Bad Mommy Award

I know Sarah was trying to claim the bad mommy award, but I feel I am a contender as well. Finn saw that I had put on scrub pants to water the yard in, and started crying, "I don't want you to go to work, Mama! I don't want you to go to work every day!"

Perhaps not coincidentally, Finn has now been having behavior problems at school. He also crawled into my lap and snuggled during a volcano video the other day, something he has not done for a while, and refused to let go of me during our goodnight hug, saying he needed me. Granted, it is nice to be needed, but it has me feeling a bit guilty.

I tried role-playing his behavior problems at school the other night and discovered that not only would he not obey his teachers at school, he also will not obey me-pretending-to-be-the-teacher at home. Role play was unsucessful, although Liam really got into it.

I did have one really sucessful mommy moment, however. We discovered last night, much to our horror, that today is "cookie day" for Finn, and we needed to provide allergen-free cookies. I did not relish the thought of making cookies at 10pm, but given my mommy-guilt, was fully prepared to do so. In a moment of great brilliance, I discovered I had purchased special allergen-free cookies at the closeout sale of Wild Oats and hid them away for just such a moment. After high-fives, hugs, and cheers (all between Matt and myself, naturally), we were able to go to bed in the knowledge that our child would not be deprived on cookie day.

Tears and longing

The boys are now back from Knoxville, and they had a fantastic time. Not only did they absolutely love zoo camp, but they got lots of time with their grandparents, aunt and uncle. Apparently, lots of baseball was played in the yard.

Yesterday, I put on the video Leo made of his family's trip to Vermont. The boys were captivated. Naturally, their favorite part is when they themselves are onscreen. The music confused Liam a bit, as he was sure there was no music playing outside that day. Finn was quite intrigued by the visit to the Lewerenzes. By which I mean a visit to Erik. Erik retains his god-like status with Finn.

Stupid me, I tell him, maybe we can drive up North and visit the Lewerenzs sometime. Next thing I know he is full-out sobbing and wailing that he wants to go to Vermont and visit Erik and Emma NOW!!! He was quite inconsolable. I guess I need to start planning a trip for next summer . . .

On their way

The boys are off to Knoxville today, so I thought I'd put down a few conversations from this morning.

I told the boys how much I was going to miss them, and Liam said, "Mama, I always have you in my head." Finn agreed, saying, "I always have you on my head, too, Mama. And on my nose. And on my ears. And on my mouth."

As they played together, Finn told Liam, "I love you, Liam. You're my friend." Liam replied, "I'm always your friend, Finn." So sweet!

And finally, as they took a final bathroom break, Liam cheerfully tells me, "Mama! We peed together! And we made an 'X' with our pee!" Sure enough, when I look in the bathroom, they are standing together, pants down, over the same bowl. Such togetherness.

They are now off to Knoxville with their Lolo. They have no idea how lucky they are to have so many wonderful grandparents and relatives!

A big weekend

Matt and I celebrated our 6th anniversary this weekend, and, despite getting called in to work a few times, it was a pretty good weekend. Liam's team, whom I think of as a sort of Bad News Bears team, rose to the challenge to beat the only, up to that point, undefeated team in the league for our final regular-season game. Our first playoff game is tonight, and I can honestly say, I have enjoyed the season. Everytime I can make it to a game, I am right there shouting things like, "Baseball-ready!" and "Run! Run! Run!" with the rest of the parents. I have a much better undertanding of RBIs, advancing the runner, and, especially, errors, than I did before the season began. One of the moms brought popsicles for after the game; it was about the best thing after a 90 degree baseball game. Finn even got to have one!

We also finally made it to the pool at the Y on Sunday and discovered it to be the best kiddie pool ever. The boys had so much fun! Finn wanted to go down the slide and all over the pool, and even Liam let go of the side once to make it down the slide. The water only gets about 3 feet deep, and there are sprayers, showers, and fountains. It's pretty great, and I think Matt is taking the boys back again today.

After the pool, Liam really, really wanted macaroni and cheese, and we decided to try a vegan version for Finn. To our great surprise, not only did Finn like it, but we thought it was pretty good, too!

Liam and Finn also discovered some "new" music this weekend, and Liam decided that rock was definitely his favorite kind. The boys were having a good time with the Rolling Stones, the Clash, and Queen. I am pretty tired of "We will rock you", but Liam could listen to it over and over and over and over . . . .

Freeze Tag

I am having a very busy month right now, and am working pretty long hours. Matt has been great about making lunches, planning dinners, and taking care of the boys, but I miss seeing them in the morning. Last night, I got home around 7:30pm, and was really hungry. I came in the house, and it was quiet. Weird. So I poked my head out the front door and saw the boys playing with Matt. They ran up to me to say hi, and I told them I was going to grab something to eat. Finn was very excited to tell me they were playing freeze tag, and then looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said, "Mama, will you play freeze tag with us?" How could I say no? So there I was, in the yard in a skirt and heels, playing freeze tag with the boys. The rules were a little loose, but it was great fun. I have wonderful kids.

History Buff

Liam is very interested in space, and is still planning to be a space police officer when he grows up. He has also resumed his interest in reading "Conquest of the Sky" from the children's encyclopedia series that Matt had as a kid. Previously we have read about the history of flight, and tonight Liam picked out the chapter on the Battle of Britain. We learned about bombers, fighters, aircraft carriers, and how never was so much owed by so many to so few. Finn had a lot of questions about the guns, and the shooting down of planes, and the fires in the buildings. It was quite a bedtime story. We finished our bedtime reading with the exploration of Mars by the Mariners and Viking Landers, and it was nice to have a chapter without shooting.

Material Boy

Liam is getting excited for his birthday well in advance. At first he was just planning the party, and I encouraged it because I need all the help I can get. Now, however, he is heavily invested in what gifts he would like to receive. The other day he asked for "one of those drawing things, with two knobs". An etch-a-sketch, I ask? Yes. Good. An etch-a-sketch is a good toy. More recently, though, his requests have gotten a bit bigger. He told us that he really wants an earpod. "You mean an ipod?" "Yes." When Matt and I told him, unequivocally, no, he said other kids in his class had one. When told it was too expensive, he said he just wanted the really small one (!). When I asked what he would even listen to, he said, "Rock, country, jazz, I like a lot of music." Sigh. I hope he'll still be happy with legos and an etch-a-sketch.