Today was a day our family has been waiting for since the NFL schedule was posted - the big Bear/Packer rivalry game. Travis and Alex are Packer fans as they have grown up in Wisconsin and have learned that is what they should be. Mark, born and raised in Illinois - a Bear fan in the truest form. Me? Well, my heart belongs to the Broncos, but I have adopted the Bears as my team. I have learned it is kind of fun to be a Bear fan in the middle of Packerland!
The morning started with Travis at breakfast, "So mom, are you ready to watch the Bears get crushed today?"
"Oh young son, how you are wrong," I inform him, "the Bears are going to win today."
I said this with a laugh, as I know, the Bears ALWAYS lose.
Game time, I have company so Travis begins watching the game without me. It took no time at all for the Packer's to get on the scoreboard, and no time at all for Travis to inform me.
"The Bears are already losing Mom" he yells from the next room.
I run to see, 3-0. Not too bad, I anticipate this only to get worse.
The room is quiet for quite a while and so I check in to see what is going on. I notice the score, 10-3.
"Hey," I say to Travis, "how is it you can inform me when the Packers score, but you say nothing that the Bears are WINNING?"
He gives me a look.
I laugh.
My company left and I joined him in the living room to watch what turned out to be a very disappointing game for him. I bugged him throughout the game, with each turnover, penalty and Brett Favre interception... he gave me look after look after look. We really had fun.
At the end of the game, I even sang him a little song (to the tune of Happy Birthday)
"Happy Bear Day to me"
"Happy Bear Day to me"
"Happy Bear Day to me"
"Happy Bear Day to me"
"Sad Packer Day to you"
"Sad Packer Day to you"
"Sad Packer Day to you"
"Sad Packer Day to you"
"Very funny" he says to me when I am finished.
"Kyle thought so" I say with a smile as Kyle is smiling right back at me.
I asked him if he was glad to spend the afternoon with his mom for once and enjoy such a good game.
"I guess" he says, "but it would have been nicer if the Packers would've won.
"Maybe" I said.
"Will you play chess with me?" he asks.
I agree and we set the board up to play. 10 minutes later, I win.
"Hey Buddy, guess what? Not only are you having a sad Packer day, but you are having a sad chess day too!" I say with a smile, as I NEVER win when Travis and I play chess.
I agree to one more game and he wins. He looks at me and smiles then says, "At least someone right is winning around here today."
I smile.
You know, there is something about spending an afternoon watching a football game with your kids. It is almost like for those few hours you are on the same page and thinking the same thoughts.
Today, truly was a "Bear-y" special day.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Boo? Boo Who?
Young love. Isn't it sweet? My little 4 year old Jacob has had his share in his short little life, but there has only been one Boo. Boo, as we call her, or Rebecca, is the daughter of my best friend Michelle. She is just 3 months younger than Jacob and the two of them have been playing together since before Boo could, well, I guess before Boo could do anything!
Michelle and I have playfully coaching our two children and therefore, the two of them have always referred to the other as their boyfriend/girlfriend. This was very cute when they were little. Now, at 4, Jacob seems to think he knows all about girlfriends and has decided that Boo is NOT his girlfriend anymore.
Michelle watched Jacob and Kyle the other day while I worked. She informed me when I picked them up about a funny little story that happened that day. She had to take the kids in her car to pick up her older two daughters from school.
From the backseat she heard "I love you Jakey" (Jakey is what Boo has always called Jacob). "Yeah, well, I don't love you," Jacob responded. "I said I love you Jakey" Boo said again. "I said I DON"T LOVE YOU" shouted Jacob back at her.
Poor Boo. It hurts when the one you love doesn't love you back...
I asked Jacob about the incident. He informed me that he didn't love Boo anymore and that I was the only one that could be his girlfriend because he only loved me. He then mentioned a little something about Courtlyn. Hmmm... the other woman. Courtlyn is the 4 year old daughter of my new babysitter, Tammy. Now, this explains it all.
So the other night, Michelle calls me, laughing. She tells me that Boo came up to her and said "Mom, Jakey doesn't love me anymore. That's o.k though, he's still my boyfriend even if he doesn't love me".
She's in that denial stage - come on, all you women out there that have had your heart broken, you know right where she is.
Poor little Boo.
Young love... easy come, easy go. Who knows, maybe someday they will be married, going through Jacob's old baby books and will come across this story and laugh! Or maybe it will be Courtlyn and she will secretly think "Ha! Ha! I won!"
Michelle and I have playfully coaching our two children and therefore, the two of them have always referred to the other as their boyfriend/girlfriend. This was very cute when they were little. Now, at 4, Jacob seems to think he knows all about girlfriends and has decided that Boo is NOT his girlfriend anymore.
Michelle watched Jacob and Kyle the other day while I worked. She informed me when I picked them up about a funny little story that happened that day. She had to take the kids in her car to pick up her older two daughters from school.
From the backseat she heard "I love you Jakey" (Jakey is what Boo has always called Jacob). "Yeah, well, I don't love you," Jacob responded. "I said I love you Jakey" Boo said again. "I said I DON"T LOVE YOU" shouted Jacob back at her.
Poor Boo. It hurts when the one you love doesn't love you back...
I asked Jacob about the incident. He informed me that he didn't love Boo anymore and that I was the only one that could be his girlfriend because he only loved me. He then mentioned a little something about Courtlyn. Hmmm... the other woman. Courtlyn is the 4 year old daughter of my new babysitter, Tammy. Now, this explains it all.
So the other night, Michelle calls me, laughing. She tells me that Boo came up to her and said "Mom, Jakey doesn't love me anymore. That's o.k though, he's still my boyfriend even if he doesn't love me".
She's in that denial stage - come on, all you women out there that have had your heart broken, you know right where she is.
Poor little Boo.
Young love... easy come, easy go. Who knows, maybe someday they will be married, going through Jacob's old baby books and will come across this story and laugh! Or maybe it will be Courtlyn and she will secretly think "Ha! Ha! I won!"
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Jacob's Special Day
Early last week, Mark declared that Saturday would be Jacob's "Special Day". He had gone through a difficult week of missing his Daddy and Daddy missing him too... Saturday, Mark would be home all day and so that would be Jacob's "Special Day."
We started out the morning slow. Waking up late (a usual at our house), a quick breakfast, a few errands and then off to Fond du Lac we would go. Jacob decided he wanted to spend the day shopping with Daddy for a special prize for trying really hard to work through his stutterring last week.
Much to Jacob's disappointment, Mommy and Kyle had to come along too... he got over that pretty fast though and decided it would be "O.k." if we had to go.
We really didn't do anything out of the ordinary. We went to Target and Jacob found a special toy that he had wanted for his prize and walked around the store for awhile. The two of them (Mark and Jacob) were so cute to watch though - playing the PS2 "trial" games together and checking out all the toys... I was starting to think I had one more child with me that day.
After Target it was off to the mall just to walk around and "window" shop. We decided to check out the book store to see if they had Jacob's favorite book "Bear Snores On". We own this book, but it's a small paperback that we got from the Cheerios box last year and are always losing it in the house and I was hoping to find the hardcover copy for him. Jacob helped me search all the shelves, carefully checking out the stories. We found one about kisses from Mommy - Jacob said "Aw, that sounds nice, you think mama?" I did think. But we kept searching for Bear. Unfortunately, we couldn't find that book anywhere. Jacob was very disappointed. Just then, Daddy walked around the corner and joined the search. He managed to find a different book, "Bear Wants More" - the sequel to "Bear Snores On". Jacob's little face lit up - he was so excited.
"Thank you Daddy, thank you, thank you!"
Off to the cash register to pay for it. The cashier put it in a bag and Jacob carried it around for the rest of our trip.
We stopped at the OCB for dinner that night. This is Mark's favorite type of restaurant - not only do you get good food, but then there is dessert. He got Jacob all exicted about making his own sundae for desert. That little boy ate the best dinner ever - because without it, there would be no desert.
As I fed Kyle his last few bites of babyfood, I looked over and Mark had just finished his last plate of dinner. When he was finished, he opened his napkin and laid it over the top of his plate. Two seconds later, there was little Jacob, opening his napkin and carefully laying it over the top of his plate. Mark then took a different napkin and wiped his mouth, patted his lips and set the napkin on the table. Two seconds later, there was Jacob again, with another napkin - wiping his mouth and patting his lips - copying everything Mark did. It was really sweet.
"Desert time Daddy!" he said suddenly, breaking the moment both Mark and I were enjoying watching him copying his Dad.
Off to the desert bar they went. Jacob came back to the table with some chocolate cake. Mark with ice cream and cake.
"You share Daddy?" Jacob asked keeping his eye on Mark's food.
"You bet buddy."
The two of them sat and ate while I changed Kyle. When we were finished, we decided to go to the park by the lake for a visit.
Mark and Jacob climbed up to the top of the lighthouse at the park. I stayed in the car with Kyle as he was napping. Jacob yelled for me from the top of the lighthouse and waved his arms so I could see him.
When they came down, he had the biggest smile on his face. He climbed in the car and we headed back home.
"Thank you Daddy," he said from the back seat on the way home.
"For what buddy?"
"For the bestest day."
"You're welcome," Mark said with a smile.
"Daddy, I just love you," Jacob said with a big yawn.
"I love you too buddy."
We got home and Jacob stayed up to play with his new game for a little while. Then he climbed up on the couch by Mark and laid next to him until they both fell asleep.
I looked over at the two of them, before nudging Mark up to help me get Jacob to bed, and I just smiled thinking of how much that little boy loves his Daddy and how he tries so hard to be just like him. It's so sweet to watch that from the outside looking in, I can only imagine how it feels for Mark, being inside moments like that.
We started out the morning slow. Waking up late (a usual at our house), a quick breakfast, a few errands and then off to Fond du Lac we would go. Jacob decided he wanted to spend the day shopping with Daddy for a special prize for trying really hard to work through his stutterring last week.
Much to Jacob's disappointment, Mommy and Kyle had to come along too... he got over that pretty fast though and decided it would be "O.k." if we had to go.
We really didn't do anything out of the ordinary. We went to Target and Jacob found a special toy that he had wanted for his prize and walked around the store for awhile. The two of them (Mark and Jacob) were so cute to watch though - playing the PS2 "trial" games together and checking out all the toys... I was starting to think I had one more child with me that day.
After Target it was off to the mall just to walk around and "window" shop. We decided to check out the book store to see if they had Jacob's favorite book "Bear Snores On". We own this book, but it's a small paperback that we got from the Cheerios box last year and are always losing it in the house and I was hoping to find the hardcover copy for him. Jacob helped me search all the shelves, carefully checking out the stories. We found one about kisses from Mommy - Jacob said "Aw, that sounds nice, you think mama?" I did think. But we kept searching for Bear. Unfortunately, we couldn't find that book anywhere. Jacob was very disappointed. Just then, Daddy walked around the corner and joined the search. He managed to find a different book, "Bear Wants More" - the sequel to "Bear Snores On". Jacob's little face lit up - he was so excited.
"Thank you Daddy, thank you, thank you!"
Off to the cash register to pay for it. The cashier put it in a bag and Jacob carried it around for the rest of our trip.
We stopped at the OCB for dinner that night. This is Mark's favorite type of restaurant - not only do you get good food, but then there is dessert. He got Jacob all exicted about making his own sundae for desert. That little boy ate the best dinner ever - because without it, there would be no desert.
As I fed Kyle his last few bites of babyfood, I looked over and Mark had just finished his last plate of dinner. When he was finished, he opened his napkin and laid it over the top of his plate. Two seconds later, there was little Jacob, opening his napkin and carefully laying it over the top of his plate. Mark then took a different napkin and wiped his mouth, patted his lips and set the napkin on the table. Two seconds later, there was Jacob again, with another napkin - wiping his mouth and patting his lips - copying everything Mark did. It was really sweet.
"Desert time Daddy!" he said suddenly, breaking the moment both Mark and I were enjoying watching him copying his Dad.
Off to the desert bar they went. Jacob came back to the table with some chocolate cake. Mark with ice cream and cake.
"You share Daddy?" Jacob asked keeping his eye on Mark's food.
"You bet buddy."
The two of them sat and ate while I changed Kyle. When we were finished, we decided to go to the park by the lake for a visit.
Mark and Jacob climbed up to the top of the lighthouse at the park. I stayed in the car with Kyle as he was napping. Jacob yelled for me from the top of the lighthouse and waved his arms so I could see him.
When they came down, he had the biggest smile on his face. He climbed in the car and we headed back home.
"Thank you Daddy," he said from the back seat on the way home.
"For what buddy?"
"For the bestest day."
"You're welcome," Mark said with a smile.
"Daddy, I just love you," Jacob said with a big yawn.
"I love you too buddy."
We got home and Jacob stayed up to play with his new game for a little while. Then he climbed up on the couch by Mark and laid next to him until they both fell asleep.
I looked over at the two of them, before nudging Mark up to help me get Jacob to bed, and I just smiled thinking of how much that little boy loves his Daddy and how he tries so hard to be just like him. It's so sweet to watch that from the outside looking in, I can only imagine how it feels for Mark, being inside moments like that.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
The 4 Hour Nap
As the school year has drawn closer and closer, I have decided, like many parents out there, to begin early bedtimes and early morning routines.
Today, it backfired.
I sent the boys to bed at 8:30 last night. I knew they would be up early but that was o.k - we had to head off for the babysitter's house early anyway.
Jacob woke up promptly at 7:30 a.m. and headed straight for his brother's room. After the disappointing news that his brothers would not be going to the babysitter's house, Jacob began his crying and pouting. It's really a heartbreaking thing to see...
I dropped him off at the babysitter's house and he informed me he was tired. I told him it was o.k if he took a little bit of a nap in the morning if he was that sleepy and if it would help him feel better about his brothers.
I finished work and headed to the sitter's house sometime around 5:00 p.m. When I got there, she informed me that he fell asleep after lunch time, around 12:30 and slept until 4:30!! 4 HOURS!! Knowing it wasn't really her fault, I simply expressed in the future, I would really like to try everything to avoid this, but figured it would be a long night.
After a few hours of playing, it's now almost 10:30 and Jacob just informed me that maybe he might be getting tired, but "probably not yet". He has filled me in on all the crazy things a 4 year old loves. When I told him it was time for his "bedtime business" he told me "You rock, missy". I think he has truly entered "Loopyville" but yet, he's just not ready for bed. He has informed me of every fart he has let loose tonight because he finds them to be the funniest things, he has told me that he had to go poopy because "poopin' is cool". Then he danced around in his underwear because "me likes to be UNDY-BOY".
Did I mention today is my birthday? For my birthday today, I have enjoyed a free night of entertainment all because of a 4 hour nap.
Tomorrow, I'll be tired, but that's o.k. I know that Jacob will nap for me!
Today, it backfired.
I sent the boys to bed at 8:30 last night. I knew they would be up early but that was o.k - we had to head off for the babysitter's house early anyway.
Jacob woke up promptly at 7:30 a.m. and headed straight for his brother's room. After the disappointing news that his brothers would not be going to the babysitter's house, Jacob began his crying and pouting. It's really a heartbreaking thing to see...
I dropped him off at the babysitter's house and he informed me he was tired. I told him it was o.k if he took a little bit of a nap in the morning if he was that sleepy and if it would help him feel better about his brothers.
I finished work and headed to the sitter's house sometime around 5:00 p.m. When I got there, she informed me that he fell asleep after lunch time, around 12:30 and slept until 4:30!! 4 HOURS!! Knowing it wasn't really her fault, I simply expressed in the future, I would really like to try everything to avoid this, but figured it would be a long night.
After a few hours of playing, it's now almost 10:30 and Jacob just informed me that maybe he might be getting tired, but "probably not yet". He has filled me in on all the crazy things a 4 year old loves. When I told him it was time for his "bedtime business" he told me "You rock, missy". I think he has truly entered "Loopyville" but yet, he's just not ready for bed. He has informed me of every fart he has let loose tonight because he finds them to be the funniest things, he has told me that he had to go poopy because "poopin' is cool". Then he danced around in his underwear because "me likes to be UNDY-BOY".
Did I mention today is my birthday? For my birthday today, I have enjoyed a free night of entertainment all because of a 4 hour nap.
Tomorrow, I'll be tired, but that's o.k. I know that Jacob will nap for me!
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