There are so many funny, adorable, heart breaking and uplifting moments with my kids, and I continue to let days go by without writing them down. Today, is the first day of my 35th year, and that all comes to a screeching halt. Both boys have baby books for general stats (weight, length, percentiles, etc), and I even keep a journal...but since I don't live near my family, I feel the need to streamline my communication so others can share in the joy, laughter and tears my two little comedians bring to the table.
I am not a great writer. I am not witty, nor do I have time to "try" to be...so it will likely be pretty straight-forward...but I promise to try to get some info online monthly about our family. I commit to this for my boys, our family members in Texas, and for my own sanity - I can finally stop stressing that I'm not writing enough stuff down! Whew!
So, I call it the Moon Song because we sing "The Moon Song" to the kids every night before bed. We have been doing so since Owen was a baby, and I will cuddle them at night after story time and sing this corny little tune until they go to college if they'll let me.
It's a Laurie Berkner song. Here goes:
Moon, moon, moon - Shining bright.
Moon, moon, moon - my night light.
Moon, moon, moon - I can seee...
Moon, Moon, Moon - you're taking care of me.
Look up, it's the moon, Look up, it's the moon
Look up, it's the moon up in the skyyyyy.
It's big and round, and I have found
that is looks just like an Owen pie...no, no, no (giggles)
that is looks just like a Superman pie...no, no, no (more giggles)
that is looks just like a cheeseburger pie...no, no, no, that's not right (cracking up now...)
that is looks just like a pizza pie. (the correct lyrics :)
At bedtime, after we read books, and I give them kisses and start to walk out the door...I literally feel warmth in my heart when they say, "But mom...you didn't sing the Moon Song!" It might be my favorite thing in the world to hear. It's the best, and I hope they call me from their dorm rooms some day to hear it. Not likely, I know...I will probably be calling them saying, "Don't you want to hear the Moon Song?!?! Hello? Hello?"
So, off we go...
Generally speaking, all is the same for the most part around here. I've been a stay-at-home mom with the boys for 3.5 years, and Kipper has been working the same job/contract as a software engineer in Boulder. We are happy as larks to have such a convenient set up while the boys are so young. Kipper's job is a blessing...really flexible, close to home and he loves it. We are grateful everyday.
The past six months, I have been feeling like a part-time job might be a good fit for me. Although I love being here every moment with my boys, I am also feeling called to do something outside of my home again - perhaps one to two days a week. I am not looking for anything full-time, nor do I want it to pull me away from the boys, but I do want to be a part of something meaningful outside of my home. After months of listening to the voice in my head, praying and trying to be really conscious/self-aware of how I am feeling (it's amazing how hard that is!), I have landed on the idea of trying to become a grant writer. I have always loved working in the non-profit sector, and I now know that is where I want to stay. I have taken a grant-writing class and am now doing a one-on-one class with a really wonderful woman God put in my life. She has been writing grant proposals for about ten years (works from home, part time), and has created a curriculum for me to learn it for myself. We meet once a week, and will do so for the next few months until I feel I am ready to try it on my own.
I hope to eventually work on a contract basis for non-profit organizations, part time from home (or anywhere I can get online). I will likely commit to no more than 15 hours a week. I love this option because 1) I can be as busy as I want to be (pending jobs of course)...which means I can work less now, and more when the boys begin school, 2) I can pick and choose which types of non-profits I want to help, 3) I can do it from anywhere for the most part. It feels good to finally know what I want/need, and move forward at achieving it!
I can't believe it's already the middle of October! We've already had a great month. The boys are a blast right now. SO cute together, always partners in crime, and they really have each others' backs, which I love. When I hear Owen say something like, "be nice to my brother!" I just melt.
Bodhi is hilarious. His personality is mischievous, feisty, funny (he tells jokes...or tries to anyway) and he loves to cuddle. Which we love, of course. He's grouchy in the morning like his mama, and sweet and loving the rest of his day...just like his daddy. He's still not a great sleeper, but that just means he comes into bed with us in the middle of the night...no more "all-nighters" so I'm happy. We kind of love cuddling with him, and are soaking it up. I know the day will come when he won't let me give him so many hugs and kisses...so I'm taking them double time right now.
He turned TWO in July, and we had the pleasure of seeing both Mimi's and lots of family! First, Mimi Darlene came for a weekend, and bought him his new bike. We loved having her, and she even gave Kipper and I a little time off for an overnight in Fort Collins. So fun, and we really needed it! Then, Mimi Kathy and , Aunt Stephanie and Reese, as well as Aunt Alyssa and Aila came, and we had a little birthday party at the park by the Hermsen's house. There is a great playground, big trees, a river and picnic tables.
He's a pretty tough kid. When he gets hurt, he cries for a minute and then out of nowhere, he wipes his tears, smiles, and says, "I'm ok!" It makes it kind of hard to tell when he's really hurt, or just faking. :) He is really good at hitting a ball with a baseball bat, and he is faster on his Strider bike (no pedals) than Owen is on his regular bike. He has no fear!
He is saying full sentences now. He loves pretending he is Batman, and crinkles up his nose when he says it. He says he wants to be Batman for Halloween. Owen is going to be Spiderman. I have been told I am going to be Storm, and Kipper has been instructed to be Superman. A superhero family...man, I live with a bunch of boys! :)
Owen is in preschool four afternoons a week, and he is loving it. He is so proud to go, and it's been amazing watching him transition this year. Last year he went two days a week, and although he liked it, I didn't yet see much change in him. This year however, he's learning so much, so fast. I ask him everyday when I pick him up, "What did you do?" Sometimes he says, "We read books, and I learned that water and oil don't mix!" And other times he says, "Mom...we did lots of things, can I just have a snack?" He is the big man on campus this year since he goes to kindergarten next year, and I can tell he knows that. He's making friends, and talks about a girl named "Rose" a lot. :)
I've added a pic of his "play-plans" from school. Prior to going to their "centers" (which are typically small areas set up in a theme such as "museums" or "places you shop" or "types of vehicles"), they are told to describe what they plan to do in the center they've been assigned. Then, they are told to put a blank line for each word in the sentence (teaches them breaks in sentences, and that words make up sentences, which ultimately will help them learn to read). Then, they are told to draw what they are going to do. In Owen's play plans, you can see that in the beginning of his first year (Fall 2010 -2011), he was scribbling. Then he started drawing faces (no sentence structure yet). Then, he began to add arms, legs, etc. As he progresses into his second year (Fall 2011 - 2012), he begins to add blanks for his words, breaking them up appropriately, and adding a body to his people and activities to his pictures. I'm so proud to see his progress, and can't wait to see what my little genius does next. :)
Check it out!
Owen also learned to ride a bike without training wheels this summer, and it was one of those moments as a parent that I'll never forget. It was a game-changer in this house, and it's been so fun to go on the bike trails with him. Family bike rides are our favorite past time. There is something really cool about riding side by side with your kiddo on a bike trail. There is a little running trail off the beaten path along Ralston Creek Trail in our neighborhood, and he of course prefers to ride on that instead of the paved sidewalk. He likes going over jumps, and thinks eating broccoli, Lucky Charms and blueberries make him go even faster (it's kind of true).
Now they are two peas in a pod on the trails, and getting faster and even MORE daring every day! 
We are really looking forward to coming home for the holidays, and staying for awhile. We plan to be there for Thanksgiving (probably get there Weds night). Kipper will stay until that Sunday night, and then fly back to Colorado for work. Owen, Bodhi and I will stay in Texas through Christmas (and maybe longer...) so that we can get some good quality time with everyone. We don't want to feel rushed, and we want to take advantage of having no set schedule one last year before Owen begins kindergarten. We miss everyone so much, and can't wait to see you!
I'll try to keep blogging monthly about these silly boys. Love you, miss you!
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