A Family

This has been an amazing vacation for us. We have gone to Joshua Tree and climbed around; walked through the entire Living Desert; gone swimming; and gone for a hike where we climbed around on the rocks. In between, the boys have played in the sand at Grandma's house, played dress-up, and played in the house independently. Sam even slept till 5:30 today.
Not that I was up with him. Nope. That was my Dad.

My point is two things. First, the four of us have done things this week like a normal family. And had fun. The boys are just a little bit older and able to do more things. And secondly, I have the best parents in the world. Seriously. Next time I get irritated and self righteous, like the 12 y/o girl I used to be, I will remember the site of my Dad and my son, chillin at the crack.

*And because I know my Mom reads this, I will note that she has gotten up far before 5:30 on every other day.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Plane fun

Well the 6 hour flight was LONG. The kids did really well, considering. The layover in LA was long and hard. The second flight was FAST. Waiting for Dad to get car and bags so we can finally get to the GRANDPARENTS!

Got up at 3:30am and am ready for a cocktail.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

3:30. Time we had to get up to catch a plane. 3:30. Time Sam woke up today. Giggling. Little person got up in the middle of the night and went PEE IN THE POTTY!

A dog like Kramer. We miss you K-dog. You would like it here.

Just watched Marly and Me. I know...but then you've probably never had a dog like that. A dog who was larger than life and there at the beginning of everything.

Activities

I need to figure out how to get Sam involved in at least one activity outside of school. Swimming is the obvious choice, but I don't currently have a lesson option. The old lessons at the JCC-now YMCA were great, but they switched the lesson times to weekends. We go away a bunch on the weekends, so that seemed like a bad idea. Now I am re-thinking that decision. Also, I paid for a membership at another YMCA, thinking Sam could go on Sundays when L comes to do respite. They tried it a couple of times, but the weekend staff (young lifeguards weren't super understanding of Sam's need to get in and out of the pool frequently and run around. M went and talked to them, and I think weekends may not be the best time. Maybe when I am unemployed after this week I can try taking him. I wonder if I can go without getting in the water myself? Next week we will be in CA, so he will get to swim a bunch. L said she would try again to take him when we get back. My other idea was to take him during Max's swimming lesswon, especially if I could get someone else (Grandma?) to come with me.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

New glasses

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

4 Things I am grateful for...or How I fall asleep at night

1. My new glasses (that I already paid for...should they ever be ready.
2. Sleeping till 5:30. Thanks Sam!
3. Temporary moments of silence between the sounds of the swing I told him it was too early for.
4. CA for Thanksgiving. Grandma said "will you let us get up with the kids or are you going to use the baby monitors (we sleep in the casita, which has a separate entrance from the house). Of course I will let you get up at 4, Gram! Happy Hanukkah.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I don't know how to do titles for my new BB posts...but otherwise this is kind of cool.

Hi-Tech!

I think I learned how to post from my Blackberry...

Chronological Order

4:45 am this morning: Sam wakes up, pees, and goes back to his room.
5:15 am this morning: Sam is up for the day. I give him access to the basement and T.V./computer and go back to lay down.
5:30 am: I put in an earplug and fall asleep till M wakes me at 7am. He got up with The Little Person at 6am.
7:30 am: M gets in the shower. Sam is running around "nudykins," I am informed. I am told He Is Going Crazy! This all appears to be true. The Little Person tells me he doesn't want me to go to work. He wants to go somewhere with daddy. He wants to go to Grandma's house. RIGHT NOW! I tell him I need coffee and that I only have 3 more work days and then I can be with him ALL THE TIME. Play With Me Momma, he says. We play dinosaurs and I tell him I don't like the word K-I-L-L.
7:45 am: M gets dressed and comes to get Sam dressed. Sam is not happy there is no school today. Either are we.

I support the military without supporting all of our military actions. That said, my cousin Matthew is serving in Guam and it goes without saying that I will be thinking of him today, as I do everyday.

Another haircut

So M gave Sam a haircut yesterday. He asked him if it was okay, and Sam sat right down in a chair in the kitchen. He got up a lot for breaks, and to brush off the hair, but otherwise did well. So he got a little bit of a shave...We may be brave and try it with a professional next time. But he looks cute. I will try to post a picture later.

The sleep thing continues to be an issue, but I am tired of thinking about it. Perhaps because I am just tired in general. Almost went to bed at 7:30 last night after the kids, but had a piece of chocolate and rallied to watch The Biggest Loser.

Sam had spaghetti for breakfast. He tends to eat protein earlier in the day. Maybe I should make him pancakes for dinner?

The case of the unfortunate early riser

Sam has been great. Much easier than The Little Person, actually. With one, large, exception. He awakens in the night to pee, and then gets up for th day in the 4am hour. Which has left us a little, delirious. So we cut out napping at school. We let him go to bed later, made him go to bed earlier. Not let him drink anything before bedtime, tired him out and just plain told him to be quiet and stay in his room. None of it works, it's getting worse, or more consistent, and we are at a loss. Have I mentioned that we are tired? Other than that, he's been great. Handed candy out with my mom on Halloween, even went to one, neighbors house, to trick or treat. So, my posts have been light because I can't think very well. Otherwise, can't complain. Had a good conference with his first grade teacher. Even volunteered to come talk to the kids about Sam. Mrs. C thought that would be a great idea. We'll see...

Had some friends/neighbors/family (mine and neighbors) over for pizza before trick or treating on Halloween. It went well, except for I think I freaked out a little and may have been a little un-hostess-like. M went to pick up the pizza, and folks started comming over. Sam was being Sam, that is, running around, pulling his pants down on the way to the bathroom, feeling that every computer in the house is his whenever he wants to use it, and I felt a little uncomfortable. Stressed out? People in my house (kind, lovely people) who didn't know mw, or Sam, judging us (in my head). Anyway, I'm used to him with certain people, but there were a lot of people (18 including the 6 kids), and M was gone and Sam was doing things and I think I snapped a little. Out of my own feelings of awkwardness? Unsure of what people were thhinkng, and unable to control the situation to my satisfaction. So, I feel badly that I didn't hold it together very well for a time. I recovered, and we had a great time trick or treating. In the end, it was the best Halloween ever, since kids, and I'm sure nobody has thought of it but me, because they are all nice, lovely people. But, there we are.