Ruckster

To make you understand the life long love affair Ruckus has had with chocolate milk  - please refer to the picture below -

that he took by himself - because it's that important in his life.

 

Seriously about two days later after that photo was shot we visited the dentist. Ruckus' remained so calm and lovely throughout the whole exam and the staff was so impressed. It wasn't until the dentist, with one finger barely touching Ruckus' tooth, proclaimed there could be no more chocolate milk at night, that Ruckus burst into alligator tears. The dentist jumped back and said, "Did I hurt him? I barely touched him?"

I said no - you've simply offended his soul.

After that our wonderful dentist talked him through his hiccuping and explained about the tooth bugs in his front two teeth; Ruckus appearing calm once again.

Upon arriving home Ruckus flaunted around his floss and declared he wanted to sleep with the floss at night instead of his long loved sippy cup.

He also yelled at me when he found an old sippy cup filled with left over chocolate milk.

"Mom - the man said no more chocolate milk!" following this statement with an impressive throw of the sippy cup to the sink.

Yes sir. :)

 

Ruckus loving his floss.

The Big Cavity filling day arrived and Ruckus was all smiles!

and then got really sleepy :)....

p.s. in love with nitrous. Kind of wanted a nose piece of my own... kind of. :)

Ruckus almost didn't seem like a ruckus anymore after his dentist visit.

I picked his sleepy self out of the chair but he quickly awoke in time to grab a prize from the treasure box. The hygienist asked if he wanted a ball and he dazedly exclaimed that his heart was stuck on a blue sticky hand.

:)

Yep - he's still my little Ruckus -

just with less chocolate milk and a healthier smile.



Growing Up

Little C on his first day of 4th grade

 A 4th grader? Oh me oh my.

He looks so grown up doesn't he? There are other little boys in our neighborhood two years older and Little C rivals them in height.

4th grade is a big deal.

I remember feeling so grown up at that age. Clothes started to matter - my bangs needed to be displayed as high as possible, being in strict competition with the extravagant bow atop my head.

I had my first "boyfriend" - which in elementary school definition means you stop talking to the boy you like until you break up because now you know you like each other. :)

  And now my little guy is there.

He's turned into a sarcastic, witty little thing, with a quick, clever grin to follow.

Although talented in the sports dept he's in no way competitive. 

He would be social 24/7 if allowed which is sometimes detrimental to his school assignments.... poor guy takes after his mama. 

This is Little C's first time attending the same school two years in a row. He had never experienced being excited for school to start, missing old friends, and feeling the joy of being reunited with them again. It was fun to observe.

He acts so grown up in many ways but is still a fan of his mom.

We went on a Mommy/son date the other night. Eating dinner at downtown Cafe Ole' and then catching the latest Spider man flick.

He held my hand while we walked around - chatting - dancing around to the music playing in the streets - and squeezed hands tighter when we were walking to the car and a person barked at us. What?

It was weird but memorable and we both laughed while sprinting to the car avoiding further stranger outbursts.

The Beloved and Little C have recently formed their own fashion of bonding with the love of golf. I love that it is their thing. I'm not involved - brothers aren't involved (quite yet) - they can just go and be.

It's cool.

 

 

Lou on his first day of pre-school

Lou has been counting down the days for school to start for the last two years.  Little C and Lou and are such buds that sometimes I forget that Lou isn't older. He's so smart and READY to be challenged.

After his first day of school he was depressed that all they did was sing songs and get to know each other. They didn't even sing the ABCs! he said. He wanted homework. He wanted letters and numbers! Dang it Jim~! ( for some reason I had an old Star trek line go through my head.. something like - Dang it Jim! I'm a doctor not a scientist (sisters, do you remember Kent K. saying that a lot? :) - but I made the dang it kid friendly because those weren't the exact words... anyhoo.. now back to the Lou dog)

Our little Lou IS NOT a morning person. He usually wakes up around 9:30 even when he goes to bed at 8.

On his second day of school, with all learning enthusiasm gone, he had no desire to roll out of bed.

Although they've started working on letters and his mood re: school curriculum has changed significantly - nothing is going to put a smile on his face before 10 o'clock in the morning. (I definitely can't claim the morning person card - but I do have to point the finger at The Beloved for this one. Like father like son. :)

When Lou decides to attempt something, he's going to strive to be perfect at it. Coloring, tricks on the trampoline, Wii games, riding his bike -

he likes to be the winner of all and the director.

If he loses or you disagree with his way of thinking...

things get a bit harder. :)

But after a few tears... all is forgiven and he's our sweet little spirited guy again.

 

The other day I got a bit nervous - I felt overwhelmed thinking life is going by just too quick! Next year Little C will be in 5th grade. What?!

Lou will be in Kindergarton and Ruckus will be in pre-school and it will just be me and the baby at home.

How lonely.

I don't want my babies to leave their nest.

At that minute I rededicated my self to the moments I have with them now. They're the reason I'm home. Am I taking advantage of spending time with them and getting to know their little personalities as much as possible?  Am I creating fun and teaching memories alike? Do they know that I am fun? LIKE WAY FUN?! I need them to see that side of me more often - lose the stressed, tired expression on my face.

I love these little humans. I am so glad to be their mother.

Here's to another school year -

 filled with less wasted moments.

 



Friends. Do we Hug?

I've been trying to take more pictures with my friends when we get together... which is almost never because I'm a home-body... and I'm just too tired. (Sound like an exceptional friend, right? :)
 But alas, pictures are my goal.
Since we moved from Illinois I've been sad that I didn't take any pictures with my friends, who were really my family - and made Illinois heaven on earth.
I am surrounded by wonderfully, loving people, and I don't want to forget their faces... so here's my short, short list of friend photos thus far.

Maggie, Me, Kelsey
Maggie helped me train for my 10K before she moved to UT.. :( miss you. And Kelsey  is just the most laid back person you could ever meet... love her.
 

Oh friends from high school and early adulthood... some memories we laugh about, some we'd like to forget :) but mostly we just have fun together.

This is Rami... who will shoot me for using this picture.  Pals for A LONG time and she was my first roommate.
Hilarious person my friends, hilarious.

April made these beautiful cupcakes for us to enjoy. She's the type of friend who will drop anything for you.
Great kid.

My Dear Alyssa - what a fabulous gal. We were roommates together when we were in "single mom" status.
Couldn't have gotten through it without ya!

 

So, there's my picture list. Adore those ladies!

When I see them I hug them with joy but typically...

I am not a hugger.

Are you?

Unless you're family... it takes me a loonnggg time to get hug comfortable.

Has somebody come up to you, you've only met a few times and grabbed you in an embrace?

My thought at that precise moment,

... and we're hugging.

We've got ourselves a hugger.

About a year and a half ago I was called to work with the young women in our ward and a little while later attended a church barbecue.

One of the girls who I think I had met once ran up to me, threw her arms around my body and said she was so glad to see me.

I was seriously thinking that she thought I was someone else. I didn't even know her... and although I love her and think she's grand now... I had no idea how to respond at that moment. I think I tried to exaggerate my response in a loud, "good to see you too". But in my brain I was doing my best to try and recall what her name was.

I have an amazing friend named Maria who I've known now for probably eight years and when we see each other - we hug.

The first time we met was on her first day of work at the credit union I was employed at. After about a week she would greet me in these huge hugs of glee....

I couldn't handle it. I definitely have a bubble and I don't really want you to touch me.. at all.

I finally got the courage to say the tackiest thing that possibly has ever been released from my mouth,
"Maria,  I don't really like to hug people. Really not a hugger in the least. So Sorry."

Our friendship bloomed during the years we worked together and when it became a natural thing for us to hug she would always ask in advance. Poor girl.

I finally said - Maria, we're good now. You don't have to ask to hug me anymore :).

Am I such a dork or what?! Seriously!

One day Maggie (my running buddy) and I had a conversation how we're not huggers and I told her all of my ridiculous stories. When it came time for her to move I went to hug her goodbye and then I thought... maybe she's NEVER a hugger type of person, even when one is moving away. (do you love the retardation which is me?)

So what did I do... I asked. :)

I said something like - so I know we're not huggers but I'm going to hug you because you're moving to a different state. Good great?!

I'm a little ridiculous.

I have a list in my mind of hugger people and non-hugger people.

It could be a Seinfeld episode.

But, I want you to know, I am so thankful for my friends.. the ones who hug and the ones who don't.

 



Food, Fair, Fun!

Litte C and The Beloved on the ring of fire.

Little C's shoe that fell off.

Why do you go to the fair?

Personally, I go for the food and I think the Baby does as well. :)

Have you ever seen somebody love a corn dog so much?

The Beloved, Little C, and Lou go for the thrill.

Ruckus is somewhere in the middle.

My little parentals joined us for the fun and my dad even talked me into going on a ride with him. It was his favorite ride when he was growing up and I think I squished him half to death but we laughed our heads off. Don't you just love your parents? Mine are always so helpful with my children I don't think we could even go out in public half the time without them. Seriously, the best.

 Like I said earlier - Little C and Lou prefer- the scarier the better! Ruckus is getting there but is taking his time.

He did great until he went on the little roller coaster with Lou.

When they passed us on their first loop around Lou had his hands in the air, shouting for joy. Ruckus couldn't have been holding on tighter, his eyes bulging out of his head... hating it.

 Moments later he burst out in tears.

On their second loop around Lou had one arm in the air, loving life, and the other arm was placed tenderly around Ruckus' shoulders,  comforting his little brother until the ride was over.

I am pretty sure I cried a bit.

Oh they declare war against each other daily -

but they love each other deeply.

Hurray for bonding -

food, fair, and fun!

 



Getting Dirty

Prep for camping - hate it.

Clean up from camping - hate it.

Camping - LOVE IT.

Little C picked out a full weeks activities for the last week of summer and the agenda on Saturday was camping.

We arrived a little late into the evening, because that's how we roll, and The Beloved cooked us a lovely meal in the dark.

The boys climbed up and down the hills going on "missions" as they hunted for fire wood.

Ruckus became a man when he realized he could pee in the wild until The Beloved and I told him to STOP PEEING IN THE WILD. Everytime we'd turn around there'd be Ruckus... doing his thing... again. He was so proud.

You'll notice a new addition to our family, although The Beloved doesn't claim her. A couple weeks ago The Animals Shelter was giving away dogs for free over 6 mos old and for some reason.... I truly felt inclined to go and get one. I have NOT wanted a dog... no, no, no...

But I kept feeling compelled, so being compulsive I took the boys to the shelter  and that's where we found Kathy.

Don't you love it?

Kathy! I fell in love with her because of her name. It sounded so maternal and I thought... I really need a Kathy around here.

The Beloved has wanted a dog for a long time.... until he didn't... and forgot to tell me. Or maybe, I was the naughty spouse and forgot to ask him. Probably the latter. Good learning experience for me though - won't do that again. :)

Anyway, everybody but The Beloved is in love with Kathy and she froze her little hiney off camping.

The boys looked like orphan children but I was completely content with that.

They played in the stream where they threw rocks, climbed rocks, ate rocks (the baby), made rock collections in their shoes and were the cutest mountain men I've ever seen.