My Real Life

September 14, 2010

Sleepless in New Jersey

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:49 am
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The past two nights, the boys have been involved in a conspiracy to not let their Mama sleep.

Sunday night, Monkey in the Middle came downstairs to our room around 4 am, terrified by the sound of the gently falling rain.

I never got back to sleep.

Last night, I awoke to the sound of Baby Monkey screaming my name at 2:00 am.

“Mama! Mama!”

Certain that he was in the midst of a horrifying nightmare, I raced upstairs.

His covers had fallen down.

Not fallen off the bed.

Just fallen down so that he wasn’t covered anymore.

And, God forbid he pull them up himself.

That was the end of that for sleep for me.

At first, I try to fall back asleep.

Then, I give up the fight and turn on the television.

So, I’ve got my game face on and am ready to face another day.

And if anyone wakes me up tonight.

God help them.

September 12, 2010

Football Daze

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:13 pm
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Monkey in the Middle had his first football game on Saturday.

Oh, how I love to watch that little boy.

He’s in the stance and ready to go!

So adorable, right?

I mean…what a macho football player.

So in love with that little boy.

Oh, and with this little girl, who could have cared less about what was happening on the field.

Instead, she spent all of her time with her best bud on the swing.

Swinging?

Yes.

Playing and talking?

No.

Doing what they do best.

September 11, 2010

How We Remember

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:27 am
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September 11.

You can’t help but wake up with a small unease in the pit of your stomach on September 11.

It’s hard not to be a bit on edge and perhaps tune into the news a bit more often than usual on September 11.

The hugs last a little longer, and the goodbyes take a few minutes more on September 11.

So, how do we move on?

Should we move on?

A friend of mine, from high school, Joey (he goes by Joseph now) Daniels, is the President of the 9/11 memorial in NYC.

They’ve been working tirelessly for 9 years to create a memorial that will help us remember and make us feel strong and proud again.

Personally, I think they are doing a great job, and think that the finished product might be able to give us all a bit of the healing that we all so desperately reach for on this day.

Take a peek at this interview and show of the plans and see for yourself.

And hug your loved ones just a little tighter.

And don’t miss a chance to let them know how much you love them.

September 9, 2010

Days End

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 8:31 am
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My snuggle monkey.

End of the day, both of us exhausted.

He snuggles up.

Rests his head on my hip.

Quiet “I love you, Mama…so much.”

Perfect end to any day.

September 7, 2010

First Day

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 2:34 pm
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Big day today.

First day for Monkey Girl to go to 4th grade.

First day for Monkey in the Middle to start 1st grade.

Baby Monkey doesn’t actually start Pre-K for another week, but he was definitely caught up in the “First Day” excitement.

First day for me to go back to the classroom after a 2 year stint in a different position.

Monkey Girl got up at 5:45 and took a shower.

She took a shower before going to bed last night.

She rocks my world.

The boys were up and raring to go, as well.

So far, I can only report on my first day, which went well.

I loved being around kids again and am excited for all that I have planned for the year.

Or at least the part of the year I’ll be there.

I am absolutely chomping at the bit to see the monkeys.

I am sure their days were fantastic, but I missed them all day long and can’t wait to hug them and kiss them and cuddle them and hear all about it.

Okay, let’s be honest.

I’ll hear all about Monkey Girl’s day.

The boys will say their days were “fine” and that will be the end of that.

Can’t wait.

There is something so magical about the first day of school.

It holds such promise.

No one is a failure on the first day of school.

No one has disappointed anyone, and the possibilities for success are endless.

Everything is bright and new and exciting.

Especially these three.

September 3, 2010

End of Summer

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 4:29 pm
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The end of summer just kinda snuck up on me.

I had big plans for this summer.

I wanted to get the kids to the pool every day.

I wanted to take them on day trips to Sesame Place and Hershey Park and Great Adventure.

I had big plans.

Then, the morning sickness hit, and I get the all day kind, and while I am never going to complain about being sick while a miracle is happening inside me, and I do mean a true miracle, it meant that the majority of the summer plans were sacked.

My kids spent the summer listening to their Mom tossing her cookies at the slightest smell or even thought of something remotely gross.

Or even not really gross, but enough to push my tender tummy over the edge.

But you know what?

They didn’t complain.

Not once.

They made the best of what they were handed.

They played in the sprinkler.

They used the hose to “wash the van” more times than I can count.

They swung on the swingset.

They put on plays and made forts and did dances.

They created indoor picnics.

They didn’t even seem to notice that they weren’t having the same summer as everyone else.

They just lived and enjoyed life and were totally enthusiastic about every day.

I can’t even begin to explain to you how much I love these children and how very grateful I am, every single day of my life, that they are mine.

September 1, 2010

We’re Gonna Need Another Contest…

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:28 pm
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This time, we’re gonna need to have another contest to rename my boy monkeys.

Why?

Well, Monkey in the Middle won’t be in the middle and Baby Monkey won’t be the baby in the house, come March.

What’s that?

Oh, yes, you read that right.

We’re expecting!

We’re surprised and we’re thrilled!

No worries…this isn’t going to turn into a pregnancy blog.

The monkeys keep me way too busy to not write about them!

However, as we approach March 8, we’ll need your creativity to help me rename the boys!

August 30, 2010

Discomfort

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:29 am
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You know how people have a “tell” when they are uncomfortable?

Some people tug on their ear.

Others may look off to the right.

Others even shuffle their feet.

Baby Monkey?

He stands like this:

Now, to be clear, he also stands like this when he is telling you something he thinks is either very important or very crazy, but this is the stance of discomfort with Baby Monkey.

For example, at the park the other day, a little boy came up to him and started asking him questions.

However, the little boy spoke very quickly and not very well.

It was difficult to understand him, but Baby Monkey didn’t want to be rude.

So, he just put his hands on his hips and looked off to the side and just nodded his head.

At a store when someone comes up and says “Oh!  Look at the sweet little boy!” the hands go on the hips, the stare goes off to the side and there he is.

It’s actually pretty darn cute and one of my favorite things about him.

He doesn’t run.

He doesn’t hide.

He doesn’t cry.

He puts his hands on his hips, as if to say “I don’t like this, but I’m not backing down either.”

Or, perhaps he’s saying “You talkin’ to me?  You talkin’ to ME?”

Either way,

It’s cute.

August 29, 2010

This Guy

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 8:32 am
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Baby Monkey.

I don’t really even know what to say about him.

He melts my heart.

He’s so different from his brother and sister.

They need to play with someone.

Not him.

Last night, the big monkeys were in the basement, playing Wii Fit Plus for over an hour.

I peeked over the edge to see how they were doing and I realized that Baby Monkey wasn’t with them.

So, I snuck up to his room and found this:

Just happily playing with his trucks and cars.

Chatting to himself.

Happy.

And yet, as happy as he is to be playing alone for hours, he’s a huge love monkey.

He’s the first one to shout out a random “I love you, Mama!” from anywhere in the house.

He shares, he hugs, he is always, always kind.

This guy….

…is something special.

August 28, 2010

At the Movies

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 3:17 pm
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My Mom and I took the kids to see Nanny McPhee yesterday.

My boys have a bit of a “snack routine” at the movies.

Baby Monkey doesn’t like popcorn, so he gets Twizzlers.

He loves Twizzlers.

I don’t mean, like, he enjoys Twizzlers.

I mean, like, he seriously LOVES Twizzlers.

However, he also seriously LOVES his brother.

So, Baby Monkey gets Twizzlers.

Monkey in the Middle gets the kids combo which is some popcorn, a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup and a small drink.

They sit next to each other, put the Twizzlers between them so they can share, and put the drink between them, so they can share that.

Monkey Girl winds up getting all of her food/drink to herself.

Not sure how she worked out that gig, but she did.

Anyway, it is tres cute, and I love the sharing.

Oh, and the movie?

Tearjerker.

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