Daddy, I go wish you today?

For those that don't know, I usually get the boys half a day on Saturdays and on Mondays.  If, for some reason something comes up on those two days, we don't usually reschedule to a different day.  I'm just out of luck for that day.  On Thursday I was feeling a bit sorry for myself.  The boys had been sick and I had to work on Monday so I didn't get them.  That usually is a hard week for me when I have to go seven days without seeing them.  I received an interesting phone call though, Thursday, at nine in the morning that went like this...
Me: Hello
Quiet voice: Daaaaady
Me: Hey buddy
Quiet voice: I come wish you today?
Me: You want to come to my house?
Quiet voice: Yeah.  I play wish you today.
Me: Okay, I'll come get you, go get your shoes and coat on, okay?  Hello?  Hello?

Beck had hung up the phone and went to get his coat on.  Yes, you read that correctly, the quiet voice was none other than Beck. My son who has been so hit and miss on visitation called me in the middle of the week (while he was really sick I might add) and wanted to come to my house.  I drove about nine million miles an hour trying to see through the tears in my eyes.  My heart was so full.  So many days I feel like a failure as a father in my attempts to bond with my sons on a part time basis.  I could not stop crying as I raced to their house.  I was elated.  When I pulled up to their house the boys came running down the walk.  As soon as Beck saw me he said, "I wanna go to McDonalds, but not to the scary one."  I loaded them into the truck so thankful that Beck had called.  Driving with them always presents interesting conversations...

As soon as I get in the truck...
Beck: Daddy?
Me:  Yes buddy
Beck:  I tol' Mommy you come get me.  I call Daddy, he come get me.
Me:  You did?
Beck: I call, then I wait for you.
He was very matter of fact when he said it.  I was so glad that I could go when he called.

Beck:  This is the way to the park
Me:  Where is the park that is this way?
Killian:  (Pointing behind us) That way!
Beck:  Noooo, that is the way to my house

As we drive past the Springville McDonald's
Beck points and says," Dat one is a dangerous McDonald's."
Me: Why is that one dangerous?  (Marveling that he could even use the word dangerous properly)
Beck: Cause it is not safe.

Driving a bit further down the road...
Beck:  Look at all the trees!  I can't even see in the trees there's so many.
Killian:  I see a duck
Beck: I don't see a duck, so many trees
Killian:  Wed light daddy!  Stop! Stop! Stop!
Beck:  Look at those biggie ducks! (Geese)
Killian:  I hear a tain (train)
Beck: I don't see a train
Killian: I HEAR a tain
Beck: I don't see a train

After we played for awhile I told them I needed to go back to work so we needed to go.  I got Beck buckled in and Killian wanted to climb in my door.  While Killian was climbing in my side (or so I thought) I got the apple slices and boys drinks loaded in.  Only to hear Beck start screaming.  I ran around the other side of the truck to see that Killian and reclined my seat all the way down onto Beck and Beck couldn't retreat due to me harnessing him into his car seat.  Ooops.  Daddy lesson learned.
     I told Killian to get in the truck, we needed to go home so I could change their diapers. 
Beck: You no change mine
Me: Yep, I need to change both your diapers
Beck: No, Killian pooped, I peed.

I was so greatful for my boys this day.  So grateful I had not given up on the numerous days I felt like I wasn't making any progress.  I felt today that I loved my boys, and they in turn, loved me back.

Two little monsters waiting for their balloons to be blown up

Not sure why they sat in line to watch a movie

No Idea

     Madame T-Rex and I had been emailing back and forth during the week trying to figure out the reasons for Beck's sudden refusal to come back.  She had suggested maybe going to McDonald's as Beck really likes the play land.  I thought long and hard about that one.  Would I be able to go to McDonald's and resist Coke.  The bane of my existence!  Would I have to call my 12 step sponsor before I went.  My hands got the Coke shakes.  I would do it...for my son!  I told T-Rex that I would take them and to let the boys know. 
     I pulled up front of the boys house and Beck was leading the charge towards my truck.  I was about to be over run by twins wearing monster hats!  I yelled up to T-Rex that apparently McDonald's was were I was going to have to go from now on.  She informed me that she had not told Beck we were going.  Beck just decided he wanted to come.  Killian told me, "Daddy, I need two steps!"  That is my cue to squat down and with one knee higher than the other so he can use my thigh's as steps.  He also said," I need steps cause I lid-O tiny Daddy."  Beck's response was, "Daddy, I don't need steps cause I really big!"  Beck proceeded to use the best bouldering technique's and somehow managed to use the floor mat and car seat for hand holds to haul himself up.  He was right.  He did not need steps.  The boys then proceeded to step/jump on everything in the truck with their snowy/muddy boot.  The fact that the boys are still alive is a testament to how much I love them.  My inner OCD could only focus on all the mud and small rocks on my leather interior.  I love my boys...I love my boys...I love my boys. 
     Because Killian had heard me say McDonald's as he was coming to the truck I got this... I wanna go McDonald's Iwanna go McDonald'sI wanna go McDonald's Iwanna go McDonald's Iwanna go McDonald's until I answered him.  I gave him a few times finding it funny and thinking he would stop.  It lost its humor so I answered. 
     We played at McDonald's for two hours.  The boys were very well behaved.  I was a bit scared of going there by myself with two and only coming back with one.  That is only fifty percent.  In scouts our goal was always seventy-five percent.  When we got back in the truck my conversation went like this with Beck...
Beck: I like you Daddy
Me:  I love you buddy
Beck: I like playing with you Daddy
Me:  Then why didn't you want to come play with me on Saturday?
Beck:  You have a biggie truck!
Me:  Why didn't you want to come play with me on Saturday?
Killian:  Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!

Stupid cement truck.  It was really cool, but I had hoped to have a different conversation right then.  As we were driving away Beck said, "It is such a beautiful day.  The sun.  The snow.  It is a beautiful day."  Killian answered with "Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!Cement tuck!"

I had to get away from construction vehicles.  We went to my house to play.  The boys have been talking about Christmas lights so I went and purchased a tree.  Those that know me really well, will know this is a big deal!  Even bigger than allowing mud on my leather seats.  Or throwing all of Daddy's alphabetized CD's on the ground.  I don't like Christmas.  I don't like all the work that goes into it, only to have to do more work to take it down a month later.  I was very excited to see what, if anything, the boys would say.  Killian ran over to the tree and said,"  Daddy! Daddy! The kissmas tee (Killian sounds like he is three, Beck sounds like he is six) is so bootiful.  There is red, geen, and blue.  And a train around the tee.  Yay.  Yay.  Yay."  For that response I would become Clark Griswald every year!  I got a bit teary eyed. 

Here's to hoping Beck comes back on Saturday!

Killian kept saying "Who 'dis guy?"

Beck gave me his socks.  So he could get traction on the slide he said

The proper way to take your socks off.  Everyone take note.

Everything in the play land is considered a toy.

Oh Man!

We had such a fun time at the museum.  Beck had asked if I would pick him up in the morning.  Then, for some reason known only to a two year old, he didn't want to come back.  No idea what happened there.  So I only had Killian, who was very sick.  Killian wanted to go to "the sandbox".  That is the Mapleton city park sand volleyball court.  We were both digging in silence, I was just enjoying watching him fill his dump truck full of dirt when he said to me, "Daddy, you need to talk to me."  Apparently he was tired of being watched and it my turn to participate in the relationship.  He didn't want to stay very long or say very much.  Killian wanted to go home, watch a movie and lay on the couch.  My kind of hanging out!

He was so tired and sick.  But he wanted to be at Daddy's house.

Beck is back!

It took lots of bribery, but I got Beck to come with me again finally.  I took doughnuts, balloons, books, and dinosaurs.  I knew I had made headway with him finally when he called me on the phone to say thank you for my dinosaur Daddy.  That coupled with going to the Dinosaur museum the next day helped.  We went to McDonalds, the museum, and my house.  I had them for five hours that day.  At the end of the day, Beck asked if I would pick him up again after his tub.  I think that translates into a successful day.

Letting him lick the glass is totally sanitary right?

Killian had to climb on everything

I was told I had to get out of the tunnel or monsters would get me

Killian types while watching the movie

Beck was soaked after playing in the dirt and water

Digging for dinosaurs with one leg for leverage

A few of just Killian

Killian has discovered that your seat can be used as a flotation device, or as a ride is you are three.
http://youtu.be/GfFiiniOs6w?hd=1

More of the seat video
http://youtu.be/jZybyZiUtAc?hd=1

Run! Monsters are coming!
http://youtu.be/Zpgbkm7KKfg?hd=1

Un a bella
http://youtu.be/7gvay1kY4NE?hd=1

Un a bella part 2
http://youtu.be/6GeaIHO649c?hd=1

Just Killian AGAIN

A couple of posts back I forced Beck to come with me.  He ran down the walk all excited to see me, then as soon as he got to the gate he turned around and started to walk back to the house, shoulders slumped.  Madame X asked him what was wrong and Beck said that he didn't want to go "cause Daddy won't feed me lunch".  He started to cry and I just loaded him into the truck anyway.  Beck kept telling me "I tol' you, I don't want to go!"  It broke my heart.  Halfway home, Beck saw something funny in the movie Madagascar and he started laughing.  The entire rest of the day we played, Beck laughed.  It was a fun time had by all, or so I thought.  The subsequent visits Beck would run away from me, retreating further into his house so he didn't have to see me.  That has left me just one to take, and let me tell you, one is so much easier than two.  Although, if I had my wish, I would always pick two.  Killian is into walking dinosaurs around now and making noises as they walk.  The picture of dinosaurs below is what he put on the blocks.  He said, "Dis one Daddy and dis one Mommy!"  Those that have seen the photo, agree that it is an accurate representation.  One other funny conversation with Killian took place while he was drawing in the dirt on the side of my truck...
Killian: Daddy, you truck dirty.
Me:  It is, should we go wash it?
Killian:  No...let go get a new Daddy tuck!  (I think he gets that from his mothers side)

Good thing I have such a manly truck to haul manly things

Killian loves his hat and coat pulled up as high as he can get

This is from the visit I forced Beck to come.  They drove 4 wheelers around then walked in the tracks

Daddy is on the left, and Madame X (or should I say Madame T-Rex now?) is on the right

Killian loves to climb on my truck

He wanted to play in the "trailer"

Is it good? Yep.

Killian says he is drawing a 'high one", I would like to know what that is.
http://youtu.be/JCjaXa0BYKU

Is it good?  Yep.
http://youtu.be/gp9XGLjZClk

Listen to how polite Killian can be.
http://youtu.be/Pbvo7ssX4q8

Don't do it

Beck is not shy about telling you to stop, and then moving away from you
http://youtu.be/X3irlID9pmw

Beck is a tough kid.  I usually just say bonk to distract them unless I think it is really going to hurt and then you can usually see me run over there.  This time he toughed it out.
http://youtu.be/wh78tpqMBV4

The boys love to play in the sink.  That usually ends up in their clothes going into the dryer after, and lots of towels for the floor.  If I let them do this before lunch they won't eat, due to drinking so much water.
http://youtu.be/PHb84LewcJs

Train Needs a Tire

Coloring with Killian
http://youtu.be/OgIt_Wlx7yk

Sit white thew by me
http://youtu.be/7xy98HbvKRQ

They move so much, landscape photography is easier to focus.
http://youtu.be/dnl6Vk0R81Q

There's a 'Punkin'

The boys putting stickers on grandma's window.
http://youtu.be/QzEibfpWjI0

Mas video's

Watch quickly as Killian throws the ball in the air and then realizes he can't catch it. 
http://youtu.be/aRl2fcdQ46U

I have no idea what this game was before he got distracted
http://youtu.be/fhkW_f6foVE

Video's finally

This is the process that we have to go throught to get the boys into the truck.
http://youtu.be/aU9B321s7h0

These two are this active for almost the entire time they are with me.
http://youtu.be/mvi0jjZfM_w

Show Daddy your teeth

I was trying to take a candid photo of the boys sitting together when Grandma said, "Show Daddy your teeth!"  The following photos are Killians version of showing his teeth for a photo.

Improvement

Killian putting "punkin" stickers up

Beck likes to put all his upside down

Chilin' at Daddy's house

I love it when he comes and sits on my lap!

Beck was pretending a car drove into his eye and hurt it

Killian then had to do the same

So glad he is all smiles now when he comes over

They have to run or jump everywhere

Further proof I drug my kids?

There are plastic balls in the car to cushion the landing

They love to wrestle with each other

Beck has become more adventurous on his own

Killian walking with grandma's cane

Beck doing his best impression of George Bush

Beck had to also walk with the cane

Canes are also good for putting your misbehaving tree in line

He was so excited he got the cane stuck in the tree

Both boys have to drop stuff into the water down below every visit

     This last visit I was looking back on just how much has changed during the last year as far as the twins were concerned.  I'm getting both of them on a regular basis.  The boys interact more with me than they did a year ago.  It is much harder to change them because they now can run away and roll around if they don't want to be changed.  The boys interact with each other more.  It is so funny to listen to them try and have a conversation with one another.  It goes something like this...

Beck: Killian (he can actually pronounce that) I felled! *points to where he fell*
Killian: *looks at Beck* I have a wock.

Before, they would just push the other out of the way if they didn't like something instead of trying to talk it out.  The boys were pushing one another on a tricycle.  Beck would push, then say, "put me now."  Killian would get up and push for a bit, then they would switch all over.  Last year while watching Finding Nemo when the "biggie fish" came and ate all of Nemo's brothers they were excited at the big fish and big teeth.  Now they recognize that Marlin (Nemo's dad for all you non forced to watch Finding Nemo fifty times a week people) gets sad after the fish goes and it in turn makes them sad.  Killian used to be excited to get his shoes on because he could go outside.  Now he automatically thinks if I'm putting his shoes on he is going home.  So it usually takes me convincing him that we are only going outside and he can stay before he will put his shoes on.  The last time I told the boys they were going home, Beck threw his shoes and his police car (it's a big police car!) at me and said, "I no going home".  This last time Killian cried the entire way home saying things like, "turn awound go back Daddy's house!"  By the time we got to the twins home I was crying right along with Killian.  So I guess life is improving and the boys and I will some how figure out how to make all this work.