Hovering

So I have been rolling this post around in my head for several days because I can't come up with the words to make it flow. I have started several times, but gotten nowhere fast. We went to Lake Laura over the weekend to enjoy some quiet family time. It was pretty darn serene. Peaceful with a side of squealing kids.



Yes, I am fully aware that these are the ugliest "ko-nails" ever.

 It was also strange how every one's conversations echoed just so that you could hear everyone with perfect clarity. I over heard two ladies chatting about the involvement people have in their children's lives. Well, really it was one lady, and the other was just listening.

The main talker was saying that people are too involved in their children's lives, they are too overbearing. That parents no longer allow their children to learn and grow for themselves. I was with her at this point.

Then she went too far. She said that it is just too much when parents get involved and become classroom moms, and volunteer coaches and Sunday school teachers. She hit a nerve, we are all of those things to our kids.

These days I believe that you need to build a firm foundation of closeness and togetherness when we are truly less connected then ever. It has become all too easy to connect with one another through facebook, texts, e-mail. Some would argue that this has connected everyone more. And yes, it has helped me reconnect with some friends from High School, but does it really help me connect with my family? I don't think so.

Even baby took a nap.

I believe family connections are made in the fun and the tough moments. I can remember a camping trip from before Brandon and I were engaged that we made with my mom and sisters like it was yesterday. We look back at that trip and still laugh like crazy because it was so hot and miserable and the mosquitos were lethal. We talk about that trip all the time though. We all learned something about ourselves and each other that week.

I believe that kids need a strong sense of connection to their parents in this age so that they feel safe and that there is trust at home. I want my kids to come to me and know that no matter what has happened I am going to be there for them helping them grow and learn from whatever it is.

This woman continued to say how parents hover too much, and don't give their kids space. I agree that kids do need to have space to make mistakes to learn from, but they also need a strong base to return to when things go awry. At this point I looked over to see who thought we should all have her opinion and lets just say that between her cigarettes and dyed maroon hair she probably just doesn't have the time to be very involved.

So I picked up my little and went down to my big boys and hoovered for her benefit. So there.

Lets Go, Go, Go, On an adventure...

Ever watch Cat and the Hat on PBS? If so you now have the song stuck in your head for the rest of this glorious day! Brandon does this to me at least twice a week, and I go around all day humming it. Next time you see me, ask and I will sing the whole thing for you!

I love this, it looks like they are in cahoots.

We have been here, there and everywhere the past couple weeks. We started with a whirlwind trip to Richmond to visit our new grown-up Aunt B. She is now a working woman, and we hardly get to talk anymore. I miss her, so we picked up and invaded her house for two days. It was the busiest two days though.

We exhausted ourselves with a trip to Maymont Park. It is a must see for little kids, we will have to go back when it is a little cooler and I have another set of hands.

This kid can find a great stick anywhere.

"This is my greatest stick, Mommy."

The fast shoes

We wined (they should offer it) and dined at Chuck E. Cheese. It is one of those things parents should let their children do once. And once is more than enough to last a lifetime.

We hit up their Children's Museum. It was an over sized version of ours. Still fun, but didn't accomplish the sleep I was hoping for on the drive home.

He is my little trooper.

I don't understand the draw to these, but all kid's museums have them.

He was kind enough to get me some coffee.

Obviously apple picking was very serious business.

Then we made a new record time of taking four hours to drive 143 miles that should have taken more like two hours.

Six days later we hit the road again for my annual family reunion with my sisters and mom. We all do our best to go to the Kenny Chesney concert every year at Virginia Beach. One of us was missing in San Diego this year, but we picked up a new little four year old that went like gang busters until Kenny hit the stage.

We stayed in our usual campground in the usual pop-up, and discovered lots of new fish in the canal surrounding us this year.

Preston has a new love for kayaks and the ocean. He defeated every wave that our arms would hold him up to kick and make bubbly.  He even caught a few on the boogie boards. Yay, I have a beach bum!

We topped off the beach trip with Croup and a very long night. Thank goodness for extremely helpful Walgreen's pharmacists, that will offer to let you hold your child's face in front of a freezer to help open his airways.

As I type this after the busiest week of the summer I have a three month and one day old babe snoozing at my feet in his boppy pillow. It is good to be home. This week will be our last before the last year of preschool, and I want to be still in our home, but at the same time I want to soak up the last week.

5Ks are not to be taken lightly

So I ran a 5K six weeks post partum after not having run for the previous 10 months. It was bad. Terrible. Everytime I ran, milk would flow. I was busting and in terrible pain. I ended up limping over the finish line holding some rather large boobs. I felt like a boob, too, though. I had good intentions of finding time to run after having Grant.  Two kids has rocked my world like I hadn't imagined. Six weeks later, I still haven't found time to run. It makes me sad, it is my sanity saver after long days. Maybe once I am done nursing there will be time for evening runs that I love so much.

Anyway, I am talking about this race six weeks later because I wanted to share this picture. It is one of the reasons I don't leave home without my camera. You never know when you will need to take a picture. Enjoy.

Thoughts of Randomness

So , Friday was sweltering, above 100 degrees.  We ran a few errands and when we left the house it was 84 degrees.  We left at 9:30am. Notice that none of that is truly complaining. I try really hard not to complain about the heat. I know all too soon that I will be complaining about the cold. We had to replace some swim toys that were misplaced. I didn't want Preston's swim teacher to do without. Otherwise, we would not have left our house. Preston is dressing his self these days, and this is what he chose to wear on the hottest day of the year:

Yes, he is watching TV & yes, my floor was that dirty...

Yep, all black. Even the shoes he put on were black crocs. Whatev, he was happy with his choice of batman and comfy shorts, and their matching...

Want another good laugh? Here:

if I had a silver platter, I would have put it under his feet before I took the picture. There is something about infants and shoes that cracks me up. They just look so silly because they are purely for looks, not functional at all! We can all thank my mom for this adorable little laugh!

Onto more serious issues... Poor little Preston seems to be letting it sink in that his baby is here to stay. He is going through a lot of adjustments lately.  He is having a hard time with everyone giving all their attention to Grant. He misses the attention everyone use to focus solely on him.

Last week walking out of the grocery store, three different people commented on how cute, sweet, adorable Grant was. They were all complete strangers, so I just smiled and went on about lugging the mammoth car seat out to the car with my bags of groceries in one hand and Preston's little palm in the other. Once we were all settled and pulling out, Preston in all his four year old wisdom, said "Mommy, nobody thinks I am cute anymore."

I don't know how anyone wouldn't think he is cute.

It broke my heart. It didn't occur to me until he said that, that not a single person acknowledged his existence in that store. How upsetting, to be four and no longer feeling like you are worthy. So we have been working to give him special time, and attention. We are working on the tone we use with him and the things we say to him. I constantly question myself and my ideas. I don't want that for my kids. I want to raise confident people who will raise their hands in class and offer up the answer. I want to raise them to know that their ideas are good enough, so that they will take risks and put themselves out there.

Most of all, I want them happy, but it would be nice to see them thrive on top of all that happiness.

One more laugh for good measure. This was after licking beaters, and after he went to the bathroom and lick off his face as far as his tongue would reach. It was only chocolate mousse, so beater licking was safe because there were no eggs!

Catching up... July 4th

I look forward to the Fourth of July every year. It is by far my favorite holiday. I love the sweltering heat, and the festive attitude everyone carries. I try to do it all, the cookouts, the parades, the fireworks, so that I will have enough to last me until the next one...

We rolled out of our driveway at 8am, just like planned. I don't know that, that has ever happened. Ever. We headed south to the bustling downtown of Staunton after meeting the Higgs and showing them the way. We set off for the park with two double jogging strollers, lots of chairs, two blankets and I don't know how many diapers. We got to the park at 9am, and I couldn't believe how many people had already staked out their spot. The parade didn't start until 10am... I thought we would be the hard core ones... We sent the guys back to the car for the umbrella so that we would have shade for the littles.

No, they didn't ride like that, just for a picture!

Preston and Adam had a great time watching the bazillion different cars and the 10 floats and were glad when the fire trucks finally strolled by. The parade cracks me up every year because there is always a few people that feel their 88 Ford Escort is worthy. Whatev.

This little dog took a nip at his finger later, I think he had had enough!

After the parade we did the traditional lunch so the kids will sleep on the way home (didn't happen.) Everywhere we tried was closed, so we ended up at Applebee's and because everyone was doing the same thing, we spent a solid two hours there, but man, did that Feista Roll Up hit the spot!

Preston finally gave into sleep and stayed in slumber land until after 5pm.  We got dinner and started over to New Market even though it was drizzling. We were really hoping it would let up and blow over. This is how we spent our time at the park.

It reminded me of a tent city... It was comical, and we finally gave in and made a run for it to the car and watched from the comfort of our windshields. Next year, next year! Can't wait because then I will have two little boys running around!

Our Fourth Year

My big boy has turned four.  And is already counting the days until the coveted five. For some reason this little boy of mine can't wait to be five. I wish I could say I have all the time in the world, but I know I only have 364 more days... sigh.

He mastered a lot this year-
sleeping in a big bed (finally.)
the toilet. that was huge.
writing his name (and spelling it.)
became a big brother (again, finally.)
completed a year of preschool.
learned to take a shower.
stopped eating by himself so his hands stay clean.
will go down the slip and slide by his self.
reached that 42 inches so he can finally climb the lighthouse.

He is growing and learning so fast, and it struck me over and over this weekend as we raced from ride to ride. He absolutely loved Dutch Wonderland this weekend, but that is an entirely different post. He has become so independent this last year, but this weekend, we discovered that when spinning really fast (and I do mean fast because I was screaming) on the turtle ride he wanted nothing more than me to squeeze him tight and hold onto him. Who knew those things could travel at the speed of light. I so wish that we had our ride on video so in fifteen years when he is way to cool for mom, I can remind him, and we can laugh. I hope in fifteen years he will still go to an amusement park with me and ride the scary ones!

I managed to hold it together all weekend, and not become a blubbering idiot. I felt like a terrible parent because I didn't get birthday candles and he had to blow out a random candle that was in the camper. He didn't mind though.

We went for a special breakfast at the local Friendly's after we all got cleaned up. He got chocolate chip pancakes with sprinkles and whipped cream. Hey, I go all out for a birthday, I worked hard four years ago, we will spoil away for that. He immediately picked up the little side cup of sprinkles and started drinking them. That's how he rolls, straight up, no pancake, knock 'em back. Once Brandon got them cut up, they looked like a sugary mess, and he only ate maybe 10 bites, I didn't push more.

The lovely staff did sign happy birthday and arrived with a cookie hidden under mountains of more whipped cream and sprinkles. They know how to do it up right. This is when I had to put on my brave face. I don't know why I started losing my togetherness at this point, but the tears about flowed over right there in that Friendly's. They would have if it had been me that he would had buried his face into because he was embarrassed. It was Brandon though, and so I didn't embarrass and confuse him more and held it down.

I am crying now though, I am letting it out. The little boy that made me a mommy has turned four. No other child will show me that my heart can live outside my body. I will always know that it coming, he taught me the love that a mother has for her child can be heartbreaking and overwhelming. All in an amazingly good way. I will know these feelings are coming with all my future children, they only caught me by surprise with Preston. These kids can put a lump in my throat faster than anything else out there.

We ended his day watching our show, and me telling him that he is so special to mommy and daddy because he made us just that. We were just Brandon and Brooke before him. Our lives are so much better because of him.