My Pink Lovin' Husband

Since the members of our family sporting testosterone are colour liberated now Jon was free to ask for a pink cherry chip cake with little merichino cherry pieces and cherry juice dyed icing as a birthday cake. Well...I try my best, every year but cakes...are not my thing. The one didn't collapse or get stuck in the pan and come out in ten parts but I did leave it on the hot stove so the icing melted all over it. Hmmm.

When I came back it looked like the birthday boy didn't mind too much. This was the practice cake...he ate the whole thing. I think I am ready to try it for real tomorrow! I am ready to Cake Boss that thing!

Gettin' Close...

To the big 3-0 that is! One more year Jonny-cakes, but till them you can hang out in the cool twenties with meeeee!

That's right, Jon is 29 today!

As is my fashion on a birthday, here is a tribute to my one and only.

I call Jon the "Jon-athon" because to be him is a like running a 24 hour marathon. He does so much in a day, I am unsure how he gets even half of it accomplished. From a demanding job he gives his all too he stirs up some magic energy to come home and roll around on the floor with his boys who are over the moon for him. He does baths, diapers, tuck ins and extra kisses with enthusiasm. He gives me foot massages and throws in a load of laundry without being asked. Despite his love of golf, guns, and fast cars he can throw on an apron, cook a full roast chicken dinner to drool over and bake a chocolate cake from scratch like nobody's business. Oh, did I mention he smells awesome and has a butt made for dark denim?
Jon (athon...) sports a level of humility that would make him blush too deeply if I mentioned all that he does for others. If anyone in need even looks in his direction he is there. Anyone asking him to do a small task, will be met with an outcome always exceeding expectation. Jon is funny, like really really funny, he makes me laugh everyday. He spoils me, indulges me and tries his best to make me happy (quite successfully). In the husband lottery, I am certain I got the jackpot. As a bonus our boys get to have him as a father...those lucky lucky boys! He loves them so much and is so much fun. There is nothing he won't do for them. In turn they simply adore him. I am so happy that they have a role model like him to emulate and look up to. He does not disappoint in his example. Jon is also a smarty pants. He knows just about everything...except exactly just how crazy I am about him!

I love you!!!!!

Enjoy your last year in the twenties!

Jennxoxoxoxoxoxox

My Pink Lovin' Son

We were out buying winter boots last week when a first happened. Ben, who usually doesn't care what I put on him to wear (such a good little dolly...) had an opinion. He turned his nose up and raised his voice at the sensible blue and gray pair that matched exactly his winter coat. The quick and easy trip got a little hiccup at the sight of the pink, purple and shimmery Dora the Explorer boots. These would not do for a few reasons.
1- His coat is blue and gray.
2- The boots are pink and purple.
3-They have Dora on them.
4- I don't buy clothes (or boots) with cartoon characters on them. I just don't.
5-I kind of despise her.
6- I stopped taking the kids to the gym childcare because all they do is watch her, I despise her that badly!
7-As a result he has only ever seen the show half a dozen times, he doesn't love her thaaaaat much.
8- they didn't have his size anyway.
9- They were pink, he is a boy. (Whoa, did I just think that?!) ....and that is exactly what I told him. Ben, these are pink, don't you want these nice blue ones? you like blue (and he does...just like he likes red and brown and green and any of the other appropriate gender selected colours unconsciously supported...he also likes pink).
"No, I like pink. JUST pink".
Mmm. Now I am not the kind of parent who thinks that preschool colour choices influence in the least future gender confusion, sexual orientation or degree of masculinity. I do think it would be a great big fat old headache to deal with the amount of comments I/we would receive over the next 14 weeks. Because some people really do think that there is something wrong with a little boy in pink and purple shimmery Dora the explorer boots. I would like to think I am not one of them....but the lone color fact did pop into my head. How deeply ingrained it is. Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. The end.
And it was; the scene ended as impulsively as it started when Ben got over Dora and realized that the ride on dump truck he had just spotted was his new love. I ushered him over to the masculine, rugged black toy and quietly slipped his blue boots into the cart.

Then I went home and questioned my reaction.

I suppose it is something so unconsciously driven and rather insignificant that I wouldn't bother thinking too deeply about it unless forced to, eye to eye with a shimmery pink Dora for instance. I am not one to care too much about what others think especially when motivated by ignorance . I am also not one to sign my children up unnecessarily for social exclusion or ridicule. Granted an easier winter would be had by all if he just wore blue so I held firm in my choice this time. I have a lot I feel passionately about and will debate, to my detriment until I pass out cold from lack of oxygen, but this?...not one of them. I did however, have to admit my ignorance. Why does everyone seem to agree that pink is for girls and blue is for boys.

After reading a little about the history of it here It seems this was not always the case! In fact, it used to be reversed. Blue was seen as a soft, pretty color, associated with the Mother Mary and used commonly for little girls before the last century. Pink was seen as a watered down version of the masculine and strong red, preferred in all its variations for a boy.
So what caused the change? During the second world war the Nazi's used a pink triangle to label homosexuals. It has, thereafter been associated with femininity and homosexuality. Well. That changed things for me. Recognizing that my acceptance of gender color assignment had Nazi origins that we still support made me want to go out and get those pink boots after all!

Isn't it interesting to get to the root of collective ideas, no matter how seemingly frivolous? I was pleasantly surprised at how my attitude changed with a little enlightenment. My boys can wear whatever color they desire in the future, I will explain when asked why truly it doesn't matter, and in the meantime...call them vintage.

Where's Jake?

Our Jakey is kind of like a cat. He takes off on me if I look away for a second (to get away from his brother...who treats him like a pet). I know his "spots"; behind the couch under the sofa table, behind the front door (where the door stop is, that kind of gives him away) under the desk or under the chair at the head of the kitchen table. I know where to get him if we are going out or it seems like he should eat (just kidding...he doesn't hide ALL day..poor kid, just occasionally..) but I prefer to say "wheeeeeeeeere's Mommy's Jaaaaaakey? (you know, and pretend I can't hear him giggling...) then he will pop out with THIS grin! Isn't it awesome? He is way better than a cat (although the whole litter box thing still runs in their favor...)

First Snow

We woke up this morning with an early taste of winter! The boys were so excited to see fluff coming from the clouds.
We celebrated with some warm cider, date balls, a winter walk and an afternoon in pajamas!

Bag Boy

Ben has a little bag he carries with him EVERYWHERE. He wouldn't even get his haircut yesterday without it clutched on his lap. Often others will ask "Ben what is in your Bag?" He looks at them like it should be obvious. "My toy magazines".
It is a bag stuffed with toys R us, walmart and magazine insert toy flyers from the last three months. They go with him everywhere and are sorted at least ten times a day. He reads them again and again, to the point they are soft and crinkled. I feel for his little feelings when the inquirer will usually start to laugh. When they look at me I say simply "He has quite the collection." And he does. Regardless of his ignorance in the adorableness of his hording.

As his attachment to them got stronger, his dedication to acquiring new material grew and the amount of time he spent looking at them, sorting and memorizing the pages increased I began to worry. Is he "wanting" too much? Is this encouraging ingratitude, materialism and frivolousness? I told him he could pick one thing for Santa to bring him and he looked at me in horror.

"But Mommy, I really just want another "magazine!"

I think it is funny that he values the ads for the items more than the actual items in the pages. Santa is going to get a break this year in our home and needs only deliver a sears wish book I think for Christmas to be a true hit!

Nine Months in the Making!

Nine months old! (well on the 21st of October...I am a little late. Good thing he is such a forgiving little fellow...as long as I feed him on time he is pretty relaxed!)

1- Jacob is pulling himself up and cruising around everything. Crawling was so last month!
2-The stairs are his newest accomplishment
3- He loves loves loves food! His favorites include roasted butternut squash with cinnamon and maple syrup, avocado, spaghetti, blueberry and applesauce, toast and apple butter, oatmeal and date balls, banana chips and any fresh fruit.
4- Jake is only gracing us with one wake up a night now and puts himself to sleep for naps which is quite the relief.
5- He loves to play with balls and anything his brother is playing with...
6-Jake has a hard time with his carseat and diaper changes...not such a hard time letting us know.
7- His eyes get bluer every month
8-He has a huge smile for everyone!
9- He waves, claps, signs milk and more, says Mama and Dada.


Jake, you are the happiest, sweetest baby ever! We adore your laugh, your giggles, your grins, your pouts and your cheeks! We love you so much!