Little people, BIG attitudes

All day the boys have been in rare form and I couldn't wait to get them to bed. Of course, things didn't change there. Aiden asked me to read them a book and I agreed. They get a book read to them six out of seven nights. He got a new paper back Transformer book today and as I started to read it, I found it was pretty easy to skip pages without them realizing. (I mean, I am exhausted from all the 'tude today.) Well, I thought no one realized. I got to the very last page and Aiden says, "You skipped a page, and you skipped a few pages here, here, here...". I said, "Then I can just reread it to you tomorrow night with all the new parts. I didn't realize I missed pages." How did he know with it being a brand new book?!
I came and sat on the recliner in the peace and quiet and I can hear them giggling, talking, arguing, and so on. Then, Aiden starts crying. It was an attention cry so I didn't bother getting up. (You can tell the difference in cries.)
He kept on and on with the whining, then he says "Mom! Roman poked me in the eye!".
I said "Aiden, I don't care. You need to go to sleep. Now!! I am tired of the games at night and I specifically told you two I didn't want to hear a peep."
Aiden yells back "You don't care if I die?! I could die. He poked me in the eye!".
Then, I hear Aiden say in a lower voice "Roman, I am going to poke YOU in the eye!".
Before I could respond, I hear Roman crying.
I fuss at Aiden to stop it and to go to sleep. I threaten to punish him from his Lego game on the computer and he starts all kind of back talking. I punish him for one day. I hear in a low voice "Mom is stupid. She doesn't care. She says I am punished from my game and I didn't do anything. Hmmfph!".
Myself, saying loudly "That's it. Two days off the computer."
The reply from Aiden is "I didn't say anything!".
I said "I heard you call me stupid, Aiden."
He says, "I called myself stupid, not you! I said that I'm stupid."
We must have argued for what seemed like an hour with him getting himself in more and more trouble. I think by the time he finally went to sleep, we were at two weeks with no computer games. (Jude is working tonight.)
Roman had his moments all day, too. I think he got fussed more today than he has in his entire three years of life.
Sometimes, Jude and I just don't know WHAT to do. It feels like our kids rule us at times. Especially at dinner time. Definitely at bed time. We read parenting books, we have stacks, and the advice always sounds nice until you are in the moment and things aren't going "text book" ways. It is so hard being a parent, yet so rewarding at the same time. Some days, I look at Jude and ask "Why? Why did we do this to ourselves?". Other days, I look at him and say "Could you imagine how boring and empty our lives would be without our children?". Parenting is a catch-22! All I know is that I am aging FAST.

Happy birthday to the most wonderful woman in the world!

My beautiful mom turned 62 today and we went to the other side of the lake to celebrate with her. We had a forty five minute delay added to our hour trip because there was a spill on the bridge. Traffic was at a stand still, with people hanging out in the road as I convinced my children to stay IN the car, but it was worth the one hour forty five minute drive there. The boys had a blast hanging out with (and on) their Mimi. They blew bubbles on her for a very long time, till she was sticky and wet. Cullen gave her a nice, long massage and tried to give her sixty two birthday spankings but I don't think he ever got up to that BIG number. lol (I am kidding, Mimi.) Granny wrote her the sweetest poem I have ever heard for her birthday. I say that because Granny rarely lets you in to that very deep bottom part of her heart and she did in that poem. We all had tears as she expressed her love for her daughter.














As we were getting ready to leave, Cullen was sitting on my lap and we were horsing around. He said he was going to punch me in the nose and continued to put his fist to my nose and started pushing back slightly. I decided to nibble (bite) him to get him off. (Yes, I get on their level sometimes.) Well, he drops to the floor dramatically screaming and crying. Roman and Aiden were watching the whole thing go down. Once Cullen was on the floor, Roman came over to me and pinched my left arm hard, twice, and then over and over again. Roman was saying "Cullln hurt, crying, Cullln" and pointing. Aiden came up to me and hit me a few times on my right. All I could do was laugh with my mom and grandma because I was getting tag teamed while they defended their brother. Who knew they would be so protective of their big bro'? My mom said if they were any bigger, I would have been in some big trouble. Cullen and I made up and the little ones got over it. It was an eye opening experience!

Some like it hot...

and some do not. I do not!

It was soooo hot today at the park. I took Aiden and left Roman home with Daddy.
Aiden and Xander racing HA!

Mommy's angel


When we got home, we were ready for some pool time fun!




Then, Daddy came home for dinner and we watched a wrestling show, right in our living room.

Sick and socializing

I woke up this morning not feeling well. My throat/neck area (middle ear infection) is hurting again and I think I need to visit my PCP. I visited urgent care this past Sunday and I think it is time for a follow up. I have been trying not to take my pain meds because I do not like how they make me feel. Years ago, I liked that dazed feeling. When you have three children at your feet, it is very hard to focus on the needy little ones. That doesn't change the fact that we have plans all day. I decide to tough it out, not take anything, and visit our MF's at Krisitin's house for a two year old (and older) playdate. The boys had a great time visiting with their friends as I sat there, uncomfortable, trying to visit with mine. We stayed for about an hour, and hit the grocery store on the way home. That was an experience. Roman and Aiden fought majority of the time there. At one point, Roman, sitting in the front of the buggy, bit the hell out of Aiden, who was walking. How? I do not know. Aiden screamed bloody murder, hit Roman, who hit Aiden, who hit Roman, you get the point, all while onlookers stared and giggled down the aisle. I was eager to get home where we all took naps. My nap lasted way longer than it should have. Jude was home early and I slept through it. I woke up, took a pill, and debated continuing on with my evening plans. With my girl friends, if you cancel plans, you are a SELL OUT to the fullest. I called three people and convinced myself to stay on board. We went to eat at a fabulous restaurant by the park for Christy's birthday.

The dirt

Yesterday, when we were at the store, Aiden asked for some legos. They were Star Wars legos for thirty dollars. Now, Aiden, thanks to his adorable dad, is addicted to Star Wars. I personally do not get it. But, I wasn't a dork when I was younger, either. Kidding. Kinda. Anyway, Jude and I purchased the boys a Wii for Christmas and it was supposed to be used for family fun. We were ALL going to play together. I have yet to play an entire game with the whole family because there are five of us and four remotes. Yes, Roman HAS to have a remote, too. Well, Jude bought Aiden a Star Wars game for his birthday in March and he wants to play it 24/7. He drives me nuts. He eats, sleeps and breathes this video game. We limit the time he is on it. Jude plays with him when he gets home from work sometimes. Now, Aiden wants to call his dad while he is at work, every day, to talk about this game. It is really unhealthy. So, when he wanted the legos, in the back of my mind, I thought to myself, maybe, just maybe, this will get his attention on something else. I showed him the age range on the Star Wars lego box (ages 7-12) and suggested we buy the non SW's legos. He agreed! BTW, that age limit thing gets me out of buying a LOT of toys. He is very active with these legos and Roman has a new interest in the house; chase the leogs "I can't play with" around. It is very hard keeping a two year old away from a four year old's 200 piece toy set. Aiden asked Roman not to eat them. He is worried Ro will poop them out and they will be useless to him at that point. He has said this in so many words. There have also been a few smack downs take place in the past twenty four hours. Legos really bring out the testosterone!

So my question is this. Do I go crazy refereeing these two over the 200 pieces or do I let Aiden go back to the Wii, hide the legos, and continue how life was?

Ro vacuuming the legos he just threw all over the floor

Cullen got his progress reports today and I must say, I am impressed. His grades are steady going up. I am still waiting for the report in conduct and religion. Those were not included. I am happy he is more focused in school and things are getting better. Now he gets to pick from the jar. The jar is something he wanted to use as a reward system. He even made the pieces of paper with the rewards written on them. Now, every so often, he picks out the jar. Some of the rewards are: $1, a date night with mom, a pack of gum, free computer time, rent a movie, etc. I have also started letting him play after school again with his friends, not just on the weekends, since his grades have gone up.

How will I ever do homework with four??

Happy 4th Birthday, Aiden!

Today, my middle child turned four. This is a nice age, as he appreciates any gift he gets. We went to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant tonight with Nanny and Paw Paw, and we convinced Mrs. Amy, Xan the Man, and Delaney to come too. The music was so loud that we sure couldn't talk but the kids had a great time and that was all that mattered tonight. As Xan fell asleep at the table, the Castillo's didn't make it to cake time at our house. We had an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins and it was good. If you ask Roman, he will tell you it was the best cake ever. He was so funny tonight eating it, licking it off his arm places I didn't know he could reach with his tongue, saying "Cake, mmmmm, cake". Now, we are all in the car/bed, me blogging, them relaxing. On another note, Aiden still will NOT poop on the potty and I am biting my nails as we get closer to Pre-K 4. He has an appointment with a gastrologist on Monday and I hope he can pull a miracle out his ass. Literally. I am definitely at a loss. On the positive side, he can now spell his name, say his alphabet perfect, and count to ten. He can even write some letters and almost his name.

Roman trying to blow the candles out and Aiden blocking him

Aiden, the birthday boy, blowing out HIS candles

Aiden, with Roman making sweet love to the cake

Mundane Monday

This was our day: went to the bank to make a deposit, then CVS, over to Kmart, and then Rouses, lastly picking Cullen up from school. The kids were out of control today and I just rolled with the punches. One point shopping, Roman was sitting in the basket pulling Aiden's hair, who was walking. Aiden wasn't bothered so I didn't correct Ro. They were laughing. As I am looking on the shelves, Aiden tries to hand me something. It is about twenty pieces (a clump) of his hair. He said Roman pulled it out. I told him to keep it, I didn't want it. He walks away and says, "I put it in Shammy's hair". Sweet! At our last stop, the grocery, the lady in front of me at the check out started unloading my basket with me and said she could remember "those days". I guess I looked as if I needed help. Thanks, lady at the grocery! It made me smile, though I thought I had it.
Side note-Aiden calls Roman, Shammy. I'll tell that story one day soon.

Tuesday...zzzzzz

I can't be THIS boring this early into blogging, but today, there's not much fun to talk about.
Today was "wear your pajamas all day" day. We have those more than I care to admit. Moving on...
Cullen had a fever of 101 and skipped school today. The two little ones had it last week with a sore throat so it is only natural it's Cullen's turn. He stayed on the couch all day, poor baby, asking me to take his temperature every hour.
Aiden has been super sweet the past week and more loving than his normal three year old self. :) Yay!! I love when he is super sweet to his mommy.
Roman has entered a whole new era. He has hit the terrible two's just a few months short of 2. Four months to be exact. He has this new temper tantrum he throws now, he yells NO a lot and has been slapping Aiden around. They got into their first official "fight" Sunday night and Roman hasn't let up. He slaps Aiden, Aiden laughs and lightly hits back, which in turn makes Roman mad and his second swat is harder than the first. We had to break them up Sunday. Wow! I wonder how many more years of that are in store for me?! Are girls like that? My sister and I were brutal (her way more than me, of course) but I also thought that wasn't the norm.
Tonight, I went to Cherie's for a MMM meeting. It was productive and I always enjoy the great company there. I have work tomorrow and then back to Cherie's for MNO. I basically have a kid free day. Woo-hoo! Those are few and far between. Maybe I will take you all to work with me tomorrow. Night!