A Long MN Weather

It has been a long winter here. Seriously just done with the snow.  While my mother would be envious I am ready for the day we can walk to the playground, or read a book in the backyard while the kids play.  All the perks of being a stay at home parent quickly fade for me during the winter.  This always happens, but this year our whole household (and Addie) has been sick on top of it so there have been far fewer outings to break things up because one or all of us are sick and just not up for it.

I was excited when the snow started to melt and I could see the ground again! I was convinced that was it.

OH boy was I wrong!!! 3 days later it looked like this....

Which looks pretty, I'll give it to you.  BUT. It's March.
If it weren't for this...

 I may just been done with MN winters.....

Arguing Semantics

Aid and Grant both come running upstairs this morning telling on each other.

Aid (sobbing): MOM! Grant elbowed me in the head and it hurt and he's so mean!!!!

Grant:  MOM!! Aid elbowed me in the head!

Me: Sounds like you guys were both fighting....

Aid: But he hit me!

Grant: But you called me poopy face and fart head.

Long pause (we are all looking at Aid)

Aid:  I did not say head.


bahahahahaha!!! Good laugh for the morning.

Hoaders

I'm addicted to watching Hoarders. Well, all reality tv really. The Bachelor? "Yes please!" Teen Mom? "Sure, but what is happening with these kids?!"  Love it or List it, "How do I get on this show so they will do our basement?!"

But I also watch Hoarders. And then I go clean out something.

Aid watched it with me yesterday. We started talking about it:

Aid: Mom do you clean our house so it won't look like that?"

Me:  Yep.

Aid: How come that lady has so much stuff?

Me: Well, some people have a hard time letting things go.  They think they will look at it again later, or use it again later, or that they will be sad if it's gone. But they are just things which are not the most important thing in life.

Aid: My family is the most important thing in life.

Me: YES! (parental score here!)

Aid: Mom? How come Dad never gets rid of any of his books?

Me: Your father has a hard time getting rid of things too. Especially books.

Aid: We should help him learn how to do that.

Me: Yep.


From the mouth of our babe hon.  I think Aid may have some tough questions for you come garage sale time!! ;)

Tae Kwon Do Anyone?

Aid has been watching the Tae Kwon Do class every time we go to the gym.  He's been fascinated.  I have been hesitant to ask him if he wanted to try it out because historically, Aid starts something and after a couple of weeks is begging to quit because it doesn't come naturally.  So I decided that he needed to be the one to want it badly enough to ask me about it.  Repeatedly. But I have noticed him noticing.

Well, the instructor noticed him noticing too.  And invited him to try it out.

Tonight was his first shot.  He told me how nervous he was and I tried to give him a pep talk about how everyone has to start somewhere and no one knew how to do it when they first started.  The instructor came over and introduced himself and bowed to Aid....who bowed back.  Then he gave him almost the exact same pep talk (ha! Patting myself on the mom back over here).  Aid jumped in.  I kept expecting him to walk off because.....well, he clearly did not know what he was doing.  And everyone else did.  And this is a major sticking point for Aid.  He does not like to feel vulnerable like that.  Well, who does really?  But as a response he usually chooses flight not fight.  So to see him stand there and continue to get it wrong, but continue to try made me so incredibly proud of him.

And he loved it.  LOVED it.  And when the instructor came to talk to us at the end I asked if there was a more beginner class he could take.  He said that there was a younger class for 4-5 year olds that he could take in addition if he felt like he wanted to,get some extra practice for the basics,  but made it a point to say that he was focused and determined and those are the two most important aspects.  He said for his very first class he was picking up the moves very well!!!

And what a lesson in being a parent and holding back every word of encouragement you want to shout out.  I literally had to keep telling myself that he has an instructor, I just need to let him work this out.

It's dark but this move was one I wasn't sure he was going to get. Took some coordination (which this mama lacks). But he did it after some help!

The instructor said they get uniforms after they come for a bit to make sure they're dedicated. This may just be the perfect motivation for Aid to stick with it. He wants one so badly.

 

So we're a go! We are signed up and ready to fight for this one!!!!

4

My baby is 4 today. 4. How has the time gone by so fast? He's laying here next to me, sick as a dog, and I just am in awe of how beautiful this little thing is. He's been a joy since the moment he was born. Okay, a few minutes after he was born.  His delivery still sends shivers down my spine.   This little one constantly surprises me with his empathy for others, his kind heart, and his stubborn spirit.  He's my little fighter.  I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating.  When we were deciding whether or not to have a second child my biggest fear was not knowing if I could love another child as much as I loved Aid.  I couldn't fathom my heart having room for anyone else.  But Grant showed me you can never have too much love.  There was more then enough room.

Happy Birthday little man. (Sorry that you are so sick on it)


Here are some of my favorite pictures through the years...

I love you to the moon and back Grant.

One Vicious Black Morning

Interpretive Christmas Dance