Before you tell me what a bad mom I am...

Let me explain this:

First of all, I think it's hilarious. Look at Sam. He looks so tiny next to Ethan. lol

The truth is, I sorta staged this picture. On Thursdays, I go to Weight Watchers and this is Ethan's Wii day with Daddy. (Well, Wii hour and a half because that's about how long I'm gone for... one glorious scream-free hour and a half)... When I got home, Ethan was fully into Super Mario Kart Double Dash, so I decided to let him play a little longer. It's my suspicion that when Daddy's home Ethan doesn't REALLY get much playing time. So, there he was playing and there I was trying to calm Sam down when I remembered how much Sam loves being around Ethan. Truly, whenever Ethan enters the room and says one word to Sam, his whole face lights up. It's gotten to the point where it's making Sophia angry that Ethan always gets the smiles from their baby brother and in her mind, she never does.

Anyway, Sam was totally content once I set him down there - not for a real long time, but for a few minutes and I knew I needed to get a picture because it really does make me smile.

Oh, and for the record... Ethan hasn't played the Wii since, but he's greatly looking forward to Thursday morning! :)

I am not a big fan of video games. When we first got the dumb Wii, we made the mistake of letting Ethan's fervor for the games win over our best judgment. This cartoon really hit home around here...

We quickly noticed it was all Ethan wanted to do and bought him about four puzzles and forced him to go outside for some fresh air and dirt. (Ok, not really, it's been a very cold winter and we've all been cooped up for too long.) Both Ethan and Sophia just understand computers and games and technology without having anything explained to them. I'm sure it's the same in your house - it's second nature these days.

Anyway, I thought this moment was a cute one, in spite of my hatred for the games. Now we give him an allotted amount of time on Thursday and that's about it unless we're all playing as a family. It works for us.

Still, I don't suppose my telling you that Ethan has been wearing the same pants for three days would support my case that I'm not a bad mom, would it? I have to admit the fact that this means less laundry for me has crossed my mind... the truth is, he has developed this sort of independent streak and I actually think it's important for him because he's been up until this point a little bit, shall we say... wimpy? He has. I confess. I may have babied him a bit too much. Anyway, with this new found desire to dress himself comes a few battles that in my mind aren't worth fighting. So he gets out of the bath and puts on the same pants he wore yesterday... who am I to critcize?

Okay, today's bath will be a good chance for me to snatch the pants and put them in the wash before he even knows it. I'll definitely be doing that!

Anyway, Sophia is doing her SATs this week, which is why our get away has been postponed. We decided to go to Indianapolis. After much thought and a brief infatuation with the idea of driving 16 hours to find an ocean, we decided this year, a closer get away was a better idea. We're still going to be in the car for four hours, but our plan is to stay at a really cool fun hotel and take the kids to the Indianapolis Children's Museum and the Indianapolis Zoo (where, I read, you can actually swim with the dolphins. It's the only place in the Midwest you can do that. I don't know if I have the courage, but I really want to touch one!) :)

We're going later this month. Adam asked me what I wanted to do on vacation. We were planning so much according to what the kids would like, and I didn't really have an answer for him. The truth is, I guess I would want a little alone time. Yesterday when I was in the bathroom carrying on a conversation with Ethan who was on the other side of the door and refusing to wait until I was finished, it occurred to me I might not get enough of that. I don't think I'll get it on this trip, but maybe down the road. :)

Anyway, later this week I'm going to do a really COOL giveaway. I will probably be doing more because I'm setting up my new scrapbook room after the terrible news that we can't finish the basement for a year - they want to make sure they fix all the water problems and advised us to skip the finishing until after they were done. Wise move, I know. So, we're setting everything up in one of our front rooms. At the moment, it's a mess and maybe tomorrow I"ll have the energy to post about the grand fiasco of buying a new cabinet at Lowe's, but in the mean time, I am trying to get organized - purging the old things I know I can't use anymore and making room for everything.

I hope your week is going well! :)

Comments

[Michelle Tabb]

You're not a bad mom at all! Love this picture. Their heads look the same too.

And the pants thing, one of my twins (six yrs.) comes home everyday from school and puts on the very same pajamas every single day. I have to wash them when he's at school which truthfully only happens 2-3 times a week.

May the Lord bless you this week!

[Michelle Tabb]

I forgot to add you will have a fabulous time in Indianapolis. We went this last summer (we're from Nashville) and had the best time. We didn't get to swim with the dolphins though.

[Shaun]

Courtney, You are not a bad mom for letting Ethan play video games or for wearing the same pants for days on end. We too limit the amount of time on computers and video games. The kids only get an hour a day on the computer unless it is for homework. No video games on school days if the weather is nice enough to play outdoors. If not, they only get an hour. No TV on week days. And on Sunday, no TV and or technology of any sort. I must admit that I have noticed the kids eye/hand coordination is pretty good which I can only attest to the video games. Patrick's was already good from the violin.
Ok, now to swimming with the dolphins. YOU MUST DO IT!!! I swam with wild dolphins in the Florida Keys about 20 years ago and next to giving birth, it was the most amazing experience of my life. The are so gentle. I hate the ocean and yet I was not afraid with them at all. I cannot wait to get my daughter some place where we can swim with them. We saw them last week in Hilton Head but swimming with them is the best. Ok, enough rambling. Good night.
Shaun

[Cyndi Hoehn]

You might take a young teen girl from church with you to watch the kids for 2 hours while you and Adam go out by yourselves. I did that for my high school math teacher a couple of times. She even took me to watch the boys on their Florida vacation one summer. It was fun for me (and I think the boys, too) Only problem is dumb hotels don't really like to sleep more than 4 people in one room. I'm so sick of living in a family-of-four world! just an idea anyway. . .
You're not a bad Mom - you're a great Mom! You are recording all of these memories for your family. That picture is ADORABLE! Your boys will love that picture one day. . . and the pants HA! Peyton would wear the same clothes for 2 weeks if I'd let him (in the summer I let him get by with it)
Can't wait for the giveaway!!! YAY!!!

[Dawn (rn4jchrist)]

~hahaha Courtney! I can totally relate! My 5yr old love the Wii, especially bowling..lol
~The musuem and zoo trips sound fun! have a great time!
~We were supposed to be in Disney World next week, but the hotels are all booked... Hubby asked if I wanted to go somewhere alone! I was like jumping at the thought... I too need to get refreshed and inspired..
~sorry about your basement, but Yay for organizing!
~(I started WW a few weeks ago, but not online or meetings... and I'm not doing THAT great... I so lack discipline.. but I have managed to keep 3lbs off in a month)
Hugs & Blessings!

[Jana]

I laughed when I saw this picture... It's a great pic and I don't think it shows you are a bad mother but a good mom - cause your boys like each other enough to play to together... I bet a lot of parents wish they had that!

Have a great time in Indy!!

[amy]

cute picture, courtney...sam sounds adorable...i hope you can plan more "alone" time in the future...i think most moms don't get enough personal time to rest, relax, be creative, etc. without interruptions...i haven't made this enough of a priority in my own weeks...i know it's healthy...have a wonderful week ahead!

[Sandi]

I just read the recent Memory Makers magazine and got a kick out of your layout with Brother Rice in it.
I am a graduate of Mother McAuley(right next to Brother Rice). I saw the layout and thought hey I know all those places!

Keep up the great work ....you are so NOT a bad mom!
Sandi