Our Blue Jeans is somethin else. Though other people may have run into this kind of thing with their children, he’s the first adventurer of the bunch here at our house. And hopefully the last. Apparently he takes after his Grandpa who liked to climb up in the rafters of the garage when very small. As I said, this is probably very tame for many a mother out there, but it’s new to me.
In the last two weeks here are the ways that Blue Jeans has tried to kill himself:
1. Got into mom’s purse (after climbing up to the top shelf of the bookshelf to get it) and pulled out brother’s EPI pen (ie. really big needle), opened it and was trying to figure out how it worked when he was discovered.
2. Pushed a chair over to the stove and turned on the stove top burners. (Stove knobs are now removed-not something you’d think would need to be done on an old fashioned stove where the knobs are on top and not in front of the counter)
3. Climbed up on his brother’s dresser while all three drawers were open and had it fall over on top of him. Luckily there was not even a scratch on him, but Mom just about went into labor running up the stairs and pulling the very heavy dresser off of him.
4. Ran outside twice when brothers left the doors open and headed for the 40 mph road we live on which is more like a 50 mph road. We are in the process of learning road safety, but have not mastered it yet. And by the way, the doors are all baby proofed, just not brother proofed.
5. Got a sharp knife down from the counter and stuck it in his mouth. Luckily, Dad caught him after only minor damage had been done.
6. Snuck a second granola bar and tried to open it with the kitchen shears. When Dad caught him Blue Jeans threw the scissors across the room as if to absolve himself of all responsibility. Amazingly, no one else was hurt during the incident.
Unfortunately, it’s really hard to be mad at a kid who can’t even say his own name, but thanks to his older brothers can say “Chewbacca” with perfect clarity.

Look fast, he might not be with us long.

Last week was Spring break for our boys and so we took the chance to play in New York City for a day.  It was one of those mostly perfect days you get only every once in a while.  The weather is sunny and not too hot.  Nobody fights or yells or cries or whines-not one meltdown.  No dirty diapers to change while on the road.  Everybody likes the food AND the activities.  No missed trains, or long lines.  Everyone was happy and pleasant for the most part.  A Good Memory making day.
The train ride in was very pleasant indeed…..
 
thanks to two cell phones and a Leapster, that is!  What a joy modern technology is!
Once into the city we took our first Cab ever.  You should have seen the cab driver’s face when Rock told him that to make room in the back for the rest of us he was going to sit in the front with him (something rarely done, but something riders have a full and complete right to do).  And we only had to ask one child to stop kicking the cab driver’s seat.  The cab took us (as quickly as he could I’m sure) to the Intrepid, a huge air craft carrier turned flight and space museum. 
 
On board we saw lots of airplanes and watched a few movies about the war history of this big boat.  Mr. President had a difficult time coming to terms with the idea of Kamikaze pilots-two of which killed 69 crew members and almost destroyed the boat in WW II.  “Why would they do that?!  That’s just STUPID!”  As usual, Go Go took the news in stride marveling at the thought of planes on fire and ships under attack. 



On the top/flight deck with New York City in the background.


The submarine (and missile) that “we” weren’t tall enough to go inside quite yet.

After the Intrepid we went to the temple to show the boys.  They spotted the Angel Moroni right away. 


Mr. President really wanted to “explore New York City” so we said, “Let’s wander this way and see what we find!” We then “explored” our way down the street you see behind them to the trees you see in the background and lo and behold, there was Central Park!  Amazing what you can find when you explore New York City!  The boys were instantly in heaven.  This park is the park to end all parks.  It is 840 acres, and has a castle, a carousel, 2 zoos, 3 ponds and and 2 lakes, a skating rink, 2 museums (Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History), 18 playgrounds (yes you read that right) and BIG huge rocks all over for kids to climb till their heart’s content.  That’s not even all there is!  And it is absolutely beautiful besides all that! 
Here’s an aerial view to give you an idea of the size of it. 

The leaves are just coming out and it was a picture perfect day to play in the park!





 
One of the things that helped us decide to move here to the East was this park.  Our goal is to bring the boys out once a month!  There’s so much to do, we’ll never even scratch the surface!  Can’t wait to go back!

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.”