Dr. Mike or Mr. Mom?

  I must first admit that I am not the one that usually updates the blog.  Ronica takes care of that every other year or so.  But the latest post with misconstrued notions that I actually wanted to build a solar oven (it was for her young women) or the poop pants post..... seriously, that had to have been mustard, GROSS!  I don't remember a blog post about Sam's birth but we managed to blog about poop on Ronica' pants....???

I have decided to give you all an update on how my weekend went.  This has been a weekend that I knew was coming.  Ronica's sister Tyne and her husband James are receiving their endowment and being sealed with their 2 children in the temple in Iowa.  We are so happy for them.  We wish we all could have made the trip.  We love and miss you guys.  Congrats!  

So Thursday came and Ronica left, but not before hugging and kissing all these boys.  I'm not sure I got a kiss good bye but I did get a "good luck" as she hurried away from the van towards the Delta Airline desk.  She had tried to prepare me for these four days and our four boys.  She made a list of things to do like, "don't forget to pick up the boys from school" and "feed Sam" or "the boys have homework after school to do" all important items that I couldn't have possibly remembered without her list.  I went to the store Thursday morning before she left and bought all the baby food that would fit in my cart, plenty of milk and yogurt, and anything else I thought these little creatures might eat.  Now that its Saturday night the cupboards and fridge are once again looking a little bare.  Why didn't I just take everyone grocery shopping you ask, I think I would be less scared to go swimming with sharks.  

I have learned quite a bit more about what life is like for Ronica on a day to day basis.  First of all, Sam eats a lot!  But what is even more surprising is he barfs and poops even more.  You know its bad when all day long I hear Cameron's call from the other room.... "BARF ALERT!"  After changing Sams clothes and scrubbing the carpet the up-chuck-ometer will remain silent for about five minutes or so.  The carpet is seriously so gross!  I don't know if it would be better to tear it out or just burn the whole house down and start over.  If I didn't know any better I'd swear we were raising condors.   It defies the laws of physics but he is definitely putting out more than I am putting in him.  He also insists pulling himself up to stand on everything, even more so if there is hard tile below for him to fall on.  That way he will look like he's been in a bar fight by the time mom gets home.  The best thing about Sam is that he sleeps through the night....as long as his door is shut and my door is shut and I put in my earplugs.  I don't remember hearing him make a sound all night.

Ethan has got to be the sweetest little boy.... as long as he is asleep.... and in his own bed.... otherwise he's kicking me while sleeping in my bed.  One morning while getting dressed for the day he pulled the large glass cookie jar out from behind his toy bin.  "How did this get here?" I asked.  He had no response other than a big smile with his chocolate chip covered lips.  He must have been thirsty after all those cookies because not long after I heard Matt yelling "Ethan's getting in the apple juice."  I found him in the hall with the gallon size apple juice jug that I had left on the counter from breakfast (rookie mistake) trying to pour some in a cup.  It's OK though he didn't dump the whole gallon of juice on the carpet, he manage to get some in his cup. 

Matt has been the bike riding manic all weekend.  He is more than willing to show off his abilities to start riding all by himself, his turning is much improved, his speed has increased, and his lack of understanding of how to work the brakes is very much intact.  Don't worry he only crashes every time he rides, afterwhich he climbs out from under his bike rubbing his leg "I'm OK" and hes right back at it.  

Cameron has been the best helper I could ask for. He is always willing help out.  He may be one of the only reasons we all survived.  I think he's the only one that stayed in his own bed all night.  Its not easy trying to sleep between Matt and Ethan while they dream about being ninja turtles fighting the bad guys. 

The most important thing I have learned this weekend is that Ronica is amazing.  I have a new level of respect and appreciation for motherhood.  I love her so much.  I also learned that she has a fun job.  Although its not always hearts and flowers around here, our boys are so much fun.  I love spending time with them and watching them grow.  They made me laugh everyday.  I feel so blessed to have the family I do.  Now that I've said all that....Come home please Ronica, we miss you!  

I think I had better get to bed now.  We have church tomorrow morning at 9am.  It's my final test of fatherhood, can I survive making everyone breakfast, getting them dressed and to church on time and more importantly can we survive sacrament meeting?  Wish me luck!