Mother's Guilt

I hate it. Mother's guilt. It's the worst. Lately I have really been feeling like Teague is getting the best of me in his 2 1/2 year old way. He constantly challenges me. In. Every. Thing. He. Does. I try really hard to be patient and go with the flow but when he yells at bedtime "I. WANT. THE. DOOR. OPEN." (and that's like the millionth thing he has sing-songy yelled for the evening) I want to yell right back "I. WANT. PEACE. AND. QUIET." or "I. DON'T. CARE." or in all reality - let's be honest - sometimes I really just want to yell "SHUT.....it" - but the adult in me (there is one on occassion) knows better. At least this time. So I think of things after I have 10 minutes to myself before my own bedtime to do things alone with Teague so he feels "special" about being alone with me. So the next morning I say to him "Teague, let's go to Charlie's Cafe for pancakes. Just me and you!" And he exclaims "NO! I. WANT. TO. STAY. HOME!" Ugh, fine. So much for trying. Or how about on Wednesday when I was at my parents I thought how fun it would be to take him (just Teague and I) across town to the old elementary school and sled down the hill! He seemed SO excited. So I bundled the both of us up and drove across town. After the second ride down the hill he says to me "Mommy? Wanna carry me up?" and I said "No". And he says again "Mommy? Wanna carry me?" and I say "No, I just want to hold your hand" (I was already huffing and puffing - I didn't really want to carry a 35 pounder up with me. To which he then tells me "I. WANT. TO. GO. HOME. TO. NANA. AND. PAPA'S. HOUSE." All done sledding. And then he cries all the way back home (over and over) "MY. HANDS. ARE COLD! MY. HANDS. ARE. COLD!" and I just kept telling myself "Keep it together, Mollie. Don't lose your cool." and finally when we got home and he screamed it one last time I couldn't help it, I said "I HEARD YOU!". Ugh. I am guilty. Guilty of trying to be the best mom I can be and sometimes I really just suck. I hope he forgives me someday.

Another Frigid Week

The week began frigid with the Vikes loss and then the weather just made it worse. BRRRRR!

We were all together as a Dusha Family (minus Ken) for Grandma Bernice's funeral. We always love seeing Auntie Grums and Tan Man so that was the bright side of it all. We are hoping to spend more time with them tomorrow. Grums and crew were nice enough to come over tonight and watch my babies so that Ryan and I could go and look for a new car for Ryan - so yes, we now have a "family" vehicle that is mine and now a car for Ryan! Exciting stuff.

Other than that we are good, life is good, and we are just staying warm inside. Here is a "Grandkid" picture of the Dusha Grandbabies - this is the first one with Lola!

Busy Busy Busy!

Well we are just busy busy busy around here. Ryan with ball, me with the kids. And it's a ton of fun for both of us! We are gearing up for the game now and have some fun pics below.

Sad news is that Ryan's 97 year old Grandma Dusha passed away this afternoon, however she lived a long life and it was time for her to be with Grandpa Rich.

This week my dad starts his final round of chemo, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Go Vikes!

This is a typical picture when we try to get a picture of the kids together - Teague saying "NO!" and Lola looking super frightened that we might leave her alone with her brother!


Look at this big girl starting to sit up - and being SO proud of it!

Daddy and Lola in their Vikings garb....and....

....2 years ago, Teague (same jersey) and Daddy (same jersey for him too, whew)!

Cutest Viking Mascot EVER!

Teague holding Lola - literally. Oye.

Lola's first taste of cereal. "They" say you shouldn't start it until a baby shows interest in you eating. Well Teague never cared about anything but the boob and getting him started on solids was a challenge. Now Lola reaches for our forks, stares at us while we are eating, etc. So I figured we should give it a shot - she did so well!

"....hmmmm, can't decide if I like this stuff....."

Teague has had the toughest time falling asleep for nap and bedtime lately. He just lies in bed singing and talking - here's an example! He is actually singing a Gabba song "Naptime, Naptime. Time to sleep, time to sleep. Naptime, Naptime, close your eyes go to sleep"!

Swimming!

We had a good time swimming with Lola for the first time last week at the Holiday Inn. My parents stay there once a week to cut down on the driving from Morris to St Cloud. The American Cancer Society gives them this steal of a deal so it's a good excuse for my mom to be able to shop and for the kids to be able to swim!

My dad is doing phenominally well right now. He starts his last round of chemo next week so we expect that things could be a little tough after that for awhile. Apparently the Drs have it all worked out what meds he will need ahead of time to prevent the same issues as he had with his last round. I hope they're right. Still no date for surgery, but that's not expected until he has a PET scan to see how the cancer reacted to his treatments. He is back to bringing Teague to see the animals and talking about "poop" with Teague - that's my 2 year olds favorite subject these days.

We also just bought our first real "family" vehicle and no, it's not a minivan! It looks like a minivan on the inside but looks like an SUV on the outside - perfect for us! We are excited to get it!

That's all from here!

Teague's favorite thing to do in the morning when he wakes up is to "watch TV in mommy daddy's bed". Here he and Lola are doing that while holding hands! How sweet - if only it would last!

Loves to watch her big brother doing his typical two year old tricks!

Again, watching her brother swim and do tricks!

Giggles!

Here is a little clip of Lola giggling! So cute - and it's actually giggling in response to her brother laughing! Of course she was doing it a whole lot more before I ran upstairs to get my camera! Enjoy - we think she's pretty amazingly cute.