Just my life over the last few days

Ok, so I really don't want to sound like I am complaining. I mostly want to document the last few days so I can look back and laugh because at the moment I am walking around in a daze. So, Nicolas. Where to start. The kid needs to be a spy or something. I have never known a kid as stealthy and determined. Many of you know that for a while we had to put all our chairs and bar stools up because he would climb and get into trouble. Well, I thought we had passed that stage so for the last month or so all the chairs have been down and he hasn't gotten into anything! That is until last weekend. He pushed a bar stool to the back counter where I keep the dish soap, knives, bananas, and other random things I don't want him or the other kids getting into. But as I mentioned, he is determined. So he grabs a banana and the soap and pours about a cup all over the banana. Then he grabs a steak knife and cuts the banana several times. Thank goodness I found him before he cut himself or tried to eat his creation! A couple days later he pushed the bar stool to our other counter with the coffee pot. He took my freshly poured mug, drank and spilled a bunch, then tried to refil the mug wtih creamer, which of course spilled all over him, the counter, and the floor. Yesterday he woke up completely naked, diaper and jammies off. Then he tried to take everything off two more times. This morning, same thing, diaper and jammy bottoms off. Now again with the bar stool, pushed it to coffee counter OPENED THE CABINET and helped himself to a mug. Luckily I heard him before he tried to pur himself some coffee!!! And last but not least, he once again pushed a chair to the back counter where I had accidentally left the milk out after making smoothies. It did have the lid on, but he twisted the lid off, found a cup, and poured himself a big old glass, of course spilling most of it on the counter, cabinets, floor, and chair he used to climb on. He then carried it all the way to the couch, without spillng nearly as much as I would have thought considering how full the glass was.

So, I am tired, needless to say. The kid needs a dog bell.

Some more Dom wisdom

Just wanted to share a couple more Dominisms. While driving in the car one day he says, "My head can say things that I don't say." He had discovered his inner monologue. In the car yesterday he wanted me to look at something and I said I couldn't because I was driving. His response was, "but I thought you had eyes on the back of your head."

There will be many more of these I am sure. I just love how kids' minds work.

4 year old wisdom

Ok, some of you already saw this on facebook, but I wanted to share with everyone. Today while driving home from the gym Dom and I got on the topic of poop. With three boys that is pretty much a given during car rides. Anyway, I made some silly joke about peanut butter looking like poop since Dom wanted a PB sandwich for lunch and he very seriously replied, "poop is black, mom, because it sucks up all the darkness inside of you and then you poop it out." So, in case you were wondering why poop is the color it is, now you know! I love kids!

It's the little things

It has been way too long. I won't waste time with excuses but will instead get right to the good stuff. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy having three boys? Well, I do. Boys have a special way of making everything more exciting, and dirty, and wondrous. Any stick can be a light saber, every bug is a dinosaur fossil, and blowing bubbles becomes a contact sport. One of our great joys right now is watching Nicolas grow into a big boy. He is talking all the time and the things he says, and sings (he is our little musician) almost always make us smile. He has this little toy guitar (a miniature of a real acoustic) and he carries it around playing and singing songs like "Happy Birthday, "I Like to Eat, Eat Apples and Bananas," and "Old McDonald." Oh, he also loves the song from the Bumble Bee tuna commercial (I like bumble bee, bumble bee tuna...). He sings in bed as he falls asleep, he sings in the car, he sings all the time. And when he isn't singing he is saying "mommy, watch this" and then he does something silly, like pretend a toy car is his guitar, or he says "mommy, look" and then points out something obvious like Dominic sitting on the couch. The best is when he gets into a silly contest with one of his brothers and they fall down giggling. Boys are awesome!

I am also truly enjoying introducing my kids to new things. This morning I put on an old "gray" movie, as Dom called it, with Cary Grant. Dom has been sitting on the couch watching it with me for almost an hour and h e LOVES it! By the way, it is called "Topper" and I highly recommend it. Very funny. One of my favorite times of the day is any time I am in the car with all three. I know, that sounds crazy!!! But it is one of the only times I have their complete attention and they really listen. We talk about God, math, superheroes, and karate. Yesterday we talked about odd and even numbers and addition and they didn't want to stop!! Sometimes Dom or Anthony will ask a really deep question like, where does God live? Then of course Nico has to chime in with "mommy, look, tractor."

Three boys might seem like a lot, but for us it is just right.

White belts and dollar scoops

Well, last night it happened, the boys earned their white belts in karate. It was quite an evening. It was the last class of the session so everyone got promoted in one way or another, some got new color belts and some added stripes to existing belts. It was really neat and all the kids were so proud!!! We watched some black belts break boards and even watched a little guy break his first board!!!

Afterwards we went to Baskin Robins for their dollar scoop night. Much fun was had by all. Enjoy the pics.

2 is oh so fun!

I thought we had already entered the "terrible twos" but I am learning that all that came before was just an appetizer, a small sampling of what my innocent little baby is truly capable of. We have officially started time out with Nicolas and he definitely understands when and why he is put in time out. He will sit, as long as we are close by, for as long as it takes to get the tantrum out of his system. Unfortunately we haven't determined just how long that is yet!! He has stamina, I will put it that way. So, here is an example of a typical time out: Nicolas throws something or hits someone when he is upset. That is a no no. So, he is put in time out. He cries and screams, but he sits. He is told he can get up when he says sorry to whomever he offended, usually mommy. So, he sits for a minute, is asked, "do you want to get up?" He nods yes, then is told "you can get up when you tell mommy sorry." "NOOOOOO!!!!" "Ok, then you need to keep sitting until you tell mommy sorry." (Lots of crying and screaming, often some leg kicking and lying down occurs as well.) He calms down a bit "do you want to get up?" Head nods and says "ok". "Then tell mommy sorry." "Truck?" "ok?" (Anthing to distract you so I don't have to say sorry.) Now, I know some of you are thinking, he doesn't understand sorry, just let him get up already. Well, let me tell you, he totally understands. Here is how I know. This last time he was in time out it was close to bath time and bed time so he needed to get up and get in the bath. He did give me a hug, which is part of the apology. But he still wouldn't say sorry. So, we go through bath time, jammy time, and then it is off to bed. He gets his hugs and kisses and as SOON as I had shut the door to his room to go downstairs I hear, "sorry mommy". That little stinker! So, we have a stubborn Swede on our hands. Hmm, that is so strange because no one else in this house is like that.

What the kids are saying....

I fear there is no way to keep track of all the wonderful, terrible, hilarious, and sweet things my kids say, but I am going to try!!!!

Just a minute ago Dom gets off his chair while eating dinner and announces "do you want to hear my remember verse from church?" Of course I did!!!! Then in a way only Dom can do, he acts it out "Be strong (arms up flexing), be brave (arms on hips, legs akimbo), the Lord is with you (pointing up and then at me.)" I hope he "remembers" that verse forever, it is one of the more important ones after all.

Just wanted to share. I love how a child can put a smile on your face even when your arms are elbow deep in spaghetti dishwater. Thanks Dom, I love you so much!