Teig is two..still

Tonight Teig told me that sometimes I hurt his feelings when I tell him to go to bed and he says no. When I asked him more about it, I realized that he was telling me that he did not want to feel like he was a "bad Teigy". My heart just melted. He puts up such a huge fight about so many things. It was sweet to see him try to explain that he did not want to be "bad Teigy", he just did not want to
go to bed. I wish I could be more lenient with him about things. I just don't see how we can drive without him in his carseat, or get out of the tub with soap in his hair, or let him throw his toys, or stay up all night. He wants so desperately to be a big boy like his brothers. It makes him crazy mad if they leave for school without kissing him goodbye. He hates naps because he wants to be big so bad. He really is a sweetie. His latest manipulation is to say, "I just want you to hold me mommy." even if he is conning me, how can I say no? Please Lord, bless me with patience. He is only 2 for a few more months. Help me be good and kind to him!

Spring weekend

What a fun weekend! On Friday morning we learned we had a buyer for our fish tank. It is a bittersweat moment indeed. I will admit it is a huge relief to me. A woman is coming in two days to buy it as a whole including all of the equipment. We will miss its beauty, but we decided to use the money from the sale to buy a 1968 Ford Truck! 
Paul had Friday off. We spent the glorious morning cutting the grass and weeding. It was a gorgeous day with blossoms in every shade and life bursting all around. The fresh cut grass shaved from its 7" of spring lushness mixed with the sensational fragrance from the lily if the valley was almost euphoric. After lunch and in between business calls and Teigs turbulent tantrums we stole a few precious moments sunbathing on the back porch. This is how I will remember Michigan springs. Abundant in life and rich in quality.

 

On Friday night Paul loaded E and J and two of their friends in the van for the father son campout. they went off to do manly things they do like practice archery, throw their new homemade knives, start fires and roast starbursts, run around with flashlights until the wee hours of the night and finally to sleep in our new spacious 10 man tent. Paul said they were right near a rock festival and the airport so the sleeping was slim to none, but Eirik came home the next morning with the biggest smile on his face of all time.
Friday night was a little weird for me. A week earlier I asked 5 girls if they wanted to come over for a girls night. I only heard back from one of them and she couldn't come so I was feeling a bit lonely. Teig was awful company. For every one moment he is deliciously cute there are 10 where I want to flee from his presence. I made popcorn and watched tinker bell with him; his choice, and then struggled to finally get him to submit to sleep at 9:00. Then I watched movies until I fell asleep. Mercifully Teig slept in. His brothers weren't here to wake him early so he slept until 9:00. I handed him the iPhone and slept until 10!! I didn't tell Paul. It's not really fair after he slept in a tent, but I don't feel too bad. I let him sleep in whenever he can.
When the boys rolled in with slurpies at 11, we all got in the car and headed to a birthday party at an arcade. The kids bragged about going canoeing that morning and playing laser tag, go -carts and bouncy house all in one day. On the way home from the birthday party Paul stopped at Bob Jo's custard shop, apparently a legendary downriver stop. It's been around since 1947 and we all got giant cones. The boys all gorged themselves so we got to skip dinner completely.
Tonight was sort of a big night for us. Teig fell asleep on our way home and Paula and I told E and J to go up and put themselves to bed. They did!!! For the first time ever without having a babysitter, we skipped bed time routine. Weird, and nice.
We only have three more Sundays in our ward.We loved having the Davis boys sleep over a few nights. They all found baby bunnies in our front yard.  Last year when they slept over we found a giant bullfrog so I am glad this year did not disappoint.

Teig's journal May 8th-2 1/2 years old

I wike Wiwy (Lily) He is my fwavworite. And I wike Charlie and Daniel Eirik Joren and mommy and daddy. I pway wif tor and Juni. Juni is my best fwriend. No he is not bigger yet. (Teig says he for all girls still.)
What are your favorite things to do?
Pway wif my toys. I can do wots of fings. I wove aw my stuff. I have dominoes. All my fings are mine and I can't share. They are all the fings I need to play. There's red and green and blue and purple, no there's not purple. Dis is my backpack. Johnny brought it for me. I wove my going going coins. ( gold coins). I put vem in my safe.
I will tew you a stowy bout a dagon! (dragon). Once pon a time ver was a berry scary Dagon. He had sharp cwaws, sharp teef, sharp eyes and a sharp forehead. He went wike zis.. Roar! Ven I ride on his back. Ve end.

May!

The glorious first week of May has finally arrived.  After a lengthy, deep latency, the world is awakening once again.  For years I have referred to it as hibernation because I feel like I am suddenly rubbing a deep sleep from my eyes.  We spent the weekend in the new sunshine running the garage sale, then a glorious Sunday on the back porch just enjoying the sun.  Last night for family home evening we had a hot dog roast and the boys got to collect the firewood for the campfire.  The magnolia trees are out in their glory and the yard is full of giant tulips and daffodils.  The field of lily of the valley is becoming lush around the pond.  The boys took off all of their clothes on Sunday and dipped their legs in the water enjoying the freedom of warmth.  For months it's as if we have been just surviving and now suddenly we are living.  I piled the plates full of vegetables and fruit yesterday on the back porch.  It is glorious.  When so many months separate the late summer from the spring you almost forget how wonderful it is.. almost.  But I remembered well enough that in anticipation I worked really hard during the cold weeks of spring so that now that May has arrived, I can slow down and enjoy it a bit more.