I'm BACK!

I was missing for a while.  While I was gone, blogger changed things on me.  I kept trying to go to www.blogspot.com.  Wait..am I losing it?  Either way..I had to go to blogger.com.  I am so confused.  Shocker.  Well...I have been missing from bloglife.  I think its my ADD.  Bad ADD lately.  I mean my mind keeps racing...every time I think to pick up my camera or write down my thoughts, my thoughts jump around and I lose track of what I was just about to do.  I am a walking ADD poster ad. 

Yesterday, I was on my own in getting both kids, dinner and entertaining them until bed time.  I had to bribe Aidan with a smoothie from McDonalds.  He wanted to go to the grocery store.  It is pretty bad when your 4 year old begs you to go to the grocery store to buy food.  I was way too tired for the grocery store, 95 degree weather, high heals, 2 hungry kids and missing Daddy. That was NOT going to happen.  So I bribed him with a smoothie and made spaghetti.  Instead of cleaning up the mess, I distracted myself by going outside with the kids.  Watered the flowers and played with toys.  Mason ended up taking his little car and taking off towards the park.  So the park it was I guess.  7:30 at night going to the park.  I am always that panic looking Mom at the playground.  The one stuck in her head thinking of all the horrible things that could go wrong.  Mason could fall and break a bone or land on his head.  What if he gets a bug bite and somehow has an allergic reaction to it.  I mean crazy thoughts.  And then after I come back to reality I see this!

This boy is going to give me a lot of freak outs.  He is determined to do everything his older brother can do.  His older brother is determined to show him everything he shouldn't do.  On the way back from the park I had to throw Mason over my shoulder.  We got back to his car thing to push back to the house and he refused to wear his shoes.  He took them off and wanted to walk barefoot all the way home.  I of course would not allow that.  Remember, I freak out in my head of all the things that could go wrong.  I could just imagine a huge piece of glass getting stuck in his foot and I having to rush him to the ER.  Well...Mason would not let me put on his shoes and I would not let him walk barefoot.  So I was that crazy neighbor walking after 8pm through the neighborhood with a SCREAMING 2 year old wiggling off my hip while hitting me, pushing this red and yellow car thing with my 4 year old behind me laughing because he is hitting me with this bike.  Ahhhh good times.

Another reason I have been MIA is I have been vacationing in Spain.  No I'm kidding.  Really though...been in Louisiana visiting my husbands side of the family.  All I can say is it is a DIFFERENT world down there.  Drive through margarita places (yes with real alcohol) and casinos located conveniently in gas stations.  I wanted a picture of that one..but hubby was too busy texting to get out of the car and take a damn picture.  That is another story though.  Oh and the food.  I am talking lots and lots of food.  All I did was eat down there.  Life is centered around its food.  I was even daring enough to try crawfish.  I learned how to break the tail and suck the head....(insert sarcastic comment here).  Awesome time..awesome trip.  Wish I took more pictures.  I blame the ADD.

the Fresh Beat Band...again...

More Fresh Beats

Found a few more pictures on my cell from this past weekend.  Now that we saw the Fresh Beat Band live, it has become a family event watching the show.  We talk about how they looked different in person.  Aidan noticed not only was there a "new" Marina but her outfit was slightly different.  Good find Aidan...good find. 

Middle of the King Size bed in hotel....bed hogs.  Side note...Mason would not go to sleep that night unless he as cuddled next to Aidan.  My heart melts...

Wasting playing with water.

TWIST

Mason stalking Elmo. 

Notice below Aidan's leg is propped up...????...????

FRESH BEAT BAND!!!!!

It was like the running of the bulls.  Organized chaos.  Dads and Moms running with a purpose.  I will get to what I am talking about in just a second.  Wanted to start with a cliffhanger to suck you in.  Did it work?

Aidan's favorite cartoon is The Fresh Beat Band.  See birthday cake here.  Fresh Beat Band was featured on his bday cake!  So as his Mom, I take things a little too far.  He shows one tiny ounce of interest in something and I go overboard.  Like with those robot bugs.  It is more of an obsession.  He is so into The Fresh Beat Band (FBB)...I have started him in drum lessons.  His favorite member is "Twist" who I adore.  They are just great.  So like any crazy mom kid fan, he of course would flip if he got a chance to see his favorite show/band.  Growing up I wanted to meet Full House so bad.  I would lay in bed dreaming of the day I could meet them.  So after researching FBB I actually found out they were going to be playing a few hours from my house at Sesame Place.  However, you needed reservations.  I bookmarked the page and waited and waited and waited for the reservations to open up.  I am a member of a Fresh Beat Band blog who sends emails as well.  One day it came in!  An email saying the reservations were open to the public.  Quickly after that email..another one came to see they were sold out :(.  WHAT..sold out in an hour.  So what do I do?  I go on their website and try it anyway.  "Sold out" it said.  I tested the website and they were right.  Sold out :(.  But what if I try a strange combo...like instead of 4 people or 3 people, I try one adult and one kid.  BINGO.  It went through..so I did that again and again until I had 6 reservations to see The Fresh Beat Band.  So I decided not to tell Aidan until the day before we left.  We were going to drive down there, stay in a hotel (with an indoor pool) and go see Fresh Beat Band in concert and then Elmo and friends for lunch.  He was also going to get to ride his first roller coaster.  The excitement I had for 2 months was uncontrollable.  We recorded Aidan when we told him.  I'll put up the video later this week.  He was beyond excited about the news he was going to a hotel with a pool and to see Fresh Beat Band and Elmo and Roller Coaster.  All in the same weekend.

Planning for this event took some Internet research.  I read on their facebook page about how thousands of people were upset they did not get a reservation.  People were outraged!  This was a HUGE deal.  People coming from all over the united states to take their kid to see Fresh Beat Band.  It is like the Lady Gaga of toddlers.  Just nuts.  Hotels were sold out in the area.  I had to splurge on one that cost way too expensive.  I wanted to get there the night before just so we had plenty of time to get in line at the park.  I wanted front row view of the band.  Joe actually went an hour before us and waited in line before the park even opened.  When the gates opened up...people were running.  I mean...running like mad parents trying to get in line.  There were two lines.  One for the "stand by" folks without a reservation and one line for those with a reservation.  Hubby did good and we were right up front.  All was good...my planning worked out.  We were also able to give 3 of our reservations to a couple we met that had been waiting for hours the prior day to try and get into the concert.  It made us feel good to help someone out. 

I'll let the pictures do some of the talking....

Hotel pool...it's crazy how much excitement a pool can provide.  

King size bed for parents, crib for baby, pull out sofa for 4 year old.  All kids ended up in king size bed with Mommy hanging on the edge.  Happy Mothers Day to me!



Remote in one hand...phone in another.  WOW





Super excited to be in a hotel

So much excitement led up to the concert.  Waiting here until it was time to leave. 

Hopefully all the running bulls...I mean parents were able to get into the concert..cause it was AMAZING.  Even Joe was having fun. 

His favorite..."Twist".  He had front row view of Twist. Aidan was star struck.  Didn't show too much expression.  Was just in a trance.  Joe and I had a blast watching their expressions.  Nothing like being able to provide that type of excitement for your kid.  It was the best feeling.



Aidan's first ride on a roller coaster and Mommy took him to the front.  What was a thinking?  Poor kid.  However..he wanted to do it again.  And again.  And again.  The last time he said "Mommy...you don't need to hold me"  Such a big boy!



Lunch with Elmo and Friends....My boys were NOT scared.  Mason ran around pointing and making this sounds like "what the heck are these things?"





Mason's face...need i say more

While taking this picture below...the guy "suggested" we take Mason paci out.  He had just woken up...yeah no that was not going to happen.  It is called a plug for a reason.

Joe and I said several times we had an amazing day.  We were at a small park with two young kids on Mothers Day.  May not be your ideal day as an adult but our kids had the time of their lives.  Aidan got to see his favorite tv show/band.  Mason stalked Elmo around the park.  They were so happy.  Happy Kids = Happy Parents.  

Mommy Guilt

I am getting a cold.  BLAH.  The kind where you feel like you are floating around.  Glands all swollen and snot that keep running down your nose but you are too tired to blow it.  I should really think about wearing rain jackets in the rain or NOT leaving my umbrella at work.  This may be why I am sick.  I don't have time to think of that stuff.  I am too busy running around trying to find my kids rain jackets.  The cars keep eating them.  I was that person at work yesterday.   Walking across the parking lot with a sweater covering my head and realizing after walking all the way to the door that I forgot my work badge and had to go back in the rain to the car to get my badge.  Have I ever told you I hate the rain.

So my last post where I threatened to leave the blogging world got me 6 comments (congrats Dawn...enjoy your first Mommy's day).  Oh and 3 comments on facebook and a "like" on facebook.  That tells me that I have an obligation to the 10 of you to keep on blogging.  My not so computer talented sister in law also tried to comment but she has a hard time finding the power button on a computer so I'll give her a pass.  So there are 11 of you.  I hope you enjoy.  Well I don't have much to say today so maybe enjoy next week.

I, like most of you, doubt my parenting from time to time.  I can name off 5 things right now that I could do better.
1.  Less yelling
2.  Less sugar
3.  Less TV
4.  More Mommy kid play time
5.  um.....ok i could only think of 4

Last night I had one of those moments.  So I turned off Nick Jr and pulled out the books.  Although I have friends who are teaching their kids addition and subtraction at this age, I don't have those type of teaching skills and I often feel very guilty.  Either way...I turned off the TV.  Mason, Aidan and I sat at the table.  Mason colored his circles and Aidan learned his letters in his book.  I know I can be a better Mom have to stop knowing it and just start doing it.  Lead by example and maybe my husband will start as well.  He can start by turning off his talk shows while the kids are around.  The ones where I am 110% sure he is my baby daddy shows.  One step at a time.

I know..pics are not too clear.  I used my camera phone.  Really need a new camera....



Mommy added a nice touch at the top. 



Is anyone there??

Does anyone even read this sucker...I get no comments on this thing so I am left assume I am talking to myself which happens a lot.  I will walk to lunch at my office and start talking to myself...roll up on some innocent employee trying not to make eye contact and don't realize I am talking to myself until they are behind me.  Oops.  I am thinking about stopping this bloggin thing.  Then again I don't blog for people to read.  I blog to vent.  But everyone likes attention right and if this thing isn't getting attention I should just blog in the privacy of my own word document.  I think I want regulars.  Yes I do.  I want some regular blog readers.  Then I want you to make comments to make me feel wanted.  Loved.  Yes...I do need more friends.  Note moving away from my friends and having kids earlier then everyone else can create a division between you and your once friends.  WACK.  Come on Frederick peeps...don't you want to be my friend?  It makes it more difficult being a working Mom.  Play dates don't exists for working Moms.  Mommy groups consist of you talking to the "men" at work about their kids because working Mommy's don't exists.  Well they exist but I have yet to find one that works on my floor.  Seriously.  Just nut balls.

So let me get on with my rant for the Monday.  No I won't rant about Osama Bin Laden's death and how he was tossed in the ocean for everyone NOT to see him.  WTF?  I want to see him.  Make sure he is dead ya know?  I am also not going to rant about the "Royals" and that huzzie of a girl Kate who stole my man Will.  I am going to talk about raising boys.  I only see the road getting stickier and stickier as they get older.  Not to mention I have a 3rd boy that graces us with his presence every other weekend.  This weekend I sat at the table to the older older boy "I want a trampoline...you said we were going to get a trampoline, why do I have to clean my room..I didn't make the mess" and the middle or just older boy "Mommmmmy help me, mommmmmy carry me my leg hurt, mommmmy I thirsty, mommmmmmy I hugy"  Then when all else fails middle or older boy gets in that mood where he copies everything you say and ends with a "none your business".  Then younger boy is going around terrorising the house.  Making a huge mess of everything.  How can a 23 pound boy make such a mess?  See example of mess below.  Took him only 1 hour to create (with help from the older and older older boy). Don't worry folks, we cleaned it up.  We don't let it sit like this for more than a month.  Actually this weekend I cleaned up his mess on Saturday and Sunday.  I mean come on?  Seriously....both my weekend days are filled with cleaning.  That is just wrong.

So I know I am in for it.  2.5 boys.  The eye rolling has started.  The none of your business has started.  The fighting to eat dinner has started.  Well just the older and older older one fights about dinner.  The younger boy eats everything and anything.  We can count on that boy to eat .. all 23 pounds of him. 

So I am super stoked about our trip this weekend.  I will post a wonderful blog about it later in the week.  whoooot whoooot.  So if you are reading this blog...please post a comment.  How about post some advice for me raising boys.  I need all the advice I can get.  k thanks!

EASTER

Lost....kinda bored...I need to find another hobby.  I am done with school.  2.5 years of getting my masters.  Had my second son, bought a house and made a huge job change all in those 2.5 years.  I am not sure what to do with my time.  I know what I want to do...but actually doing it is another story.  I am much more productive when I am busy.  I am much more lazy when I am not busy.  Thinking about taking some photography classes.  Oh and being a better Mommy.  On my agenda...for the next 6 months because after 6 months I am sitting down to study for my CPA.  WHAT??? Am I NUTS?

Easter was nice...although I am upset I didn't take more pictures.  It was a little stressful getting ready for Easter.  We had a butt load of family coming in which I love.  However...my sticky floors and finger printed walls don't love the company...but they will survive.  I decided to host Easter..with finals due, 15 page paper due and working a full time.  I kept telling myself that "they" will understand if it isn't perfect.  I mean for peats (is that how you spell peats?) sake I have young clingy destructive kids.  One 4 year old in particular that keeps telling me "none of your business Mommy" and he has decided to copy every word I say.  Thank you for that Dora the Explorer episode that taught him that.  I even had my cleaning folks come out on Friday to clean.  Am I a failure for not being able to get it all done without help? 

Funny story from Easter...I bought my niece a princess chocolate bunny for her basket.  I found the wrapper to that choclate bunny behind a chair in the living room.  All I could picture was that tiny little butt of hers hiding behind that chair eating her chocolate bunny.  haha...so cute. 

Some pictures...because I am not in the creative writing mood.  I need inspiration

So whenever I grab the camera...Mr Mason Man runs up and clings to my legs wanting me to pick him up.  I have a ton of these same pictures...you will see them often.  I am now addicted.

Dyeing eggs....so they look like crap.  I have not mastered the art of dyeing eggs.  It says to add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  so do I add water too?  I mean how can we die eggs with just 2 tablespoons of vinegar.  I look at every one's pictures and then mine and laugh.  My eggs look dinky.  Next year...oh next year.

  

And this kid....entertainment to watch.  Just sit back and watch him.  Jump up every so often to chase after him but still entertainment. 

Snatchin the neighbor's flowers...sorry Jenny



Gogurt all over his shirt..haha



Pointing at all the ants.





Look at his hair..blowin in the wind.  haha



I think I am going to start working in the yard.  These pictures remind me how bad I need to pull those weeds and grow some grass.  My defense...it's been raining cats and dogs.