Week 9, Round 2

The past week went really well for us.  Lincoln was still in his ultra helpful/loving mode, and it made life in general that much more enjoyable.  I am still dealing with extreme grouchiness from time to time with Corinne (hopefully from her teeth), but luckily Lincoln was aware of her occasional outbursts and gave his sister some slack--showing extra love and patience toward Corinne.

Thursday morning we headed to speech and swimming lessons where Lincoln was extremely polite and well behaved.  Then we came home for lunch and a nap for Corinne.  Lincoln and I did a little Hooked on Phonics while she slept, and then Lincoln decided to teach Corinne how to play her new build a flower bead game that she got for Christmas.

I loved that he was so patient with her, even when she dumped what he had just built.  He would also wait until she was finished with her project if they needed the same piece.  She eventually got the hang of it, but still likes to preplan her pieces on the card to make sure they match. 

They made English muffin pizzas for dinner, even though Corinne refused to eat hers later.

Lincoln played more Marine with his nerf gun.  He is convinced that Daddy jumps out of helicopters and shoots his gun while he falls down.  I'm afraid he might be a little disappointed one day when he finds out that Nathan mostly works with computers and only does the fun stuff occasionally.  But for now, Daddy is the coolest and I don't want to crush any of the cool factor.  He still "fights the bad guys" just not like most people would think. 

We wrapped up the night by wrapping up Corinne like an infant for them to play "baby".  I was a bit shocked that she let me swaddle her up and carry her around.  I was also shocked at how light she is, even when I hold her that way.  We know more than a few babies that weigh almost as much as she does! 

On Friday we met Jenn, Mabel, and Luke at the park for some fun in the sun.  It wa a bit gloomy earlier in the week, and it felt great to get out.  Lincoln was happy to make it back to one of his favorite parks.

Corinne enjoyed a ride on the swings with Luke.

We came home for Corinne to nap, then Lincoln and I built "The Disneyland Hotel" out of their soft blocks.  He made it for Corinne's doll house family, that was taking a ride in Noah's ark to get to the Disneyland Hotel Island.  I wish I had his imagination!

When Corinne woke up we ate an early dinner and decided to have brownies in a jar for dessert.  Lincoln thought they would be even better with a dab of vanilla (he was right!) and conversation hearts (I skipped on that part). 

That night Corinne and I did a few princess puzzles while Lincoln shot us with darts. 

We got a ton of errands run on Saturday morning, then decided to head to base for a haircut for Linc.  (Note to any military mom reading this--NEVER got to the old Italian man for a haircut for your son.  He obviously does not comprehend the words "skin", "faux hawk", "fade", or "brush").  After our trip to the chop shop was over, we headed up to San Onofre to visit with the Bacon's who were camping at the beach.  It was a bit chilly, but the kids loved running around at the playground.  I definitely need to get Lincoln into gymnastics this summer.  He is such a dare devil with climbing as high as he can and jumping off of things. 

Corinne mostly played it safe and stuck to the slides.

Then she relaxed a bit with Linda in the sun. 

The kids were mesmerized by the motorhome and all the hidden compartments.  They each went to the bathroom about five times in a three hour period just to check out to toilet.  They also caught a movie in the top bunk.  Before we left Corinne insisted on trying out the shower.  Luckily Linda was happy to let her check it out.  She thought it was the coolest thing ever to be able to shower in a car!

Lincoln had a major meltdown on the way home from the beach, but I will chalk it up to extreme exhaustion.  I knew a storm was brewing and his over the top niceness and patience would not last forever.  It felt like a bit of a low blow because things were going so well, but in the end, tantrums should be expected at this age.  We dealt with it and moved on. 


Sunday morning we woke up bright and early for church.  Then we headed home to prep for our date with Jenn, Warren, and baby Hunter.  I was prepping to make stromboli and turned around at the wrong moment only to hear a big clanging sound.  Then I found my marble rolling pin in pieces.  Bummer!  Apparently my house has settled a bit in the past few months and my countertop is now unlevel.  At least when marble breaks it turns into a sand material and not glass-like shards.  I used the bigger piece to haphazardly roll out the dough, then I turned it over to Lincoln to play "Gold Rush" with outside.  Guess what I am getting myself for my anniversary in June???

Jenn and Warren arrived shortly after my mishap and gave Hunter his lunch while I threw our dinner together.  Corinne was happy to help with the feeding.

Then we headed to Red Robin for our lunch.  Lincoln made sure he ate almost the exact same thing Uncle Warren had--even made him order a strawberry smoothie for a drink.  Then I sent the boys to the theater to see "Journey to the Center of the Earth 2" while Jenn, Corinne, Hunter, and I did a little shopping.  Part of me really wanted to see that movie with the kids myself, but I knew that this "man time" was more important in the scheme of things. 

Lincoln came home with a jawbreaker (I later dubbed it the slime ball) as a treat raving about how much fun he had with Uncle Warren.  He had a blast---after our big lunch they enjoyed popcorn, ice cream dibbs, and then ended the day with a jawbreaker because they couldn't find a gum ball.  Lincoln asked if I would ever let him have that much sugar and I told him probably not.  Then he asked if I was mad, and I assured him that I sort of expected some serious spoiling to go on while I was gone.  It was just what the doctor ordered. 

After a long day on Sunday, we decided to lay low on Monday.  Corinne woke up in a particularly good mood--which was a relief considering her crabbiness and missed nap from the busy day before. 

Lincoln decided he wanted to wear Marine clothes for the day, so we put on his camo pants and green shirt, then added a belt so he could hook on the light saber that arrived from Dad in the mail.  Then he grabbed his helmet, pistol, and rifle.  He looked pretty complete if you ask me. 

Corinne decided to dress up as a cowgirl for the day. 

I couldn't help but think about how grown up she looks lately.  My little baby is turning into a beautiful little girl. 

The kids had a good light saber battle before hitting the tub.

Lincoln taught us how to use his new water whistle that he got in science class. 

When I dried Corinne's hair for the night she asked me to put one of my feathers in her mane. 

On Tuesday, we met Brittany, Ethan, and Ellie at the park for some more outside playtime.  The boys played endlessly and Corinne reluctantly pushed through without a nap.  Ethan brought an extra gun for Lincoln and him to play Marines, and Lincoln did a good job of sharing his bike and scooter with Ethan. 

Corinne was a bit sensitive and ready to head home early at one point...

Then she found "my boy in the purple shirt" at the park.  She latched onto some 13 year old kid and talked him into riding scooters with her.  Then Corinne convinced him to push her on the swings and then she played a game of catch with him using his nerf football.  She went on to tell his mom that her name was Ariel--the Mermaid.  Oh my, she is going to be trouble!

Ethan, Ellie, and Brittany came home with us for showers and dinner before heading back. Brittany taught us how to make Ritz cracker mini pizzas--the boys loved them, but Corinne was tired and opted for a turkey dog. I will say that they taste just like a thin crust pizza. 

The next morning, I had to wake the kids up bright and early for their dentist appointments.  I was happy to hear that both kids had a clean bill of health!  Lincoln and I are doing a great job keeping his pearly whites clean. 

Corinne got a good report too, but still needs to work on quitting the thumb sucking habit.  She tells me all the time that she "is done sucking her thumby because I am going to be a teenager soon", then wipes her thumb off, only to pop it back in as soon as she gets tired.  I tried wrapping special princess band-aids around her thumb to keep her from putting it in her mouth.  But it wasn't much help.  She would just unwrap it when needed and then ask for a new one.  We were going through about six bandages a day and at $2.50 a box, it was becoming as expensive as a cigarette habit, so we threw the towel in on that adventure.  I might try lemon juice next. 

After the dentist we headed to base, then to a place called Kidsville with Brittany in Carlsbad for a Battalion Mom and Kids Social.  It was a big play area attached to the mall that had little rooms with various playstations.  Corinne immediately made a beeline to the pink room to play dress up and do girly things. 

She changed costumes quite a lot in a two hour period.  She was Sleeping Beauty, Pirate Princess, and Cheetah Girl. 

Lincoln and Ethan dressed up as Ninja Turtles and put on a play, then slid down the castle slides.

Here is a shot of Corinne running into the castle to be saved from the monster.

Playing tug-a-war with a huge stuffed snake was also a big hit. 

After our two hours of playtime, Corinne was more than ready for a nap.  She fell asleep as we were leaving the parking lot and Lincoln drifted off on our long drive home.  Miraculously I was able to transfer Corinne to her bed when we got home and she napped for another hour and a half.  Lincoln woke up, ready for a snack when we pulled into the garage.  I was beat and ready for a nap myself.  Luckily my little gentleman agreed to let me set a timer so that I could take a cat nap on the couch with him while he laid with me.  I only got about 15 minutes or real sleep in, but that was all that I needed.  After my power nap (complete with tons of Lincoln snuggles) we got up and undecorated the hosue for Valentine's Day and then got things ready for dinner.  We took the bikes around the block to get the mail and played outside with the neighbors for quite awhile, then headed in for dinner and a movie.  The kids loved A Dolphin Tale and learning about people and animals with disabilities. 

Overall, we had a great week with mininal meltdowns and frustration.  The chair and the chart seem to be working in my favor, and Lincoln has really been a joy to be around (thank God because Corinne and her teething have made for a very feisty home environment).  Part of me almost feels like I won't have much to talk to the phsycologist about next Monday, but I am always open to suggestions about new things to try.  I know his "man date" with Warren was priceless, and I will do my best to get him a weekly dose of testosterone time with other kids or aduls.


QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Quote 1: After I apologized to Lincoln for nagging him to pick up toys.
Lincoln:  "It's okay.  I know you get tired of doing everything for everyone else.  I still love you even when you are naughty."
At least he cuts me some slack from time to time.

Quote 2:  After spending the day with Uncle Warren.
Lincoln:  "This is the greatest day I have ever had in my whole life."
Thank you Warren for giving my son what I can't while Nathan is gone!

Quote 3:  Randomly at dinner to Corinne and I.
Lincoln:  "Hey guys, when Sleeping Beauty goes up to be with God, you guys are going to be the last beautiful people on earth."
Quite the charmer, but damn you Sleeping Beauty for keeping Corinne and I in second and third place in the beauty contest! 

Quote 4:  After putting the feather in Corinne's hair, she climbed on top of my linen bastket with a blanket.
Corinne:  "I am a birdy and this is my nest.  Cheep, cheep."
Cutest little bird I have ever seen!

Quote 5:  While twisting up leftover pipe cleaners from Valentine's Day making these for Nathan...

Me:  "Why do you keep making those for Dad?  He already has a ton in his pile to send to him.  You should save them for another project."
Lincoln:  "He needs a lot of them because he is a big Marine.  If he doesn't have them he will feel like he is a little man that doesn't know how to fight the bad guys."
Who knew that pink pipe cleaner bracelets could make a Marine feel so manly???

Quote 6:  While we are driving.Lincoln:  In a hillbilly accent, "What the hell is this?" (I have Dakota Fred from Gold Rush to thank for this).
Me:  "What the heck.  What the heck is what you need to say. Hell isn't a very nice word."
Lincoln:  "Huh?  Why do they say, 'Hell to the Princess Aurora' on Sleeping Beauty?"
Me:  "No they say 'hail' , like oh you are great and awesome, not 'hell'."
Lincoln:  "Hail not hell"
Me:  "Yep."
Glad we got that cleared up.

Week 8, Round 2

RELIEF.  That is the best word I have to describe our week.  It was a good one, and just what we needed.  Last Wednesday I got some of the best news ever---our friends Cary, Jason, and Caden got orders to Pendleton, and they are moving out this way in the spring.  Not only that, but they are also looking to buy a house near us!  We were stationed with them in Okinawa for three years, then went to stay with them when Jason had embassy duty in Rome.  It will be so nice to have them close again.  We have truely missed having them right around the corner.  They literally became our family in Oki, and I can't wait get them out to Cali.  Cary is a great friend and wonderful support system.  Having done the whole Marine wife thing a few more years than myself,  I value her input and she is a wealth of information on pretty much everything.  I can only hope that they find this area a great place to settle after so many years of hopping from country to country.---Now I just need to focus Nathan on getting orders to Miramar, so we can stick around for another three years or more!

Thursday morning, I woke up early and prepped us for a long day out because Karen was coming over, and I was a bit nervous that Lincoln would get upset about missing out on some of the cleaning.  So Corinne helped me make sandwiches.

Lincoln's lunch staple is peanut butter and honey.  Since I let her help, I was hoping that she would soon jump on board and enjoy a PB and H herself, but reluctantly she decided that peanut butter is tasty, but not on bread.  GRRRRRRRR, I guess my days of packing her only the guts of a sandwich are not over.  For now I will have to stick with the usual--meat, fruit, crackers, carrots, yogurt, and a dessert.

The kids found time to squeeze in a viewing of Sleeping Beauty.  They like to reenact the ending.

We headed to speech and swimming lessons, and I could already tell Corinne was going to be trouble.  She was feisty, overly tired, and pretty much altogether against everything.  She started out swimming lessons chewing on her goggles, which I warned her not to do because they would break.  Not two seconds later did they snap in her face.  That was the beginning of a meltdown.  She was inconsolable,and spent the first half of class crying in the water.  With no hope of saving the lesson, I pulled her out and dried her off.  Lincoln finished up class and we headed straight home for a much needed nap.  I checked Corinne's teeth that night only to realize that she is indeed cutting four molars.  When Lincoln cut teeth he went on a food and drink strike, leading us to eventually take him to the ER for an IV because he was so dehydrated.  Corinne is acting like normal, aside from her unusual meanness.  She always has an attitude, but is never this upset and needy.  While Corinne napped Lincoln got in a bit of cleaning with his leading lady--making him super happy.  Then I prepped for our overnight playdate with Eda, Aiden, and baby Emma.  Aiden is big into cars and trucks, so I taped off the family room with a crazy path of roads for the kids to play on.  I also brought Corinne's dollhouse and van down so she didn't feel left out. 

Friday afternoon Corinne received roses from Nathan with a super special note.  (I got my favorite daylilies too, but they were not open yet--so I skipped on a picture).  She was super happy, and felt very important and loved by her Daddy!

The transportation playdate was a hit with the kids.

Corinne also loved helping take care of baby Emma.  I was really impressed with Lincoln and his openness to sharing everything while Aiden was here.  It helped that Aiden brought some really cool trucks to share as well.  Eda watched all the kids Saturday morning so that I could get my hair done.  Thank you Eda--it was a much needed trip to the salon!

On Sunday, we headed to church where they celebrated Cornerstone's 20th birthday.  The kids were more than happy to have a cupcake after class.  Corinne must have been a pistol because when I picked her up the lady said, "She certainly has a strong opinion about the way she wants things done."  I take it as her way of saying she was a bit of a witch--I wasn't surprised considering her teeth and behavior lately.  We headed home for her to get a good nap in, then went over to Home Goods in search of some new decorative hangers for Corinne's dress-up holder.  I also scored a Playmobil pirate ghost dingy for $3.99 and tucked it away for Valentine's Day!  The kids spent the rest of the evening goofing off.

We wrapped up the night putting on a firefighter parade with our musical instruments--something they had seen off of a Curious George episode.

I was in charge of the maracas.

Then Corinne swapped out her helmet for Daddy's desert cover.

Lincoln and Corinne woke up early Monday morning ready to head to Colton's house for his birthday party.  We had time to spare, so they played "baby" in the pack'nplay that was still set up for baby Emma over the weekend.  Corinne crawled around on the floor or Lincoln carried her, and then put her to "sleep" in the pack'nplay. 

Then she ate breakfast in the highchair--silly girl!

We finally headed to Colton's for some fun festivities that included a bounce house.

Corinne was a bit nervous at first with all the big kids, but quickly made a friend with a seven-year-old
named Daniel.  Apparently he has a baby sister that he only sees every other weekend, but loves to help take care of.  He guarded her corner and kept the big kids from bumping into her, and then when they came too close, picked her up and bounced with her.  She was delighted with her "special friend". 

We sang happy birthday to Colton, and enjoyed some yummy food and cupcakes.

Corinne happily parked herself right next to Daniel to eat her treat.

Lincoln and I had to leave the party a bit early for his doctor's appointment with the pediatrician.  I was really surprised that he left the party without a fight.  He enjoyed a delicious chocolate cupcake lollipop from Jenn on the way there.  (Thanks Jenn!)We got to the office, and I was more than a little anxious about what they might tell me.  I really like our doctor, and he was honest with me about everything.  Dr. Robbins said that he personally had major meltdown problems with his oldest (who is also a boy), and that it was a really difficult time for the whole family.  They used a crying room to let their kids have tantrums in, and sometimes that meant holding the door shut.  Right now I am using the chair and his chart.  Little by little he is getting the concept and spending less time in it.  Dr. Robbins explained that what worked best with his son was always prepping him for the next move and giving constant reminders about what was going to happen next.  I couldn't help but think "yeah, we totally failed in that department for this deployment".  Of course we talked about Nathan going away, but it wasn't something we focused on with so much up in the air.  We also were just trying to enjoy our last bit of time together instead of making it depressing for everyone.  As far as me prepping the kids on our daily tasks--I do it constantly, but sometimes I accidently take a job away from Lincoln because things have to get done (Chomper needs to go outside, Corinne needs out of her carseat, the toothpaste needs put on the toothbrush, etc.).  He said most likely what is going on is that Lincoln is trying to take ultimate control over the little things in his life right now because so much of the big things are out of his control. 

He assured me that everything I am doing and trying so far is a step in the right direction, but asking for help is definitely the next step.  He said a therapist/psychologist will better be able to assess the whole situation and give me a "bag of tricks" to use to get through hard times.

Dr. Robbins also asked if I had a grandfather or uncle that could spend time with Lincoln weekly because it is really important that he gets male bonding time.  I tried my hardest to hold it together, but the tears just ran down my face.  Oh my, if we only had family closer!  Then he suggested Little League as an option to get some weekly male time in.  Right now I have Linc set up with a sports clinic that starts in March and runs for eight weeks.  He will learn flag football, soccer, t-ball, and track during that time.  I decided this might be our best bet for fear that I would put him in one sport and then he would hate it.  This way he gets to see what he likes and what he is good at, and we can go from there.  Now I just have to hope and pray the "coach" is male.  Dr. Robbins randomly mentioned buying him a light saber so he can do "manly" pretend play.  (Ironically, there should be one arriving in the mail from Nathan for Lincoln's Valentine's Day surprise.)  He said working with a therapist should also give us some tips on how to deal with some of Lincoln's slight OCD tendencies and need for perfection.  (I have to admit he comes by that part naturally from both myself and Nathan--poor kid!)  I left the appointment feeling relieved--knowing that I wasn't nuts for bringing him in and feeling like I was doing the best I can. 

I also asked about supplements and adjusting Linc's diet.  He said there is a lot of research out there that swears for or against it, but a balanced diet is always best.  If I wanted to go that route, I might start by eliminating red dye because it seems to have proven the best results with patients who have tried it.  After letting Lincoln gobble down that red chocolate cupcake with no ill effects for the rest of that evening or the following morning, I would say that red dye doesn't necessarily have a negative effect on Lincoln's behavior. 

After picking Corinne up from her extended stay at that party (Thank you Amber!), we headed home to a wonderful Valentine's Day treat from Grammy--a new camo watch for Linc and sparkling heart jewelry for the Pirate Princess!  Thank you Grammy!  Lincoln can now tell what hour it is on a non-digital watch, but is no where close to understanding how to count minutes.  I was pretty impressed, but decided I should probably make a larger clock for easier learning.

Overall, Monday was a great day for all of us.

I woke up Tuesday morning to a very excited Corinne ready to smother me with hugs and kisses and a big "Happy Valentine's Day".  Thank God for those wonderful moments.  Lincoln slept in, so we got ready and slipped downstairs to prep for breakfast. 

I told her today was all about showing love for one another.  These are the Valentine's we made for Nathan.

And the following are the ones the grandparents got a few weeks ago.  I sort of wanted to keep them all for myself to hang up around the house to remind the kids to be nice!

Corinne spotted their presents and was not happy about waiting on brother to get out of bed, so I gave her the go to get him up.  Lincoln came downstairs and they tore into their gifts.

Then we had some yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

Corinne had three--who knew this Cheerios addict had a secret love of cinnamon rolls.  (Glad I got the four-pack from Sam's).

After the morning hustle and bustle, we went to speech then headed to base to meet up with Brittany, Ethan, and Ellie.  The kids played at the park while Ellie napped, then we headed to the Carlsbad Outlets. 

(Of course, I caught Lincoln peeing at the park right outside of their house, again.  I don't know what is up with my son and his need to pee in odd places.  This time it was the wood chips.  I caught him mid-stream and he knew he was busted.  He ran back to me without a fuss waiting for my rant--knowing I would not be happy.  I told him once again that we put our pee in the toilet, and that we only pee outside for emergencies after asking where a good spot is first.  I also told him that if he couldn't control where he puts his weenie, I was going to have to cut it off!  I know totally outlandish, but I was going for drama here.  Then I told him when we got home, I was going to pee in his bed.  He didn't have a tantrum or argue, but accepted his punishment and moved on with a sad face.  Luckily Lincoln's Piss Capades only happen when he is around his boy friends, but I am not sure how much more I can take!  Is this a common male practice?  Maybe it all starts with a little see whose is bigger contast--whatever the case, I would love it if we could keep the pee in the potty from now on!)

We enjoyed a slightly rambunctious meal at Ruby's before hitting the shops.  I am not sure all the old folks in Carlsbad fully appreciated our group, but if they were hoping for a quiet Valentine's Day meal, they should have splurged for the five-star restaurant!  Actually, the kids were really good and it was pretty stress free.

We made a stop inside Baby Gap to shop for the kids.  As I was wrapping up my purchases I turn to hear Brittany saying, "What are you doing Ethan?"  I see Ethan following Corinne around the store while she piles his arms up high with clothes and shoes.  He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Corinne wants to try these on."  Then he took her to the fitting room where she proceeded to try on all the shoes and check herself out in the mirror.  I later shared this story with Nathan through email commenting that I am not sure where she gets it from because he never does that for me, and that our little Diva is going to make some poor guy go completely broke one day.  His response--"Yeah, I hope I am not that poor guy!" 

We decided to treat the kids to mini cupcakes as their reward for being good while we shopped. 

After we were done shopping we headed to a nearby park and then to Brittany's house so I could avoid the evening traffic.  It was a great way to spend the day with a fellow Marine wife in my same shoes.  As we got in the car Lincoln asked me to please not pee in his bed when we got home.  I assured him that I wouldn't because it was gross!  I am hoping the shock factor might have worked.

We came home late, quickly ate dinner, then opened up a surprise package from Mimi and Grandpa Jinks. 

Corinne was ecstatic over her new Tinkerbell bowls (She broke her old one a few months back and I was having a really hard time finding a replacement). 

And Lincoln was pumped to add two more Hot Wheels to his collection as well as enjoy all the other goodies.  Thanks Mimi and Granpa Jinks for sticking with marshmallow candy and not giving us a sugar overload!  Also thanks for the book, plates, and glasses for me!

I would say that overall, the kids made out this year!  I love my flowers that are still making my house smell beautiful, and the kids are enjoying their new books and toys.  Our Valentine's Day was really wonderful--at least the best it could be with half of our hearts on the other side of the world. 

Wednesday called for rain so we changed our original plans to try to go to Disneyland.  We had just given Colton a Nerf gun for his birthday, and Lincoln was itching for one of his own.  It turns out that Lincoln had finally earned 10 "gold dabloons" for having good behavior on his chart.  (He gets stickers or X's for certain behaviors---staying calm vs. losing his temper, kindness vs. meaness, being a helper vs. being defiant, and an X for whining.  At the end of the day if he ends with mostly stickers he gets a happy face card and a gold dabloon.  Once he has 10 gold dabloons, he can buy a treat--which is usually a trip to Yogurt Factory.)  Feeling a little overwhelmed with sugary goodies and not wanting to just buy Linc the gun for nothing, I told him we were going to take a trip to Target to check prices on some things.  I also knew Nerf was on sale and had found a $5 off coupon that morning for a gun he might like.  I was also hoping the Nerf gun might help him release some of his built up testosterone.

Part of me thought I was a little nuts to take the kids into the toy section just to look and "check prices".  We need a new blow up pool for the summer, so I scanned the outdoor section.  Lincoln spotted bikes and whispered in my ear that he wanted to buy Corinne a bike for her birthday--with his money. I love that he is getting back his sweet disposition and thinking of others once again.  Next we headed to the Nerf gun section.  We found a great one that resembles an M-16--at least I think it does, but what do I know, for $15.  Lincoln agreed to "buy" the gun as his treat in lieu of getting ice cream.   We came home, and once again Corinne wanted to head straight for a nap instead of eating lunch.  The clouds from the rain gave Lincoln ample time to get acquainted with his weapon while his sister slept. 

We have another mini Nerf gun that Lincoln loaned to me so we could have a dual.  Luckily he isn't that great of a shot.   I made him do a test to make sure it wouldn't hurt when I (or Corinne or Chomper) got shot with his new one.   I had my back turned to him in case he accidently caught my face with a bullet.  He kept firing away, missing every time, until he finally got me and I assured him it didn't hurt.  He still had a few rounds and kept shooting (mostly missing) and I suddenly felt like he was really close.  I turned around and found him at point blank range ready to fire!  So we started a war and played for a good hour or so.  He had the bigger, better gun.  But I had a laser. And we both had a blast. 

Corinne woke up a bit crabby from her nap, but Lincoln readily shared Blankie and Turtle with her to calm her down and make her comfortable. 

Cars 2 arrived in the mail that day, so after dinner we snuggled up on the couch with the fire and enjoyed a family movie.  I am not sure what it is with the Cars movies, but they don't hold my kids' interest like any other Disney film.  The relax time quickly turned into a wrestling fest...

Complete with stolen kisses...

And lot of tickles. 

They were having a blast, but I kept having to remind Lincoln that he was much bigger than Corinne and that she needs a break from time to time. 

Somewhere in the mix of sneaking pictures, I became the target.

It wasn't long before I had two rowdy monsters climbing all over me. 

Our evening roughhousing session did make it a bit difficult to get the kids calmed down for bed at the end of the night, but it was worth it.  What a wonderful day and an exceptional feeling of relief.  Three great days in a row filled with fun and laughter coming from my kids makes me one happy Mama!  And one of the best parts is that even when I did have to correct a bad behavior Lincoln was quick to apologize and seemed to understand what needed to change.  Yes, we might be making progress!

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Quote 1:  While Eda was watching the kids she noticed Linc was constantly "adjusting'" his male parts.

Eda:  "What's up Linc?  Do you have an itch?"

Lincoln:  "Oh no, this is my happy place."

Hmmmm, at least he was honest right?

Quote 2:  While laying Lincoln down in bed for the night.

Lincoln:  "Why did you and Sissy get a Valentine's Day gift from Daddy and I didn't?"

Me:  "He sent you one too, but ours came from a shop right around the corner that he ordered from and yours is coming from Afghanistan, so it will take a long time to get half way around the world."

Lincoln:  "What is it?"

Me:  "It's a surprise and I am not really sure."

Lincoln:  "Oh, well I hope it's not flowers!  I would really like a gun or a knife or a sword!"

I think light saber falls into the sword category, so he should be happy.

Quote 3:  At Colton's party Corinne brings Daniel over to introduce me.

Corinne:  "This is my boy.  He is my special friend."

She is trouble, trouble, trouble.

Quote 4:  While snuggling in bed with Lincoln one morning, he randomly scoots to the opposite side.

Me:  "What no more snuggles for Mom?"

Lincoln:  "You are making me hot!"  removes his shirt  "I am going to start calling you Toaster Mama!"

And he does, and has now taught Corinne to call me that too!

Quote 5:  After making negotiations at Target to get the gun instead of go for ice cream.  I made him shake on it and everything.

Lincoln:  "I think buying the gun is a much better idea because ice cream is just full of sugar and we don't need any sugar.  It will like make us fat and isn't great for our teeth.  I think you have the best plans ever and from now on I am going to go with your plans.  They are much better than mine."

Me:  "I think that sounds like a great idea!"

Who are you my child, and can you stay forever???

Quote 6:  While teaching me how to shoot his new Nerf gun.

Lincoln:  "And here are your darts my Lady!"

Such a gentleman as he readies me for battle.