Saturday Was A Big Day

Saturday on our way home from swim lessons, the boys and I took a detour to a garage sale. I'm generally not a garage sale shopper but all the signs for this one said "mostly kid stuff" so I figured, "what the heck, let's check it out."

After driving for what seemed like forever, I ended up buying a brand new pack-n-play (don't really need one but it was a great deal), a few baby toys for Max and then let Bo and Sam each pick out one toy for themselves (Lord knows we don't need any more toys in this house).

Bo picked a new Car's game for his Leap Frog computer and Sam chose this ride-on car thing. They were both super excited but especially Sam. He loved his new toy. The moment we walked in the door (and disinfected it) he started racing around the house on it and screaming, "my toy!" anytime Bo got near it.

But when Sam went down for a nap and Bo was preoccupied with his new game, out popped little ole Max. He pulled himself right up behind the car and started to push that thing. He was walking! I couldn't believe it. We have had a Thomas the Tank Engine push toy since Bo was little but Max never expressed any interest in it. Then low and behold, bring this home and the kid starts walking.

While this is obviously baby book worthy and oober exciting, the problem with it is we now have a case of Sam vs Max.

Once Sam wakes up. . .Sam wants to ride it. Max wants to walk behind it. Rock beats scissors and Sam beats Max. Next thing I know, Sam is drag racing through the kitchen, Max is flailing in his dust with a death grip on the rail and legs scuffing the floor. Sam is laughing. Max is crying. I want to do both. I so wish I had my camera.

But in the rare moments when the car is unguarded, Max loves to push it all through the house.

I can't believe my little baby is starting to walk . . .

And my other baby is training wheel free.

Our friends let us borrow the bike their boys learned to ride on a few weeks ago and Bo has been sitting on it and coasting around the garage on it but not pedaling . . .until Saturday. All of a sudden he just took off on it and once he started, he did not want to stop. He even rode in the rain for an hour that night because he was so excited and proud of himself. It's been three days and many shin bruises later but he is now racing around laps, hills, bumps, and banks. He even rode down our front patio concrete step tonight like it was nothing. The boy is an athletic animal.

He must take after me. (ok ok, and Wes)

Water Fun

We have had a majorly cool and rainy summer this year so anytime the sun does come out and the temps warm up near 70, we've been busting out the water.

Brigitte gave Sam a slip-n-slide for his birthday and it has been a big hit. The boys don't usually last very long because the water is ice cold but they sure have fun before they freeze. Their other favorite thing is to play in the pool. Since the water is so cold and miserable, I have been running a hose from the hot water washer hook up in the laundry room, out the window and into the pool. The percect "hot tub" and the perfect Alaskan pool.

Bo jumping off the "diving board"

Miracles Do Happen!

Last night all 3 boys slept through the night. It was the first time ever and absolutely amazing! Absolutely A-MAZ-ING!!

Healing

Other than a big bruise on his hip, you would never know by looking at Bo that anything ever happened. However, he is self conscious about the whole situation and doesn't like for us to talk about it to others; he gets embarrassed. But he did allow me to take one picture of his leg tonight.

Day 6 and healing nicely

By Far My Scarriest Mom Moment

Bo was hit by a car today. He's ok, but I'm a wreck. . .

We had a fun morning at the Athletic Club, the kids played in the play center for an hour while I worked out and then I took Bo & Sam swimming while Max stayed in the play center a bit longer. It was Sam's first time to go swimming and we were all super excited, especially Sam.

With floaties on his back, he jumped right in. Didn't think twice. He was fearless. He even went under a few times after jumping in and didn't freak out. The boys had a blast, giggling, blowing bubbles, splashing, jumping in and onto me . . . it was great.

Afterwards, we grabbed Max and went upstairs for a snack before heading home.

By this point Bo & Sam were a little out of control, laughing, running around, and most certainly not listening to me. I was churning inside. I can not stand it when they misbehave in public. What do you do? You can't yell at them or spank them or send them to their rooms. Ugh, I hate it! Absolutely CAN NOT stand it. I tried making them both sit in time-out but that didn't work and threats of later punishments didn't work either so needless to say I cleaned up our (ahem, Sam's ) mess as fast as I could and defeated and frustrated, got the hell out of there.

Still ultra wound up, the boys took off running outside as soon as we left the building. I tried to get them to stop but nothing I said even phased them and with Max in my arms, I could not run fast enough to catch up. (Again, cue churning stomach.) Bo was out in front, Sam about 15 yards behind and Max & I probably another 10 yards behind him. We were all on the sidewalk and then the next thing I heard was screeching tires and a woman yelling. I froze and then with diaper bag and gym bags flailing and Max getting tossed around on the opposite hip, I ran. Pure panic. I had no idea what I was going to find. I could not see anything over the row of cars between us and all I could picture was Bo laying on the ground in front of the car all CSI like but all the while still trying desperately to hold on to Max and keep my eye on Sam.

Then out from behind the cars ran a very pregnant woman holding Bo screaming "HELLO?!, HELLO?!" She was carrying him sideways, his arm around her neck, one shoe missing and absolute fear in his eyes. At that point I plopped Max down on the sidewalk with my bags and ran to meet her. She was shaking and crying and apologising. Bo was crying. And I was crying but trying to stay calm for Bo. I just started spewing out questions while cradling him and examining him once over for cuts, scrapes, or bruises.
"Did you actually hit him?" . . yes.
"Did he fall down?" . . . yes but he popped right back up. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
"Where did you hit him?" . . .but I kept getting interrupted by the other passenger in the car who for some reason kept offering the kids donuts. WTF? No, we don't want donuts!

This along with the driver wanting to call 911 continued for quite some time (no real sense of time but probably 10 minutes or so) until we all came to the conclusion that despite a scraped elbow and knee, a bruised hip, and a bit of shock, he seemed to be ok.

But here's where my internal struggle deepens (as if not being able to control my kids enough to have one not get hit by a car isn't personal torture in itself, it gets worse). Because I still was trying to make sure Sam hadn't run off and Max wasn't about to crawl off the curb, I couldn't completely focus on Bo. It breaks my heart just thinking about it. I wanted to just sit there and hug him and console him. He did not want me to put him down but we still had to cross the parking lot to get to our car. I could not carry him and Max and our bags and hold Sam's hand (who by the way seemed absolutely clueless that anything was wrong) all at the same time. I honestly did not know what to do other than have Bo walk to the car. Then, as my heart had nothing left to crumble, out ran 2 staff members from the gym (late but still appreciated). I handed Max to the guy and Sam to the girl. Finally I could give Bo what he really needed.

Once we all got back into the car, I broke down and so did Bo. We just sat there in the parking lot and cried. I could not help but think about how badly this could have gone and how quickly things happen. It could very well have killed him. What if she had her head turned and never saw him or was texting or messing with the radio or who knows what, even reaching for a damn donut, but she wasn't and for that I am forever grateful but the thought of the former mixed with the fear I felt today along with the frustrations of not being able to control my kids is something that I feel entirely responsible for and am having a hard time shaking.

As for Bo, all he has said about it (in the sweetest of sweet voices) is, "Mama, I didn't hear that car."

******
Update: I took Bo in to the ER to get checked out just to make sure there wasn't anything internal going on that I was unaware of. After a urine analysis to make sure his kidneys were ok and a body check, we were released with some Motrin and ice packs. Looks like he's going to have a sore hip but be just fine.

Watch Out World, Samsquatch is 2!!

Yep, that's right. Our little Sammer Jammer turned the big 2 yesterday. We didn't have any exciting plans or rambunctious parties, just a fun day of playing at home and lots of "CHI-KEN!"

The day started off with me serenading him with the birthday song before he even got out of his crib and the poor kid probably heard it another 25 times after that. He loves music and singing, even if it is from his tone-deaf-can't-hold-a-tune mom, so I made sure he got plenty of it. (Hopefully no one else was listening) We then headed into the kitchen for his favorite breakfast: sausage patties dipped in syrup, where true to Sam form, he ate 3.

The rest of the day was fairly normal: cars, water guns (or "water shooters" as the boys call them), fishing off the back deck and getting the lines all tangled up, running around the yard, lots of chicken nuggets with ketchup for lunch, a 2 hour nap, constantly whining for "cakey", swinging in the hammock (my favorite part of the day), getting soaked by Bo with the hose (not cool, Bo), warming up with a hot bath, more chicken nuggets for dinner (hey, at least I buy the 100% All Natural ones), and finally CAKE!

And presents . . . a vacuum cleaner that makes noise and lights up, a magnetic alphabet musical toy for the refrigerator, and a Radio Flyer inch worm.

Overall, a pretty cool birthday. And like it all began, the day ended with yet another beautiful rendition of the birthday song while rocking and cuddling before bed.

Happy Birthday, Sammers. I love you.

Bo-ism #21

Today while in the car Bo was talking to his friend Brody about Grandparents . . .

Bo: Do you know what Grandparents are, Brody? Grandparents are where you go for the first time and get red hair like me and Sam.

Bo-ism #20

This is so blackmail material for when Bo gets older. Sorry, Bo, but I have to. . .

Last night while the boys were finishing their dinner and I was unloading the dishwasher, I started to feel dizzy so I told Bo I was going to go sit down for a bit because I felt funny.

Bo: What does it mean to feel funny?
(and before I could answer)
Bo: (said mater-a-factly and with a head nod) Sometimes when my penis gets really big, I feel funny.

Day on the Upper Chena

On Tuesday I arranged for Brigitte to come over and watch Max while I took Bo & Sam (& Chena) up to 36 mi CHSR. We spent the morning throwing rocks and sticks, splashing in the freezing cold water, having a picnic lunch and building a water shoot (Bo's concoction). We had a great time.

Here's how it all went down . . .

Down in the big D . . .Delta that is

Like every year, we, along with every other Alaskan, ventured out for a Memorial Day camping trip. For Alaskans, Memorial Day is to camping like Opening Day is to moose hunting. It marks the start of a season and the beginning of months of endless planning, packing and sleeplessness.
For us, it marks the first of many "great" ideas that start as fun days full of frisbee, fishing, and water guns but quickly turn in to nights of major frustrations, fits and bazerko kids bouncing off the walls. Seriously, they just snap. Last year it was Bo; this year it was Sam. The whole sleeping thing gets us every time. But unlike last year, we actually prevailed and eventually got all 3 to sleep a little after midnight.

They boys had a great time but needless to say, there was not a Night 2 and it will probably be awhile before there is.

Bittersweet Homecoming

My Aunt Mary died 2 weeks ago after a brave 3 year battle with kidney cancer. She was an amazing person, a super fun Aunt, and a wonderful mom to my cousins. I loved her very much and really wanted to be there for her memorial so Max & I made a whirlwind trip down to Austin. We left on Wednesday and came back on Sunday. It was a very quick and tiring trip but I am very glad I went.

I wish it was under better circumstances, but it was really nice to see all of my family and to let Max experience the River for the first time. Ceremonial first dip in the River . . .

Apparently the water was a little cold for his liking . . .
Definitely did NOT like sitting in it . . .
But LOVED sitting next to it with his big cousin Owen . . .

Glad to be dry and on the truck . . .
Warming up with a bath in Nana & Opa's new house . . .