When it's 54 degrees in Reno...

...you high tail it as fast as you can to the park.  54 degrees is about 25 degrees warmer than its been for most of the past month.

We decided to ride our bikes to the park.  It was a lovely time.  The park was full of boys around the same ages as my little guys, and both boys made fast friends and had so much fun playing with their "friends."  As we were leaving Owen said, "Awww...I'm gonna miss that little fella." (Referring to the little boy he was playing with at the park.)  I'm seriously not sure where that kid comes up with the stuff that comes out of his mouth!

Just as we got back home, I realized that I had left my keys on a table at the park.  It was such a gorgeous day, it wasn't even so bad to have to go back and retrieve them.

Today...

- I worked for 3 1/2 hours.
- I cleaned the downstairs (deep cleaned kitchen, vacuumed, cleaned up the playroom, and vacuumed the couches) while Jack was at preschool and Owen was napping.
- I took the boys to the library after I picked up Jack.  They love wandering around and picking random books off the shelves.  I love how much they (Jack, especially) love going to the library.
- I folded (and put away) 3 loads of laundry.
- I made yummy banana bread.
- I refused to turn on the a/c even though it was 90 degrees out.  My house got up to 82 degrees (baking banana bread probably didn't help), but we powered through - I refuse to turn the a/c on even one more day in 2011!
- I didn't have to break up a single fight between the boys - success!
- I put Owen back in his bed at least 10 times before finally putting him in the portacrib to sleep (not sure why, but he won't climb out of that and sees it as a punishment).  I'm seriously considering investing in a crib tent.  I almost bought one at 2:30 in the morning on Sunday when Owen had been up for 2+ hours climbing out of his bed (my delirious-ness in the middle of the night made me forget about the portacrib jail...I totally could have gotten way more sleep that night if I had just remembered).
- I had a great day.

Today...

Today was Jack's first day of preschool.  He has been SO excited to go, I can't tell you how many times he asked me if it was a preschool day the past few weeks.  A few days ago he started to get a little nervous though, when the reality set in that his cousin Parker (who is 12 days older than him and was in his preschool class last year), wasn't going to be in his class this year.  Jack's always nervous to introduce himself to new people and make new friends.

Of course, we snapped a few photos on our way out the door:

And Owen decided he wanted to be in on the "cheeeeeese" fun too:

(except not with Jack's arm around him)

We headed off to school and waited in line to go into class...it was a madhouse!  There were about a bazillion people all milling around waiting to drop their kids off.  When we made it to the front of the line, Jack was excited to see his teacher, Ms. Patti, from last year.  Sweet Ms. Patti gave Jack a big smile and told him that she was happy to see him again.  She also told him that there were 2 other kids already inside that had been in Jack's class last year as well.  I was SO relieved!  Jack walked right in, turned and gave me a smile, and went to hang up his back pack.

Fast forward 2 hours and 15 minutes later...

I went to pick Jack up and he had been chosen as the class leader that day.  He showed me his leader pin, and said, "The teachers said, 'This person has on a Toy Story shirt'...and I raised my hand!"  Sweet boy.  Jack was also excited to show me his letter paper and the "boy with spiky hair" he colored.

Happy boy after class...

I'm so glad that his first day went so well, and that he's so excited to be back at school.  As fun as summer is, it's nice to have our routine back!

Some other notes about today:

-I am SO glad we ended up with afternoon preschool.  Last year, Jack had mornings and that's what I had wanted this year as well, but we didn't end up getting it.  This morning, Jack was still able to get some play/park time in before Adam had to leave for work, and it didn't interrupt Owen's nap too much - he fell asleep on the way home from dropping Jack off, and while I did have to wake him up to go get Jack, it wasn't that much shorter of a nap than he typically takes.

-Owen was a little sad/confused when we dropped Jack off at class.  He kept saying, "Owen class?"

-after I picked Jack up from class he told me he wanted to carry my hand (aka hold my hand).

-after dinner we met our friends, the Cheneys, at the park for some play time.  We always have fun with them, and now that the weather is cooling off, I see many more park meet ups in our future.

-both boys went to bed really easily tonight.  I'm hoping this is a trend.  :)

Today...

was a good day.

We:

-played at the park (Adam, Jack and Owen did while I ran some errands)
-had a picnic lunch in our backyard (Adam BBQed some Brats - yum)
-talked to neighbors over the fence (Jack and Alex push things up on either sides of the fence to stand on so that they can talk over the fence - silly boys)
-got a LOT of things accomplished (lots of spring cleaning things were checked off my list today)
-wiped ranch dressing in our hair (Owen)
-spent a lot of time outside and enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL weather (it's such a short window between cold and SUPER hot here...we have to live it up while we can)

Sock Mitten

A couple of weeks ago Owen cut his finger with a pair of scissors.  

It was all my fault.  

Adam had the boys upstairs getting ready for bed and I brought the scissors over to the couch to open something.  I set them down on the couch and completely forgot they were there.  Adam brought the boys back downstairs and sneaky little Owen grabbed the scissors while we were getting everything ready for bedtime, and proceeded to cut his finger pretty good.  

I felt absolutely terrible about it.  

Bad, guilty mommy moment.

We tried to double bandage it, hoping that he wouldn't be able to get the bandaid off.

Fifteen minutes after we put the boys to bed, we heard him screaming.

Of course, his bandaid was off his finger, and he had wiped his finger ALL OVER THE BED.

Jack was already asleep, but I had to turn the light on to make sure I got everything cleaned up. 

He didn't even flinch.

That kid can sleep through ANYTHING.

Now how to keep Owen from ripping off his bandaid again?

Put a sock on his hand and tape it to his jammies.

Yeah.  We're awesome parents.

Grateful...

for sisters.  I had a bad day today.  Just one of those "everything-is-piling-up-on-me" kinda days.  Tons of little things kept happening that were bringing me further and further down.  I'm so glad that I have such wonderful sisters that will listen to my rants and that know just the right things to say to make me feel better.  Thanks Lexi and Alisa!

Things that made me happy today... $

1.  Taking a walk with my boys.  The temperature this evening was just perfect.  

2.  My neighborhood.  A lot of people really get into the holidays here.  I love it.  I love how much my boys (Jack especially) love it.  Jack is so excited to run from house to house and point out all the decorations.  "Look Mommy!  A ghost!"  "Bones!  I see bones Mommy!"  "Pumpkins!"

3.  Finding some cute clothes for holiday pictures.  (Even better...everything was on sale!)  My sister, Lexi and her family are coming to visit us in a couple of weeks and we decided that we'd try to snap some pictures of each other for Christmas cards.  No guarantee that they'll turn out (2 boys+pictures = disaster)...but at least we'll be dressed cute!

4.  Owen finding a Mr. Potato Head toy in my closet and yelling "Ho, Ho, Ho" at it.  (We have a Mr. Potato Head with a Santa beard that the boys like to put on their faces and say "Ho, Ho, Ho.")  This one didn't have a Santa Beard, so I'm guessing that Owen thinks Mr. Potato Head is called a Ho, Ho, Ho.

5.  Reading a book and singing bedtime songs with both my boys.  Now that Adam works a lot of nights the bedtime routine falls solely on me (we used to divide and conquer).  I love me and my boys squished on the rocking chair in Owen's room reading "Good Night Moon" and singing "I am a Child of God." 

Today...

We woke up to a cloudy, rainy day.  Thank you October!  It's about time we got a tiny peek of fall weather (even though it was still in the high 90s by mid-day).

The boys got to play with daddy in the morning which is their favorite.  I think we're finally adjusted to Adam's new schedule.  Even though he's not home for bedtime much anymore, we love us some extra morning playtime with daddy.

Tiffany highlighted my hair.  I love getting my hair did.  Thanks Tiff!

Jack and Owen played with friends.  LOTS.  Which equals a very, very, very fun day for two little boys.  They are exhausted.  Easiest bedtime ever.
 
I got lots of phone calls from Aaron.  Apparently his DVD player is broken...

I didn't check much off my to do list.  We had fun today instead.

Today...

This morning Jack did not want to go to preschool.  He told me to call his teachers and tell them he wasn't coming.  I think he mostly didn't want to go because I told him he needed to eat breakfast so he could go to school, and he didn't want to eat breakfast.  Jack's like me; we're not really hungry right when we wake up, so he gets grumpy when I'm rushing him to eat breakfast.

Owen and I ran some errands while Jack was at preschool.  I picked up this book at the library.  I'm excited to finally get to read it.  We got rid of our TV service about a week ago, and I'm loving spending my free time reading.  I've missed reading.

Before we had to pick up Jack, Owen and I came home for a bit and played.  Owen is such a content, happy baby.  I love his sweet disposition.  He's also very good at independent play.  He'll wander into the playroom and play on his own for a good 20-30 minutes (the complete opposite of his brother who wants someone to play with him at all times).

When Jack came home he was starving (probably because he hardly ate breakfast).  He ate an entire yogurt, a hot dog (which must have a bun that he refuses to eat) and a handful of strawberries.  He's also had two Go-gurts as snacks.  Is it possible to consume too much yogurt?

After Owen's nap the boys and I ran errands.  Adam's parents have been out of town this past week and were kind enough to let us borrow a car while they were gone.  It was lovely not having to juggle one car and being able to run errands during the day (often I have to go to the store either on Adam's day off or at night once he's home).  Sometimes I miss the freedom and flexibility of being a two car family.  (Although only having to pay for insurance and gas for one car is nice too!)

I made a yummy pasta dish for dinner, and the boys ate every last bite on their plates.  I love that!  After our regular bed time routine (baths, brush teeth, story, song), the boys went right to bed.

I cleaned the kitchen a bit and then the Fagans invited me over for some yummy peach cobbler.  I love having good friends for neighbors - it's the best!

When Adam came home we played SkipBo (a favorite game of ours that we used to play daily in Maui and haven't played in ages) and watched some of The Office Season 2.  It was nice being able to spend  time together.  Since Adam started his new job our schedules have been crazy and we haven't been able to spend as much time together.  I miss him!

Today was a nice day.