It's The Little Things

I am overjoyed to be the mother of two terrific boys.  As much as I love them and adore them, I can't help but think their sole purpose in life is to entertain me.  I know I can sit back and observe my children and within a short amount of time one of them will do something that will make me chuckle.  At 10 years old and 19 months old Dominick and Simon definitely provide moments of frustration, anxiety and despair but overall I can say we are generally kept entertained by their antics.  This thought is very present in my mind today because over the course of 12 hours two little things, little acts performed by my children created a sense of pride and a "Hey mom, you are not doing that bad of a job after all" feeling in me that I will hold on to forever.  In sequential order, the two moments are detailed below

1) Simon - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 19
            I come home from work around 6:00 and Simon is running a fever.  I give him some Advil and he starts to cool down and show some signs of activity.  I finish up dinner and put him in his highchair but I can tell he really has no interest in eating. Normally I would coax him a little and "battle" with him until he eats some portion of his dinner but knowing that he doesn't feel great I let it go.  After dinner is done and I am cleaing the kitchen Simon starts to fuss, Nick gives him some fruit snacks.  Nick opens the pack of fruit snacks hands them to Simon, who has already made his way up onto the dining room chair to eat his snacks at the table.  Fruit snacks are Simon's favorite!  I watch Simon carefully dump out his fruit snacks onto the placemat which he has moved in front of him.  OK, I think, easier for him to access them, makes sense.  And then I watch him do something that most men, let alone 19 month olds don't do on a regular basis.  Simon stops eating his snacks, scoots himself off of the chair, grabs his empty snack pack, walks over to the kitchen garbage, opens the lid, drops the pack in, walks back over to his chair, climbs back up and starts eating again without skipping a beat.  For whatever reason that sequence of events amazed me!  I should know now not to be surprised at anything Simon does but I think it is our jobs as parents to be continuously impressed with these little minds that God created.

2) Dominick - 6:45 a.m., Wednesday, October 20th
      Morning routines are crucial and staying on schedule is a must.  We have our routine down pretty well, I get the boys up, Dominick gets dressed while I make breakfast.  After breakfast Dominick takes his dishes into the kitchen and sets them on the counter. He then feeds the dog, gets his backpack ready, brushes his teeth, does his hair and then he's done.  During this time I am usually helping the baby eat, getting him dressed, putting stuff in the car, cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast.  Dominick stays on track for the most part and never takes on anything additional unless I ask him specifically which I try not to because we are working with a short amount of time as it is.  This morning was different, I am not sure why, maybe at 10 he is maturing, maybe he is seeing me do a lot of the work that he thought he should help out as well.  Whatever the reason or motivation I didn't question it.  I am preparing Simon's diaper bag for daycare, Simon is still in his highchair and Dominick just carried his dishes into the kitchen.  The butter and knife are still on the counter from the english muffins I prepared.  I watch as Dominick picks up the tub of butter, puts the lid on, puts it inside the refrigerator and puts the knife in the sink.  He then walks back to the dining room table and pushes in the chairs and goes about the rest of his routine. Again, I stand amazed at my child. Not because what he had done was so extraordinary or difficult but just because of the mere fact that he did it, without being asked and without a need for recognition.

I will, in some part, take credit for the habits my children are developing.  We like order, routine and tidyness in our home and I am glad my boys are picking up those traits.  I do know, however, that my boys have the opportunity and the will to defy everything I do or say so I am incredibly happy that things I find important are important to them as well.

Pumpkin Patch # 1 2010

For our family the month of October includes many trips to the pumpkin patch.  This October is turning out to be a little busier but we have a few more weekends to meet our pumpkin patch quota.  Dominick has become an official member of Fog Willow in Wilton, that was our first trip this year.  Keema Family Pumpkin Patch in Elk Grove is also a favorite.  Owned by friends of the family Keema is very country like with a corn maze, animals, hay pyramid and great people!  Dominick's birthday weekend consisted of a trip to Fog Willow with my husband's siblings and our 18 month old niece.  Below are some pictures.  Last year's pumpkin patch pictures were so easy to take as both babies were sill somewhat immobile and generally stayed put where we left them, this year not so much.  My sister in law and I tried to get some cute pictures, but after a certain point we take what we get and be happy with it.

Simon and his cousin Brooklyn

Dominick conquering the hay pyramid.

Simon wasn't too sure about the animals this year

Dominick and Ashton

Belated items contd.....Park Trips

This spring and summer Nick and I were determined to spend every available opportunity OUTSIDE.  We have acquainted ourselves with a number of Elk Grove parks and they are beautiful.  We have our favorites and we have our staples, mainly because they are close to the house in case a toddler meltdown occurs.  Nothing is better than watching your children run, jump, climb and test their physical abilities in the freedom of the outdoors.  Dominick's park favorite is the bars, not monkey bars, but the pull up style bars that he can swing around on.  Simon loves the slide and anything with steps or that he can climb.  Parks and slurpees, what a great family tradition.  Below are some snapshots of our recreational fun.

Belated Items cont...Misc of my boys

Enjoying Dadd's company picnic

Anytime he sees a camera                                    

Spaghetti aftermath

18 month birthday dinner, black bean quesadillasand chocolate mousse.

Riding in the fire engine at Stockton Children's museum

Cookies n cream ice cream makes me happy

Belated Items

Because I started this project later than expected I am going to go ahead and do some "catch up blogging".  I am not going to go to far back but I will include in the next few posts some of the more memorable moments of the past few months.

Six Flags Trip 7/10

Already to Ten!

10/3/10 - A day which may not hold much significance to most but in our little home it was a day of celebration.  Dominick entered into his second decade of life on this day, while Nick and I reflected on the years past.  Dominick's big birthday present from mommy and daddy was a Dell Nickelodeon themed Netbook.  Now that he is in 4th grade, Dominick is encountering a lot more "research" projects and web based extra credit items so in an effort to foster responsibilty, maturity and a sense of independence we decided to get him a netbook.  Parental controls have been activated and screen time limited to 30 minutes a day AFTER homework/chores and only if attitude is good.  Dominick is enjoying his computer and, through e-mail correspondence with his grandmother, Nick and I have been given a more in-depth glimpse into the child's mind, very intriguing.  The birthday weekend was spent out and about.  Elk Grove Pumpkin Festival, Fog Willow Pumpkin Farm and Bert's Diner on Saturday. Church, home, Grandma's (her birthday as well) for awesome bbq ribs and cake on Sunday.  Fun was had by all.  After Dominick was in bed Sunday night, I spent some time reminiscing about days gone by.  Thinking how much I have watched Dominick grow and change the past 10 years.  I try not to think about what awaits us, girlfriends, drivers license, TEENAGE years, but if I know my boy (and I do) there will not be a moment that he doesn't make us smile and make us proud.  Here's to the next 10 years!!  Below are some of my favorite snippets of Dominick!

*Folger's Coffee - Walking into the living room I see Dominick sitting on the couch with his Bob the Builder dumptruck and the Costco size can of Folger's coffee dumped out all over the couch.  Of course the coffee looks like dirt so it has to be dirt (18 months)

*Blue's Clues - Standing very closely in front of the TV with his handy dandy notebook and crayon, he was going to figure it out before Steve (2 years)

* Hawaii - Running barefoot through a park and crying because nobody wanted to carry him anymore (2 years)

* The Sheet - Finding a scissor induced hole in his bed sheet, he felt something under the sheet so he had to use his scissors to cut open the sheet and find out what it was.

*Kindergarten Graduation - Standing on stage at Bradshaw Christian with his golden robe and cap. (6 years)

These are just a few of my precious memories. I have many many more to share and can't wait to add to them.