they do. When I need them to just go in the other room and give me a few minutes to myself...they don't! I don't know what it is, but they have something against me having ANY.ALONE.TIME.AT.ALL!

They will go off and play by themselves, but it's like they have a built in radar and they know when I'm alone, and I guess they don't think I should be.

I know this is a time to be thankful, and I am very thankful for them. I love them more than anything in this world. Not a day goes by where I don't appreciate the things they do, the things they say, the way they make me laugh, and even the way they drive me insane. They are my life and I wouldn't trade anything...

...except maybe a little quiet because right now, at this moment in time, I don't remember what that's like!

and it starts...

My sweet, adorable one year old has turned into...well, not a sweet and adorable one year old.  Don't get me wrong, he still is an easy going, charming little man...when he wants to be.

His new obsession is granola bars.  He stands at the pantry and says, "ba, ba" (for bar).  If you happen to say no (and God help you, if you do) he lets out an ear piercing, glass shattering scream!  There is no reasoning with him either.  You can try a banana, juice, or even a cookie but he wont have ANY of it!  You can give in and just give him the "ba", but what is that really teaching him?

I have sat there and just let him scream it out, hoping it will stop.  Then again, I have also decided my sanity is worth something, so I give in.  I'll work on the life lessons at a later date...the pounding in my head says to give him the damn thing!

Could you really say no to this guy?

Obviously his daddy can't...notice the granola bar remains all over his shirt and the hat on his head!

The Little Boy's Big Bed

The idea, since Cole was born, was to have Cade and Cole share a room.  However, Cade has always done so well with bedtime that we never put Cole in his room because we didn't want him waking Cade up.  Therefore, Cole has been in our room since he was born.  He had a pack-n-play in there that he was happy with, but it was time to move him up to the "big boy" world.

Cade was excited for a new bed AND a new roommate.  I think he was getting lonely because he has been crawling in bed with us or McKinly (when she was at our house).

We took down the toddler bed and crib (since Cole has never slept in a crib his entire life) and put in a new bunk bed.  It's complete with a staircase and all so it's safe for our little two year old.  Cole is completely trapped in on the bottom bunk so he can't get out even if he wanted to.

Cole loves his new bed.  He gets excited for bed time and sleeps in later too!!  (Which is way cool for mommy!)  Cade thinks it's a pirate ship so he's very happy as well.  He still comes in to our room every now in then, but that's a habit that will take a little time breaking.

We are very lucky TJ works with some friends of ours at a furniture store in the summer!  Discounts are the only way we can afford new furniture!!

Mac and Cheese and a Sunday Story!

Cole has been very determined to be able to eat with a fork.  He wants to be just like the big kids.  The other day I made Halloween Mac and Cheese and he ate the entire meal with his fork.  It only took him an hour, but he got it done!

Getting ready to show me his mad skills...

Concentrating very hard...

Being very careful so it doesn't fall off...

He gets so proud of himself every time...

Every Sunday, my little brother comes over for Sunday dinner.  Like I said before, the boys get very excited for Uncle Jonathan to come over.  The past few Sundays, Uncle Jonathan has been reading them stories before bed.  The boys now call it "Sunday Story Time".  Uncle Jonathan always reads in funny voices and accents.  I have a video of it I'll try to post some time so you can see why they love their Uncle Jonathan so much...