sleeping arrangements

This weekend we decided we would set up our new (last year) tent that we have only used once in the basement. Kind of a practice run. Of course, the kids love it, and the inevitable question came which was could they sleep in the tent. We decided to try it out. We were hesitant about this. Last summer, when the kids slept together it was not really a fun deal. At Aunt Laci & Uncle Ryan's, it took forever for them to go to sleep, at Grandma's house on the 4th of July, they woke up at like 5 in the morning, and the one time we did go camping, sleep didn't really happen at all... I tried to have them sleep together at home before we did these things, but that never worked either.

So, we decided to try it, if it didn't work out, well we'd just put them in their beds. It's funny how different they are. Finn is quiet and falls asleep pretty quickly. Burgundy, on the other hand, lays in her bed and talks, and yells, and sings (loudly) for an hour or more before she falls asleep. Last year, Finn got pretty frustrated. This time, we told him, baby likes to talk to herself before she falls asleep, so you just try to ignore it and go to sleep anyway. And that is what he did. She had an hour-long conversation (more like a musical, bursting into song every now and then), but he was fast asleep. Once she fell asleep, they both slept great and didn't wake up any earlier than normal. Good news!

So they slept in there all weekend. They loved it. Tonight, they are both in Finn's room. And as far as I know, they are both asleep. This is a good thing. This makes me feel like we are finally to the point where we can go more places. They are really good travelers, just the sleeping thing has always been a worry, and how often does someone have 3 spare rooms when you visit them? Not often enough. So the fact that they can sleep in the same room, and the thought that we could sneak in there and go to bed a few hours later, well that just makes my heart happy.

It makes me recall all the times it just didn't work. Like camping last summer (although if I'm being honest, I loved it. Finn & Cody slept fine on one side and since I never sleep the first night of camping anyway, Burgundy and I just lay in bed all night with her little hands rubbing my cheek. Precious). I am reminded of going to Montana with Finn in a pack-n-play, not sleeping a wink due to my nervousness for the duties I had to perform the next day as well as my discomfort of being 7 1/2 months pregnant in a hotel bed and afraid to move because any sound would wake up the boy. And earlier, Finn, at just over a year old, sleeping at my parents' house in another pack-n-play. Me sitting there in the dark, waiting for him to fall asleep because if I got up to leave he would start screaming and I would have to start all over again. Ahh, memories.

here's an idea

When I was in school, my mom told a little white lie every year, in order to avoid it coming true. At the beginning of every year, she wrote a note saying I had a shoulder injury and that I needed a duplicate set of textbooks to keep at home so that I didn't have to lug 50 pounds of books to and fro every single day. That was great. I had a set of books at school to take to class, and a set of books at home to do my homework. Now, they have fun inventions like e-readers:

So, maybe for my kids' kids, or even their kids' kids, depending on how quickly the school system catches up, I bet each student will get one of these and all their textbooks will be on it. I think that's great. I bet it won't be commonplace by the time Finn starts needing to lug 50 pounds worth of books, but if I can get his textbooks on one of these, I'd be willing to buy one
just for that reason. Heck I'd buy one for each of my kids if they could use it in that capacity every year. I just think that's a cool idea.

Also, we finally got Cody's guitars up in the basement. I got him these hooks for Christmas. They look pretty.

what's happening

Well, the summer is almost upon us. This weekend Cody & I worked outside and now everything is beautiful. The garden is in, I even have some pretty pots full of loveliness decorating my back deck. It makes me want to spend more time outside! Today, although it wasn't quite warm enough, we pulled out the little plastic pool & the slip n slide. Let summer begin!

Finn has about one more week of school, then he will no longer be a preschooler. Lately, it has seemed like he isn't hearing us as well as he should. I am trying to figure out if it is selective hearing or an actual physical problem. We have tried to test him, like when he doesn't hear us, saying something like, "Finn, do you want a piece of candy?" and usually he doesn't respond to that either which tells me there could be something wrong. So, I am taking him in on Thursday to have them check it out. Paula said Cody had the same issue at the same age and it was due to fluid in the ears from him being sick all the time. I buy that. Especially since Finn has been sick way more than I'd like this winter. So we'll see what the doctor says.

What else... I need a bike rack. Here's my current bike rack:
It would probably be easier if I had one that hooked onto the back of my car rather than having to pull a 20 foot trailer everywhere I go. Yeah. I need a bike rack for sure.

I am still working on my goal of 50 books in 2010. I am on number 20 right now, and seeing as this is the 20th week of the year I'm doing pretty good - right on schedule (see the list on the right hand side of this blog).

If you read my last post you know we had to get rid of our dog Rigby. That was a sad deal. I was going to do a big long update about that, but it made me too sad. But the good news is, the lady we gave him to emails me pretty much every day to let me know how he's doing. She has another Schnauzer who is 2 years old and they seemed perfectly matched when we brought Rigby over there. Apparently they are, she says he is doing extremely well, he follows her dog around everywhere and they just play and play all the live long day. So that makes my heart happy to know that he is doing so well and that he is in a place where the people are very excited and happy to have him. We definitely miss him, but it's the best possible situation for him right now.

Next month, Finn will be starting baseball and we will have swimming lessons at the end of June. There's never a dull moment around here. That's all the news I have at the moment. I will update again soon!

losing Rigby

Today I am pretty sad. We are getting rid of our dog, Rigby. He is a good dog but unfortunately I am in a spot right now where I am unable to deal with him. He has a few things he does (like chewing, barking, whining) that probably wouldn't be a big deal for a sane person, but that is not me right now.

I think my kids are a bit too little for this crazy dog, because he thinks of them as his brother and sister puppies instead of his leader humans so that is not the greatest situation and I can't be there every second to monitor that. And since I can't get rid of my kids... just kidding.

So yeah, it is a bummer situation all around. I am trying to deal with it all today - everything from the immense feelings of failure to the excrutiating fear of scarring my son by doing this to the logistics of getting him to a good home. We have been going over this and over this for weeks, and yesterday I decided I was going to put an ad on KSL and just see what happened. Of course, I got 4 calls that day. The first lady to call has older kids (12, 16 &18) and an older Schnauzer. She had another dog who died last year and her Schnauzer has been sad without a playmate. So the lady is going to bring her dog over today and we'll see how they get along. I think if they get along that will be a really good, happy place for Rigby to go to.

But I woke up today with my stomach in knots and really, truly just wanting this day to be over already. So all day, I have been watching the clock and it's been a countdown until she was supposed to come at noon. Then she called me at 20 after to say I had a pipe burst so can I come tomorrow. For once, I was able to say no to someone (other than my kids). I said I'm sorry and I really want to accommodate you, but this has been the worst day and I certainly don't want to live it again tomorrow. So if you can come after the plumbers come that would be good.

That is extra bad because poor Cody had to come home from work today (not an easy thing for him to do) because in my head I knew I needed to be the strong mom who holds it together for my kids, but unfortunately that is not what was happening. I was basically a mess all morning and even though it was a huge pain in the butt for Cody to come home, I am so glad he did, becauase I feel more balanced when he is here and less like the whole world is on my shoulders alone. But now if this whole thing isn't going to go down today I am going to have to relive it tomorrow.

So now I am just waiting and this day keeps stretching out in front of me with no end in sight. And I am trying to avoid a mental breakdown.

Bike Rider

I was loathe to forget several things on this momentous little trip, not the least of which being my camera. What did we ever do in the days before our cell phones could act as back up cameras and camcorders? The other thing we forgot, of all things... his helmet. I do not let this child near his bike without his helmet on and never have. So the day we go to learn how to ride without training wheels, he does so without a helmet. Bad mommy.

In my defense, we've never actually taken the bike anywhere other than the front yard, and so have never had occasion to remember a helmet. Today I finally realized, he might do well with a longer runway. As it is at our house, he has about 40 or so feet. Not really enough to get up enough speed to maintain balance. So, we threw the bike, sans training wheels, into the back of the jeep and headed to the duck pond. It has a lovely trail around it and one or two times around is just about right for little legs.

Half-way around, he was ready to give up. I promised him, PROMISED that he would get it by the time we were all the way around. Luckily for me, I was right. And he wanted to go around again. I ran along side him and asked if he could beat me running. He did.

Here is a very poor video of us at the duck pond, just as he was starting to get it. Without fail, kids will be doing something flawlessly, but turn a camera on them and they struggle. As in this next video, riding more once we got home. He had gone back and forth 20 times, straight as as arrow, until I told Cody to video it.

So, recently I found some old ribbons I had from Pampered Chef and decided to turn them into reward ribbons. They are very coveted in this house. There is a yellow one for picking up clothes, a green one for picking up toys, and there is a black one, we hadn't decided what this one was for yet, it was to be for something very special. Finn got to wear the black ribbon today. I am so proud of him. Seems crazy to think this might be a day he remembers forever. Maybe, maybe not. But I hope so. It was a good day.