Really.

1. Dylan came home telling me that he got into trouble today at school in the play yard. His teacher took away his privilege to play in a certain area for a week. At home this would have ended in a screaming fit. I was curious to know how he handled it.

Me: Did you cry or throw a fit when that happened?
Dylan: No
Me: Really? Not even one single tear or a "dang it!"? Wow that is great, way to go Dylan! Why do you think you didn't cry at school but you do at home when you get into trouble?
Dylan: Well, because I just want Mrs. Shea to think that I am better than I am at home.

There it is folks!

2. My new favorite thing that Dylan does is say, "really?"to everything. He totally gets it from me. For example: Sydney pees in the potty and Macey quickly follows and pulls out the used toilet paper out of the water to which I respond, "really Macey?" Or this: the floor is just drying after being mopped and I walk in to find an upside down box or cheerios emptied, and spread across the floor. "Really?"

Me: Dylan you need to get dressed. Please go get your PJ's on.
Dylan: But I don't want to go downstairs.
Me: I'll time you. Hurry!
Dylan: (runs and comes all the way back upstairs ready to get dressed only to find that he grabbed two sets of pant instead of a shirt). Really? Ugh. (and he runs back downstairs)

or

Me: (Cooking velveeta noodles on the stove)

Dylan: (walks up, looks in the pan) Really mommy? Really?

Me: What?

Dylan: You just didn't save me any noodles to eat

3. Gender identification. Now some people totally disagree with how we raise our kids in this area. (Honestly, sometimes I think I disagree too. I don't know what I'm doin!) But, this is such a hard topic. Dylan has always loved wearing dresses. The second his cousins gave us hand me downs for Sydney, he was jumping for joy and wearing those princess dresses EVERYDAY. So, we let him have his fun, didn't make a big deal with it and allowed it. (Even letting him go out in public in a kitty costume for a halloween event.) We got scoffed at of course, but we didn't think it was doing any harm. He was just being a kid. After a while we decided to put all of the girlie dress up up in the attic so he wouldn't see it and be enticed by it. We thought that it would be better to just keep them out of site. and force him to play with more gender specific (male) things. It didn't work. Dylan has and will always find a way to find a dress, high heel shoes, hats, etc. He can find them anywhere, lets face it, he is in a family with three girls, its not so tough. So, recently Dylan is starting to come home and tell me that he hates being a boy. He told me that I am not allowed to have long hair unless he can. (I think we are growing it out...I wonder how long this will last). We have had conversation after conversation about why is it so amazing to be a boy, and what great things he can do, but he doesn't buy it. Not for a sec. Here is the latest conversation:

Dylan: (comes in wearing a princess dress)

Me: why don't we wear batman today and run around saving the world?

Dylan: Because I just want to be a girl

Me: Sweetie, its fine to play like a girls sometimes, but i want you to remember that God made you a boy. He wanted you to be a boy for a reason....(I go into all the reasons and blessings that come from being male... once again. I then continue on and talk about the differences in our bodies between males and females and how he gets to pee standing up...that is a biggie)

Dylan: well, I don't want to be a girl and have girl parts. I want to keep my penis. I just want to look like a girl on the outside even though I will always be a boy.

Wow. What does this mean? Should I prepare myself for the future? Everyone says that this phase is normal, but I am beginning to think they are full of crap. Who knows. Cameron and I are trying to find a balance. We are so torn between just letting him be, and leading him away from this kind of play. It becomes a crying battle if we don't let him wear a certain dress or necklace...and that just seems wrong doesn't it? I don't know what is right. I don't ever want my kid to be that gay drug addict guy on tv saying, "my parents just wouldn't accept me for me, they wouldn't let me express myself and so I turned to drugs..etc." But I also don't want him to be that kid that says, "I didn't know how hard my life would be when I made this choice to become a woman, of cross dress or what have you), why didn't my parents ever tell me?" HAve you ever seen anyone on TV for this? Maybe I am making that one up. Haha. But really, what is the right thing to do? I don't want him to ever think he is less loved because of his choices, or because of who he is. That it my number one BIGGEST fear of parenthood. He better always know I love him or I have failed miserably.

Anyway, I know this sounds lame, and Dylan is only 5, but really, you think about these things as parents. I worry every day of my life about how I may be screwing him up by doing or not doing certain things. Motherhood is SO hard! Can't we come out with an official guidebook as to what and what NOT to do? I am not talking motherhood for dummies people. I would like to put in a request that the next bible or textbook of of spiritual guidance be written directly from the all knowing and powerful to all mothers out there, (detailing of course, word for word the answers to every scenario ever existing). Really, it would make my life A LOT easier.

I'm going on a egg hunt...

It is that time of year again where thousands of eggs are dispersed within an itty bitty perimeter for the children to "hunt". When did the easter egg hunt lose its hunt? Hunting for eggs used to be so much fun. These days its more of a free for all race to the dogpile of candy filled eggs. Just another excuse to advertise a company, and get together for the sake of candy. It's lame. But whatever, the kids enjoy it and I guess that is all that matters. We save the real hunt for my house, Easter Sunday. And don't think that those eggs are hidden easily. I'm tough. I mean, the Easter bunny is tough. And while we are on the subject, what ever happened to hiding real eggs? I don't know anybody that hides real eggs anymore. They still sell the egg kits to decorate, yet everyone just throws the eggs out two days later. What is that about? Why and when did this holiday become all about the candy? I'm boycotting. This year, our home hunt will be all about the real eggs. You hear that Cameron? Those plastic candy filled eggs can be the precursor to Easter, but it's the real eggs that my kids will remember hunting for on Easter morning, in thier little easter bonnets or hats. Lets take it back to tradition. To low key. To the remembrance of the Ressurection of our Savior (because that is what eggs and bunnies represent to me). Whatever, holidays really make no sense. I just want to take it back to simple, to the point. Holidays can be spiritual and fun, but when it is all about the "stuff" it just kills it for me. I am working on finding the balance for me and the kids. Let me know if you figure it out.

We went to Tanner hospital's Easter egg hunt this year. The bunny was there which meant that Sydney was in GREAT spirits. She loves giant dressed up characters. (I so wish I could take her to Disneyland at this age, she would go gaga...soon.) The kids did their thing and ended up with a ridiculous amount of eggs (and candy). At least I don't have to go candy shopping for easter!

Let the parties begin!

Sydney was invited to her first of MANY princess parties. I am not sure who was more excited, Sydney, myself, or Dylan. It was so much fun, and I foresee at least a dozen more princess parties in my future. Let the fun begin! I love having little girlie girls (and boys).

Even little Tink decided to join us

Cameron was at work this day, so my friend told me to bring my other kids along. Dylan was so excited to be a princess, but we quickly gave him a sheild and had him be the Prince Charming of the party. He was happy and definitely a good sport about it all even shouting at the end of the party, "mom I didn't even have to go last at everything like you said!"

Don't think I am not stealing this castle idea for Syd's next party. Love it!

The Princesses on a horse in their little dresses!? Priceless!

I love being a mom on days like these! It is so much fun to see my kids light when they use their imaginations. It was so sweet, and magical!

Slip Slidin' Away

Spring is here and it feels like summer already! We pulled out the slip-n-slide early!

I love this picture, all except for the part where Cameron is sporting his total white trash cutoff shirt. The south will rise again!

Great Grandma Minnie

My kids are so lucky to have 4 living great grandparents. Grandma Minnie, Grandma Lavee, Grandma Johnson and Grandpa Jim. I didn't have any growing up, and they have 4! Along with all of the great wisdom and love that these relatives have to offer, they too have their amazing talents (mostly in the form of homemade things). Grandma Minnie just turned 90 a couple weeks ago and you know what? She is still knitting away! I always love getting handmade goodies in the mail, especially the latest ones. The girls received these dresses for their birthdays and I LOVE them. Grandma Lavee also sent crocheted blankets to every single one of my kids this last year too! Where do they find the time and energy!? It is beyond me!

Here are the dresses:

Come on, like these dresses aren't amazing! I have my very own Cabbage Patch dolls! Thanks Grandma Minnie!

Happy Birthday Girls!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful girls!

We had a joint party at the park for the two of them since they are only 4 days apart on the calendar. It worked out great!

Sydney is now 3 and Macey is 1! Can you believe it!?

The cake was a big hit thanks to Ali. She offered to make them and I was more than happy to oblige. Look how awesome they were! Sydney looked at hers and said, "ooh look at that" and then quickly grabbed it with her fingers. Priceless.

The before (above), and the after (below)

Macey took well to her cake too, (I think better than any of my other kids). She knew exactly what to do with it and she went to town.

I think she liked it.

PRESENTS! Macey opened up some really fun stuff...super cute clothes, toys, a cuddletunes bear, some dresses including a homemade dress from Grandma Minnie. How special!

Syd opened up her first skates and scooter, some Minnie mouse stuff, a munchichi (compliments of Ali of course), some clothes, a cuddle bear, princesses, books, a baby backpack, and Grandma Minnie's homemade dress that she made. Oh and matching swim suits (on the next post). The girls made out with lots of fun stuff. Syd didn;'t have a whole lot of reaction, but she did get the idea of presents and enjoyed opening them. Every now and again she would say in a low tone voice, "oooh look at dat". It was sweet.

Grammaline got the girls matching suits and cover ups for summer! LOVE THEM!

It was a long day for Syd. What a way to celebrate, zoo then a party at the park! They were zonked by the end of the day!

Lazy days...

Here are just some random pics from our lazy spring days.

The zoo pass is a must for any of you Atlantians. We love it, and go often around this time of year. Dylan's working on his hops and attempting some Jedi training. Still no injuries in the bouncy house, and still, it is the greatest gift ever. My kids love this thing!
Dylan is in LOVE with his kitty costume given to us by Maddie Mount. He sleeps, eats and pees in it (only when he's not fast enough to take it all the way off). Here is D's latest star wars creation (a parking garage for his ship).
My beautiful Sydney and her enormous "edodant". I think she is convinced it is a chair. (She gets upset when it doesn;t hold her enitre body and tips over).
Just another typical afternoon, Dylan painting Sydney's (and his own) toenails. Precious.
My sweet Repunzel. I think Dylan's gender is a bit Tangled. Haha...get it? That was a good one.
It is not very often, but sometimes, just sometimes, we can still get some snuggles with our Macey girl.

Curtis's Spring Break

The Curtis's came over spring break and we had a LOT of fun! Who doesn't have fun with them? Dylan finally had his best friend, here, in his house! He loves his cousin Charlotte! (He has a picture of her next to him on his bedside table that he looks at nearly every night :) Luckily, Charlotte was able to spend the night with us, and play with Dylan EVERY DAY since I took him out of school.

We went to the park:

We went to the pool:

We went and played on G-mama's and G-papa's lake:

We played volleyball, and went to Logan's pinewood derby:

And of course, we went to the Animal Safari (our favorite place in Ga):

Jim decided to grab the neck of an ostrich so as to pet him and not be pecked. Classic!

Cameron found his match, in drool and height.