missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me

Ah, to see life through childrens' eyes...


On the way home today:

Jaxon: Mom, do you know what Savannah did today?
Me: No, what?
Jaxon: She kissed me. On the belly.
Me: Oh, that's funny. What did you do?
Jaxon: I kissed her belly.
Me: Hmmm. So why do you think she did that?
Jaxon: I think we're going to get married someday.

In the car yesterday:
Listening to a pop song (could be anything really), but something about men and women not getting along and sounded like Kesha...
Jaxon: Mom, why does she keep saying 'mmmmph' (sort of a grunting sound).
Me: Hm, I don't know. Maybe she's frustrated.
Jaxon: I just don't know why she does that.
Me; Yeah, I'm not sure.
Jaxon: I guess she's mad that he won't play with her.
Me: Right. Something like that.

I can't keep up really. These kids are growing so quickly, I just don't even have time to research what to say. I need some guidance sometimes... the questions are starting to get more complicated. Things like, why doesn't so and so play with me? And when are you ever gonig to marry me mommy? And can't I have the same shoes as Devin?

Things really do seem to be moving so fast lately. I find one of my favorite times of the day is at night when the kids are in bed- for obvious reasons- but also because they are just so innocent. And sweet.

They don't talk back. They don't hit or kick their emotions out. They are peaceful. Serene. Recharging their batteries for the next day. I love to watch them and just take a few moments to capture their faces. Their features. Their crazy bedtime routines and rituals (no ice, just water; over here, not there; this blanket, not that one, etc.)

And I love that Jaxon falls asleep almost every night reading the book that Grandma made for him- Jaxon's ABC's and the one I made for Scott. He often has it opened at one of the pages or it's fallen on his face, taking in all the memories and pictures of family...

If only we coul keep them small and innocent like this for just a little bit longer. But instead, I know tomorrow I'll be faced with 'Missed Me, Missed Me, now you gotta Kiss Me, and 'Mom, stop staring at me and smiling, I know you love me' (with a big eye roll). We'll go to Target and he'll sing the entire Taylor Swift chorus to 'Never get back together'. He'll climb the tallest slide at Lookout Bridge and make best new friends in two minutes or run around the store with a kid he just met. We'll walk in to his classroom and I'll watch the girls giggle and flirt with him and I'll notice the cool, macho look he gives them. He'll ask harder questions and challenge me in ways I'm not sure I'm ready for...

Feels like some kind of adventure ride we're on... can't wait for the next part.



"I always wanted to invent something that would move around & make funny noises & would change the world as we know it & I forgot all about that until we had kids & now I see I came pretty close." -Brian Andreas, Story People

preschool and polar bears

Change is certainly in the air... you can feel it. And we've felt it in our house.

Earlier this month, Scott raised some questions about the care our children were receiving at their in-home daycare. Not to get into too many details, but we ended up moving to a center-based program. While it was a tough transition at first, it has been so wonderful for our kids--they really seem to love it so far, even Kiley has warmed up to the idea after crying her first week there.

Here's a picture of their first day of preschool (Jaxon) and preschool discovery (Kiley).

 

Jaxon has been chasing girls there too. Yesterday when I picked him up from school, there was another little girl being picked up- she was cute, blond, and wearing a Vikings Cheerleader outfit.

 

Jaxon just looked at me as she was leaving, and said, "mom, there's something I need to do. Okay, I said. I need to give someone a hug so I'll be right back." The girl, who I would later find out was Audrey, had already made it to the front of the school with her mom. Jaxon ran through the halls chasing her with teachers telling him to stop, wait for your mom. 'Oh, it's okay, I said. He's chasing a girl'. They all just looked at me and shook their heads. Good luck they said.

 

School has made Kiley exhausted every night. She is out within minutes of her head hitting the pillow. And she takes close to three hour naps on the weekends. But I think even she is learning a lot so far. She's been singing songs and has started using a big girl cup without a lid at home. She wants to everything herself- not like she didn't before, but even moreso now. And she went potty on the potty chair! The past few weeks she's been sitting on the potty chair after she goes in her diaper. Last night, she actually went in the potty!

 

I feel like we're in for a lot more changes in the near future... I can hardly believe some of the things Jaxon is saying and asking us...

 

This morning we went to the zoo with our good friends Abby, Calvin and Audra while the dads golfed together.

 

We were at the polar bear exhibit when Abby and I started talking about what it would be like to have another one (kid, not polar bear).

 

And that's when it really hit me.

 

I don't so much want another one as I don't want to lose these ones. I'm scared of them growing up. Of them not needing me anymore. Scared that I'll never have that little baby to take care of anymore. No more sweet little bear hugs and nose kisses. Holding hands and picking them up when they fall... The more independent they get, the easier it gets. And the harder it gets. It's like being in a pit of joy and sorrow all at the same time.  How can that possibly be?

 

 And what sucks, really sucks? Is that according to my mom, that feeling doesn't go away for a really long time, if ever.

Ugh. Who knew polar bear exhibits could be so powerful. Thanks Como Zoo. 

 

apple of my eye

Not sure what that saying means, really.

 

But we sure did find some apples this weekend.

 

And raspberries.

 

That's all I can come up with this morning. Enjoy the cute kid pics...

 

 

a warm blanket

Most people know I grew up in West Fargo, North Dakota. We call it Fargo for short. And some people just call it the flyover state. Others make fun of it because everyone says 'oh ya, you betcha.'

To me, it is home.

It doesn't take the place of my current home and family, because that is everything to me. But it certainly has a special place in my heart and every time I go there, it feels like home. You know that feeling? When you drive into town and it just feels like someone gave you a hug...or wrapped a warm blanket around you... comforting, familiar, and full of family.

I love it and cherish the time we get when we go home for simple days, simple pleasures.

Like shucking corn. 

We went 'home' a couple weekends ago for what I anticipate will become an annual venture. Nearly 300 ears of corn were shucked, blanched, bagged and frozen for the winter.

 

The kids had a blast, even though they arrived for the last five minutes...

How can you not have fun when everyone is focused on you. And you have a paper towel holder to use as a bat to practice your t-ball?

And you get to spend quality time with your mommy?

And examine those little green things called vegetables!

And pose in a picture where you pretend to eat those little green things called vegetables?

 

Looking forward to next year's Walker Schuckfest...

 

 

pee wee

I'm not sure what we'll do with our Monday and Wednesday nights anymore. The last few weeks have been so much fun watching Jaxon begin his pee-wee sports adventures. I can't believe he is at the age when they start organized sports! Where did the time go?

From the first night when he got his t-shirt and met his team, this kid was looking forward to Mondays and Wednesdays, counting the days in between...

They started with soccer.

Jaxon learned all his trapping and kicking skills from Scott. They sure had fun, enjoying time together and feeling like a 'big boy'. Jaxon too.

After they 'mastered' soccer, they had two weeks of t-ball. His team wasn't the brightest. Most of them hit the ball and then ran after it instead of toward the base. But then, this is pee-wee sports.

Jaxon saw this baseball hat in the store and just had to have it. He wants to be just like his dad. Too bad this isn't silver and black. Then he would have really been bringing it.

I mean, can we say pee-wee again? Jaxon was swimming in his t-shirt and that batting helmet never did quite get above his eyebrows... but he sure ran as fast as he could in those crocs.

The Blue Buejays, named by none other than the kids themselves.

 The biggest fan. Kiley and I would go and watch Jaxon play. She would sit on the sidelines with her goldfish or fruit snacks and cheer for Jaxon. It wasn't until the last night that she started goofing around and thought she should be able to play too...

 She loved to sit on the bench with all the kids, right next to her big brother Jaxon.

 They even let Scottie play and gave him some pointers.

It's been a fun summer, watching Jaxon change so much. He now rolls his eyes at us, as if we are 'like, so dumb.' And he wants to do everything himself, make his own decisions, and he's decided that Dora is for little babies and that Spider Man and Super Hero shows are where it's at for him. Our little man is growing up. It is scary, yet somewhat exciting. I can't wait to see all the good things he is going to do someday. He's terribly smart, handsome, funny, and has such a big heart. Sounds kinda like his dad. Ahh, both of my boys are growing up! Could I be any luckier?

lazy summer days

Whoever coined the term, 'lazy summer days', did not have a 4 1/2 year old and a 2 year old. Clearly, given my lack of blogging, there hasn't been anything lazy about our days.

I won't go into how quickly time passes and before you know it your kids are all grown.

I won't do that because I've already done it.

I've already cried about it.

I've sort of come to terms with it.

So rather than that, I've really just been trying to enjoy every moment this summer.

Moments like these...

Kiley's 2-year birthday party!

She had her pretty dress on... lots of frosting... and her favorite friends over for water toys, sprinklers, and tons of fun on a super hot day.

Kiley got a new stroller and bathtub for her dolls. I think it was one of her favorite gifts- she is quite the caretaker these days. She pushes her dolls around, makes sure they are fed and changed, and even asks her kitty if she would like to go in the microwave or refrigerator. She always accomodates, even if the kitty doesn't talk back.

And of course Ed and Jen had some fun too!

And moments like these...

Putting together Jaxon's new bike!

 Scott had lots of help. Kiley is quite the mechanic.

 Not sure what Jaxon is doing with that screwdriver...

Jaxon couldn't wait to get on his new bike and ride around like a big boy. Ever since we started going to the purple park, he's been asking for one as all the other kids ride their bikes to the park.

Good thing he got his first fall out of the way in the driveway before any kids at the park could see him. He was very graceful on the way down, in case you were wondering. He wore his helmet after this.

And many, many more moments which I will share in the coming days... I've been told by a little birdie (aka, my mother), that I need to post something soon! So here's me, making an attempt to catch up on these lazy summer days (not!). More moments to come...

strawberry shortcake

When I was little, I had Strawberry Shortcake curtains and bedding in my room. We'd eat strawberries with sugar on them for a snack. My favorite pie was always strawberry.

As a girl I remember going to the strawberry fields with my family... often with my Grandma Char. They had a field right in West Fargo where you could pick buckets of strawberries. Later in the year, we'd pick baby cucumbers for canning pickles. I remember thinking, what is she going to do with all of these!! But she always found a use for everything and it was usually delicious!

So I thought it might be a fitting way to celebrate her life's passing as my baby girl turned two, to spend the morning picking strawberries.

Though we didn't say it enough, I loved my grandma very much and have so many memories of her- mostly surrounded by food- and so as I say goodbye to her, I find myself wanting to create new memories with my kids, start new traditions, pass on some of her warmth, cooking, and sense of humor, so that someday when I tell them about her, they'll recognize a bit of her in me... or in themselves.

So, Saturday morning, we headed out to Pine Tree Apple Orchards for some strawberry picking.

Now that Kiley is two, she's decided that she can pretty much do everything on her own. I'm pretty sure if we gave her the car keys, she'd figure out how to drive herself to the fields. Girl has a mind that is made up. I love it.

And we always knew it would be just a short while before she started sassing back to Jaxon and fighting for what's hers. Well, seems as if overnight, that time has come.

But, through all her tantrums and 'terrible two-ness', she is still my baby girl.

Sweet. Funny. Copycat. Busy-bee. Industrious. Foodie. Determined. Independent. Laughter and gigles. Cuddler. Jokester. Smart.  

And oh, so cute.

It was a special morning and I hope to make it a tradition we can do every year (as long as she'll let us!).

Afterwards we went home and opened a few presents. I got Kiley a Pink Dinosaur pillow pet- she keeps talking about dinosaurs getting her feet, so I thought this was appropriate.

And Scott got her a new blankie to replace the other two that are full of holes.

We love you sweet baby girl. You are pure joy. Our little Strawberry Shortcake.