Some Cereal.

Dominic and Jordan wanted some cereal this morning. At first Dominic wanted Shredded Wheat, at least until Jordan asked for Kix. I gave them both Kix.
It was all good until a little while ago.
Dominic came to me and asked me "where's my shredded wheat?" When I told him he didn't have any shredded wheat he had kix, He got very upset. He asked again "where is my shredded wheat". When I told him he had Kix, he got very upset and said "I don't want Kix" and proceeded to dump his bowl of Kix (no milk) all over the floor. I looked at him and told him he was more then welcome to go get the vacuum and clean his mess up. He looked at me and said "Fine, I will get the vacuum and clean the mess up." He stomped his little feet all the way to get it. He cleaned the Kix up -- yelling anytime Jordan got one and ate it (which was hilarious since he didn't want them). When he was all done, he comes to me with his empty bowl in hand and says: "Mommy, can I please have some shredded wheat please?"

A Penny

About 2-3 weeks ago the radio on my van decided to stop working. It didn't go silent, it was loud static and just out of one speaker. When I turned the radio off the static was louder, so we pulled the fuse. No problem. The kids at first weren't too happy with the no music thing but they have gotten used to it.

Last week we started having issues with the car alarm going off. It was hit or miss at first. Once in the middle of the night. Then as we were walking into the store to do some shopping for school supplies, the alarm went off. We reset it and didn't think anything of it. Once we got in the store and the doors opened again, we heard the alarm going off again. Mike went out to see what was up. While he was out, the alarm went off several more times. He finally just left it unlocked. We didn't have any more problems from it that day.

The next morning the alarm went off at 6 AM (Good morning!) -- it continued to go off through out the day. Mike left work for a little bit to take to our mechanic to see if they could tell us what was wrong. They told us we would have to take it to the Dealership. We finally pulled the relay for the horn. At least we wouldn't have the noise.

Yesterday when I went to get in the van to take Mike and the boys dinner, my van wouldn't start. I called a friend to come and give me a jump. Thankfully it started for me so I could take Constance to school this morning. When Mike got home this morning he took it to the dealership to see what we could find out.

He called me and told me they found a penny welded to the circuit board. I asked Jordan if he put a penny in where we put music. He told me "yes mommy and I can't get it out". I told him that was why we didn't have music in the van. He looked at me and told me "sorry".

I just have to shake my head and laugh. Who knew a penny could cause so many problems.

We are still waiting to see if the alarm is linked to the same issue.

Where do they come up with this?

Sometimes I have to hide my laughter from the boys. I don't want to encourage them in some areas.

To Share or Not to Share
I gave Dominic a couple marshmallows for him and a couple to give to Jordan. You have to understand. Dominic always looks out for Jordan. I can't give him anything without him asking for Jordan to have some too. Anyway, I gave him the marshmallows and He went in the other room. A few minutes later here comes Jordan asking for some marshmallows. I asked Dominic where the marshmallows were. He opens his mouth to show me. I guess even he has his limits. I personally gave Jordan a few marshmallows.

One morning I told the boys they needed to get of our bed. Jordan just lays there. I ask Jordan to please get off our bed. He tells me "I'm not Jordan." OK, then who are you?. His response: "I'm Daddy."

No Fear
I about had a heart attack one morning when I walked into the living room and found my 2 year old standing on the arm of the couch.

I love the thoughtfulness of my boys. I was making bread sticks. Jordan kept sneaking dough. He then told me he was "helping me" by eating it. I guess in a round about way that is true. It is that much less I have to make into bread sticks.

Not Quite There
Dominic and his idea of potty training -- coming in after he has filled his diaper (maybe with it still on -- if you are lucky) and then stands by the potty for 2 seconds and says he is done and flushes the toilet.

Some things just aren't worth the fight!
I was trying to get the kids ready for church (Mike wasn't home). Dominic decided to help me by putting on his beautiful green rain boots and his hat. When I tried to change his shoes, he started to throw a massive fit. I decided that it just wasn't worth the fight and let him wear the boots (at least he didn't fight me on the pants and shirt). I did make him leave his hat in the car.

Who Knew?
Jordan informed me one day that he wasn't feeling well and asked me for some popcorn. He then told me "it will make me feel better." I never knew popcorn had medicinal purposes.

It is pretty sad when you have a King size bed and you end up sleeping on the foot of your own bed. My boys have been having a hard time sleeping. One night they both climbed in bed with me and they both had to be right next to me. I finally ended up moving to the foot of the bed so I could hopefully get a least a little sleep.

Sometimes I Wonder
I loaded the kids in the van one day to come home. Next thing I know I hear Constance tell Jordan to give her her seat belt. I look back and see that Jordan has taken her seat belt and pulled it back to buckle in his buckle.


Jordan informed me one morning he doesn't have hair -- he has fuzz. It told him he does have hair it is just really short. He then informed me he has a ponytail -- it's just hiding.

I ended up having my exercise cut short one morning because a fire truck showed up at the Y to do Pre-plans. Jordan was so sure there was a fire -- they had to come and get me from my class.

We have had fun with doors lately too. The boys take turns trying to lock the other in their room. We had turned the locks around so the boys couldn't lock us out of their room anymore (was becoming a common occurrence).

Jordan decided he was going to help me get clean. Never mind that I was fully dressed. He proceeded to use a washcloth full of water. I was a little wet when he was done and he only had one chance.

Dominic likes to use his head as a weapon. He likes to headbutt me and while he is doing this he says: "I got you"

One day, while we were running errands, Jordan saw the yellow light and told me "go faster, yellow means we go faster." I don't know where he is getting his information.

The boys were playing with Grandpa Sandstrom and some balloons. Jordan took Grandpa's balloon from him to tease him. On seeing this, Dominic gave Grandpa his balloon and grabbed the one no one was playing with.

Cicadas!

Take your pick ... every 13 years or every 17 years. They hang around for about 6 weeks or so. They are very loud and are everywhere.

They started to make their appearance in May. My kids loved them. Well, maybe not at first.

At first, they would love to play with them until they started to climb on them then they would freak out. The boys quickly learned how to catch them by their wings but if they started moving they would quickly drop them and scream. If they saw them on the tree trunks (which at times were covered) they would run up to it and all the cicadas would fly off.

One time Dominic had one he kept playing with. He kept putting it on his leg an then taking it off, putting it on and taking it off, etc. He kept getting a hold of one wing and then he would freak out when it started flapping around and then he would drop it. This went on for about 5-10 minutes. Finally he got tired of it and smooshed it. Then he pointed at it and said "poop".

On another day when the boys were playing with the Cicadas one flew away. Jordan was upset and he told me he didn't have wings to fly and catch them. I asked him why he didn't have wings and he informed me they were broken.

I Love to See the Temple

It isn't very often you get a chance to walk through one of the Temples. So in April when they had the Open House for the Atlanta Temple, after renovations/updating, we decided this was definitely a trip worth making. We took Constance out of school for the day and headed to Georgia. Grandma and Grandpa Sandstrom came with us -- which the kids loved.


Constance was so excited. She was getting the chance to see the temple Mike and I were married in. She loved all the beautiful flowers and gardens around the Temple.









Jordan informed me that we needed to buy some chandeliers like the ones in the Temple.


The weather was beautiful. We enjoyed walking around the grounds as well.

April at a glance.

Jordan was grabbing his hair and asked me what it was. I told him it was hair. he then asked me if I had any hair. I answered: "Yes I do" and I showed him. He then proceeded to tell me "I don't like hair".

Dominic woke up one morning with a beautiful bruise by his right eye. I guess that is what happens when you play instead of going to sleep?

Jordan informed me Heavenly Father was in time-out. I then realized that is why my boys are here -- so Heavenly Father can have a little peace.

Dominic took a tumble and I ended up having to kiss his leg, arm and head. He then proceeded to grab my hand and hit it on the chair and then kiss it better.

Jordan informed me he was hungry. Then he proceeds to take some cookies out of his pocket (his secret stash) and eat them.

Not long after I put the boys in bed, Dominic comes in my room crying and tattling on Jordan. When I put him back in bed he tells me I need to swat Jordan's bum.

Jordan is quite insistent that he has a yellow monster truck. The thing is he has never had one. Anyway, one day Jordan asked: "Where's my yellow monster truck?" Me: "You don't have a yellow monster truck. You've never had a yellow monster truck." Jordan: "Why? Did Nicnic break it?"

Dominic came and told me Jordan was swatting his bum. I told Jordan he wasn't the Mommy. Jordan's response: "I'm the Daddy!" I told him to keep his hands to himself.

Kids like to ask the same thing over and over. Jordan is no different. When he kept getting the same answer, He told me "You've already said that. My thoughts: Well if you would listen the first time I wouldn't have to keep saying it.

Tag Team

Thankfully this did not all happen in the same day. My boys were gracious enough to spread the joy out over the month of March.

Dominic came in our room one morning and informed us he needed to go potty. He proceeded to take his diaper off but he didn't go to the bathroom. I knew I should get up but I took too long. He stood still and peed on the floor. Then he went and got toilet paper and tried to clean it up -- it didn't quite work. I quickly jumped out of bed and went and got a towel before the mess could become worse.

Jordan climbed up onto the bathroom sink and got the drops (allergy) out of the medicine cabinet and proceeded to finish them off. Thankfully there were only a few drops left in them. A little later the same day he found the toothpaste and I found him with it all over his hands and face and body. I guess he figured it cleans more than just your teeth. The same day he went potty and came for his treat. I asked him if he was dry, to which he informed me he was. When I checked he wasn't so he got one treat for being a big boy. A few minutes later he was back asking for another treat because he went potty. When I checked he had changed his pull-up (it was on backwards).

Dominic and Jordan were playing on the old crib mattress. It was in the living room. Dominic decided to run and jump on it. Little did he know his two-year-old legs weren't quite up to the challenge. Instead of jumping up on it he tripped and hit his little head on the corner of my mirror hanging on the wall. He ended up with a big goose-egg and the corner of my mirror ended up with a crack. About an hour later as we were on the way to get Constance, he fell and scraped his knee as he was running to the car. As I was backing out, I ended up backing my van into Mike's truck (he had parked it in a different spot) -- it wasn't my day at all (no damage to Mike's truck, a ding to my bumper and my pride). Later that afternoon Nic ended up hitting the back of his head on the entertainment center. I was looking all over for the rewind button -- someone hid it from me.

Jordan peed on the floor ... He just got occupied with something and oops!

Dominic decided he would dump his cereal all over the floor -- several times.

When I went and put pants on him He threw a massive fit. They weren't the ones he wanted to wear. When I dropped him and his brother off at the nursery at exercise, Dominic threw another fit. Jordan's break-downs happened later in the afternoon.

I ended up cleaning poop off the carpet in the boys room ... don't know how it got there or I should say who left it there.

Constance come in one morning and asked me to come with her, she needed to show me something. I found that Dominic had clogged the toilet. After I sat there and plunged the toilet over and over and over with little success in clearing the clog I made a discovery ... Dominic had filled the toilet with wipes. I then ended up digging the wipes out which I had just pushed in further (thankfully the toilet water had been clean). Needless to say there was water all over the floor from their little playtime.

Busted ... the boys were supposed to be sleeping. Instead they were in their room playing "duck, duck, goose". They had their stuffed animals in the floor and were walking around them.

I had a good morning wake-up from my boys. They were both laughing and playing. I thought "how sweet!" Then I found out they were playing with the water from the fridge door. My kitchen floor was covered with water puddles (literally). I then thought ... "How sweet of them to volunteer!" and I handed them the towels to clean my kitchen floor.


Dominic was so excited. He came and grabbed my hand and took me to show me his beautiful artwork (crayons still in hand). He led me to my kitchen chair which was covered in crayon. Somehow coloring on paper got lost in translation. After I documented his beautiful artwork, I let my sweet little boy scrub his artwork for a while (until he got sidetracked by throwing the cloth in the air). It needed a little more elbow grease then he could give it.


My boys decided they would smoosh cheerios all over the floor instead of eating them. I decided they could clean them as well. They really didn't seem to mind running the vacuums at all. They actually had fun. I don't know if it will be much of a deterrent.


Jordan washed his hands and tried to flush the paper towels in the toilet.
He kept trying to run away instead of staying with us.
He kept turning the lights on and off.
He kept asking where a certain toy was. Sissy asked him where he put it. His response "uhhh ... I don't know."
Dominic walked around all day telling everyone "shhhhh".
Jordan also discovered he can stand up and aim while using the bathroom. Good Times!

There are some days I am thankful my motivation is there to go exercise. One morning all I heard from Jordan was "Mommy, you are tired."; "Mommy, you are sick."; "Mommy, Sissy's sick."; "Mommy, you can go to exercise tomorrow." As if this wasn't enough. He fought me the entire time I tried to get him dressed.

I love hearing the sweet voices of my boys at night saying "night mommy" and "love you mommy." when I am tucking them in bed.

Jordan informed me his truck was too little to drive and we needed to get him a bigger truck. I guess a toy truck isn't enough anymore?!?

We took our kids to the Aquarium this month. They loved it. This is the first time Dominic has been excited about it. He was so funny to watch. We got to watch the divers feed the fish. The boys just stood there mesmerized by it. Constance was jealous. She wanted to be in with the fish. The boys fell asleep on the way home. They were up until 9-10pm that night because of their late nap.