Too much

My mom and my aunt Laura were here for a few days, doing all of my work, and I still couldn't manage to get anything written. Not only do I feel guilty about letting all of you down, I have been rationalizing that the empty baby books are okay because of all the information (and wisdom) I am documenting on the worldwide Interweb. But here we are with more empty pages, each one admonishing me to get a grip on my life. Some people go to work every day, for crying out loud. You don't see them stressing out because their DVR list is 94% full and they are about to leave on a weeklong vacation. Speaking of vacation, I still need to pack and do a few million other things so today's tidbit will be less wisdom and more random things I don't want to forget. (What, you don't remember seeing any wisdom here? Oh, maybe I'm thinking of someone else's blog.)

Ethan is spending less time as a puppy and more time as "Dad". You may also call him "Matt" or "Ethan's Dad" but never under any circumstances are you allowed to address him as "Ethan." That part is currently being played by Evan, although he hasn't figured that out so does not respond to directions from "Dad" and also is disappointed 10 times a day when Ethan, I mean "Matt" announces "Dad's home!," referring, of course, to himself and not to Evan's beloved Dada. The good news is that "Dad" does not insist on eating out of a bowl on the floor.

Evan now says off, which has slightly decreased the number of times a day he says up, and it is a very useful word as he has appointed himself Supreme Leader of Anything With An On/Off Switch. He says see you wayteh and blows kisses as he zooms away. He also asks 'huh' all the time and actually I wouldn't mind forgetting that one because it's really annoying. He is very much into pretending right now as well. Being a puppy is his favorite but occasionally he moos and insists that you feed him from a sippy cup as though he is a baby calf drinking from a bottle. Oh, you know what, maybe I should say that being a shark is his favorite activity because OOWWWWWW with the biting.

Well look at this! I can cross update blog off my list and go on to, damn, weed garden. It's going to be a long night. See you all next week!

Briefly

I wish I had a really good excuse for neglecting this poor little blog, like I was busy writing a novel or finding the cure for cancer, but this is not the place for grandiose fibs. (That place, obviously, would be among a group of fishermen. Or perhaps a new mothers' play group: 'My baby slept through the night at 2 days old.' 'My baby aced his early admission exam to Harvard.') And if this blog had feelings and felt neglected, all it would have to do is look out at my garden for a shocking portrait of REAL neglect. Or look at the boys' long, filthy fingernails. Shudder.

Instead I've been: Playing 'puppy' with Evan, decluttering (feels so good), potty training, trying to choose the perfect camera, finalizing details for upcoming vacations, trying to keep the bucket calves in their pen, caring for the screamingest infant I've ever known (and I've known some pretty screamy infants), praying, raking hay, feeding people, swimming, and, oh yeah, occasionally going to WORK. So far I am loving my job and Matt is loving the extra time at home so that's working out well. It's been quite challenging to get out the door at a specific time but I am trying to act like an adult about it. (Specifically, an adult who can manage a schedule, not an adult who has been doing whatever she pleases for the past 4 years).

Ethan is spending this week at my parents' house. We are missing him but it has been fun to have this one-on-one time with Evan. He has grown up so much lately- practicing big boy postures like leaning against the wall on one leg and standing with his hands on his hips; really helping around the house; and choosing imaginative play games that actually make sense. He uses new words everyday and continues to communicate very clearly with non-verbal cues as needed. Once in a while I can step back from the everyday madness and really look at the boys. I am constantly surprised and delighted by what amazing little people they are. I can't wait to get my hands on Ethan this weekend. Til then, I think I'll be able to keep myself busy.

Facebook cop-out, part 3

1. What bill do you hate paying the most? Insurance
2. Do you miss being a child? Not at all, I love being a mom.
3. Chore you hate the most? Oh so many... cleaning the bathtub, putting away laundry, vacumning.
4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner? Um, prom?
5. If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be? I would not have bought a bunch of size 0 pants right before I got pregnant with Ethan. Yeah, I'm still bitter.
6. Name of your first grade teacher? Mrs. Wylie
7. What do you really want to be doing right now? Sleeping.
8. What did you want to be when you grew up? As a child, I wanted to be a vet. As a teen, a social worker. (Check.)
9. How many colleges did you attend? 1, Dana.
10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now? Relatively clean.
11. What are your thoughts on gas prices? Oil companies are sticking it to us.
12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? What the f* is that noise?!
13. Last thought before going to sleep last night? Sh*t, I didn't put the clothes in the dryer.
14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? Barack & Michelle Obama. And Jon Stewart. And Mike Rowe. And Dr. Sears. And... just kidding.
15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle? Umm, yeah. A few. Okay, a lot.
16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer? I would love to volunteer more, especially at church.
17. Get up early or sleep in? In theory, get up early. In reality, sleep as long as possible.
18. What is your favorite cartoon character? The Man in the Yellow Hat
20. When did you first start feeling old? When I got married, now I look back and can't believe how young I was
21. Favorite lunch meat? turkey
22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart? toilet paper
23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual? no, it's a lifesaver
24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about? Enchanted - I'm not afraid to admit it.
25. What's your favorite drink?Diet Pepsi... I only wish I could take it intravenously.
26. Who[m] from high school would you like to run in to? Dawn, with Preston of course
27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now? NPR
28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives? Neither, my limited TV time is dedicated to the Daily Show
29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back: Taking out all my frustrations on Matt
30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work? yeah, I like my kids (most days)
31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose? not yet
32. Last book you finished reading? Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now by Dr. Seuss
33. Do you have a teddy bear? They've all been commandeered.
34. Do you go to church? Not as much as I should and as I would like to.

Missed

My camera bit the dust last week, and here are a few of the things I wish I could have photographed lately:

- the way Maddie's tiny feet, Evan's chubby feet, and Ethan's enormous feet looked all tangled up on a blanket in the yard
- the look of shock on Evan's face when he ran through the sprinkler for the first time
- the look of ecstasy on Ethan's face while running through the sprinkler
- the boys holding our baby kitties
- the basketful of arugula and spinach we picked from the garden
- the supercute pajamas my mom can't stop buying for the boys
- how happy all my boys looked when we celebrated Matt's birthday on Tuesday

Not that I have time to take pictures, anyway, because I am now working part time at a youth home in Broken Bow. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the CEDARS organization and to use my skills -and degree- with these troubled children. It has been an adjustment for my own kids, of course, but Matt and I have been able to juggle our schedules enough for one of us to be with them most of the time. He has been very glad to have some extra time at home- at this rate the ranch work will be caught up in 10 or 15 years. Since the boys are such good help.
So lots of new adventures and laundry piling up, but I am excited to see what this summer will bring us.

Sweet, sweet babies

No, no, not mine. Are you crazy? Although mine does look deceptively sweet here:

The boys and I made a quick trip to Lincoln last Monday and got to meet Preston on our way home. Isn't he adorable? Matt and I have been friends with his parents, Nick and Dawn, since high school. We just love them to pieces, even though Dawn once shut Matt's head in a car door (hmm...that actually explains a lot).

The other aforementioned sweet baby is that little Maddie we're watching. Evan has gotten over most of his possessiveness of me and has followed Ethan over into adoration-land. "Tiddoo, tiddoo," he'll grin as he tickles her feet. "Look at her tiny little toes," Ethan coos as she lays on the blanket. "Look at her tiny little ears. Let's talk about them." So we talk about how tiny babies are, and who takes care of them, and how wonderful it is that God gives babies to mommies and daddies.

Huh. I guess mine can be pretty darn sweet, too.

Happy birthday, Grandpa!

Today is my Grandpa Joe's birthday, and we are all really sad not to be in Lincoln celebrating with him. He is an amazing man and we love him very much!

Food, glorious food

Meal times at our house remind me of The Very Hungry Caterpillar: for supper tonight, Evan ate through one container of yogurt, seven steamed carrots, two servings of corn, five bites of roast beef, and one potato. Ethan is finally branching out of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich obsession with variations such as: "ONE bread with ONE jelly," a slice of bread with peanut butter, a slice of bread with butter, and a plain old slice of bread. That's my boy. He still eats more fruits and veggies than anyone I know (besides Evan), and drinks tons of milk so I haven't been too worried about his general diet but Matt is beyond baffled by the meat boycott. He also feels strongly that each boy should eat whatever I prepare for dinner (and eat it with a smile on your face!) and thinks I am enabling bad habits when I set a PB&J on Ethan's plate while dishing up pot roast for the rest of us. We usually maintain a solid united front on parenting issues but it is really hard with this food situation. I was a really picky eater and I turned out fine. Matt always cleaned his plate... and turned out fine. I figure that I am the one making dinner and making the sandwich, so it should be my call. I'm not offended at all, I'd rather prepare something that I know will get eaten (and by 'prepare' I mean buttering a slice of bread, seriously) than spend the whole dinner with someone in tears over hostile negotiations. Matt thinks the whole concept of 'taste preferences' is ridiculous and there's no reason not to choke down whatever is on your plate. Taste is of the utmost importance to me, and I am living proof that spoiled, over-indulged picky eaters can grow up to eat green veggies, and lots of them. Besides, one of Ethan's first sentences was 'mowe bwoccowi, pweese.' We can't have screwed up that much in the last 3 years, can we? Hopefully this will phase out soon and we can stand united together against the next soul-sucking obsession. Hmmm, another bedtime boycott, perhaps? Or something even MORE fun.