Mo-Hogs and Chicks

So what do you do the 1st time your son requests a hairstyle? You let him do it? Oh yes, you do. Austin for months has been cutting his hair short, save for the bangs, so he can gel them up. So GQ. Hunter, really hasn't cared what his hair looks like. Until now. It started as a joke, but as soon as he saw it in the mirror he said "Don't change a thing!" WE talked him in to letting us clean it up, but alas, the Mo-Hog is here to stay.

Monday conversation at school between Hunter and a little girl in the class.

Girl: So Hunter, why did you get a Mohawk?

Hunter: Because the chicks dig it. (not really, but in essence, yes)

Real Hunter: So the girls will love me, do you love me?

Girl: Uh, NO! (In the whole what-EVAH tone)

Shortly after it was snack time/recess, and who do you think sat together to eat? Litlle miss No-No couldn't get any closer to Hunter without sitting on his lap. Yup, I'm breeding stud-muffins. All the chicks dig those bad boys, even the kindy-garden ones.

Long winded

What does your family do for entertainment? Mine, well, we wash clothes. Simple pleasures. I always like washing and folding the clothes before, I just hate putting clothes away. I know there is a previous post about how I love unfinished projects. Anywhoooo..... Washing clothes is so much more entertaining now, especially since the windows are the perfect height for little boys. Don't you just love these things. You can find me sitting in a chair in the laundry room just washing the clothes tumble. LOVE IT! Like I said, simple pleaures.







So the boys are at the perfect age to begin chores. Today Hunter learned to sort the laundry, and we loaded the washer together. Woo Hoo! It was a good time. He had a lot of fun tossing clothes in to piles. I have forgotten how even a menial task can actually be made fun. Austin was busy with dad rinsing out soda cans and milk and juice containers to put in the recycling buckets. Not that there was a lot, but enough for a little be good to your planet talk. He was more intrigued with the idea that we get to make money off our garbage.

I've been a terrible recycler. It has always made me feel guilty that I threw the stuff away. Cans we always recycled, but bottles and plastic and paper just made it's way to the big trash bin. It was hard with the boys when they were little, when I had little time to even clean myself, let alone properly clean my home. So if it was done, it was in the trash. Many a guilty days. Now, the boys are in recycle training and so excited because they get the cash, and when they're psyched about a getting a nickle, this is like hitting the lotto for them.


And speaking of recycled paper, I've been having some guilt about all the scrap stuff that just sits in my room. At least a rainforest full of paper sits there unused. Audrey's PTA is holding a fair at the school, and one thing they are raffling is a scrapbooking basket. So, on National Scrapbook Day (yes, there really is a day for us) while so many obsessed scrappers are out there making use of their goods, I will be cleaning up my scraproom, and finding stuff to donate to Audrey's PTA group. Lucky me, I should see her for lunch tomorrow because she is in Sac at a PTA conference, but returns to LA tomorrow. I was supposed to meet for dinner yesterday, but I have an allergy induced sinus infection.


One thing is for sure I'm not getting rid of my Bam Pop paper. It's making it's way on so many of my layouts! I did this one of Hunter for IDOS. Yes, I know, another terrible scan. I think I just need a larger scanner so I don't have to do the whole photomerge stich deal. I just suck at it. Anyway, I just love the BamPop paper, and just cut away and use little pieces on about every layout I do. So obsessed. Even the label strip makes it on my layouts. I think this is the second time I used the little strip under a picture instead of tossing it.

Hunter is such a dreamer. So cool to have captured that look in a picture.

Little man is about to lose his 1st tooth. Bottom left tooth is loose as a goose (whatever that means-do geese have loose bowel habits or are they an easy catch for a little sexy fowl play?). The other front bottom tooth is getting lose as well. He's so excited about the prospect of a tooth fairy visit and being able to to turn in his teeth for money. They're growing up ===fast. (those equal signs were supposed to remind you of speedy smoke trails behind a fast moving object. I guess if I had to explain it, I'm assuming others are not quite the match for my dorkiness).


By now you're thinking "No kidding about the long winded!" But that wasn't really my point with the title of the post. Well, sorta, because I haven't blogged in a while and had a lot to say. But really it was a clue to where I just came back from. I'll give you a hint:




or even a better hint is:



Love the do's in the wind. The only things keeping my hair from looking like the bride of frankenstein is all the wax I put in my hair, and that little blue felt barrett. Did you get it already? THE WINDY CITY????? Chicago, Baby! Absolutley loved it. Loved the cleanliness, the friendliness, and the floweriness, and the foodliness, and drinkliness, architechtureness and the story of Elliott Ness with all the mobster heiness of Al Caponess. Very cool city. Gained 4 pounds in 4 days, with non-stop walking. Ofcourse a lot of non-stop drinking and eating, but you know. Gotta go back some day. So much to do, see and eat. If I had to move anywhere, that is where I would move. LOVED IT!

So, what have you been up to?

Tae Kwon DON'T

This is where I would normally have some cute picture of my kids. But there are none. Well....there are tons, just none related to this story. See the boys went last Saturday for their 1st Tae Kwon Do lesson. I figured, the camera could stay home until they get to don the cute little pajama uniforms with the belt and all. Smart school, they start off with 2 free private lessons to provide an intro for the kids, then they assess what class level the little ones should be in. I believe it is to assess the instructor's patience level with kindergarteners.

1st lesson, teen pimple black belt learns no matter how much he has mastered his mind and body, he was no where close to prepared for the Marcoccia boys. Uh, not even a smidgeon close to prepared. 10,000 Star Wars questions before they hit the mat. Twin A punching teacher out of turn, as teacher was looking at Twin B. Twin B performs upright epileptic fit, which he truly believed were jumping jacks. Twin A spin kicking in the air, when there was to be no kicking in the lesson. Twin B going to the restroom and leaving the door open for all to watch. Twin A closing the door on Twin B without turning on the lights, leading into Twin B screaming bloody murder fit (much like jumping jacks without a smile).

Results were, "Boys, you have one more chance for next Wednesday. You need to learn in the next week how to focus, answer always with 'Yes Sir' or 'No Sir', no talking out of turn and listen to my instructions." Teen pimple black belt turns to me, "Ma'am, your boys will need to learn some discipline and focus before next weeks visit, or they will not be able to return". Mom: "Why in the heck do you think I brought them here?" (Exact words, question left unanswered).

Sooo, Wednesday I am flying to Chicago and you better believe my camera is going with me. Mike is taking the boys, but I can't find the charger for the old camera. In otherwords, there may be no pictures of the boys being told to Tae Kwon DON'T.

Back From a Galaxy Far, Far Away

We're baaaack. The trip to LA was a blast. The Science museum was really cool. http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/ We saw an IMAX film about the Deep Sea creatures, narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. Then we went in. Way cool exhibit. So much to see and do and touch. I could have been lost in there for hours, but the boys (Hunter) had thoughts of Star Wars gift shop on the brain.

I got a bit hooked on Guitar Hero. What a fun game. So glad I don't own it or I would really get nothing done. At one point Serafina was challenging Austin, and as he was jamming he said "I sure hope I catch the Rock n' Roll spirit". Rock on, little dude!

Really cool to see Audrey and family. I can't believe how grown up the kids are. Easter egg coloring and hunting was so cool. And just the interaction between all the kids was really cool. I'm real happy we made the time to get down there and can hardly wait for the next time.

An April Fool and a Mandarin Pixie

Hooray for April Fool's Day! The boys loved that it was April Fool's Day. They woke up with almost the same excitement and anticipation of Christmas. They tried to fool us all day with "you're shoes are untied" to "There's a spot on your shirt". I love that they have a sense of humor and found the day to let that prankster humor lose about as exciting as getting a present from Santa.

Speaking of Fools, you can see this fool's latest layouts in the Mandarin Pixie (http://MandarinPixie.com/) gallery. The shop owner, Jennifer, asked me to be the Guest Design Team member for April. Great fun! I loved her stamps, great fonts, easy to use, cool selection. You can see my layouts in her gallery, but here's one teaser for you, plus one more that is not in her gallery because I used her stamps for the IDOS Design Team challenge for March:

In the "Pretty in Pink" layout, I used a number 8 from her Piqued Alphabet to frame the sides of the picture of Serafina. In the "Con Papi" layout, I used the Pupcat alpha for the SF. Like I said, check her store out, good stuff.


Ok, time for an old fool to finish up some work and hit the hay. The boys are spending the night at our neighbor friend's house, so I get to sleep until my body tells me it's enough. WOO HOO!!!

Faith

H:"Austin, can I tell you something? I love God, I love Santa, I love my flambily and I love Money, but do you know who I love the most?"
A:"Who?"
H:"God. You want to know why?"
A:"Why?"
H:"Because he built this world for us to live in."
A:"You know, I think we're going to be true Jedis."
H:"Yes, I think so, too."

A conversation between the boys about 2 minutes ago as they play on the computer. This one makes me happy, well, not the money part, but shamefully, it usually works in that order. Just happy that Flambily came 3rd in the top 4.

We're Catholics. However, you never see us in church. We eat meat on Fridays during lent. My forehead has no ashes on it on Ash Wednesday. We only say Grace before holdiday meals with family. I can't remember ever going to confesion. But Mike and I have a strong sense of faith. We feel closer to God in the outdoors, surrounded by nature. And when I lay next to my children to read to them, I feel it was faith that helped me get there. Faith in God, faith in modern medicine, faith that it would work, faith in Mike and my marriage. We may not be the most visible worshipers, but we never ever lose faith.

So hearing my children so freely talk about God makes me happy. I've never pushed religion on them. However, the only chapter book we have read through more than once is the Children's Bible. By choice we have read through 2 different versions in their entirity, twice each. And when they pray, they always pray for others and not themselves. They always add the sick kids, the hungry kids, and the little kids that need love to the list of flambily and pets and friends to be blessed. Austin plays hide and seek and chess with Jesus. Austin tucks a few of his favorite reads under his pillow at night, and a bible is always one of the pack. Hunter always talks about God and Jesus as if they were good friends. Jesus may be flying a space ship with Hunter in a Star Wars battle one minute, or counting to 30 while Austin is hiding the next.

I love those images they have of God and Jesus. That he is their friend, not something to fear. I've always disliked the term "God Fearing". Why should we fear God? If we're good people, and good to each other, and love and respect one another, what is there to be afraid of? That is what I want my children to grow up with. Be honest, respectful, have love and have faith in your heart. So when I listen to conversations that happen between 2 brothers in their room as they play games together, I sit and just smile. I have faith that Mike and I are on the right path to raising 2 wonderful men.

So pray on, little dudes. Talk to Him like a friend.

Just a quickie

Just a quickie to let you all know I'm not dead, or lost, or mentally incapacitated. Well, maybe the 3rd one, but it just makes life more interesting. I just have little spare time, which I spend laying around or looking at all my pretty scrap kits I have no time to play with. Any whoooooo. I'm home and alive and well and healthy and life is good. The boys are doing great, and so much fun, other than the bickering and fist fights in the cereal aisle at Raley's. Luckly no one else was in the aisle for me to be forced to pretend I just happened upon a couple of lost children I needed to rescue and find their mother. Gotta love boys. Mike is doing great. Crazy busy with work and house, like me. So in love, though, so back to the whole life is good thing. Too busy having goo-goo eyes on my honey to see my kids beating each other to a pulp. One minute punches, the next, giggles, the next hugs, the next yelling, the next farting. Gotta love boys. Alrighty, lots to talk about, but no time to tell my stories properly, so until then, enjoy your loved ones.