Cusswords

I could definitely just start out with a $#%@ that it's been so long since I've done this. Why the year plus hiatus? Truth be told, I wish I were more into doing this, but it's hard to make time for it with all the Facebook stalking I do. Ha, the real reason I'm back is that after Mandon's laptop and our external hard drive were stolen I kicked myself in the rear that I hadn't been blogging. I could have had my favorite pictures and stories here! Instead, some thief took those pictures and unfortunately some memories in those pictures and videos. Mae's first steps, her chubby pictures (and mine from college), vacations, the beginning of Brevik's singing career, my dad's retirement pictures, my fat pictures post babies, etc.- all gone. Okay, I might be relieved to never see a few of those pictures again, but it is otherwise devastating. What a schmuck. Cusswords.
On the topic of cusswords, let me express my utter disbelief at my five year old's vocabulary. This morning as we were getting in the car to go to preschool, my sweet son said, "It smells like a$$ out here." I immediately reprimanded him. I had barely brushed my teeth and this is how we are starting out our day?! Admittedly, I felt a slight pang of embarrassment too as this is something I would (do) say verbatim. Then this sweet boy of mine says, "It really does smell like GAS from the car Mom. I don't know why that's bad to say." Suddenly, I felt like an a$$ and told him that I misunderstood (oops!). Of course, with a smirk on his face he asked, "What did you think I said?" Now I know it's only a matter of time before he really does try that awful expression out on his tongue! Cusswords.
Let's move on to my other joy for a moment here, MaeMae. My interesting, funny, intriguing daughter is under the impression that "Squawk" is a bad word (capitalized because if you hear the way she says it, you would capitalize it too). If she is really mad, she gives you THE look (at the young age of 3, this look is equivalent to my mother's "hairy eye ball," something my mother mastered over her 30 years teaching junior high students). In her sternest tone, while maintaining eye contact, Mae says, "Squawkity, Squawk, Squawk, Squawk!" Her point is made! Everybody step down! I mean, every once in awhile it is quite therapeutic to shout a cussword, right? Squawk. Squawkitysquawksquawk! Yes, feeling better about all those memories being taken from us. Cusswords.
For good measure, I'm including a picture of these sweet kids with the Easter Bunny this year. Since it's now the only picture I have... Cusswords.

Tutus and Tennis Shoes

I am still mortified that my mother ALLOWED me to wear dresses with tennis shoes when I was in elementary school. I somehow feel that she is responsible for that fashion faux pas since I was obviously not old enough to make my own decisions (or maybe this is just what I keep telling myself!). It goes the same with overly coordinated outfits- I had 2 short/shirt numbers that were an unfortunate combination of purple and blue vertical stripes. When I had children, I swore that I would not be that mother.
15 years later...
Today Maelee looked adorable in her getup. A girly pink and black dress, white tights, and "princess" shoes. Pulling away from daycare, I was confident that all the teachers were raving about MaeMae, all the other mother's were taking note of her astute fashion sense, and the other 2 year olds just had to have been envious. I admit, I was still smug as I approached work.
Unfortunately (or adoringly), Mae has the obsessive habit of removing her clothing on a regular basis. It has been a topic of humor for our friends and family. Anyhow, when I went to pick up Maelee, I anticipated that she likely would not be in that adorable dress. I imagined that her tights may have come off, that maybe she would be in pants and a shirt having decided the feminine look wasn't her thing for the day. I imagined her braid may have been taken out of her hair, leaving a disheveled look... I did NOT imagine that my little princess would still have a beautiful braid in her hair, her tights nicely intact and surprisingly clean, her dress still nicely draped across her little body, and disgusting boys black sneakers adorned on her little feet! I am, afterall, that mother!
Love you Mae!

Happy Birthday Buster Brown!

Four years ago, my favorite little boy came into the world- early. He is the only Foley who successfully managed to be early for basically anything, so while birth is momentous enough, "early" deserves equal recognition. Here are some of those pictures from his first month of life. I love the stocking one because when I was born, they gave me to my mom in a stocking instead of a receiving blanket. I had heard that growing up, so it was fun to go into the NICU one morning and have him in one too.




Leavenworth- To celebrate his 4th birthday, we decided to do a "surprise" weekend with the kids. I packed clothes, Brevik's Cars sleeping bag, snacks galore, and winter clothes for a weekend adventure in Leavenworth. Brevik was filled with enthusiasm the entire drive, wondering where we were going and what we were going to be doing, particularly when he spied his sleeping bag. "I can't believe we are going to have a sleepover somewhere!"
Maelee, on the otherhand, was true to her usual antics and threw up the moment we parked the car in Leavenworth. We were prepared with towels and other clean-up gear as she does this on EVERY trip now. I'm making a note to talk to her pediatrician about car sickness...
We walked through the Bavarian town and enjoyed the lights, carolers, sledding, and other festivities. Brevik loved the "Christmas party." Maelee enjoyed looking at everything in awe. We had cake for dessert, saw good friends, and had one of my favorite weekends as a family to date. On the ride home, I told Mandon that it was one of those trips that I imagine I will still be fondly recollecting 20 years from now.

I'm a Workin' Mama

It's official- I'm back into the working world where it's inappropriately childish to make poop jokes, have frequent snacks, and ask colleagues if their lunch is yummy. I cannot skip showering, stay in my mom-sweats until noon (while being productive, mind you), or watch Ellen. Instead, I am frantically getting 2 kids and myself ready in the morning, attempting to get out the door unscathed. After 2 weeks, here is what I have to report to you:
Maelee took awhile to warm to her "teachers" and "classmates." The feedback from her experience after day one was, "Wow, she's feisty. You can tell she has a brother because she won't let anyone take anything from her." Day two was, "She sure is interesting, isn't she?" Then, "What a tomboy!" "We had a really hard time keeping Maelee's clothes on her today. She just kept taking them off." And then finally something positive, "I sure like holding her because she will cuddle with me."
It is no surprise that it took Mae a bit to open up. She is not called "High-Maintenance Maelee" for nothing, after all. I find it quite cute that she held her ground until she realized her position wasn't going to change- she is stuck in "school" for the time being, and likely, for the next 20 years.
Brevik has developed a new self-consciousness. Thinking that I am the best mom in the world, I enclosed a cute note to Brevik in his lunch. When he got home, I asked if he saw it, thinking he would jump up and hug and kiss me, tell me what a wonderful mom I am, and basically give any other affirmation I needed. Instead, he said, "Yeah, but I had to hide the note Mom. I don't want my friends to make fun of me." HE IS 3!!!! I expected this a little later, but was mortified that it's happening at this point!
As for my transition- it went swimmingly. I think that adult time and interaction was overdue for me. I've been able to attend networking events, done good office time, and helped get Mandon a little more organized. I think this arrangement is going to work out just fine...

Mom of the Month Award Goes to...

I have thrice proven my stunning mothering skills this past month and felt it necessary to share.
First, I was finally on a much awaited play date with one of my best friends (Julie) and her two boys while in Idaho Falls. We set a blanket on the ground, unpacked our lunches and started chatting at Tautphaus park. The 3 year olds, Brevik and Bo quickly ate and then began playing on the Big Toy. Brevik, of course, then decided to take off his flip-flops in the sandbox. Upon deciding that the slide would be more appealing, he walked out of the sandbox in his piggie toes (as we call bare feet) ACROSS THE SCORCHING HOT PAVEMENT!! I stood stunned as he screamed and ran across the playground. He literally looked like he was running across lava. Luckily, Julie reacted and ran after him and lifted him from the pavement. He screamed for 40 minutes as his skin continued to sizzle and I finally reacted and treated him. As we left the park, I self-consciously glanced at the other kids' footwear, and to my credit, he most definitely was not the only ones in flip-flops. Perhaps their mothers' would have given more of an initial reaction, but that's guesswork. The prognosis- 2nd degree burns on both feet and a sub par mother!
Second, Brevik took one of Mandon's ADD pills- yes an amphetamine, yes a narcotic. He took it at about 10pm. I promptly called Poison Control. Although he had not consumed a toxic amount, Brevik was awake ALL NIGHT. He watched infomercials attentively, cried when I tried to change the channel, and told me repeatedly as if he were drugged, "I love you Mom." Thankfully, he only took one pill. Funny enough, this Aderall generic is a small blue pill. He proceeded to tell friends that he had taken "Daddy's little blue pill." Mandon was quick to elaborate; I was not. :)
Finally, Brevik tried to stomp a yellow-jacket nest. In turn, he received 3 bee stings to the Achilles heel. We were swatting them away and had to run with Brevik away from them.
Maelee certainly is appearing angelic right now. Terrible 2's around the corner...

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Sometimes it's the goofy parts of our marriage that I most appreciate. Sometimes my loving husband abuses that. I fell asleep on the couch last night as I do any other ordinary night when there is a movie on the screen. After midnight, Mandon wakes me. He has gotten out his mummy sleepingbag and is entirely inside it, with only his baby blues peaking at me. My first thought was that there was a whale in the living room- I jumped and squealed. Mind you, I had been sleeping... Then in my late night delerium I laughed hysterically. I headed up to bed and started laughing again. I was almost asleep and then I was laughing again. And here I am today, laughing more. It was so random- most would have likely scorned at his immaturity. That is exactly why he is perfect for me. I thought it was genius, it was unexpected, it was simple, and it was totally us. Here's to many more years!

The kids and I made Mandon a cake. We put a '4' candle in it since it is our 4th anniversary. Assumingly it will get reused on Brevik's birthday this year! :)

A Smorgasbord of Details

Due to the fact that I rarely post anything, this is going to be a smorgasbord of information.

Here is Maelee wearing The Strangers hat. They play music at small bars around here. Mandon has gotten to play a few times with them, which he enjoys.


I recently posted that I had never been able to park my car in our garage. Low and behold, Mandon took Memorial Day weekend entirely off (yes 3 days!) and I can officially park in our garage. Once Blue Steel was parked, I peaked a few times just to look at it. Someone pinch me! I must be dreaming...

Yesterday, I slept in since until 8ish since I had been up all night with Maelee. Maelee did not want to sleep- I think it's because she is finally talking some and she wanted to practice. She even said "Holly" the other day- first non-family member's name she has clearly said. Anyhow, we were literally up until 4 am and she just chatted the night away. Although it was very cute, I was very tired!!! In the early morning, I turned cartoons on for Brevik and went back to sleep. When I woke, he was in pajama bottoms (no top), had used an excessive amount of gel to give himself "spikeys", and had proudly given Bentley way more dog treats than he should have been able to handle. He also put a biscuit in the watering can and told me that he thought it would be fun to watch Bentley get it out- Bentley was unable to get it. The noise of him trying is the ruckus that woke me with a start!

This is what Brevik looks like when he does his hair. Too cute!

Mae on our walk to the ocean to collect seashells. She had to bring her stuffed dog...

And Buster hamming it up...


That's all for now!