Can you imagine "not" having kids?

The other day Michael and I were trying to remember our life before kids. We had gone to a wedding and were looking at the newlyweds and reminiscing of our own wedding, which lead the line, “Remember what it was like before kids.” We had to work really hard to remember. Michael and I found out we were expecting after being married for 5 months. So after 13 years of marriage, it is a little difficult to remember the one year with out kids. The one year we could decide to go to dinner and not have to figure out who was going to watch the kids. The one year we didn’t have to think about packing the diaper bag. We would just grab a jacket and go. No baby carrier, no pack-n-play, no portable high chair. The one year I arrived to a gathering with my hair DONE, and no extra accessorizing, such as drool, spit up, or stale food on my shirt. The one year I would walk through my door at the end of a long day, grab a bowl of cereal for dinner, throw my PJ’s on, and watch TV. Nobody else to feed, bathe, and put to bed. The one year I wasn’t a taxi service to someone half my size who seems to have more of a life than I do. After Michael and I laughed about how that year seems like make-believe at this point in time, he looked at me and said. “Can you imagine not having kids now.” Suddenly the last 12 years flashed before my eyes. All the 1st steps, and 1st words. All the coloring on the walls, cars in toilets and TV remote controls in my cup of water. All the soccer games, T-ball games, and basketball games. All the school plays, choir and band concerts. All the good night kisses. And most of all the laughter. I love that my house is filled with kids laughing. It warms my heart and makes me forget all my cares. My kids mean the world to me. And I am so glad to have each and everyone! So NO I can’t imagine not having kids.

Back to the Baby groove. It's just like riding a bike...Not really.

So because I have had four kids, one of which was “Bo”, I sometimes feel like I am a “Pro” at having kids over. What’s one more, right? Well, every time my sis has me baby-sit, I realize, you forget real quick what a one-year-old is like. Occasionally I let each of my kids have a friend over all on the same day, Bo included. And those days are easier than the morning I recently spent with my sisters little ones here. In between doing dishes I had to run after Zayne, one time saving HIM from the stairs and another time saving my office from HIM. I have a toy room full of toys, but he would rather chew on my pens and bang on my computer. And while I was chasing Zayne, Ayden was down stairs squirting the shampoo form Josh’s bathroom onto Bo’s tent. While Bo just laughed at him. And he colored on my walls with Bo’s markers, at least those are washable. Later that day when the kids were home from school, Timmy nonchalantly came up to me and said, “Mom is Zayne allowed to have cheese popcorn?” “Um NO” I said “Is he eating some?” I asked “Yeah” Timmy so casually answered, as I ran down the hall to apprehend Zaynes mid afternoon snack he found on the floor. Whew, you would think going back to the “Baby thing” would be like riding a bike- Apparently not. Lol

Well, at least I know if MY kids don’t succeed in teaching me patience, I always have my sisters kids to finish off the job. lol

My Bossy "Foreman"

You may have noticed that Bo has not been giving me as much blog material as he used to. I am finding he is trading in some of his toddler mischief’s for a pair of bossy pants. Rather than coloring on the walls, or playing in the toilet, he insists on “working.” And it’s not like he is working “for me” - he wants to be the boss of himself, AND me. Lately he insists on loading the dishwasher himself, telling ME where he thinks the soap should go and how much to put in. I usually just put soap in one of the compartments, he likes to use both, but then I end up drinking soap later. Yesterday he put a load of clothes in the washer, including who knows how much soap, and started it before I even knew it. Yes, he is helpful and that is great but heaven forbid you HELP or even make a suggestion as to how to do his job. He has been vacuuming lately too, but he is getting better at that. I haven’t had to pull a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or any action figures out of the hose lately. So that is nice and it keeps him busy for a ½ hour or so. I gotta say, the kid is going to go far in life. How many babies of the family work their way to the “managers” position, bossing their 3 older siblings around. He went from having 5 bosses to me threatening him with…”If you don’t let me help you, then you can’t clean my house!” Really! LOL I can’t believe those words come out of my mouth.

Always Kiss Me Goodbye

Kate and I were taking a girls day out today. I ran back into the house to get a jacket and before I walked out again I walked up to Michael, who was standing a the stove making grilled cheese sandwiches, and I stood by him and tilted my head waiting for another good bye kiss. Michael turned to look at me and Bo, who was sitting at the kitchen table said, “Kiss her Dad!” With a grin on his face Michael did what he was told. And on my way out the door I stopped and got a kiss from Bo. Then I had to come back in the house again for something ELSE I forgot. I stopped back by the stove to get another kiss from my man, and as I stood there with my held tilted once again, Bo said, “Kiss her again Dad!” Laughing, once again Michael did what he was told. On my way out I kissed Bo once again, and Bo looked at me and said, “You really like those kisses, don’tcha mom.” What a cutie I tell ya.