Trick or Treat - treats and treats and treats

Well, here we are. Halloween is behind us - or actually just barely in our rearview mirror. We spent this evening out with our neighbors taking part in the age old tradition of trick-or-treating. We visited houses on our street and the streets immediatly in our neighborhood and we came home with more candy than I would ever want my child to consume. Cole was a dragon and Rhys was a bumble bee. They are both so cute, I can hardly stand it! They both got treats - Cole in the form of candy and Rhys in the form of a knitted stuffed candy corn made by a neighbor who knew he couldn't have candy - I love our neighbors!
Cole was "escorted" by our 9 year old neighbor, Madison. She was a witch and such a big help for us. He was shy about going to houses and having a veteran by his side was a comfort. I can't believe he is so big and that Rhys will be there before I know it. Before we made it home, Rhys was asleep in the stroller. It was truly a lovely evening.
I am so thankful for all of the blessings the Lord has given to me. Every day, I am in awe of His gifts and only hope that I can, in some way, live up to them. My children are like clay that I can mold and all of my actions influence the people they will be. That is a lot of responsiblity and not something I take lightly.
Tonight, Cole was a polite little boy. He said, "thank you" and was hesitant and polite when approaching unfamiliar houses and people. I was proud of him and give Chris and myself credit for his disposition. I am proud and gushing. I deserve moments like this to offset the times when I am on the business end of a temper tantrum. Happy Halloween - bring on the real holidays!

Getting back into the groove

It is a windy day today and so cold outside. I was blessed with a remarkable amount of sleep last night. I drifted off around 9pm and fed Rhys at 11pm and then again just before 5am. We went for a play date at my friend Deb's house. Cole and Makenna played while Rhys sat on the floor and explored a few baby toys. Deb and I had a nice chat and we came home after almost 2 hours. Rhys and Cole both ate lunch and took naps.

I am truly struggling with tempting food. For some reason, my will power is failing and I am falling prey to chocolate and cookies more and more. Not walking yesterday is also weighing heavily on my mind. When the boys both woke up from their naps, I took them for a brisk walk in the blustery weather. I snuggled them both under blankets and packed them tightly into the stroller and off we went. I felt SO much better because of it and found my enthusiasm once more. Cole kept saying how much fun it was and that we all were getting exercise. I am sure I burned so many more calories fighting the wind with the double stroller loaded down with two children. I also managed to get out after Chris got home. I took Sasha for about a mile and a half.

We had a lovely surprise today when the florist delivered an adorable bouquet of fall flowers for Rhys and Cole (and me and Chris). Thanks, mom...they are beautiful!

Rainforest Cafe and Pumpkin Carving

We had a full day again. Mine started at 5:30 when Rhys was ready to start his day. I brought him downstairs and gave him breakfast when he was ready for it and Cole joined us just after 7. Chris was able to slumber until around 9 and got some well-needed rest. We headed to Towson to check out the new addition to the mall and eat lunch in a rainforest-themed restaurant called Rainforest Cafe. They have animatronic rainforest animals that move around as well as aquariums, water features, and a thunder and lightning show every 30 minutes. Cole was completely freaked out.
We headed back home after lunch and a walk around the mall. I made a chicken pot-pie and apple crisp and our friends Scott and Janelle came over to carve pumpkins with us. We had a good time but I was exhausted. Janelle and I walked and I was so glad to have gotten a walk in after such a long day.
I am tired now and am really ready for bed but want to chill with Chris for a little while before I commit to ending the day. I pray for Rhys to get into a better sleep cycle and sleep through the night soon. I need for him to do that. (Pictured: Our pumpkins and Janelle holding Cole)

A dragon, a bumble bee, a cow, and a temper tantrum

Two of the moms in our play group got together and hosted a fabulous Halloween party today. It was complete with games, songs, crafts, snacks, and even a hay ride! Cole and Rhys were in costume (a dragon and a bumble bee) and I even dressed up like a cow. They had games and snacks. Cole was a raging 2 year old and I struggled to get him to participate. We took pictures and when the toddlers' attention spans deteriorated, we headed up for some snacks.
We went outside to a trailer that was covered in hay and hitched to a John Deer riding lawn mower. Cole was so impressed and so pleased with the prospects of riding behind the tractor he had tunnel vision. We rode down the street a few times and then stopped in the front yard where the kids picked a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch that was set up. The pizza wasn't quite ready so we went for another ride and then headed inside for lunch. Cole continued to be challenging and his temper reached a boiling point when he tripped and caused his pizza slice to hit the floor. He always is temperamental when he makes a mess or drops something and this time, he struck me with both hands rhythmically as he shouted, "I WANT MY PIZZA!"
I took a deep breath and began to collect all of our things. We got in the car and I told him that when we got home, he was to get in his seat at the table and wait for me to fix lunch. When he was done with lunch, he would take a nap and there would be no toys or shows. I turned the radio off and we rode home in silence. He didn't utter a word until I reminded him of what he did and reminded him that he was to get no television. To that he replied that he does get tv. I ignored him.
Sure enough, when we got home, he went straight to his seat and waited for his lunch. He ate it all and then took a decent nap. He went without television and would say why he couldn't watch as the day wore on.
We got through the afternoon and I cooked mushroom, asparagus, and spinach risotto for supper - of which Cole had none. He eats what I make or he eats nothing. This time, he ate nothing.
I bathed the boys and when Chris got home, I went for a walk.

It was a hectic day and as I walked I thought about all of the houses in the neighborhood. They are all boxes full of happy, sad, angry and crazy. I looked into the sky and as the sun started setting I reflected on all of the happy, sad, angry and crazy out there and my little world is so insignificant in the grand scheme. Cole will have days where he is impossible and we will get through those. Life would be easier if he behaved himself all of the time but where is the challenge in that? As I turned onto my street, I took a deep breath and prepared to walk back into my box of happy, sad, angry and crazy...with HOPE.