Good Day,Sunshine...Dum de dum...

What a great day. Really. I just sat this evening and let myself be happy about this fact for awhile. It was preceeded by a horrible night of naughty getting-out-of bed (Bode--he NEVER does this and i was already short-tempered since Doug is out-of-town). Once he finally settled in, Keegen decided he was up. Anyway. At 10 o'clock last night, after I got my frustration out by scrubbing the kitchen floor (while Bode was screaming in his room), I realized i had totally blown my plans for that day. I had intended to make cupcakes with him and get little gift baggies together to take to his classmates at school to celebrate his birthday (my baby turns 3--THREE--on Sunday). And I completely FORGOT. I even had it written in my planner, but did i consult my planner? So in my first-time-in-a-long-time sparkling-clean kitchen i made to-die-for cupcakes (the pumpkin with chocolate chips for the initiated).

Today was a day where i wish i could remember everything that came out of Bode's mouth because he just kept saying the darnedest things. Bode climbed in bed with me at 0430 but thankfully slept til 7. We started our day by frosting and decorating the cupcakes (decorating is a stretch--i let him shake sprinkles on them. i told him to shake it softly on them and he said, "i want to shake it hard" so we had LOTS of sprinkles on some). Then we stuffed little party bags with fun favors--a mini-Slinky, bouncy ball, pencil with a fun eraser topper, a siren whistle and a Dum-Dum. He really enjoyed filling the bags and when we talked about giving them to his classmates he kept saying, "They'll be so 'cited." I love that Bode-phrase.

We were finally on our way to school and i dropped off the treats/snack. When his teacher took the cupcakes from me, she looked at Bode and said, "Do we get to have cupcakes for your birthday?" He said, "Those are for later." He DOES listen to me!

He had a great day at school. Participated well, he even joined in on the painting. When i asked him what he painted he told me a "grasshopper-crocodile." Where do they get this stuff? I'm told the kids sang "Happy Birthday to You" to him and he just stood and didn't smile and kind of looked around (i can totally see exactly what he looked like in my mind). The cupcakes were a hit (as if that was a concern!). I went a few minutes early to help him distribute the gift bags in the cubbies and it was really very sweet. He was really pumped about giving the kids these 'prises (surprises) and kept commenting how 'cited they'd be and how much fun they'll have with them. We were still there when a few kids found the bags in their cubbies and had a couple really really cute "thank-you/you're welcome" exchanges. So adorable when two 3-year olds talk to each other so sweetly and when you see how excited they really were for their treats. I think Bode felt really good and happy about the whole day.

We finally pulled ourselves away and got in the van to drive home. That's where Bode's treat bag was waiting for him. I gave it to him and as he excitedly opened it up to pull things out he exclaimed, "I can't believe it, Mom!" As if he had never before seen those things.

We got home and had lunch followed by a nap for Keegen and quiet-time for Bode. Quiet-time has recently become trash-your-room time, which angers me to no end. But he wasn't too bad today. Afterwards, he went across the street to our new neighbors for a playdate and i had an hour to myself while Keegen slept! Unexpected but very welcome! After the playdate, I strapped Bode's snowboots on and put Keegs in the Bjorn and we trekked to the mailbox. Bode jumped with glee in the puddles from the snow runoff and ran through the remaining piles of snow and ice. He got wet and cold and was completely unphased! We then went to our neighbors a few doors down and gave them their Christmas gift (a Chuck-it to throw balls to their dogs--we missed them before they went out of town for the holiday). Our neighbor thought it was great, Bode willingly handed it over to her and we happily went home.

We hung out outside the house for a few minutes on our own mounds o' snow. I ran inside to get the camera. Literally ran inside the front door and came out no more than 8 seconds later through the garage with the camera. No Bode. Nowhere in sight. Total PANIC. I yelled his name and ran back and forth the front yard. My next-door neighbor yelled to me that he wasn't in the back. I kept running back and forth yelling his name. Is that all the time it takes to snatch a child? How could I be so stupid and careless? I saw a van turn down the street and memorized the plate number (611-KAD) and finally realized i needed to get a grip and stop and collect my wits. Where could he have gone so quickly? In a blessed moment of clarity, I realized he could have gone inside the house after me. I opened the door and yelled his name and sure enough, there he was. Relief. He said to me, "Mommy, what did i do?" He no doubt caught how panicked and wrapped-tight i was. I took a breath, crouched down to his level and said, "You didn't do anything wrong. I did" and gave him a big hug. Aaaaack. (this was NOT a part of said "great day." it was, however, fantastic to find him!).

It was only then, at 5PM, that the TV went on and Bode watched Dora before dinner. 5PM. It's been a LONG time since that's happened. We've had a lot of fights over the TV and i even put it away for over a month a few months ago and as far as Bode was aware, we didn't have a TV. So anyway, 5PM is serious victory.

Doug called a little later before the boys went to bed. He'd just left my sister's house after having dinner and hanging out (i'm totally jealous). Bode is not a fan of talking on the phone. "No thanks" is the response i get whenever i ask if he wants to talk to you-name-it. Doesn't matter if it's Grandma Di, Aunt Erin, Santa Claus or Dad. Not interested. Got the same response tonight but a little later i put the phone up to his ear and he willingly carried on a conversation with Doug, filling him in on his day, answering Yes/No questions; etc. It was great. Keegen joined in with lots of his own "talking."

Both boys are in bed. Bode put up zero-fight, zero-naughtiness, straight to sleep. He had to be exhausted. This was the busiest day he's had in a very long time.

I feel a little bad that i don't have a picture to share of Keegen from today. He rode in the Bjorn much of the day and i never considered the option of reaching around and snapping a self-portrait of sorts. Sorry kiddo. Here's one from a few days ago of you and your cute 'do.

I realized today was a great day for me, personally, because i not only had positive interactions with my boys (we still had the usual threats and having to count to 3 and i think one timeout? but all in all not too bad on that end either), but i had interactions with neighbors and friends and teachers and felt like a part of my community. I went out to get a hot chocolate at a coffee shop near the school this morning and ran into my friend's husband and son. I chatted with neighbors on our walk. I spent time getting to know my new neighbor better. It felt really good to feel connected again.