Gecko Green Playroom

Whoa!  Put on your painting overalls kiddos…it’s going to be a bumpy paint job!!!

Oh but we had soooo much fun!

So I went stir crazy one day.  Realized for many reasons that the boys bedroom and playroom needed to switched.  It caused quite an upstir in the Millard home for a whole afternoon.  But, got it done.

Now, the bedroom looked nicer, painted nursery room with Jesus pictures and coordinating curtains, and it is the warmest room in the house :) for my boys to be snuggly the rest of winter (what is left).

But, the playroom is just white walls and a whole bunch of toys.  Thinking…a can of paint and a project for the boys.  This will be fun…

It started with Boo OPENING THE PAINT CAN BY HIMSELF WITH A SPOON WITHOUT ME NOTICING!!!!  He was ready to go, and I was trying to get there, but not fast enough for him apparently.  Ok, ok.  No biggie.  Let’s get started.  Took pj’s off and we were running with paint brushes.  Literally. 

Quite fun.  The boys enjoyed it for like ten minutes.  Boo then said, “take a break.”  Hilarious, just like a man.  Just as I finished that wall and went to the next wall…here they come again to paint. 

Funniest part is that I really had to be on top of them watching how much paint got on the brushes, wiping the floors that got totally splattered, and constant reminding of what they should be painting (not the window, or window sills, or doors, or trim).  Eli “handed” me a booger.  I thought, “I will just wipe this on my pants and keep on going.”  But, nope!  This one was a doozie.  It was gross.  Needed to wash this one off.  Seriously.  Quick run to bathroom in 5 seconds (how much damage could they do, right?).  Boy howdy…Eli was painting the actual window after I noticed he had painted some of the trim as well…I turn and Boo is painting the closet doors.  Good gravy!!!!  I was gone 5 seconds!  REALLY?  Quick fix with a wet towel that was VERY handy.  Finished by another reminder of what the painting rules were…you know…just in case another booger came along.

Boo, called himself a “bad guy” for doing it.  Probably because when he does something good we call him the “super hero.”  So, I had to tell him it was just his super hero side that made a small mistake that could be fixed.  He then said he needed a break.  I hope my super hero isn’t crushed :( 

The whole experience was my highlight today.  I survived it.  The whole house is not gecko green, thank heavens.  And the boys mostly enjoyed it.  Why gecko green, you ask?  Well, Boo is liking green.  It is their playroom after all….it’s not so bad.  It’s growing on me.  Why didn’t Eli pick a color, you ask?  Well, he didn’t care when picking the paint he just wanted to push the shopping cart around.  Understandable….

So there you go!  Now…tomorrow…they are making some artwork on canvas’ to hang up in there.  I am excited and will share that tomorrow…even baby Sam has a canvas for foot and hand prints.  It will be awesome! 

My date with my sweet Eli – aka ie

My sweet two year old.  He has been having a rough time.  It seems everyone gets shuffled now and again with five of us in the house, and it’s hard to get everyone’s wants let alone needs met.  So poor Eli…

Josh has started riding the school bus this week.  Of course, being the younger brother, Eli wants to ride it too.  But, Eli doesn’t go to school, yet.  He cried almost every morning to go bye-bye on the bus.  It breaks my heart.

So, I thought….Eli and I need special time….hmmmm

I don’t have money…and I have baby Sam.  Dave has been extra busy with work and church lately….so what do I do?

We, as a family, went to the new big library.  Got library cards, and I noticed they have toddler story time.   We do story time at our little library close to the house, but we checked out some movies that need to be returned on Thursday….

There you go, we go to the library for story time when baby Sam is his happiest (in the morning) listen to story time and check out a train movie just for my sweet Eli.  But, don’t you know I didn’t stop there.  Literally across the sidewalk, on the way to the parking garage is a Chipotle.  Eli and I love Chipotle (taco burrito stuff, Eli and I particularly like the guacamole and chips) and I treated us also to a coke (also something Eli and I thoroughly enjoy). 

Yes, I have noticed that Eli and I are way too much alike.  I LOVE it!

We sit down together to enjoy a wonderful early lunch, and finish just in time to go to the car to nurse baby Sam (while Eli drives the car) and then to return home to get Boo off the bus from school.

To top off the date with a cherry…Eli and Sam both fall asleep in the car, and stay asleep for two hours.  It even gave me some time to snuggle Boo when he got home to eat lunch and start a movie. 

So really quality time with everyone today.  But, very special time with my sweet Eli.  He is my mess maker, outside voice, strong willed middle child.  But, I love him dearly.  He is tender and sweet with a heart melting smile.  I am going to have to commit to doing this more for all of my children. 

Eli you are the bestest!  I love you.

Boo bear is a Big boy!!!

So, now I have to put on another brave hat…it’s time for Boo to ride the bus. 

When it was first offered to me, by the school, my first reaction was, “No way!”  I appreciate having to get out of my pajamas and get everyone ready for the day before like noon.  REALLY appreciate the motivation.  And I absolutely enjoy dropping off my sweet Boo at the front door of school with a kiss and a have a good day knowing that he is going in safely.

Well, David looked at me cross-eyed…so…ok….I would also appreciate not having to get Eli and Sam out twice a day in just a couple of hours four times a week.  That is hard work.  My van door is busted and Sam’s car seat has to go ALL the way in the back of the van.  Back breaking.  I also warmed up the car twice a day which is eating up precious gas.  Speaking of gas, this would also save me gas.  But, I only want to do it if Boo does…

So Dave always says, ask Boo, and if he doesn’t like it or you don’t like it then we stop doing it.  He does this, I know, he knows that it will be just fine and it’s the only way he can talk me into doing these torturous things to my poor mommy  heart.  This I also appreciate.

So, Boo…do you want to ride the school bus to school instead of mommy driving you?  His response, “The bus that goes bumpety bump?”  Of course…I knew what was coming…”YES!”  My heart shatters into a million pieces and melts down to the pit of my stomach sizzling in my stomach acids (yuck).  But, that is how it feels to me. 

So Monday, pack him up, get him ready, and there is the dreaded bus at my driveway.  Boo, is soooo excited, but I can tell he is not sure, just because it is his first time.  The first time for me to ask Boo to do anything new makes me worry until I know he likes it.  So all morning I stew…is he ok?  did he get there? will he like it?  did he cry?  was he scared?

 

As I think of all these things I remember that I didn’t say a prayer with him (which is something I do every morning in the car on the way to school).  Yep, you guessed it, I start balling at this revelation.  I didn’t pray for his safety, or for God to be with him in this new experience…how could I have done that? 

I quickly say a prayer to myself through tears.  And cry till he gets home.  He gets off with a smile :)  He loves the bus.  Of course, he does.  Now, tomorrow just have to remember to pray before he walks out the door.  He is more precious than gold, and much braver than myself. 

Boo you are a big boy!  But, don’t forget your mommy loves you and worries about you all the time because you mean the world to me!!