11.20.2013

More Things that Don't Surprise Me

The boys that games play.  They don't surprise me anymore. 

See how many potty words we can say before Mom tells us that's enough? 
     Check.
See how we can contort our faces/bodies to gross Mom out?  
     So often I'm almost not grossed out anymore. (PS - is it instinctual for boys to turn their eyelids inside out?!)
See how much food we can sneak while Mom is folding laundry/changing a diaper/trying to have a moment of silence? 
     Happens more than you'd expect
.  And the answer is about half a bag of pretzels and/or half a carton of ice cream.

When I shout "disgusting!", they giggle with delight.  When I say "you guys are crazy!", they beam with pride.  This is the norm, people.

No surpises.

The games that Dad creates for/with his boys.  They don't surprise me either.


 Cleaning out the garage?  Perfect.  Let's tie one end of a bungee cord to a bike and the other end to a post.  Walk the bike back as far as you can and let yourself go flying toward the post.  Voila!  "Bungee Bike".


Another phrase that may seem disturbing to the stranger's ear:  "Dad, will you throw pillows at me?"  (Uncle Tony gets some of the credit for this game, also.). But this is a beloved family game now.  It sounds like loving, quality time, no?  And it is exactly what it sounds like.  The boys run laps around the living room while Joe throws pillows at them.

We have no hope of ever being normal, you guys.

And yet, still not surprised.  By any of it.

One more fun-filled game to share:  hide and seek...for money.
  What?  I know.  We might as well teach them how to dial 1-800-BETSOFF now.

But this is apparently a thing.

If Roman finds Joe in the first 3 minutes, Joe gives him a dollar.  And vice versa.

Weird?  Yes.  Am I surprised?  No.

And don't pretend like you don't want to play.





Pride Comes Before the Second Child

Oh, Judah.

God gave me Judah because he knew I needed a sweet, spontaneous, adorable, cuddly, funny, blue eyed boy. 

And also because he knew I needed a little help in the humility department.

Judah is unpredictable in a delightful and terrifying way. He has made me realize that I know nothing about parenting and that I don't pray nearly enough.  As I attempt to teach Judah to obey and to love God and to love others, I am the one doing the most learning.  We have had some growing pains together and I can only hope we will both be better for it. 

Along these lines, there have been a few happenings that have happened over the last few weeks that have left me a little baffled. 

I am baffled at the things that no longer bother me.  I can't say I don't care what anyone thinks (I wish!), but I can say, that I care SO MUCH LESS about what other people think than I ever have before.  This is not because of any virtue in me.  It's all because I don't so much have that option anymore  (unless I never want to leave my house again).

For example, a few weeks ago I took all three boys to Mass by myself.  Everyone was sitting so quietly and nicely and I was about to pat myself on the back for making some progress in taming the wild things.  I was sitting there soaking in the Holy Spirit and then I heard a little crinkling sound.  I turned my smiling head to look at my sweet little cherubs and then I saw it.  Judah had unwrapped a tampon and was dissecting it.  Don't worry.  We were sitting in front of another family...who happened to have a 
teenage boy.  I'm sure that didn't make him feel awkward at all.  I surprised myself when I felt bad for the boy but not for myself.  I just laughed, shook my head, took it away, and made a mental note to be sure he hears this story when he's scared of tampons someday.  (Right, Adam??!!)

Also, the other day in Target, Judah brought me the largest bra he could find and said loudly "You should buy this, Mom!"  Thanks.  Thanks for that.  But again, the ladies next to me were the ones that were mortified.  I just had a good laugh, asked him to put it back where he found it, and we moved on.


Oh, my Judah.  Never a dull moment.