Typical Tristan - diving fearlessly, moving so fast he's a blur, laughing the whole time.
(Excuse the mess in the background - was rearranging and I don't have window coverings yet).

Doggie Dilemma

See that bear? That's Doggie Bear-bear. He is Tanner's best friend, his compadre, his constant companion. We have been known to turn around to go get Doggie when Tanner realized he forgot him and cried huge tears of dispair. Ok , so the reason I'm even talking about Doggie is because he has gotten me into a bit of a parental dilemma.
Tonight, Doggie was the victim of a very random regurgitation, so he was immediately thrown in the "bath" (washing machine). Tanner bravely went forward through his bedtime ritual without Doggie, but he was so darn sad that I told him that I would lay Doggie beside him while he sleeps after Doggie was finished getting washed and dried.
However, I didn't know that my towels were going to take FOREVER in the dryer because of the blasted humidity oustide and Doggie didn't make it to the dryer until after 10:00. It is not going well - Doggie is not drying quickly.
So...here I sit. Waiting. And I NEED to go to bed. But I promised Boo-boo. I am tired. If I stay up late, I will be sorry tomorrow. Mornings are tough as it is. But I promised Tanner. Therefore, it's not really a dilemma, is it? I will stay up until Doggie dries and sneak him beside his best bud, just as I said I would because how can I expect my boys to grow up as honorable men if I don't keep my promises, especially when it deals with something so very important to one of them. Dang it. I wonder if there's a way to main-line coffee?

Things Every Mom Should Know

Pick and choose your friends wisely. If you feel hesitation in letting someone in, you are probably right. It takes some time, but make sure the folks you choose have pure intentions and can be truly supportive of you as a person and a mother. Moms need all the support they can get, and nasty, snobby, shallow, or deceitful women have no place in your life. Period.

Random stories

Conversation with Tanner yesterday in the car after leaving Target:
Me - Oh darn, I forgot to get dishwashing liquid.
T - no, you didn't
Me - yeah, I did.
T (complete with "Mommy, you're an idiot" voice") - well, you got paper plates.

To him, that makes total sense.

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Tanner - mommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommymommy...
Tristan - if you keep saying it like that, mama's never gonna answer. You have to say it one time, like this - "MAMA!!!!!"

That Tristan, he was always a sharp kid.

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Life is so unfair to Cade. I have limited his computer time to 1 1/2 hours per day due to a drop in grades. Much complaining, tears, and begging has come of this. So last night, we had this little exchange:

Me - it's 6:30, why don't you go get some computer time til 8?
C - Really?
Me - yeah, sure, why not?
C - You're the best mommy EVER! That's like for 3 hours!! COOL!!! (skips off happily)

OK, so I don't know whether or not I should be worried just yet that he can't deduce hours and minutes or to just be happy that I'm the best mommy ever due to his mistake. Hmmm...something to ponder.

Things Every Mom Should Know

Sniff your kids. Get to know their smell even as they grow older and lose the yummy soft baby smell. Every night, when you pray over your kids as they sleep, be sure and lean down and inhale their scent. They are all different, and if blindfolded, I could pick my boys out of a lineup of 20 kids. Cade has a sweet yet boyish smell, Tristan is very masculine and musky, and Tanner still has the tiniest, teeniest bit of baby clinging to him. It's very cool. It reinforces the belief that I know them inside and out. And I do.

You know when you dream about having kids, you think of all the fun times, the love, laughter, etc? Puppies, rainbows, hugs, kisses? Yeah, last night, around here - NOT THAT. It all started off when I got out of the shower and discovered Cade half asleep in my bed. I decided to leave him there because I was tired and didn't feel like dealing with pouty, sleepy 8 year old. I get my nightly "chores" done (lay out clothes, set coffee maker, fill cups with milk/juice) and get in bed. Have trouble sleeping due to snoring child. At about 11:30, I am JOLTED awake by Tristan, who is standing by my bed shrieking "MAMA!!!" Cade and I both bolt upright and scream, "What is it?" Turns out that he had a nightmare that there were ants in his bed and refused to sleep there. Insisted on laying on the couch. I stupidly turned on Noggin, and he proceeded to get into Wow Wow Wubbzy. Sigh. Stumble back to bed, listen to snoring, fall asleep.
About an hour later...
"MAMA!!" sheer panic. Cade is freaking out. Fah-reaaking O.U.T. By the time I manage to sit up and thankfully, get out of the way, he has thrown up all over my bed. I drag him to the bathroom, and OMG, it is everywhere. I don't deal well with bodily fluids. Clean him up, clean walls, floor, child, throw sheets in washing maching, look up to see Tristan standing there. "I can't sleep." Lather, rinse, repeat once an hour the rest of the night.
Yeah, they don't tell you about those times in the books or movies. I deserve hazard pay.

Depressing - feel free to skip

Ok, so Bryant's in Denver. I love Denver. However, I would really love it more if he were here with us. The boys miss him. I miss him. We're working on getting him home more, if we play our cards right. That would be great because I just can't be a daddy. I'm terrible at being Daddy. He is the patient one, the fun parent, the potty training whisperer. I'm so scared that I am failing the boys by not doing all the "male" stuff. I have a constant guilt that I should be doing MORE. I try really hard to be a good mom, but I'm not patient, I despise potty training, and I suck at being spontaneous. I AM good for hugs and kisses and a few pillow fights, I do have some redeaming qualities! Oh, and I make a mean grilled cheese, too. I hope that the boys will one day realize what a sacrifice that their dad has made and that they will appreciate it.
Wow, that was rather depressing. On a happier note, Tanner has entered the "why?" phase of life. At least he still thinks I know everything.