Guaranteed Bathroom break

There are a few things that will always distract the boys: Goldfish, tupperware, and Youtube videos. 'Elmo's ducks' is an all time favorite where we can all quack at each other and it makes Cole belly laugh. 'Mahna Mahna' is also near and dear to our hearts. But the soup de jour lately for us is the Muppets version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

Judge if you will but the boys LOVE it and it buys me 4 1/2 minutes to do something useful like go to the bathroom by myself or unload the dishwasher without Cole grabbing knives and running around the house. I wish I was kidding about that. He's got a penchant for steak knives.

hibernating

What do you do when you wake up and it's freezing and rainy outside? Besides go back to bed of course (my goodness that would have been glorious).

Sigh, make everyone oatmeal and drag out Fin's mattress from his room of course for a giant jump-a-thon.

Put on Sesame Street as a treat. It comes on at 10 and tv is always off by then. The boys were in a trance.

Stay in your jammies and set up race tracks on your mattress-less bed for optimal racing.

Have buddy Zeke over from next door for male bonding.

Aaaaand take fabulous naps at the end of it all. Amen, Hallelujah!

The pleasure is all mine...

This morning the boys were playing in Fin's room and Fin was trying to build something using a dump truck, a dinosaur pincher toy and some pieces from the nativity scene. Obviously very intricate work. Cole kept grabbing pieces and chucking them and I could see that Fin was getting frustrated so I brought Cole to the living room without saying anything to play with him there. A few minutes later Fin came out and so sweetly said, "thank you for entertaining Cole for me so I could play with my toys alone". Isn't that so sweet?
    Fin is so patient with Cole grabbing his things all the time and I don't take that for granted as I know this causes many a meltdown among siblings. Not going to lie though, today I did feel a little bit like a babysitter.

Take that...Rewind it back

Sorry for the blogging absence the last few days. We were too busy enjoying Patrick being home, eating, and spending time with family. I didn't even take that many pictures of all our fun times because, well, that would involve me having to stop eating to do so and we all know that ain't happening.

This year we ate with the Stephensons and popped over to see my family in the evening for a little bit. Our treat this year was Dennis' parents and aunt came up for Thanksgiving so it was great to see and spend time with them.

Fin, Emma and Grace ate at a little kids table and Cole weaseled his way in once he was allowed out of his highchair. The kids loved doing "cheers" with their little glasses full of sparking cider.

Here's the "old" people table :o)

Self-dubbed "teenage" table.

Found Cole fork in one hand, spoon in another going to town on Fin's plate. Anytime that boy voluntarily eats, I'm fine with.

The highlight of the whole weekend for me was going to see the Muppet Movie with Pat, Uncle Will and Fin. It was seriously SO good. So good that I embarrassingly teared up out of happiness a few times. And may have clapped after one song :o) And Fin was beside himself and pretty much narrated everything he was thinking and feeling throughout the movie out loud. LOUDLY. the whole movie :o) It's a good thing he's cute otherwise people would have probably thrown milk duds at us.

A Man's best friend

How Pat naps best

Sure beats having a dog!

Pats officially home for the next four days and I could not be more thrilled. To be honest, Mama's still a little burned out from the plague of last week and could use an extra pair of hands around to do frivilous things like go to the bathroom by myself or fold laundry without the boys going about the house throwing socks like confetti.

Doesn't hurt that the hubs is pretty darn handsome too.

Today Pat and Fin were sitting on the couch cuddling together and Pat was talking to him about how much he loved him and how proud he was of him. He was telling him about when he talks about Fin at work, how proud he gets of him. It was so sweet (and reason 109908 of why he's the best dad ever). Fin then sweetly replied, "And dad, when I'm at work, I tell everyone about you and what a good wrestler you are". Melt.my.heart.

Well this post is all kinds of random. This afternoon I pre-gamed for Thanksgiving by having my nieces over to paint and decorate placemats with Fin. Safe to say my 7 year old niece has more artistic talent then I ever could.

Can't wait for tomorrow. For the food, fellowship, sweet potato casserole, family time, pies, and "I'm thankful for...". And then I can collapse at the end of the day in a food coma watching "Charlie Browns Christmas". Pumped.

Peace.Filled.

This afternoon we had a suprising pleasant and peaceful time. I say suprising because it was my self-imposed cleaning day and I usually dread this chore more then I dread my 6am wake up time.

I don't dread it because of cleaning, I actually don't mind that because it's so rewarding to get my little nest in order. I dread it because of my little helpers that come with the cleaning time.

Days I deep clean (which are not very frequent :o) usually find me scrubbing floors on my hands and knees while Fin tackles me from behind like a football player. While I fight him off, Cole is desperately trying to sneak his way onto the wet floor where he will inevitable wipe out and then cry and smell like bleach. Really, it's more fun then it sounds!

But today, the stars aligned. Today I cleaned with all the windows open in the house and the cd player softly playing kids music. As I moved from room to room, it was so quiet and enjoyable scrubbing while I heard the boys babbling throughout the house. 

Fin was happily painting at the kitchen table (sans pants of course). He feels that pants restrict his creativity. We'll have to work through this issue before he has art class at school.

Cole flitted between walking around on the deck and peeling leaves off of his bare feet...

...and pulling all the cotton balls out onto the floor.

Pre-kids, I would have seen a baby with a bag of cotton balls and groaned at the mess. I was actually excited when I saw Cole had gotten into this because I thought, "Score! This will buy me at least 15 minutes of peace".

After the house was cleaned and the boys placed nicely, we rewarded ourselves by raking leaves outside.

It was such a gift for a chores day to turn into an enjoyable experiance. It doesn't inspire me to want to clean everyday though. That's just crazy talk.

We're alive...barely

Oh my gracious.

I read the last post and I just want to go back in time and yell,"Run! Get out! Run for your life you fool, you have no idea what's coming!".

Needless to say, Cole only got sicker, not better. He became sicker then sick with the stomach flu and ear infection. He threw up constantly, had a fever no lower then 102 degrees for three days straight, and ended up in the hospital on day three to receive IV fluids because he was so listless and lethargic.

On top of that, Pat got the stomach flu as well Thursday night. This thing is brutal! It doesn't just knock you down; it flattens you and kicks you repeatedly and then stomps on your face. There was no sleep to be had for 4 days straight. I can safely say I have been thrown up and pooped on more then 10 times in the past few days. I have a horror story from the pediatricians office that if you heard you might reconsider becoming a parent.
I'm so grateful that today, day 5, Cole woke up feeling cool to the touch. His fever had broken for the first time! He's acting alert and walking around babbling and boy is he grumpy! But he's better so I can't complain.
So in the spirit of this week I'm thankful for...
-family that helped care for Fin when Cole was so very sick.
-friends that dropped by food and encouragement.
-Tylenol suppositories. Cole got to the point where he refused all medicine orally and we had no way to get his fever down!
-caring doctors and nursing staff.
-that it's over and the Lord protected Fin and I from getting sick.

Getting it out of our system

This guy...

 was sick as a dog today. He started out the day fine until I looked over at him early morning and he was covered in throw up. Always in denial, I figured maybe he ate a stale cherrio or something and it didn't agree with him. 30 minutes later in the car and I received his message loud and clear. All of a sudden Fin started yelling, "Coley's throwing up" and I looked back to see a fine display of spewage. Really, the distance was impressive. So I'm driving with my left hand, trying to wipe Cole down with his spare sweatshirt with my right and then I start hearing Fin gag. Much like his father, Fin is a sympathetic thrower upper. The smell gets to him.
 "Don't you dare!" I shrieked. "Breathe deep...no not through your nose that's just going to make it worse!!....look out the window....look at your book...keep breathing".
We survived that incident and spent the rest of the day alternating between throwing up and lots of baths.
Fin was very jealous of Cole's baths and insisted everytime of sticking his feet in to "Wash those stinky things" in his words.

Fin ever so helpfully also decided to talk a half hour nap today. Chalking it up to one of "those" days, I put in the movie 'Up' and we cuddled on the couch. He was hysterical when the boyscout was climbing on the old mans head and I had to capture it. He was laughing so hard it made me laugh. Sidenote: That cup has water in it. Not that anyone cares but I don't feed my child soda in a Bojangles cup. Sidenote 2: My sweet friend Jess blessed me by bringing me lunch in the midst of my hectic day. Thank goodness she gets that I"m a stress eater.

After short naps (did I mention they were short?), I took the boys outside for a change of scenery. I dragged out their dump trucks and told them to clean up the yard of all the leaves. Ha! I did feel a little guilty at the impossible task but they loved it.

Coley pondered his strategy.

Pat got home and raked all the leaves into a huge pile which he and Fin raced to about a million times.

The rest of my day was spent soothing our bear. How sad are sick babies? The only upside is the extra cuddles you get but I hope he feels better tomorrow so we can get out of this house. At least this did not happen Thanksgiving week *knockonwoodnoI'mnotsuperstitiousbutI'mdoingitanyways*.

Dear Husband...

Dear Husband,
I am so so proud that you killed a baby copperhead with your own two hands and a rusty shovel. That beast had it coming. But next time, PLEASE do not leave it on top of the garbage can lid. When I took the garbage out today a little piece of me died when I thought a snake was coiled up waiting for me. Seriously, I went into shock.
When I married you I knew everyday would be a suprise but my heart can't take that much. In return I promise to empty the dishwasher more often. Deal?
Love,
Becca

My view from here...

I came home from yoga to find this...

Pat and Fin had lit candles and had dinner waiting on the table for me.
Dinner: Steak, grilled veggies and mushrooms, corn on the cob, garlic bread.
Dessert: Poptarts (Ha!).

I told Pat to go ahead and make this a Sunday night tradition. I'm really ok with it :o)

Boys will be boys

The boys out and about this week...

I introduced them to riding in a wagon down the driveway at break neck speed. I went down with Fin first and as I was steering, he was screaming in my ear, "DON'T GO INTO THE ROAD!". I have him well trained.

Sidenote: This was my wagon growing up. Memories...

One day while we all waited for Daddy to get home, Fin asked how soldiers march when they're guarding doors. I showed him how they walked stiff legged and chanted "hup two three four" and he paced back and forth in front of the door that way until Pat got home. Cole tried his best to stand in the way.

We watched our buddy Zeke one day and he and Cole played the passive aggressive game "smile-like-we're-friends-but-seriously-get-out-of-my-chair". They bonded :o)

Pat was putting wood glue on one of our chairs this morning and banging it with a hammer. Not one minute later, Cole and Fin had gotten their plastic hammers and were banging away with him. As a female, I found this hysterical. It's like the man version of when women always go to the bathroom together.

Seriously, why are boys so fun?

I want to be her when I grow up...

My sister Anna, or Banans as we like to call her ran a half marathon this morning in VA. That now bring her grand total to 2 half marathons and 1 full marathon. No biggie. AND she ran it in in 1 hour 47 min which means she averages less then 8 1/2 minute mile.
   I actually saw Anna last night at my parents and asked her what she was up to this weekend. She was all, "Oh, I"m going to drive up to Richmond tonight and run a half marathon tomorrow at 7:30 am.". O ok, no big deal. So she got there after midnight, ran on no sleep and killed it.
    I'm so proud of her for her training, her beastly athleticism, and of course her always beautiful side braid. *sigh* I aspire to be her one day.

The grumpiest contractor you'll ever meet...

Whenever Fin "needs" to fix something in the house he grabs his tools and always puts his safety goggles on that he always calls his "Wobble Gobbles". On this occasion post-nap he was SO frustrated that he couldn't get them on straight but in typical three year old fashion, he wanted no help.
     He may get the job done but he ain't gonna be happy doing it. Buyer Beware.

Life changer

I'm about to share with you one of my all time favorite recipes. It will make you want to be my best friend. It's the recipe for the Nestle Toll house pie. Yes that's right friends, it exists. As good as you think Nestle Toll house cookies are, the pie is better.
   My love for this pie started in college. The cafeteria ladies would make this pie typically once a month for dessert. On those nights I would eat like one piece of cauliflower and a saltine...and then three pieces of pie. Don't judge, those pies went fast and I would get panicky seeing the pieces vanish so quickly. So here's the gem...
                                                   

Ingredients

• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

 

 

It's super easy and if you sit down after it cools with the whole pie and a fork, there is no judgement here. Only admiration.

Shake ya Tailfeatha

Today was Epic. Wolfpack beat Carolina, which basically means the world is ending if you know how bad our football team is. Pat went to the game with my dad, Rob and Nicole but before the game the boys and I and SJ and Will all tailgated with them out at State. It was basically win-win for me b/c I got to eat yummy tailgate food and then go home and take a nap. Holla!

It was a perfect cool fall morning and the boys loved all the activity of a million people out cooking food and throwing bean bags for cornhole.

Cole particularly took a shine to lugging beanbags over to the hole and stuff them in.

Fin saw a bunch of (drunk) frat boys sitting on top of their cars and thought that was the coolest thing ever so Pat let him perch on top of his car. He thought he was cool stuff.

The crew. We missed Mama Keegs who was home recovering from surgery.

Father and Son. love.

We like to teach the wolfpack sign early here.

Sibs.

So much fun. We all commented how much we couldn't wait for Cait to go there next year. I can so see her there.
   After the game we hung out with friends tonight eating pizza and break and bake cookies. Who wouldn't love this day?

Tonight.

Tonight there was an akward waltz with Cole as I tried to cook dinner with him hanging on my legs. There was stirfry and yogurt and "eat two more bites and you can get down...no that wasn't two". There were sighs at messes and cramming every.last.dish. into the dishwasher so nothing had to be handwashed.

Tonight there was a coughing fit that ended in me covered in throw up. There was bath time and bubbles and rubber duckies wearing sunglasses. There was "Do I have to wash my hair tonight?" and "Yes, ALWAYS".

Tonight there was Pat suprising Fin after bath with a bed of towels by the fire.

There was sitting back to the fire until you feel like you're burning and then running to dad to have him feel your back. There was a toddler hollering while jammies were being put on then smiles as soon as it was done. There were open mouth baby kisses and rocking to sleep with the humidifier on.
    Tonight there was sneaking out ALONE to the grocery store to do the weeks shopping. There was great self control walking past the donut section. There was trying to carry all the bags in from the car at once and feeling like my fingers were falling off.
    Tonight there was creeping into Fin's room as he's falling asleep to whisper that I bought him chocolate milk. There was "can I have a hug and a kiss and a hug and a kiss and a hug and a kiss?" and snuggles.
    Tonight there was sitting on the floor with Pat dipping apples in caramel and watching our shows. And there was quiet.

the Lucky one

One of my favorite songs is Alison Krauss' 'The lucky one'. I don't believe in luck but sometimes I do feel like, why am I so.blessed? It's not like life is perfect. My husband and I squabble over who empties the dishwasher more. I'm short with Fin because he has not.stopped.talking in the last 3 hours. Cole is high maintenance lately and wants to be on my hip, pulling straws out of my drinks or putting his fingers in my food. These are all part of our daily life.

But my goodness then we have a PERFECT day at the park and it's like how is this my life?

Cole of course likes to climb up the slide instead of down. He's a trendsetter.

Fin was daring on his balance beam.

Fin was excavating in the sandbox with the digger thing. He found this rock while digging. He brought it to me and said, "I found this wittle rock in the sand. Is that weird?"

Favorite.Picture.Ever.

Baby Cole. Baseball field. Endlessly Entertained.

Lovey.

I am blessed.