Excuse me while I share a proud mom moment.  The boys have been begging me to take them to the Dollar store to spend tooth fairy and allowance money that’s been burning a hole in their wallets.  So today we ventured out to the Dollar Tree.  On the drive we discussed (again) the value of dollar store toys.  “Do dollar store toys last very long?” “No!” they answered.  “What are you going to do if your toy breaks before you even get it in the house?” (something that has happened to us before) “Not cry!” they chimed together.  We keep talking about the better toys they can get if they save their money and occasionally they listen.  We’re hoping they learn the “you get what you pay for” lesson now on cheap toys rather than later  when they are teens and adults.  But arrive we did and they marched their happy little selves into their version of heaven on earth (Toys R Us they can afford)
As they wandered the store perusing the aisles of cheap, brightly colored plastic, I reminded Mr. President, who was spending his allowance, that if he spent it all today he wouldn’t get any more for a whole month.  He of course wanted to spend it all anyway and put his 4 dollars worth of toys in his cart. Again, more money lessons we hope they learn with their little allowance before their big paychecks.  Go Go put in his 2 dollars worth as well, but then as he passed a little golf club and ball he exclaimed, “Blue Jeans would LOVE this!”  Without even thinking twice he put one of his toys back and put the golf club in for Blue Jeans.  When I gave him a teary hug and told him how proud I was of him for choosing to be like Jesus and share his money, big brother was listening.  One of Mr. President’s toys went back on the shelf and I was then presented with a bouquet of white fake flowers.  I thanked him too for his thoughtful gift and we made our way to the cash register.  I tried hard not to blubber on the cashier when she told them how wonderful she thought it was that they had thought of others when spending their money.  I walked away from the store bursting with gratitude that sometimes, our lessons do get through to them.  And the plastic flowers will be a crowning addition to my decor Forever.

To help ensure that Easter Sunday is truly focused on the Savior and his resurrection rather than the Easter bunny and his candy, we have the Easter bunny come to our house the day BEFORE Easter (on Saturday).  A wonderful idea from a seasoned grandma that I got several years ago.  This has worked out great for our  family. By the time Sunday comes, their little minds are no longer completely focused on sugar.  
The other day I heard Mr. President explaining the finer points of this process to his brother.  “The Easter Bunny makes two trips-one to Mormons on Saturday and one to everyone else on Sunday.”  I quickly jumped in to inform them that it was not that way at all, and that the Easter bunny comes to many a Mormon family on Sunday and that the bunny actually comes on whichever day the parents choose.  Mr. Pres inquired as to how this was possible, and I told him that we just told the bunny what day we wanted him to come and he does it.  Thinking negotiatively as he usually does, Mr. Pres then said, “Could you ask him to come on Friday?” 

Uh, yeah, nice try!

We took Go Go on his Half Birthday Date yesterday.  This is a tradition we have where we take the one child out on a special date with just mom and dad.  Go Go chose to go to Times Square and the BIG Toys R Us that is like an amusement park in and of itself.  It has Super Heroes flying from the ceiling and walking around the store, a full size ferris wheel, and a full size T-Rex, just to name a few.  We had lots of fun. Go Go refused to sit down on the subway insisting that he could stand up like the big people and hold on to the pole.  Out of ALL the restaurants in Penn Station (there are at least a million) he chose…. Pizza Hut.  And he saw more M&M’s then he’s ever seen in his life.  
Favorite quotes:
Upon coming off of the train and into Penn Station (remember, home to a million different restaurants) Go Go’s over active sense of smell kicked in and he said, “Mom, what food am I smelling?”  This is like asking while standing next to a freeway, “What kind of car am I hearing?”

As we came out of the Subway and into Times Square his eyes got really big and he said, “Wow.  I’ve never been in a city like this.  This is like the cities on TV!”  We then informed him that this was THE city he sees on TV.

On the Train into New York

Times Square

Lego Statue of Liberty at the Toys R Us (they also have the Empire State Building and Sears Tower)

Optimus Prime and friends

Millions of Magnificent M&M’s at the M&M store

That’s right!  Miracles do happen and I finally get to have a GIRL!  I thought I would cry when I found out it was going to be another boy, but it turns out I was going to cry either way!  And let me tell you, it has been a very surreal morning.  The ultrasound tech kept saying “she” and “her” and I couldn’t help but feel like she was talking about someone else’s baby.  I couldn’t even make my mouth form the words!  They got stuck in my throat as I tried to say them!  And then there was the shopping experience.  I have purposefully always avoided the girls sections-so I wouldn’t covet something I might never get or feel sad.  Today as I ventured into those territories hitherto unknown I felt like I was an outsider, a criminal, like the store clerk was going to come over and ask me what on earth I was doing in the GIRL’S section!  I was prepared to show her my ultrasound pictures and prove that I am now a card carrying member of the girls clothes section! 

I have waited for this day for so long and I am so very grateful that my prayers (and my boys prayers!) have been answered.  What a happy day!  I wonder when I’ll stop crying!

We’ve decided to take a poll on Blue Jean’s new name.  In honor of his forehead’s second major run in with a corner today.  No, this one did not gush (much), nor did it require a visit to the ER, nor is it as big or deep, but it is none the less bad and we have another scar in the making–half an inch from the last one.  I can’t wait till this kid is 18.

I finally navigated New York City ALL BY MY SELF!  I even managed to figure out Penn Station-a veritable labyrinth of restaurants and train corridors to anywhere and everywhere that leaves the heads of the spatially challenged spinning.  Going to the temple is so expensive and time consuming between train rides and babysitters, that we decided we have to go separately more often and so today I took the big plunge into the Big Apple all alone and I did it without getting lost!  I’m so proud of myself  I just had to boast!

I have now gotten to do something I’ve waited my whole life to do!  And no, it was not eating a Philadelphia Cheese Steak Sandwich IN Philadelphia.  (That was Rock’s dream come true). Mr. Pres also claimed he could not wait to get his hands on a Philly Cheese “stick” either.  No, my dream come true was to see the room where they signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  We took a trip to Philly this weekend with the boys and I finally got to stand in the room where such amazing history happened.  It was awesome. 
We spent our snow days this week reading all the children’s books the Berkeley Heights library has on the Revolution, Declaration and Constitution.  I didn’t think much was getting in, but during the tour of Independence Hall our boys knew most of the answers to the question the guide asked!  Made me proud, I have to say!  And the cool thing is, they are now excited about the Constitution and their founding fathers.  Here are the picture highlights.   
Independence Hall

Liberty Bell

Random lady, but great view.
 

Assembly Room in Independence Hall
 

Yes, we had to deal with the snow, but we decided it was a good trade in place of humidity and crowds.  We didn’t get to everything this trip, but as the sign said as we were leaving Philly-“Get back soon, there’s always more to do in Philadelphia.”  And since we only live 1.5 hours away, we’ll be back!

Such is the life I lead with my 3rd toddler.  Now that he is no longer in a crib, indeed all peace I had is gone.  During naps he stuffs his blanket and teddy bear in the diaper pail, climbs on the dresser drawers till they break and jumps on the rocking chair for all he’s worth.   Obviously, the diaper pail and drawers were removed after that stunt.  Our options are 1. strapping him down to the bed or 2.  spanking the little twirp.  And yes, contrary to popular belief, we have spanked a few times lately.  🙂  Quick, someone call CPS!  Also this week, Blue Jeans put the boys’ dart guns in the toilet as well as their remote control train controls.  They are now useless.  It was sadly a lesson for the older boys to shut the bathroom door behind them so that little brother can’t get in to play with the toilet, but I will admit that some of that “natural consequences” lesson might have been lost on them in my angry dealings with the incident.   As if outgrowing his crib weren’t enough for one week, he also figured out to how open doors.  We now have those obnoxious door knob baby proof locks on almost every door in the house and while they do keep Blue Jeans out, they give everyone else a headache.  I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.  “ Oh, and Blue Jeans, PLEASE don’t eat the dandelions.”

You know it’s going to be bad when they cancel school the night before a storm!  So far we’ve got about a foot and a half and it just keeps dumping!  Rock worked from home today rather than brave New York City which is supposedly worse.  He’s has been shoveling our huge driveway and sidewalk off and on all day.  I’m rewarding his hard work with stew for dinner! 

Sledding down the driveway

Our backyard winter wonderland

For those familiar with the “plastic car”

The Snow Fort-Mr. Pres and our neighbor

Wonder if they’ll cancel school tomorrow?  We’ve got a blizzard watch till 6 am!  That would make our winter break 5 days long plus the weekend!  Happy Valentines Day to us!

I have never had a climber. Not one of my children have EVER climbed out of their crib. I know that’s unusual, but it’s true. I have always had the peace of mind to know that when I put them in their crib, they would stay there till I got them out. I realize that I am very lucky AND I realize that it was only a matter of time before that luxury ended. We knew that the toddler bed was not far away for Blue Jeans but I’ve been stalling because I like being able to take naps with this pregnancy. And boys in toddler beds don’t stay put very well just to let mom sleep.

So today I was sitting at the computer minding my own business enjoying the quiet of naptime, when I heard footsteps. My heart skipped a beat and the adrenaline started pumping as thoughts of an intruder raced through my mind. And then who should wander into the family room with his blankie and teddy but Blue Jeans, with a bewildered look of accomplishment on his face. Once over my shock I just started laughing and couldn’t stop. I went upstairs to see if maybe I had left the side down, but no, our little man has just decided the bars will no longer keep him in. Time for the toddler bed.