He's Brilliant!

Well of course he is! Tuesday night Holden and Jack and I went out to eat at a local pizza place. The kids actually love the salad bar. They love all of the different colored beans, raisins, croutons, goldfish crackers, raisins, peas, and sometimes they even have chocolate pudding! Awesome! While the kids and I were waiting for the server, I started to entertain Holden. I had foolishly only thought to bring in a toy for Jack and as soon as I pulled it out, Holden starting clamoring for a toy too. So I flipped over the menu and drew a cat. Well, I drew something that if you squinted just right and turned the paper slightly looked like a cat. Maybe. And then I drew three lines next to the picture. I told Holden it was a cat and asked him to write the first letter of the word cat next to the picture on the first line. He then proceeded to write C-A-T in the spaces without my prompting. Brilliant child. Then I drew a hat. He had to ask what it was. But he repeated his performance with the word hat, rat, bat, and pat. He told me it was my turn and he drew a horse. I wrote out H-O-R-S-E next to his picture. He told me he was, "very proud of you Mommy". I kept the menu and it's now firmly affixed to our refrigerator. I will try and take a picture of it tonight.

Socks and Dental Floss

My kids never cease to provide my husband and I with entertainment. My husband had just helped Jack go to the potty and had left him briefly in the bathroom by himself. Jack came cruising out of the bathroom at the speed of light in only his socks (argyle of course) and a very long string of dental floss. He could not have been more pleased with himself. It's really unfortunate that I did not have quick access to my camera. I need to start my stack of blackmail photographs now for when the two boys start dating!! Regardless, it did provide a good laugh. Thanks Jack!

I'm Back! Were the kids always this loud??

I'm back! My trip to Sun Valley was quite successful! The seminar was great and I actually had a chance to kick up my heels a bit. The only problem is that staying up late only makes me tired. Which is not a great idea with my two boys. Wow am I tired. When I walked in the door Jack was crying (he had just seen me outside and the two second wait for me to come inside was faaaaar too long) and Holden was running around the living room screeching like a bird. My first thought was, were they always this loud?? Or are they being extra loud just to make me feel special?? Turns out Jack had respectfully declined his nap. Which is never good. And Holden had been cooped up in the house the whole day. The odds were not in my favor. My sweet husband left me to run some errands shortly after I arrived. The short errand that he ran turned into a really long one and I ended up chasing after the kids and putting them both to bed. Which was not too bad. I missed them and I got to get all of the bedtime hugs and kisses. By the time I eased myself into bed, I was exhausted!! I still don't know if they were extra loud or not, but it turns out that I don't really care. I missed them and it was a joy to be home and to snuggle them again. I just wish they weren't so stinking noisy!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I am supposed to be packing right now. Tomorrow morning a friend and I are leaving for Sun Valley in order to enjoy a three day conference on Bankruptcy. Yep. I lead a very very exciting life. This I know! Despite the fact that it will be soooo exciting, I am having a difficult time with the whole thing. I have never ever been away from Jack for one whole day. Ever. My dear sweet husband calls me mental. But, I really don't like leaving either of the kids. Ever. Really! So I have been stalling all week and now for most of the night in the hopes that tomorrow won't really come. But of course it will. So as soon as I am 100% certain that Jack's asleep -- I will start packing. Because I really should be ready for how much fun I am going to have!! Actually, in all honesty, it will end up being fun. I will have zero obligations for the next three days. No kids to get ready for school. No kids to dress in the morning. No kids to put to sleep at night. No kids to keep putting to sleep at night. No last books. No last minute hugs and kisses. And no last snacks in the hopes of delaying bedtime. I honestly have no idea where either of these kids have learned the art of procrastination!! Hopefully I will find some people to help me live like people without children. :o) Wish me luck!!

Squeaky - May he Rest in Peace

Yesterday Holden announced to my husband and I on the car ride home, that "Squeaky died." We of course inquired as to who this Squeaky was. We were promptly informed that, "Squeaky was our guinnea pig. But it's okay. We got a new one. It's a baby. We have to WHISPER." We were happy to learn that he was not traumatized in the slightest and he was very happy to have the new baby in place of Squeaky. My husband and I seriously cannot stop laughing. We are awfully morbid people.

We've Hit the Terrible Twos!

Not quite-- but almost. Jack turns two later next month. Although he's been diligently explaining to his Daddy and I that he turned two at about 18 months. He's normally a delightful child. But there are times when he really can not handle being told no. Yesterday, the kids and I had the day off, so we all jumped in the car and went to the zoo to run off some extra energy. Jack and Holden were doing really well at listening and keeping close until about halfway through. That's when Jack decided that he could give a rip that Holden wanted to move along. And there I was, struggling to try and keep the two of them from heading in two different directions, frantic that I would lose one of them. I ended up grabbing Jack and throwing him over my shoulder as I caught up with Holden. The problem was Jack. Holden shouldn't have his zoo day ruined. But as it turns out, Jack is REALLY LOUD! So I promised Holden a treat if he would run as fast as he could with me to the car. The allure of a vanilla milkshake was all he needed and out we went. We totally were THAT family. Everyone turned and stared at the crazy Mom with one kid over her shoulder wailing and the other running as fast as he could to keep up with his Mom. Awesome.

Fun with Holden

Holden never ceases to amaze me. He actually told me yesterday, "Mommy, if you don't leave now, you'll be late for your appointment". Seriously? What four-year-old says that? Apparently mine does!