TV Power

As soon as Aidan was able, he taught himself to use the tv remote. This gave him the power, over his brothers of course, of selecting what shows they were all going to watch. Aidan liked this power. He liked it a lot.

Interestingly, Brennan was never interested in learning how to use the tv or the remotes. He just didn't have any interest. He was perfectly content to have others do it for him when he needed a show put on or the wii set up. I tried to teach him a few times, but he quickly reverted to asking for help.

Until Griffin. Griffin decided he was done asking others to turn on a show. He patiently asked Aidan to show him how he did it. And then before my eyes, my five year old taught himself how to recognize and read the names of his favorite shows so he could be a dvr expert. (This meant the boys were stuck watching a whole lot of Supah Ninjas because Griffy loves his Super Ninjas.)

Once Brennan realized Griffin knew how to use the dvr (and that they had watched the same episode of Supah Ninjas about ten times), he knew he had to step up his game. So, slowly, he also exerted some control over the remote.

But now, Griffin has had a taste of his power of the tv and he has become quite the tv dictator. He rushes to the tv in the morning to grab the remote and ensure that he has final say over what will be watched and when. I often find him wandering the house with the remote in his hand. Once he asked me to keep an eye on it, while he hid it under a pillow so he could go to the bathroom.

It's a tv stand-off. And the five year old is winning. My little power hungry guy.

Puppy Love

Chris and I are convinced that Chewy thinks Brennan is a puppy, just like him. He just seems to treat Brennan a little differently than the other boys. He has also tried to sneak into his bed once or twice for a nice snooze. But of course, if Brennan had his way, Chewy would be a permanent fixture in his bed.

Oh, the puppy love.

Summer Sleep

My boys sleep like the dead in the summer because if the weather is warm, they are here, there and everywhere jumping, running, biking and swimming. During the winter months, I forget about this sleep. This utter exhaustion that overtakes my boys until they are almost begging to go to bed. (Almost, but not quite.) While the sunday snowboarding brings them close to this brand of tired, nothing quite does it like a warm day spent gallivanting under the sun.

We had a summer weekend this weekend. Summer in March. The weather was delectable. Perfectly blue skies with warm sun and birds chirping. The temps were in the 70s in a month when we are fortunate to hit the high 40s without snow flurries. March is normally my least favorite month of the year because it means a month of a little snow, a little rain and chilliness, but this March may go on record as the best ever.

The boys were out to play by 8 am. Basketball, biking, games of soccer in the front yard. There were visits to playgrounds, minnow catching in a neighbor's creek, and long walks with the dog. By the time 5 pm came around, they were all collapsed on the couch with heavy lidded eyes. After dinner was over, they were yawning and looking as if they might take a nap at the table. Each boy was fast asleep, without complaint by 7:30 pm.

Chris and I followed shortly by 9. I guess summer sleep isn't just for the kids. It wipes out the parents too.

Overheard

It was a morning of running around to get a few chores done so we could skip outside and enjoy our summer-like spring. I asked the boys to throw down all the sheets and pillowcases so I could start the wash.

(Yes, instead of laundry chutes (which we have in our house) or laundry baskets (also have about ten of those), I prefer the old school method of gathering and throwing down the open two-story staircase. It works for me. And as an added bonus, it completely freaks the dog out, every single time.)

I hear the boys rustling and hustling upstairs to complete their task as I clean the kitchen. Then I hear Griffin say to Aidan, "This one must be mommy's pillow because it smells just like her."

Aidan is quiet for a second, but I can make out a loud sniffing sound and then he says, "It does smell just like Mommy."

Oh my loves. Too sweet.

Rock Star!

My cousin Nicole stopped over today and asked if she could take the boys for a bike ride around the neighborhood. (Because, yes, it is 70 and sunny in March in Buffalo!) The boys were thrilled. Aidan and Brennan hopped on their bikes and Griffin opted to ride his scooter. Nikki roller bladed next to them.

After Nikki returned them home, I got a text from her a few minutes later.

"It's a good day when you are rollerblading with sunglasses on and your five year old cousin tells you that you look like a rock star."

I think that is the compliment of the highest order from our Griffin. And she is a rock star, you know. Especially to us.

Our Leprechaun

The boys' school has a student presentation night in which projects are displayed for parents to peruse as we all eat ice cream. This year, Brennan's teacher stepped it up a notch with a live performance by the class of a few Irish songs.

The class was all dressed up in green festive gear and looked unbearably cute.

I may be biased, but I think we have the cutest leprechaun of all.

Happy 41!

Spring Fever

Spring sprung yesterday in Whoville. We had sun and blue skies in a month that usually bounces from snowfall to rain. It was unexpected and boosted all of our moods. The boys could barely restrain themselves from jumping out the door to ride bikes, swing, hunt for rocks and play basketball. They stayed outside almost the entirety of the day, just soaking up every last bit of the first signs of spring. (They also insisted on wearing shorts and t-shirts from the moment a smidgen of warm weather was suggested. I think the high today was 55. Not quite shorts weather in any place in the world except Buffalo.)

Today, spring repeated its miracle. After getting Aidan and Brennan off to school, Griffin, Chewy and I took off for a walk around the neighborhood. It was a perfect, quiet walk enjoying the warmth of sunshine on our faces. I felt such sweet joy in our walk as I watched Griffin ride circles on his scooter around me and Chewy. The gift of an unexpected spring day.

It better not snow next week. That's all I'm saying.

Practice Makes Perfect

I was giving Griffin bedtime kisses, when he grabbed my face with his hands, held me closely and looked me in the eye. "Mommy, I do not want you to kiss me. I am going to kiss you now. I need to start practicing for the day I get married and start kissing."

With that, he pursed his lips, closed his eyes and gave me a big ol' smooch.

Sweetness.

Stolen Moments

I love stolen moments with my boys, when I get them all to myself for a minute or two. I find these moments are too often far and in between, but when I capture them, it is like an unexpected gift, uninterrupted time to simply enjoy my child one on one.

I have had two such moments with my Brennan over the last few weeks. We didn't plan them, but in the midst of running errands or carpooling here, there and everywhere, it was just the two of us. We celebrated our first unexpected date with a quick ice cream. Brennan's favorite thing in this world is ice cream. I love how happy a small bowl of ice cream makes him. It's watching pure joy in action.

Our second moment was just ten minutes in a car, in between basketball practices, basketball games and a few errands. We were in waiting mode and entertained ourselves blowing bubbles, bigger and bigger to watch them pop. We both giggled uncontrollably as we chewed our bubble gum and Brennan yelled, "Let's take our picture!"

And so we did. A self portrait of ten minutes soaking up my sweet boy.

Ode to the Rock Star

Chris heard Brennan and Griffin giggling behind a closed bathroom door with sounds of the water running.

(Note to anyone who does not have boys - it is an immediate sign of danger to have any of your children giggling behind closed doors, but add in running water, and well, that's when you really know something's up.)

Chris opens the door and sees both boys standing over the sink, cupping water and running it over their heads. There is water everywhere and the boy are soaked.

"What are you doing?" Chris asks, in exasperation.

Brennan shrugs, looks at Griffin who grins. "We wanted to look like rock stars, you know, with the whole cool slicked back hair."

Chris said he had to leave the room before he bust a gut laughing at the sight of them, with their hair dripping wet and standing up all over the place. My dear sweet boys. Instead of rock stars, they sort of resembled two drowned puppies. But we shall keep them, wet, slicked hair and all. Rock on.