Mother's Day: A Cautionary Tale

A picture of my boys from last summer! 

Kelly wanted to know why I would blog about Mother's Day this year. I told him his story could help another poor fool out there. He rolled his eyes. So I just let him know I always blog about Mother's Day and what kind of entry it is is always up to him.

Sunday was Mother's Day. For the past several years I have told Kelly what we are doing on Mother's Day as I like to run the Kansas City Mother's Day 5K. It is a fun race and then we can all go out to lunch. This year I had to work so I left the planning up to him.

I did get a gift from Daryl that he made at school but he couldn't wait and it was delivered to me on Friday. It was an adorable book all about me. I LOVE IT!

I didn't know what would happen on Sunday but I was kind of looking forward to being surprised for once, and a surprise I did get. Kelly decided that since I was working all day we really weren't going to be able to do "Mother's Day". AKA he had no plans.

He didn't say this up front so I just kind of waited all day...for something. Finally, I got home from work on Sunday night and after I helped put the boys to bed I asked him, "Are you mad at me?" He had that confused look men get when they have no idea what is wrong, but they know something is wrong!

I then let him know that it was Mother's Day and he hadn't even said the words "Happy Mother's Day." He thought about it and was apologizing all over the place, then I found out he figured we just weren't doing it.

So to all the men out there, don't make the same mistake, YOU ALWAYS DO MOTHERS DAY! Your wife or mom might be half way around the world, but you have to say the words. Saying Happy Mother's Day or Thank you for being an awesome mom is mandatory. A card  or something else is just icing on the cake. ;-)

I've made a parenting error, again.

A picture of the kid who is going to ruin Easter Bunny for everyone! 

So I don't feel great about lying to the boys, but we ALL DO IT. So we have Santa under control because he only brings one gift and it's always a very reasonable practical gift. Mom and Dad's gift is always the good gift. As it should be, Santa should not bring your kid an IPad while he only brings the neighbor kid a coloring book. (This post is not about that soap box that I do get on every December.)
Where I have really shot myself in the foot is with that da** Easter Bunny. Actually, this might be more Kelly's fault than mine, follow me here.
Two weeks ago Daryl was going to the store to spend his allowance. He had saved a few weeks so he had $15 bucks. Kelly felt bad for Alex because every time Daryl goes to spend his allowance Alex doesn't get anything. I am TOTALLY OK with that. Alex whines but he knows that Daryl does chores and the money he is spending is from working. When I take Daryl for this errand I usually con Daryl into getting some candy too that he can share with Alex in the car.
Done, Everyone is Happy, and I didn't have to Buy Anything!
Well Kelly had a different plan and without consulting with me he cleaned out Alex's piggy bank and came up with about twenty bucks so Alex could get a toy too.
Before you go congratulating Kelly on such a great idea think about how many times Alex gets money in his piggy bank. TWICE a year, money only gets into that little pig on his birthday and Christmas. Do you see the picture that is being painted here. Alex is so happy with his Legos for one day, he is three. That happened on a Saturday and Sunday Alex was crying to go back to the store. We told him he was out of money, crying continues because he wants more Legos.
The Candy strategy is now out the window, this kid only wants Legos. And before you think chores and allowances for Alex I've considered that.We only started doing allowance with Daryl when he turned 5 and Daryl's chores are not throw away jobs. They help me everyday as they are all things I would have to do if he wasn't doing them. I don't think Alex can do those types of things just yet and I don't want to pay him for nothing, that's not how the world works.
So in a moment of weakness I told him maybe the Easter Bunny would bring him some Legos. WHY DID I DO THAT! EASTER IS SO FAR AWAY! So now every day I get asked "Is it Easter? Did the Easter Bunny bring me Legos?"
Last night he was talking about the Easter Bunny bringing him three Legos sets and I had to lay down the law, "Alex, the Easter Bunny is not like winning the lottery. You are getting one toy, underwear and candy. And you know mom is going to eat half your candy."
Ugh, that still hasn't stopped the constant, "Is it Easter yet?" If we make it to Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, without me calling BS on the Easter Bunny it really will be a divine miracle.
I am not a strong person, these fictional characters that keep our kids kids, get harder and harder for me every year. I need a moment, or a beer. Scratch that. I need a moment and beer and hot tub!

After owning this thing for four years we finally turned it on! Kelly is still working on the chemical balance, hope to get in it tonight! 

Kelly is the Grinch that stole Christmas

Look how happy he is taking the Christmas decorations out
 of the bathroom! 

So today was the day, Kelly had enough of Christmas and at 7pm started taking everything down. As I write this he is putting the Christmas tree back in the box. :-( Kelly just doesn't understand that Christmas decorations can stay up as long as it's cold! Boo!

He probably wanted to take the Christmas decorations down last weekend but he got distracted in the boys' room. When we originally put Alex in Daryl's room we got them bunk beds. But they scared Alex and he wanted to see Daryl. So we unbunked them and they had two twin beds side by side. They have been spending more time in their room and didn't have much space so Kelly decided to bunk the beds again. This time around was a success. They both love the beds that way and they love being able to play on the floor.

Daryl went back to school on Tuesday, that morning was a roller coaster of emotions. He cried when he first got up and then about twenty minutes before it was time to go he wanted to drive to the school and just wait for it to open! I couldn't keep up with what the feelings were. He is happy to be back with his friends and was even happier he didn't have a spelling test this week. Oh the joys of first grade!

Purl and I had a lazy weekend! 

Bunk beds are fun!