Puke-o-rama

It started with an upset stomach. Three hours later, he gets sick all over my bed and thankfully ran to the bathroom for part deux in the porcelin throne. One hour after, he felt better and we finally make it back in bed. This morning, I've done two loads of laundry of just bedding, scrubbed two bathrooms in case of floaty-oaties I can't see, and am exhausted. The bright side are: Koo's stomach no longer hurts, hubby will finally be home from business trip, and my house is somewhat cleaned going into the weekend.

The Boys First Quilt

Today was another gloomy day where I was once again queasy and my lower back was cramped up for no apparent reason. So, it was looking like a long, long day trying to keep the boys occupied without playing the Wii or watching TV.

What to do? What to do? How about help the boys make an easy quilt? Yeah. I popped three Advils and took out my iron and huge stash of garage sale cotton fabric. Armed with my "new" $5 Euro Pro sewing machine (it's the only one slow enough for the boys to use) and this baby quilt pattern from http://www.neverenoughhours.blogspot.com/ , we made this fun quilt. The boys sew all the pieces together (I cut and ironed for them). They got this done in about one hour. Tonight I will finished the backing since their little fingers had a hard enough time hold two pieces of fabric together.

I was thinking about what I would like my life to be like when I'm old. I mean grey-hair old. Given I reach this age range, I would like to be as it is now: being close to my boys, kissing my husband, and to be able to be able to have many people I love and care about near me. I hope to continue to be a good friend, wife, and most importantly mother (and grandmother I hope). I want to be the kind of grandma that attends all important and non-important functions of my grandkids. I hope my boys marry women who will allow me to overstep their personal space and can look at me wanting to spend as much time with them as possible-okay. I hope to be here long enough to see my boys turn to men. I don't know why I'm so sappy today. I guess I blinked and my boys are bigger, more independent and just too big for a lack of a better word. I've always said they are the sun and moon for me. May I always wake up and go to bed with both being present in my day.

Opposites

Two boys. Came out of the same two sets of genes. But so different. S.E. is mild-mannered and clean. I mean the kid eats clean, plays clean, can go through a rough and tumble play in the woods and come out...well clean. This is the kid you want to get hand-me-downs from. His hands don't get sticky unnecessarily, his blanket and other personal toys are clean and in great shape considering wear and tear. The bottom of his white socks-stays white. And his shoes. No smell. None. Now, the thing about a clean and orderly kid is he is easily grossed out by sticky, itcky, smelly stuff. Enter Koo.

Koo on the other hand, is either happy or sad in a matter of three seconds flat. After he outgrows shirts and pants, they go the garbage pile. Stains. Check. Holes. Check. Unraveling of seams. Check. His place at the table after he's done eating is usually sticky and wet. If we are walking in a field, Koo will find the one poo pile left by dogs and step in it. I've have used sticks, water, soap, and paper towel combination many times to remove caked-on poo underneath shoes. Sometimes, I just give up and chuck the shoes. If there's stuck-on gum anywhere, he'll be digging it up to show me. What I love about him is he does all this and more whole-heartedly. He's more likely to go with the flow.

Two boys. Came out of same belly. Oh, so opposite. Both are the sun and moon for me. Thank goodness for opposites. If I had only one type I would not be as open-minded about how unique and special children are. The best lesson I've witness is tolerance for differences. The boys have had to adjust and accept each other's habits and try to make the best of the situation.

Priorities

I've been off-kiltered with my priorities lately. I am a stay-at-home MOM. But lately, I've been getting short with the kids and not having time to do things like read to them, wrestle with them, volunteer in their classrooms (like I've always wished my mom could do when I was little and scared to be in a school not understanding much English). I find I'm short with them, not really helping or asking them about their schoolwork or show much interest when I drop them off at school.
Also, I have not made time for studying the Bible and continuing my relationship with God. I mean a deliberate relationship with him. I'm finding that I when I'm helping the kids with their verses, I just want them to memorize them-not explain what those verses mean. Something has to give.

So I am halting my alterations-on-the-side job. I don't make enough for the time I spend on stuff and I'll pick it up again once both boys are in school for more than two hours. I thought I could do this but I'm finding that any extra "free" time at home is spent working on fixing clothes for others. While I enjoy this, I love my boys so much I don't want to miss what it means to be a mom whose job is to help raise well-rounded boys and to stare at my husband for more than 10 seconds without wondering if I can sneak a moment downstairs to work. He works hard enough for us...So, I'm finishing up the last of my obligations and I'm done. Only for pleasure and for fun. I hope you all understand. My boys won't stop growing-they need my full attention.

Things to do with the kids

Puzzles. We love them. Not the 1000 piece puzzles-too much commitment for 4 and 6 year olds. No. The 300 to 500 pieces that take about 2 days. Kids have fun. I have fun. We all have fun.

Oh yeah. I taught them to play Uno. They plotted against me and both ended up winning. So much fun to see the boys work together and be each other's friend instead of trying to plot against each other. Can we say we are phasing out of "that phase"? I hope so. Besties for life is what I tell them about each other.

Oh, and I should have pictures of them up but I'm so swamped with sewing projects-you'll just have to stop by for a visit.

Boys Update

The boys are in vacation Bible school and are loving it. I think the boys like the time apart because they have been enjoying each other in the afternoons. I'm going to have to go to my experienced moms for advice regarding how to get kids to get along better. I know ultimately it lies on my shoulders if their lives go awry and they don't get along as adults. I'm hopeful today because I know there's a lot of other humans they can connect with.

As for Bible school, the boys have been calling a man "Dude". We were reading stories from their Bibles (given to them by the church) and they were telling me where "Dude" wants them to read. Had I not attended on Tuesday, I would have been confused. Well, they are enjoying it and getting up each day this week and going through the motions without much fuss. Now, if only I can get me to not fuss at them.

My goal is to try to go from Nagger-Drill Sergeant to Loving Mommy again. It's just too important.

S.E. turned 6!!!

Yesterday was a wonderful day with the celebration of S.E.'s birthday. I am so proud to know him. He is a darling boy-very thoughtful, always ready to tell a story (especially if it involves getting Koo in trouble), tries very hard to learn to whistle, make bubblegum bubbles, head stands, swim by himself. I'm just so darn thankful to be his mama.

Mother's Day

I had a perfect Mother's day. It was just another regular Sunday but it was sunny!!! I was able to run for 9 miles while my lovely husband played with the kids. I hate getting presents for the sake of a day made up by someone to give some group a reason to feel special? I don't know. I feel pretty special already being a wife to an awesome husband and the mom of two delicious little boys.

I love how God works in my life. Sometimes I don't want to be a mom. I remember life before kids and sometimes I crave that especially when I'm cleaning up around a toilet or wipe up spilled food and milk. Then I remember how important my job is and that being a mom is not a right but a privilege.

There are women without kids and kids without moms in this world anymore. So what did I do to honor them and show my gratitude for God trusting me to take care of two wonderful boys and to share this journey of raising them with my husband, their dad. I was lucky enough to get to share my "day" with a special lady and her fiance (she's like a daughter to me) and one of my bestfriend P and her husband. I made dinner and got to enjoy my family and friends. Truly a wonderful day.

Rodney Yee

S.E. and I did an hour of yoga at home yesterday. It was awesome. New respect for Mr. Rodney Yee. It was called Power Yoga: Total Body with Rodney Yee. I do not have a lot of experience with yoga because all the other videos I've ever done has been slow. This one was a quicker pace and I was able to follow along without wanting to take a nap. What was impressive was S.E. was really good at yoga. He loved it and we can't wait to do it again. Here's S.E.'s comments during the session:
"Mom, why is that man on a mountain by himself?"
"I like the music"
"Why does that man not have a shirt on?"
After doing warrior pose three (balance on one leg forming a T)..."Mom, I hope he doesn't make us do warrior five pose". Note: each warrior pose was harder than the previous. Whew. Warrior three was it. Fun.

Springfest

What I love about living in a university town is all the events that are available to the public. One such was the Springfest carnival. This event had three large rides, three giant inflatable jungle-gyms and free refreshments. The cost was $5 for the general public and free to the students. This was the ideal carnival for us because there was not a lot of kids so S.E. and Koo got to do the obstacle course ride and jumping castle room for almost the entire time. The best part was when they were thirsty-there were coolers full of refreshments provided by the university.

They got to take pictures with Spongebob Squarepants, Minnie Mouse, and high-fived Butch the mascot. Also, there was this synchronized trampoline act that was AMAZING.

This carnival was ideal for me because: no huge crowds, stinky smells, or long lines. I wished I didn't forget the camera and had called everyone I knew to go-we just happened to drive by it and decided to go. The boys absolutely LOVED it which of course made me happy.

Koo

How do you teach a little four-year old boy not to be so impulsive and break his spirit? He has to touch EVERYTHING, especially when you tell him no touch. Petrified poo, used gum stuck to a side of a building (super ewwhh) or touching public toilets without hestitation-if it turns your stomach, he's touched it.

Also, this kid has one speed-fast. His give-mom-a-heart-attack-move is running full speed down a hill, look over his shoulder and speed up. Sometimes he doesn't fall, but the times he has-it hurts but apparently not enough to stop this practice. There's not a fort, structure, or project of his big brother's that he doesn't destroy as soon as it's left unattended. I'm sure this is typical behavior for a boy but I'm having a hard time because I feel like I'm a broken record with all the "STOP!" and "NO!".

On the bright side, he is so lovable. Very affectionate and has a killer smile and is just spunky. I love that he still loves to cuddle with me.

Hiking adventures

We have been going for mile long hikes behind our home this past week. There is a "forest" beyound the wheatfields which hooks up to another neighborhood and the elementary school. The boys loved walking there to play at the park. Yesterday, Koo was walking ahead and as we approached him, he was poking at some black, petrified, tubular mass. I frozed then screamed when I realized it was dog poo. "Get away from that son!!" After all the panic and fight to keep my dinner down, we asked why he touched it. He thought it was pine cones. UUUhhhhh...this maybe one downside to living amongst wheatfields and a newer neighborhood with not a lot of mature trees. My kid mistakes poo for pine cones. Needless to say, the boys showered and scrubbed down ASAP.

Point and click

The boys have officially become computer savy. They do not know how to read and spell words and in the past when we have tried to teach them how the mouse works-clueless, uncertainty, and frustration would set in. Well, on Wednesday, we were at the library checking out books to devour and S.E. sat at the kid's computer and next thing you know, he's playing "I Spy" by pointing and clicking!! They get the drag, double-click, and all before they know how to read. Koo picked it up by watching S.E. play the game. They love hidden pictures game. Thanks Highlights magazine and Richard Scarry books.

Potty at the pool

The boys have been in swimming lessons for a year now and they are doing so well. They can both swim by themselves for about 6 strokes before panic sets in and they stop and reach for the teacher. Very proud.

So here's how yesterday's lesson:

Koo: "Mommy, I have to go potty."
Me: "Okay, let's go buddy. (As he is doing his business) Koo, you're not drinking the water again right?"
Koo: "Actually Mom, I am because I sink when I swim."
Me: "Ewwhh Koo, try not to do it again okay?"
Koo: "Okay mom."

Done.
Yeah right. 10 minutes later, he comes out of the water again. BIG SIGH from me.
Koo: "Mom, I have to go potty again."
So off we go to the potty. Glad we talked buddy. BTW, this class is only 30 minutes long. That's lot of chlorinated-to-mask-all-the-pee-happening in there water. On an up note, he used to go potty six times in 30 minutes when we first started swimming lessons.

Fever

S.E. has had a terrible fever for the past two days with a rash all over his body. He complained about his ears hurting and his throat. Took him in yesterday to see the doctor and they poked and prodded and swabbed. He has strep throat and he is contagious for two more days. So, I'm sorry if I we unknowingly got anyone infected. I was sure he probably also had an ear infection but nope. The boys have so far made it through their entire lives without an ear infection. I had vertigo last year and it was not fun. I don't wish ear infections on anyone.

Koo's first play date

Koo had his first play date with a friend that is entirely his...no association with S.E. and he did a pretty good job of trying to make her happy. He played kitchen, swords, Wii, and ate cranberry scones along with fish crackers. It was very cute to see him show her how to change Transformers from robots to cars while she looked like she could care less. Get use to it baby boy-dad's still trying to teach me how his electronics work on his RC airplanes.

But like any absent mom, I took no photos so the moment is lost forever. Feeling a bit loser-ish over the whole matter.

New Bunkbeds

The boys got a new bunkbed today. Their current bunkbed is toddler-size and they are growing up much to my objection so stealing an idea from my friend, we spent some of their Christmas and birthday money on new bedding. Since it was their money, we let them choose the designs. So we have Spongebob Squarepants for S.E. and planes from Koo. Why couldn't they pick the same patterns so it would flow better in their room?! Oh well, it felt good to just let them pick what they wanted instead of having me bossing them around all the time.

Smile?!

This has been happening for at least six months now, Koo has this "fake" cheesy smile when we take pictures. Normally, he doesn't smile like this. The only time this comes out is when he gets his picture taken. What do you think?

Here comes the sun...

The warmest and nicest January in my recent memory. It's been sunny and in the upper 40's to low 50's everyday this week so the boys have been getting some Vitamin D therapy time outside. Being half Asian, they have a harder time absorbing Vitamin D so I try to get them out when it's sunny. Here's a fun afternoon at the park. The boys actually were not crabby about getting their pictures taken. So I went click crazy. I'm obsessed with these two boys. They make my life so special...I can't imagine not knowing them. Thanks for making it possible God and Lovely Hubby.