More Adventures in Imagination

A scene from our home this morning...

Mom: Wow, fellas, what is going on here?!
E: We are going on an animal carousel.
Mom: An animal carousel? Why are all of the books out?
B: The books are the seats.
Mom: Oh, I see. (Silly me - I should have known they were making an animal carousel!)

E and B "riding" the animal carousel after E pushed the buttons to make it go... B made sure to put his seat belt on, too! :)

Cutie pie picture of E laughing with his brother

Oooh... television

Messes

Lest anyone think that things are going too smoothly around here...

This morning, I was folding some laundry, and B and E were playing in their room. I wasn't hearing too much noise coming out of there, and although I knew there could be trouble, I figured that a few stuffed animals tossed around the room was a small price to pay for a block of time to finish a load of laundry.

After about ten minutes, I braced myself and then peeked into B and E's room. I looked around, and thought, "Hey, this really isn't that bad!" A few animals around, a few books, no big deal. E and B had closed themselves into their closet, and they were playing so nicely in there. It was so sweet!

Until I opened the closet door.

When I did, out poured the blankets from their beds as well as all kinds of diapers and clothes. As I stared in astonishment, I realized that EVERY piece of clothing that was hanging in their closet (on both the low and high racks) was on the floor (with many of the hangers broken), every piece of clothing that was in a box because it was too small had been dumped out, and every Pull-Up that we had in the diaper hanger was thrown haphazardly throughout the closet. Yes, it was a full-blown mess.

I should have taken a picture so you could all appreciate the craziness, but honestly, every single one of my brain cells at that point was working on mustering up the patience not to freak out. B told me how he used a box (the one that was full of small clothes) to climb up and reach the top rack. He and his brother had some sort of imagination-filled explanation as to why it was necessary to take down all of the clothes. I wish I remembered (was it dinosaur food? part of a roller coaster?), but again, my brain was busy at the time.

As my journey with two two-year-old boys continues, I am constantly presented (or hit over the head with, whatever you prefer) with a lesson about patience and realizing the things that really are a big deal. Hitting? Big deal. Biting? Big deal. Clothes innocently strewn all over the floor in the interest of some good imaginative play? Not a big deal.

Gotta love that the biggest lessons in my life right now are coming from my two-year-old kids!

My Ta-Da List

A few weeks ago, I decided to make a list of all of the things I accomplished during the day (rather than making a list of things to do). This morning, I was having a tough morning with the boys, and while skimming blogs while finally scarfing breakfast at 9:15am, one of the blogs I like to read talked of doing this same thing as a way to give yourself a pat on the back and put your day in a more positive light. (You can check out their post here.)

So, in hopes of making myself feel better, I made a list of all of the things that I did today and I thought I would share it all so you can get some insight into my life, a good chuckle, etc. This list is in no particular order - just how my brain remembered everything. Now, to some of you out there, some of these things don't seem like they should make it on the ta-da list (i.e. shower), but as all stay-at-home moms know, you can't take anything for granted. Enjoy! :)

• Showered
• Got dressed
• Brushed teeth
• Ate breakfast
• Unloaded dishwasher
• Loaded dishwasher
• Checked and replied to email
• Called my grandma
• Called pediatricians office about B's missing medical records
• Called record forwarding service about sending records again (yes, this is a whole other frustrating blog entry)
• Called church
• Cut coupons
• Went through grocery ads
• Made grocery list
• Went through old coupons
• Went through freezer and fridge and made an inventory
• Created two weeks worth of dinner menus
• Found recipe for zucchini bread (hopefully to be used tomorrow!)
• Put away towels that were washed yesterday
• Dried and put away boys' clothes, part one
• Washed, dried, and put away boys' clothes, part two
• Put away load of darks for hubby and me
• Sat in bathroom with E and B for approximately 38 hours
• Cleaned up four pairs of poopy underpants
• Celebrated when E had a "giant poop" in the potty
• Cleaned out potty chairs innumerable times
• Cut up cantaloupe
• Made morning and afternoon snack for us
• Made lunch for all of us
• Cleaned up dishes throughout the day
• Cleaned up toys that were scattered around the house with the help of the fellas - twice
• Got mail and sorted it
  
• Thawed and prepped chicken for dinner
• Cooked chicken, corn, and rice for dinner
• Cleaned off table after dinner
• Loaded dishwasher and washed dishes
• Cleaned the table and counters
• Picked tiny pieces of rice and corn off of the floor
• Put in load of random laundry
• Gave boys a bath & helped with bedtime routine
• Continued my immeasurable amount of cloth diaper research - I think I finally have a hint about what I am doing!
• Wrote this blog entry :)
• Downloaded pictures from both boys' cameras
• Replaced batteries in E's camera
• Watched my belly jump while Z had his nightly party (not really a ta-da, but fun nonetheless)
• Broke up a few fights
• Stopped kids from swinging on curtains in living room
• Played with puzzles
• Read stories
• Put together train tracks
• Loved and cuddled two cutie-pies!

It is now 9:00pm, and although I hope to get a few more things done, I think this is going to be it for my list today. Ahh... the life of a stay-at-home mom...

I'm Making Mommy Crazy!

B and E watched an episode of "Super Why!" the other day, a PBS show in which the heroes dive into books to solve problems. The episode they watched involved the book "The Little Red Hen." This conversation happened later in the day...

Mom: Okay, boys, who will help me with the laundry? Then we can go play outside and water the plants.

Boys: Not me! (Giggle)

Mom: Oh, fellas. I really need the help. I am really tired from taking you to the pool and my belly is getting so big. I really need some big boy helpers. (The "big boy helpers" line would normally get me help in an instant, so I thought it was a winner.)

Boys: Not me! (More giggling)

Mom: (Time to pull out the big guns) Well, I guess if I have to do all of this work all by myself, I am going to be MUCH too tired to make you ice cream for dessert later tonight.

Boys: Okay! (Hilarious laughing ensues)

I pick up the clothes basket and go downstairs to do the laundry myself, at which point (I KID YOU NOT) I hear the boys yelling this as they jump on my bed...

Boys: I'm making Mommy crazy! I'm making Mommy crazy! I'm making Mommy crazy!

Okay, so, lots of learning was done here. The fellas learned the WRONG lesson from the story on the show, learning how to refuse to help, and Mommy was reminded yet again of the necessity to tell instead of ask when something needs to get done.

Oh, the joy of being a mom to two boys!

Fancy Dresses

On Monday morning, E and B were upstairs playing when I heard the conversation turn to dresses. Of course, my ears perked up, and here is an idea of what went on...

Let's wear our fancy dresses!

Yes, let's go dancing!

Okay, let's go dancing right NOW!

Wait, let me get on my fancy dress!

Okay, get on your fancy dress so we can go dancing.

(They come down the stairs and head for the stage/bay window.)

Hooray for dancing! I like your fancy dress!

I like yours, too!

Here is a picture of the boys in their "fancy dresses" on the way to go dancing. B is wrapped up in my bath rope and E has his Cubs blanket wrapped around his waist.

I honestly have no idea where this whole idea came up! It isn't like hubby and I are putting on fancy clothes and going out dancing all of the time. I do have to say, he was thrilled to hear about the boys dressing up in fancy dresses. :)

The Local Swimming Hole

Over this past week, things have been pretty laid back here. We have been blessed with some gorgeous weather, so we have taken advantage with trips to the local pool as well as some time in the pool in our own backyard.

B and E enjoy watering the plants just as much as playing in the pool - if not more.

Ahhh... brotherly love

E turning his slide into a "water slide"

B landing in the pool - I think the hose water was still a little cold. :)

Silliness

Over the last few weeks, B and E have really begun to "play." They have such imaginations, and they are really enjoying playing together, too! Last week, I was downstairs, and the boys were playing upstairs in their room. I was letting them be because they were playing so nicely, and they weren't getting into any trouble. However, it soon got quiet, and as any mom knows, that is usually not a good sign.

I tiptoed upstairs to see what E and B were up to, and I found them in the bathroom, toe to toe, wrapped up in the shower curtain. As I listened, I heard they were doing something like playing hide and seek with pirates. :) I thought the scene was too cute, so I raced downstairs to get my camera. I ran back upstairs, took a shot, and waited. The boys kept playing, so I decided to try to get one more. When my digital camera focuses, it makes a little beep sound. The fellas must have heard it because when I focused for the second picture, they both looked toward me, leaned into the shower curtain, and yelled "CHEESE!" It was absolutely hysterical. I wish I had a video to share with all of you. The resulting picture of this silliness is below... g0tta love the antics of twins! :)