These two sure do look perfectly innocent and angelic ... don't they? Most often they are ... they can be the coolest thing around, but lately ... They are just frustrating!
Don't get me wrong, I love these boys like nothing else and I am very proud to be their mother. I do, however, get very frustrated with all the "testing" that
both of them have now decided they are going to give to both Todd and myself.
Grant has always been a tester. He likes to see what he can do to change our minds regarding his punishment. If he throws a big enough tantrum, will we let him stay up for that extra half hour? If he tells us over and over that he doesn't like us, will we let him throw a ball in the house and try to hit the TV? If he throws all of the pillows in the house, will we allow him to allow him to "surf down the stairs" with the top of his basketball toy box? Lately, he's been testing a lot more frequently, but we really haven't given in much. Lately we have been really putting our feet down and keeping it there. He doesn't take too kindly to that.
Gavin, on the other hand, hasn't really ever tested us. But, watching Grant over these past 20 months has shown him that testing gets quite a reaction out of mommy and daddy, and he thinks that it looks like a lot of fun. Gavin has been starting to throw tantrums and has even started "talking back" a little. I can't really understand some of his back talk, but the look on his face tells me quite a bit -- he's mad! he's also trying to do things that he knows that he shouldn't be doing to see what kind of trouble he is going to get into.
The boys have definitely been spending a lot of time in their rooms "thinking" about what they've done wrong. We're trying a whole new regime to get these little boogers in line. We are trying rationalizing with them ... we are trying the "star" reward system - for every good thing they do, they earn a green star - that allows them to collect stars in order to do a fun thing at the end of the week. We do fun things throughout the week, but Grant has been known to choose an outing to Chuck E. Cheese for his special fun thing. This seems to work -- for the time being ... but, what in the world can two parents do that will stick?!?!
We really don't want to spank and yell at them constantly, but then again, time outs don't work either. Those are spent yelling and screaming at the mom and dad. They don't really "learn" anything from those. Gavin follows his brother's lead. I think if we can get to Grant ... Gavin will do by example. I don't think we can handle
two little monsters!
This is just a quick little rant .... the boys are truly amazing little boys. We LOVE them dearly. We wouldn't trade them for anything and we are definitely amazed at their way of using their heads -- their way of thinking. At such young ages, they use their little minds in such ways that are truly amazing! They THINK! They can be a little mind boggling and frustrating, but they challenge everything and fight for what they want. They question everything and ask why. They see how far they can go ... they don't give up. I think these boys, being the challenge that they are, are going to grow up to be amazing boys!
Grant started Pre-School this fall, and he was very excited! He got his new Spiderman backpack and Spiderman lunch box! This was a picture from his first day! The thought he was soooo cool! He absolutely LOVES it! He has been on a field trip to the Toledo Zoo and he has been able to see his "buddies". He looks forward to his two days a week! This month he's going to the Pumpkin Factory and having a Halloween party. Todd and I are even taking the boys to the Boo Zoo at the Detroit Zoo this year! We cannot wait! 
