Don’t come over unannounced. Come over. But – call first. It isn’t that I don’t want to see you. I don’t want you to see this. 3 year olds have toys. They are small. They multiply every time I walk out of the room. Here are 42 of their precious toys. Did I mention they multiply? Just – save me the embarrassment. Call first.
Start the 30 day photo challenge HERE. (Be sure to check out the other linkers!)
Big Freaking Hole in the Wall
Last week, Ray decided that Andrew needed to get a little bit “better” at his bathroom basketball. Apparently, the hoop in the tub wasn’t enough of a challenge… So, he hung the basketball hoop a little higher – on the tile shower wall.
Result: ====================================================>
Needless to say, we needed to find someone to fix our shower ASAP. Because, once those tiles came out, the rest of the tiles started to cave in. Luckily, my childhood babysitter’s husband is a contractor.
First, I just want to gush about how much I love her. I mean, she raised me when my mom was working. Sharing my children with her was a pure joy when I became a mother. I love and trust her and her family.
My former babysitter with Addison.
My Childhood friends and I ... (no Del)
But, I also knew her husband and son would do a great job. What I didn’t realize was that my childhood friend would become my son’s hero. Del – (yes, that’s his name… no- I don’t know if he likes it.) is in his late 20’s now and bigger than life – just ask Andrew.
Can You Find Andrew?
So, If you want to work at our house… here are some things you should know.
I speak from personal experience:
My 2 little fixers
Does it get better?![IMG_1352[1]](http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_13521.jpg "IMG_1352[1]")
Seriously… does it?
Because I’m going to lose my marbles over here. And I’m not even joking. So – I’m talking to you… parents of 4 year olds. Where were you last year? Why did you hide this dirty little secret?
Why didn’t you tell me that age 3 was worse than the “terrible twos?”
I blame the parents. For not warning us. I was completely blindsided by this obnoxious behavior. I thought… “Terrible twos? These aren’t that bad.. I’ve got this!”
And then… they. turned. three. Seriously. The twos were just a prelude to the mayhem to come.
![IMG_1476[1]](http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_14761.jpg "IMG_1476[1]")
They are Maniacs!
Things that might cause me to go right over the edge:
![IMG_1475[1]](http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_14751.jpg "IMG_1475[1]")
So this is my plea. Mothers of 4 year olds. Please. Please. Please – tell me it gets better. I really need a sign of hope.
I actually shortened my list because I was starting to freak myself out.
Anyone else with me?
We are traveling today, so I decided it was the perfect time to link up to Memories Captured.
The theme is month is a “letter” of sorts.. to describe how life is right now.
If you have twins, you will completely get this series of photos. If you have 2 or more children, this probably applies to you to. It is an unusual phenomenon.
I walk in the room to this… My heart Melts….
And … 3 seconds later – we have this.
Dear Twins. You are causing me to grow old. Quickly. And I love you. Because… that is what children are to do.
I’m afraid this is going to come out wrong… so if at the end of this post – you want to unfollow, unsubscribe, or un-anything… I will understand. I might want to unsubscribe to myself too.
I’m sucking at this SAHM thing. And let’s be clear… 
I’m not used to sucking. I mean… I know I’ve mentioned it before, but – I don’t do things unless I’m sure I’m going to be good at them.
Structure, I can handle. Business – I can handle. I’ve always been this way. I’ve written my college papers at the last minute, I’ve gone on minimal sleep, I’ve pushed myself to the edge.
But what happens when I don’t have to get dressed every day? Do you know how many days I’ve spent in the hot pink velvet sweat pants? Do you know how many days the kids haven’t been dressed until lunch time?
I thought they would stop acting out when I was home… I think they are acting out MORE!
Before – it was easy to keep structure from 4pm until bedtime. Enforce the rules, have some fun, play, … you know. Honestly – don’t hate me – but we get compliments all the time on the twin’s behavior. They listen. We can take them out to restaurants, to the store, basically everywhere. People come up to us regularly because they are such good listeners. You know why I think that was? Because … maybe I’m only able to be a good parent in short stints. It isn’t hard to make rules and enforce them for 3 or 4 hours a day.
But now? CRAP. From 6am until 8pm? I SUCK! I don’t have the ability to give them structure. I don’t want to yell at them all day. So, I let some things slide. They do things now that I never let them do before. They have realized that sometimes I give in – so they push back. But… I just don’t want to be a 24/7 enforcer. So, yes… sometimes I let them run around in their underware. But, then I can’t get them to stop to get dressed. I think I suck at this.
I’m not used to it. I don’t do things unless I’m sure I can be… like the best there ever was at it. What am I supposed to do if I’m terrible? What am I supposed to do if I really suck at this?
Truth? The house isn’t really any cleaner. The laundry isn’t always done. I’ve tried to balance the checkbook 3 times and I just can’t seem to make it work.
What if I’m better at teaching than I am at mothering??
What if I’m better at earning a paycheck than I am at managing our house?
Thanks Shell … for letting me Pour My Heart Out.
We are on week 2.
There are a few things I’ve learned so far.
1. Not all meals are a hit.
2. Remember to potty before you leave the house. A one stall potty at the library is not ideal for the 3 of us.
3. It really sucks to have to hover and hold a child or hold a child to stand pee. Seriously… all toilets should be regulation height – about 1 inch shorter than they are.
4. Despite prior belief.. the Laundry, Groceries, Dishes, and Mail does NOT do itself…
![IMG_1175[1]](http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_11751.jpg "IMG_1175[1]")
![IMG_1176[1]](http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_11761.jpg "IMG_1176[1]")
![IMG_1177[1]](http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_11771.jpg "IMG_1177[1]")
Oops….. Things I should be doing right now instead of writing this post.
5. Don’t take the natives kids to the grocery store hungry.
I know… some of these things seem like common sense – huh?
6. Some cute pictures are ruined by windows you haven’t washed since you moved in.
7. A cute photographic moment can quickly become … not so cute.
8. Even though you think it might be… 4 bowls of Lucky Charms is NOT a good way to start the day.
It is like he’s warning me to stop already…. I didn’t listen. The twins were crazy all day.
I wouldn’t give up moments like this for anything.
Just kidding.
Just wanted to get your attention.
We are still here. You know its bad when your dad asks if you’ve given up blogging.
The holiday season is kicking us in the rear.
I feel like singing the 12 pains of Christmas.
But not really. It is just 24 hours in a day is not enough time to do all that my heart wants to do.
It has always been this way. Do you know how many Christmas presents I’ve given and had to say- “Don’t touch the paint! It is still wet!”? Let’s just say… a lot.n (Please… family members = no need to make a list in the comments section).
Plus… are anyone else’s kids super bad right now? They are like maniacs! I need to know – is it the season? Is it a reaction to sugar and lights? Is it because we are out of routine? Or…. please say no… is it because they are 3? I need them to go back to normal once Baby Jesus is born. Please…..
So Ray and I are going to do some shopping today. I believe this might not end well. He can be …. impatient …. at times. I need way more stuff than he knows about. And he already did his Christmas season duty for the day – addressing cards. We have enough for 3 friends. (That’s a big oops on my part when ordering!) – so if you get an e-mail Christmas Card … then – well… Merry Christmas!
Things yet to be done this Season:
Anything from Santa in our stockings.
Anything for Ray
Parents![IMG_0781[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tNFBjxX6vyc/Tuyj-CT0EqI/AAAAAAAAEL8/qiv_bo7AGMM/s1600-h/IMG_0781%25255B1%25255D%25255B8%25255D.jpg "IMG_0781[1]")
Nieces and Nephews are not finished
No Christmas cookies baked
Our Tree… well – you can look for yourself. Had a bit of a meltdown. (See… no lights on the top half… oops!)
House is messy.
Haven’t finished homemade ornaments.
um…. And pretty much all other things…. Yup… We are a little behind here.
Things that have been done this season:
Lots of hugs given to my children
Watched Frosty and Rudolph while snuggling on the couch
My children know the story of Jesus’ birth and can tell you. (They do call it a barn… but – we are ok with that.)
Made 4 gingerbread houses with my kids… because they realized it was fun and we had opportunities.
Rearranged our schedules to visit with some friends and family members we rarely see.
Took a cousin Black Friday Shopping – because it was fun – not because we had to.
Prayed hard to make decisions about our family … lots of decisions to be made.
Decided to be a contributor at a woman’s Christian Blog – more on that later. (I’m guessing I’m the bad one? 
Been a part of a few mini-miracles this season. And Loved Every Minute Of It.
Made people our priority… not things.
Speaking of…. Not broken a blender in at least a month.
Merry Christmas. How is everyone else’s season going? Do my kids return to normal?
Welcome to Make Me Laugh Monday…. Where we take the boring out of Monday. As we all return to work, take a minute to laugh your Monday blues away. The rules are simple – a photo or video (yours). It can be caption less. It can have a real story. It can have a made up story. You can basically say whatever you want – as long as it makes us laugh. So here goes….
I’m on a fast train. Right into Crazy Town.
Exhibit A: Addison. This girl can stand up and fall down in one swift move. I’m sorry baby girl… you get it honest. She fell. And…. minus one front tooth. She was such a trooper. And – I’m not going to lie – that girl got a new purse from the tooth fairy. I mean – she’s 3! She will be toothless for the next 4 or so years!
Moving on. Nap time. My personal torture chamber. They have no dressers in their bedrooms. We lock up their closets. The only things left in their room are their blankets and stuffed animals. They are turning into crazy people.
Exhibit B: The things taken from them after their nap yesterday. They were in so much trouble we took all blankets and stuffed animals from them.
Which brings me to exhibit C:
No worries about the loss of stuffed animals. That top shelf was PACKED with stuffed animals. They just ripped down the curtain rod to use it to get the animals off the shelves. Then they boosted each other to take down the letters that were nailed into the wall. Oh – they also ripped off the thermostat on the wall. And they played dress up with the curtain and used the rod as a weapon to hit things with.
Looney. Bin. That is what I need. I will call it a vacation. And I will pretend the white walls are serene.
So Grab the button to link back and Spread the Happiness this Monday.
There is something about the season. The lights. The songs. The decorations. The magic….
Truth be told. I really only like religious Christmas music. I’m not a fan of the Chipmunks Christmas or even Winter Wonder Land. I don’t link Jingle Bells or Decking the Halls. I like We Three Kings and Silent Night.
And then I had kids. … 3 year old kids. That believe in everything … with a twinkle in their eye.
And so we are “Elf on the Shelf’in” it and going to see Santa and Decking the Halls every chance we get.
And I love it. Every minute of it.
We took a trip this past weekend. We went to Colonial Williamsburg. It was awesome for so many reasons….
First and foremost – a year and a half ago, we thought our days of vacation were over. We did take a vacation this summer, but we did it with help. This was a true triumph… a vacation alone.
Secondly – everything was Christmas Magic. The lights, the sights, the sounds, the smells.. It was all magic. We went to Bush Gardens one day and the entire park was lit up. The kids just stared in wonder at the lights as we walked through the park. At one point – Andrew asked me for a kiss. My 3 year old baby never asks for a kiss anymore. The next day we went to Colonial Williamsburg. There were wreaths hung everywhere and – they were so cool. But we also traveled into market square that evening, caught up with Santa, and window shopped the stores filled with goodies. Christmas Magic.
Christmas Magic…. I can’t explain it any other way. These next shots are of Colonial Williamsburg. Yes, some of them are of wreaths – but check out how cool they are! They made these wreaths out of anything they had laying around!
He knows…. this is where he would be standing if we were, “back in the day.”
So there you have it. Our winter mini-vacation. Just the 5 of us… sealed with a little Christmas Magic to go on our little trip alone. Next summer we may have to take a little bigger trip…. alone. Because it was just one more hurdle we crossed.
Thanks – as always – Shell….
Who ever invented the term “terrible twos?”
They are the Terrific Twos. … The real terror starts at age 3.
I beg them. I remind them. I time-out them. I take things away. I do every single positive / negative reinforcement / punishment known to man. They still don’t listen.
They climb on everything. They talk back. They refuse to eat. (Unless it is a cupcake.)
They steal toys. They hit each other. They try to throw chairs in anger? (Seriously… where did they learn this stuff?)
Tonight, I was speaking to a friend. I asked her, “Have you ever talked to someone and walked away thinking – ‘they must be on drugs?’ … This is exactly what it is like to have a conversation with toddlers.”
Later, we decorated the Christmas Tree. I had to give the twins a broken strand of lights to choke each other with play with.
They dug out everything break-able and said, “Should I drop this?” as I shouted, “NO!” every 3 seconds.
If an ornament had a movable part – they tried to move it. If it didn’t have a movable part before… It probably does now.
I give that tree until approximately 7pm tomorrow night. Then I say that tree is on a pile on top of two silly children.
And yet…. they are so cute.
And these pictures are completely true. And they are also part of our night. They are also part of life with twin 3 year-olds. In reality TV… photos and video clips are compiled to show people in a certain “light.”
Tonight… my kids were angels. Just look…..
This right here is the “Twin Money Shot.” You never seem to be able to get them to hug. (or even look at the camera at the same time.) Super proud of this picture!
Oh yes… and that is totally a small cheese “knife” in Addison’s hand on the big photo. It was the only way I could get them to let me photograph them…. to let her hold a knife. *sigh* Mother of the year award… again.
I am a former teacher, turned SAHM. I have 3 children. The twins, Andrew and Addison, turned 3 years old in October. I also have a 1 year old baby who was born with a very rare chromosomal disorder - Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome. The good, the bad, the ugly.. all here. Because this blog keeps me from drinking.
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