Tour of California, with toddlers

This year the Amgen Tour of California rolled through our town. The start of the final stage was just a few minutes from our house. So what was a good sports loving family to do?

We made our way down to the start, we found some LIVESTRONG chalk, wrote messages to drew pictures for the riders,





We saw a cool BMX bike show with special guest skateboarder, and generally got into the spirit of things. Even at 10 am, two hours before the start of the race, there were a lot of people.

The boys were great, they held our hands, rode on our shoulders in some tight spaces, like anywhere in a 1000 foot radius of the Team Astana trailer, and rang their Amgen Cow Bells like old racing fan pros.

Right before the start of the race we found a great spot where all the racers came from their trailers to the starting line. It's from this spot that Scott caught this picture of the eventual winner's posterior. (and random guy running after him)

But, (ha, ha, ha) in his defense, he also caught this shot of fresh out of retirement, greatest American cyclist, super athlete, Lance Armstrong. It's a really great shot. And we were that close. I don't get star struck easily. I'm not a crazy fan kind of person, with a FEW exceptions. But I ACTUALLY got goosebumps. I wouldn't even call myself a fan of Lance. I think he is an amazing athlete, he's accomplished so much, he is an inspiration. But I like Levi Leipheimer better. But GREATNESS, you can feel it when you are in it's presence. It is palpable.



After we had our brush with greatness, Levi, Lance, et al. We ran, with boys on our shoulders, that's 30+ pounds on our my shoulders. to this spot. You can see one of the team cars, with all of the bikes on top, but we Evan and Ryan had a great view and I'm sure they saw the racers riding by. I actually know Evan saw them, because he told me later that he saw the "biking guys zoom by".Evan also spent the next two days telling us he was a "black thing" What "black thing?" we'd ask, "the black thing from the bike race" he'd say. "The cars?" We'd ask. "No". "The thing the skateboarder was on?" "No, that was a ramp." he'd reply. Finally, Scott asked the right series of questions, and we figured it out! At the BMX bike show, there was a large, black speaker, out of which came the announcers, voice, and music. THAT was the black thing. Now, Evan is a "Black Speaker" and he tells every one he encounters that "I am a black speaker." to many a confused person.

Cousins

Last week cousin Madison and Nannie came to visit. I'm not sure if three kids could have had more fun! We went to the park...
We went for a walk in a preserve...






and we even rode the train...




It's been so amazing to watch the cousins learn to play with each other and interact. It is such a joy to have a cousin close in age. I remember growing up with my cousin. We didn't spend a lot of time together, but when we did, we ALWAYS had fun.

Every time these three see each other, I see a new awareness in all of them. The boys talk about cousin Madison, and what she did, or does. Madison was super excited to see her cousins, and really disappointed when one night Evan refused to give her a hug good night.

After each visit, I reflect on how wonderful it is that these kids are so close in age, and that they will always have special times with each other.

I like to....

I'm sure you all know this hideous song. Some of you make like it, I am opposed to all things Raffi.

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

A
A lake to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays
A lake to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays

E
E leke to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees
E leke to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees

I
I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys|
I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys

O
O loke to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos
O loke to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos

U
U luke to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos
U luke to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos

We know it from story time, and the boys like it. they have started singing it and it IS really cute. HOWEVER...tonight we were treated to a rendition we will not soon forget...

Ryan:

I like to poop, poop, poop, poopy and poopy. I like to poop, poop, poop, pooper and poopy.

Evan:

I like to penis, penis, penis, (giggle, giggle) penis, pe-nee.

Granted this was all taking place during a poop filled diaper change, but. I don't think Scott and I have laughed that hard in years. I couldn't even get out some good old parenting words like "not appropriate" "not polite". I had tears in my eyes, and had I not had legs in my hand I would have been holding my sides I was laughing so hard.

You know what I'll be singing next week at story time, doncha?

Bullies in the making

So, as part of my fundraising for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies, (by the way click on the Walk for Babies logo on the sidebar to donate) I am sitting in a kids play place here in town, sans kids. It's interesting.

As a mom, I really try to do my best to have my kids be respectful and considerate of other people.

I go out of my way to try and make play situations a learning experience. If I see my kids behaving in a manner "not acceptable" we put a stop to it immediately. If we cannot stop the behavior, we leave. Simple. (to me)

I just watched this boy of maybe 5 or 6 run headlong into another child, while driving one of those hard plastic plasma car things, knock him down, and then when the child complained, he said. "Why should I stop, I'm in a race." Turn and ride off. The other little boy, of similar age, picked himself up and went over to sit by his mom for a few minutes.

Okay, first of all, at that age, I think this boy should have been able to say "I'm sorry" with out prompting from his parents. But, second of all, where were his parents? Oh, his mom is sitting over here on the phone. The kid he hit was visibly shaken, so much that I almost got up to see if he was okay.

Well, this same kid, got knocked down and started to wail. Cried and cried, and cried. The kid he hit earlier, well, he tried to comfort this brat other boy. Where was the brat's mom this time? OUTSIDE on the PHONE. Some one went and got her, he cried for like 10 minutes, had to have ice his lip hurt so much.

I couldn't help think Karma (this makes me feel like a really bad person)

Except he is now running around this place, in between adults and children alike, without regard to anything. Pushing, shoving, taking things from other kids. Where is his mom? Oh she is sitting here saying "Nicholas" in that tone that Nicholas clearly recognizes as you don't really mean it, and I can continue to do what I want and you won't get up to stop me.

I have to go home now to my kids that are not perfect, but I know they are sweet and compassionate, loving and kind. And I intend to keep them that way, no matter what I have to do. (even if it means I have to beat up talk to a bully for them.

Everybody's talkin' at me

It seems that all I do these days is blog about something funny or cute that someone says. At least I think they are funny and or cute. However if you do not, well, sorry. Much of the reason for this blog is to record things I don't want to forget. So much happens in a day, week, month. If I don't write it down, its gone. It's not like I can remember EVERY moment. Really.

But it does seem that every.waking.moment. someone is talking at me! The house is filled with the constant chatter of little mouths, with big opinions. And to me, so much of it makes me laugh out loud.

We took a trip to the snow on Sunday. I swear I don't know how people do it living in a climate that requires things like, you know, jackets?

We got both boys into their snow suits, and jackets and spent an hour or so, frolicking in the snow. or ice. because by the time we got there on Sunday, the recent snow fall had turned more icy than anything. The boys didn't care. There were giggles, squeals, and lots of belly laughs, and the Ryan and Evan had fun too.

"Come on Daddy, let's go again"

"This isn't as easy as Mom and Dad made it seem"

"Come on Ryan, let me help you."

"Wait, I'm steering? I can't even see!" shouted Evan.

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At lunchtime Evan to Ryan: "Ryan can you share another one with me? That would make me very happy"

From Ryan to Evan while Evan is crying: "You'll be okay sweetie."

Evan, with impeccable timing, (and perfect intonation) after I dropped and broke a third jar of baby food in three days: "Son of a Gun!!!"

Ryan at Dinner: "I love burritos, yummy, yum"

Ryan all the time about everything: "oopsie"

After making a "Build-a-Bear" at the mall today both boys started saying: "We went to the buddy mall"

Top Chef or Fear Factor?

The boys have some play food, some of which includes this cool sushi set from Melissa and Doug. (Not that I'm trying to influence their food choices or anything, but eventually, these boys, my boys will HAVE to like sushi. It's their heritage. It's been decided.)

I found this masterpiece the other day after the boys went down for naps.

Forgive me if I am mistaken, but I believe that it is banana sushi. It's either brilliant, or something on the eating challenge of Fear Factor or Survivor. I'm going to go with brilliant, since I believe my resident chef Ryan created this culinary creation, but please, don't make me try it.

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I had a moment early this week, I guess that means yesterday, where I realized I had left the boys alone for too long. It had gotten silent. Any mom knows the sound of silence strikes terror in the heart of even the most battle worn parent.

This is what I found...


Sigh...does this mean they are growing up?

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Today Ryan was sitting on the potty, and he wasn't positioned right...let's just say if he had peed, he would have gotten it all over the floor. I used my finger and "positioned" him. This is what he told me.

"No Mommy, please don't touch my penis, it isn't nice."

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on that note, don't forget to donate, sign up your own team, or support the March of Dimes

March for Babies: fundraising begins

As many of you may know Ryan and Evan were born at 26 weeks. I've talked about it before. You can read about it here and here and here and a whole bunch of other posts in our archives.

Because of experiences we are walking in the 2009 March for Babies. We are starting our fund raising campaign for this event today. You can log on to our website

and donate, you can also join us in the walk from this site.

Or you can go here and purchase some labels for your home, your kids or grand kids. 20% of each sale will go to the March of Dimes, plus, and an additional 10% will be donated from the Lovable Labels sales agent...me! I just started selling these labels, because I like them so much and now I've booked my first fundraiser. Okay, cheating a little since it is my own fundraiser, but...I'm donating my commission to the March of Dimes, from now until the end of March, that's a total of 30% of all sales through this website that will be going to the March of Dimes! You can donate, AND get a little something for your self! Talk about a win-win.

The widget

will remain on my blog, and facebook page until the March.

The Lovable Labels fundraiser is good through March 31.



Please consider donating, walking, recruiting for our team.

The March of Dimes saves babies. Babies like these.