For sale

Xander has been throwing tantrums all morning. It started when Soren put on the exact pair of white underwear he wanted to wear. Mind you we have a whole drawer full of them - but those where the ones he "needed".

I made pancakes with strawberry toppings this morning. First I cut the pancake wrong so now he can't eat it. Then after a few minutes of whining he proclaims in a most hideous complaining voice, "You forgot syrup. I want it now!" (remember the delicious handpicked, homemade strawberry topping that he loves that is already on the pancake?). I then proceeded to have a very familiar conversation on how to get what he wanted and how to ask for it. He has perfected snotty, demanding, entitled statements that I have ethical issues cooperating with. It lasted for a few minutes when he accidentally said "please" among all the demanding. Trying to encourage any positive behavior I quickly changed from my "it would be wise for you to behave" voice, to "helpful nice mom who is ready to listen" voice and said, "oh you said please. I love it when you say please. What can I do for you?" Realizing his own semi-polite mistake (he was whining when he said it), he decided it was better to abort all together then actually do something I wanted him to do. He quickly responded with resolution "noffing."

Did anyone read/memorize "where the sidewalk ends" like I did? If so you will understand this poem I dedicate to my youngest son. Originally it is "sister", but for my needs I have changed it.

For Sale

One son for sale.

One son for sale.

One crying, spying young son for sale.

I am really not kidding.

So who'll start the bidding?

Do I hear a dollar?

A nickle?

A penny?

Oh isn't there. isn't there, isn't there someone who will buy this young son for sale?

This crying spying young son for sale.

Artichoke Tradition

The other day at the grocerie store artichokes were on sale for $.70!!! Wow! How could I not buy them. Now, I am under the impression there are a lot of people in the world who don't really eat artichokes, but in the family I grew up in, you ate them for your special birthday dinner - that's how much we loved them. We steam them up and dip them in a thickened lemon butter sauce. This was the 3rd time I gave them to my kids and like they say, 3rd times a charm. After the first 2 exposures being less then successful, this last time the boys devoured them with glutney and smiles. Eating an artichoke is more then just filling your body with nutrition, it is an experience. It takes time and knowledge to eat it properly and the whole thing is an event - from the long time it takes to cook them, to the process of eating them, to the major production of cleaning up the carnage. Why does my heart swell in joy seeing my kids enjoy such a treat? It was for more then just the prolonged silence as they slowly got to the heart of the artichoke. That day I passed on a Thompson family legacy - to love artichokes and believe you are special to get to eat one. Welcome boys, to a Thompson tradition.

pumpkin patch

We went up with some friends to a family friendly pumpkin patch farm that had various farm fall activities. It is about 40 min drive through gorgeous country. I truly have a farm girl deep inside me - or perhaps just below the surface that explodes through when I can't contain it any longer and forces me to buy farm animals. But right now it is just below the surface. I feel energized, excited, peaceful, and I feel all the goodness in the world when I am surrounded by green beauty and living things. I find well kept farms beautiful and have surge of wanting to buy one and run it when I pass them on a sunny day. I have a need to take care of things and for me the more living things I am surrounded by the better..........poor low stress seeking, relaxation searching, chronically over stimulated Ryan. I do try to contain myself best I can. And so you can guess how delightful it was to go to a farm that looked like this. The picture doesn't do it justice.

This place was really great. The boys got to rope a cow,

Play in a huge corn kernal pit,

and go for a tractor train ride. I love this picture. Soren was so exited and happy about the little ride and Xander was multi tasking.

This tractor just dove these kids in a large circle for 3 - 5 minutes and they loved it. I think we do a disservice to our kids taking them to disney land too young. Because once the go to disney land this sort of thing won't be exciting at all. We should capitalize on the simple until they personally decide it ins't very interesting anymore, and then introduce them to the next step. That way life will be more exciting for longer. As an adult who has done some really thrilling things, I can't quite figure out how this can get Soren to jump up and down with excitement, but it did and does and I love it for it.
We also went on a tractor pulled hey ride as a whole family. I told the boys to act like they love each other. My kids are queued up to know when I say that to give the biggest, hardest hugs you can dish out. Way to go Soren. So cooperative.

It's so beautiful!

Storage. How I love thee. Let me count the ways. 7 shelves of 17 plus feet ways!!

I built a whole wall of shelves in our garage because you just can't have too many shelves is my motto. Of course if took a million hours but I ams as giddy as a woman wanting to organize her life can get. I did have to insulate and sheetrock the wall before I could build the shelves which was annoying but well worth it. I must admit sheetrock is heavy to lift and secure by yourself.

The best part is it cost less then 100$ for everything because 80% of the wood is recycled from building the house. I did have to wash the wood first (another annoying task) as the wood has been outside for the last 6 months, but it saved us a lot and it was the greener option.

I can't wait to tackle the laundry room and make it an efficient heaven of storage and utility. Bring it on yo!

Happy Birthday Soren!!

Soren birthday was 10/10/10 this year. I threw him a castle party as he is in love with knights, guards and castles. We invited 5 friends of his and kicked off the celebration making family crests, swords and shields. Giving weapons to multiple boys in one room even if they are made of cardboard is somewhat dangerous.
The shield was definitely a good idea. They would hit each others shields so hard that before the end of the party several were broken. Last year Soren had a pirate party and we did cardboard swards but it was much more tamer. I am not sure if it is one year older or the different crowd but wow.
My in laws came to help and my mother in law could work magic with the kids. She is a 2nd grade teacher and even when the kids were wild she quickly was able to calm them and give them something more appropriate to do. She has super human powers. We did a obstacle coarse (lance a balloon, save the a maiden from a dragon and return her to her castle, and then we played tag as a dragon chain.
I made a castle bithday cake wich I turned out best of all my cakes so far. That being said I still had to push the second layer to be straight again before the picture. Every year I think, Oh, I want to do a fun cake for the birthday boy. It will be lots of fun to do. And every year about half way into it I start to curse the cake's existence and swear of cute cakes ever again in the future. I just do not have frosting skills. It seriously doesn't look that hard and yet perfection keeps alluding me.

It was a great party and Soren loved it.

I love 5 year olds and I am ecstatic to finally have one. I have been looking forward to this day for sometime............5 yrs to be exact. ;) Soren is so delightful, fun and easy to be around. He can busy himself doing non destructive things for quite sometime. He can follow directions and sometimes takes it upon himself to keep Xander in line.......okay so it is only very occasionally but I LOVE it when he does. Although usually it doesn't really help, I love how he knows the rules and wants others to keep them. Ah, the last 5 years hasn't been going through one ear and out the other as originally thought. What a relief. He doesn't argue about much and is quite flexible and easy going.

We went to his 5 year check up the other day and a friend from my church who is a medical student was there. He was working with Soren's Pediatrician. Small world. It was fun to see him there but I must admit I was a bit embraced. You see I was wearing paint clothes as I was in the middle of building some shelves in the garage when I jetted down for Soren's check up. I didn't really see the point in changing since I would be going right back to working in the garage when I got back. I guess I don't care what the people in the office think of me, but a friend from church is another story. Perhaps it is because his family is the most put together, well groomed, cutes family ever. Or maybe because there is only a small handful of people who think I look nice always and I just made that group of people even smaller then it was. But I digress. Lets get back to Soren. So during his check up Soren was incredibly social, giggly, and cooperative. He was really cute. The Pediatrician said, "Wow, you should bottle up this kids happiness and sell it. You could make a fortune." He really is a happy adorable kid.

10 things I love about Soren

1. When he does things he shouldn't do it usually isn't in spite or because he wants to cause problems, but because he is trying to problem solve something.

2. He loves girls. He treats them differently. Is more gentle and helpful with them. He wants a little sister real bad. He said to me once, "I love Brynlee (a 2 year old cousin), I love girlfriends."

3. When I threaten to leave Xander by driving away because he is not getting in the car, Soren starts to protest and cry. Xander on the other hand is much less fazed by the threat. It is sort of sad because Soren really cry's and screams in fear I am going to leave him, but I sort of love it and find it adorable too.

4. Soren drawings. I love to see his pictures and what he is thinking about. He is not big on talking about this thoughts like Xander, so all the insights I get on Soren I really enjoy.

5. His creative mind and how he enjoys making things.

6. His social personality. He loves to be around people and welcomes them into our home in the cutest fashion

7. His hugs when we reunite. Even if it only has been 1 or 2 hrs he always comes running up to me in full speed and wraps his arms around me and proclaims, "Oh Mom, I missed you so much!" I know this is temporary so I have to document it.

8. His sleeping skills. He goes to bed like a champ and he sleeps in until 7 on a regular basis now. Xander take note.

9. Just the fact that he can do more things. Pour his own milk. Ride his bike. Stop when I ask him to.

10. His cheerful happy go lucky, easy going self. We love you Soren. I am so glad I get you in my family.

70 year anniversary

Ryan's Grandpa and Grandma have been married 70 years in September. 70 YEARS!! I don't even know if I am going to live that long. They are one of the cutest little couples I have ever seen. I believe they are 91 and 92 years old. Howard (grandpa) is from S. Dakota I think and grew up on a farm with a twin bother - youngest of 6. He always loved working in his shop and was quite handy as far as I can tell. They use to raise honey bees. He still tinkers around in the shop building bird houses. I just love it. I like getting him on reminiscing stories because he has several great ones. I just think he is the most cutes and delightful 92 year old man I have ever met. His wife is as sweet as can be as well. They are always smiling and quite amiable. They tolerate my kids running around and asking them questions like pros.

Ryan's family never really dies. Both his mom and Dad's side of the family is going to live forever. Ryan probably will too. Which is why I married an older man. You see it was a calculated decision. Half my family can't make it past 65, so I figure with my age difference and my gender Ryan and I just might die around the same time......maybe. It helps Ryan justify eating all the stake and pie he wants anyway.
Here is Ryan's family along with his Dad's extended family. Children are somewhat of a scarcity on that side. We are so grateful for Theo, Ryan's sisters boy who is just a few months older then Xander. He is full of life and drama so he gets along with my kids just fine. It is fun to get a lot of attention for our kids as they are extra special since there aren't as many. On my side I think the 17th grandchild is brewing and as the youngest of 6 I wasn't the first to do anything. However marrying into Ryan's family I get to the first for a handful of things and that has been fun.

Way to go Howard and Phyllis. You are an insperation and a delight. Here is to many more years!!

Soccer!

My boys started soccer this year. I grew up playing soccer and loved it so I have been excited for the day I could watch them play. I started playing soccer when I was 7 and I remember asking some of the girls on my team when they started playing. When they told me 3 years old, I was shocked and a little horrified. That is weird to start at age 3. I mean how can a 3 year old play soccer? Well, I now know..........and it is as I thought when I was 7. Xander is 3 and Soren is 4 and luckily they are on the same team this year. They have a fabulous coach who works great with the kids. He coached last year and teaches great age appropriate excersizes. I am the "assistant coach". I basically just support Coach David and help round up all the kids and try to keep the focused - a mighty task at times.

Here is the team. I think Xander is the youngest and smallest and Soren is the oldest and tallest.

Xander has been grumpy for the first couple of games. Today was the first game he actually got into it.
During games it is 5 on 5 with no goalie or referee. The coach is on the field as referee but more importantly as the person directing all the kids. The ball goes out of bounce every 10-30 seconds. Once the ball goes out you have to move every child to an open spot and remind them they are playing soccer and which one is our goal. Here we are trying to position the kids.
The kids do a lot of bunching when the ball isn't out of bounds. When it gets really crazy, kids get too excited and start to dive for the ball, forgetting the no hands rule. Note here it is all orange (our team) doing the bunching.
Oh a good moment of running. Look at all the kids that remembered they are playing soccer and to run for the ball. The first 5 minutes most kids can stay focused. Then slowly over the course of the game you start to loose the interest of the kids and they begin talking, goofing off or day dreaming. Soren is notorious for this, but once the ball is on the move again he snaps out of it.

As for me, even though the kids are 3 and 4 and you can tell, I love it when it clicks and they remember they are playing soccer, where their goal is and make a score. I am seriously going to be (or am) that loud cheering parent that jumps up and down with every single goal. It doesn't even have to be my kid. In fact right now I am not even that bias which team scores it.