'Twas the night before Christmas

Christmas Eve began some wonderful traditions for our family.  We spent the evening at Granma, Papa, and Nana's house.  The boys enjoyed making their own homemade pizzas and snacking on Christmas goodies.  We watched Frosty the Snowman, and Granma read 'twas the night before Christmas' to Aiden.  He has always loved being read to, and he sat at rapt attention, soaking in every word.  As they do every year, the boys got to open their gifts from Nana on Christmas Eve, which always includes some new jammies and an ornament.  As we got ready to leave, they put on their new pj's and got a little surprise to take home- reindeer food!  The tag on each little tube instructed them to sprinkle the food all over the yard and then go straight to bed.  The reindeer can smell the food from 100 miles away and will come straight to your house, so you better be asleep!  We piled into the car, and the boys held tightly to their reindeer food, excited to get their job done!  When we got home, they dutifully showered the yard in the sparkly, sweet reindeer food (which appeared to be glitter, oats and sugar).

After the reindeer food was done, it was time to get the cookies ready for Santa!  We had made some sugar cookies earlier that day, and had gotten a brand new special plate from Granma, just for Santa's cookies.  They were so proud of themselves, and Aiden was very careful and particular about setting it in just the right place on the fireplace.

As soon as they had finished all of their Christmas Eve duties, they went straight to bed, trying hard to contain their excitement.  Aiden told me multiple times that day that he was so excited, and couldn't wait.  It was so sweet and fun to watch them get so excited about all the fun little things we did.  They both went to sleep easily, squeezing their eyes shut and waiting patiently for sleep to come.  Once they were asleep, Santa visited our house!

On Christmas morning, Jonny and I both woke up at 5:00 am and couldn't fall back asleep!  I think we were as excited as they were.  I just couldn't wait to see their faces.  Over an hour later, they finally started to stir.  Suddenly, Aiden popped up and the grogginess was gone when he realized it was finally Christmas morning.  We tried to get him to wait for Cole, but he ran out and yelled that Santa had come!  That got Cole moving in no time!  They were greeted by a new train table with a huge, red bow, and stockings stuffed to the brim.  Cole was literally jumping up and down in excitement.  Santa worked so hard to get Aiden THE toy of the year- a Leap Pad!  He was thrilled.  Cole, who is not so much into electronics, got a big, metal, yellow Tonka dump drunk.  He loves to pile all of his Toy Story 3 charactes in the back and drive around, just like the movie!  We opened gifts slowly and enjoyed playing with each toy as it was opened.  It was such a nice, relaxing morning. 

The rest of the day was spent at Granma's house, and Uncle Kenny, Aunt Courtney, and cousins Neely and Nolan joined us.  The day could not have been more perfect!  We all enjoyed a big brunch of sausage and egg quiche, an amazing french toast casserole, fresh fruit and mimosas.  The kids played like a dream, and the weather was sunny and gorgeous!  After gifts and playtime, everyone in the house took an amazing 2 hour nap.  Refreshed, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner and the kids just played and played.  Everyone was so relaxed and pleasant, it was the calmest holiday we've ever had with all of the kids together!  We ended the night with jammies and a  movie.  Christmas this year lived up to everything we all had hoped for!











These are the moments

The hours pass slowly yet the years fly by.  I was told this by a friend when Aiden was just a new little baby and I was adjusting to endless hours of nursing, diaper changing, crying, rocking, soothing, bathing and attempting to figure out this little creature I had brought home.  I was 25, and accustomed to a life where I pretty much came and went as I pleased and life was relatively easy.  Suddenly, I was bound to my house by a needy infant and the trepidation that comes for a new mother trying to leave the house on her own.  Days at a time would pass where I wouldn't see the outside world at all.  Some days, those hours were bliss; I'd enjoy listening to his sweet baby coos, smelling the top of his head and filling my lungs full of that sweet baby goodness, and knowing I was there to witness all of his milestones, big and small.  But, there were other days that weren't so rosy.  There were non-napping days, getting shots at the doctor days, and just fussy for no good reason days.  Those were the days that I wished to myself that the hours would just pass faster, that bedtime would come, we could all rest and then tomorrow would be here to start over.  The problem with that is, those days really did just fly by.  I blinked an eye and suddenly here I am with Cole, just a few months shy of three years old, and Aiden who will be in kindergarten soon.  When did this happen?  And why would I ever wish for any of their precious baby moments to pass by any faster than they already have to?  These are the type of guilt inducing thoughts that plague me often.  I have to remind myself that I am doing the best job that I know how to do, and I can't get caught up in those troubling pangs of guilt.  So, as I sit here listening to my boys giggling and play fighting and doing everything to resist sleep, I have to remind myself of something; these are the moments.  These are moments that may be difficult and frustrating right now, but in five years (that are sure to fly by) I will look back and yearn for these moments.  Yes, it's been a long day, I am tired and it's past their bedtime, but these are my babies and I am watching them live a sweet moment that once it's passed, it is gone forever and will only live as a memory.  When they ask 10 times at bedtime for one more hug, one more kiss, and one more high five, it can get old, but they still are young enough to want my attention and giggle victoriously every time I am suckered into giving in and going back for just one more.  When I trip over a toy for the millionth time, I must remind myself that in a few years I won't be tripping over Buzz Lightyear and Legos, and I won't have sweet little ones begging me to play with them.  So, I remind myself, live in this moment, these are the moments that you will look back on and wish you could have again just one more time.

Here are some of my favorite sweet and silly moments with my little dudes.

A Saltwater Memory

The first morning on vacation we awoke to an amber glow filtering through our westward-facing window.  Our room was chilly, and we were grateful for our down comforter cacoon.  At home, we would wake up each morning to an alarm, and we would hit snooze several times until finally grumbling our way out of bed.  Here, being greeted by the California sun, we couldn't wait to get out into the cool morning air.  My husband, two kids and I all piled on cozy slippers and hoodies and opened the door to greet the day.  The first thing I felt was a blast of cool, salty air washing over my face and filling my lungs.  The smell always makes my heart swell with contentment and yet the feeling is slightly tainted with knowing that I will have to leave soon. 

We walked to the edge of our deck to watch the waves crash onto the shore.  The mist from the furious water gently kissed our faces.  I watched my boys get their first glimpse of the ocean that I love so much.  Disregarding the coolness of the morning, we took off our socks and sunk our toes into the soft sand.  Our home is never quiet, and this was one moment where we all stood and took in the beauty of nature and the pleasure of being together on this gorgeous day, and not a word was spoken.  The silence was broken by Aiden spotting the sleek grey backs of a pod of dolphins breaking the surface of the water.  At that moment, creatures of the sea became a real thing to my two year old, and not just pictures in a book.  The sun was rising higher, burning away the blanket of fog that had covered the peninsula, and the beach was coming to life.  With each wave that washed up on the shore we could see the glistening, speckled backs of sand crabs digging frantically to bury themselves back in the sand.  Skittish sandpipers and boisterous seagulls danced with the ebbing water, getting close enough to nab a snack and then skittering away before the water could touch their feet.  We saw pelicans floating lazily in the air and then diving suddenly to scoop fish out of the water.  In the distance, we could hear the bark of sea lions as they sunned themselves on an abandoned pier, it's pillars covered with barnacles, starfish, and other living scenery.

"Aiden-isms"

As many of you know, Aiden can be quite the character. He has quite a vocabulary for a four year old, plenty of attitude, and the ability to point out and verbalize things that he notices as he goes about his little day. This is a collection of what I like to call "Aidenisms"; little snippets of what is going on in that noggin of his, and how he sees the world.

Driving with mommy, Aiden spots a group of about 15 older ladies, all in visors and fanny packs, power walking together. We stop at a red light right next to them, and he points out the window claps his hands, points and shouts excitedly, "Mommy! Look!! A Parade!!" (Summer, 2010, 3 years old)

"Um, mommy, girls don't have a peepee, they just have 2 butts." (2 1/2 years old)

Aiden : "the Crunch is not a nice boy. He tries to steal all the Christmas presents and eat people's doggies." (After watching The Grinch, November 2010)

Aiden: "Mommy, I want a Buzz gun." Me: "Buddy, mommy doesn't like guns, they are not nice." Aiden: "Well, we can just pretend to shoot walls and doors.... and mean monkeys." (Dec. 2010)

Aiden, "mommy, let me be the bruver.... Cole! Sit down and EAT!!"

My husband is raising a Christmas light snob. "Daddy, I don't think they used a ladder like you, that house looks like they just frew those lights up" (Dec, 2010)

Aiden's brief physiology of the digestive system : "when you eat you bite with your teeth then your belly smashes it up then it goes to your butt like poop..... but we don't talk about poop, huh mom" (Dec. 2010, 3 years old)

Made chocolate dipped pretzels and rice krispie treats with Aiden today. He dumped all the sprinkles on one pretzel and announced "Mommy, I made a huge mess cause I'm a boy!" (Dec. 2010)

Gave Aiden a sucker this morning, as promised, for being good at bedtime last night. More than once I heard him saying "oh, push pop, I wuv you." Ha, can you tell how often he gets candy? (Jan. 2011, 3 years old)

Aiden: "mommy!! Why is there a butt on this yogurt!?" Me: "that's a peach" (Jan, 2011)

Aiden- in bed singing "Puff the magic dwagon, wived by duh sea, and fwolicked in a autumn mist in a wand called Hawwoweenn!!" (Jan. 2011, 3 years old)

Aiden: "does this slipper go on this foot?"

Me: "no"

Aiden: "umm, you mean yes."

(Jan. 2011, 3 years old)

Aiden (with a salute), "Aye-aye, Mommy!" (Feb, 2011)

Aiden, watching Toy Story 3, "Hey! Buzz isn't using Spanish anymore, he is using real words!"

Me: "Aiden, since you did such a good job at the doctor, we are going to go to a special store and pick out something cool!" Aiden: "Flying shoes?!?!?!" (March, 2011. 3 years old)

Aiden: "mommy, I see a hooker!!" Me: "umm, what?" Aiden: "my truck has a hook on the back to pull stuff.... it's a hooker!!" Me: "you're right, but let's call it a tow truck" (March, 2011)

Aiden had an epiphany tonight: "I don't like beans, but I will love them when I grow up. When I am 10 I will be all growed up. Where do 10 year olds go? Oh yeah, they go to work. When I am 10 I will be all growed up and I will go to work" (April, 2011)

"mommy, you're the best because everybody wikes you" (April, 2011, 3 years old)

Aiden, watching Cole and I dancing in the car, tells me "umm, mommy, I cannot do my moves while I'm strapped in a carseat." (May 2011, 3 years old)

Jonny: Aiden, who is daddy's brother?

Aiden: ummmm, I don't know!

Jonny: who likes to drink beer and hang out with daddy?

Aiden: UNCLE KENNY!!!

"Mom, sorry, but sometimes 3 year olds just have to pick their nose"

When I told Aiden it was almost bedtime, his response was "good luck, Chuck." I wondered if he understood what he was saying, but then, fittingly, he and Cole were MONSTERS at bedtime. I'm starting to think they're in cahoots...... (July, 2011)

Been eating, sleeping, breathing DH for the last 18 months, and apparently subjecting my kids to it, too. Today in the car, Aiden asked me, "Mommy, tell me more about saliva" (July 24, 2011)

(this one made me sad) "Mommy, we don't cook animals, right? Cause they would get burned in the pan and that would be sad."

"Hey mommy, don't use your napkin. Use your shirt, like me! I do that all the time!" (Aug 19, 2011, 4 years old)

"mom, can we take our tent to the woods and make a fire in a circle and poke marshmallows with sticks and eat them??? PLEASE?!?!" (Aug, 2011)

Aiden: "owwwww! My arm is bleeding!" Daddy:"do you want a bandaid?" Aiden: "nooooo! I want to rub dirt on it!" (Aug. 6, 2011, 4 years old)

Aiden: "mommy, mommy, mommy, can I color??" Me- "yep" Aiden- "but I don't want to color!"

Aiden (from his bed where he is supposed to be napping) "mommy, can I have a drink? Can I look out my window? Will you lay down with me? Can I use your chapstick? Can I get up?" Me: "No!" Aiden: " You say NO to me every time!!!" (Sep. 18, 2011, 4 years old)

"hey mom, I like trains.... and sugar" (Oct 24, 2011, 4 years old)

"hey mom, you look sweet. And sweet means awesome." (Nov. 5, 2011, 4 years old)

Tummy Bug

Disclaimer: The following blog consists of bodily functions... squeamish beware!

Oh, poor Aiden. He has been fighting something yucky for about 5 days now. It started with just throwing up once right before bed, but after that it seemed like he was fine. He was okay all day the next day at preschool for his Halloween party and seemed okay at dinner and bedtime. But, he woke up at 10:00 that night throwing up and just sick, sick, sick. The next day, oddly enough, he was fine again. Sadly, he had two parties to go to that day; our annual Halloween Potluck Playdate that we have done with our good friends for 3 years in a row, and also a birthday party that afternoon. Even though he seemed better, I didn't think it was a good idea to go. I felt so sad for him! He woke up and begged me to let him wear his costume and promised that he felt much better. The poor kid was so sad to miss his parties. He spent Saturday resting up and watching movies, and went to bed early. I thought he was finally kicking the tummy bug, but he woke up at 1:00 a.m. worse than ever. He really had me scared! His belly was big and distended, and he would scream any time he tried to move or sit up. He was just writhing in his bed, clutching his belly and crying. After about 20 minutes of this, I decided that something was wrong and we needed to get to Children's Mercy. Having to sit upright in his carseat was very uncomfortable and he whimpered and cried, "it hurts, help me!" the whole way there. It's so sad to see your baby in pain. The way he was acting had me afraid that it was his appendix or a hernia or something. When we got there, he was not in good shape. He is normally very at ease at the doctor, and will chat everyone up, even when he doesn't feel well. This time, he was just crying and screaming that it hurt. When they got us back into triage, he sat up all of a sudden, and puked everywhere. I thought that might help him feel better, when he suddenly yelled very urgently, "I have to go poop!" I scooped him up and ran to the bathroom, and the poor kid let out some of the longest, loudest farts I have ever heard! I literally watched his belly shrink back down to size. After a good 10 minutes of this, he was a new kid. Every nurse or doctor that crossed his path was greeted with a' "hey, I thought I was super sick but it's okay, I just had to poop!" It was such a relief that it wasn't something worse!

Louisburg Cider Mill

We spent a fun day at the Louisburg Cider Mill with our good friends Rachel, Olivia, and baby Brynn. Aiden just loved little Brynn! He was so protective over here, and was checking on her in her stroller every 5 minutes. Both boys really love Olivia, too. They all had such a nice time running around with each other, watching the apples get washed and pressed for the cider, and enjoying some fresh cider and apple cider donuts. We had a great time enjoying the fruits of the harvest!

Boys will be boys.

"If Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer were alive today, we’d say they had ADD or a conduct disorder. They boys are who they are, and we need to love them for who they are. Let’s not try to rewire them.”

I found this quote the other day, and it really spoke to me. I am a fairly mellow kind of gal; I enjoy my quiet time and I like my house clean. I really don't understand boys. With boys, everything is the faster, louder, and messier, the better. That is so beyond my comfort zone! I have spent the last couple of years trying to mold them into something that they're not. I am realizing that I need to find a balance. It is still important to me that I have children that are polite and respectful, that try to do well in school and sports, and that show love and tolerance to others. However, it's okay that every now and then they are going to break stuff, cover themselves in mud, or color their entire arm blue trying to look like a Smurf. It requires a daily conscious effort for me to not sweat the small stuff, and to really take joy in the little things. Yes, a bathroom soaked in 2 inches of bubbly water may throw a kink in my evening, but they will remember laughing hysterically and having a blast with their brother. So, tonight, when I tuck them in, they are going to giggle and talk for 45 minutes before they finally close their little eyes, and that's going to be just fine.

The truth about boys

My boys eat fish sticks or chicken nuggets at least four nights a week. They pick their noses and were born with the innate sense that farts are hilarious. The house is always cluttered, there are always crumbs in the seats of the car and sticky fingerprints on the windows. Sometimes they like to read books; most of the time books make good frisbees or weapons. Every toy in the house is missing at least one piece, making your brother cry is good entertainment and timeout is usually worth whatever you did to get there. Welcome to the Chretien house. Mothers have this constant voice in their head telling them that they could do better, their house could be cleaner, their waist smaller, and their kids more polite. I fall into this trap almost daily, and I am slowly learning that my success not measured by these standards. I may not be the perfect mom, but I know that my boys are happy. They know that they are loved, and they love each other. All day long they will fight over the same toy, the same book, the same spot on the couch. But, when evening comes, and they have sleepy eyes, jammied feet, and sweet smelling hair damp from bathtime, I know that we must be doing something right. This blog is dedicated to two sweet boys learning, playing, growing, and finding their place in the world, and to their mommy learning how to guide them.