Once in a Blue Moon

Since this almost never happens, I want to document it. Tonight we ate dinner out as a family and it went sooo well. We almost never go out anymore just the 4 of us because (a)- B is probably the cheapest guy I know and (b)- one or both of the boys whines or fusses the whole time and it stresses us out too much. But tonight, probably because of the blue moon, it went well. It was amazing to sit back and simply enjoy a dinner out. No stressing that Ben is yelling or fussing or Briggs is crying or making a huge mess. And Mr Impatient was even willing to wait for a table and we ended up getting one right away. It's as if there was a blue moon or something ;)

The picture doesn't have anything to do with tonight, but I thought it was cute. The boys love to play McDonalds after bath time. If only they could make me my favorite mcd's cokes!

Bill the builder

We decided to join a home group at our church at the beginning of the summer.  Our group is trying something new where we meet as families have dinner and then trade off one parent leaving with the kids while the other stays and then switch.  The problem was that they needed a house that could keep everyone and it not bother them to have lots of kids playing and running around.  Welcome to the Mahrer’s!  That kind of thing doesn’t bother us at all and our house is always chaos with toys so really it’s not much different.  The problem was that we needed a table.  We sold our dining room table before Briggs came around and our kitchen table is just too small for 6 families.  A normal person would head to a furniture store and buy one.  Not B.  He decided to make one.  He’d been talking about it, but this gave him the drive to do so.

 

The boys LOVED helping him along the way

We also got a new chandelier.  The original one try to kill me one day by falling down and it took over a year for someone to get around to buying a new one.  So happy to FINALLY have light in the dining room.

I love this!  B burned this into the wood.

Since we have so many kids here between Home Group and playgroups he built a bench for one side so we could squeeze more hineys on one side.

I LOVE the ‘kid’ chair in the middle.  Reminds me so much of the blue chair Grammy had that Aunt Linda stole.  The chairs we purchased and they just happened to be the perfect match to the table legs.

 

The bench.  Still needs the clear finish, but we’re happy with it!

My favorite part  

A little fantasy football draft/coloring time with chocolate milk tonight.

 

The shelves in the back have to go, but we have a kitchen to renovate OURSELVES (please start praying for my sanity now) before that happens. 

All about Ben

So that I don’t forget the quirks of Ben being 3 years and 2 months:

*fascinated with his boy parts.  Ugh!  I hate this!  He also likes to be naked.  There are many times when he’ll walk into the room and his clothes are missing.

*refers to himself in the 3rd person ALL THE TIME (Ben is hungry, Ben wants to watch tv, Ben needs to go potty).  It’s so weird.

*cannot pronounce his ‘l’ sound.  Part of me hopes he never gets this because it’s kind of cute.

*has developed a distaste of milk just like his mommy and Grams.

*now tells us to “GIVE ME ______!”  This does not go over well with mommy at all.

*when he sees a toy he wants at the store, he will tell me that it’s 3 years old just like he is so he should get it.  <sigh>

*is obsessed with super heroes now.  LOVES to play Iron Man, Wolverine (aka the scratching guy), spider man, etc. 

*doesn’t like to drink from “baby” cups anymore, only wants to use “big boy” ones.

*believes that “stupid” is a bad word and NEVER misses it when someone says it.  NEVER. 

*we’ve also taught him that “hate” isn’t a good word so he’s quick to catch everyone on that, too.

*loves to put mommy/daddy/Briggs/toys in “jails”.  Not jail, but jails.  And don’t you bother telling him he’s wrong.

*finds pure enjoyment I think in arguing with me about just about everything.  Don’t bother correcting him because he’s right all the time.  Must get that from his daddy

*still keeps an eye on Briggs making sure he doesn’t eat peanuts. 

*knows how to get us home from just about anywhere in Frisco. 

*will still run all day if allowed

*is the DEEPEST sleeper and snores so loudly just like his daddy

*high a very high word quota he has to reach each day. The kid even talks in his sleep.

*today he pooped in his pants for the second day in a row (after a LONG time of being accident free).  While I was cleaning everything up he grabbed his xylophone and started singing, “I pooped in my pants and mommy is not happy…”  It was so hard not to laugh and smile while I was trying not to murder him.

*bedtime is still hell!

*doesn’t seem to need as much sleep as they say.  Gets about 11 hours and doesn’t nap…EVER!

*has two patches of eczema on his head that cause his hair to grow funny in those spots.

*gives tons of hugs and kisses a day

*goes bonkers if we don’t see his friends each day

*tells us “I am ANGRY” if he doesn’t get his way and stomps off

*wears 4T tops and 3-4T shorts and size 10 shoes (and adult size hats)

*cannot stand to have his nails cut.  After 3 years I finally figured out to do it while he’s sleeping.

*favorite toys: Cars movie cars, ‘guys’ (super heroes), any pretend food (especially the McDonalds kitchen Addie gave him), puzzles and tools

*idolizes his daddy

*getting better and better with being a good big brother.  He really loves Briggs and loves to play with him (as long as Briggs doesn’t touch his toys).

*makes me laugh, smile and thank God everyday that I get to be this crazy kid’s momma!

 

pretty much sums up how silly he is

'home' school

So I'm a bad teacher mom who rarely sits and works with her three year old. I have a firm belief in letting them play and be a kid, it goes too quickly. But...in an effort to change, I've been trying to spend some of Briggs' nap time working with my little man.
It seems to be hit or miss on how he does in his attention span. It does appear that he doesn't like to follow directions from mommy or a workbook. He told the book it was wrong yesterday.
Gotta love him!

My little peanut

Oh sweet Briggs! We get it-you are unique and an individual!  And now you are officially a ‘peanut free’ kid.

  When we were up at Grammy’s Briggs ate a peanut butter cookie and immediately broke out with a rash on his stomach.  I called Michelle because Addie has a peanut allergy.  We gave him some Benadryl and put him to bed.  All was good the next day.  I knew I had never given him peanut butter before, but thought he had some when he ate the crusts of Ben’s pb&j’s.  We had our appt Wednesday morning.  The doctor tested him for peanuts and tree nuts.  Within just a few minutes he started reacting to the peanut one.  The dr told us to avoid anything peanuts and even tree nuts because he could still develop an allergy to that and cross contamination.  In a year we can introduce tree nuts again and see what happens.  He even told us to avoid ballparks!  Does he know who Briggs’ father is???  Avoid ballparks, I don’t think so!

But for now we’re learning how to scrutinize food labels and keep an epi pen and Benadryl with us at all times.  Ben is super cute about it.  He knows Briggs can’t have peanuts and when he sees me studying food labels, he tells the other people around us, “Briggs can’t eat peanuts or he’ll choke.”  Love that sweet protective brother!

 

Our little man’s back during testing.  That top spot is the peanut.  Sorry kid!

 

Lake Geneva 2012

Oh my goodness gracious!  Did I really almost go an entire month without a blog post?  First-I really need a new computer, this one is on it’s last legs.  Secondly I blame the program I use for blogging.  It’s new update is messing with me.  And third I blame those adorable little boys I get to hang with all day.  Down time doesn’t exist in this house anymore.  Ben is up and talking all.the.time!

So…we had so much fun at Grammy’s house for 4th of July.  Third year in a row.  Might be my favorite tradition!  We left at dinner on July 3 and pulled in about 8:30 am July 4.  Four very happy people to be out of the car.  B went straight to sleep and I snuck in a good nap a little later.  B had to fly back home for work after a couple days, but then flew back up for the last week.  But…while he was gone Grams and Pops flew up to visit!!!  Our family is so little, but SO wonderful!!! 18 days of relaxing, family, laughter, shopping, swimming, reading, cars, movies, playing and food!  Can’t think of anything better!

Ben did amazing on the car ride.  He was wearing a pullup, but kept it completely dry!  He woke up at 3 am and insisted on using the potty instead of going in the pullup.  So we pulled onto a dirt road in the middle of Missouri so someone could do his business in his ‘car potty'.

I tried to be a crafty momma and make the boys pillows that would attach to their carseats so their necks wouldn’t hurt during sleeping.  Neither one used them.  The thought was there.

Swimming!  We must have swam every day.  Grammy had two pools in her backyard for the boys and then we’d go up to the club to play in their 3.  Ben kind of tried swimming on his own.  Briggs loved to just float in his puddle jumper.  Happy, happy boys!

Love our Grammy!

Grammy and Pal bought a slide just for Ben to use to slide into the pool.  Love them!

Grammy is so awesome-she even turned on the sprinkler ball for the boys to play

Such a great way to beat the super hot, humid weather we were ‘blessed’ with while there.

Heaven forbid the boys have to share a pool so Grammy made sure they both had their own.

Sometimes we’d just hop in in our regular diaper!

Nothing like a forced hug

Baby pool fun

Pops and his mini me watching the tennis lessons

The Beach!  Ben loved going down to the beach to play in the sand.  Briggs got better with it as time went on.  Neither one liked the lake when we first took them, but Ben did much better when Daddy took him in.

team work

King of the hill

B made an AMAZING picnic dinner for us one night that we enjoyed on the beach.

 

Milwaukee’s Children Museum.  This place is amazing.  We went with Grammy and Pal and Ben loved it so much that B and I took him again a week later.  It was perfect for his age.  We’ve since been to the Dallas one and it doesn’t even compare to the Milwaukee one.  Loved it!!!

Enjoying beautiful Lake Michigan while waiting for the museum to open

My boys love grocery stores!

Future bag boy and cashier???

Working on cars…yep, he’s a Mahrer

Pal was showing Ben how things work

At the bank with Daddy during our second visit (Briggs stayed home and slept during this one)

Live at 10!

Daddy had us stop at a restaurant that was featured on one of his favorite food network shows after the museum.  Yummy hot dogs!

Family!  We may be small, but what we lack in size we make up for in love (and goofiness)!

Enjoying some ice cream from Grammy

Sibling love

SO BUMMED!  Grampy John drove up to meet us for lunch (another tradition 3 years strong) and normally we have B to take the family pic, but he was back in Texas.  So Aunt Linda asked a teenager she knew and he didn’t get ONE picture!  Never pressed down hard enough on the button.  Thank God for Grams’ and her iphone.  At least we have a couple!

‘Tex’ and Grampy John

‘Tex’ and ‘Kit’ love their great grandpa

Smart kid…already getting money from the old man!  Love this face when!

Ben and Grammy loved reading together

Grammy and Pal outside the museum

Picnic time at the beach

He might be going to his 40th high school reunion this weekend, but Pops is the biggest kid I know!

Grams and Pops…two of our most favorite people

Pops and his boys

Guess what happens when you say “stupid” in front of Ben?  He puts you in timeout!

Tickle time with Pops

followed by puzzle time

Briggs and his Grams

Water babies

 

Around the house-We just hung out so much at the house doing nothing.  There were many times where I’d wonder where the boys were.  Ben got very used to just walking outside and running around.  I was sitting reading once and looked out the back door and there was Ben in his undies playing in the pool.  That boy can get Grammy to give him anything and do anything for him. 

The neighbor’s granddaughters were visiting while we were there.  Ben loved playing with Ellie (4) and Kira (2). 

Look-the kid has table manners!  Of course he will use a spoon there, but at home it’s all hands!

Briggs and Daddy on the swing

Ben took over the first floor with all his toys and puzzles

love my sweet little man

double trouble during cocktail time

First-they still have the BEST bathtub ever!  Second-how sweet is this picture.  I love how they are more and more loving towards eachother.  They really do have fun together

Briggs thinks it’s hysterical to put anything on his head, including food.  All.the.time!

Ben was super affectionate while we were there.  Lots of kisses and hugs.  Loved it!

Briggs helped Grammy in the kitchen by looking out the window.  He loved it up there on the counters.

Waving hi to Daddy’s train when he came back.  As soon as the train got closer Briggs freaked and ran to me screaming.  Too big, too loud!

Little laundry helper

The second Daddy got back the boys couldn’t wait to start wrestling with him!

A little reading/writing during quiet time

Daddy finally put money into the game so Ben could drive the boat.  He had a blast!

and then it was Briggs’ turn!  This kid is hysterical turning the wheel!

Love these two kids!!!

Scuba Ben

Ben LOVED peeing outside when we were there.  He’d even run downstairs, take off his clothes and go pee outside instead of the potty.  I swear this kid is going to do me in!  But man he’s funny!

The drive home was HELL and the goodbyes were awful, but it was such a nice and relaxing trip.  Ben still asks us to go back.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing family who lets us move in for almost 3 weeks and does it all for us while we sit back and watch.  I seriously didn’t lift a finger while up there.  11 months til  we make it 4 years in a row!