the red dress

Oh, Kosty. Kosty, Kosty, Kosty, Kosty. I don't know what else to say...he fills my days with joy and pain. He knows what he likes and won't back down. But neither will I. That's the problem. And that's why his heart belongs to Daddy. He is extremely particular when it comes to his clothes and when it comes to MINE. He likes me in my gray sweats and white v-neck when I wake up. Lucky for him, that's what I wear 99% of the time. He likes me in full pj's or fully clothed and nothing in between. He gets pretty ticked if I come out with a towel on my head or with wet hair. When I get dressed and see him for the first time, he gives me a once over and instantly lets me know if its working for him or not. He HATES hats on me. He hates RVCA, Freedom, any tees. Unless I wear a cardigan on top. Then he likes. But he hates my mustard cardigan. I could go on and on.

This day, it started out with a simple request. Please wear the red dress. I said no.

and ended like this:Me refusing to back down + him refusing to back down = disaster. It is kinda sad now looking at him holding on to that red dress for dear life with such agony on his face. But I had to prove a point! Besides, his wife will thank me some day. Or not. Eeek! His poor wife.

I almost let him down

Brayden got the stomach flu last Thursday night. He was so sad that he would be missing "Hollywood" Day at school on Friday. He asked me to please lay out his Hollywood outfit, and I had to tell him he would be missing it, as well as the Book Fair, as well as Happy Meal Day. Boo. Sad day for him to miss. Anyway, I told him that I would pick him up on Monday and take him to the Book Fair right after school. But, when 3:00 rolled around, I realized Kosty was dozing off on the couch for a much needed catnap, we had no pants for him to wear due to potty training accidents all day, I didn't have any checks which I thought were required, and my sister had just popped over for a visit. I thought to myself, maybe he won't remember, and if he does I'll just tell him it wasn't going to work that day. Sure enough, he walked in the door and asked immediately about the Book Fair. I told him all the reasons why we should go another day. Then he ran to his backpack and pulled out an envelope with my name on it. I opened it up and this is what it said,

"Hi Mama.
How are you?
I miss you.
I can't wait for the Book Fair.
xoxoxoxo,
Brayden."

And with that, I called the school, they didn't need a check, threw some pajama pants on Kosty, and we flew out the door. Oh, what a disappointment I almost was.

perserverence

I had to teach Brayden this word, he certainly earned it. Last week, he reported that his teacher said that nobody can move up to first grade if they didn't know how to tie their shoes, and so far only 5 kids in the class knew how. Oh boy. The pressure was on. He was bound and determined, and he finally got it. I had no idea how much patience would be tried. Not to mention frustration on both ends, but me of course hiding mine as to not escalate his. Poor little guy, it is so hard to teach that coordination. The night before, we were at Grandma's, and I was trying to teach him, it wasn't working, so Grandma gave it a try, as did Grandpa, as did Aunt Cede. I never knew there were so many ways to tie shoes! I've seen 5 different ways now! It turns out Daddy had the magic touch. His special way, and his teaching style was all Brayden needed. Kosty was standing near and instructing me how to be a cheerleader. He said, "ok, now say YAAAAAYYYY Bubba!!" Brayden requested a can of Sprite as his reward. HALLELUJAH!! We can all unload the bricks off our backs now, it feels so good!aww, with little brother looking on, the very moment he realized he had just done it. Can't you feel the joy?

classic Brayden. such a goofball. {FYI: he reminds me of a teenager when he drinks soda from a can}.

be still my heart

After already reading to Brayden, and tucking him into bed, I walked by his room about 15 minutes later and noticed the door was shut. He never wants his door closed, so I opened it and found this...He was so completely engrossed in the BFG, that he didn't even acknowledge my camera snapping presence. Oh oh oh. My little Kindergarten bookworm, I adore him. And his love of reading.

creepy mama

I am totally hesitant to post this, but it has to be done. I don't want you all to think I am sick and twisted... but eh, who cares. This is a memory that has to be shared. I don't know who is more twisted actually, me or my boys!

So, a looong time ago, Jeremy and I rented "The Stepford Wives." For those of you who haven't seen it, basically its about a bunch of perfect wives that turn out to be programmed robots, designed by a man who wanted the "perfect" wife. At the end of the movie, after his plan falls apart, the robot wives come at him looking pretty creepy, wide, glazed over eyes, heads tilted to the side, huge creepy grins...you have to see it to know what I'm talking about. Just picture CREEPY! So after watching it, I thought it would be funny to reenact the scene to Jer, and pretend I was the creepy robot wife coming at him. Well, it freaked him out, and it was hysterical. Every once in a while I would flash a little "Stepford smile" at him, just for kicks. Cause I'm a good wife that way.

One time Brayden saw me do it & he was hooked. He named it "Creepy Mama," and started asking more and more for me to do it. At first, I tried to avoid it, I mean it goes against everything a Mother should be! Frightening your child, making them run from you! Worrying that YOU will become their bad dream! But he begged, and pleaded, and got Kosty sold on the idea as well. They both know that Creepy Mama only comes out at night, so lately almost every night after dinner, they both begin the begging, "DO CREEPY MAMA!" Brayden even requests, "OK, now walk towards me slowly." Then the giggles, screams, running and hiding all over the house begins. Brayden's favorite is when creepy mama follows them into the bath, they dash in & throw the curtain closed, only to open it and see me RIGHT THERE at eye level. BOO! It even freaks ME out. Oh, man, I have to admit its a little bit fun to see them squeal.

Sweet dreams now!
xoxo,
Creepy Mama

(now please erase this image from your mind before its burned in there. Plus I know you will want to laugh at me the next time you see me. Please and thanks).

milestone

A couple weeks ago Kosty was bound and determined to get dressed by himself. From his pullup to his backpack, he surely did just that. He had a little set back when his shirt was backwards, and as much as I tried to help him, he wouldn't let me so much as come near him. Again, the stubbornness and determination of that boy astounds me. He took it off, and put it on the right way. Not one bit of help from Mommy.


It reminded me of when Brayden was his exact age, and got dressed for the first time by himself. I just had to find the picture.

boys on wheels

this was a late afternoon, I was tired and needed to start dinner. I wanted to give them every excuse I could, but I'm so thankful I didn't. I would have missed this sweet memory. It was beautiful outside, and Brayden wanted to practice rollerblading. Kosty wouldn't let him do so, however without holding his hand the whole time. "Bubba, wait! I have to hewp you!" Then he grabbed his hand and didn't let go. It actually messed Brayden up quite a bit, but the sweet big brother carried on and humored him anyway. This is one of my favorite memories so far.