Another Busy Day

No time to run, well, on the bike path anyway...  Spent most of our day running here and there and everywhere...  It was definitely a gorgeous day to do so...

Now waiting for the laundry to get done so I can take the dry clothes out and put the wet ones in and then hopefully get to sleep.  The boys are FINALLY sleeping--all three of them.  After our busy day, Max started running a fever over 103 this evening.  He was helping me plant flowers and looked so white and was shaking.  He didn't want to tell me he didn't feel good because we had s'mores and bonfire plans with friends.  Took him inside, and sure enough--he's got this crud too.  Marty was already a shivery mess on the couch and not feeling well himself.  Got the ibuprofen started and he ate some jello and drank some juice.  Our amazing friend, Jen, brought over some s'mores so the boys didn't feel like they were missing out.  Thank you, Jen.  You made their night!  We love you! :)

Max had a dental appointment at 11 a.m. (what was I thinking scheduling a dental appointment on all school pic nic and music program day?  No place to park to pick up my child!).  The most stressful part is taking G along on all of our errands.  Griff is on his own time and in his own fabulous world of discovery in which all sticks, flowers, bugs, or creatures of any kind MUST be explored, touched, picked, caught, and slightly tortured.  Ahhhhhh!  After a day of this, I want to pull out my hair--what's left of it.  Let's just say, there's a plethora of treasures to be discovered at his level...

Dr. Jenny had good news for us (we love you, Dental Professionals!).  Max has a tooth growing out of his gum line while the baby tooth below seems to want to stay put.  With some twisting and gentle tugging, she thinks it will be out by the end of June then the tooth that is growing in will come down.  She used much more technical terms, of course, this was just my take away. :)  If it doesn't come out, she can pull it out at that time and it's an easy process that takes about ten minutes.  However, nothing is ever easy for the Mitchell's ;)--those of you who know us feel free to smile and nod knowingly :)...

G and I dropped Max back off at school, ran back home to pack up our pic nic lunch with special sandwich orders of plain peanut butter for Marty, peanut butter and jelly for Max, and turkey and cheese (as always) for Griff--a few cookies, crackers, juice boxes, lots of napkins and wet wipes and we're good to go.  Grabbed our pic nic blanket and a monster diet coke for me (yes, back on the pop wagon--but only occasionally), and back to school.  Found some shade and found our Max and Daddy was able to join us a bit later.  Such a beautiful day for a good ole fashion pic nic!  Max had fun playing football after lunch with his friends.  Then, it was off to the high school auditorium to hear Max's music concert!

Max's class did a musical, as he called it, about eating healthy and getting exercise.  There were songs about keeping F I T--fit! and eating rainbows.  Max played a boy named Joe and got to talk a lot and did a great job.  I would have completely froze if I had to do that at his age.  So proud of you, Max!!!  You were amazing!  Also got to meet his girlfriend for the first time.  He came clean to Mom and Dad about her last night.  We had heard rumors, but he had denied them.  For some reason, he thought we'd be mad.  It was a great opportunity to remind Max that he should always tell the truth and that he can talk to us about absolutely everything--even girls ;).  The third grade class did such a fantastic job, and it's hard to believe this is Max's last year in this building!  Time has truly gone by too fast.  I was teary by the end of the program.  Great job, third graders!!!  You guys ROCKED it!!! :)

The boys have been dying to meet their buddy's Chance and G's new puppy, so Jen graciously let us come on over and play with the newest member of their family~Mr. Bentley.  He is the most darling little guy and the boys loved him.  He was very gentle and had a face that just melted my heart.  No, no, no...  We are NOT getting a puppy.  But darn it, if we didn't have all these allergies, it sure would be fun.  We'll just play with Bentley :). 

Marty passed out as soon as he got home.  Decided to get the planters filled with the boys while daddy was resting.  Max and I got that all done while Griff managed to get almost every single toy we have out of the garage and play with it for one minute :).  That's just how he roles.  Max was really trying to hide that he wasn't feeling well so we could go to the bonfire, but he wasn't able to do so any longer.  Inside the house he was a mess of pain.  Griff made the most of this, little stink pot.  Max was very mad at Griffyn and blamed him for giving him all of his germs.  Not much fun for anyone, really, but got G in the tub and Max somewhat comfortable--mostly by removing Griff from his proximity ;).  Jen called later and Max felt better when he heard the bonfire was off due to wind and cold anyway, and then even better when a knock on the door was a plate full of s'mores :). 

Not sure where I'm sleeping tonight as the boys are all over the place in our bedroom.  After G got out of the bathtub he was immediately asleep--maybe all that running around today really did wear him out.  Max has a buddy's birthday party tomorrow and is all worried about missing that--so we'll see how that goes.  Maybe a good night's sleep will be a magic cure?  Crossing fingers, but want to make sure I don't expose anyone else to this junk so I'm sure there will be lots of tears as Max will have to stay home :(.  Sorry, big guy!

Also thinking of my baby sister, Molly, as she graduates tonight from the University of those Golden Gophers in my home state of Minnesota.  Mom, Homer, and Jen left this morning.  Wish I could be there, Molly, but know we are so very PROUD of you and thinking of you on this night that is ALL YOURS!!!  CONGRATS, and we love ya!!!  Now, go on and take on the world!!! 

Wishing you all sweet dreams and bright tomorrows.  Hoping to get a chance to find some solitude on the bike path tomorrow.  So few and far between these days.  Always something going on, isn't there?  But such a blessing to be able to be a part of it all!!!

Peace and love and happy weekend!!!

Another Year Gone By...

Coming down from a big weekend.  My youngest turned four and I turned 36.  His one year is affecting me more emotionally than mine :).  The years have never really bothered me per say, it's the feeling them that's starting to bother me ;).  But G has definitely gotten too big, too fast.  Maybe it's hitting me even harder knowing he is my last "baby".  The days are long, the years are short it seems...

He had a fabulous Lego Star Wars birthday party.  The Lego cake took me well into the midnight hour the night before, but the smile that lit up his face when he saw it made it ALL worth it :).  Some stress involved always when you have a mix of kids and family like that, but he had fun and we were able to have some relaxing down time and soak it all up at the end of the evening with just Tay (our adopted little sis :)) and the boys and I snuggling and watching "Dora".  These moments go by too fast.  They need to be savored, and I will never apologize for that.  "These are the days," as Natalie Merchant sings...  We don't get these moments back~not ever.  We might do things a little differently next year.  This day is about what makes my kid happy and about my family.  That should be able to be respected and adhered to for a few hours, right? ;)

Griff has a very special friend that he adores and she made the day for him.  We were blessed to have some Taylor time.  It's so adorable to watch how, at such a young age, they know each other so well and are just there for each other.  I don't know any other duo of friends at this age that can spend all day together with out fighting or having any 'issues' at all.  If they have a disagreement, they work it out till they're both happy.  These two just make my heart smile.  May we always have friends as true as this! :)

We had our "real" birthday celebration (the actual day :)) together yesterday and went out to eat and Grandma and Aunt Jen brought us both a cake.  We played outside and were both just feeling very tired and worn out.  G ended up rocking a raging fever (over 103) around ten.  He had his well child check up today and shots are rescheduled.  All his forms are filled out for daycare and preschool, eye exam, all that good stuff.  He has coxsauki and is miserable (just like hand, foot, and mouth--but all in his throat--very painful stuff).  Hasn't eaten anything all day--even turned down ice cream and a shake from McDonald's.  Fighting with him to drink.  Won't touch his Popsicle, but he's entertaining the idea of eating some jello--shaped like a Lego :).  Started running a fever myself today and just feel achy and like I have the flu.  Hoping to make it through the ten hour work day tomorrow.  :(  By God's strength, I can! :)

So thankful for so many blessings and another year God has given me to experience them.  Trying to find the proper balance between expression and letting things roll.  Sometimes I just wish we had the choice to shut the door and not let the yuckiness of life in--but ya gotta deal with it and the fact of the matter is, some of it is just not ever going to change (and that's the most frustrating part)--so you have to grin and bear it and protect your soul.  Always protect your soul.  I don't want to let it embitter me or change me.  And I have to remind myself that although I may not have the choice of avoidance, I DO have a voice and even if it is not respected, listened to, understood, or even regarded, I can use it to demand, to protect, to create this life I want for me and for my family.  I'm not afraid anymore.  Moreover, I feel like I am 'enough' of a person to deserve it (and my children most certainly are).  I also have to trust that God's got this.  He is far greater than anything or anyone.  My eyes are fixed on him...
 
If nothing else, this weekend has inspired me to keep on keeping on.  There is such a lack of kindness and respect in this world, and if our kids don't even get it--we're in a sorry state of affairs.  They mirror what they SEE, not just what we SAY.  My kids know that they aren't any better than anyone else.  We are all pretty awesome creations of the divine and deserve to be treated as such.  "Stupid" is still a put down and a bad word at our house--as well as calling someone a "baby" because they like something different.  Uniqueness is prized, not put down.  Since when has the "status quo" ever gotten us anywhere...

And, I don't mind loud and crazy.  I am the oldest of five children.  I've been babysitting and nannying since I was in sixth grade.  I have a 4 and 9 year old.  I've worked with kids and taught preschool for the past eleven years. I completely get that kids will be both :).  I've had a little experience in the field of motherhood and teaching.  ;)  But I do NOT tolerate disrespect towards me or my children.  That is not what being a kid is about or what being a boy is about, for that matter, and isn't something anyone should get used to.  I find this to be absolutely insulting to our children--we need higher expectations--we need to model this behavior--they deserve better, they deserve more...  I have always said and firmly believe that our children become what we expect of them.  I expect more...

Moreover, it is possible.  Very possible.  My boys can.  We have a house full of the kid's friends constantly as we are blessed to live in a neighborhood full of childen (mostly boys) and I love it!!! :)  And guess what?   THEY can :).  My classroom is full of kids that can.  That's 24 four and five year olds, folks.  So that excuse doesn't work for me--and is even more insulting when it is associated with being a boy.  My boys aren't held to any lower standards than I hold girls.  Again, I'll plug the book "Real Boys".  This world would be in a lot better shape if we as educators and parents all read it :).
 
I've been on this rant before, and so I will stop.  You've been down this road with me :).  It's all in how we treat each other, isn't it?  More Tylenol for me and hopefully some sleep.  So much festering that a scream may be warranted as well (although that would hurt my throat ;)). 
Love my boys, love being their momma, and so grateful for the chance and the honor of this journey.  That we get to celebrate birthdays, learn lessons, and just find out who we are (as my friend Robin says, "to just be" :)) together.  Held together by the hands of God--guiding us all the way. 

And I am encouraged by the little lights (getting bigger every year) that my boys are to this world and that they will continue to be.  That's God shining through.  And although I will continue to mess up and make mistakes for the rest of my and their lives, I know that because they know and have Him (G is still trying to understand the Holy Spirit living in his heart thing--and loves talking about the "ghost" inside his heart ;)) they truly have everything they need. 

Love and peace, and many happy, happy birthdays to you all!  Goodnight...

Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell and cousins (we missed Sierra, Zach, Benji and Sydney)

Grandma Soyer and Grandpa Hill

Finally some rest time... :)