Spaghetti noodle

Do you remember being a kid and learning that spaghetti noodles stick to the wall?  My son got that lesson tonight.  The cool thing was that I got to teach him.  We were just finishing up dinner and I threw a plain, sticky noodle at him.  I don't know what came over me.  A long day at work? Maybe?  He gave me the oddest look.  He knew that throwing food was wrong and that I'm always telling him to stop playing around at the table.  He was now learning the valuable lesson that sometimes you just have to let loose.  We spent the next 10 minutes throwing the noodle between Tim, Oliver and me, trying to stick it to each others faces.  Amelia even got caught in the crossfire.  All four of us were laughing.  Not just laughing, but full out belly laughs.  The ones that make you laugh, just because someone else is laughing so hard.  Who knew that one spaghetti noodle would be so entertaining and be a fun memory.  Another valuable lesson:  it's only okay to throw food if mom or dad instigates it.  And I mean it. 

Nuk Be Gone! Woohoo!

Yes Oliver was still using a nuk at bedtime.  We told him that when he threw his nuks (2) away he could get a new cool train set.  We prepped him for a few days and decided Sunday the 16th was the day.  I already had purchased and wrapped the Thomas Adventure Canyon train set so it was ready to go.  That morning he threw them away and got his new track.  He was so excited that we all got enjoyment out of setting it up.  I hope it was a preview for Christmas.  He played with it for 12 hrs strait.  He even skipped his nap "no nap today, I'm playing trains".  He asked for it once before bed.  We simply reminded him that the nuk was gone and he got a special train set because of it.  That was it.  He hasn't asked for it since.  I was expecting this to be a lot harder, but I should have known.  That's how he's been with every hard transition we've come across.  Bottle, big boy bed, potty training ect.  I know our being consistent has helped with it, but I can't take all the credit. He's just my easy going (transition wise) kid.

Grandmas rule

They spider swing with you.  

They hunt for trains on real train tracks with you.  

They break the law with you. Note the no trespassing sign right next to Oliver.  We love you Grandma Jeanne!

We did it!

I know, I know a little late Sara, but better late than never.  I haven't been able to talk about this topic without crying, so I had to wait until the kids were sleeping.  It's a happy cry, but to a 2 year old all crying is cause for concern.  

Two days ago I got to vote.  I woke up and was anxiously trying to figure out how I was going to manage voting with 2 kids.  I worked 5-9pm so I couldn't go when my husband got home.  I planned everything out.  Both kids ate, Amelia napped (extra long, of course) and we got dressed for playing at the park afterwards (bribe).  We walked the 4 blocks to North Dale and waited all of 15 second for a booth to open and we were out of there. Lickity split.  No lines, no complications.  I felt amazingly calm afterwards, but everyone at the playground seemed to be looking around sizing up the competition.  I wonder who they voted for?  

I got home from work at 9:15 and  I wasn't expecting them to announce the results so quickly.  When they said Barack Obama was the new President I was in shock.  After shock came tears.  I cried and cried.  I cried when I thought about waking Oliver up in the morning and telling him that Obama won.  I cried for all of the black people out there that deserve to have a president that looks like them.  I cried for all the people that have fought so hard get equal rights.  I cried because I felt like Barack will bring some peace to this world.  I cried because I finally felt hopeful.  I am still crying because there is so much emotion and history behind this election.  I feel like there will finally be someone in charge that is looking out for me and my family.  Relief. Hope. Love. 

If you ask Oliver who his parents voted for he'll tell you"Bak Obama," he even helped his dad put the sign out in our front yard, but I know he doesn't really understand.  Someday my kids will get it and they will always know that they were a part of it, strapped into the big double stroller.