Goodness Gracious...

Just had a GOOD day. Two little cherubs in the form of RyGar and Grandma arranged for the delivery and care of the babes so this mama could have several hours of uninterrupted cleaning time. HOLY CRAP - I love them both so much my teeth hurt. (Is that offensive to call them cherubs? Valentine's week is getting to me. Has nothing to do with their physical appearance, and everything to do with their angelic attributes, promise.)

Anyway - goobers are gone - this giddy Gardner girl just eliminated all of 'em by herself with the IPod blasting. Too much alliteration? Can't help it - that is how excited I am. I mean when was the last time you got to use the lemon oil on your wood furniture pieces? My point exactly. It was heaven.

Clean house - I heart you.

RyGar and Janice, my loves, you are rock stars.

Babies... let's pace ourselves on the slow destruction of mama's handiwork.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time I get a few hours I'll do something crazy like get my toenails done. But really, does anything beat a Pine Sol infused, sparkling abode?

Nope, Nada. In fact, I'm just sittin' here breathing in and out. Basking.

The Slag...

Well, we had a raucous Super Bowl party round here. The little men and the big man yelled at the players and guffawed at the commercials together. Really, Kaelster is a pretty good little shadow these days and he would do EVERYTHING that RyGar would do. Hilarious. My team lost - Ry's team won. And we didn't even notice the flub up during the National Anthem... is that sad?

And not to toot my own horn or anything, but I made a pretty great Super Bowl spread for my boys. Chili, Layered Bean Dip & Chips, Cheetos and Apples for the Babes, and Football Sugar Cookies all frosted with chocolate and white lacings. You can start referring to me as Martha anytime you'd like. :)

And now.... well, now we're in the "slag" of the road... a term I learned back in the day when I was a dedicated runner with my neighbors. You know, the part of the road that has loose gravel and is slightly slanted and isn't quite the dirt or the sidewalk? That's the slag.

Today, we're lookin' at running through some major snow dusted slag. Including, the crock pot that is still out on my counter top and the loads of laundry that someone brought home as a souvenir from Chicago, and the playroom that has been WELL played in this past week. It's all calling my name, so I've disappeared to the basement for the time being to take a peek into your lives and avoid the slag for a few more minutes... or maybe until nap time. Slag is more manageable without two little buddies.

Anyway, the slag must be tackled because we have some scenic routes planned for the weekend... It's gonna be an epic weekend o' love with our little family and I'm pretty stoked. May your Monday be merry.... slag and all. :)

What's Up Doc?

Not a whole lot, really.

It is so bone-chilling, disgustingly cold that the babes and I have kind of hunkered down except for the odd outing to the store and the Doctor's office.

We had nine and eighteen month well check-ups this week and I'm happy to report that I lug around 50 lbs of extra weight every day. Happy because 30 pounds of it is Kaelster and 20 pounds of it is Dax-Man. You would think I would have withered away into practically nothing by now but luckily I have chocolate to sustain me and keep me grounded. :)

In other news, we kissed RyGar goodbye today and we hugged him extra tightly because we're just not sure if he'll make it back out of the tundra called Chicago before - oh - May. Poor guy has to fly in to the windy and frozen city to meet the Irish Execs of one of his clients and I'm pretty sure they'll all be a tiny bit miserable in Chicago's ridiculous weather.

All in all, we're left with a lot of time in the play room.

And really, I haven't sung the play room's praises nearly enough. That little space is the happening spot in this house. The babies love it and from the moment they get up to the moment they go to sleep there are tens of trips up the stairs to our little primary colored mecca.

We even added a couple of stellar new toys lately including Bristle Blocks (which are awesome) and a thrift store find that is a little driving toy which I disinfected twice. I think I've established Big K's love of steering wheels, but if not, just know that Dax has yet to have a turn driving "the car".

And finally, Kaelster is down to one bottle per day and he asks for it by name after his bath every night. Dax is getting all four of his top teeth and leaves a trail of drool as he huffs it around the house. And I have caught up, for the moment, on the laundry.

So... as they say... ebb and flow. We're definitely in a flow 'round here. A nice, slow, winter flow that is only occasionally interspersed by the welcome rays of the sun and a little something out of the ordinary. I'll take it. Flow on, ya'll.

Crack Up...

Have you ever busted a gut at your own crazy self in the midst of a teaching moment with a kid? Literally, some times I think I have lost my foul mind. :)

I moved Kaelster's shoes to a basket on the bottom row of the changing table so he could grab his shoes himself. And he does it. The kid understands EVERYTHING we say to him, promise. Anyway, last night I asked him, "Will you please go get your shoes so we can go to the store?" And the little smartie pants came back with two shoes of a different variety.

Here's where I sound like a nut job....

"Oh, Good Job, Kael! Now, most people wear two shoes that match. You don't have to, but most people do. It's kind of a social norm."

He looked at me all puzzled and confused and I burst out laughing (and my little shadow did too as if he totally understood this hilarious joke). I guess for a mere moment I forgot he is 18-months and treated the little bunkin' like a college freshman in Psych 101.

I'm pretty sure he soaked it in though - and cached it away in the shadows of his mind. Heaven help his Kindergarten teacher when he pulls that baby out in a few years. :)

My Heart....

This is proof that my heart beats every day outside of my chest

in the form of two little blue-eyed boys...

One of them just turned eighteen months old and he is more a toddler than a baby.

And I still can't believe it.

And the other has reached that point where he has been out in the great big world as long as he was comfy and warm inside his little nest.

And I can't believe that either.

They make me smile and they teach me patience and they have shown me that I am a mother bear with instincts to do anything for my little wonders.

And they?

Oh, they are overwhelmingly, powerfully capable and strong and tender.

They will run the world some day or cure it of all its madness. I have no doubt.

And with them, I have celebrated my very best days of life.

I've never met little men that whisper such enchanting things with their eyes and their dimples. Seriously.... Have you?

They say that love alone lightens every burden and makes the rough places smooth.

And I think that whoever "they" are - they're oh so right.

Happy Milestones, Babies...

Many, Many More to Come.

Because...

We tried finger painting with pudding the other day,

BECAUSE someone told us it was a freakin' fantastic idea.

Liar.

Who comes up with these little activities and why do I listen?

BECAUSE I'm a sucka... a rookie... a gullible little sponge.

Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted babes, BECAUSE

No More.

'Nuff Said.

What a Rip...

My Sis-n-Law and I were talking the other day and she mentioned she was vacuuming out her couch. She had removed the cushions and her little household task had produced two serendipitous side effects...

1) Her kids played for hours with the cushions &

2) She found almost 2 Bucks in change there in no-man's land. Well earned coke money if you ask me.

Today I was vacuuming and I decided it was high time I did the deed that Q (aforementioned Sis-n-Law who I am calling "Q" to protect her innocence) suggested. And here is what I got...

1) Zero interest in the cushions from the kiddos &

2) Four old Hot Tamales & a Pencil

Seriously?

RIP.OFF.

Is it sad that I was disappointed in my sorry findings? Damn right it's sad. I sort of expected at least a small little "mom tip" in the form of lost couch cushion change. How is no change in the couch even possible? Will someone please come over with full pockets and plant a little deposit for my sake? Sheesh!

On the bright side - my vacuum is vintage. And we all know that vintage is totally the rage right now. That's right, I scoff at shiny new Dyson's. Who would ever want such a "trendy" machine?

For the record, I totally want a Dyson. Or a roomba which vacuums without a vacuumer...

Like the Jetson's.

And my birthday is in March. And if a particular "someone" doesn't read the fine print here this just might happen to him... Just Sayin'. :)

Happy Weekend!