He's almost a decade old!

Wow - how do we have an almost 10 year old. I know time marches on, but how do we have a son who's almost a decade old - in April? I remember turning 10 - double digits. I remember it was such a big deal. When I was 10 my dad traveled a ton. He NEVER missed a birthday but he was out of town for that birthday, in Japan. It was the year that I was to receive my coveted birthstone ring. The one that sat in my mom's jewelry box just waiting for me. The one that had to be changed from her topaz to the diamond because I was born in April so I was lucky enough to have the diamond as my birthstone. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. I remember because my dad never missed a birthday and always sent my sister and I the same bouquet of flowers that looked like an ice cream soda made of carnations! Her's always came first because her birthday was 5 days before mine and then mine. I remember my mom bringing the box to my room and giving it to me and me being so excited. I remember that day and being 10. My first sleepover. My dad coming home from Japan with a beautiful kimono for me. I hope that Miles' 10th year as wonderful as mine. I hope he remembers it as clearly as I do. I remember him being this itty bitty baby boy though right now. I can't believe he's almost 10. I still remember him like this. See picture. Happy 2010!

Tic Tac Toe, 3 nights in a row...

Here I am, it's 9:50 and Miles and I are hanging out on the couch. He's not asleep...again. I am waiting for the night when he goes to bed like he used to. His skin is dry, he itches and then he can't stop sleeping. I am past the point where I am worried about it because now I actually am enjoying this time with him or I am learning how to enjoy this quiet time with him. He's not upset about not sleeping and he's not playing games with us. He's just hanging out on the couch, playing boggle on his Itouch so I can't really make a big stink about it. He just can't sleep and it's winter break. But...we have to get him back on track for school next week because he is clearly not getting enough sleep. I shouldn't sweat the small stuff, right? Don't sweat the small stuff...

Hanging up now...

Why does our son always hang up on us when he doesn't like what he has to say? He has done that twice to me today and over very reasonable questions...I think. I try to only say 'no' to things that I have a backup for. My sister and I have talked about this often and I do not like saying no without a reason why. Kids like mine often require you to say no often anyway b/c he is asking the same question over and over and over and usually it's the same answer...A big NO question we get is: Can I eat dinner in the family room? 'No', "why?" 'Because we eat dinner as a family.' This is the easy answer. The long answer to that question is because both daddy and I ate with our parents every single night and it is something that we do. He isn't interested in hearing the many studies that back up why it's good for children to eat dinner with their parents and share their day, even if it is for 7 minutes. I just hate saying no, no, no, all day long. But - I don't like getting hung up on either just because I have executed this g-d given right to say it every once in a while. So there has to be a happy medium here. I haven't found where yet. If anyone has, do let me know.

Happiness is a new handbag...or is it?

Today I decided to go back to Weight Watchers. This is a gift for me as the mom. Sometimes you have to do something for you. We spend all of our day taking care of others, our family, our children, the house, dogs, etc and when do we have time for ourselves? This is something that I wrestle with every single day. When do I have time for me? It's not that there isn't time given to me, but I don't think that I give it to myself. I think that a lot of us do this to ourselves. We are super mom's - we do everything for everyone except for ourselves. So, today I decided to claim some of that time back for me b/c I think in the end that will make me a better mom, wife and person. When you are happier you are better at what you do for everyone. I try this every year. I go back to ww and stop b/c I claim that I am too busy to go weigh in, go to a meeting, stop and do something for me. I love handbags. Why? Because you don't have try them on silly. It's so simple and so transparent! I just love them. I could buy one every day but not this year! I am going to try not to buy handbags because I will be able to stand to look at myself in the mirror because I have done something that is good for me, my health, my family and slightly selfish. So...if anyone is reading, listening, do something for yourself...it might just make you a bit happer and healthier also! Happy 2010.

Then there are the nights...

That he cannot turn off his brain to go to sleep. Why are some nights like this and others not? I often wonder this. Today was like any other day. He played outside...he played with A and then right at bedtime he realizes that he has all of this 'hotspots' and is itching and can't stop and therefore cannot relax and can't go to sleep. His brain just won't turn off. It's just crazy. You can tell by looking at him that it's going a mile a minute and just did not wind down like it does some other nights and you know it's not his fault and you know you can't get upset with him or frustrated. Part of me thinks that if I would lay down and stay with him he might relax but I am just not ready to go to sleep at 8:30. So...out he comes...to hang out with us until I go to bed at 10 and hopefully he'll wind down. Good thing he doesn't have school tomorrow!!

Back to work...

Today I went back to work so Miles got to play with A our sitter. He loves her so I guess 3rd time's the charm - the addage is true. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do today...went back and forth b/w Andy B's and Incredible Pizza so they landed at IP. Here's a pic that A sent to me of him playing Guitar Hero. How great is it that your sitter can send you pictures of your kid playing while you aren't with them!? I love it. You feel like you are there, just for a second, even if you aren't. Doesn't make you feel badly for being at work...even though today I don't feel THAT badly since I was home for 4 days. I needed a little home break. Work is a vacation sometimes. I feel guilty saying that but sometimes it's easier than being at home. Parenting is hard work and sometimes work is just easier. Every mom will agree with me...even if she doesn't say it outloud she might nod silently...kids are such a blessing, but such hard work sometimes.

Okay...back to work.

Sledding and more fun...

We took Miles sledding today over by Kirk of the Hills, the hill was prime for the kids to zoom down - all packed snow, even a bit icy...pics to come. Came home for lunch and out he we again...Miles can get enough of the snow! Thank goodness it hasn't started melting!

I decided to tackle his room. Try organizing the room of someone who doesn't want to be organized. I found socks all over the place, books under the bed, shoes behind his desk, etc. It was time to get in there and clean things out. I couldn't see his desk and if I couldn't there was no way he could. The funny thing is that I don't think he minds the chaos b/c to him this isn't chaos...this is how his brain works. It's just busy and things don't have a place and for him that is okay but for me who piles and for Scott who puts everything back where it goes it is hard for us to have a room that looks like something exploded. Hoping that when Miles comes back inside from playing he'll notice that it looks a little bit cleaner and that he'll be able to find his shoes, b/c low and behold, they are actually where they are supposed to be and not hidden somewhere!

Sidebar: Miles has decided to redo his room...apparently it's too organized! I should have known so just like pigpen it's a bit messed up again. Oh well...it's comfortable for him and I should be comfortable with that.

Snow...

There is now way we can entertain our children all day long. And with a child like ours who needs and craves attention it's nearly impossible. So with him starting the day before 6am we needed a gameplan - and figured today was going to be movie day. We hit Cinemark at 11 with Scott and Miles going to see Avatar and me going to see It's Complicated. Avatar is a movie that actually had enough action so the length of the movie didn't even phase him. We walked out of the movies at 2 which was great b/c once we got home the snow was still waiting for him. Thankfully the thaw hasn't begun - which is something that Miles is fearing! All decked out and ready to hit the snow Miles grabbed his sled and was ready to go - found a fort and played outside for a good long while - burned off some steam until his little fingers and toes were totally numb. I figure that I won't have to entertain again until at least 5:00 and then we'll be on to dinner plans! Long weekends are both a blessing and a curse with wonderful kids like ours. Happy Saturday!

PS...we have started our quest to find all of the Braum's eggnog ice cream in town, but haven't been able to locate any. For any of you that know our son it's his only favorite ice cream so if you find any, please let me know and we will zip to that Braum's and get it! Otherwise he'll have to pine away until November 2010 until it comes back.

Revelation

Well - the metldown did occur but it just took until almost 7:00 for it to happen. It was a shock to my son's system to realize that he was not on an equal playing field as his father. i think a young boy thinks that he is just as important to his mother as his father is and when he realizes that he's not it's just a shock. Miles found out tonight that he is actually not my husband! Oh my gosh - what a shock that was - I mean - he knew Scott was my husband but honestly I think he thought he was my husband also and when I told him he had to be quiet so I could actually think for a second he was truly offended. So - hurt feelings and everything he's now running around in the snow until he feels better. Ahhh...this too shall pass.

Starting today...

This is how Miles greeted me the other morning and it's such a good picture b/c this is Miles --- darts and all!

People tell me that the funny things that our fun-loving son has said to me should be written down so I think it's time for me to keep a record. When the snow started last night Miles was itching to go outside so at 7pm in the dark I took him out, pics to follow. He frolicked in the snow and loved every minute of it! We are snowed in and usually this would make for a difficult day for us but so far, so good. It's 4:30 and no major melt-downs. Although Miles has played outside twice and run off some of that energy.

I hope everyone is enjoying the snow and is safe and sound! Enjoy the blog.

Lauren