Masterpiece or Moustache?

This whole mom thing is a real art, isn't it? And the working mom thing, well, that's art at a level I may never be ready for! But I'm doing it anyway. Some days I create a masterpiece, and others I find myself painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa.

My blog has been a big victim of my going back to work. I spend all day on the computer and don't really want to log on again most evenings. And as no fairies do laundry and clean house and grocery shop, I have to spend time doing that.

But, there are so many stories to tell and moments to capture. I'd like to get back to the habit of blogging, even if every post isn't a masterpiece.

We've got last Halloween and Christmas to cover. We went to Great Wolf Lodge for Thanksgiving and had a blast. Amelia started horse riding lessons, and now we're getting ready for her First Communion. Isaac is about to be the first boy to lose a tooth in this house. (Though I can't believe no one has lost a tooth prematurely to brotherly love!)

More to come soon...I hope. 

© Trippin' Mama 2014

Five, Five, Five!

On October 8 the boys turned five. FIVE! I can't even believe it. Five years old feels like a major accomplishment to me. We survived!

Sam, Alex and Isaac celebrate being five.

 

Oh, I know there's lots more craziness ahead, but we've survived midnight feedings, mountains of diapers, walking, terrible twos, the move to big kid beds, and potty training. We've made it to the point where everyone can dress themselves, feed themselves, tell us what they think and what they need, buckle their own seat belts, ride bikes without training wheels, brush their own teeth, and occasionally wipe without assistance.  

 

The boys were so excited the morning of their birthday. Alex came out to the kitchen saying, "I feel stronger!" 

 

Isaac wandered out mumbling at first, then shouting, "I'm five. I'm five. I'M FIVE!" 

 

Then Alex and Isaac ran to wake up Sam. Sam came out and said, "I'm taller. I know I'm taller." 

 

We ripped into the presents and celebrated with a birthday dinner chosen by the birthday boys. The menu included mashed potatoes (Alex), rice (Isaac) and gnocchi (Sam). I added some veggies and chicken just to counter all the starch.  

 

We finished off with some Angry Birds cupcakes for the second time. On the Saturday before their birthday we took Angry Birds cupcakes to soccer to share with their friends. All in all, it was a great birthday--for all of us! 

Sam

Isaac

 

 Alex

Happy birthday, Sam, Isaac and Alex. We LOVE you! 

 

© Trippin' Mama 2013

It's All Relative

The other morning Isaac told me I was way older than him. Then he told me I was way fatter than him.  

As these comments came from a 37-pound not-quite-five-year-old, I decided it's all relative.

And I headed to work feeling young and skinny.
 

© Trippin' Mama 2013

No Secrets

A couple weeks ago we picked the boys up from the nursery after church, and one of the ladies staffing the nursery couldn't quit laughing. 

She told us that Alex talked to them the entire hour. (He loves to talk. Ahem. That apple may not have fallen far from the tree.)

We already know that with Alex around we have no secrets.

Apparently he told them about all kinds of things, including how he was getting really big.

As she recounted, Alex said: "I'm getting so big! Even my butt is getting big! I got new underwear. They are size 6 and they aren't even too big for me!"

All of which is true, even if the world -- or at least the church nursery -- didn't need to know.

I can see we're going to have to work on developing a filter.    

© Trippin' Mama 2013

She Is Seven

Amelia turned seven on May 22. She requested a butterfly cake, and I agreed to try my hand at some cake decorating, without getting too crazy! I bought the butterfly-shaped pan and the icing bag and decorating tips.

The first time around I chose to cover the sides with Spree candies, mostly because I got bored making little frosting stars. The boys LOVED that I made a "test cake." Amelia was pretty happy with it, too!

For her party, I sprinkled the edges with silver edible glitter, and did a more professional job on the frosting. I think they both turned out great, and the birthday girl was very happy with each one.

Now the boys have asked for an Angry Birds cake for their quickly-approaching fifth birthday. I'm thinking I can pull off Angry Birds cupcakes... I hope!

 

Amelia had a great birthday, and I was very proud of her for choosing to have everyone bring a donation for our church food bank instead of a gift for her. She still got plenty, and she got to help a lot of other people, too.

Who can believe they are seven and five? Yikes! They are getting so big so fast!

© Trippin' Mama 2013

Mrs. Who?

Now that Amelia is in second grade, she's preparing for her first Communion. One of the things she has to learn is the Act of Contrition. So, I dutifully started teaching her from memory. Then I started to wonder if the church had updated it, perhaps getting rid of the "thees" and "thous."

Fortunately, Amelia has a great Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Ashburne, and she sent a copy of the prayer home.

 Shoot! They updated the whole thing! And while the meaning is the same, it's not even close to what I was teaching her.

Then Amelia told me that her teacher, "Mrs. Hashbrown," would help them practice in class, too. I could not stop laughing.

"It's Mrs. Ashburne, honey," I said.

Maybe we should have these important conversation AFTER we eat.

© Trippin' Mama 2013

It's a Mutual Attraction

Tonight when I got home the boys all came running. They climbed into my lap, squeezed into my arms, kissed my cheeks, patted my hair and generally loved all over me. 

Then Isaac said, "Mom, whenever you come home we attract you!"

Attract, attack. As long as it means I'm smothered in loving little boys, I'm happy. 

© Trippin' Mama 2013