Tooth

I felt it!!! The last first tooth experience in this house!! Hopefully we can get some sleep some time tonight:(

Momma

Little boy gold: R/C airplane found in basement !

A toy airplane, that really flies?  (Well sorta!). 

AJ:  "This is gonna be awesome!"   Ryker:  "flies!  Flies!  Flies!

My Big-Little Ryker Man...

I've been working long hours lately.  At least 1 evening per week and every weekend.  I guess that's my excuse for being 4 weeks late in posting this dedication to my youngest boy....

It's been very fun to watch you grow lately.  Perhaps because you've come so far so fast in these past few weeks.  During the course of a week, about a month ago, I noticed you changing and growing in certain ways.  Seemingly over night, you were able to talk with complete sentences, hold real conversations (albeit short), became a master-stool-user (seriously I have witnessed you carry stools everywhere for every conceivable purpose), and your already-jolly mood somehow seemed to explode into even more random bursts of smiles and happiness.  You love living.  You love to be crazy and have fun.  I absolutely love that about you.  

Carry on buddy!

Russell

Little smiles

Love when this girl wakes up long enough to give me a little smile and then conks out again.

She's cute. Real cute.

Love momma 

Visit to the Butterfly Pavillion

What a rad place!

:) 

Momma

Oh Ryker.

• using dog poop as rocks for his dump trucks.

•obtained nickname of "crack bandit" because of his desire to stick his down his parents' crack.

•while dad was napping he managed to get his wallet and dump all creditcard and cash into the trash. Money-who needs it.

•can dribble better than most kids on AJ's soccer team.

•puts hands down his pants and exclaims "No poop Mom!". 

Embarrassing my children is what I do.;)

Momma

Soccer Initiation

Soccer Time is here ladies and gentleman.  The new phase in the Fruvellhoff 5 Forever family.  Practice, games, equipment,etc.  I decided I'd create a handy dandy list of how we have been initiated into this world of sports.

1.  FREEZING our *()(*SD off SOCCER game.  That's right our *()#* off.  Our first game was 35 degrees, our second game was 29 degrees with sleet by the end.  I don't know about you but nothing says- "WELCOME to your kid in sports" like having all 3 children crying at some point because they are convinced that their arms/legs/hands/feet are about to fall off.   The 29 degree game ended in me taking all the littles back to the van to warm up.

2. Mom hollering at Dad because he isn't going fast enough because OHMYGODWE are going to BE LATE FOR (OVERPRICED/PROBABLY NO GOOD/I COULD DO BETTER) PHOTOS.  Yup.  I think I paid $37 for pictures that I will probably wish I wouldn't have.  AND the other two children will most likely suffer because they most likely will not have their own pictures when it's their turn.  BECAUSE seriously I could take just great ones and not pay $50 per photo.  AND yes I swear Russ was strolling around the store getting snacks for the kids, and we were running late to pictures.  I was slightly irritated to say the least.  Especially when I ran up carrying AJ like a football only to find that our team wasn't even up yet.  uh-huh.
 
3.  PLAYing the sniper game- ya know the one where MOM and DAD pick which parent from the other team they would shoot straight in the head because THEY ARE JUST THAT annoying.  I know I know..I'm a social worker- I love everyone.  BUT jebus...common I can get irritated.  AND I can play the game-whowegonnaknockoff.  Because seriously some of these MOMS (especially moms) are ANNOYING as heck.  These are 3 year old people, lay off the directives.  Or I know better yet, let the coach coach.  Huh.  Fancy that idea.

Coming off the field after experiencing HIS FIRST GOAL.

4.  THE FIRST GOAL.  That's right people-our AJ got his first goal today (3rd game).  HOLY heck it was beautiful.  The kid had to kick through other kids to get it.  It was awesome and I'm pretty sure I jumped.  AND fist pumped.  BECAUSE I just got to see my KID SCORE!  Russ and I had decided we were going to be okay with the fact that AJ just might not score this season.  He's a bit timid, a little uncoordinated, and the concept of the goal has been a bit tricky.  BUT-allbedamned... He did it!  AND he just wanted to TELL EVERYONE.  Call Grammy/CALL PAPPA AND GRANNY BARB/MAKE SURE DAD SAW...there is nothing compared to seeing your kid be proud of himself.  Nothing.

5.  The FIRST injury.  It wasn't a bad injury at all, but SOME kid did SOME thing to AJ that caused his pain.  AND kudos to me because I didn't go out on the field, and I didn't beat the other kid up.  Winning.  I let Coach take care of it first, and then allowed Dad to cuddle AJ.  Pretty soon he was good to go and out on the field.  :0)

I'm sure there are more firsts that I'm forgetting, perhaps there are more to experience.  I have to say it is so rad being on the sidelines cheering my offspring on.  I'm so used to being the one out there on the court and wasn't quite sure how I'd take to that.  I didn't know if I'd want to get out there myself, If I'd be a bit envious of the competition, if I'd be pushing too much or not enough, or being a sideline coach or not.  BUT I'm settling in nicely I have to say.  AND enjoying it more than I ever imagined.  I even got to give the famous peptalk today that AJ did awesome and it wasn't just because he scored.  He pushed the ball down the field, he knew which direction they were supposed to go and communicated that to his teammates, and HE PLAYED DEFENSE (makes a defensive guru like his momma proud).

AHhh....good times.  Love it.

Momma

Back to Work Shenanigans

I've been back to work for 1 1/2 months so far.  I think it would have been an excellent experience if I didn't have to worry about having a job next year (which is still up in the air).  I love my job.  I believe in what I do with all my heart.  I love Dempsey too.  And I love these boys.  This post isn't about the contrast of a working mom to a SAHM.  It's about the troubles of a working mom.  
 
The week I returned to work my boys and Dempsey were sick.  It put me in this horrible position of talking to Russell to figure out how to support the kids at home and be back at work. Especially with the prospect of having to potentially fight for my job and put on a good show for my schools.  

Luckily my hubby is great and understanding and made the comment, "You've sacrificed enough for our family.  It's the least I could do (stay at home taking care of the family)." He stayed home to help Grandma at home with the sickies.  It was so hard to be at work knowing my kids needed snuggles.  That's when I feel the most motherly, but it also highlighted a point.  Dad's need to do that too.  And if Mom comes and sweeps it always, we do Dads a disservice by never allowing them the opportunity for that special time. 

 While I was back at work, I texted Grandma a million times.  I was ready to drop everything just to go home, but I also wanted desperately to be back with the kids at school.  This text message highlighted how hard it is to be at work knowing your kids wanted you.  I have librarian assistant at work that I've grown close with.  She has told me multiple times, when your kids are sick- GO home.  Be with them.  She told me that when she started working she rarely would take time off, because she felt like she had to be at her job.  She regrets it so much now.  Gulp.  Regret.  Something I see in parents, former clients, that KILLS people.  Worst thing to hold on to.

Good news is that we made it through the sickness, I worked some part-time days and everyone survived both at home and school.

With nursing Dempsey I have been put in the GRIP of Breastfeeding.  It is so worth it, but man it is sure an accomplishment.  When I'm at work I have a clock ticking loud and clear.  I know that I must pump with 3-4 hours if I have any chance of keeping up Dempsey.  I know that I must eat and drink to keep up my with supply.  I MUST learn good positive coping skills to get through my day and the stress of my job if I want any chance in producing what I need to for her.  Luckily I have quite the system now of getting out the pump, pumping, putting things away.  AND on most days I welcomed the pause I get from pumping.  It does get complicated when I have x amount of meetings, with x amount of kids to see, 3 pumps, and a total of 8 hours to make it all work.  AND then I go home...

AND home is great and insane all in one.  Russ has been working later, so because of this I'm usually the person to get dinner going (unless Grandma has helped us out-which she is working than willing if Dempsey cooperates).  So I'm washing pump parts, I'm taking lunch stuff out, putting new lunch stuff in.  Packing the bag for the next day.  Nursing Dempsey finally.  OH and spending time with the boys.  AND then it's time for bed and I'm having to hurry little boys who don't want to sleep to bed.  AND then it's time for Dempsey to be cranky.  AND then before I know it I'm asleep and I not quite sure if I have even kissed Russ for the day?...  Just to wake up early and do it again. 

I wonder if I'm supposed to stay at home right now (maybe that's the point of this job stuff)...but I just don't think I can do it.  Some people would kill for this opportunity to stay home, but I just don't know.  This little army of little people that we created, are lovably insane. Spring Break time has highlighted how wonderful it is to not rush so hard in the morning, stay in our pjs all day, and just be together.  It has also reminded me how much I do enjoy going to work and making a difference in the bigger community.

In the next few months I will have answer about my job, and perhaps I'll be working part-time.  Maybe full-time.  Maybe not at all (doubtful).  I do know that there is a plan, and I don't quite know it, but that's okay.  In the meantine, I will take care of myself, my family, and my marriage during the craziest time of our life:)

Love,
Momma