I don't like you anymore

It finally happened. My son uttered those words to me that every parent dreads. I prepared myself for this moment.

I knew it was inevitable. I had listened to various people with older kids describe those moments. I agreed and reassured them that it was just a phrase - that they didn't mean it. I noted what I would tell myself when I first heard those words from one of my kids. Then it happened to me.

"I don't like you anymore."

It didn't happen when I told Christopher he couldn't watch his movie in the car ride home from daycare.

It didn't happen when I told Christopher, no his underwear is not a hat and he needed to put them on the right way.

It didn't happen when I told Christopher he had to wait to eat his sucker until after dinner.

It was on a car ride home from daycare when Christopher asked me, "Mom, maybe one day I will get a brother." I said, "No, buddy. I don't think you will get a brother." Then, then it happened.

"I don't like you anymore, Mom."

And to pour salt into my wound, he then said "I don't want to play with you anymore, either."

TV-Off Tuesday

Where did my motivation go? I feel like I have totally slacked on my journal blog of the happenings of our family. I spent some time thinking about what was holding me back.

Was it that I installed the Stay Focused App in Google Chrome that locks me out of internet browsing after 30 minutes ... Nope - because then I just moved to Internet Explorer.

Was it that no one in my family is saying anything of relevance ... Nope - Christopher told me this morning as I was walking out, "Now you go to your school today, Mommy. You have a good day and listen to your teacher, OKAY." Which really made me laugh, because I don't really have a teacher seeing as my boss is off the grid an avid golfer. I don't see much of him between April and October.

I then decided it was time to post with or without my motivation. I got to my pictures from last night's TV-Off Tuesday ... and it hit me.

I think it's my family's annoyance with my abundance of picture taking that has me unmotivated. I tried to snap a picture of Christopher helping with the cookies. He quickly said cheese while turning around.



I don't think Mikayla's disdain for my picture taking needs any explanation.

I think I know what may help ... a new digital camera for mom - now that would surely get the family excited about taking pictures again :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

It took me a little longer to get to this weekend wrap-up. I wasn't sure what to say about it.



Because really, it was very anti-climatic and anti-picture. Mike took the kids down to his parents on Saturday for a visit and I stayed home to get some projects done around the house - i.e. the basement storage.  I was also able to get all my shopping done and stock up at Babies R' Us with their big sale.



I even contemplated spending $80 dollars on this for Mikayla. Thankfully, Mike told me no. And yes, Mikayla when you are reading this years from now - I did contemplate keeping you in a cage - but you never stop moving or putting objects into your mouth.

Mini-Golf

One of the things Mike we really wanted to do on our vacation to Florida was to play mini-golf. You see, one time very long ago, Mike and I played mini-golf. He may have beat won and I guess he wanted to do it again. We decided Christopher was old enough to play and we brought along our niece too.






When we got there Mike made sure to ask for a scorecard. I laughed. I couldn't believe he actually thought we would actually get to play a real mini-golf match, let alone keep score.







He got my name and the first letter of Christopher's name before he realized that I was right it could not be done.







I would say it was a pretty successful trip, if you count "sliding" down the holes.






Christopher insisted on getting his ball in the hole each time.






I don't know where he go this from?







Andy threw the ball more than hit it.







But when she hit it, she got some distance on it.







I felt is was a successful first mini-golf experience for the two of them. Clubs were only thrown a few times - Mike - I kid by Christopher. Which we quickly had to correct. I also only almost struck the kids once with the golf ball. No tears and no injuries is a success in my book!

Weekend Wrap-Up

I was really looking forward to this weekend where we had no plans.  I was hoping for a productive weekend and I did get a lot accomplished.



Christopher and I went shoe shopping and to Target. He had to jump over all the red lines at Target. Do you know how many red lines are at Target? I do.




Then I took Mikayla to the mall to do some clothes shopping for me.




When we got home I was desperate to get a few things around the house down before church. I resorted to desperate measures. I put Mikayla in this rider and in front of Baby Einstein. Thinking she would stay occupied.




It was only a few moments later she tipped her self out.




Then crawled across the room.




And took off all the pillows on the couch. Christopher got into it.




Then crawled into our hallway and caused some trouble.



Truly the only way to occupy her is in her highchair with some Cheerios/




I did lots of laundry and got all the kids fall clothes out and summer clothes put away. When I was moving Christopher's laundry from the washer to the dryer I found this cup. We had a mini-meltdown earlier in the week when we couldn't find it. Well, we never thought to look in his laundry basket.




Mikayla didn't even stop to drink a bottle.




Mike mowed the lawn and then Christopher had to go out and show him how it's really done.



We ended the night with a trip to the tailors and the grocery store. Christopher got to pick out a special cookie because he was such a trooper while I tried on eight pants for the tailor.

Alligator Farm

One of the activities I was most looking forward to on our trip was going to the alligator farm. I thought Christopher would love seeing all the alligators.



I'm not sure if he did.  He seemed to be enjoying it, but he never mentioned again during our trip.





Our niece had a good time.





There were so many alligators. It was kind of sad.





These alligators or crocodiles - I'm no expert on telling the difference. Were growling at us.




I think they wanted to eat Mikayla.





The highlight of the trip for the kids was the park at the alligator farm.





They played quite awhile and even made a friend.





It was a fun trip. I am looking forward to visiting it again in the future.

TV-Off Tuesday

This TV-Off Tuesday was full of firsts. Today was Christopher's first day of preschool. He was so excited and got to take his big Spiderman backpack.



This is him posing. He wanted to pretend to go out this door.






Then we had our first soccer practice/game.




I don't know who was more excited me or Christopher.





He had a lot of fun. It was a little tough at times. We usually ate pretty low key on weeknights.



So I think all this activity got to him. We had a few meltdowns.





Hopefully in the next few weeks we will settle in to our new TV-Off Tuesday routine.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Vacation to Grandma and Grandpas

Last week we were all in Florida. It was a great, but exhausting trip.  Turns out Mikayla does not like to travel.  She was great on the planes, but really did NOT like sleeping in the pack n' play. It took us forever to get her down and then she woke up at about 4 a.m. EST almost every morning.  Other than that we had a lot of fun.


Mike and my brother went golfing at the Naval Air base where Mike saw an alligator 



We had our customary shrimp feast.  Mike's favorite and I think he ate around 40 shrimp.



Aunt Jaime had a blast playing with the kids.




She even took Mikayla with her to the barn so she could ride Grandpa's horse. I was really looking forward to seeing both Christopher and Mikayla with the horses, but when they offered to take the kids so Mike and I could rest - I couldn't pass up the offer.



We went to a park and Mike found an interesting bug. Don't show Christopher - he is not a fan of bugs at all.
We also came home from vacations with a few things we didn't arrive with. Mikayla got two teeth and Christopher learned "What the heck?!" and "Darnit" I believe both from Sponge Bob - wish that study about watching Sponge Bob had come out before we went - I hate that show.

Weekend Wrap-Up

So this weekend started out a lot like last weekend. With a plane ride home.  It did not go as well as the way there. We all had a blast at Grandma and Grandpas, but we were already to come home. Christopher was so excited to see his bed, his red blanket, his TV, Pepper and Bailey, and his pillow in that order. Saturday was a blur and no pictures were taken. I was just glad to make it home all together and with all of our luggage.



Sunday it was Bears day.  So of course we got dressed up in our Bears gear to run errands.



This was a very challenging picture to capture.



And Dad got to go to the game.




We picked up Christopher's soccer cleats, shin guards and socks for his first soccer practice/game on Tuesday. He is so excited. He wore these from the minute we got home.




Until it was time to go to bed.




And he tried to put them on first thing Monday morning.








They are the cutest things I have ever seen!  Can't wait to see him play.