big boy bed

Tonight we took down the crib in Ky's room. We decided to make the change before our trip to Disney, where he will have to sleep in a big bed. We bought some special new car/truck/tractor sheets for his new "big boy bed" earlier in the week in hopes of making this an exciting transition for him. Prior to the arrival of the new sheets, Ky was less than enthusiastic about getting rid of his crib. However, the sheets (amazingly enough) did the trick. Kev asked him tonight if he was ready for his big boy bed and he said yes.

So the crib came down. I must admit this was a bit emotional for me. As Kev was taking it apart, I could see him 6 years ago at our house on South Ottillia getting the crib set up for our first baby. Wow!

So here is Ky...before the switch



and here is Ky with his new big boy bed.



After the room was set, it was off to take a bath. As I watched Ky in the tub I said, "You are mommy's big boy now Ky." He replied, "No Mommy. I still little. I just 2." I thank God for my big, yet still little, boy.

pumpkins

Sunday night was pumpkin carving night at our house. Koby got started right away pulling all the "guts" and seeds out of his pumpkin and did quite an awesome job. Ky on the other hand, was terrified of the pumpkins internals, and just sat there, spoon in hand, waiting. Waiting for a miraculously cleaned and gutted pumpkin, or perhaps just waiting for someone else to do the dirty work. The boys each drew the face they wanted on their pumpkin for dad to carve. Kev had to improvise a bit with Ky's as his was really just a collection of scribbles that would have proven very difficult to carve. In the end, our pumpkins were transformed into very cool jack-o-lanterns.

this will make you laugh!

Although we are not actively potty training Ky at this point, we have had several "sucesses" on the potty. We have him sit on the potty every night before he goes to bed and occasionally he will go. There have also been a few occassions where he has initiated. This morning was one of those times.

While I was at the bus stop with Koby and Kev was taking a shower, Ky came downstairs and removed his diaper. He then went back upstairs and into the bathroom with Kev (who, mind you, is still in the shower). Like a big boy, Ky realizes he needs to use the potty. So he hops up, and precedes to "do his business". There was only one problem....he forgot to lift the tolite lid!!!!!!!! Imagine Kev's surprise when he opens the shower curtain to find poop all over the tolite lid! (my apologize to those of you for which this was a little too much info!)

How's that for a Monday morning laugh!

lessons

Some lessons are learned and unfortunately, others seem to never be. Apparently, my lovely children would currently fall under the category of "lesson not learned". As I sat with Ky watching Koby out the window cross the street to go pick up the neighbor to play, I glanced down at my end table and noticed blue ink all over it. Yep, that's right blue ink on the end table.

I looked at Ky and while normally he would be my first suspect, the evidence in this case was leaning toward his innocence. You see, not only was it done in blue ink, but it was not just a mere scribble of a 2 year old. Rather, it looked more like a ship of sorts with a carefully written "w" or perhaps an "m" next to it. While every parent believes their child is talented, I do not believe him to be that talented. "Did you do this?", I asked. "No, Koby did this." he responded.

When Koby returned, I brought him to the scene and questioned him. He inspected the drawing carefully, rubbing his fingers gently over the drawing as if it were braille. Moments later he confessed to the crime, offering no explanation for such behavior.

I tried to snap a photo once again not only for evidence, but so that one day I might look back at the photo, smile and remember these tortorous days. However, my battery was dead. Perhaps that was God's way of trying to help me forget this has happened yet again in less than 2 days. Perhaps preserving memories such as these are not such a great idea after all.

Needless to say, crayons, markers, colored pencils and pens have all been removed from reach. Piggy banks will soon be emptied to cover the cost of such a decision. I am racking my brain here folks...I am at a loss.

Some lessons are learned and unfortunately some never are.

50 days

Today begins our official countdown to Disney. We will head down to Mickey's house in just 50 days. In our attempt to stop the constant questioning from the boys, "When are we going to Disney?", we decided to make a chain as a visual representation of how many days we have until our trip. On each link of the chain we wrote something we are looking forward to seeing or doing. Today's link was "Thanksgiving" as we will be celebrating the holiday during our stay. I have to admit, I think I am by far the most excited member of our family for this trip. There is just something magical about Disney and I cannot wait to see Koby and Ky experience the magic and wonder of Disney.




p.s. as for yesterday's post...the marker was successfully removed from the couch and I realize that in the grand scheme of things, a little marker on the couch is just that, little.

one of those days....

We all have them, I know. Today, without a doubt, has just been one of those days. We are in the process of closing the pool and in order to save several hundreds of dollars, we are attempting to put on the winter cover ourselves. The pool guys come tomorrow and we really should have our part done before they get here, the only problem is, we can't catch a break from the rain long enough to be able to drill the 40 plus holes we need. So early this a.m. we were out in the rain trying to get a few more done (we currently had 2). My job, to stand by the electrical outlet ready to pull the plug on the drill if I happened to notice my husband being electricuted while using a power tool in the rain...

The rain intensified and thankfully my husband realized that calling it quits at this point would be the best (we now have a total of 8 holes drilled). So the kids and I headed out to run our errands.

Our first stop was Target, which just happens to be one of my favorite stores, and i was looking forward to browsing along with getting what we needed. About 1/2 hour into the trip (most of which was spent watching koby and ky drool over the toy section of the store), koby spots the Halloween costumes. He notices a Jengo Fett (Star Wars) costume and decides that is what he is going to be. The costume is $39.99 and I had no intentions of buying a costume today (also mind you, we have been looking at costumes now in magazines for well over a month and Jengo Fett has never received too much attention). Next to the costume in a Jengo Fett gun for 8.99 to go with the costume and it is the only one left. He pleads his case for the gun (I already told him I was not buying a costume today) and I put the gun in my cart, telling him I will think about it while we continue shopping and that if I decide yes, we will not be opening the gun until Halloween (my thinking here is that since it is about 30 days away, he may change his mind, in which case I will be returning this gun) As I am putting it in my cart, Koby has a meltdown, 2 year old style.

"But I don't really want the gun for Halloween, I just want it to play!!!!!"
"That is what I thought," I respond pulling the gun back out of my cart "go put it back on the shelf please."

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" followed by crying, screaming, flaling arms etc. "but you said you would think about it."

I stood there calmly, trying to reason with him (perhaps that was my first mistake), but to no avail. He continued to cry, scream and throw threats my way like "then I am never going to the store with you again!" (Really? I thought to myself, could you really never come to the store with me agian....oh, the peace, the joy I would have.....). Reality check.....you are still in Target with a screaming 5 year old and are drawing much more attention to yourself than you desire at this point.

I wish I could tell you this ended at that point, but nope, it continued. I finally asked him to stand by the grocery section and told him I would come back and get him when I finished shopping (now stop there, of course I didn't leave him there! I am not saying I didn't want to, but I didn't)

To make matters worse, we had to grocery shop at Meijer after this ordeal. I am not above threats and told both boys that I better not hear a peep out of them at the store. For the most part they listened (I think they figured that my head would start spinning around soon if they didn't)

I put them to work when we got home unloading groceries. A few moments after they finished I hear koby yell, "Mom! Emergency! Emergency!" from the living room. "What is it?" "Someone colored all over the couch with green marker!" he replied.



As I stood looking at my newly decorated couch, I new exactly who that someone was. As that someone stood looking up at me I asked, "Kyan, did you do that?" "Yes" he replied with an ever so slight smile.

I could feel the tears filling my eyes as I pulled the cushion off the couch. My level of frustration at this point is beyond words. As I replay the first 4 hours of my day, I can only hope the remaining 10 bring about some change. Rather than just dwelling on the fact that is had been one of those days, I try to remind myself of things I am thankful for. So here it goes:

1. Spray and wash (let's hope it works on green marker)
2. Washing machines, which hopefully combined with the spray & wash will get results
3. Children who are creative enough to look at a couch and see a blank canvas
4. Children who are strong willed (and while although I am really not so sure I see the blessing in this right now, I really hope to one day)

give me

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Wasnt it far beyond my reach?
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
~lyrics by Brandon Heath