Life with Boys

Here is my take on life with all boys.

They eat all day long. Breakfast, after breakfast snack, pre-lunch snack/pre-nap snack, lunch, after lunch snack, dinner and dessert.

Super Heroes rule our world. Hulk, Superman, Iron Man, Batman, Thing, and Spider Man. We watch Super Hero Squad, Avengers cartoons, read super hero themed books all the time. Chapter books must include fighting, magic, wizards, and bad guys.

Sticks, straws, or anything long  is a sword. 

Who needs clothes? Underwear only happens almost everyday around here. 

Brushing hair? Umm.....no. 

Fashion? Well, now we do care about that some here. Is today wear a super hero costume day or is it more of a wear a super hero t-shirt day? Matching? Hardly ever because I don't pick out their clothes and who cares? They are going to end up in their underwear which are Super Hero themed.

Couches are a big deal. Every day all the cushions and pillows are thrown off. The couch is then jumped on, jumped off, and goodness only knows what else.

 Boy wrestling is a real thing. It happens all the time. It either starts spontaneously or by one of them saying, " Hey, you wanna fight?" Even at this young age it is pretty rough so there are a few rules like: no crotch, no throat, and no head hitting/kicking. Otherwise, go at it.

They get hurt all the time.While they may initially cry, they ultimately think it is so awesome and brutal.

Construction trucks for the younger one is life. We went to campus and just sat on a bench watching the construction trucks work.

How they interact with girls: The younger two don't understand girls don't like when you try to tackle them, punch them, throw things at them or chase them. The older one, I just will say it is interesting to see it from a boy's perspective and how foreign girls are to him in everything they do.

You can never be outside enough, running is a must, dirt is fun, water is fun, matchbox cars are the best toys and can be played with all the time in conjunction with any other toy, they love video games/ iPad games and are easily addicted and actually have withdrawal symptoms when you say they can't play anymore, and throwing rocks into puddles/ponds/lakes can be an all afternoon event.

The animals they like must be poisonous, dangerous, and deadly. Scorpions, rhinos, sharks, snakes, spiders, and hippos.

Penises are a big deal from a young age. As someone who grew up with mostly girls I had no idea that even young boys are more than willing to talk about them-- a lot. This goes hand in hand with peeing outside, peeing in bottles, and ok I will admit--peeing in parking garages.

Right now, I am the most important lady in their life. I get told how pretty I am, how much they love me, and how I am the best mom in the whole world. At night when it is just me, Jack opens up and tells me all sorts of stuff-so special.

I love having all boys. 

see that mommy

When you live in a small college town they wait until summer to fix all the roads, and every summer they shut down half the town in order to get things ready for the college students come August. Thomas happens to be at just the right age to think this is the most awesome thing in the world. Driving anywhere at all in town takes us by dump trucks, excavators, cranes, loaders, jackhammer trucks, and goodness only knows what else. Almost every second of our car ride goes like this- Thomas: See That? Mommy see that? See that?  Mommy: yes, do you see that?

Here are some of the things we see.

Jack's school is a 15-20 minute walk to Columbian Park and every year they walk to the park and spend the day going to the zoo, riding the train around the pond, and playing at the playground. I chaperoned and only had three kids in my group, and one was my son, but trying to keep all three in the same part of the park and zoo required much skill on my part. I didn't lose any of them though and I think they all had a really fun time. Here are some pictures of the field trip.

The virus from hell

Last week Jack's soccer practice was canceled, as we were all saddened by this event, we decided to go to a field and throw frisbees. As we were in the midst of our running, laughing, and enjoying the great outdoors Jack just laid down. We took this as a sign to go home because Jack is not a child to just take a moment to lay down when there are frisbees involved. Once home we decide to set up sheets and pillows on the floor in our room. I don't want to really get into what happened all the rest of the night, but to put it mildly there was a lot of sickness all night long. The next day Jack slept 5-6 hours, it wore him out.  We had a strict no food no drink rule the next day. As long as he followed it things went well, but that night I left the boys with Pete, who was starting to feel badly himself. When I returned that night these are things that I found-- lights on in every room of the house, cheese on the wall, cheese on the floor, muffins crumbs on the floor, muffin wrappers everywhere, fruit snack wrappers all over the place, deli ham on the floor, and Pete laying with his head at the foot of the bed fast asleep. That night, due to all the food consumption, Jack and the bathroom were frenemies once more.

The next day we were driving to Kentucky for my sister's wedding and we were very strict with Jack about no food. He wasn't pleased but we weren't giving in. The wedding was beautiful and everyone looked good, but let's cut to the dinner that night. It was at an Italian restaurant and they had the back room reserved for us. When we arrived Luke started saying that his stomach hurt. I told him it was probably because he hadn't really used the bathroom that day so we went back there to give it a whirl. Still, a little bit later he was really starting to whine that his stomach hurt. Pete suggested we leave, but we hadn't been there very long and we hadn't eaten yet. Plus, we drove all that way to be there, so I wasn't ready to leave. I suggested that we just eat and leave-not stay for dessert or anything that may happen after. My sister had a pillow in her car so we put it on the floor in the back, and I sat down next to him holding his hand. My dad took off his jacket and laid it across Luke. I really thought that we might make it. I was wrong. He sits up, opens his mouth, and out it all came. I grab a cloth napkin from the table and put it over his mouth, scoop him up, and run to the bathroom. The thing that should be noted is that the bathroom is on the other end of the restaurant, it is dinner so the place is packed, and Luke is still vomiting as I run him through the dining area to the bathroom. Once in the bathroom I take off his shirt rinse it out and clean him up as best I can. I then carry him back through the restaurant without his shirt. We decide to get out quick after that.

That night Luke continued to have issues, Jack was fine, and we set Thomas up in a room by himself. After many trips to the bathroom and thinking I may finally be able to settle in for the night/morning, I hear that all too familiar noise, so I run to grab Luke only to find it isn't Luke or Jack. Oh no!!!!! Thomas!!!!!!!! Yup- Thomas. It was a long night and morning. I don't think I have done so much laundry in so short a time period in my whole life.

We cut out of town pretty early because the kids just needed to get home. Luckily, the car ride was not eventful--thank goodness. Luke slept almost the whole way home and no children were allowed to eat anything.

The next day things were looking better, Jack was going to school, Thomas was just cranky, but that is pretty normal, and Luke was tired. Then--Pete!!!! Oh my. Poor Pete. I was scheduled to be reader/librarian for Jack's class that afternoon and Pete was going to stay with the kids, I ended up leaving Luke to watch a movie/sleep at home with Pete while Thomas got to go with me to Jack's library time. It went well and the kids loved seeing Thomas-now when they see him at pick up they say -Hi Thomas!!! Pete had a rough night and we stayed out of his hair by having a movie night.

So just when we thought it had past I was attacked by this horrible virus. So yes, everyone got it. We are only just now all feeling back to normal. Since food had pretty much been eliminated from our daily routine we were able to, inadvertently, learn the cause of the stomach issues plaguing some of the male members of our house-lactose intolerance. I guess that changes a lot about how we eat and prepare food. 

There you have it--the virus from hell. If we gave it to you- I am sorry. It really sucks.

To my sister on her wedding day

On this big weekend for you dear sister I sit here wondering what I should say to you, how I can help you, or how to let you know there is love and support surrounding you. Your wedding is this weekend and that is so huge. I wish for you all the happiness in the world, but you already have a head start because watching you on your wedding day will be your daughter. She gets to witness her mom and dad officially uniting their lives together. There will be one person not there, and it is this omission in festivities that makes me so sad for you. On the weekend of not only your wedding, but also Mother's Day, your mom won't be there.

I would love to be able to share motherly wisdom, I want to know what she would have done or said so I can whisper it to you on this day, but she wasn't at my wedding either, so I have no clue how to invoke her spirit this weekend. Of course, even if I could, it is not the same as having her here. Sadly, you have already experienced a moment in a woman's life when she really wants her mom, the birth of her first child, especially, when you know that she would not have been judgmental, she would have understood, given love, support, and honesty in terms of what difficulties and joys lay ahead.

As the years pass I must say I remember her less and less, the actual memories get mixed in with the pictures and home videos. The thing I remember the most is how much she loved us. She listened to us go on and on, she saw the best in us at our worst, she laughed with us, hugged us, and rubbed our kisses in at night. She was someone who was fiercely loyal and would have gone down swinging in order to protect us or help us out of any situation.

The things I remember most about her I see in you. You love passionately, you work hard, you are devoted to family, you have known sorrow, pain, and hardship but you have not dwelt on it; you still have the ability to laugh and enjoy life.

Mom gave you the blessing or the burden , depending on the day, of having many siblings. So that no matter where you go in life you will always be judged and talked about behind your back. ;p You will also always have a built in support system, cheerleaders, advice givers, and listeners.

In dying early, in not being able to participate in the big moments of our lives, I feel like mom taught us the value of time. We don't know how much time we get in this life,we don't know how many chances we have to hug, kiss, snuggle, make memories, laugh, listen, and show affection. So as long as take this with you everyday I know that you will have a wonderful and blessed life.

we weigels have fun

Today Jack was outside with his brothers and a boy who lives down the street and I heard him say - you shouldn't say hate. If you don't like something you say you don't like it you don't say hate. Haha- love it. I found it was the boy a few houses down he was talking to, kudos Jack.

Thomas was kicking our small Germany soccer ball around the house when the ball got caught under his feet and he fell face forward into our door and the door frame. Blood gushed everywhere, it was gross and I am proud to say that I took it like a man. ;p   Ok. So this isn't about me but I am proud of myself for not nearly passing out when seeing blood. His mouth injury has been bleeding on and off since and it is pretty unsettling to look over and see your baby with blood ringed around his mouth, but after talking to g and p we agree that it is just because the skin is so thin and he keeps irritating it. Still I feel badly for the boy.

Luke has always loved drawing on himself and getting washable tattoos. The other day he was at our friends house when he discovered stamps. If you stamp your arm all over this lasts longer and the picture stays intact longer than a washable tattoo. He has informed me that he likes stamps on his arms much better and we need to get stamps. When retelling this to Pete I learned of an even newer development-- an actual tattoo. Luke saw a guy with a real tattoo and learned that they never come off and has decided he wants one. While we can keep him tattoo free until 18 I think tattoos are in his future.

We went to the zoo today and Luke has been pumped up for a week or more. He wanted to see the sharks, rhinos, giraffes, and monkeys. He picked his outfit a week ago and has been talking about it nonstop. I am thrilled to say that the zoo met his expectations and the rhino was by far the winner of the day.

jack with tiger jaws 

Thomas was so interested in every single thing

My kids love to play in the water no matter the temperature. We went to the Purdue fountains and they played hard then while at the zoo they ran into the fountains -no fear.

After spending the day with his kids my husband thanked me for giving him a boat load of kids. I must say this is a pretty sexy thing-- a man who loves his kids as much Pete loves his.

Even when they jump on him and play with toys on top of him while he is sleeping.

time for a different perspective

There are moments in mothering/parenting when you just need something back, something that lets you know   that those bundles of joy you brought into the world aren't just big leeches. The first time most parents experience this is right before the first smile, not the gas smile, it happens just when you are so tired that you are about to collapse in a heap on the floor and never get up. It is so simple, a smile from your new baby, but somehow that gives you enough energy and momentum to make through the late nights and fussy days.

Here my 6-year-old is forever butting heads with me over everything. I have run out of charts, bribes, positive reinforcement, reasoning, asking him to set a good example, and just about any other decent parenting technique there is. I scream and yell a lot. Not pleasant for anyone involved and once you start it is pretty easy to keep yelling about all sorts of stuff, even stuff you don't normally scream about. Obviously this isn't working either.

My 3-year-old is actually pretty good, most of the time, 3-year-olds are like that. He does have moments when he gets mad at his brothers and he head butts them, bites them, sits on the 1-year-old's head, punches them, pushes them, kicks them, traps the 1-year-old in the bathroom, and just your garden variety methods of the middle child saying, " I will get mine." Also, he does not like being told to get off the iPad-not at all.

The 1-year-old makes my insides cringe when he says, 'uh-oh', and he says it about 100 times a day. This is because while in the car he threw his stuffed Tiny Dog onto the floor, he took off his shoe and can't get it back on, he dropped food on the floor, or just about anything in the whole world. When not saying uh-oh he is usually crying his head off (snotty, big huge tears, crying) all the live long day. He cries because someone closed a door, he cries because he wants to be held, he cries because he wants cheese(his word for all food), he cries because you gave him milk but he really wanted juice, and he cries because he wants a toy that his brother has and even when the brother swaps him he still cries.

It gets to the point when someone spills a glass of milk and instead of saying - get the towels and let's just clean it up, you say, " Again, really again, you spilled your drink again oh my goodness. Why are you always spilling everything? Why aren't you cleaning it up?

I decided it was time for mommy to 1. drink more alcohol during the day ;)  2. start relaxing because the kids can tell when I am tense and it makes them tense and then you have chaos, maybe we will have it anyway because I have three boys, but perhaps it will be fun chaos. 3. get out of our environment because a tiny townhouse with no yard is not fun for little boys or their mama.

I have also decided to post some pictures of moments or looks that have filled my heart so full of love I thought it might just explode. After all when you are looking for the bad you see the bad and when you are looking for the good it is everywhere.

j saw this pencil and said- hey luke let's get our picture taken. you stand on this side and I will stand  here

all 3 boys at the fountain in like 58 degree weather-- loving it

not afraid to get wet

this little boy LOVES his daddy. When he ran to Pete people all around us smiled

love this toothless grin so much

being silly in the car waiting for Pete

also being silly

spring fest

I have so many times wanted to write about many different things happening around here or random thoughts that have popped into my head. However, I wasn't able to gain access to the internet easily.

One thing being how Jack asked if Tigran was going to get married and we said no. He asked why this was and didn't Tigran want to have kids one day? I replied- well even if he wanted to have kids he couldn't, we had his balls cut off. Pete then glared at me and said- under his breath-- Do you really think when your son is trying to figure out the difference between dogs and humans is the best time to talking about removing testicles?

I have started wearing a lot of pink. I am not a pink wearing girl and my closet, since I can remember, has been filled with brown, green, and blue. Now if you look it is filled with purple and pink. I am not sure what has overcome me but I have also added fingernail polish and earrings to my wardrobe. Pete says I have taken my inspiration from the 6-year-old girls in Jack's class and have decided to own that I am a girl. Girl Power- tough but beautiful.

We have decided that Luke will be a movie star one day-- so watch out world. He is so funny and has great timing and commitment to a bit. He loves to sing and dance and has a Marlon Brando quality about him.

We have finally figured out a solution for computer problems so I hope to be able to use it more often now.

 We went to Spring Fest/Bug Bowl and had a blast. Love it always.


 Below are an assortment of pictures of Jack petting insects and various other animals. He was so brave and pet anything that he was able to pet.

Luke asked specifically for a grasshopper and was so pumped to get it.

Thomas loved the tractors and didn't want to leave them.

Jack knew right away he wanted a scorpion.

We ran into a few of the girl's from Jack's class. One of the places we ran into a girl was at the fountains. Luke and Thomas took off their shirts-this had been Jack's idea- but once he saw his classmate he refused to take off his shirt and was so uncomfortable. He did run into the fountain with his shirt on and eventually we convinced him to go to the other side of the fountain without his shirt.