Bullies

Lately Jackson and Jacob have been interacting more with their peers. Not just my friends kids but strangers at parks and indoor playgrounds etc. I've found that my kids tend to get picked on.

They tend to get hit, have toys taken, pushed etc. I'm not sure what to do about it. I've done the "well, you'll have to find something else to play with" and the "some kids are not nice, I'm sorry honey" and then I've decided that when my kids come up to me and tell me they've been hurt or had something taken they are asking me to make it right, to protect them and I'm just not sure how to do that.

Usually the parents of these "not nice children" aren't really easy to converse with, telling my kids to hit back isn't appropriate. But, I need to respond. I want my kids to know that their father and I will not tolerate them being bullied but I need to figure out what "not tolerate" will look like. I need my children to know they can come to me and set the expectation that we will create as safe of an environment for them as we can...Any ideas out there?

Ghetto Garden

This year the kids and I have quite the "Ghetto Garden", although Ben says that since it does not contain milk crates we should refer to it as something else, such as "whimsical gardening". Semantics aside - we've got quite the little improv garden going.

This year we're growing tomatos in three NEON colored toy buckets with holes drilled in them. Sweet 100 is growing in day-glo pink, mojo is in orange and the romas are in orange as well. Basil and chili peppers are in recycled black plant tubs, cucumber is in a blue rubermaid tub, sans lid and our zuchinni are lounging in tow baby/kiddie swimming pools. The sweet snap peas and strawberries are hanging out in their own pool with some pretty fancy (i.e., cheap) twine strung between two stakes to help them grow.

My crowning achievement however is my pumpkin patch. Using cheap bamboo stakes I rigged two pieces lattice together to form the sides of my "raised bed" and because I didn't have quite enough lattice on the ends I shoved one potted plant on each end to contain the dirt. My neighbors must look over their fence and just hang their heads...

I'll post pics soon :-)

Today

There are some things that I never want to forget -

The feeling of holding Jacob in my arms at church and having him fall asleep. His little baby mouth open slightly and those long dark lashes on his cheeks.

Jacob pointing in delight at Elmo on the stage at Sesame Street Live.

Jackson eating chocolate frosting on a spoon with me at 10:45 at night while we watch Nemo.

Checking on Jacob before I go to bed. Covering him with a blanket and he opens his eyes, sees me, sighs and closes them again.

Jackson's little feet pressed against my leg while he sleeps after he's crawled into bed with me.

I know these days will pass quickly and I want so much to hold each memory close to my heart, commit it to all of my senses so that I never forget the sound, the smell, the touch and the overwhelming love.