Neologisms

We finally got the boys Halloween costumes last night (don't judge me by my procrastinatory ways). Logan will be ninja'ing it up, while Declan is pirating the hell out of everyone. We got home and let them try the costumes on to make sure we had everything they needed and it all fit and blahblahblahfishcakes. The boys are at the perfect ages for holidays. Everything about holidays is special and exciting and filtered through the imagination of youth.

I told them to go look in the mirror in my room, which is full-length, and check themselves out. Squeals of delight followed.

Logan came back to the living room and said, "Mom, I have a new catchprase when I'm dressed up as a ninja. Want to hear it?" Of course I did. With big blue eyes wide, he said emphatically, "I look good." And boy, did he.

Declan followed Logan, attempting to tell me he looked fabulous, only the word came out as "bajabulous" (it rhymes with fabulous, people). At which point Logan said, "No. You're piralous! And I'm ninjalous!"

I was so happy when I heard those boys make up those words. Words are like my favorite thing ever, and making up words is a good time had by all. There's something to be said for creating a brand new word like cromulent or embiggens. But more than that, I love the words that form themselves out of specific situations. Like "milktastical" in reference to the fantasicness of milk. Or "fuckle" when the urge to fart and the urge to chuckle express themselves at the same time.

So, my boys are making up their own words, jamming things together for the amusement and benefit of all. My mom-pride is showing.

Randoms

Declan needed a tissue today. He told me there was sauce coming out his nose.

Last week when I was outside with the kids, I pointed out how the leaves were changing colors. I showed them a tree with leaves that had turned a deep red color and said I thought those were my favorite. The next day, Logan came home from school with a pocket full of leaves that same color which he picked because he knew they were my favorite.

I found some of those cheap plastic bracelets that are the same kind that were popular when I was a kid. (Think Jellies, but in bracelet form.) I bought a stack of black ones, and Chris calls them my Madonna bracelets. I know they're dorky. They make me happy.

Chris finally gave in to a request I've been making for a long, long time and wore an earring this weekend. That also made me happy. I think I might be stuck in the 80s.

"Declan, why are you so quiet?"
"I don't have the talking feeling."

Thanks, kids

I went to put on a flip-flop and my toes discovered a fallen ramen noodle - cold, wet, and sticky.

Ew.

We all have days like this

This pretty much sums up how I feel today. And how I felt yesterday. And probably how I'll feel tomorrow.

I have much more to say, but I'm having a hard time expressing myself. Really, I need a hug. And the ability to solve my own problems without having to lean on anyone else. That's what I want my superpower to be.

Things That Make Me Happy (Aside From the Obvious)

On Monday, my bags were stolen out of my car. The biggest loss was the camera that I had used moments before to take my daily picture of each boy, a project I've been working on for a short time, but that means much to me. So until we can afford a replacement camera, there will be a lack of pictures 'round these parts. Incidentally, this is a Thing That Makes Me Cry.

The boys are with Ed until tomorrow evening, and I'm missing them as I often do. When they're gone, I forget the stubborn, shrieking parts of the kids. I end up longing for their laughs and hugs and energy. This is sometimes another Thing That Makes Me Cry.

There are specific things in my life, guaranteed pick-me-ups, that I turn to when I feel down. And since I need a little boost tonight I'm listing them here. Enjoy, and link me some of your own goodies. :)

Free Hugs Campaign
Where the Hell is Matt?
Float On ("Well we'll float on, good news is on the way")
Top That
One Gallon Axe
Hooked on a Feeling, the Hasselhoff version (seriously...wtf?)
White and Nerdy
How is babby formed? (Accompanying "explanation")
Feeling Good
Obama in a bumper car
Einstein on a bike
Cerberus as a puppy
Vonnegut

And what would a post really be without The Obvious?

October Snow

Yesterday we had our first snow of the season. I'm not really one to check the weather forecast under pretty much any circumstance; I like to be surprised. It's sort of the way some people might call me lazy - I prefer to refer to myself as efficient. Anyway, surprised I was.

Poor Ed had some car problems and needed us to pick up the boys from the parking lot where he had pulled over to let his radiator cool off (that is, wait until it stopped spewing smoke and making him run in circles saying, "Firefirefirefire!"). So Chris and I bundled up and picked up the boys who were thrilled at the sight of snowfall. Declan was sure to explain to us that even though it was snowing, it was not Christmas. Just in case we were getting our hopes up, I guess.

When we got home, the kids wanted to play outside so we got them mildly bundled up. This is where the surprise of the snow really comes in to play. I hadn't dug out any of our warm coats or gloves, hats, boots, etc. Logan came from Ed's prepared with a pair of knit gloves [Sidenote: Logan spent some time later in the day standing in the kitchen wearing said blue gloves, sunglasses, his long-sleeved shirt, and underwear...I told him he looked awesome and he responded oh-so-seriously, "I know. That's because I'm a ninja." End sidenote.], but Declan was out of luck in the glove department (pronounced "glub"). So I improvised. The only thing I could find that might be an acceptable substitute was a pair of my socks that had toes. We tried to play up the fact that they were special gloves (not socks), but the boy was not fooled. He very cutely attempted to be happy about them, but it didn't last.

He sort of looks like he's got webbed hands there.

And once they got soaked through and started slipping off his hands, he told me he didn't want to wear the special gloves anymore. Of course, by that time both the boys were pretty wet and cold since they did some sledding down the hill without sleds, so we went inside for hot chocolate. In all, a pretty good first snow. But I'm thinking I better stock up on some non-special gloves for next time.

Tag Team Husband

So I've got it pretty good when it comes my husband sharing the chores around the house. I love that in the mornings, when the house is busy getting ready for the day, I can pick out clothes for the boys and then go dry my hair while Chris supervises them getting dressed. This usually consists of making jokes with them while they get clothed and put the dirties away properly. Though it also involves acting as an obstruction for when they inevitably get distracted and want to go play GI Joe in their bedroom wearing nothing more than their underwear. Chris often has to catch them, physically turn them the other direction, and send them back to whatever forgotten items of clothes are left to be put on.

When we make lunches in the morning, I love that he'll make the sandwiches while I dig out the pretzels, fig newtons, trail mix, or whatever other accessories we have around to pack. This morning he went to town chopping vegetables for the beef stew while I got the other items ready in the crock pot.

The boys love him. He's a great "daddy at Mommy's house"...though it's certainly had its time of adjustments. He does a pretty good job of stepping in with some humor to ease the tension a bit when I reach the end of my patience rope with the kids. And there's nothing better than piling on the couch as a family to watch a movie or play a game and just enjoy some time together.

One of the best things about Chris? When he sings Lots of Bots to the boys at bedtime.

Randoms

So it's been a week since Logan's birthday and I haven't posted because we've been busybusybusy. I'm trying to get a side project going and doing that after work is taking up some time. Plus, there's the parenting, and that ain't easy.

A few things to note:

• Dex told me this morning that he was going to count to 100. He did one through ten fine, then bounced around in the teens for a bit (including numbers like oneteen, twoteen, and twenty-sixteen) before he boldly announced 100, followed by the proud exclamations of, "I did it! I counted to 100!" A for effort, buddy.
• Declan used my favorite expression ("Suck a rock!") this morning.
  
• Apparently Grandpa Higgins told them that we can't drive with the windows down on the highway. So there's been some constant asking lately if we're on the highway because the boys are kind of like dogs in that there's really nothing better than flying along with the windows down. I'm sure if they weren't strapped into carseats, they'd be out the windows with tongues hanging out. Also, if you're not on the highway, you're on the "downway"...just an FYI.
• Logan told me last night that some kids in his class were calling him Chicken Noodle and it was hurting his feelings. We talked a bit about how to handle it when kids tease him and what he was going to do about it today, and then I told him I thought Chicken Noodle was really cute and would it hurt his feelings if I called him that? He looked at me like he was about to cry and said yes. So, despite how adorable I think it is, I will refrain from the Chicken Noodle nickname. Poop.
• My particular brand of wit and charm is not appreciated by Chris in the middle of the night.
  

Five

I think this is my favorite picture of Logan to date. I love the way he's standing, and the look on his face. He's got a bit of a Mona Lisa smile - just a hint of one there.

Logan is an awesome, special kid. He has a sense of humor that is wonderfully goofy, and he has an ability to be tender and compassionate beyond his age. Sometimes, we'll lay down together and talk about things, and he'll reach up and softly touch my cheek. He makes us laugh with words and songs he thinks up. He's a great big brother. His imagination amazes me and I hope he never loses it. I find myself feeling really lucky to know him.

My most favorite memory of Logan, and possibly the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me: Last year, when Ed and I were separated and I was feeling so miserable about myself and life in general, I was on the floor talking and playing with the boys. All of a sudden, Logan stopped what he was doing and scooted close to me. He took my face in his hands, looked me in the eye and said, "Mommy, you are awesome! And you are beautiful!"