Black & Blue

Well, it's been awhile since I've written a blog post.
Promise I'll get one up soon about Christmas and Jilly's birthday.

But for now.......a Landon story......


My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have taken in a "boy" that had aged out of the foster care system before he graduated High School.  And by "boy" I mean a giant football player who is 18-years-old.  Picture the movie "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock.....same kind of thing.  His name is Jordan.  He's a really funny guy, and is really good with my niece and nephew, and finds Landon to be quite a trip.

Josh and Landon were discussing something the other day, and I heard the following.....

Josh: "You know Jordan!   The big black guy that lives with Uncle Bear?!"
Landon: "Oh ya.   But I'm talking about GORDON, the big blue guy that's my friend."

So first, let me inform you that "Gordon" is an imaginary friend, that Landon made up after meeting Jordan.

Second, Landon and I have discussed how people have different colored skin.  I think an episode of "Elmo's World" discusses this and we talked about it.  We discussed how some people we know have brown skin or very dark skin. I think Landon even pointed out that when cousin Sean got sunburned at the beach his skin was red!  We discussed how we all have different colored hair and our eyes can be different colors too.  And how cool it is that we all have can look different from each other.

Third, we have never specifically discussed race or referred to someone as "black" or "white." (Well, until this conversation).  Trying to keep the labels to minimum right now, so that attention isn't specifically drawn to differences, and so no awkward 3-year-old comments happen in public.

And so, this all culminates to my son, thinking all colors are equal.....and to why it makes perfect sense that his friend is blue when Jonah's friend is black.

Okay, I admit it, we need to hire a professional

During the holidays I attempted to get some family photo's.  I even hoped of getting some good enough to warrant a family Christmas card.  

However, I'm willing to bet, that after viewing this post, you'll agree we need to hire a professional for such photo's.

Hey Photographer (my sister) -- take the picture when we're ready!!!!

Still not ready.

Thought we were ready, buuuuuuuuuttttttt apparently NOT.

Attempted a sibling picture.........

CCCCHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSE.

Yikes.

Uhm, ya.

Jillian looks like she's yelling.

Landon looks like he is praying.

We then move towards goofy faces and aggression.

Moving away from goofy and more towards aggression.

Jillian: Run Away! Run away!

Landon: GGGrrrrrrr

A last ditch effort a family picture......

God help us.

Or maybe a professional.

A professional -- please help us.

Awesome Landon Quotes

Me: "Awww man! My computer is about to die."
Landon: "Just like Mufasa."

Me: "Hey, you're pretty awesome."
Landon: "Yeah. I know!"
Me: "And you're pretty great."
Landon: "Yes. [giggle]"
Me: "How did you get so great?"
Landon: "Jesus made me that way. That's the story! I'm pretty greek."
Me: "Yes you are! [pause] Wait. You're what?"
Landon: "Greek."

Landon: "Hey Jesus, I didn't say my prayers tonight because I'm sick and I have a headache.  Hey Mama, Jesus said that's okay, but I have to when I feel better."

Apparently he's been listening......because while he was praying he said, "Dear God, please help Daddy drive safely.  Help him to not unbuckle so he doesn't fly around in the car and bump into things.  Help him to not drive off the road and fall out of the car and get run over by other cars.  Amen."
No joke, word for word, this is what he said.

Landon: "Mama, where is the clock that lives on my arm?"
Me: "You mean your watch?"
Landon: "Ya."

Me: "Hey Landon, would you want to play soccer?  With other kids, on a team?"
Landon: "Where?"
Me: "On a soccer field."
Landon: "Uh, ya.  And I'll be the winner."

Babysitter: "So Landon, do you go to school or stay at home with your mom?"
Landon: "I stay at home with Mama and Jilly."
Babysitter: "And what does Daddy do?"
Landon: "He goes to work in his office in the basement."
Babysitter: "Oh!  So you're all at home together?"
Landon: "As a family."

They Make Me Laugh

They do crazy things that make me laugh.

She managed this look all by herself.

She found it to be quite entertaining, as did I.

Landon then wanted to make me laugh too.

So he found some pajama pants to wear as a hat.

He then made a hat from the packaging for his overnight pullups.

He also found Mr. Potato Head's glasses.

He called this look "Captain Landon."

He then called himself Gramma.

And a few days later, decided to try gloves on his feet.  I told him it looked like he had hands for feet.  He replied, "Just like Rafiki from Lion King."

To Remember #10

1. Jillian climbs on everything.  EVERYTHING.  She asks to climb, she sneaks to climb.  She climbs and stands and waits for you to find her.  
2. Jillian likes Elmo.  She likes looking at pictures of him on google images and pinterest with me.
3. Sometimes I think Jillian thinks going to time out is a reward......like she thinks, "Finally!!!  It's my turn in time out!!"
4. Our bedtime routine right now is to have both kids cuddle in Landon's bed.  We say prayers all together in there.  Jillian is doing a good job of learning the "Our Father."
5. Landon is really liking wildlife documentaries like Planet Earth and such.  He's really into the sharks and dolphins.
6. Landon rubbed his belly in a circular motion and patted his head at the same time.  He's only 3.  I was impressed.
7. Jillian can hang on our trapeze bar for 30 seconds.
8. Landon is really into the Avengers right now.  Jillian calls it the "Guy Guy show."
9. Jillian bit Landon so hard that were teeth marks on his arm even though she bit him through his shirt sleeve.  She was not happy to learn she didn't get a turn with the booboo dinosaur because she didn't have a booboo.  So she bit herself, so she would have a booboo and need the dinorsaur.
10. Landon's favorite breakfast is muffins.  Jillian's is oatmeal.  Landon likes PB&J for lunch.  Jillian likes hummus and crackers.  They both like noodles for dinner.

Halloween 2012

As tradition has been, we went to my Uncle and Aunt's house for Halloween.  

Landon was a fireman, like his Papa.  (Josh's dad is a retired fireman)   His costume looked exactly like Papa's uniform/gear/outfit thing.  I have pics to prove, to be posted in another post to come!

Jillian was Little Red Riding Hood, simply because my mom found the costume at ridiculous price at a consignment shop and it was the right size.

Both kids really got into it this year!  Next year will be even more fun when Jillian really "gets it."
Funny note that shows personality differences in my kids......  I had run back to the house to drop off a few things and get some coffee.  When I returned, my cousin was carrying Landon's bucket of candy because "he was running out of energy" and it was too heavy.  Jillian on the other hand, refused to let Josh carry her bucket even when it took both of her hands/arms to carry it because it was so heavy.

Here's the night's events! ------

My cousins, one in middle school, one almost in middle school, really really really didn't want to go to school the day after Halloween.  So much so, that they prepared a presentation!  Originally intended for their parents, but my Aunt told them if they really really really wanted to stay home, then they would do the presentation in front of all the family at dinner.  To be honest, the older one (who organized the presentation) should be on a debate team or something.  Her argument was well organized, well supported, and convincing.  

Back row: Little Cindy Lou Who

Front row: Little Red Riding Hood, Fireman, Flapper

Jillian was very enthusiastic about saying the "key" words while I took photographs.  

Landon was quite preoccupied with the groups of kids walking by.

Look at her pigtails!!!  Love.

Look at his lost, vacant look!!  Wha???

Jillian putting in her first piece of candy.

Landon, still looking at the groups of kids and dogs.

Precious.

Okay, so by the time we got the picture of the four of us we had totally lost their interest.  Although, I don't know that we really ever had Landon's in the first place.

Finally has her hood on!  

Holding hands, per request for the photo.  But wouldn't slow down for another stinkin' picture.

Landon's costume had light-reflecting/neon-yellow tape on it.  Great for trick-or-treating in the dark.  Not so great for pictures.

Jillian couldn't keep up with Landon and the older kids.  But she was determined to walk the whole way.  And Jillian preferred Daddy over Mommy for trick-or-treating.  Almost completely refused to walk up to a house holding my hand.  Apparently I'm already not as cool as Daddy.

Eating their loot!

A giant bag of candy for two toddlers who think ONE  M&M is a treat! 

"Enjoy Them!" ...but...."I'm Glad Mine Are in College"

Much of this blog,  MOST of this blog is related to my adventures in Motherhood and my childrens' adventures.  There are many blogs out there devoted to the whole topic of Motherhood, advice for mothers, inspiration for mothers, etc.  This post, is about an honest experience of Motherhood from my own life.  While I'm not the most eloquent writer, I hope this post helps to show the tug-of-war that many mothers experience, at all stages of motherhood.


We were at church one night.  We ran into several friends that we had not seen in awhile.
Among those friends were two "veteran moms" (moms with kids in college, moms who have successfully raised their children to be independent adults) that I greatly respect and admire.  Their kids are awesome individuals and they have good relationships with their kids.

One of those "veteran moms" has two daughters.  Both have graduated college.  One is engaged.  Her girls are out of the house; living independent lives.  She misses them.
So as we were talking she said to me, "Ah!  They [Landon and Jillian] are soooo cute!  Enjoy them!  Enjoy them while they are little, while they are in your house, while you can hug and hold them.  Enjoy them!"  Yes, yes, thank you for the compliments.  My kids are very cute.  In fact, quite adorable.  And yes, thank you for reminding me to enjoy them!  In the midst of everyday-motherhood it is easy to get caught up in the to-do lists and bad-behavior and the busy-ness.  And I appreciate every reminder from veteran moms to remember to ENJOY my children, as it really is easy to forget.  I don't want to get to their graduation day, or their wedding day and think, "They're not little anymore, and I missed out on all the fun and innocence of their childhoods."  Or say to myself, "No one ever told me .........to enjoy them, that I'd miss them, that they grow up quickly."
However, I will also say that these comments put a level of pressure on me.  I feel pressured to "soak it all up."  To be a happy mom, a mom who finds joy in EVERYTHING in raising children.....even dirty diapers.  Honestly, somedays, many days, it's really frickin' difficult to enjoy it all, to enjoy anything at all!  Being hit, pushed, kicked, thrown up on.  Doing repeated finger-sweeps to get chunks of food out of your choking toddlers' throat.  Complete meltdowns over being told to go to the bathroom.  Believe me, I could make a list a mile-long of the things I find difficult to enjoy, and am betting I won't wish to have back.
But as all Veteran moms seem to know, rookie moms do need to be reminded to enjoy the things you can, and have a sense of humor about the things you can't really enjoy.  As I said, it's easy to get caught up in all the un-enjoyable things and Veteran moms seem to know this very well.


While talking to another "veteran mom" she said, "Oh, I just love seeing all your posts on facebook!  But I have to say, when I see your photos and hear your stories, I'm glad mine are in college."  
What?!  Seriously?!  From a lady who works with preschoolers......two-year-olds at that!  My impression was -- this lady loves kids!  Loves them so much she teaches potty-training-tantrum-throwing-two-year-olds!  Whenever I see her it seems she's taking such delight in kids and teenagers.  You can tell she loves her kids and enjoys being a mom.  Did she seriously just say to me, "I'm glad mine are in college"?  And did she really just say that after seeing photos and stories of MY kids?!
I was not appalled by her comment; simply surprised and caught off guard.  Most people whose kids have graduated from the house, tell me to "enjoy it!"  I think I was most caught off guard by the fact that someone was honest without "rose-colored glasses" about parenting.  In her comment to me, she legitimized my exhaustion, my sense of being overwhelmed; especially knowing that it came from such an amazing lady and mother.  AND, knowing that she was thankful that her kids were past the point of complete dependence, made me feel better about my desires to get my kids to that point too!

In my "rookie mom" years (after all, I've only been a mom for a little more than 3 years), I feel like I'm constantly looking for guidance, inspiration, and definitions for this role of parent.  I often reflect back on this night at church, where the message I was left with was "Enjoy them......but....... I'm glad mine are in college."  A reminder to enjoy this time, but also, that it's okay to look forward to the day they have left my house.

In case you're looking for some inspiration in your parenting-journey, 
I happen to LOVE these two blogs. 
 Clover Lane  and  Finding Joy

Good luck to all fellow Rookie Moms.

To all Veteran Moms ---- come babysit my kids anytime you have a yearning to enjoy little ones.