Not Lost. Definitely Not Forgotten.

But, the squeaky wheel gets the grease and lately, Kenny just hasn't been squeaky enough.
Between Braxton's health issues, and Holden's... baby issues.  (No real issues - now that his pneumonia is gone. He's just a baby.  And boy is he good at it.)

So Kenny, I want to let you know - we love you.  Just as much as Braxton, just as much as Holden.
And we haven't forgotten you.

Thank you for being you.
I wouldn't change a single thing about you.  

Love, Mommy and Daddy.

Namaste.

This morning Holdeezy woke up about an hour earlier than normal, at 5am.  By the time the feeding was over, I was over the whole "lets go running" thing.  So, I decided to do some yoga after the B-rox was dropped off at school and got 12 more winks.

After I got my vinyasa flowing - Kenny decided it was his turn.

Pretty decent form.  Chest out, hips mostly on the ground, head aligned with the spine.  

Seriously impressing me.  This is 20 minutes into the workout.  

He had just finished watching me so notice his anticipatory 

"cow-faced" pose.  

(the one where he's trying to grab his hands from above and below - behind his back)

Kenny, darling, you made me incredibly proud today.  

My Brain is NOT Smarter Than a Five Year Old's.

Do you remember being five?  I do.  Well, some parts at least.  I remember going on my kindergarten trout fishing field trip expecting to come back with a pet fish.
(In case you are wondering, I did not come home with a pet trout.) 
I remember my little sister coming home from the hospital.
(In case you were wondering, I did not like her.) 
I remember learning to make Macaroni 'n' Cheese.
I remember my mother telling me that we were out of pancake mix.
(No.  We were not. She *apparently* didn't feel like making them again for the 1,685th day in a row.) 
I remember random moments that I don't remember the context of, or even why I remember them.

What I don't remember?

My brain expanding as fast as my kids' brains seem to.

I spend the whole drive to school explaining different world, science/biology, language concepts to the B-rox. All conversations are sparked by him.  Kenny, while listening, will usually come up with a very valid question - proving that he's learning "stuff" too.

A few of the magical conversations we've had:

(This one was actually between the two brothers.  I had no input.  Well, except laughter.) 
Kenny: DAMN!
B-rox: What does Damn mean?
Kenny: Damn is when something is broken, or someone gets hurt, or the car doesn't work. You just say damn and that's what it means.
B-rox: Oh.  That's a good word.
Kenny: Yeah.
Yes, I understand this means I've used that word too many times.  Yes, I understand I should have stepped in and told them to stop saying that word.  It is hard to do that when you're laughing as hard as I was. 


On the way into the school:
B-rox: Mr. G is the boss of the school.
Me: Yes, he is.
B-rox: Mr. G is the boss of this school because he's a man and "womans" can't be bosses of schools.
Me [looking for nearby brick wall to smash head against]: No, Mr. G is the boss of this school because he owns it.  If I owned the school, I would be boss of it.  Even though I'm a girl.
B-rox: But, you're just a mom.  You don't know how to own a school.
Me:  Oh jeez....

Driving through our neighborhood after school:
B-rox: Mom, why does that guy have a white and red stick?
Me: Because he's blind
B-rox: What is blind?
{We spend 45 minutes reviewing the five senses and how they help us "figure out our world"}
Me: So, your five senses help you figure out your world, right?
B: Yes.
Me: So, if you were blind and couldn't see your food - what would you do to figure out your food?
B: Put on glasses.
Duh, mom. 


[In Braxton's school, they learn Spanish one day a week. Because we're fancy like that...]
Door to door salesman: Hello, I'm here to sell.... (cleaners? I don't remember.)
B-rox: Hola is Hello in Spanish.
D2D: Yes, it is - very good!  Did your mommy teach you that?
B: No, I'm half Spanish and half  "anglish".  I just know it already.
Me: [facepalm]

So, maybe these weren't the most text book examples of their ever expanding brains.  They were the most hilarious, the most remember-able (totally a word), and in my opinion, the best way to show how giant their brains are.

If you don't believe me, just ask B-rox's teacher.  The incumbent 1st graders are testing this week, and she informed me Braxton could test with them and have no issues.
Like I didn't already know that... 

Into Thin Air.

A harrowing account by Jon Krakauer of the 1997 dramz on Everest

-OR-

What it would be like if you entered my brain.


There isn't much there, yet, I'm going to fill the blogosphere with it anyway.

*I registered for two races this past week.

My first triathalon, which is 1/5 the distance of an Iron Man. {July 10th} (And hopefully a good way to break into the world of Tri-ing)
{If anybody has any tips, hints, advice on this whole tri process, please let me know!} 

And the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon.  {October 2}

Race ends here.
I'm not sure how I feel about it.
I know it's called "The awakening"
But - it kind of looks like "The Deadening".
Not good at the end of a race. 

It feels good to have goals to work towards again, I don't feel like I'm just floundering around in the world of chauffering and diapers.
However, my workout this morning - 2 mile run and 30 minutes on the bike reminded me how far out of shape I currently am...
And how much I hate 5am. 


*Natalie Portman quit veganism.
Because the baby told her to.  Proving, that pregnancy cravings are no joke.
Basically, I told you this because sometimes I would tell hubband that "The baby wants a burger" and he just rolled his eyes as he grabbed his keys.  


*The government didn't shut down.   Thank you Baby Jesus. 
Do I really need to say more on that?

*You need to watch this video.  It will make you smile.  If it doesn't, you should call 911.  Because you're probably dead.

*I'm off to go wake up my older trolls and make them play outside.  Prove to the neighbors we're not vampires, and all that... 

BlooBusters V. BumbleBees

Yesterday was alliteration team day, apparently.
Just some awesome pics from the B-rox's first match.
Yes, I am now that mother.  

Favorite picture.  All because of the little girl behind B-rox.

Yes, That kid really is that much bigger.
Yes,  B-rox really did take him on.
Yes, B-rox really did get the ball away from him...

And then much bigger kid looked like he wanted to eat BlooBuster for snack...

 We don't keep score and the games are more about teaching and having fun than "winning or losing".

Braxton's smile the entire game was about a mile wide. I call that *Winning*!

Meet the BlooBusters!

B-rox had his first practice today.  Not gonna lie.  The kid has some serious skillz...

...With a sweatband.

I googled "long hair boys wear sweatbands"
The top results?
Richard Simmons
The Olsen Twins
Olivia Newton John
This is SOOOO much better.  

His team name is the "BlooBusters".  Officially it's probably spelled "blubusters", but I'm going with a Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends feel. 

He completely enjoyed himself.

Add caption

Managed to impress me a little bit.

And then maybe not impress me quite as much.

Oh, and in case you're wondering what I wore cooked for dinner, I wore my see mom run shirt and jeans cooked chicken to shred onto salad.  Totally looked awesome! It was completely delicious!

Dessert Soup with Jalepenos.

Wowza.  What a title, right?

B-rox is finally recovering - and has been at school for the last three days!  It looks like he'll be in school every day this week.  Which, for the last couple of months is rare.  RARE!

However, Kenny and Holdeezy both ended up catching his plague.

"Ray Ray".
No, my kids do not get attached to your average teddy bear, dog, type stuffie. 

After a weekend with rising temperatures (in their bodies, not in the weather) and sleepless nights - both K and H went in to the doctor.
Kenny has pneumonia and "Low electrolytes" I'll leave why to your imagination... 
Holdeezy has double ear infections and bronchiolitis.

It's been pretty insane.

This should give you a pretty good idea of how miserable the boys have been.

However, now all the fevers are broken and a healthy life is on the horizon.

Go Cubs!
(Yes, that is a Cubbies onesie - Worn on opening day of MLB.)

And life with smiles like this.
(Though, preferably not smiles from laughing at mom while she sings in the shower to "Fat Bottomed Girls".)


Because of circumstances, the boys haven't showering or bathing together.  So, B-rox got to take a bath in my tub, all by himself.
Kitchen utensils, giant emesis basin, and "fizzy color tablets" made for one of the most entertaining bath's I've been in charge of... pretty much ever.  It's also how you end up with "dessert soup, with jalepenos".

"This is my hat.  Because chefs wear hats." 

"Hmm... needs more jalepenos." 

Well, this is me signing off.  Because we have soccer practice tonight - and I need to figure out what to wear make for dinner.