Maybe there is a reason I don't stay home

I only ever wanted to be a stay at home mom. I have always loved children. I did get my degree because it seemed the wise, logical thing to do and my parents paid for it. Thank goodness they did because I have had to work outside of my home my entire adult life. I did not do it so I could afford a nice car or a better home. I did not do it because I did not feel satisfied being home with my children. I have worked out of necessity. I figure teaching is great because I get to be home with them on my vacations. It's kind of like my consolation prize. However, after days like today, maybe there is some bigger reason out there that I've never been able to stay home. Maybe my Heavenly Father knows something about me that I've never had to find out. I am just not equipped for it.

I was home today because of this little guy,
Ayden got sick Saturday night and just when we thought he was all better he got sick Sunday night. He slept most of Monday and wouldn't eat for Bobby so I kept him home today. He has been a handful. He still really won't eat. He sure does ask for food but, then, will not eat it. Nothing frustrates me more! He also broke the lid off of the toilet. He was standing on it, for the millionth time, and I was telling him to get off, for the millionth time. Well, the toilet lid took care of Ayden by itself and just slid right off and broke. I was thrilled. He told me it was, "just an accident it ok Mommy.'

Knowing that I was home was too much temptation for this one,
He went to the nurse's office twice. On the second visit the nurse pretty much insists that you pick them up, even without a fever. Shall I vent here about elementary schools? No, I'll save that for another time. He is not sick. Do not feel sorry for him. His temperature is normal. He ate all his lunch and snack. He is fine. But he is home. That frustrated me too. He asked if I was mad. How can I get mad? Everyone likes a mental health day I guess.

Since Ayden is home, this one is home too,
I have wiped his nose more times than I can count, snuggled his head, rocked him, kissed him and listened as he has tried out all his new words. He asked, 'where da da', he yelled, 'thank you' about ten times and said, 'hi' as he waved to all the children at Seth's school. Now, after three tries, I think he is down for a nap.

Am I cut out for this type of activity day after day? Actually, I really think I am. How do you moms that stay home do it? If you don't stay home with your kids, would you?

Catching up with Ayden

This school year has been so busy and it's going by fast, thank goodness. By the time I get home, help with homework, make dinner and put kids to bed, it's nine at night and I'm beat. I looked over the blog the other day and realized that I had not put any recent pictures of Ayden up. I feel badly about that but then I remember that every other post was Ayden related for quite some time. Now it's Dillon this and Dillon that. The first year is just so full of new experiences that Ayden has been blog neglected. I want to correct that. This probably won't be interesting to anyone that isn't family but I thought the grandparents and the aunts and uncles would like to see how well he's speaking and how much Ayden has grown. When we moved here he was so small, still such a baby. Now he's almost three and has a very strong, dominating personality.

Ayden is into taking his clothes off. He often is missing shirts or pants. Friday I stayed home sick from work and Ayden took a moment to cuddle on the couch with me.
Ayden regards Dillon as some kind of toy. He is protective of him but wants whatever Dillon has. He is also quite territorial. He does love him though and loves to play with him, even though he's too rough most of the time. Brooklyn was playing with them downstairs by herself this morning and caught a tender moment - they're rare.
Ayden speaks fairly clear now and can be understood most of the time. He does not always have the vocabulary that matches what he wants or needs and becomes frustrated, but most of the time he communicates what he needs and wants very well. Here he is, asking for his favorite show - Imagination Movers. I was trying to get him to talk more but as soon as he saw the camera he got a bit shy.

This School Year... so far

Not that I've been promoted but having five preps makes me feel like my wheel has gotten larger. It definitely makes going to work more of a chore.

First Day of School and Dillon

Dillon is nine months old now and I realized that I have not done monthly pictures for about three months. I still don't have a month shot but we did get some photos of him playing with Daddy and I got a video of him just being himself. He likes to climb, stick out his tongue and babble. He wants to go everywhere he is not allowed to go. He is playful and easygoing and never cries. We moved him into a crib in Ayden's room and he's doing very well. Ayden is too. I was worried that if Dillon cried at night Ayden would be a pill about going back to bed, but he's totally fine with it. Sometimes he'll ask what's wrong but all I have to do is answer him and he just goes right back to sleep. Wow!

Beware to anyone who lays on our living room floor. We have an attack infant.


Dillon found a niche. He's so funny.
Ayden likes to take the cushion off our chair. It's lower anyway but once that cushion is gone, it's the perfect size to climb up and hang out!

Seth's Harry Potter wand finally came. I bought it for his birthday and had to call and have it resent. He was so excited, it was worth it.

Caleb and Seth decided to have a duel now that they have two wands.

The first day of school dawned... well, it didn't dawn. It was dark! Very dark! The boys were ready at 6am, an hour early. I woke Brooklyn up a bit early so I could get a photo before I had to leave. Here are my three (big) babies on their first day. Brooklyn is in 6th grade now, Caleb in 4th and Seth is in 3rd. They are growing up so fast.
The night before school I made a special, back-to-school dinner of pot roast, potatoes, and carrots. Then we all had strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream. They each got to build their own master piece. It was our one last celebration of summer. Good bye summer, welcome fall!
I guess I need to do an Ayden update next. He's been sadly absent from my posts. I'll get right on that. He has been just hilarious lately but I'd never get it on camera. I'll manage something.

Exhausted

Well, going back to school is really wearing me down. I am so tired I can not even say I am functional. Words escape me when I'm talking and I find myself blinking overlong when driving home. That is the scary part. I don't know what can be done about it. As it is, Bobby tells me to go to bed on nights that Dillon decides to play at 11:00pm. The past three mornings Dillon has not woken up for his 3am feeding. He woke up at 5am this morning and 7am yesterday. I do not know if it's just a two day thing but five would be perfect for his schedule. Then I could feed him before going to school. I guess we'll see.

Bobby is enjoying his time home with the boys. He is getting a lot done considering how much time Dillon requires. I enjoy that I don't have to get Ayden and Dillon ready to go to a sitter's house. I don't know when I'll find time to get things done. I am behind on grading and when I bring it home I never even open the bag and get it started.

Bobby and I rented Dark Knight last night and I fell asleep at the end. I tried so hard to stay awake, it just wasn't working. I'm not the only one suffering. I am so cranky that my kids are suffering a bit too. I apologize to them but it doesn't change that my tolerance is rather low lately and they like to run, shout and play. Well, that's the honest side of things. I think we will settle into a better schedule soon and then my mood will improve. Until then I am enjoying taking everything slow and easy and holding and cuddling Dillon before he's big like Ayden - running, screaming and too big to sit on mommy's lap anymore.