Control the World

I can control the world. I just realized it recently. I bet a lot of moms can do the same thing. I guess I have always been in control but I just didnt know it until now.

If I want to ensure that my kids sleep better than normal, I tell people that they sleep horribly, and sure enough they will sleep that night. If I wanna ruin a really good streak of sleep in our house, what should I do? Yep, simply tell someone that they are in fact sleeping well. That will guarantee that they get up that night and many nights after.

Cannon scootering around.


Want your kids to get sick? Simply tell someone that they never get sick, and sure enough, within a couple days, they will catch something. But dont worry. You can control it all. If you want them to get better, simply schedule a doctor appointment, pay the copay and they will be fine by the time you get to the doctor's office and tell the doctor about all the symptoms that are no longer there.

And if you want your child to sleep in one day? Make an appointment for 8am. Your kids are ALWAYS up with plenty of time to make such appointment normally, but if you make an appointment and get up and get ready, you will guarantee some time by yourself in the morning while your kids sleep in to the point that you have to wake them (something you absolutely HATE to do since they NEVER sleep in).

Hudon's silly face.


If your kids happen to nap (which Hudson doesn't. But if he is gone and Cannon naps) then a sure way to make them sleep longer is to NOT lie down and catch up on lost sleep. Be careful, because if you do decide to lie down, it will probably be your child's shortest nap ever.

If you want to be prepared for your thirsty toddler to wake at night by putting a sippy cup of water next to his bed then you can guarantee your toddler will not wake to use it. But if you forget that sippy cup one night, then you can guarantee your toddler will wake wanting the water, requiring a middle-of-the-night trip downstairs for the cup.

Want a constipated baby to finally go poop? Go to the store and forget the wipes at home.

Want a picky eater to finally just EAT SOMETHING then go somewhere and forget the snack bag that you ALWAYS have in the car and then listen to the endless screaming that might drive you crazy.

Unfortunately, I discovered this the other day when I said to someone "My kids have never been to the ER." Sure enough, I went to the ER twice in August.

Hudson and I -- our second trip to the ER, 3am.


And then I said to someone else, "My kids have never had anti-biotics." And sure enough, they both got sick and Cannon was prescribed one. Well that got me thinking because those are two very specific instances of control (or anti-control?).

Cannon's silly face.


So, I just discovered that I can control the world. And I am sure you can too. Turns out, it is really quite simple when you are a mom.

In the Moment

One day, I am going to miss this. I feel that lately I have been living in the moment in the sense that I cannot think too far ahead, I cannot think about what just happened a few minutes ago, but must focus on the moment and just survive. And I have to remind myself, that even though this time is crazy, even though I am tired, even though I get looks of pity when out with both wild boys, that one day soon, I will miss it. When the day is over and we are all exhausted (by 'all', I mean JR and I since these kids never seem tired) I miss the boys and look forward to the next day, even though the previous day was crazy.

A grocery trip is now considered successful if nothing is grabbed off a shelf and broken. Or thrown out of the cart and broken. It is successful if both kids stay in the cart most of the time. I know not to expect them to both stay in for the whole time now. Usually Cannon is following the cart, crying, by the end of the trip because he doesnt want to get in the cart...and yet he also doesnt want to be out. It is successful if I get enough to throw a dinner together. I find it hard to think clearly in the store when shopping with both kids and always forget something.

A grocery trip (or trip to the pharmacy, or Target, etc) is also good when the checkout person can scan everything - since some things are opened, eaten, smashed, etc. When this is your trip to the store, how can you do anything but laugh. And that is what I do. What else can I do? Any other reaction would make an already stressful/unpleasant situation worse, so I stay calm, breathe, and laugh and open another pack of snacks. Or peel a banana. Or let them play with a toy that we dont end up buying. Yep, I am also that person now that puts things in her cart with no intention of buying them. I give them to the checkout person, "Sorry, we decided not to get this just now." Ugh.

And yet, I already know I will miss this. Even thinking about my pharmacy run yesterday makes me laugh now, when yesterday I was embarrassed. I even called ahead so Cannon's prescription would be ready. And it wasnt. Which required adult speaking and explaining on my part, while watching 2 kids out of the corner of my eye. Too bad you cant leave kids in the car, for a short period of time (with engine on and doors locked of course, like mine does - while I have the keys). One was playing with the over-the-counter medicine and the other running around the poles of the make-shift line. The medicine by one brother looked like it was about to be used as a weapon, making the other run. The runner tripped on the make-shift line, which fell. While I was trying to pay. I told Hudson to sit, he did. Cannon went over and tried to sit on top of him. I was trying to talk. I acted calm. A woman told me she had 3 young active kids too (which she didn't bring).

So I live in the moment. Trying to survive. Trying to remain calm. Trying to get through it and get things done. Because one day, I will laugh and probably cry because I miss this.

They ran out of the garage with these weapons.


Playing nice ~ they can be so cute and sweet.


Holding hands...


They grow up so fast. This is them this morning.

How Big is Cannon???

Still not that big, but growing every day! And his small size has NEVER slowed him down.

He moved the magazine rack into the playroom and to our surprise, got in it.... and fit!



He fits in boxes.


He looks cute with his shirt off.


And his brother makes him get in the small shelves when they are playing hide and seek.

OC Fair

We took the kids to the Fair last night. JR and I went a couple weeks ago and saw a concert but it was without the kids. Hudson has been a couple times with his grandparents too but we weren't there (and neither was Cannon). So last night we went. And I am glad we did.





Squirt gun to pop balloon game.



Bumper Cars. Poor Cannon screamed the whole time watching us ride because he couldnt go on (too little).




I love this picture. Reminds me of last year's fair experience.



The prizes.

Big Bear ~ August

We can't seem to stay home on the weekends when Big Bear is so close. We went up again this weekend and had a great time boating, jeeping, and relaxing. The weather is perfect this time of year and we all had a great time!

Dinner on the boat the first night.



The next day, we put the carseats in the jeep and took off on a trail.






Jeeping is exhausting...


Hiking.





More boating and fun.








Brother love.

RockStars

Rock on, boys.