Monkeys, Pottys, Vacations, and Sandcastles

This is what I have heard from the monkeys in the last few days. See and Do were sharing a jump rope, using each handle as a microphone, and pretending to be Blake Lewis beat boxing. See says "Lift the roof and shake your boo-tay." I thought it was raise the roof but maybe I am out of the loop because the Daddy at dinner that night said the same thing and didn't raise an eyebrow(or a roof for that matter). Yes, this is normal conversation heard around our table.

We were outside playing in the backyard and Roscoe our dog who thinks he is a beaver(this will be explained in a future post) was sitting by me. I guess Roscoe was having trouble with controlling his--umm, well let's see for lack of a better term--his lipstick(this is what I call this male dog anatomy now since a girl at church called it this). Any way, Do walks by and glances Roscoe's way and says "Oh potty chair!" Potty chair, indeed.

Speaking of potty chair, Do knows the word, knows that he will get an M&M if does something in there, knows when he pottys or poops and says potty chair when his diaper needs changed but he will not actually do anything in the chair. We keep talking about it but I don't know whether I want to push it or not. His brother was almost three before he was potty trained (he is strong willed). When he did finally go to the potty it only took a couple of days for him to get the hang of it and he had very few accidents after that. It just seems silly to push it if Do is going to be frustrated or have a bunch of accidents.

The Daddy and I are terrible decision makers. We are going on vacation in a few weeks and we have no definite plans at this time, no hotel, no destination. At this rate we will end up staying at home to watch the grass grow. Part of the problem is finding something that a two year old, a six year old, and two thirty-four year olds would like to do. Another thing is that Do is going through the "Terrible Twos". We just really don't know how he is going to do in any situation because frankly at times he is a little wild man. The Daddy is supposed to e-mail me a list of his top destinations, ranked in order of preference of course, later on today. Hopefully, we can make a decision today or at least before the night we are supposed to leave.

One last thing. Lately I have been feeling like a "bad" mom. I have no patience. I feel pulled between the fact that I should be doing meaningful activities with the boys and cleaning the house. Why is it that I can't find balance with anything? Maybe I am too hard on my self or maybe I am not hard enough. Sometimes it feels like I am climbing up a mountain made of sand. Taking one step at a time but sliding back one step for every two steps taken. I know it will get better with time. Then I will look back and think "you silly girl, look, those were the best times with the hugs, kisses, and funny things that happened." Right now though it is hard to sometimes to see that or appreciate that. Right now I know I should live in the moment and maybe just maybe I should get my shovel and pail and build a sandcastle with my family on that sand mountain.

Menu Plan Monday

Well I am going to try something new and plan my meals for the week on here. Of course, we will be going to Cincinnati for the annual Four Sport Weekend. We will be going on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning so there isn't much planning for the week. Here it goes:

Monday- Fettuccine Alfredo, peas, garlic bread, and fruit
Tuesday- Roast, potatoes, and carrots in the crock pot, Bisquick garlic and cheese biscuits, fruit
Wednesday- Hot dogs, baked beans, corn
Thursday- Breakfast for dinner, eggs, smoky links, toast, and fruit
Friday- frozen pizza if we around
Saturday- Cincy
Sunday- Don't know when we will get back, so the frozen pizza if we don't have it on Friday or soup or something.

Check out Menu Plan Monday for more plans and recipes.

Some Random Things on a Saturday Morning

• This week I went to a conference about all day Kindergarten. It was funny because I felt like the presenters were trying to sell the idea of all day Kindergarten to the audience. I don't know about anyone else but I want ADK at my school otherwise I wouldn't be at a conference about it on my summer vacation. I have wanted it for five years. After sitting there all day I find out that the cash to fund this might not be there after all. That is kind of like showing me a big bowl of ice cream and then taking it away. Mean very mean. Oh well, I got a doughnut, lunch, and a Coke(all free) out of the day.
• We went swimming on Thursday at a local state park. we had never been there before, it was very nice. the Do was very excited at first to be playing in the kiddie pool and then he got splashed in the face. This pretty much did him in and he wouldn't leave my side or get in at all. He end up falling asleep in his daddy's lap(not in the pool silly) which might have been the problem since the water activities were in the middle of nap time.
• See loved the pool. I think he must be part fish. He and his dad went down the water slide four times together. This could be a problem the next time if it is just me and the Monkeys that go there. Maybe See would go down by himself. We were all worn out at the end of the day and I got a sunburn but it was a fun time.
• I started out this week on a diet. I got some new digital scales, point friendly food, and I was ready to go. Then I ate big bowls of frozen yogurt(at least it wasn't real ice cream) two nights in a row, I had a doughnut, I ate almost an entire bag of chips with my family at the park, and we had Papa John's pizza last night. Do I have any self control apparently not. Well, I will have to elaborate on this later because apparently the Daddy is having a nervous break down serving the monkeys breakfast....Okay I am back several hours later. Anyway, this diet thing, I am sucking at it. Maybe I should start exercising then start the diet. I have considered joining this challenge at Tales from the Scales but that would make have to be accountable or something. I guess that is what I need or maybe I just need more doughnuts.
• My mom came over and watched the Monkeys while I went to the dentist. She let them throw pillows and stuffed animals at her and each other for entertainment. I can't ever imagine my mom ever letting me throw pillows or stuffed animals at her when I was growing up. I guess that is what being a grandparent is about---I guess.
• Well we are going to watch Monster House. I hope it isn't too scary for the Monkeys or me for that matter!

Have a terrific Saturday night, catch ya later!

Life in The Monkey House

I am a mom of two boys Monkeysee age 6 and Monkeydo age 2. Life at times can seem like I am living at the monkey house at the zoo. This morning already has had my husband looking in Do's nose with a flashlight to see if there was a random Lego up there, See running around with swim goggles ready for a swim on this rainy day, and three loads of laundry that need to be folded and put away. At times I want to pull my hair out because life seems so crazy other times I want to stop the clock hands from going so fast. Even though life can seem like a roller coaster; dipping, turning, speeding at rates so fast that some days are a blur, I wouldn't miss the thrill for anything because before I know it the ride will be over.
I want this blog to be a place to record the events of every day life-the highs and lows. What I am learning that even though it feels like our family is the only one that has these sweet and sour times it is not true-we aren't alone, everyone has a monkey house they live in(some people just cover it better), and it makes me feel better to see that I am not the only one.
Well I better go check the Monkeys, they are probably swinging from the fans by now!