Battle of the wills... and I lost.

AJ and I had a showdown tonight at dinner. Marc had a work meeting across the state, so it was just him against me tonight. He refused to eat his noodles (he normally loves noodles)... wait, no, I take that, he refused to even try them. So he sat, and sat, and cried and sat and cried, and sat. And you can't really reason with a 21 month old, even though I tried. "You can't get down until to take a bite", "You can have our special treat when you take a bite", etc... In the end, it was bedtime and he still hadn't eaten anything other than a small snack after nap. I didn't want to send him to bed with no dinner (I don't think he's old enough to grasp that when he wakes up hungry hours later in the middle of the night that, yes, in fact he SHOULD have eaten his noodles. No, he would just be hungry, and mad, I would hear about it).

So, he got a peanut butter sandwich before bed. And well, if AJ is getting a sandwich, then Andrew wants a sandwich (even if Andrew great a great dinner). So I pulled out our new special new bread cutter - thanks to Grandma. The boys don't eat crust anyway, so this little tool is cool. Although, I did tell Andrew that when he turns four he will have to start eating the crust, because four year olds eat crusts. And yes, I know - not exactly punishiment for AJ. Way to make him pay for his rebellion.

By the way - Is it wrong to tell your son that his tuna macaroni is chicken with noodles if he eats it right up? I am feeling guilty about it.

Chubby Bunny

AJ has just started showing interest in playing hide and seek, which has sparked Andrew’s interest in it all over again. It's not unusual for me to go upstairs for a second, only to come down and find them hiding. However, they only have a couple hiding spots and they usually fail to get themselves completely hidden in these spots to begin with. So, I am usually pretending to look for them with the standard, "Where did AJ go?" and "Andrew, where are you?" as I 'search' for them. It only takes a second or so before one of them pops out and yells, "Boo!”

Yesterday, we were playing this game. I had gone upstairs for something and when I came down, I see two little heads crouched down behind the boy's 'big boy chair' (the mini lazy boy). I start the searching charade, waiting for them to pop out.

They did not pop out.

I pretend to search a little more and finally start looking closer to them thinking that I may actually 'find' them before they 'scare' me. Finally, AJ sticks his little face around the side and I see his mouth is white. They had found the mini marshmallows in the pantry and were shoving them in their mouths as fast as they could before I caught them.

Marc was still home and saw it, too. We just started laughing. I couldn't get mad at them and could barely get out a reprimand. I took the remaining marshmallows and put them away and let them finish what was shoved in their mouths. Sneaky little snots.

Good excuse to stay home in PJ's.

We got some icky weather today. Real icky. Everything is cancelled. Even the public schools and colleges and well, here in Michigan, is takes quite a bit for those to close. We were supposed to have library lap time this morning and Bible Study tonight, but no dice there either. So we will home today. Even Marc will be home for part of the day. He was supposed to head out of town this morning, but called that off. So other than a few local appointments, he will be working from home. We are still under a winter storm warning and it's a balmy 7 degrees outside... but with blizzard conditions, it feels like -15 degrees. So no outdoor time either. Yup - I see hot coffee, soup, and slippers in our future.

How did he get so old that I'm even thinking about preschool?

Hat Head

AJ's hair after being wet with rain and stuffed in a hat.

Daunting...

We muddied the waters today. We did hit the preschool in the morning and we were pretty satisfied with it. But we decided to hit a few more this evening just to compare and not make the decision based on the first one we saw. So we drug the boys around in the pouring rain this evening visiting preschools which made us more confused than ever. We were ready to just call it all off and keep him home. We still haven't ruled out keeping him home, but for now I think we have a game plan in place. Two weeks ago, I barely gave preschool a second thought and now it's consuming. But it looks as if, for now, Andrew will be attending preschool in the fall. Phew.

Preschool Woes

A warning to preschool parents. "By the time you figure out that your child is old enough to attend preschool, it is time to enroll them... now!"

I knew preschool was an option for Andrew, who will be four in March. And being the social kid he is, he would LOVE it! He still talks about going to school (from back when I was working and he was in daycare). I knew I needed to probably start researching them here in a few months before he started in the fall. Oh no! I found out last week that enrollment for preschools is NOW. I hadn't even started researching them. Oh... and I also found out they are expensive! Yikes!

So, I spent a good portion of the weekend online - doing as much research as possible - making lists to compare the different options. Then, this morning, I starting making calls for all the information I couldn't get via Google. I was disheartened. From what I had found out... it looked like Andrew just wasn't going to be attending preschool. I'd rather send him to college. We were almost ready to write off preschool.

And we were OK with this. I would just work with him at home... and between church, Bible Study, gym time, library, etc... he gets the social aspect.

Then... I made a final call to a church about 10 minutes from here and talked to the sweetest women who would be Andrew's teacher. She spent so much more time explaining to me what his day would be like and the curriculum that I think I really wanted Andrew to attend there before she even mentioned the price. Then - the icing on the cake - the cost is about 1/3 to 1/2 less than everywhere else!

So - we are checking it out tomorrow morning... squeezing it in between Marc's 7am Bible Study and my 9:30am Bible Study. Open enrollment is this Thursday (I told you it was like NOW) - so he needed to get it in soon. Who knows... maybe Andrew will be signed up tomorrow for preschool next fall, maybe we will keep looking, or maybe he will be home with us. Who knows.

Big decision for a big boy.

Spread the Love Award!

My friend Shannon gave me this award! Thanks Shannon! It's my first blog award, too.

This award was originally created by Mica at Garb-oodles
Soup. Mica says: “I have met so many lovely and very talented ladies here in Blogdom, what more can I do or say to express my humbled heart to each, than to give all my Dearest Readers and Friends a special award filled with Love. So, Spread The Love dear ones, Spread The Love to those you love. Accept my award in which I have specially designed and share it with others. Enjoy the day.”

My sanity questioned.

My latest...

This is the latest purse/bag I made. I made two of them - one for my mom's birthday and one for my friend's birthday. It's hard to tell but it's brown corduroy with colored flowers. And inside in deep blue pockets with a green bottom.

Andrew's new favorite way to help...

Tastes like chicken.

Wow – I know it again been awhile since I had a post with any substance. Ah well. That’s the way it goes… I’ll try to hit the highlights.

This past weekend, we were sick. Whatever Andrew had last week, hit Marc and myself. Much more Marc than me, as it is Friday and he is still not well. I have been feeling fine for a couple days now. So we didn’t make it church on Sunday.

On Monday, we did major grocery shopping and I made a roasted chicken. I am so proud of this that I am posting about it. I bought a whole chicken and roasted it, just like you would a turkey. And it was good! I have tried this a couple times in the past and it’s bombed, so this success was exciting. However, Marc was still too sick to eat it.

On Tuesday we had Bible Study in the morning and haircuts in the evening. On Wednesday, we hit a different local library for their story time and were pleasantly impressed. I think that will be our new Wednesday morning ‘thing’. Next Wednesday’s theme is Bob the Builder. My boys will be thrilled! Even AJ tries to sing the Bob theme song. Wednesday evening, I had our college and career Bible Study (Marc stayed home with the kids since he still wasn’t feeling well.)

Thursday we ran a few errands (one was to a thrift store where I bought the boys tambourines – you can officially question my sanity now), worked around the house, and packed up. And today, I drove the boys down to Ohio to spend the weekend at my parents. Marc had a men’s retreat this weekend through church (pray for him, he is still not feeling well). So we will be heading back up on Monday.

Tomorrow, we are going to attempt to get the boy’s pictures taken at Wal-Mart. I’ve never had them officially taken since AJ arrived and well, with Mom; I’ll have an extra set of hands. I figure it’s not that expensive, so if it doesn’t work – oh well. Here’s hoping for adorable faces and cheesy smiles.

I have to be fair, right?!

My very own blond bombshell.

Michigan Primary Today

How to age five years instantly...

...get a haircut.

(look at the unique shape of his eyes and mouth. God did a gorgeous job on him)

Good for more than just cookies...

Train Pancakes

While running a few errands...

While running a few errands today, we stopped at Target for a few household items. While there, we happened upon some measuring spoons.

Andrew said, "Mom, are those baby spoons?"

I said, "No, those are measuring spoons."

Andrew said, "...to measure babies?"

Lovin' it!

Asking again...

...for prayers for my Andrew. He's had tummy pain (and no appetite) for a couple days now. And it varies from hardly noticable to doubled over bawling. We took him in to the doctor today and she ruled out appedicitis, but told us to keep watching him. I am hoping it's just a bug or gas or something and it goes away soon. At least he doesn't have any other symptoms with it - no fever, vomiting or such - but that makes it all the more a mystery. Anyway, it's been a tiring couple of days, so we are praying tomorrow he is back to his happy pain-free self. Gotta go - he's crying again. (*sniff*)

I won't grow up...

Yesterday morning, as the boys were eating breakfast, I checked my e-mail and found out that it was MOPS Monday at our city's Children Museum. This means the Museum is closed to the public and only open to MOPS mom's (and kids) for a reduced rate. I had Noah yesterday, so after breakfast, I packed a lunch and loaded the boys and headed downtown. I had never been to the museum, but it was really nice and I think the kids had a great time! Definitely worth the $6 admission (for all of us) and $2.50 parking.

Midnight Stall

Here's a funny little side story that probably won't translate well:

When I was driving the boys down to Ohio on New Year's Day, we stopped at Wendy's midway for some lunch and to take a break from the white knuckle driving. Our first order of business was hitting the restroom, so I have AJ in my sling and Andrew is with me. We walk in and go to the largest handicap stall at the end so we can all fit and Andrew starts "going".

All of a sudden the lights go out. I mean out-out. Not one shred of light is coming in and I can't see my hand in front of my face. I start talking calming and reassuring the boys that everything is ok, while I try to make my way out of the stall and back to where I think the door might be to see if we can get some light from the hall(while wearing AJ and trying to protect his head from me bumping it into something) . I have NO luck! I can't find the door at all. I am still talking super calm to the boys because I can sense the boys are not enjoying the pitch black. I finally find where I think the door is and can't find the door knob.

At this point, it's only been dark for about 2 minutes although it felt like 15. Andrew is still in the stall (I'm sure a mess was made since he was 'midstream' when we lost the lights) and I am somewhere over by what I think is the door. I decide to head back to Andrew and try to find my purse hanging on the door. Inside I have a book light (wish I would have thought of it sooner). So I am feeling my way back, I find my purse and I'm blinding digging though it when the lights come back on.

What in the world?! So, we pull ourselved together, clean up and head out. I am originally thinking that Wendy's must have lost power, but when we come out, everything is business as usual and there is no sign what-so-ever that the power was off. So my guess is that they have those sensors that turn the lights off and on to save energy and it was malfunctioning. It's funny now... much funnier than it sounds written, but you get the idea.

Happy Holidays

Ok - I knew this was going to happen, so here is goes - a quick "what's been happening with us" update. And it is truly a update, more for my sake than anything, so don't feel obligated to read this one if you are busy. The last I really posted we had Christmas here with my parents which was wonderful. So here goes.

That next Thursday, we had a casual dinner party here. Four families and pizza. Although in our house, eight adults and eight kids makes for tight quarters. But it was nice.


That Friday, Ryan and kids came over here to play and I went over to Ryan's house for a girl's night out with his wife. The roads got bad, so I ended up crashing at their place and Ryan and the kids stayed at our place.


The weekend was church, naps, and us just recouping a bit from the holiday, and making promises to ourselves on how we will take the Christmas decor down... tomorrow. We might have done more, but I can't remember it now.


New Year's Eve and it was a busy one for me. I was leaving for OH the next day, so I needed to pack up (all day project), I had to go grocery shopping and also make some food items for that night and the next day, too. I also had to get us all ready for the evening. We went to the Sischo's for a little New Year's Celebration. Chinese take-out and a few games. We put the kids down and just hung out until the ball dropped. Since the kids were out and we were already packed up to head out of town the next morning, it was easier for us to just crash there that night.


On New Year's Day, I drove the kids down to the OH/MI border to my Aunt's where we were having a family Christmas. The roads were HORRIBLE! I felt like I was squeezing fingerprints into the steering wheel. (Marc did not come... he had to work the next day and it would have been too much to drive down and back in one day). Anyway, we made it safe and sound and Christmas was really nice. Andrew's cousin that he LOVES was there and I got to see family I don't see often. Even AJ did seemed the enjoy himself. We spent the night, hung out the next morning, visited my cousin and new baby (who is a little sweet-pea), ate lunch and headed back to MI during nap time.


I had Noah that Thursday and on Friday I was treated to another girl's night out. Qdoba for dinner and the movie August Rush. It was a surprisingly pretty good movie. Definitely a chick flick. Yesterday was our typical day for church and naps. And I think that brings us up to speed.

Cookies, and Camo and Cuddling

The cookies I made with my new cookie cutters. They were uglier than I hoped, but not because of the cookie cutters, but because of my icing colors.

Boys in their new camo clothes and slippers.

Andrew had the privilege of napping in our bed today. He couldn't find his "B", so guess what I found him with. My Miss Piggy. I have had her since I was 4-ish. She has gone everywhere with me... Europe, gymnastic meets, college, etc... and found herself in my little man's arms.

I need to go to bed, but instead...

I am posting quickly more or less just to get Andrew's projected height off the top of the screen. I am sorry I haven't written much. It's not because we haven't been doing anything. On the contrary. And because I haven't written well, it will probably be boiled down to a boring update post. But I am not even going to do that tonight. I will do my best to update tomorrow. For now, I am letting you know that I am still kicking. It's late, I need to go to bed, but instead, I am going to read a bit. (I am working on The Last Jihad... another reason I've been too busy to post.) Have a great weekend.