Real Life Moments: October

I love the momentum the month of October creates.  It's like the opening ceremonies for the holiday season. Each little fall tradition bringing us one day closer to the most wonderful time of the year.

October is filled with so many things that mark memorable milestones for our family.  For instance, the day of the KC Marathon (always mid-October) was the same day Max started crawling 2 years ago.  And the same day that two of my dearest friends felt Max kick in my belly the year previous to that.  I love it when big experiences fall on a day that makes them easy to remember and file away in your mental timeline.

Here's what the KC Marathon looked like for us this year...

 Busy, busy making signs.

Looking out for Dad.  We were able to watch the race from the end of our street since Billy was on the full marathon route this year.

This photo is horrible, but I have to include it. Max likes to run when we go for walks on the trolley trail. He goes as fast as he can and says "I run just like Dada!" while high-fiving joggers headed in the opposite direction.  Its so cute to watch him run his little heart out and to see others reactions to my mini-marathoner.  Billy always said that the reason he started doing this race was to show his boys a good example of hard work, setting goals and the power of a strong mind.  Max doesn't understand all of that yet, but he does realize that his Dad is pretty amazing and that he's a pretty good guy to want to be like.

Our annual neighborhood block party also makes me realize how quickly time is passing.  Last year Sullivan was a tiny little thing that slept in the stroller the whole time.  This year he kept up with Max playing with the neighborhood kids. 

 It was also the day we met our awesome babysitter, Carley!  The boys enjoyed their picnic on a blanket in the street with her at the party this year...

Also pictured:  Sullivan and his focused determination to carry his ball all the way down the street to the party.

And then there are traditions that we squeeze in wherever we can.  Like our trip to Deanna Rose for a hayride and pumpkins...

These two cousins...is there anything cuter?  Max told me he wants to have a baby sister who is "exactly like Annabelle."  I thought that was the sweetest thing ever.  I'm so thankful that they're close in age.  I think the bond they're forming now will last forever.

And then there are some days that are just regular days...

1 & 2) There were a few days this October that felt more like summer than fall.  So we took the cloud dough out to the deck at Max's request. 3) Max and Daddy working the cash station at Max's school Pancake Breakfast. 4) Max likes to wear his boots...even when its a 75 degree fall day.  He's also the best brussel sprout picker ever.  Look how focused he is :)

If you're missing a rolly polly Sully...just check the laundry baskets.  Here he is getting graham cracker crumbs all over the clean clothes.  Awesome!

2nd place to check is the pots of dirt out back.  This boy loves to dig!

This was a day I got to watch a couple playgroup friends' kiddos...Conner and Corrine.  Their mommas' were having a work/lunch meeting.  Max and Corinne loved baby Connor!  They also got very busy tracing shapes on the chalkboard wall with water and paint brushes.  Honestly, if handling four kids under the age of 3 is always this easy...sign me up! :)

Max sharing with Sullivan.

Sullivan sharing with Max.

Last but not least Halloween EXTRAVAGANZA photos!  This holiday seriously lasted over two weeks. I was never a Halloween person before, but these kids...they just make everything so much more fun.

Here they are at Finley and Sawyer's first birthday costume party.  Not ready to debut their Halloween costumes quite yet they went as a pirate and an astronaut.

Then there was the BMA Boo Bash.  Endless donut holes and balloon creatures.

As the room mom for Max's class I got to put together a fun little party with Sullivan's help. They got to eat jack-o-lantern orange cups and make spiders out of a marshmallow and pretzel sticks.  Then a game of ghost bowling and pumpkin toss.

Then the big finale.  ACTUAL Halloween!  We went to Annabelle's house for dinner and crafts and then a trip around the block for candy.

Getting candy from Aunt Jenni.

Uncle Adam got him hooked on these things.

Final, final stop...our backyard neighbor's house through the "secret garden" gate.  This neighbor is very much like the character Wilson from the show "Home Improvement".   Max had lost his monster eye by this point :)

Another October down.  Now comes the real whirlwind of traditions and chaos...November and December!

Autumn Leaves

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

 ~Albert Camus

Oh, the simple joys in life like fall leaves in a pile.  It gives me so much happiness to introduce these pure and uncomplicated aspects of the world to you boys.

Sullivan clinched every leaf like it was found treasure :)

I see so many important lessons and experiences taking place in this one photo alone...

Halloween Outtakes

I have 196 pictures from Halloween.  There are SO many cute ones, but my favorites are actually the bad ones.  Here are a few outtakes from our Hallow's Eve...

James P. Sullivan, Boo and Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc.

"It's ok, Sullivan!"

"Seriously...is everything ok?"

 

Not one good pic of all of us! Grrr.

We hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!

(and tortured their children enough for one year :)

Nighttime Routine

Some of the most darling moments of our day happen while putting the boys to bed.   Although my mantra leading up to that magical hour is usually "Keep Calm...It's Almost Bedtime"...once we're there I don't want to let them go.   They're so sleepy and snuggly (and clean!) after their bath.  I just want to hold them close and smell the tops of their heads.

 

I guess it has something to do with the day winding down and the routine of getting ready for bed that makes them as sweet as pie this time of the evening...

I went to start the bath water and came back to our room to find the boys laying quietly together.  Max was saying, "Shhh...I've got you sweet baby..." and patting Sullivan's back.  Sully just had a content little smile on his face.  My heart melted into a puddle on the floor.  As soon as they caught me spying they just giggled and squeezed each other tighter.

This is not to say that our bedtime is a completely serene experience each night.  Generally, Billy and I switch back and forth between the boys rooms a hundred times. Chasing naked bottoms down the hall and trying to get squirmy legs into footy pajamas once they're out of the bath.  

 



Max likes to brush Sullivan's hair for him.   Followed by kisses and hug and a "Good job, baby!" for standing still.

Max has really shown Sullivan the ropes with regard to tactics that delay getting pj's on.  In this photo Max snuck him into the closet and instructed him to "cover his eyes".  Sully clearly ruined the plan here by not following the last instruction.

 Next we have to get teeth brushed and negotiate with Max on the number of books we'll read.  And then tear Sullivan's room apart to find one (just ONE!) of the 14 pacifiers we know exist in this house.

More tactics to delay getting pajamas on.  They know I really don't like to interrupt them when they're playing so well together...

But soon the lights are dimmed and we turn on our nighttime music.  Max tells me elaborate stories about pirates and tigers as we sit in his big chair together (this boy's mouth and imagination never stop). Sullivan lays his head on my shoulder and holds onto my arms like there's no one he'd rather have holding him.  I think to myself that this is what life is all about. 

 

Dear Max and Sullivan, when I finally lay you down in your beds I draw circles on your backs and recite the "Little Boat" poem.  Max, I've done this every night since you were six months old and Sullivan since you were born.  I hope one day you'll say this poem to your children as they nod off to sleep.  And that you'll look at them and know the kind of love that I feel for you.

 

My whole heart,

Momma

 

The Little Boat

 

Little boat, no bigger than your hand.

Out on the ocean, far away from land.

Take the little sail down.

Light the little light.

This is the way...

To the garden...

In the night.

Tuesdays (and Thursdays) with Sully

I've always been someone who loves consistency and routine.  Those words are generally synonymous with boring, but they give me a sense of peace.  And keep me from acting like a disorganized crazy person on a daily basis.  Even when there's no schedule I like a general plan

So now that Max is back in "school" twice a week we have a much better sense of structure than we did over the summer.  Our days seem more purposeful.  I also have much more on my plate this time of year.  Which, counter-intuitively, makes me a thousand times more productive.  If I have a board meeting, a class party to plan and errands to run...I'll get everything done.  If the only thing on my to-do list is one measly basket of laundry to fold...it will sit in its sad little basket for two+ days.

Anyway, with this new weekly schedule I get to enjoy more one-on-one time with Sullivan.  He's increasingly curious and is so receptive to new things lately.   I try to make good use of the time we have alone when I'm able to give him 100% of my attention.

So after we drop Max off in his classroom...

"Bye, Max!"  He's not even aware we're still there.  Too busy with the morning's welcome activity of sorting dinosaurs by color.

...we head home so Sullivan can take his morning nap.  But when he wakes up our only goal is F U N!

On Tuesdays they day is ours.  We usually do an activity at home followed by a little outing prior to picking up Max in the afternoon.

Cheerios Book is a favorite activity.  Aunt Jenni gave Sully this awesome book for his birthday and he loves it!  He places all the Cheerios in the book where they belong...with much concentration.

But he mostly just likes eating the Cheerios...

I love attempting outings that make most people question my sanity.  ("You have a one year old at a museum??")  However, I've found that kids do much better than you expect in most circumstances.  And sometimes they don't.  Eh, what can you do?  Smile apologetically and move on.  Sullivan is the best date ever, though. He lets me linger in the exhibits and is even a great conversationalist over lunch on the museum grounds.

"Mom.  That is a giant birdie.  Shall I point at it over and over just to be sure you see what I'm seeing?"

Pic A: Sullivan in Shuttlecock shock.                                                         Pic B: Totally over it.

Sometimes we do nothing other than play with my sunglasses.  This child loves shades.  It gives him such a sassy little attitude as exhibited in the photos below...

Other days we color...

Or we go on a nature walk.

Baby tree-huger.  Literally.  Also likes to examine flowers.

Sullivan is also a boy to the core.  Cars and pretend power tools provide serious entertainment.  I watch him in awe of the innate "boy-ness" of his personality. 

Did I mention that my dude loves shades??

On Thursdays we head to a momma/toddler music class for an hour after his morning nap.  He's always loved music and dancing so I decided he'd appreciate that over a class like Gymboree.  His favorite part of class is the other babies.  And the maracas.  This boy can rock the maracas.  He can also chuck them pretty forcefully across the room.  Anything that is even kind of round his fair game for throwing.  I'm afraid we're close to getting kicked out of class for this behavior.

After a fun hour of dancing, singing and playing music we sometimes have a little lunch date.

Seriously.  Sharing chips and salsa with the cutest guy in the whole restaurant.

On this particular morning Sullivan slept in so late I decided to skip his morning nap...and have a little breakfast at the french bistro across from Max's school after we dropped him off instead.  Sully and I ordered Quiche Lorraine and a baguette with Nutella.  He barely saved any for me!  My little piglet.

Sometimes we'll head to the zoo on a nice day.  Here we are during the morning bird feeding.  They literally swarm you.  I had birds on my head, on my arms...Billy would have freaked (slight bird-phobia).  I think I might have pushed Sullivan over the edge too.  He started out unsure of the whole thing but I kept encouraging him to get closer and closer.  As soon as the bird looked him in the eye and squawked loudly, it was all over...

"This is scary, mom!"

Sullivan, I cherish these days so much.  I soak up every bit of your sweet personality.  We have an easy way together.  Like our personalities are well matched.  It's funny to realize this when you're so young, but I can tell that we'll always have a quiet understanding.  I love you so much little man and look forward to many special days together.