This evening, I picked the boys up from TOP's house, and they were high-strung from the moment I saw them.  I had a feeling they were tired, so I spent a little bit of quality time with them and then shuffled them off to bed.  A few minutes later, Aiden appeared at his bedroom doorway.

Aiden:  Mom?
Me: What's wrong?
Aiden: I can't fall asleep because ( Read more... )

This morning when we woke Ethan up, the first thing he said was "Please don't tell me it's a school day."  We had to break it to him gently.  He is not a morning person.  Aiden is up and perky and be-bopping around the house, shouting out "Good morning!" and "How'd ya sleep?" while Ethan and I glower at him and try to will him to be less energetic.

( Read more... )

The cutting part is more painful than I thought it would be.

They will be home in about 40 minutes since today was only a "half" day, and I cannot wait to see them.


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It's the last day of summer vacation.  This day is rather monumental to me, because it's also the last day of my life as a SAHM*.  Naturally, Ethan went to preschool last year, but only 3 days a week, and only for 3 hours each day.  He was still a really cute 4 year old who said lots of words wrong - in that super cute way that is only cute under ( Read more... )

 Ethan:  Probably my kindergarten teacher is gonna think I am the cutest kid ever.
 Aiden:  I doubt it.  There's probably going to be someone cuter than you.

Sunday afternoon, the boys and I drove up to the "Other Jersey", otherwise known as "North Jersey" for a barbeque/pool party that we were invited to.  It was a really fantastic pool, OMG, I felt like it was a swim club instead of someone's house.  The kids had a plethora of pool toys to choose from, the adults had amazingly comfortable lounge ( Read more... )

After years of being some of the only kids on our block, Aiden and Ethan are now surrounded by a plethora of new kids on the block.  Some that were born to people who already lived here, and others who moved in recently.  I have nicknames for almost all of my neighbors, as I do for almost everyone in my life, partly to give some sense of anonymity ( Read more... )

Help me understand something.  I hear stories about mothers who give up custody of their children, or mothers who've just completely abandoned their kids.  There are even mothers who have killed their own babies.  I simply cannot wrap my mind around this.

I was just without my children for FOUR DAYS and I literally (and when I say literally I mean ( Read more... )

The carbon monoxide detector wouldn't stop beeping no matter how many new batteries I put in.  The dishwasher flooded all over the kitchen floor.  I made pancakes for Aiden - burned them and had to start all over.  I burned them because while I waited for them to cook I tried to clean up the kitchen floor.  As I leaned the Swiffer against the ( Read more... )

Setting: Boys' bedroom, bedtime.

7 year old: The last few nights I have woke up FREEZING cold.
Me: You want the fan turned off?
7 year old:  [thinking]
5 year old: I'm cold too.
Me: [turns off fan]
7 year old: I'm sweating.
Me: I'm leaving it off.
7 year old: I am going to sweat to death!
Me: I'm leaving it off.
7 year old: Can't you just --
Me: You just lost ( Read more... )