Life with Mike and Mason

I'm only writting this one cause in the last couple of days these two boys of mine have surpassed anything I thought could happen.  Or anything I thought they would ever do.  This does not mean it's good or I guess bad...take it anyway you want

This, this is my wonderful husband Mike.  And this is what happens when you let him dress himself.  He is getting ready for "Spirit Day" at work.  I guess he could go as a crazed race fan.  I guess he really wants to get that prize.  Some days I wonder about this man. 

And because of this picture I'm going to tell you about the story of Mason's school picture...and why he's going to have a picture retake RIGHT AWAY!  I want to first say that Mason loves his dad very much and because of this love Mason is starting to want be exactly like his father.  I know, when you look like this picture...who wouldn't want be just like him.  Not to long ago, Mikes mom went through all of Mikes childhood belongings and brought them over.  His nice big box has been sitting in the corner for a couple of weeks.  Some things have been gone through, some things have not.  One of the things Mason zoned in on was Mikes boy scout belongings with all his patches and some hat pins boy scout pants....to name a few.   Now, I am going to fast forward to picture day.  Mason had a couple of tiny pin holes in his shirt.  I say,"MASON, what are these??  Did you have them before or after picture?"  Mason, "Yes... (sad face)"  I was wondering what in the world...great now there's going to be holes in his shirt and your going to see them in his picture.  I sat there praying that it won't make a big deal.  It's a memory and try to make the best of it.  Again, fastforward with me to yesturday.  Now yesturday he comes in marching like he's in a parade with his pictures in the air...he's proud, it's written all over his face.  I smile saying "yeahhhhh!!!! Let me look at them."  I look and stop.  My heart starts pounding in my ear.  Thats not what I think it is...no he wouldn't..would he??  He had 2 pins on his shirt, both were Mikes from his younger years. One was a Luthern Church sunday school pin.  The other (and here's where I was mortified) was a pin with "I love hott women and cold beer" written on it.  You can see it clear as day, he only has a light blue shirt on.  You can' miss it!  The more amazing thing is when I asked him about it he said he wore it all day and no one said anything.  He took them off before I saw him cause he was afraid that I would get mad that he took them.  He cried. I felt bad.  Mark that one down on the, I will never do that again.  I blame Mike for the influeance.  But my, I do love these to guys.  Even I am shocked at what they do!  And yes, retakes are going to happen! 

Life with my kids

Do you find it strange that I don't even get mad when I find something my kids did?  Infact, at times, I find myself thinking, "WOW!  I'm impressed.  I would have never thought to hide that there."  OR " How did they do that?  They are crafty little stinkers."  I am truly amazed at some of the things they think of. 
For example.  I was getting the laundry out of my daughters room and for the thousandth time she moved her hamper.  She likes to do that, makes it into a game for me.  Isn't it nice that she thinks of her mother like that? :)  Anywho, I found the location of the hamper in the closet.  And as I turned around there where 2 perfectly formed circles on the wall made out of toothpaste.  Now some of you would have sat there crying wondering where you went wrong with your child. Thinking, "Why didn't I teach them better?  Now they are damaged for life, and will never make it into college, and will be shunned from all forms of life, living on a mountain and will become the next unibomber!" (Okay so maybe some of you might not be thinking that or really anything close to that.  Sorry I ran with it.)
I looked at the circles, touched the cicles, and then I smelled the circles.  Just to make sure it was toothpaste.  Guess what, it was toothpaste.  I looked at it a second time and realized something.  She had two perfectly round circles. Impressive.  I'm pretty sure my son Nick was with her when she did this.  So then I thought,"What team work, she's helping Nick with his shapes! She's going to be a great Teacher someday!" 
Kids to me have never stopped amazing me.  Everyday I turn around and they just teach me something more about life.  I love my kids with all my heart.  It has taken me 7-8 years to figure this whole parenting thing out.  Hopefully with Matt, our youngest, we will have it all figured out. ( Okay God stop laughing, it's just a thought!)
Nick on the other hand....I dont' know about some days!  We were on our way to Le Mars the other day and he was talking to me, but I couldn't hear him so really he was talking to himself.  After alittle while he must have senced that I wasn't paying attention and said I don't woove you mom (woove mean's love.  He used to say woo woo and I would just die when he said it.  It was just soo cute!) I said, "What?  I love you!"  He said, "Nope I don't woove you."  Me, "Well I love you!"  Him, "I don't woove you! HAHAHA"  Now thinking of a good stratergy, I say, "You don't Love me?"  He said, "Yes I do, I woove you Mamma!"  He is just a little stinker!