Happy Easter from the Rafters!!

What Disney movies teach!!

I am a sale watcher and shopper. In addition to a sale, I try and use a coupon on top to double my savings. With that said, last summer at the end of the season, Crocs was running a sale on some of their sandals. And in the summer I can not get Aidan and Mason out of sandals so I thought I would scoop some up. There is a new style that is a sandal but it has toe bumpers so little rough boys do not scrap up their toes.

While organizing and putting away some laundry that I had washed today, I saw these shoes again. I asked Mason to try them on since I bought them a little big knowing they would grow into them this summer. And no surprise they will be perfect in the next 4 months when the weather warms up. Just one small problem, the daddy-o hates them. His response when he saw them was first, aren't they girls shoes. I said no and he then said they are STUPID!

As the mom, I got upset. Not that he does not like them but that he said that in front of his boys. Because boys want to be like their daddy. And he doesn't like them then they will not like them. And then we are out of the money. In addition to the money aspect, if I choose to not have them wear them and then they see another kid with them on they might repeat what they heard their father say and hurt that kids feelings. I quickly told Brian not to say stuff like that in front of the boys. Aidan pipes right up and tells his daddy..

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY,

THEN DO NOT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!!

After the shock wore off I asked him where he learned that? I was expecting him to say Mrs. Jordan (his preschool teacher ) but he said, Bambi. His mom on the movie said it. Love Disney movies for their moral teachings.

Who is this kid?

I made spaghetti for dinner this evening. It was simply small shells and sauce with a garlic knot.

Aidan looks at me and says,

“Is this it? No vegetables? I like vegetables!”

As the boys fifth birthday approaches so many things about their life come to mind. Many milestones have been marked down and recorded over the past years. And before their birthday, I will recording yet another milestone.

Learning to ride their bike with no training wheels.

This past week, on Tuesday, was the first day Brian took the training wheels off their bikes. They are off and ever going back on. Since the "baby" wheels are gone, getting the boys out as often as possible to for practice. On Tuesday, we took the boys to a local ball park to that teach them on something softer than asphalt. However, Brian and I did not take into account the rain this area recently received. The infield was too soft and the wheels were just sinking down too much for them to really learn. The bare spots in the outfield however, were hard enough to start. As they got better and were riding longer, they began traveling onto the taller grass. Navigating in the grass became taxing so unfortunately we ended where we never wanted them to begin, the asphalt.

In the parking lot, the road was flat and the boys could ride better. Better is putting it loosely. The boys were still having a hard time sitting up straight. That in turn means they were not staying up that long. When they did, it was a long ride as long as they kept peddling. The next day, Brian took Mason back to do more practicing. Aidan said he did not want to go. Hence, Mason got one-on-one learning/patience with Brian.

It will not be long before we are taking family bike rides and enjoying nice afternoons together.

1st football game

This year when the boys started school they gained a lot of friends. One of their friends is extra special, Marley. (Mason likes her, and we think she likes Aidan -- and so it begins) Not only do they enjoy playing with her more than other kids but I gained a fabulous friend, Becky. With this adult friendship came some wonderful benefits in addition to the friendship, ODU football games. See Marley's dad is an ODU football Coach.

Becky has been nice enough this season to offer us tickets to go to the games with her. This is nothing Brian or I expected but we are honored to enjoy. On this particular Saturday the game was early so they boys go to go instead of Brian.

That is Becky with her and Michael's youngest, Brandon. And Aidan was enjoying most of the game sitting on Becky's moms lap, Mary. Her parents were in town this weekend and were at the game too. I was thankful Mary didn't mind having him on her lap. Because he did sit still with her and watch the game.

We are looking forward to supporting the team again in 2012.

GO BIG BLUE!!

Skateboarding

Skateboarding is a family affair. Well at least for 3 of us at a time. We just need to get one more.

A while back my cousin Josh and his girlfriend Krystin watched the boys for me so I could go get a few things down. On that day, my cousin introduced them to skateboards. They really did not do anything special with them but sit on them and have races down the driveway. That however was enough to make them desire one of their own.

So on Christmas, Santa brought them their wish. They got their very first skateboard. Talk about stoked. Since Christmas morning, they have had the opportunity to "ride" them 3 times. Today being one of them. I use the word ride loosely because all they want to do is kick.

This mom can still ride. I don't do tricks but I can ride the board. Thankfully it is a long board. I can control that much better. It is like surfing, the longer the board the slower it goes. So I am counting on my cousin, who introduced them to this "sport", to teach them tricks and such.

Tv Coma

when the boys watch television they seem to get into a mini coma. Their eyes are fixed on the tv and when I get in their way they bob and weave. It is quite ridiculous but the blessing is they do not get a lot of tv time for this reason.



As I sit and watch television with my boys, I ask myself, how did I ever like the stuff they watch now. MacGyver is a prime example. Crazy we see things differently as children.