School's starting soon...

SIGH. No my boys are not in school, so why does this bother me you ask? Well, I have a few reasons. It means the summer is slowly coming to a close so no more pool. I was hoping to go today, however the storms brewing outside apparently don't want me to. Maybe tomorrow. It means that the playground is off limits during the early part of the day. For some reason, the school administrators don't like it when we go and try to blend in with the classes?? Don't know why as we don't take up THAT much space, but nonetheless, we have to wait until late afternoon. That's fine, but then we don't get to see my niece and nephew at all. That brings me to my biggest reason for not wanting school to start....my sister goes back to school. That means while Troy's in school, I can't go hang out with her and my nephew and just visit. We can't meet up to go to Yoder's. We can't meet at the pool after naps. We can't have picnic lunches. We can't take early walks together....you get the picture. I try often (and fail often) to convince her to become a SAHM like me, but alas, it's not happening. Am I being selfish? Of course. I know that. It's just that summer is so much more fun, not because we did everything I wanted to do, but because the potential is there. Now it's back to normal with me and the boys hanging out patiently waiting for our friends to get out of school and play. Thank God my mom retired or I would really be lonely :D

Hearing ourselves in our children

Anyone who has children old enough has probably noticed the impact we as parents have on their speech, mannerisms, phrasing and so on. Sometimes this is hilarious, other's....not so much. Sometimes I hear Troy, my 4 year old, say something and it's so cute. Like for instance the other day my husband asked why was he asking so many questions. Troy's reply? "Just for the sake of asking Daddy." That got quite a chuckle out of everyone in ear shot and when I walked in and heard I had to laugh because I ask him all the time, "Why are you asking questions just for the sake of asking?" I know he doesn't truly understand but he knew exactly how to repeat it. Unfortunately, this can go for other things as well. We're having a huge problem with Troy disciplining Will. Troy is always saying things like, "When I count to three, you better stop doing that. 1..2..3...Okay NOW you lost it" as he takes something. Or he'll tell Will, "Sit down or get down" then proceed to pull him off the furniture which obviously isn't the safest thing. It's frustrating as all get out, but how do I stop it because he's simply copying me and thinking he's helping. Is he? I don't know. Sometimes yes, but sometimes it sets Will off on a tantrum. I don't want Troy being a "babysitter" at age 4 but he certainly takes on the responsibility of copying me. If anyone has any suggestions, please share!
The other problem I have with hearing myself in Troy....I don't like how "I" sound. Troy has really shown me that I have issues with my yelling, getting frustrated with piddly things, and talking down about myself. He'll say something negative about himself, yell or get really frustrated and do this UGH sound and cross his arms, slam a door....whatever and I fuss at him. Then it hits me....that was me I just heard. It's definitely a wake up call that I need to listen to myself a lot more.

Review Of Big Book of Why...

Before I go on, let me just explain. I received an opportunity to review this book as part of blogging for justmommies.com. I jumped at the chance as I have been looking for a book just like this and had decided that it would be my life mission to create a book like this for parents so they would have the answer to ALL the questions that children can ask if I couldn't find it. When this opportunity came about, I could not have been more excited.

Here are the basics:
Title: Time for Kids Big Book of Why: 1001 Facts Kids Want to Know
Reading level: Geared for children age 9-12

This book is exactly what it says--tons of questions broken down by category that kids and yes, even us parents want to know. It is extremely informative, interesting and a very quick read. I really appreciated the questions being broken down into categories because I was able to look quickly and find the answers to questions Troy has often (his mainly deal with weather and technology) but I found myself finding questions that I had always wanted the answer to as well, such as how the Green Bay Packers got their name (yes, a I am sports nut, so I turned to that section first). It also includes "Why Facts" (Did you know....the average human heart beats around 100,000 times a day), resources on each section where you can expand to even more questions and a glossary.

Here are the categories and just a couple examples of questions in each:
Animals
Why do cats always land on their feet?
Why do camels have humps?
Earth
Why can I float in the ocean?
Why does the ocean have waves?
Space
Why does the moon appear to change its shape?
Why do some planets have rings?
Humans
Why does hair turn gray?
Why do I get goose bumps?
People and Places
Why is the Tower of Pisa leaning
Why are some deserts increasing in size?
History
Why did the Maya build pyramids?
What was the Iron Curtain?
Science
Why does salt melt ice?
Why does temperature change?
Technology
How did email start?
Why do some cars get better gas mileage than others?
Art and Culture
Who is the real Dr. Suess?
What was the first Rock 'n' Roll song?
Sports
Why is fishing called Angling?
Why does a curve ball curve?

~~~
This is just a very small sampling of what is in the book. It's full of fun and important information that kids (and parents) will love reading. I was hoping that it would be more geared towards my preschoolers questions but it is meant for children age 9-12. I was able to use it to answer a few, but I will definitely be referring to it quite a bit over the next few years and I am sure that when he learns to read, it will be a intriguing reference for him. My sister is a 2nd grade teacher and she has already asked to see it as well! I will most likely be purchasing this to send as gifts to my young nieces!

If you would like to purchase this book, here's the link!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603208429/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=060W0CXQJDFNJQ5CHY7X&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Show and Tell

Just a little show and tell for the weekend :) This is my new favorite picture of Will♥

Night and Day

Everyone told me that my boys would be different. Whatever worked for Troy, wouldn't for Will. They are pretty much right. Yes, they have some of the same characteristics, but in so many ways, they are as different as night and day.
Sleep:
Troy was a horrible napper, had night terrors, nightmares, didn't sleep through the night until 3 (consistently, that is. He would a few nights a week, but that's it). He did transition well to the bed so we'll see.
Will has been a good napper (once I figured out how to get him to sleep), and sleeps through the night more often than not and has for a bit. He may have some issues with nightmares, but nothing like Troy YET. He's such a decent sleeper that I hesitate to transition him to the bed.

Eating:
Troy eats well, always has. He had his moments when teething, but he likes a wide variety of food. Not very willing to try new foods, but he is overall a great eater.
Will--he is iffy. In some ways, he eats well, but veggie wise, he's horrible. He'll try new foods and likes things that many young children don't. Lima beans for instance. Some days are better than others, but this has been a small issue.

Discipline:
Troy--hates to have anyone upset with him. Whatever discipline we have done has usually worked. We did do spanking a couple times, and that was a horrible idea so we found it was unnecessary for him.
Will--NOTHING works. Time outs--a game. Fussing/yelling--he finds amusing. Making him say he's sorry/give hugs--fun for him. Spanking--didn't phase him....NOTHING

Social:
Troy is a very anxious child. He doesn't talk to a person he's not comfortable with and won't look them in the eye. He doesn't like new situations and can actually make himself sick.
Will--other than wanting to be near someone he's comfortable with, he will wave, blow kisses, laugh, "talk"....to anyone. He loves to put on a show, flirt, get attention...Heaven help me here....

I like that they are different even though they keep me on my toes. It is amazing though to know they both came from the same parents. Troy may look like Jay, but his personality/anxiety is a lot me. Will looks like my dad (according to my mom and great aunt) and God help us, he acts like him too :)

Time Warp Tuesday

Just a followup to my Time Flies post. Have to share pics of course :)

Troy and my niece in Aug 06
Troy in July 07
Troy in Aug. 08
A couple of Will in Aug. 09

Time Flies

This weekend Jay and I just sat back and watched the boys play a bit. I do it often, but Jay does not. He doesn't sit still often, well, at all really. He's always working on a project or doing something. It was odd, but nice to just be able to sit with him and really watch what the boys do and how they interact. We both asked the same question....Didn't we just move here? It was odd because we both were thinking that it has felt like no time at all since we moved back to my hometown and we were both working and just plugging along. Of course, it's been 6 years but it has really flown. When you are pregnant or right after having a newborn, everyone says to enjoy it because time will fly. I just nodded and thought to myself "Whatever." My pregnancy dragged on and on because I was so anxious/excited and the newborn phase felt like forever, especially because I was so unbelievably tired all the time, but then it hit me this weekend (and Jay too)---they were all right. Time has flown by. We now have a preschooler and a toddler. We have a 4.5 year old riding a bike with no training wheels, no longer in diapers or pullups at all, trying to get away from napping.....We have a toddler who is driving just as good as his big brother (the toys people, not for real.....:) ), showing signs of interest in potty training, starting to figure out so many things..... Wasn't I just complaining about how hard it was to get them to sleep? Wasn't I just starting them on solids? Weren't they just using a bottle? Didn't we just move here???? Time has flown and I hope that Jay sitting back and really realizing it will sit down more to just watch them.