Awwwhhh

They are so cute when they are asleep...

To sick of each other

My children have been on each other's nerves all. day. long. Sometimes they go through phases where they play and play and play together. They are not in that phase right now. I don't know if it's spring fever, the winds of change, or what, but they have been fighting constantly. The days seem so long, probably because I am counting them down, but they seem endless when the boys are fighting.

They are so mean to each other. If they are around each other they are fighting within two minutes. I am not exaggerating. I talk to them about it for a few minutes, ask them not to fight and be kind to each other and within minutes they are at it again. Jack loves to annoy Ben, Ben is easily annoyed. They punch, hit, and kick. Today at about noon I couldn't take it anymore, and put myself in time out. I laid on my bed and cried. Ben eventually came in with a note telling me he loved me and he sat on my bed and apologized for the way he acted. But that didn't end the fighting and they have continued all day long except for when Ben was at school.

I decided the punishment for fighting would mean they lost the privilege to watch tv. That is such a hard punishment to decide to use because letting them watch tv means a break for me and a break from them fighting. While I think that it's an appropriate consequence, what other ideas do people have?

One of my friends said she makes her kids do chores if they fight. Great idea, except for right now my kids love chores. They especially love cleaning the bathroom. So for right now I don't want to make a chore seem like a negative consequence. There will definitely be a time when it will be appropriate.

So, any great ideas?

Some days are good. Some days are bad. Fortunately they aren't all bad. I am hoping tomorrow is better.

Brothers

In just a few months Jack and Ben will have a new sibling. While this is a wonderful thing, it's a change and change isn't always easy. Lately I have been especially mindful of the relationship that Jack and Ben have. I remember before I had Jack I was worried about how having a sibling was going to change Ben's world. So of course I wonder how a new sibling will change their relationship. It probably won't change it much and I think Jack and Ben are going to be awesome older brothers.

I love watching the relationship between Ben and Jack. I am so happy they have each other. Ben is an amazing older brother. He is so gentle and sweet and kind to Jack. Sometimes he is mean and rough. But the mean isn't often and the rough is mostly just when the brotherly wrestling gets out of control.

Jack just adores Ben. Yes they fight, but more and more lately they play, and play, and play happily together.

Today when we came home from church Ben helped Jack change out of his sunday clothes and into play clothes. And the past couple of days Ben has started to wipe Jack's bum for him after Jack takes care of business. (We didn't ask Ben to do it, in fact I feel kind of bad that he does it.)

If that isn't love, then I don't know what is.

Ben

I love this guy! He is just a good kid. Yes, he is a kid and he drives me crazy and frustrates me a lot, but he is wonderful too.

I have had horrible allergies/hayfever this year. I know a lot of people are suffering a lot this year, it's just an awful year. The other morning when I woke up Ben was in bed next to me. He had been awake for a little while and was just laying by me. When I woke up, I realized my eye was sealed shut with dried eye goop. Ben ever so gently cleaned the dried eye goop out of my eyelashes so I could open my eye. So sweet!

Last week we went bowling. I decided not to bowl so I could help the boys, specifically Jack because it was his first time. But Ben took it upon himself to help Jack with bowling. Every time it was Jack's turn, Ben would line up the ramp for Jack to put the ball on, then he would go get the ball and put it on the ramp for Jack. Ben was very careful to make sure not to put the ball on the rack until it was okay for Jack to bowl. Jack would bowl his two balls and then Ben would put the ramp away. Ben did this every time for one and a half games and then Jack decided he was done.

The boys often fight. Maybe it's not all that much, but it's more than I would like. But they truly love each other. And I love that.

Siblings

Can't live with them.

Cannot live without them.

The boys have been fighting a lot lately. Jack loves to hit. Ben loves to drive Jack crazy until Jack hits him. In between all the fighting there are always sweet moments of love. Thank goodness!

Pick

You can pick your friends.
You can pick your nose.
But you can't pick your friend's nose.

But maybe your brother will let you pick his nose.
It's nice that Ben let Jack do this especially considering what happened later in the day. Tonight I walked into the bedroom and noticed it smelled like pee. I think it was actually because of the bag of diapers we had in the room that I'd forgotten to take out earlier in the day. Not because Ben had just peed on the floor, but I'm glad he let me know. In addition to peeing on the floor, Ben peed on Jack. Apparently Ben couldn't make it to the bathroom fast enough and Jack was in the way. Most of the pee was on the carpet, but some was on Jack's back. What the?