It happened again.....

So I guess once you get a reputation as a "soft touch", it's all over in the world of youth sports. This time, one of the former T-Ball parents "volunteered" me to coach the Y-Basketball team....so many issues:

#1 - You've seen me, do I look like I had a big basketball career? I am 6' tall in my dreams and have never played any type of organized basketball, at all....ever. I know baseball, love baseball, PLAYED baseball, so there's a foundation there for baseball. Basketball is Uncle Eric's sport, not mine.

#2 - Due to #1 above, I know absolutely nothing about basketball (other than what is required to watch it on TV), let alone how to impart that knowledge (again, not that there's any there to being with) to Kindergarteners for God's sake.

#3 - This means that due to the guilt that my Mom and Auntie Sue imparted in me while growing up (between them and the Catholic church - I am a fountain of guilt) that all things must be equal bewteen siblings, I now have to coach both Tanner and Faith in Basketball too.

#4 - Related to #2, basketball is confusing to teach....and there's a lot of stuff involved; traveling, double dribble, 10 second violations (yes, for kindergartners)....plus the whole "mob the ball" mentality to diffuse.We had our first practice last night, and even explaining some of the rules to kindergartners, I had the feeling like they were looking at me a saying, "What you can't be serious, look what a ridiculous concept that driblling is"...and..."you look like 

a moron with the whole pivot foot thing going".

I don't know, baseball is just so much more of a "Here's a ball, hit it with this stick" kind of thing. 

But anyway, now that I'm doing it, I'm doing it. We have practice once a week in the gym at Jake's school, and games on Saturdays. Plus there are a couple of cool tie-ins with the NBA D-Ball team in town. We get to go to a team practice, and the kids get discounted tickets to the season opener and get to go down on the floor and high five the players during introductions.

So it will work out fine and Jake and I will have a great time, just like we did for T-ball. When hockey season rolls around, I'm hiding under a rock until after the games start.

Best Husband Award

Remember the post I wrote a few weeks ago about a recent day we had where everything just clicked and I wanted to write about it so I could remember it on days when things fell apart? Well, in that same vein, I'd like to take a moment to give my hubby some credit where credit is due.

Besides the fact that he does 80% of the housework (seriously... I have not changed one set of sheets or done a load of laundry since we moved here) and does half of child related duties, he also recently went out of his way to do something really special for me.

My company is going through some hard times and we recently experienced a lot of layoffs (approx. 40% of the employees were let go) . Thankfully I am still employed (for now), but I found out on Monday that the health care for our family was no longer going to be provided. This is a big hit financially. In discussing how to handle this setback, I was bummed to realize that I would not be able to continue with my Bikram Yoga classes. Brian came home that evening (after attending a basketball coaches meeting.... go Super Dad!) and handed me a punch card for 10 more classes. He handed it to me and said, "I can mow the lawns for another summer, Honey." (We had recently added in a budget column for a gardener). I haven't felt this strongly about a hobby for a long time and the fact that he knew that and was willing to give up the luxury of someone else mowing the lawn for a change..... not to mention that he actually went to the Bikram Yoga studio himself (one of the more "granola-y" places in the world and definitely not in his comfort zone!). It made me remember again what an amazing man he is.

Sappy? Sure. But something I want to remember today, tomorrow, and years from now (especially on days when I want to kill him!)

Getting Ready for Halloween

Both boys want to be Boise State football players for Halloween this year (Jake will actually be a "steelheads hockey player dressed as a Boise State football player " since he really wanted a mask to be involved in some way in his costume.) Faith is going to be a black cat. Mom bought the costume for her so I have yet to see it, but I'm sure she will look adorable. However, for the Halloween party at the Merc last Saturday we dug out our costume bin and let the kids choose what to wear. Jake settled easily on Spiderman (from last year and a bit snug if you ask me), Tanner tried on the clown suit (my personal favorite), the bear, and Superman before settling on the chicken costume. Faith went with the bear, after deciding right away that she wanted absolutely nothing to do with the chicken suit. Smart girl, that one. Anyway, the party wasn't very exciting, but there is another neighborhood party this weekend, then the trick-or -treating to look forward to.

The leaves are all red here and the weather is gorgeous. By this time next week, though, I bet the trees will be bare. It is still partly dark when we walk to school in the mornings and we are all bundled up in woolen hats in the AM, while changing to short sleeves by afternoon. I love this time of year!!

Tanner and Faith took a field trip to a local pumpkin patch/corn maze and Tanner just couldn't stop talking about it. He took a tractor/hay ride and picked out a pumpkin and drank juice and ate popcorn and did art and did I tell you about the tractor ride?and the popcorn and juice? I'm sure he'd love to tell you all about it when you see him!

Potty Training Success (Round 2)

Just a quick update on our "problem child". I am happy to report that he has gone to daycare 3 times in a row now with NO CRYING!!!! On Friday, he actually waited at the door, telling me to hurry up because he wanted to go to school. He has also stopped repeating himself ad nauseum (so we may actually be able to keep him for awhile longer). And the big news is the potty.
He has stayed dry for 5 days in a row in his big boy undies- both #1 and #2 are making it into the potty. Probably TMI for most of you, but for us, having only ONE in diapers is a huge deal.

Sports Season

Fall really is the official sports lovers season. Between the MLB Playoffs and World Series, the start of hockey season, Sunday football, Monday Night Football, and the NBA getting underway, October is quite a month.

We became sure that our hunch that Jake had been watching too many televised sports when we were driving through a Taco Bell drive through on the way to the Steelheads hockey season opener on Saturday (Tanner's first game!) and Jake quoted a Taco Bell commercial as Brian ordered a triple steak burrito. Word for word. Yeah.... I'm a good mom. Really. That kid knows his sports, though, and he's got all the right moves, too. The fact that he knows what a "volcano taco" and "gillette fusion" razor is.... that's just collateral damage (I hope).

The Steelheads game was so much fun. We had Cara babysit Faith so we just took the two boys. Tanner was unsure at first, and spent the first 10 minutes of the first period with his fingers in his ears and a slightly worried look on his face. But then he got into it. He cheered for the players, sang the national anthem- all the while keeping his eye on the mascot very closely- asking us repeatedly, "Is he going to come up here, Mommy?" with a lot of concern in his voice. This kid does not like human sized animals prancing around. Disneyland would likely be his worst nightmare. Unfortunately the Steelheads lost in overtime. We got home very late (10:30) so decided to do a sleepover- one boy with me in the guest room, one with Brian in our room. They slept until 8 which was really nice! And I love taking advantage of these days when sleeping with us is a treat!

We've been watching the MLB Playoffs, of course. Jake and Brian are rooting for the Phillies while I became a late supporter of the Rays due to their closing pitcher last night that I fell in love with. So it should be a fun World Series to watch. Even Faith has gotten into the action. She refused to go to sleep a few nights ago and after listening to her cry for an extended period of time, we decided to go get her. She came down and sat on her daddy's lap for 30 minutes, watching one of the playoff games, cheering them on in her own way, content as could be. It was so great to get that one-on-one time with her. She also "plays baseball" when we are playing with Tanner and Jake. She holds the bat, one of us throws the ball so that it makes contact with her bat, then she "runs the bases" (around the kitchen island) and "slides" into home (our fireplace). Very cute.

Jake starts Y-basketball on Wednesday. Brian is coaching the team and is currently trying to figure out how to teach 7 five year olds how to play the sport. We had enough Kindergartners up here in Hidden Springs to make a team so all of our practices and some of our games are up here in our neighborhood, which makes it so much easier. Even limiting Jake to one outside activity at a time can be overwhelming in terms of scheduling dinner, etc... One practice a week and one game a week is PLENTY for us at this point. God help us when Tanner and Faith start to play organized sports.

The Harrison Classic

Jake and I ran in the Harrison Classic 1 mile race together today (he ran the race and asked me to run along with him). It was a YMCA race and the school with the most participants won 250.00 worth of new PE equipment. The race course was right down one of our favorite streets in Boise, Harrison Street, which is a gorgeous tree lined street, with large 1920's and 30's houses on each side. 

There were a lot of kids from Jake's school there, so he had a lot of friends to run with. His PE teacher Mr. Perotto was there as well, he is an awesome teacher and one of Jake's favorties, so Jake got to see him outside of the school setting which he really loved.

Jake did great. He ran the whole mile and 

sprinted the last 100 yards or so. I didn't know what to expect when we started out as we had never tried anything like this bfore, but I was so proud of him. He just put his head down and went. Never a complaint, never a whimper, at the end he got his gold medal (which he is so proud of, it is already hanging in his room above his desk). We got a water and headed back to

 meet Marisa and the Kids. 

They stood on Harrison and cheered us on as we ran by. You can run in the race as young as four, so I think next year, we will have two participants. Tanner and Faith both cheered for us as we ran by. I didn't see them until I heard Faith yell, "Hi Dad!" and saw them on the curb. Jake had a great time and is raring to do it again.

Idyllic and Rare

I'd better write this post fast....before I forget. Because today was such a great day- one of those rare days when I felt that I not only had everything under control but that I was actually excelling at this motherhood/partnership thing. That allusive search for balance.... today, for once, I felt I had found it.

Brian and I grocery shopped together- with two baskets and three kids. This is not new, actually. For some odd reason this is fun for us and even though we have been saying for years that it would make much more sense to "divide and conquer" we really enjoy our Saturday early morning trips to WalMart. Anyway, then I did my yoga class (more on that later) while Brian baked a new cookie/energy bar recipe and put the kids down for naps. Then I came home and put together a crock pot dinner while he worked out. Later we ran a few errands, took the kids to the park, and sat together on the couches watching the ALCS. Tanner "read" quietly to Faith on one chair (really one of the cutest things I've ever seen) while Jake laid with Brian ,covered in a warm blanket, on the couch.

Maybe it is the sudden change from fall to winter. It snowed last night (Yes, I said "SNOW" and it is only Oct. 10th!!) and as we walked to the Merc for dinner the boys kept the blowing flurries off their faces with their Spiderman umbrellas while Brian tried to hold our big umbrella over both Faith and I. The Merc was warm and welcoming and full of friends and neighbors. It was the first night that we had ths kids in "feety jammies" and the fireplace on. Then we woke up this morning to 22 degree weather and it just made everything feel so peaceful.

Maybe its the fact that I am three weeks into my new hobby- Bikram Yoga- It is a challenge every time and it makes me realize how rarely I challenge myself (physically and mentally). I take the 90 minute class three times a week and look so forward to it in a way I rarely do anymore when it comes to working out. I love it. I am not a "It changed my life!" kind of person and yet I feel like it is doing just that. And even though my three week trial period is over and it is kind of pricey, I feel like I can't afford NOT to continue.

Maybe its that Tanner has made noticeable progress in daycare (he didn't cry at all on Friday!) or that he has slowed down some on the repetition thing. Or the simple fact that there was no drama at bedtime and everyone ate their dinner without complaint

Maybe its that the passing of yet another season reminds me that time moves too quickly and these days will be over before I know it. Easier to embrace today knowing that one day soon I will miss the chaos (or so I am told!).

In any case, I have so many days (and so many blogs) that highlight the hard parts, that I just wanted to take a minute to record one that was easy. Because the next time I feel like I need to run screaming from my house and head for the nearest bar, I want to be able to look back and see that there really are days like this to balance out the craziness.

My Middle Child

It's official. The honor of "Most Challenging Child" has now moved from Jake (holder of the title for 3 years running) to Tanner. Don't know if it's the age (almost 3), the change in daycare situations, the bump on his head he got in August when falling off his stool , or a combination of all three. But there can be no doubt: He has earned the Title.

Most annoying (and somewhat concerning) behavior: He repeats the same question over and over ad nauseum until you want to strangle him. You can answer the question over and over and over and over and he won't stop. It is manic. And exhausting. And a little worrisome. We try to be patient but it wears on us. Our Doc says this could be due to the "concussion" he may or may not have suffered from at the end of August and should end soon.

Saddest behavior: He sobs relentlessly at daycare drop off. I love his new daycare person- Miss Wendy. She has been working with us closely to make it easier on Tanner. But to no avail. She always calls me and tells me when he has stopped crying (generally before I have even made the first left turn onto Cole Rd. on my way home) and the other day she actually videotaped him for me (her idea) so I could see how instantaneously he stops crying and starts happily playing. It was literally as the front door clicked behind me. It is so hard, though, to drop him off in that state every day.

Most Normal but Frustrating behavior for his Age: He does things he knows is wrong often immediately saying, "Don't spank my butt!" which is further evidence that he knows exactly what he did wrong. We never really spanked Jake- since his conscience always seemed to be his guide but with TJ we have resorted to the occasional swat on the behind . Last weekend he hit Faith with a broom, then when we put him in timeout, he kicked her!!! This is not my sweet, loving boy. What has happened to him???? Oh yeah.... he's turning 3.

This too shall pass and will be looked upon with longing and fond remembrance as he goes through the teenage years, I am sure. But for now, if you love my middle child, you may want to say a little prayer that he actually makes it to three years old!

ON THE OTHER HAND: He's just so funny and sweet and sincere that he melts my heart all the time. Last night he and Jake came downstairs around 8:00 saying that they were scared. I asked Jake what he was scared of and he said, "A Witch!". Tanner said he was scared too, so I asked him what he was scared of. Copying Jake (or at least trying to) he said, "I scared of Mitch!". Brian and I looked at each other trying not to laugh and said, "Mitch? Tanner, who is Mitch???". He looked at us innocently and said, "The scary guy in my head". Mitch..... the stuff of nightmares! Then, out of nowhere, he hopped off the couch, pulled off his diaper and jammies, and did an impromptu "Booty Dance" yelling, "Look at my booty, guys! Look at my butt!" repeatedly. Who needs Comedy Central when you've got a show every night in your living room?

Yet another plan......

So in yet another genius attempt to get the kids to behave (ie: go to sleep without fits, sleep through the night etc.....it's not like they're setting the house on fire or stealing cars....yet), we have come up with a new plan.

The boys have a giant blackboard on the wall in their room that we painted with blackboard paint when we moved in. We drew a huge chart on that wall with the days of the week and privileges that they get across the top (For bonus points: it's a large spreadsheet that is color-coded per child, see if you can guess which parent had this brainstorm...). When one of the kids starts to misbehave, they get a warning, if they keep it up they get an "X". They have to choose what they lose and when that week- from after school TV to dessert to scooter, etc. They then have to put the "X" on the chart and it lives there in the room with them all week.

So far, as with most of our "parenting" ideas, I can't tell if it's made a difference or not. Things at bedtime are definitely better than they were before The Chart. But we still have fits, we still have timeouts, and I'm still nowhere near as Zen about it as I should be...so who knows.

The one thing The Chart did was get us the above photo. When drawing the chart, we told the boys that if they could go a whole week with a clean chart, they would get a special treat (without really discussing or even thinking about what that would be....I mean come on, a whole week? It would never happen right?). But lo and behold, a week or so ago, Jake did it. A whole week with no "X", so we had to come up with a special treat. Coincidentally, Jake's school was closed two days this week for teacher workdays and I had to take Friday off to play daddy day care. He and I decided that his special thing would be to go to the batting cages.

The slowest cage was still a little too fast for him at 45MPH. But he hung in there, didn't get frustrated and swung at every pitch (makes a Daddy proud). We then played some mini-golf (he has a hockey-like golfing style - luckily it was a Friday and we were the only two on the course), hit some video games and came home and watched the Speed Racer movie, which he loved. A good Daddy-Jake day, and a fitting reward for a clean chart. The chart is filled up now, so who knows if it will ever happen again, but it was fun while it lasted.