Hot Waffleeeee

 

We LOVE waffles in this house.  Love them.  So it was no suprise to me that when I introduced Aylen to the time-tested-kid-approved game of Hot Lava, Hot Waffle would become the new name.

 

LOL.

 

I explained the rules.  Carpet=HOT LAVA aka don't touch it.  Couches/love sack/pillows/blankets/chairs=safe.  If you fall into the Hot Lava you must make horrible, agonizing sounds.  You cannot get out by yourself, rather you must yell..."HOT LAVAAAA...NOOOOOOOO...HELPPPPPPPPPP MEEEE" and then someone must LIFT you out.

 

AJ was down.  Downer than Down.  This was his kinda game.  And whatdoyounkow he immediately fell into the lava, the hot, hot lava...and started hollering, just like instructed. 

 

"MOM.......... HELPPPPPPPPP MEEEEEEEEEEEE.  I"M IN THE HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT WAFFFFFFFFLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

 

I tried to change it for him.  Lava sweetie. LAVA.  But it wasn't sticking, not one bit.

 

That's cool.  Hot Waffles aren't good to land in that's for sure.

 

 

:) Momma

Hi, Dad here.  It's been quite awhile!  I'm still here, alive and kicking!  Wow life has been busy lately - new job offers, job counter-offers, job counter-counter offers, sheesh!  I know I know, first world problems right?  Oh well, some day my head will shrink down again...

And yes, many many thanks to Megan, whom has been carrying the family and keeping us together lately while I've been working some long hours.  Thank you Meg, for being an amazing wife and wonderful momma.

So, a few fun AJisms as of late that are so cute and I never want to forget:

"Okie Dokie Chokie!"

"Good job getting him Rykee!"  While tackling me, in tandem, on the beanbag.  What is it they say?  Nothing brings two enemies (brothers, in this case) closer than a common enemy?  I'm happy and proud to be the common enemy, I guess!

Little Mommy

AJ found this picture of me and said the following.

AJ: Momma is this me?
Me: No, AJ it's me.
AJ: When you were a little mommy?
Me: Yea, I guess so. (Smiles!)
AJ: I was in your tummy.
Me: So, well yea but not then.

Oh babes.
Momma

Hands on.

We have a hands on approach for our door knobs now:)

Teehee.

-Momma

Garden of the Gods

We finally got out of town for a wee bit this past weekend.  It was super good for our soul.  We have been cooped up either due to illness, snow, or Russell's insane work schedule.  

We decided to finally take my awesome cousin up on a meetup at Manitou Springs.   This quaint little artsy town is at the foot of Pikes Peak (hopefully a hike of ours SOON).  Our first stop was at the Garden of the Gods, which was really spectacular.  Both Russ and I had visited when we were young, but it was great to go back and appreciate it as adults.  Ryker and AJ just loved being outside, running around, and learning the joy of snowball fights (thanks Karl!)
 
We walked around Manitou Springs and sometime this summer we will head back to go on the Cog Railway, which takes you all the way to the summit of Pikes Peak.  EGH!  The boys will love it.

Perfect day, perfect company, perfect little jaunt.  Colorado is truly amazing...there are some many little adventures to go on, towns to see, hikes to hike, and trains to ride!

-Momma

in the kitchen, now!

Last week I was dropping the boys off at daycare, and Becky (daycare provider) and I experienced something completely hilarious!  I put the boys down at the bottom of the steps and Becky came down the stairs and sat on them.  Immediately when she did this, Ryker took one look at her and ran across to other side of the play room and GOT MAD at her.  He looked at her and then ploppped his bottom down on the floor.  Becky stood up and said, "Ryker what is wrong?? Where is my hello?" 

Ryker got up and as he did this, Becky sat down on the stairs.  Immediately he turned around and headed back to his corner, stomping away!  Becky and I had the same thought at the same time, and she  headed into the kitchen area.  Sure enough Ryker got up and followed her straight into the kitchen-happy as a lark.  He was so angry that she wasn't in the kitchen fixing his breakfast, because she was sitting on the steps.  Becky told him, "alright alright, I get it.  You want me in the kitchen barefoot and cooking your food."  Ohemgee.  Ryker Lee good thing you are ruled by basic needs right now...just wait til you get your first lesson in Feminism:P

right Daddy? right? :P Teehee.

Love,

Momma

I won't Cry.

Me:  AJ, we are going to go into Becky's house now.
AJ:  Mom, I won't cry, ok?
Me:  AJ, if you feel like you want to cry you can, ok?  I never want you to feel like you can't cry.


OHHHHhhhhh to be in my brain.  Seriously the conversations that I have had lately at work or with friends have entailed deep deep thinking.  Me head hurts:P

that's why boys/men have so much aggression.  they aren't taught to feel anything, no ability to identify the emotions that they experience in their life.  so they are left with going through life experiencing sadness, disappointment, embarrassment and instead of feeling those feelings they are angry.  they punch, they fight, they just just get Angry.

While Male Privilege and how that relates to FEMINISM, and what kind of man are you?

how do you feel about that? feel?  i have no idea?  nobody ever asked me about that.

YOU DON'T CRY.

I'm constantly working with AJ about feelings. 

Setting:  Ryker takes away toy from AJ.  AJ hits Ryker, and then starts crying.
ME:  AJ!  It is okay to feel angry at Ryker for taking your toy, but it is never okay to hurt someone.
AJ:  Yea..
ME:  How do you feel?  Do you feel angry or sad?

And I must be a social worker or something because there is nothing cuter in my life than AJ saying to me, "Yea, Mom, I feel very sad right now." 

It's so crucial to me that AJ knows what feelings are, how to express them in appropriate way, and be emotional intelligent when it comes to others.

From one of the books I ordered:
John Gottman: "In the last decade or so, science has discovered a tremendous amount about the role emotions play in our lives. Researchers have found that even more than IQ, your emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships."
--From Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

I so, so, so believe this.

warmly,
Momma

The Great Blizzard of 2013

we are in need of water in any form-rain, sleet, snow, ANYTHING.  our family and friends out in Nebraska got a GREAT snow and Russ and I found ourselves completely jealous of their snowy-good time.  I do love the snow-I get cold easily, but that is what makes it so fun.  you go out play in the snow get completely FREEZING, and then come into a house with a fire and some hot chocolate with little marshmallows in it.  Heck yes.  That is what good memories are made from!

so lucky us we got a surprise (or at least surprise to Russ and I) snowstorm several days after our Nebraska friends. 

last year:)

it was great because it was on Sunday, we didn't have to be anywhere and we could just truly appreciate how beautiful it was.  i wanted the boys to go outside and enjoy it, and they were ALL ABOUT it.

so we began the feat of getting the boys completely bundled up in their snow gear.  last year, I didn't even make it that far with AJ. 

i got the boys all ready to go, made sure Dad took a picture.  and then as you can tell hit the wind, and the SNOW, and we were over it.  I made them trek around the house to our little breeze way, so I could get some photos, because darnit at least we would do that!  they excitedly enthusiastically just followed orders and a centimeter-ish enjoyed the little jaunt.

we landed inside, and i brought the snow in right inside the front door.  because at least they could play in it.  THAT was A HIT!  AJ stayed there most of the day.  Transferring snow from container to container, building snow things, etc.  I got some of the unfrozen Popsicles (ya know the ones that come in a plastic tube) and poured the flavored water onto the snow.  Instant SNOW-CONE.  Winning, Mom!  And when AJ's snow had melted, I opened the door dumped the old snow, and scooped the new stuff.  Didn't even have to put on my boots.  Score.  I think until they get a wee-bit older inside snow will be more fun.  Or at least maybe they might enjoy the snow when there isn't an active blizzard going on outside. Teehee.

live and learn.

<3 br="" momma="">

AJ-isms

"Mama, wipe the cry out of my eyes"

AJ: tell me bout your day Mom
Me: I met with a lot of sad kids today.
AJ: oh they were crying?

"Where is her (momma)? What her doing?"

"Momma I took a bath last year"  Last year gets confused with yesterday alot!

"Whatchu waiting for? Get up!"  Said to me this am when I just wanted to stay under the covers!

This little guy is seriously such a crack up!

Love,
Momma