This Is Kristin

• It just hit me that there are only around 2 months left of school.  I can’t believe that!  
• My two year old is a genuine handful.  I’m having flashbacks of his oldest brother being his age, but he’s unique… When he gets into trouble, he smiles his biggest smile, and opens his arm for a hug and kiss… I guess he thinks he can charm his way out of trouble.  The picture is of him under my bed, when he’s supposed to be in his bed asleep… I came out of the shower, thinking all the boys were asleep, and heard a ton of thumping in my room, when I looked under the bed this is what I saw… 

• We are spending the weekend indoors, mostly.  It’s been rainy and wet.  Blue has his homework to research, on the “duck billed platypus,” we signed up for T- ball, and Blue has a birthday party to go to.  
• Aiden’s thumb got run over by my shopping cart at Target last night.  He was laying underneath the cart, riding along, and put his hand down.  His thumb is now swollen and he’s using his other hand to eat with.  I’m worried that it’s broken. (those rules about kids not riding in carts that way are there for a reason…) 
• Again, returning from the library with 6 books on snakes.  I wonder if my boys do this to torture me?  I literally have nightmares from these books.  
• Only two more days until Brody is home for a day and a half!  

Me: “Aiden, does your eye hurt?”
Aiden: “No…. only when Cooper pokes it… and when I look at the sun.”

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Aiden: “When you put a “strike,” (a lightning bolt) on my picture it means I’m fast… when you name your horse, “strike,” it means he’s fast.. got it?”

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Aiden: “What was that sound that woke me up?”

Me: “I don’t know, what kind of sound was it?”

Aiden: “It was the kind of sound that woke me up..”

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Aiden: “mama, why do you wear glasses?”

Me: “so I can see.”

Aiden: “why can’t you see?”

Me: “my eyes aren’t that strong, they need help with the glasses.”

Aiden, after staring at me for awhile, and blinking a lot: “How do your eyes work out to get strong?”

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*Aiden is our contemplative boy, who asks a lot of questions and has a lot of answers, and makes a lot of rules. I love to hear what he comes up with!

I had a bad day yesterday, but it’s over, and today is positive post tuesday, right?  I found this show the other night, and I love it, it cracks me up.  It’s called, “Important things with Demetri Martin.”  

Here’s a (very funny) short clip…:

*Positive Post Tuesday…

(photo: “Dutch Tulip Fields” via J.F. and UK news)

• Can you imagine seeing fields and fields of tulips like that?  Would be amazing.
• Can you imagine having to weed those flower beds?… I’m guessing they let that go…  
• I have flowers on my brain with this beautiful weather, and can’t wait to start some planting. 
• My son came home from school with an amazingly good report card,  didn’t get into trouble once this 9 weeks and got to go to an ice cream party with his advanced reading group.  I’m so happy for him! 
• We spent most of the weekend at my Dad’s getting him un-packed.  It’s nice to spend some time away from home, and the boys love to play there!  
• Trying to watch most every night of the Roadshow.  
• Missing Brody, and counting down the days… 

(Nikki McClure)

Happy First Day of Spring today, I am glad that it’s here! Today is supposed to be (appropriately) nice spring style weather. After a few days cooped up inside with my boys getting over their sicknesses, I am itching to get outside, and ready to finally tackle all the weeds that are covering my flower beds.

Happy Spring!

This is where my husband will be for the next few months, (I stole this picture, thanks Jeff!)

It’s amazing to see how much they really travel, in a tangible way like this.

The tour is off to a great start, with a first night of a successful live broadcast. There should be more to come, so if you aren’t already, stay tuned on the blog, and follow them on twitter, go see them live, and watch them online!

*who watched the first show?

We played a game the other night while eating dinner, where you go around and ask a question.  We made cards with colors and numbers, and the questions on the back, to make it easy for the kids to choose.  Some of the answers were priceless: 

1.~ What is your favorite season?  Aiden’s answer:  ”I like the one with snow… but not if I’m outside.  I only like the one with snow if I can look at snow from my window, then it’s my favorite.”  

2.~ Would you rather see God or hear Him?  Blue’s answer: “See him… we don’t know what He looks like, but we have to hear him all the time!”  

3.~ If we could go on a family vacation, anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?  Blue’s answer: “To Mammos.”  (awww) and Aiden’s answer:  ”to McDonalds.”   

~ Cooper answered every question thoughtfully, with ” ummm….. Aiden.”  

(P.S. What is it about the age of 2 that my son suddenly doesn’t need to sleep anymore? I think I’ll go crazy if he keeps skipping his naps, and staying up late, and waking up early!)

*Tiny Talk Tuesday.

Sorry if you’ve already seen this, I just think it’s so good.

• Feeling bummed today.  I don’t like the beginning of long runs, and Brody being gone.  
• My plan is to keep busy, I have plenty to do!  
• Spent the weekend doing laundry, running errands, building a leprechaun trap, church and airport.  
• Stay tuned at The Road Show Blog this coming week!  
• ~Happy Sunday! 

I got next months’ Real Simple magazine, and there are pages and pages of ways to clean with regular household items, things like vinegar, lemon, baking soda, ketchup, etc. etc… I love this magazine, and recommend buying it when it comes out!

Even though I love to clean as naturally as possible, I keep a can of Lysol on hand. My feeling is that when my kids are sick, I want that lysol around.. If doctors used lemon and vinegar to clean their instruments and hospital rooms, I don’t think I’d feel as comfortable in there, even if it did smell really good.

*What do you think? If you clean naturally, what do you use to really disinfect things?

I love my kids, I love being a mom. I love how having children forces me out of a selfish state, and to focus on their needs, and what is best for them. As a mother I feel needed and loved, and have an obvious purpose. I love my boys more than I can explain.

There are also some unexpected ways these boys of mine are “shaping” me:

Enhanced Mental Focus: I can get a task done under all kinds of elements. For example, nearly every household chore that I do, I do while being shot at, in the butt, by dart guns. While holding a conversation, a chorus of “mama, mama, mama,” goes on behind me, and I can completely tune that out. (wait, maybe that’s not a good thing?)

Diet and Exercise: Regardless of what I put on my plate, it looks more appetizing to my boys, than what is on theirs. Especially if it’s a sweet treat. I usually get one bite, before I’m asked to share, and excercise… well obviously, I have 3 small boys, what more can I say?

Boys like to help out: My oldest 6 year old boy, loves to help and feel “strong.” This week he pulled the big heavy trash can down our driveway, while I watched and greedily pondered if he could now carry laundry baskets up the stairs also…

Heart Melters: My children pour love on me. I love this season of age for this reason. My son brings home papers from school professing his love of mama, and my 4 year old and 2 year old duel over the prime space of my lap daily. While having a 6,4, and 2 year old is exhausting, and I have little time for “myself,” this is such a precious time, and I am out to enjoy it… because honestly, I don’t want them fighting over sitting on my lap when they are bigger than me.