My World at Home

Busy as a Bee...

2009-07-11T22:04:00.002-04:00

What a summer! Well, it hasn't been much of a summer weather-wise - - - between the rain and cool temps, it seems more like spring than anything else! I guess ya gotta look at it in the positive - we're saving a bunch on electricity because we aren't using the AC!!

Anyhoo - - - aside from my life being the constant up and down and up and a big LOOP then down again, it's been a busy time... without Jakers in school (when Justin would nap) I'm missing my treasured 2 hours of ME TIME during the day. I didn't realize how wonderful that time was - whether I used it for household stuff, or just relaxing with cross-stitch, crafts, games, photography, etc... I manage a few minutes here and there to get on the 'puter - but my real time is at night. And by the time "nighty night" rolls around, and I've done the dishes and laundry and picked up and planned for the next day - the *LAST* thing I feel like doing is thinking about writing a blog.

I've managed to get some wonderful pics of the boys over the past few months... and plan to post them... as soon as I can fool the clock into thinking there's more time than it thinks....

Sweet Miracle Maggie

2009-06-25T21:55:00.005-04:00

Not sure how many of ya'll still read this - but I have to post this anyway. Friends of mine from high school (we won't say how many years) are facing a very stressful day tomorrow. Their sweet little girl Maggie Juneis scheduled for some major surgery tomorrow - and the peanut is just a little past her first birthday. While she's shown to be just as strong, determined, and stubborn as her mommy and daddy, this is still a tenuous time for them - - - so I'm asking ya'll to send up positive thoughts and prayers to whatever and whoever you believe in...

'Nuff said...

2009-06-19T21:30:00.001-04:00

Dang you, technology!

2009-06-10T20:35:00.002-04:00

So I've been without my internet since Friday. I'm not sure if I'm glad to get it back, or slightly disappointed! I've gotten an incredible amount of stuff done around here - today I finished shampooing the rugs in the bedrooms, hallway, and living room (with a bit of help from my loverly neighbor). Plus I've been able to go through both Jacob's and Justin's clothes for outgrown stuff, and managed to start some of my clothes. And seeing as tomorrow is Jake's last day of school (and a picnic I can't wait for!), I spent this evening baking and decorating 4 dozen sugar cookies, 2 dozen finger sammiches (tuna and egg salad), cutting veggies for tossed salad, and making milk chocolate truffles for his teachers. Jake and I just finished putting together some little bags for his classmates with bubbles and such. Once I get him to bed I've got little notes to put together... and as much as I'd like to catch up with ya'll, I'm going to do my duties and find ya'll later...

This time...

2009-06-04T22:49:00.002-04:00

This time...

10 years ago...

I was sitting in my light pink bedroom with the roses that I stenciled on the walls, realizing it's not good to shave your legs after 2 glasses of wine...

With my maid of honor and "sister"...

Realizing that at 10:30 the next morning I was going to be a "Mrs."...

Why I'm miserable...

2009-06-01T13:40:00.003-04:00

This is my car.

No, that's not snow. It's pollen.

Ick.

Dang you, allergies!

2009-05-31T21:59:00.003-04:00

I had planned on doing a big update tonight - full of pictures and lovely updates - but it seems as if Mother Nature hates me. We had Family Day today - with a trip to Mohegan Park and pizza from our favorite Gus's in Plainfield. Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to give me the worst allergies I've had in F O R E V E R - - - and as I sit here, I'm a big itchy burny nosey stuffy cranky allergy mess. So I'm hoping for some rain tonight - to get the ridiculous amount of pollen off the deck - and when Jaker's os in school tomorrow, I *PROMISE* a photo dump!

I'm off to bed...to find my Kleenex and a cold washcloth...

WOW!

2009-05-26T22:06:00.002-04:00

I was going through my pictures tonight, and realized how much has happened with the boys that I've neglected to share! They're still the silly little monsters, but I've managed to catch a lot more on camera. If all works out, I'll do a big old photo-dump this week... so watch out!

Seeing the sunshine...

2009-05-22T20:24:00.002-04:00

I'm still here - yay!! Just managed to get both kids in bed, and I'm going to enjoy tonight to myself. Today started out a bit rough (only because I decided to enforce my decision instead of being the usual marshmallow...) but once I let the banshees outside, I had more laughs than I'd managed in a long time. Nothing like seeing your boys strip to their birthday suits, running around the back yard, deciding to make a bathtub out of their Radio Flyer! I'm not feeling 100% - - - but I'm hoping I've convinced myself to find the sunshine in every day...

2009-05-03T22:01:00.000-04:00

still here... trying to figure out up from down... but i'll be back!

We break now for a scheduled warning...

2009-04-15T17:37:00.002-04:00

I just had to pop on to once again, apologize for my lack of entries. I've been feeling that damned darkness creeping back up on me - and I'm trying like hell to fight it. But the damn thing keeps finding me when I least expect it. I think what gets me the most frustrated is that I can't control it - - - I'm not one to tolerate lack of control... This week I've been away from the computer a lot, trying to focus for MYSELF - spending my nights watching movies *I* want to watch (like Twilight for the 4th time...), or crafting, or catching up on those nagging little clutter piles. I'm hoping to re-focus... So far this week, I've had some great times, and I'm looking forward to some more in the next days. If I can cling to THAT, and not the darkness, I should be ok...

National Champs!!!

2009-04-11T21:03:00.000-04:00

I know this post is a wee bit overdue - - - but hey - - - I haven't been known to have a lot of free time on my hands!

A few weeks back I got to join Dad at the 2nd Round NCAA Women's Tourney at Gampel. It was FANTASTIC! Sad to say, it was the first basketball game I'd been able to see all year... I can see them on TV anytime, but there's something about sitting in those seats in Storrs that makes the difference. I loved being able to spend time with Dad - we hadn't had the chance in so long! And being back on campus, seeing the familiar sights and faces - - - it really renewed my energy. UConn really is my home!

So here are some pics... enjoy!!

The ticket...

The Pep Band...Tip-off...Serious Geno...Although I was sad not to see Big Red, this silly Cat-in-the-Hat dude is a good replacement...Too bad the men weren't able to add another banner...Final score - typical UConn Women whuppin'!

YAY for teeth!!!

2009-04-06T20:34:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to pop in... I have *so many* pictures to share... and some REALLY silly stories to share - - - and I promise to do so in the near future. But right now, I need to take my valium and go to bed.

Ya see... tomorrow is day #2 of my lovely dental work. Round #1 was back in November... I am absolutely PETRIFIED of going to the dentist, thanks to the "talented" man who removed my wisdom teeth when I was in college. This past fall, I found myself in a pain I couldn't ignore - and managed to locate a new dentist. I found Waterford Dental Health, a dental office that offers sedation. I knew it was the only way I'd be able to get through whatever I needed... so after 2 consults, I went for round #1.

Once they were in my mouth, poking and prodding and doing God-knows-what (I was out cold...what do I care!!!) I guess they found a few more areas that needed attention. So tomorrow, I get to go in for root canal #2, and 2 crowns... grrr...

It doesn't make me happy - - - but I know I'm the only one in charge of my health. At 33, I'm dealing with the consequences of my youth... My parents didn't want to make me do anything I didn't want to do - - - their logic was, why spend the time/money when it wouldn't be taken care of... My wallet (hahaha) kinda wishes they were more forceful, but my heart(luvluvluv) knows that just isn't how I was raised. I'll probably be the same way with my kids...might not be the best idea, but the most "full of love" idea...

Hopefully once I come out of all the fun tomorrow I'll have a full mouth of pain-free teeth... and the knowledge that one needs to take care of themselves!!! Last time I was back in the swing of things by the next day... so keep posted for some more pics... more stories... and more HAPPY TEETH!

My latest inspiration...

2009-04-02T21:38:00.003-04:00

So in all my free time, I've decided to try to re-do my craft chair. A few weeks ago I sat down on it, and ended up on my arse on the floor! Before ya'll start with the jokes, the chair is 30 years old... it's the chair to the bedroom set I got when I was moved to my big girl room when Dana was born... it's OLD. I've always considered doing something to the chair (and maybe even the desk) but never had a real reason. Well, after taking the seat off to repair the frame, I've decided now is the time!

Here's the chair as it looks now... it's pale yellow with a very slight gold splatter... It's in pretty good condition - could use a good cleaning, but otherwise isn't screaming "REPAINT ME!!"

I've got 3 fabrics I'm considering to re-cover the seat. First, this funky plum-ish color taffeta with a green irridescent sheen...

Then I have this brown-purple-ish canvas type fabric with the enbroidery...

The one I'm really considering is this - - - yellow background with blue sun and moon and a gold sparkle... aside from the fact I'd have to do minimal repainting to the chair, it's got sun and moon!!! I haven't done anything more than fix the frame at this point - - - I'm not sure which fabric I want to use, which will then lead me to figure out the paint color... So I'm asking for input! PLEASE let me know which one ya'll like the best... Cuz I can't decide!!

Spring Gala

2009-04-02T14:18:00.002-04:00

A few weekends back, Steve and I escaped for a night out - we got all dressed up and actually had someplace to go! Every year his company holds a Spring Gala - Steve described it best as the Company Prom. It's not at all cheesy, but it's the once-a-year dress up treat for the partners. We hadn't been in 2 years, and although not much has changed, it was still a fantastic night!

Both Steve and I were confused at the start time - and ended up getting there really early! Luckily, we came across some of the guys in his group at the bar - so we all sat down for a drink and caught up. Then we headed into the ballroom for cocktail hour (and the most FANTASTIC coconut shrimp!!!). Dinner was FANTASTIC - I was in love with the pasta station!! We ended up having to leave right after dessert, so we missed out on the dancing - oh well... But it was a great night - caught up with some fun people - and actually got to feel like adults for a change!

You never know...

2009-03-24T22:32:00.002-04:00

I hate to be so serious - but I suppose when something touches you so deeply, it has to be shared. So here I am... sharing...

Tonight I went to the NCAA Women's game with my dad up at UConn. Even though we had a great night (I'll share later), I'm left with a melancholy feeling that I can't shake. I wish I had more answers, but right now all I can do is hope things turned out for the best.

See, I happened to come across a car accident - a pretty big one. A truck up on a side road, and a Taurus-like car on the right side of the road, facing the wrong way. Lots of police cars, paramedics, fire trucks... sand scattered about to sop up something (gas maybe?)... I never really like looking at car accidents (who can blame me?) but this one left me not wanting to ever look again.

I was about to drive past when a police officer stopped me. It gave me the chance to take in the scene... I happened to stop right next to a green SUV with the back tailgate open. I looked up to notice a man take a car seat from the Taurus, throw it in the SUV, and get in. I had been stopped to let this man leave the scene of the accident. Once he pulled out I was able to go, and ended up behind him all the way to the hospital, where he turned in and I kept going. At one point he had his arm out the window, and I could see his wedding band. I can only conclue that this man was the daddy to the little one in the car seat, and husband to the mom driver...

I checked the news, and as of now there's nothing posted about the accident. I'm hoping that Dad had to get the car seat so he could pick up the little one at daycare, and now they're all home, snuggled on the couch - mom with a little stiff neck, but all of them happy and safe.

I guess my point is this - you never know what's going to happen. And when it's going to happen. I bet these people started their days like any other - and in an instant, it's all changed.

I couldn't help but imagine my own family in this situation. What if I had been in that Taurus, with the boys in the car? How would I have felt if I was hurt and had to be taken away... what would happen to the boys? Where would they go? Who would give them kisses and tell them Mommy will be ok? What if Jake was waiting for mommy at school, and I never came? Or worse yet... what if I was like that Dad... What if *I* got the call that there was an accident and I had to go to the scene to get a car seat like he did, or have to rush to the hospital... Who would comfort them until mommy got there?

I know I can't live my life holed up in my house, with the boys locked in a bubble. But the accident made me think of some things that need to be addressed in my own life - in my home, relationships...

Needless to say, I gave both of the monsters a sweet kiss and gentle back rub as soon as I got home. I left each a little post it that says "I LOVE YOU" next to their pillows (even though they can't read!). And you can bet I'm checking those car seats first thing in the morning...

Goof

2009-03-23T22:01:00.001-04:00

What's not to love??

Why I love them - part 2

2009-03-23T20:20:00.002-04:00

Today was actually a really good day in Mommy-land. Yeah, the kids were nutty - but not any more nutty than usual. At some points they were actually calm! But the little monsters graced me with some little nuggets of joy... and I share them with you now...

Jacob has been learning about germs in school. I've always stressed the importance of hand washing and whatnot - but I think the lessons with his teacher really connected. He came home today telling me he knows what the germ that causes colds looks like, and that he knows germs make you throw up. I asked him how he knew that - and he said "Because S barfded all over the floor!" Lovely...

In the same vein... Justin has always been a little scamp. We've had trouble the past few months getting him to keep his diaper on - on very rare occasions it stays put without needing duct tape (JUST KIDDING!) I had managed to change him this morning - but decided not to wage the war of clothing just yet, so I let him romp around a little just in the diaper. About 5 minutes goes by, and I notice the quiet. Quiet is NEVER good with my kids. So I go into Justin's room to discover an entire package of wipes strewn about... an equal number of diapers scattered around... and the cutest little face sitting naked in the middle of it all - - - he kept saying "BEE BEE DIPEE!!! BEEBEE DIPEE!!!" I think it's time to start potty training...

Kitchen Therapy - the sequel

2009-03-20T21:28:00.003-04:00

Today was another day in need of some kitchen therapy. I wasn't able to start until later in the afternoon, but once I started...

My first treat was fresh baked bread. The boys LOVE it, and I love making it. I just pulled it out of the oven and I'm trying not to grab a huge chunk, smother it in honey butter, and enjoy the sweet taste!

Once the bread was left to rise, I made some Cheesy Chicken Roll-ups for a birthday party tomorrow. (I'd share a pic, but it's pretty unremarkable). Equally unremarkable - but also equally delicious!!! - was the marinara sauce I made. This is my second batch, and I love it! It's so easy, so healthy - and the boys eat it like it's going out of style! I managed to freeze half the batch, so I don't have to worry next time I get the request for "noo-noo an soss".

I had to run out to get a few remaining goodies for my last treat of the night - but that was OK, as I needed help from Chef Jakers to complete the dish. I've recently joined Weight Watchers (keep an eye out for a post on that in the near future) - and one of the recipes I came upon was this Asian Vegetable Soup.

It may not look like much in the pot, but it is absolutely FANTASTIC! Just enough spice to warm your mouth and satisfy your tastebuds. And the veggies are so yummy! I've already got a batch in the freezer...

Some people clean when they're irritated... some shop... but I cook. YAY!

Why I love them - part 1

2009-03-18T20:56:00.000-04:00

There are times when being a stay at home mom is total torture - cruel and unusual punishment. But there are times - more often than not - that I take such joy in my boys. Everyone told me it would get easier - and while each day brings a new challenge, it is, in a sense, getting easier.

I've decided that the best way to survive is to focus on the positive - so I'm starting a new "series" of little anecdotes - that I'm going to call "Why I love them". Hope you enjoy!

So to start... some recent little sillies from the boys...

Justin has his own language. He is talking a lot more - although for someone who doesn't know what he's saying, it sounds like gibberish. But his favorite phrase seems to be "YAYA! Doo-een? Det dow... Det down... Yaya - doo-een??" In English, that's "Nala! What are you doing? Get down! Get down! Nala! What are you doing?" His favorite show is "Tine-tine" (Little Einsteins) - his favorite things are his "nie-nee" and "nie-nah" (blanket and binkie). He loves to splash in the "tubby" with his big "buddah", read "boohs", play with "cais" on the race track and kick "blalls" in the yard.

Jake has discovered nutrition (yay!) I guess they did a segment in school on healthy eating and the food pyramid. He was always a bit of a picky eater, but I'm finding it a little easier to get him to try (and enjoy) new things. And as usual, he has to do it in his own special Jacob way. He can't ask for breakfast, or a snack - he has to ask for the particular nutrient. "Mom, I want some protein." "I don't want dairy, I want fiber!" "I had enough bread, I need milk." It cracks me up! But it has made things a little easier for me - if there's something I'm trying to convince him to eat, I emphasize the nutrition of it - and so far, it seems to work!

I hope to add these little sillies now and then - to remind myself why I've decided to stay home - and to give ya'll a little chuckle in your day!

More nice weather...

2009-03-15T16:05:00.006-04:00

I've come to the realization that I'll be spending a LOT of time outside this year! The boys just chomp at the bit to get outside whenever there's not rain or chill. I figure it'll give me time to catch up on yard work!

Last week, while Jake was at school, Justin refused to nap. I needed the fresh air - so we headed out to romp for a little bit. First he climbed on the little bike - that was actually Jake's (from Paul and Kate) - and now both have outgrown it! Then he decided it was time to mow the lawn..

After mowing the lawn, he tried to go sledding...

As a last ditch attempt to enjoy the outside, he headed for Jake's bike... Believe it or not, he actually managed to get on the seat!

When it was nice outside...

2009-03-13T22:38:00.004-04:00

Last week we had a nice spell of warm weather. I use "warm" in the sense that one could go ouside and not have their nose freeze off. Come on - it's New England - it doesn't matter that it's March!

But with the warm weather came some major cabin fever - so I took the boys to one of our favorite spots - the Rhododendron Sanctuary in Pachaug State Forest. It's a bit hard to visit in the winter, as the road and path are usually unplowed - so this is the first time we've been since the fall. I loaded the kidlets in the car - along with some bread crusts to feed the waterbugs - and we had a nice afternoon in the fresh air.

"Come on, ma! Stop with the pictures! LET'S WALK!!"
Some spots on the trail still had snow...
...while others were nice and clear.
Feeding the waterbugs... I doubt there were any waterbugs out... and I *really* doubt they like dried bread crusts... but they boys like to feed them - and I'm sure there's some creature downstream that LOVED the buffet!
And finally, a few scenic pics I managed to take...

Carb Overload!

2009-03-11T09:43:00.001-04:00

It's only 945, and already I've made a loaf of white bread - and there's Irish Soda Bread in the oven. Jake was BEGGING to cook this morning...

Mystery Solved

2009-03-10T08:00:00.004-04:00

So we've been in this house 4 1/2 years - and I'd like to think we've got everything figured out at this point. We've had a few problems here and there, and it never fails that some sort of half-arsed attempt at repair had been made before we moved in. Needless to say, when something goes wrong, we're never surprised at the reason.

We have a ceiling fan in our bedroom - which has come in handy in the warmer months. It's got this neat handy dandy remote - for those moments of laziness when you can't be bothered to get out of bed to turn off the light or adjust the fan. Unfortunately, the remote has often been a fun toy for the boys when they've been fast enough to beat me to the switch.

Which leads to the mystery being solved. The mystery is this - over the past 4 years, we've had 2 incidents where the light in the room was so incredibly dim. Like night-light dim. And we couldn't figure out why. We replaced the bulbs. Steve checked the wiring. Nada. We just chalked it up to another one of those half-arsed things in the house, and planned on getting a new one in the future.

Last night, they boys and I were hanging out, watching TV and snuggling before bed. Justin had grabbed the remote, and I thought nothing of it. All of a sudden, the light got really dim - I noticed his little meaty hand just clutching the remote where the light switch is. Then my own personal light got brighter - It has a dimmer switch! So lo and behold - there was nothing wrong with the light in the first place. The problem was us not being able to figure out how to operate a simple light switch remote!

If we can't figure this out, our VCR and DVD player are totally out of the question...

Pride got the best of me...

2009-03-08T21:21:00.007-04:00

I think I've learned my lesson.

KEEP YER TRAP SHUT!!

I was so proud that none of the family had come down with any of the ick that has been going around. I was thrilled that Justin was so healthy, and that Jake had managed to weather the winter in preschool without any of the cooties...

And then it hit...

At the beginning of last week, Jacob started with some sniffles... then a bit of congestion... then the cough. ACK! I kept him home on Wednesday - he didn't have a fever, but he was pretty congested, coughing a bit. And he was totally content to sit on the couch with his blue blankie... which, if you know Jacob, is TOTALLY out of character! The "ick" seemed to be defeated with lots of fluids (yay rocket blender!!) and some good sleep... and by Thursday he was ready to go back to school.

Thursday was a pretty good day! Then Friday came... Both kids were a little snotty - but still, I hoped the "ick" would just pass over us OVER...

Until Saturday...

>Lucky Jake was better - he still had a bit of a cough, but he was well enough to be the little dictator I love... Poor Justin wasn't so lucky. He woke up with a runny nose, some nasty congestion, and that tell-tale cough. I had some errands to run, and I hoped the car ride would put him down for a good nap... No such luck. The poor kid must have felt so lousy that his little red-cheeked face just screamed "Mommy GIMME SOME NYQUILL!!" Unfortunately, that's not on the list of approved meds... I cut the errands short and gave him some Motrin. Even though he didn't get in a good nap, he seemed in better spirits. He woke a few times through the night - but for the most part, he slept well.

But I think the hours of good sleep let the "ick" really set in... He woke up this morning (Sunday) with a 101 fever and one whopper of a chest cold. I've been keeping a real close eye on him, to make sure it doesn't go beyond this. Jacob has his share of respiratory illness his first 2 years, so I know what to look for - - - and so far, Justin is just in the "I feel like poo but I don't need to go to the doctor" stage. I made sure to give him whatever he wanted - which was nothing more than juice, milk, and the occasional apple slice. He did gulp down a container of yogurt before bed, so I'm hopeful he's satisfied. Between a full tummy, some Motrin, and the remainder of my "taken-off-the-market" PediaCare cough and congestion formula, I hope he feels well enough to sleep well... Poor little man!

That being said, *I* am going to bed. I've started with a wee bit of a scratchy throat this morning... and as we all know, Mommy can NOT get sick!

Dancin' Machines

2009-03-06T20:08:00.002-05:00

This is what happens when my kids get the boogie bug...

Sweet boys

2009-03-03T21:03:00.003-05:00

Thanks to the lovely plow guys in town, we were FINALLY able to get out of our road this morning- - - having met up with neighbor Dave, I know there really *ARE* people in town that care for children - - - When I thanked him for doing our driveway, he simply said "If there was an emergency with those boys, you'd need to get out. I did it for the boys." Dave and Judy have twin grandsons that are almost 3 - - - so they know what life is like with little ones. It really warmed my heart... We don't see them but a few times a year... but living in a "neighborhood" where people know you and care is one of those things I've always looked forward to...

So today, Jakers was finally able to go back to school - - - to some mixed emotions. He started a cough over the weekend, and it got a little worse as the days went by. This morning I was a little undecided as to whether or not to send him to school... he didn't have a fever, just some coughing and a smidgen more crankiness (which, for Jake, could be as little as not getting the right jelly on his PB&J). So off he went. We ran some errands and he was FANTASTIC! Even Justin cooperated... until bedtime.

I had been trying to get Justin to bed so Jake and I could have our treasured "mommy/Jacob time" - meaning any time we do something special. Tonight was coloring - - I had been given some volunteer work from his teacher, and Jake had to join in. Justin was tired as anything. but fought the good fight. Just as I was at the end of my rope, Jacob comes to me and asks what was wrong with is baby (how he refers to Justin) . When I explained that Justin was tired but didn't want to sleep, Jake began to sing "lullabye... and goodnight... sweet baby it's sleeps time..."

Nomally, I would have scooted Jacob out as fast as I could... but tonight I let him settle his little brother...

And now they are both asleep...

I love my little men!

SNOW DAY!

2009-03-02T20:43:00.002-05:00

OK - so maybe a snow day in CT isn't such a big deal, but I actually managed to get some pictures this time! Our neighbor Dave came over with his snow plow and was halfway through the driveway before I noticed - which allowed Steve to get out and play with us, rather than suffering through shoveling duty. (I'm going to deliver some sort of delicious baked confection tomorrow as a thank you...) So I bundled up the boys and myself, and outside we went.

I was a bit peeved when the lovely town plows managed to plow us all in - the plow came DOWN the street, but looped around OPPOSITE all the driveways. NO ONE could get out! We got quite a bit of snow...

This was taken at the far side of the cul-de-sac, opposite our driveway. Notice there's NO WAY to get out!

Jake LOVES the snow, so it didn't take long before he was climbing in and out.

Justin wasn't so sure... I think it was a wee bit too deep!
Once they found the sled (my $15 steal at LL Bean a few years ago, regularly priced at $100!) I got the best moment of the day - my 2 boys playing nicely with each other! Jake had a blast hauling Justin around the street, both of them laughing the entire time.
Although it was nice for us all to get outside, I'm praying for school (and work) tomorrow...

Morning wake up call

2009-02-27T14:24:00.005-05:00

This morning started off as any typical morning does - the boys wake up much earlier than I'm ready for, and start the day on fire. They're non-stop from start to finish - while I need time to warm up and wind down. Makes for some interesting breakfasts...

Anyway, the boys and I were nibbling breakfast in my bedroom, watching a bit of TV, when Justin decided to crawl under my bed. That alone amazed me, since I wasn't aware there was any breathable space under there! But he wiggled out, pulling a storage box of pictures with him. When the novelty of the box wore off and he went back to being Justin, I quickly rummaged through the box. There were some fantastic pictures in there - I even found the envelope of pictures that were used to make our wedding video!

But the thing that woke me up was in this silver photo album, engraved with the words of our wedding invitation, that was given to us by The Gang. It's filled with all the pictures taken with the disposable cameras we had on each table. As I looked through the pages, I marveled at it all. We had so many people there - so many people who love and care for us. So many people who were having fun celebrating the special day. Then the reality hit - - - of how things have changed over the last 10 years. There were so many faces that aren't around anymore - - - some have moved on to bigger and better things, some we've lost touch with. Some that have passed on - Nana, Auntie Vi, Diaz. What impacted me the most was how many marriages have fallen apart. On a quick glance I counted 5 couples that have since been divorced. I know there are a few more couples in our lives that weren't pictured that have also gone their seperate ways. It really made me think about my life - about where things stand, and where things need to be. About what's really important.

Things have been kinda rough lately - but it's all getting better. I hope as the little things fall into place, the bigger things will start to follow (or at least be a bit easier to put into place). Life isn't something that can be thrown away like trash, put on a shelf like a book - life is something that needs to be lived, and lived in the best way possible. I think I realize that now - and I think I want that now.

This is what happens...

2009-02-26T20:36:00.002-05:00

...when I do laundry...

Crazy Cats

2009-02-26T10:46:00.005-05:00

This might make me borderline "crazy cat lady"... but I'm willing to take the risk!

Art by me - words by Jacob.

This is just sheer boredom on my part...

Treasure Hunt

2009-02-24T11:19:00.003-05:00

One of Jake's favorite shows is Disney's Little Einsteins. He loves the classical music - he loves the art. And he LOVES the adventures. We have a video that has the episode "The Treasure Behind the Little Red Door" - - - I guess he got inspired by that and began going on treasure hunts around the house. While Justin was napping, Jake and I drew up our own treasure maps - and went on a hunt in the cul-de-sac. I've never had such an easy time climbing volcanoes and crossing oceans!

Is it really THIS cold?

2009-02-21T09:56:00.005-05:00

I'm wondering if someplace really hot has frozen over...

Justin is playing in the living room by himself - neatly and quietly.

Jacob is picking up his room - quietly and somewhat willingly.

I'm not sure what to do with myself!!

I know why hamsters eat their babies...

2009-02-20T18:47:00.004-05:00

Let me preface this by reminding ya'll that I love my boys. I really do. And as much as I have days when I'd like to send them to Siberia, I know my place right now is home with them. But lemme tell ya - today, I realized once more why hamsters eat their babies.

If ya get 'em while they're still small and cute, they don't stick around to make you TOTALLY INSANE!!

There must have been something in the water or the air or the atmosphere or the solar system. Something that got into their cute little heads and turned them into monsters.

Justin hit the terrible 2's in full force - - - and he has totally perfected the art of the tantrum. His favorite activity of the day was to climb on the dining room table and throw EVERYTHING off. I'd remove him and place him at the OPPOSITE end of the house, only to find him hauling his tush back down the hall, laughing all the way - and returning to the top of the table. But my favorite of the day? Chapstick art. Yup. Let's just say that I'll no longer start a load of laundry knowing my blessed Burt's Bees pomegranate lip blam is on the table... Still trying to figure out how to get that out of the nice couch...

Jake is too smart for his own good - I think we established that long ago. However, the smartness because a real issue when it turns into defiance. No parent likes to hear "NO!" from their child - but after today, I'd settle for something that simple! Jake couldn't just say the word - he had to demonstrate it in a number of ways. He'd cross his arms across his chest, harumph in the most dramatic fashion, and turn his back. He'd write N O in the air with his finger and go back to what he was doing. He'd stand rod-straight, draw a circle with a line through it (like a no-smoking sign) and shake his head. Or the best? A strong proclamation of "I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE!" It was almost 3 before I managed to get him out of his PJ's! I gave up trying to get him to put his Legos in the case when he started throwing them at me...

There are days when I feel like I'm not cut out to be a mom - that I'm dooming my kids to a lifetime of therapy. Sometimes I wish I was more like the uber-moms you see on TV or read about in books. I get sad when I feel so frustrated with the kids. But then I look at them... ...and I guess they don't seem to tasty after all.

Kitchen Therapy

2009-02-18T18:39:00.003-05:00

Some people engage in retail therapy - - - my chosen route is kitchen therapy. When I'm twitchy and unsettled, I cook. Which works great in this house - I cook, the men eat. And all is well...

Today was a twitchy day. I wanted to cook from the moment I woke up - thankfully Jakers wanted a "falled egg" (really a scrambled egg, but I told him it's what happened when Humpty Dumpty fell...) Obviously, that didn't cut it - so I had to resort to reading cookbooks till Jake went to school and Justin napped. As soon as I had the time, the spree began...

I started with my second batch of homemade ketchup. While that was simmering, I made some Cinnabon muffins - half for us and half for the neighbors. I had some time to waste while those were baking, so I decided to make some bread! I try to make fresh bread myself when possible, and I had the chance to get the dough ready to go... Once Jake was home from school, I made up some fresh buttermilk biscuits and chicken stew for the neighbors - all from scratch. Right now the bread is baking and smells HEAVENLY.

Unfortunately, the kitchen looks like a bomb hit it...

Off kilter...

2009-02-16T10:40:00.003-05:00

Ever wonder why you do some things? Things that may seem like a good idea at the time - then once they've played out, it's a total catastrophe... I did something like that a few weeks ago, and ever since then, I've regretted it. I feel like I should have kept my mouth closed - I should have just kept my thoughts to myself and kept on pretending I wasn't having a hard time. But I kinda hoped by reaching out, it would help me get better. Instead, it seems to have made things worse. I think I scared off a lot of people - I know friendships go both ways - but now I'm scared to say anything more and come off like a total nutjob. Maybe no one knows what to say - hell - even I don't know what to say. I'm just sitting here feeling off kilter - lost - and sad. I really try every day to get myself better - to get myself out of the hole I've dug - and there are moments when things seem good. But sometimes I wish I'd just kept quiet and continued pretending. Oh well.

Sweet Baby T

2009-02-15T22:29:00.005-05:00

So some of ya'll know I think incredibly highly of my neighbors S & L. They have 14 kids between the 2 of them - some biological, but mostly foster children. Usually with highly complicated medical needs. Since they've been my neighbors, they've adopted little Miss M - Jake's bestest friend. And this past year, they adopted V & B - twin brothers who started off with the cards stacked against them. Today, Miss M is a silly little 6 year old who is Jake's partner in crime - - - and V & B are thriving 2 year olds... when they were never expected to come home.

This past winter, sweet baby T came to join the family. I don't know his whole story - but suffice it to say he was premature - with a lot of complications even before he entered the world. I have only had the chance to see his sweet face twice -but that mommy gene in me just reached out to him. Having 2 very active little men, it's so comforting to be able to hold a sweet, round-faced little cherub who just looks at you and coos.

Unfortunately, sweet baby T is having a rough time. He had been battling some respiratory illness for a few weeks - which resulted in RSV. Last weekend he was admitted to CCMC and put on a ventilator. Over the past week there were some ups and downs - - last I talked to S&L, all was on an up. So when I saw everyone home this afternoon, I felt optimistic that the wee one was doing well. Not the case.

Seems as if he not only is battling the RSV, but has staph and strep infections in both his lungs and bloodstream. He had to be placed back on the ventilator - and has been given yet another dose of a highly-powerful antibiotic. S is a strong woman - and today, I heard fear in her voice. Even though he's "just" a foster child, I know there is tremendous love for this little man - -- I can only pray he pulls through...

After a day like today - when Jakers and Justin made me nuts with their kidlieness - - - I'm so thankful that they *can* make me nuts. Even though they made a total disaster of Jake's room, I'm so thankful that they had fun together - so much so that their screaming made the cats go crazy! Justin's tummy troubles with milk may be stressful in my world, but I know that I'm lucky he eats like he does. I guess one just has to look at what one has, and be glad...

A few changes...

2009-02-15T20:38:00.003-05:00

It's been about 2 weeks since my last post, and I've done a lot of thinking. I need an outlet for me - I need an avenue to share my life, not just the family's life. I guess since I'm the author of thise blog, I can make it what I want - so I'm taking a new direction. Please let me know you thoughts!

Taking a break...

2009-02-01T14:08:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to pop on to let ya'll know I'm going to be taking a break from this blog for a while. I don't have the time or energy to keep up with it like I'd like to - so I'm going to take a little blog vacation. I haven't felt much like sharing things - - - so when there's something worth sharing, I'll be sure to let ya'll know.

In the first hour of my day...

2009-01-29T08:34:00.002-05:00

*Jacob has locked not only himself in the bathroom, but the cat as well - TWICE.

*Justin emptied 2 drawers in my dresser and started to haul things from the armoire.

*The boys cleared out my cabinet with my FOOD PROCESSOR in it - apparently Jacob can undo the child lock...

*As I was freeing Nala from Jacob's death grip, Justin figured out that if you pull the kitchen drawers out just a bit, they make a great ladder.

*After removing said Justin from the drawers, sweet Jacob decided to go to the bathroom and miss the toilet ENTIRELY.

*Coming back into the kitchen to get some cleaners, I found Justin sitting in the kitchen sink. Yes - IN THE KITCHEN SINK.

*And so help me - if it takes 3 hours to get the wood stove started today, I'm gonna use lighter fluid!

I think I'm getting some new gates today...and chocolate. LOTS of chocolate...

When Deception is Divine...

2009-01-07T21:01:00.005-05:00

Before ya'll get worked up over the fact that I haven't posted about Christmas yet - no worries! I'm working on it as we speak. Remember - gotta get used to the new equipment!

But one of the gifties I recieved from Mom and Dad was the glorious cookbook pictured on the left. Now, regardless of how you view Jerry Seinfeld (or his umpteen-years-his-junionr wife) - this cookbook is FANTASTIC! I don't want to sound like a walking advertisement for the book - - - but I think I'm going to anyway...

So ya'll know I like to cook - and I have tried to cook as healthy as possible for the family. Unfortunately, sometimes it's a pretty big challenge. Steve is never a problem - as long as he doesn't have to cook it, he'll eat it! Justin is a fairly decent eater - although I have to watch how much milk he gets, he'd take veggies over meat and potatoes any day. But then there's Jake... sweet Jake... who won't eat anything green, orange, red, yellow, white, etc - unless it's a popsicle. Who won't eat any other meat item other than chicken nuggets and fish sticks dunked in ketchup. Who fights us at every meal time...

Since Christmas, I've made 5 recipes from this cookbook. And every one has been a success! I wish I'd taken pictures of them all - not because I'll take pics of just about anything (which I will...) - but because the foods really look "normal"! The pancakes (with sweet potato puree) have a slight cinnamon flavor, which is so comforting on the winter mornings. I made the lasagne (with cauliflower and butternut squash puree) - and it was almost gone in one meal! Steve actually said it was the best he'd had, and Jake ate a big serving for dinner and one for lunch. Last night, I made the rice balls - and called them "homemade chicken nuggets". Again - Justin inhaled 2 and Jake ate 3 - not even knowing they were packed with sweet potatoes and butternut squash! Tonight was the last "experiment" night of the week - and yet another success! We had Italian meatloaf (with celery and carrots) and mashed potatoes (with cauliflower puree). I was amazed at the flavor of the potatoes - so rich! Thankfully the meatloaf was a hit, too - Justin ate a good portion, but the best part? Jake ate a whole slice without even needing to be prompted!

I was so I know it takes time... and that's something I don't have a lot of these days. But it's so simple to make these recipes - and let's face it - who doesn't need a little extra boost in their diet!

Technologically Challenged

2008-12-27T12:41:00.002-05:00

Well, Santa was very generous to me this year. The Griswold Santa (aka Steve) got me a brand spankin' new desktop. And the Ellington Santa (aka Mom and Dad) got me a new camera! I can't wait to use them both to their fullest.

But in the meantime, I'm sitting here cursing Windows Vista and the changes... and this new keyboard that has keys I've never seen before! I've managed to spend about half an hour with the camera - and although I know it'll be easy to use, there's still a lot to learn. So pardon me if there's a lapse in posting... once I get it all figured out, I'll be blogging and photoshopping like nobody's business!

Soy to the world...

2008-12-18T21:35:00.004-05:00

I never thought I'd be celebrating the wonders of soy milk... yet here I am, with a fridge full of Silk soy milk (plain and vanilla flavored) - and a sweet little 20 month old who is finally off formula! We got a call from the pediatrician last week that Justin's allergy tests came back as mildly allergic to milk - which is pretty much what I expected. Seeing as our prescription for Nutramigen ran out, and the pediatrician didn't see the need for more formula, I started the change to soy milk. It was a bit rocky at first - I think Justin just wasn't ready for a different flavor in his bottle. But eventually he figured out that if he wanted his "ni-ni" bottle at bedtime, he best take what he gets. As of Tuesday night, he has been 100% on soy milk - and seems to be doing great! He can still have small amounts of dairy products - so a little dish of yogurt or a grilled cheese now and then isn't going to be a problem. When he turns 2 we'll repeat the allergy testing - the pediatrician thinks we should be able to re-introduce milk at that point. Since Justin wants to eat everything and anything that he can find, adding some more options to his diet will be great!

2008-12-13T21:04:00.006-05:00

I wanted to take a break from the regularly scheduled programming to be a bit more serious for a moment. I usually try to keep things light-hearted and positive here, but things aren't always what they seem.

For the past few months, I've been fighting a losing battle with depression. I'm not talking the "gee...things are kinda rough right now but it'll get better" depression. I mean the type that makes you feel hopeless, empty. The type where nothing helps you feel better. The type that no one else but you seems to understand. I cannot push forward and hope it goes away - because it's not that easy. I cannot find the root cause for the depression - because it's not that easy. And I cannot hide it anymore - because it's not that easy.

I found myself in a dark place a few weeks ago - darker than I'd ever imagined. Empty and cold and hopeless and numb. I guess that was about as close to hitting "rock bottom" as I'd ever want to get - and since that time, I've tried my damnedest to get better. I've made changes in my life - not just in the daily stuff, but also in my mindset. The struggles I'd been having with Jakers and his behavior have gotten less. I try to end each day reminding myself of the gifts I have. Yet I'm still in a funk. I've got 2 beautiful little boys. I have a husband who works his tail off. I have a warm house, a good car, plenty of food in my cabinets - even 2insane cats to snuggle at the foot of my bed. But this devil called "depression" has made it's way into my head - and seems quite comfortable there.

I guess my point in writing this is to reach out to ya'll - without actually having to come out and say it. I'm not asking for help - I'm asking for understanding. If I've been abesnt in my friendship and communication, it's not because of anything other than myself. No one wants to admit they have any sort of "mental illness" - especially me. So it's been easier for me to just back away into the corner and hide than have to put up a false front, never mind share my mind with others. I hope one day soon to be able to see the sunshine in every day - all the time.

Watch out, Martha!

2008-12-05T21:31:00.002-05:00

I just finished a marathon Christmas present making session. I'm so bummed I can't share any pics with ya'll - because the lucky recipients haven't gotten their gifts yet! But there's something so exciting about making your own presents - I guess I never really realized the power of something handmade until I had Jakers and Justin. Justin loves to leave me art on his dinner tray - and just yesterday, Jake came home with a letter he wrote me! In essence, it was nothing but scribbles - but he told me it said "Mommy, you take me to McDonald's for a Happy Meal. I like that." Works for me!

I had started to really dread the holidays - like everyone (it seems), money is pretty tight this year. I had begun to feel so Grinchy. But tonight - after finishing the first phase of "Operation Chocolate Covered Cherry" about 175 times - and after starting some mosaic coasters - and after finishing a set of wine glass charms - I'm starting to see a wee bit of jolly in my days.

I've still got peanut butter cups to make - maybe some lollypops for the kiddies. And some more wine glass charms... and some ornaments... but if I plug away a little each night I should be all set. And the coupons for Michael's and AC Moore and JoAnn that mom keeps sending me don't hurt, either!

New addition!

2008-11-30T20:35:00.004-05:00

As if ya'll didn't think I had the potential to be the crazy cat lady, our feline population just doubled. Today, I brought home tiny little Nala. I guess she's about 8 months old - and such a little peanut! We've got some work ahead of us to plump her up and get her to gain some size. Apparently, all she'd been fed was dog food (for the pit bull) and leftover table scraps. But aside from being small, she's a wonderful cat. She seems so loving - so cuddly - and even seems to have the potential to deal with the boys! Dana told me about her on Thanksgiving - apparently his neighbor was moving, and they were afraid she's just leave Nala when she went. I think Steve was in a particularly mushy mood - I barely asked - and he said YES without a fight! She's been hiding for most of the day - but if you came into this house, you'd hide, too! I hope to get some good pics of her when she's a bit more settled.

Happy Thanks-for-giving day!

2008-11-30T18:44:00.004-05:00

It seems as if we've finally established our first official Cohoon-family holiday tradition! For the past I'm-not-sure-how-many years, the guys all get together to run the Manchester Road Race - otherwise known as the Turkey Trot. It's a 5 mile race thru downtown Manchester - and although it's not real long, it's pretty hilly (or so I've been told...) In the past, the whole family has headed up to Manchester to drop Steve off, then the kids and I head over to Ellington for the day. This year was a little different. While Steve was up in Manchester running the race in about 50 minutes, I was home roasting a turkey for the VFW in town. They prepare and deliver meals to people in town who can't get out - because EVERYONE deserves turkey on Turkey Day! But once good old Tom was done, I called for pick-up and we hit the road to go to Ellington. I think the worst part of it all was NOT being able to sneak little slices of the bird as it cooked!

But once we arrived in Ellington, our first stop was to meet Miss Rachel Milheiro. The little chubby cheeked princes is already 4 months old, and this is the first time I've met her. (Yes, I'm a bad auntie...) I also got a quick drive-by tour of Paul & Kate's new home. It's BEAUTIFUL! I'm not sure which I like the best - the vaulted ceiling in the bedroom, the jacuzzi tub in the master bath, or the beer fridge in the kitchen... Seeing as we all had places to go, the visit was short - but I'm hoping to get some more time with Rachel and Kate - and SOON - when things are a little less hectic.

Finally, it was off to the parent's place. Jake was so excited to get there, nothing else mattered! Mom turned Dana's old bedroom into the boys' room - complete with toddler bed, tv/dvd/vcr/cable, and mounds of toys - standard fare for a grandparent's home! Jake played legos wihile Justin had fun testing the toddler bed. As we usually try to make it, the meal was nice and relaxed. And oh-so-delicious. Justin ate pretty well - and Jake ate the best he'd ever eaten for Turkey Day! Unfortunately, after the evening feasting was done, Justin got sick - I should have known it was too good to be true! He seemed fine after that - so it was back to relaxing. Jake helped take apart the turkey with Buppa.Once the bird was carved up for leftovers, it was computer time! First, Justin jumped into Dana's lap... ...Then both boys ganged up on Buppa, who was trying to hide playing Hearts!The final activity of the night was an art project of sorts. Jake had picked out this paintable magnet for Buppa's birthday - and the two of them painted it. I didn't get to see the final product, but I can only assume it's interesting. I mean, how can a shark painted blue, green, and purple be BORING?Once the boys were settled in their jammies, we hit the road back home. Lemme tell ya - there's nothing like opening the fridge to see a treasure trove of leftovers... I think the only downfall of the holiday was that it seems as if a tummy bug of some sort made the rounds. So far, I'm the only one that has escaped it - so I'm currently doing all I can in anticipation of getting sick!

Two Little Ghosties

2008-11-25T13:00:00.004-05:00

Seeing as we're fast approaching another holiday, I wanted to share the pics of the boys from Halloween. They're supposed to be ghosts, but due to wardrobe limitations and agreeability (or DIS-agreebility) of the subjects, I think they look a wee bit like nuns... Regardless - they still looked cute. And they both had so much fun! The weather was perfect, so we didn't have to fight rain or wind. The biggest battle was keeping the boys from eating all the candy in the wagon before we got home!

The boys on the stairs before we left... notice the thrilled looks on their faces...Jake was much happier once he realized he was getting CANDY!"Trick or Treat, lady!"

Riding in luxury...This is Justin's post-candy hangover face. He managed to break into his candy and ended up devouring 4 mini candy bars in the wagon!

Flickr account...

2008-11-11T21:27:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to share that I have created a Flickr account to share my "artistic" photos. I share the pics of the boys here on this blog - but often don't get the chance to share some of the other pics I take. I'm hoping that you'll check this Flickr account from time to time to see my "real" photographs - share your opinions - and enjoy some of my world!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstenspics/

Halloween Happenings

2008-11-03T13:10:00.005-05:00

In the midst of Justin's tummy troubles, Jake's school schedule, and my general nuttiness, we still found time to enjoy some fall fun over the past few weeks. I think the warm days helped us fit in lots of time outside - before the cool days we have now keep us all inside!

We started the fun with a trip to the pumpkin patch at Elm Knoll Farm. It was such a fantastic day! I've always wanted to take the boys to something like that, and they're finally at an age to be able to have fun. We got to see Dana painting faces, although no amount of bribery would get either one of the boys to sit still! After an attempt to engage Jake in enjoying the animals, we stopped for a snack and started wandering the farm. When it was apparent we had seen all there was to see and climbed all there was to climb, Jake picked out a pumpkin and we headed home. Here are a few of the many pics I took that day!

Nana and Jakers as kangaroos. Jake driving a tractor.Justin enjoying a romp through the hay tunnel.The boys goofing off in a playhouse in the Children's area.Justin climbing...as usual...
Jake being Jake in a tree... I was so impressed he actually sat still for me!

As you might expect, there was some cooking involved in the festivities as well. Jake loves to cook with mommy - so I broke out the cookie cutters and we made pumpkin sugar cookies. I was designated the "roller outer guy" while Jake was the "cutter guy" and the "putting on the tray guy". (His exact words!) Once they were cooled I glazed them with a little orange-tinted apple cider icing and Jake topped them off with sprinkles. YUM!

Thanks to my mom, she and I took the boys to a little Halloween party at the Creative Playhouse in Ellington. It was perfect for the boys - a small group of kids, short activities, and lots of spooky fun. It made me wish we lived closer!

Jake had fun making a pumpkin art project.Jake acting out "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (with Nana in the background)
The boys making a spider jump on the parachute. (pardon the red eye - haven't edited yet!)
Last but not least was Halloween - - - stay tuned!

The Pumpkin House!

2008-11-01T21:14:00.004-04:00

If you live in Griswold, you know about the Halloween tradition of the Pumpkin House. Up the road from us is a man named Edgar Fontaine. Every year, he puts on a pumpkin display on his house (yes - ON the house) that is unlike anything I've ever seen. I'm not too familiar with the whole history of how it started, but suffice it to say, it's something people come from all over to see. All the pumpkins on display are carved and donated by members of the community - individuals, families, groups, businesses. This year I was finally able to get out during the day to see it - but unfortunately, I can't take very good night pictures. Seeing all those pumpkins lit up is amazing! But every day last week, Jake insisted we drive by the Pumpkin House on the way home from school. I think all those trips actually taught Justin how to say “pumpkin!”

Buttonwoods Farms

2008-10-30T20:09:00.005-04:00

Last week was field trip #2 - to Buttonwoods Farms. They have glorious ice cream. If you live in this area - or have traveled through this area - you've heard of Buttonwoods Farms, for 1 of 2 reasons: the ice cream or the sunflowers. Have I mentioned the ice cream? If not, let me mention the ice cream...

Sorry - had to wipe the drool off the keyboard.

Seeing as it's October, we didn't get to enjoy an up-close and personal tour of the sunflowers. Instead, we get to go on a hay ride into the pastures. It was a pretty chilly day - but the sun was out, and it was a gorgeous fall day. Our trip started with a hayride into the pastures. You can see the boys' eyes frozen open! Jake absolutely LOVED the hayride - once he got past the initial bumps and thumps, he was all smiles. After a few minutes behind the tractor, we stopped in the middle of the pasture to feed the cows. The floor of the trailer we were on was covered in green hay - plenty of snacks for the kids to give to the cows. I think they were used to the visitors - as soon as the sounds of the tractor came near, the cows started gathering around us. They came so close to the trailer we could pet them!The kids loved feeding the cows - and were mesmerized by a few of the calves asserting their position with some head-butting. Unfortunately, they seemed the most interested in the "output" of the cows than anything else!

After the hayride, the kids were let loose in a pumpkin patch to select the biggest and best to take home with them. Jake went right to a monster of a pumpkin, while Justin was a bit more deliberate.And it goes without saying - one cannot go to Buttonwoods without getting ice cream. Even on that chilly day, each and every kid had a big old dish or cone in their frozen hands! I let Jake have his pick - he could have had cotton candy, or bubble gum - but he went with good old vanilla. Ate every bite. Except for what landed on his jacket... and his face...and hands... and sleeves...

Jake's first Field Trip!

2008-10-22T19:02:00.000-04:00

Last week, I was lucky enough to join Jake and his preschool class on their first field trip of the year. Since the fall foliage is just about peak, his teacher took them on a "hike" of the nature trail behind the Griswold School Complex. I had never been on the trail, so I was excited to see it - and Jake was thrilled that mommy was coming along.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day - warm enough for shorts, but with a cool breeze that made one want a sweatshirt. The sun was so bright, and the sky was perfectly clear. The kids had a great time exploring the forest - Jake's teacher, Miss Lisee, would stop every so often and challenge the kids to find a leaf that matched hers. Each child had a bag to collect leaves and other items they found along the way - the items were then used in an art project (I have yet to see...) It was great for me to see Miss Lisee in action - although I knew she was going to be a great match for Jake, it was refreshing to actually see it for myself.

So here are a few of the pics I managed to snap before my camera batteries died!

Jake proudly displaying his bag o' itemsLooking up into the treesMiss Lisee asking the kids to find a yellow leafFollowing the leader across the bridgeTomorrow we're going to Buttonwoods Farms for a tour - plus a hayride, ice cream treat, and pumpkin picking! It's supposed to be chilly but clear... can't wait!

Spoke too soon!

2008-10-21T21:21:00.004-04:00

So remember when I thought Justin's tummy troubles were due to the rotovirus? NOPE. His reflux is back! AHH!! Apparently the trials with milk did a number on him - and irritated his reflux to the point where he's back on meds and special formula. I'm glad that he's FINALLY back to his normal, cantankerous little Pork Chop self, but it really is a bummer that he's back suffering again. I've been lucky enough to get samples of the Nutramigen from the pediatrician - so at least we aren't going broke on that. But the Prevacid tabs aren't cheap, and even though I get the generic, 3 adult-strength Tums every day add up! Since we can't get in to see the GI at CCMC until December, the pediatrician is sending us for allergy testing. Now THAT is going to be fun... NOT!!!!

Revenge of the rotovirus

2008-09-27T20:15:00.004-04:00

We've been hit! Well, actually, Justin has been hit. And hit hard. I thought he might have been reacting to the milk that I re-intorduced on Monday - Tuesday morning he started getting sick, and it seemed to be just like the last time I tried milk with him. By Wendnesday, nothing was settling well in his tummy - and when he hadn't been able to keep anything in, I took him to the pediatrician on Thursday. Welcome to the Cohoon house, Mr. Rotovirus!

Well, here we are - Saturday - and our wee Pork Chop seems to have returned to normal. He really wanted to eat today, so I started him off light with some toast and dilluted apple juice. By dinnertime, he was chowing down on apple slices, rice, and some banana! And I'm sure it won't surprise anyone that he was obviously feeling well enough to jump, climb, and bounce his way through the house. I'm interested to see how much he weighs now, since he had already lost a pound as of Thursday. I'm sure it's more by now.

I know this is just the beginning of the lovely cooties to come through the house this season, but I had hoped it would have missed Justin!

Fair Winnings

2008-09-16T14:25:00.012-04:00

Every year, I look at the registration book for the Four Town Fair and say, "I'm going to enter my goodies into the contests and see what I get." And every year I get all geared up. And every year, I get busy, the registration deadline passes, and I end up wandering the fair looking at all the prize-winning entries that could have been mine.

Well, this year, I finally entered. I didn't enter as much as I wanted to, but something is better than nothing, right? And I'm so glad I did!

Second Place in quilted wallhangings! This is my "Four Seasons" set - winter, spring, summer, and fall. The quilting is actually the pattern on the backing fabric, which is reflective of the season.

First Place in the snapshot contests: Second Place:Third Place:

I'm really proud of the pictures - I don't have any fancy camera, and I have yet to install Photoshop (so any editing is done right on the camera). I haven't been doing this for long - but to have my first shot at a competition turn out so successful has really energized me!

Jacob in review

2008-09-15T19:44:00.010-04:00

Jake has been a busy boy this summer. Mostly, it's been spent trying to guard his prized posessions from his crazy little brother - but he's also been trying to learn as much as he can. Believe it or not - but this kid LOVES to learn! He got some books from Mercy next door that she had outgrown - dot-to-dots, mazes, numbers and letters - and they've all been done. Every page - completed. And for a kid who did them with no guidance, they were completed almost perfectly! Any chance he got, he'd want to learn - he'd ask me to write words for him, and he'd copy them. We'd count out money into his bank. He'd even come to me, asking for things in Spanish! (Gotta love Dora the Explorer!!) Now that he's back in school, I hope his quest for learning continues. He's had some adjustment to the new schedule (he goes 4 days a week in the afternoons) - but seeing as he's never been one to adapt well to large changes, I think he's dong great. He seems to really like his teacher - and has already made a good friend (also named Jake!)

In any case... Here's Jacob in review!

Typical summer activity - playing outside in the water.

With one of his best friends, Josephine, at his preschool class trip.Testing the waters on Father's Day at Misquamicut (it was pretty chilly!!)Preschool graduation with his friends Ella and Josephine (notice the lovely food stain on the shirt!) Collecting shells at Easton's Beach in Newport - I hope to turn some of them into Christmas presents!
Checking out the flowers at Harkness Park in Waterford.
"Yeah... I'm cool..."
Who says sidewalk paint is only for sidewalks?
Swingin' on the swing at the Navy park in Stonington, CT
Playing with his boat on Nana and Buppa's deckThe summer smile - smiley eyes in the water. He's such a little fishie!"Look Buppa! I can drive better than Mommy!!""I dunno why Buppa thinks this working deal is so hard..."Taking Justin for a stroll in Arbor ParkHelping Mercy with the Optimus Prime pinata at his birthday party (with Ella and Spencer in the background).

Justin in review

2008-09-06T20:47:00.000-04:00

So in case ya'll don't know, Justin is a spirited little boy. (That's putting it mildly). Our wee pork chop has been dubbed Evel Kenevel, spider monkey, and wild boy. He is into EVERYTHING he sees - and most of what he can't see as well! But he's doing so well. He's still not speaking a whole heck of a lot, although it is getting better. He manages to get his wants across, so it's not much of a detriment to him yet. We've managed to get him almost completely off the special formula and onto milk - I bet our insurance company is happy for that! And if you thought Jacob was a fearless adventurer, Justin is three times that. His latest feat has been to climb out of his crib - ALL THE TIME. What's worse, is that he does it in such a way that he is almost completely noiseless when he hits the floor. Imagine being greeted by his cute little mug at 4am, tugging your arm, saying, "mama baba mama baba" - and you are dead convinced you did not take him out of the crib!!

Here is Justin... in review...

"Hooray for ribbies!" - his first taste of ribs from BT Lanes - devoured them!

Justin's birthday gift to daddy - his first haircut! Before:

And after! He did SO well - sat in daddy's lap and barely moved!
At Misquamicut with daddy on Father's DayEvel Kenevel - Connecticut edition (climbing at Mohegan Park)Standing on the chair in Buppa's office His favorite hobby - climbing... E V E R Y T H I N G

"OH LOOK! Something shiny! And I bet I'm not supposed to touch it!"
Driving Buppa's lawnmower - wait till he can reach the pedals!

CHOPZILLA!!

"I've heard ladies go for guys with beautiful eyes..."
Despite the red tide, Justin LOVED the water at Easton's Beach in Newport, RI."MOM! Who turned the lights out?!?"Chillin' on a mushroom at Roger Williams Zoo in RI.Enjoying a rocking rocket at the Navy park in Stonington.

2008-08-29T20:37:00.003-04:00

My sincere apologies for being so lax in my posting over the past 2 months. To say it's been busy would be a total understatement. But when have you known our lives to be simple and uninteresting? Thankfully, I've managed to take pictures of most everything, so I can review the images to refresh my memory. Mommy-brain has set in BIG TIME.

I debated on the best way to fill you all in - and just like I started this blog, I'll do a review of everyone over the past 2 months. Mostly in pictures - but hey - you know ya'll just wanna see those anyway!

Life in a Nutshell...

2008-08-05T12:34:00.002-04:00

Lost water - got water back

In-Laws came for a visit - had a blast

Baby Rachel born - yippee!!

Went to the beach - got some sun

Found water leak - shut off water - fixed leak - got water back

Went to the zoo - had a great time

Lost water - got water back

Life returning to normal...sorta...

Taking a wee break

2008-07-01T11:08:00.002-04:00

Seems I've been struck with some sort of summer cold. Which, in my book, and the worst kind of cold. Nothing like feeling feverish when it's 90 and humid. And now Justin is staring at me with a snotty nose - LOVELY! So I'm just letting y'all know there will be more to come soon - once we all get back on track!

Sticky Situation

2008-06-22T11:02:00.003-04:00

Here's a simple little math equation:

Coffee + laptop + 3.75 year old throwing an "I don't want Justin touching my stuff" tantrum = one sticky mess.

That's how my Friday started. The boys were playing quietly - or so I thought. So I sat down at the laptop in the dining room, with my coffee, to poke around a bit. Next thing I know, Jake is screaming at the top of his lungs - his backpack of crayons is airborne - and coffee comes crashing all over the laptop. I made the best attempt I could at cleaning it up - but thanks to my love of sugar, the keyboard was all sticky. I called next door in a panic - and to make a long story short, most of the day was spent back and forth on the phone with Lou (my neighbor) and Tom (my new best friend computer guy). The phone calls were sprinkled with bouts of panic and terror - did I mention it's Steve's laptop?! AHH!! Thankfully, Tom was able to get a replacement keyboard from Dell - which will arrive Monday - and after work he'll be over to replace it. It appears that nothing else was damaged. Keep your fingers crossed!

So until that situation is resolved, I'm left working on the desktop - which is slower than molasses in winter. And no pics either. But I've got some good ones to share - - - we've been busy beavers over here! Jake had his end-of-the-year school field trip to the "sand beach", which was followed by his pre-school graduation. And Justin got his first big-boy hair cut! I'm not sure what the summer is going to bring - but I just wrote the first day of school on my calendar - August 27th! So that's only 2 months or so... wish me luck!

Treasure Trove

2008-06-17T11:29:00.002-04:00

I just stripped Jake's bed to put on fresh sheets.

In doing so, I found:

25 matchbox cars
5 blankets
10 books
candyland game (yes - the whole game)
a baggie of pretzels
2 sippy cups of water
2 pillows
a comforterand
a $5 bill

And I wonder why he's always ending up in MY bed!

The return of Artsy Fartsy me!

2008-06-08T22:24:00.004-04:00

Seeing as there's been so many babies around, I've been busy making letters. So take a peek!

The letters for Maggie are little - I think 1" or so - for her isolette. When she gets home to her big girl room, she'll have big girl letters!

Steven's letters are missing teddy bears - but they'll be on soon!And here's Patrick's letters with his jungle themed lion and giraffe.

Welcome Patrick Brian!

2008-06-08T22:11:00.003-04:00

Yet again, I'm incredibly late in posting - but today I got to meet wee Patrick, so I felt it was the perfect time to post on his arrival.

On May 4th, Patrick Brian came into the world - albeit a wee bit late! But good things don't come easy - and 3 days after his due date, he was born. I know how anxious parents Brian and Amanda must have been, waiting for "the day". Now that Patrick is a month old, I'm sure they'll agree that he was worth the wait!

I met Brian and Amanda through my friend Kate - and from the beginning, they struck me as such fun people. And I think that's what's going to make them fantastic parents. They're both just big kids at heart, never taking life too seriously. When you have kids, you've got to just go with the flow! I can't wait to see how Patrick grows - hopefully he'll have the same carefree, easy-going personality of his Mom and Dad.

Welcome, Patrick!

A quick update in pictures...

2008-06-03T20:34:00.003-04:00

My apologies for being so delinquent in posting - free time with coherent thought has been incredibly hard to find these past weeks. But I've snapped some great pics - so here's the recent past in pics...

I like to call this the "redneck bubble bath" - the boys LOVE playing in the kiddie pool, and one day, Jake insisted I fill it with warm water. The next thing I know, both kids are nekkid and splashing. What the heck - I added some bubbles - and it was a bath under the clouds!

I just love this pic of Jake - he actually sat still AND cooperated - - - for about 45 seconds...

We had a little cookout over the 'rents house on Memorial Day - and despite the incredible wind, we had a wonderful day outside. Justin discovered the baseball bat and toted it with him all afternoon!

This past weekend, the boys and I traveled back to Ellington for the late afternoon. I took them to the Rhodendron Sanctuary again (still no blooms) and on the way home, I asked Jake if he wanted to go to another park. His reply - so matter-of-factly - was, "No. I just want to go to your parents' house.". Not "nana and buppa's house" - "your parents". So, we ran home to gather a few things, and were off to my parent's house. Dana and Jen joined us for a good steak and baked potato dinner - and we all had a wonderful day. It was one of those times I didn't mind paying $4.25 a gallon for gas to get there!

While we were there, dad told me about a bird nest with little babies out front - I couldn't resist finding the little buggers!

When I turn my back...

2008-05-25T22:12:00.002-04:00

...Justin learns that he can climb his toybox and flip the closet light on and off...and on...and off....

...And Jake learns to give himself blue toes like mommy... (yes, I have blue polish on my toes!)

Mother's Day

2008-05-25T22:11:00.000-04:00

OK - so Mother's Day 2 weeks ago - but ya'll know I tend to be less than prompt. I figure better late than never, right?

My day was pretty darn nice - laid back, low key, relaxing. What more could I want? I started the day with my favorite activity - cooking! Yes, I cooked breakfast for the boys - but I love cooking, so making blueberry pancakes was a good treat. After a few chores, my boys and I went to the Rhodendron Trail in the Pachaug State Forest. It was such a nice warm sunny day that being outside was the only thing to do.

Jake always runs ahead.

At the end of the trail, there's a little platform to watch the stream and such - Justin loved watching the birds with Daddy.

After the walk, we let the boys romp in the big field outside the trail. Jake was all about climbing the rocks, while Justin was content to pull grass.

Next stop was Mom and Dad's house. On the way, Justin re-discovered his toes. The whole trip, all I could hear was the little Chop sucking and gnawing on his piggy toes!

We had a bbq there with my dad's FANTASTIC chicken. Justin ate an entire chicken thigh - plus summer squash! I think he's got a hollow leg. It was still so nice that we spent most of the day outside - boys running and romping and getting good and tired out.

Butterfly Garden

2008-05-25T21:55:00.000-04:00

One of the most exciting things about Jake being in school (for me, at least), is FIELD TRIPS! His teachers try to arrange them for the kids when they pertain to their lessons. This month they started learning about butterflies - so the class took a trip to a local nursery. They had a butterfly garden set up in one of the greenhouses. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen! Hundreds and hundreds of butterflies just filling the air - landing on the flowers, on the pots, on YOU. The kids really enjoyed seeing them up close, and I managed to get through the trip without accidentally swatting one.

Justin wouldn't sit still long enough to get one to stay on him - until he bent over to play with the cracks in the brick! I resisted the temptation to swat this one off my shoulder. I guess all the kids were warned ahead of time to NOT MUSH THE BUTTERFLIES! I didn't want to end up in the naughty chair so I was careful...

Jake took a little coaxing to be comfortable letting the butterflies land on him - but once he realized they didn't sting like bees, he was fascinated!

Crazy Coopin Boy

2008-05-17T21:57:00.003-04:00

If you don't already know, I'm a big coupon fan (or "coopins" as they're sometimes called). Mom saves them for me - and often collects them from a friend - and after a trip to their house, I always come home with a bag FULL of those lovely paper goodies. I have my own routine when it's time to cut coupons, and apparently, Justin isn't of the same mindset. Where mommy likes to keep things orderly and neat, he prefers to yank piles and piles off the couch, on to the floor, and scatter them EVERYWHERE.

First, he just walked all over them.

The he decided to zoom around on all fours, complete with "vroom" sounds.

But, at the end, I guess it was much better to just roll around in them.

Zoo Day!

2008-05-17T21:40:00.004-04:00

A week or so back, mom and I took the boys to the Forest Park Zoo in Springfield. It's a small zoo - almost like a big petting zoo - but PERFECT for a nice little trip with the boys. They LOVED it! Jake was a wee bit intimidated by how close some of the animals were - but Justin just ate it up.

Jake petting a cockatoo (or whatever it is!)

Justin having a staring contest with an emu.

Mom and the boys on the zoo train.

The whole gang on the zoo train.

Since the boys were so good, we stopped for a little ice cream snackie before we hit the road. Justin shared a watermelon fruit pop with me.

While Jake rapidly consumed his chocolate ice cream bar.

Some of my favorite pictures

2008-05-12T21:20:00.004-04:00

I've recently started getting interested in photography. I'm far from good - but once in a while my camera manages to catch something worthwhile. Just thought I'd share!

Welcome Miss Maggie!

2008-05-04T18:16:00.005-04:00

In the words of her mother Sara, "She's a bit impatient." In the case of Margaret June, "a bit" is an understatement. Little Maggie was born on May 1 at only 26 weeks - 14 weeks before her due date in August. Dan and Sara were the last couple out of 5 with babies joining us in the coming months, but thanks to their little girl's excitement to meet her parents, Maggie is baby #2.

She weighed just 1 pound 9 ounces at birth - roughly the size of an eggplant. Considering her entrance, Maggie is doing well. She needed a breathing tube for a few hours, but is now breathing with the help of a CPAP to keep her lungs open. Hopefully she'll continue to stay strong and not need the breathing tube in the future.

Unfortunately, Dan and Sara live near Philadelphia, so for those of us in Connecticut, it's been a trying time. We're a real close gang of friends, and in times like this, when we can't be there to offer hugs and comfort, it makes you feel powerless. But we're doing what we can for them - sometimes just knowing someone is there makes all the difference.

I've known Dan and Sara since East Catholic. Dan and I went to UConn together - were in the Marching Band together - and were in TBS together. He's like a brother to me - heck, our whole gang is like family. They are strong people as individuals - and I know as parents, together, they'll be unbreakable. Miss Maggie has a long road ahead of her - but there's no doubt Dan and Sara will fight every moment for their little girl.

They set up a website for Maggie to keep us all updated - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggiedaley Even as a wee little peanut, she's a beautiful little girl. Welcome, Princess!

Celebrating the first year

2008-04-26T20:43:00.014-04:00

It's hard to believe that in just a short year, this: Has become this:(Sorry for the nakey pic - but he's just got the cutest little tushie!!)

I could wax poetic about what a joy Justin is - but ya'll already know how I love my little man. So I'll just share some pics and a short narrative about his birthday parties.

On Sunday, April 13th we had a party here for him. Thankfully, the weather turned out pretty decent - so we could let the kidlets romp outside. See, I'm apparently a slow learner - I think I refuse to accept that I'm at the age where my friends have kids - and therefore I neglected to take into account their offspring in the head count. So it got a little nutty for a bit - but all in all, it was a wonderful party. And I didn't even cry!

Here's our friend Marc with his daughter Lena - figure we gotta get 'em started before the figure out the whole "cootie" deal.The cake - yellow cake with lemon filling - YUM!"What is this crap you put on me?!?""OK. I'll be cute for a bit.""What is this pile of sweetness?""OK...not so sure...""Maybe a little taste...""OH YEAH! BRING ON THE CAKE!!""All done!""Opening presents with Daddy and Jake is fun...""...but the paper is much more fun!"

The next day - Justin's actual birthday - we had a little gathering with Dana and Jen, and Mark, Hannah, and wee Steven. It was much quieter - but still filled with lots of smiles, laughs, and of course, cake!

I can't mention wee Steven without showing a pic - he's such a scootchy little peanut!Here's cake #2 - this one was the special "big brother" cake. Jake picked it out - marble cake with whipped cream frosting - helped me bake it, and helped decorate it (hence the "half a container of sprinkles" look to it)."I got this cake thing down PAT!""Finger lickin' good!""HUH? No seconds?"Playing with the train from Auntie Hannah and Uncle Mark.Here is the toy box we gave to Justin - I got it at the Mill Store - an unfinished furniture store. We got a similar toybox for Jake for his first birthday - and I was even luck enough to have some of the same stain left over!And here are the boys playing the the Castle Swing & Climb mom and dad got him - in the background you can see the playhouse they got Jake for his 2nd birthday.Although I'm so sad to see my baby grow up - I'm more excited to think of the boy he's turning into, and the man he'll become. We love you, Justin!

Note to self...

2008-04-22T16:01:00.002-04:00

...Never give a bag of Goldfish to a one-year-old...

Spring Sprang

2008-04-20T21:37:00.007-04:00

Mother Nature has been teasing us with some really nice spring weather - after a relatively mild winter, it's still a treat to have the warm sunshine during the day. However, being that we are in New England, I know it won't be long before a freak late-spring cold snap hits. So Jakers and I decided to try to spring some spring to enjoy all the time.

When I went to the Mill Stores to get Justin's toybox, I picked up a new birdhouse. We had one in our front tree - but it was so old and rotted that it fell to bits when Steve was trimming branches. Now we have a new one - ready for a new bird family! Every morning we can peek out the window to see if there are any residents. So far it's still empty - Jake insisted we put a snack in there for the birds to make them want to come home. We'll see how it works!

A few weeks ago I felt a weird twitch on my hand - and discovered it was the start of a little green thumb! It started with some clippings of my monster jade plant. The thing is massive - I got it when I started working at UConn, and it's taken on a life of its own. But it's a beautiful plant - and I hope to share it with others. Hopefully these little clippings will root!

The green thumb continued to some projects with Jake. First we made a "Tato Head" planter - I scooped out the top of a potato, which Jake then decorated with the parts of his Mr. PotatoHead. I added some potting soil, some grass seed, water, and POOF! A few days later Tato Head had some hair.

Once Tato Head was resting quietly in the front window, we moved on to some flowers. I thought it would be nice to show Jake how plants start as seeds - then grow into little sprouts that can be planted in the gound. I let him pick out what seeds he wanted - after much deliberation, we left Home Depot with packets of marigolds and hummingbird flowers. It's taken a bit of work on my part to actually remember to water the little pots - but as you can see, we're on our way to some pretty decent flowers!

The Return of Chef Jake

2008-04-20T21:32:00.003-04:00

Much to my dismay, I don't have many pictures of my chef-in-training creating his latest treats - but trust me when I say, this boy loves to cook! We've moved from once-a-week cooking adventures to almost daily meetings at the stove. Any time I'm in the kitchen, Jake is right next to me. It doesn't matter what I'm making - scrambled eggs or apple cake - he's right behind me, scooting his chair next to me. And he has to give himself jobs - when we made some DELICIOUS Apple Streusel Cake on Friday, he designated himself the "egg cracker guy", the "flour dumper guy", and the "spoon licker guy".

Funny how he's never the "dish washer guy"...

New Wheels

2008-04-20T21:21:00.003-04:00

There's been a new addition to our house - a 2007 Toyota Corolla. Yup - Steve's Civic finally died. Long story short, he brought it in for an oil change - and after a full engine check, it was determined the head gasket was shot. Sure - it could be fixed - to the tune of about $1000. So before the car was totally terminal, Steve traded it in for the Corolla. It wasn't exactly the timing we had anticipated, but we really do need 2 cars - and with Steve's travel schedule for work, there's no realistic way to get around it. Hopefully this will be the end of the major purchases for a while!

Stay tuned!!

2008-04-17T20:48:00.003-04:00

Once again, the busy bug has hit! It seems as if I've been unable to get more than a snippet here and there of free time this past week. But there's so much to tell! Jake's turning into a master chef at 3 - Steve got a new car - Jake and I encouraged spring in our front window - and Justin turned ONE! If life ever slows down I'll be back to post pics and tell stories!

Feeling nostalgic

2008-04-13T21:37:00.002-04:00

So it could be the complete exhaustion of today's burthday party - or the scary combination of foods I've eaten today - or maybe just the fact that my baby is turning a year old - but I was just sitting here, chatting with my friend Jodey, when I noticed the time. 945pm. And it was at this time, one year ago, that I was sitting here, chatting with my friend Jodey, when I noticed the time. And figured "Gee...I think it's time to have a baby!" It wasn't much longer before Steve and I were on our way to the hospital.

They say time flies when you're having fun - - - I must be having the time of my life, because this year has passed faster than I ever expected. Although I'm sad to see Justin's baby days pass, I'm so excited to think of the little boy he's turning into, and hopeful for the man he'll become.

I got some last night...

2008-04-09T13:41:00.004-04:00

...SLEEP! SLEEP! I GOT SLEEP!

Get your minds out of the gutter...

Justin slept through the night - ALL NIGHT - last night. He's done something similar a few times, but it has usually required Steve or I to replace the bink every so often. So it's never really any relief for us. Well, last night, he slept from 7pm to 7am!! I think I got spoiled with Jake, who started sleeping through the night at about 8 weeks.

Seeing as Justin is a big jokester, I don't doubt that he'll be up all night tonight as payback!

Big Giant Baby on the RAMPAGE!

2008-03-31T16:18:00.002-04:00

When Jake was little, he used to go on what I called "rampages". He'd get this fire in his soul and just tear around the house. It seems as if these rampages have passed on to his baby brother. Only Justin prefers to do his rampages buck nekkid. I'll be in the middle of changing his diaper when he'll wriggle and wriggle till I can barely finish cleaning him. Before I even get the chance to put the fresh dipe on, he's off and running. Lemme tell ya - there's nothing like a naked baby butt waddling down the hallway while his big brother screams "BIG GIANT BABY ON THE RAMPAGE!"

Hoppy Easter!

2008-03-30T20:45:00.008-04:00

OK - so I'm about a week late (and more than a dollar short!) - but I had good reason. Steve was away on business - riding a sub to train the crew on some new equipment - and I didn't think it was wise to broadcast the fact I was home alone. I'm not sure who all reads this anyway - but better safe than sorry, right?

The original plan for the day was to have the merry bunch down our way for dinner - but seeing as Steve was away and I was lonely (sniff sniff) the boys and I trekked up to Ellington. It was a beautiful day! The drive up there is usually quite boring - but the sun was so bright, it really warmed your soul. As usual, my dad was the chef for the day - so we feasted on a delicious ham with pineapple, butternut squash, peas, potatoes, homemade applesauce, and biscuits. After dinner I attempted to take some pics of the boys - which is always an adventure! This was the best I could get with them looking at me:

But then I broke out the "duck" - this duck has been in our family for years...and it REALLY needs to go away!

Here's Dana and his girlfriend Jen - she's an amazing photographer!! Obviously she didn't take any of my pics...hahaha.

After we digested dinner, we devoured dessert. Mom made this fantastic trifle of pound cake (Absolutely Almond Pound Cake from Tastefully Simple - ask me how to get some!), vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries. It was devine! Then it was time for the hunt - the Easter Egg hunt! Mom and Dad set up a little hunt for Jake in the back yard, and he had a ball searching for all the goodies. His favorite part of the "booty" was the "circle money" (coins) for his Dunkin Donut treat.

Anyone who knows our family knows about Egg Wars. Even if you haven't participated in Egg Wars, you must know it's the highlight of the Easter Holiday. Basically, we take hard-boiled dyed eggs and pair off. We peck at each other to find the Last Egg Standing. Kinda like March Madness. With eggs.

Welcome Steven Micah!

2008-03-25T21:59:00.004-04:00

Well, it looks like Jake's first prediction was right on the mark! Baby R was a boy! Steven Micah arrived Friday morning. He's such a beautiful baby - with a little pixie nose and an impish little mouth. He has a habit of sucking in his lower lip on just one side - making him look so thoughful. I can only imagine he's already pondering ways to keep Mommy and Daddy on their toes.

I got to see the new family the other day - and I hadn't even gotten to the room before I had tears in my eyes! Of course I knew I'd be emotional seeing a new baby - so close to Justin's birthday, it was like seeing his first days all over again. But I knew what Hannah and Mark had gone through to become parents - I knew the long and hard road they took to welcoming Steven to the world. In a way, it was almost the way I felt when my boys were born.

There's nothing like the joy a new baby brings to the world. In our times, with all the negativity surrounding us, babies are proof there is still goodness around us. The name Steven means "crown" - and this little man is certainly the prince of his castle.

Welcome, baby!

The Easter Bunny Cometh

2008-03-22T21:48:00.002-04:00

Wednesdays are usually "Play Group at the Church" days. For whatever reason, we were the only ones at Play Group this past week! I'm sure Rev. Lou wouldn't have minded if we stayed to play and snack - but Jake was in need of more than mommy to keep him entertained. So we headed for the mall. If you know Jakers, you know there's never any predicting his moods. This day happened to be a pretty good day - thankfully! I decided to take advantage of that and make the Easter Bunny excursion.

I wasn't really sure how the kids would react - I mean, what little kid wouldn't be afraid of a giant moving stuffed animal? But both boys were FANTASTIC! Jake ran up and gave the Bunny high-fives - and Justin was all smiles.

Justin had so much fun with the Bunny, he just sat there for an eternity after the pictures were taken!

As it seems with most 3-year olds, Jake could live on pizza alone. Seeing as he was so good for the pictures, we headed to the food court for "pizza lunch" (Jake-speak). Both boys were sporting the ears the Easter Bunny gave them. Jake wasn't keen on stopping his lunch for a picture, but he was a good sport and humored Mommy.

And of course, Justin was all about the food!

Conversation with a 3 year old (part 4)

2008-03-18T22:27:00.005-04:00

Apparently my son has a gift for predicting baby genders. At least, he seems to think so. Over the weekend, we had Paul and Kate over for dinner. Kate is #3 in the line of our friends to give birth - and when we reminded Jake of this, he became all excited. All of our friends have more spines that we did - and aren't finding out the gender until birth. So I asked Jake what his opinions were on both Paul and Kate's baby and Hannah and Mark's baby.

Jake believes Hannah and Mark are having a baby boy. Seeing as Baby R is due March 28th, we'll soon see how accurate Jake is.

As for Paul and Kate, Jake says they are having a baby girl. We'll have to wait until July to find out if he's right on this one. And we'll also have to wait to see if they chose his preferred name for Baby M.

Paper.

Good thing I didn't let him name Justin!

Gotta love the big mouse

2008-03-18T14:50:00.000-04:00

A few Mondays back, mom and I took the monsters to Chuck E. Cheese. At first I was a bit hesitant to go - but Jake's been begging (thanks TV) so we gave it a shot. I was fully prepared for an overstimulation meltdown of epic proportions. But to my surprise, both boys had a blast! We stationed ourselves in the "preschooler" section, and while we waited for lunch, the games commenced. Nana spoiled Jake with fistfulls of tokens, so he bounded from game to game to ride to ride. He became quite a pro at air hockey - think we might need to ask Santa to consider this as an option!

Justin romped like a champ in the baby area - he seemed particularly fond of the climber they had. He got himself up to the top, but became real confused at the Plexi-glass window. But, as to be expected, his favorite part of the day was pizza time!

Where's the hot water?

2008-03-15T21:34:00.006-04:00

Some of you may remember this time last year... I'm umpteen weeks pregnant and miserable - and our water pump goes... well - here I am, same time, a year later, calling the same plumber (only I'm not pregnant!).

Rewind to last week - when I got back from my overnight stay at mom and dad's after my face plant, I smelled this odd fishy/electrical/general icky smell downstairs. Well, I mopped and swept and vac'd and cleaned everything I could find - the smell got better, but was still there. No biggie though - I figured it was most likely the cat box (she's had a bladder infection).

This morning, Steve does some routine maintenace on the hot water heater. In the process of doing so, he finds the source of the smell - the electrical wire leading into the hot water heater! So I call an electrician - he can come monday, but suggests we keep an eye on the tank just to be careful. Just as a precaution, Steve decided to kill the power to the heater while we took our first expedition to the bowling alley (more on that later). And it's a good thing he did - when we came back, he checked it out a little further - only to find the tank had been leaking on the circut panel thing! The insulation and plastic cover were FRIED. Black, charred, and crispy. I can only assume that if we had left the power going to it, we'd have come back to an electrical fire.

Needless to say, we passed on the electrician and went right to the plumber. He was pretty adamant about keeping the power off to the heater - and there's no argument from us! It's pretty dang inconvenient not having hot water, but I'd rather try to figure out how to get Justin and Jake to sit still for bird baths than trying to gather the remnants of a burnt out house. Hopefully their schedule will hold up - we're on the docket for first thing Monday morning for a new hot water heater.

Guess what we're doing with our tax return....

Walkin' Man...

2008-03-09T21:26:00.004-04:00

As promised, here's the Walkin' Man... 10 1/2 months! (My apologies for the quality of the video - I'll put up a better one when I can!)

Call me Grace...

2008-03-09T14:11:00.001-04:00

So mom and I went to see "Blast" Friday night at the Bushnell - if you've never seen it, GO! It was one of the most AMAZING things I've ever seen. But it was pouring rain when we left - so I went ahead to get the car. I went to take a big step over a huge puddle - and the next thing I know, I'm on the sidewalk! I don't remember what happened - but I can only assume my ankle gave out (because it's still pretty sore). I ended up landing on my face. I nailed my left cheekbone, cut right outside my eye (from my glasses), chipped a tooth, cut the heck outta my knee, and did a number on my glasses. Mom and I figured it was a good idea to go to the hospital - so we left my car in the Holiday Inn parking lot and she took me in. I'm ok - just hurt my pride I guess. But after all the hullaballoo, I stayed the night at Mom and Dad's in the hopes to sleep well and feel better in the morning. Unfortunately, I missed my babies so much I tossed and turned all night. When I got hume Saturday morning, there was a bit more mess than usual - but Steve managed to tame the natives and keep the peace.

I really need to figure out a better story to tell, because this one just makes me look like a goon!

My kid just ate a ladybug...

2008-03-03T17:06:00.002-05:00

I think Jake is forever traumatized. He found a ladybug in the living room and has been checking on it all day - talking to it, trying to feed it - calling it his "ladybug friend". I was in the kitchen getting some food, and I hear Jake SCREAM at the top of his lungs. I come running into the living room, fully expecting to see blood and other carnage. There's Jake - in tears, and Justin - smiling and smacking his little lips in pleasure. "He just ate my friend! He ate my ladybug friend!" was all Jake could say. And the whole time Justin is just looking as pleased as can be.

If that was his dinner, I hate to imagine what dessert is...

More from Artsy Fartsy Me!

2008-02-21T11:48:00.003-05:00

Here's a few of the latest and greatest creations from me!

Valentine's decorations

Valentine's Puzzle for Jake

Letters for new baby Natalie

And letters for big sister MadisonMy fake Vera Bradley duffel

I'm now starting a cushion set for a rocking chair for a nursery - which should be interesting! I don't have a pattern - but I've got some pictures and good measurements. My biggest issue will be where to stop! I keep getting more and more ideas on what to do - if only those ideas came with the time to do it...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T11:25:00.002-05:00

Sending lots of love, hugs, and smiles!

Conversation with a 3 year old (parts 2 &3)

2008-02-13T21:36:00.002-05:00

Part 1:

Me: "Jake - guess what? Auntie Hannah has a baby in her tummy!"

Jake: "Huh?" (with a totally confused expression)

Me: "Auntie Hannah's gonna have a baby - it's in her tummy."

Jake: "How did it get there?"

(Pauses to ponder correct way to answer)

Jake: "Why did she eat the baby to get it in her tummy?"

(If only it were that simple...)

Part 3:

Me: "Jake, remember how Auntie Hannah has a baby in her tummy?"

Jake: "Yup. She didn't eat it."

Me: "Right. Well, Auntie Katie's going to have a baby, too!"

Jake: "She didn't eat it, right? Cuz that would give her big giant tummy sick like Choppy [Justin] and then Auntie Katie made me a blue blankie and I'd have to share because then she'd be sad."

(Sharing is GOOD!)

I love our neighbors!

2008-02-08T15:51:00.000-05:00

I've started this post a few times already - and there's no short way to do it. In the 3+ years we've been here, they have been our friends, our family, our saving grace in times of craziness. I honestly don't think we would feel as comfortable here as we do without them.

I could go on and on about all the wonderful things they've done for us - all the great times we've shared - all the times they've been there when we've needed it. But it's not just us they do things for - anyone who needs anything, at any time, anywhere - you can bet S & L will be stepping up to help. And they do it because they can - not for any other reward but for the satisfaction.

There really are few people like S & L around - and that's a shame. I wonder what the world would be like if we were all as giving and compassionate as they are. But then again, it's having the rare gems like them in our lives that make us realize that we are all special - that we can all make a difference - that we can all bring some light into someone's life with just the littlest things.

Thanks S & L - and M & S & R & V & B - we love you guys.

Cooties in the house

2008-02-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

Yup - Jake has now officially come down with the same virus that got Justin so sick. He started the exact same way as his little brother - day 1 of a pretty decent fever, day 2 of fever and snot. I'll be looking forward to day 3 of just snot - because at least he'll be a bit more himself. But yesterday Jake was so out of sorts - he just wanted to sit, snuggle, and snooze. He fell asleep on daddy around 630 last night - and woke a few times for mommy snuggles. This morning started at 4am - with the day 2 fun - and it wasn't until the ride home from meeting Steve that he conked out. It's 11 now - he's been out since 930 - and now that Justin is napping, I'm about to put head to pillow as well.

Sick kids are so hard. There are some things mommy can't kiss away - - -

More fun with Chef Jake

2008-02-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

Friday night, Chef Jake and I took to the kitchen yet again to prepare another treat for the tummy. This time - chocolate covered caramel corn! I had gotten a bit overly excited at the prospect of some freshly popped corn on Thursday night - and made a huge pot of the stuff. After treating Steve and I to big heaping bowls of buttery goodness, there was still the majority of the pot left. One of my favorite treats is Moose Munch from Harry and David - but at that price, it's a rare treat. I looked in the cabinets, and staring me in the face was brown sugar and chocolate - throw some butter into that mix, and we made caramel corn!

Jakers spreading out the popcorn

Proof that I really DID make the caramel from scratch!

The finished product:

I had 2 big roasting pans of the stuff by the time it was all said and done - so I sent one batch to the neighbors. There was no way I was going to keep all that sugary chocolate goodness around to tempt me!

But when I think about it...technichally it is still a vegetable. Corn is corn, right?

This and that...

2008-02-01T12:38:00.000-05:00

Just a few random ramblings from the mind of a sleep deprived mommy...

Haven't really posted much recently - mainly because I haven't really had the chance! Justin's been sick - we're actually on our way back to Dr. Larry in about 20 minutes. I think he's got yet ANOTHER ear infection - as he had fluid in his ear when we went on Monday. Just gimme some of that amoxicillin and we'll be good to go! He's not sleeping - which means *I'M* not sleeping - which means there's just one more cranky pants in the house.

Jake's hanging in there - although he's complained a few times today he felt "ukka". I'm sure he's getting the cold that Justin has... I'm hoping a good night of sleep from him will help. Thankfully, Santa brought him the ClickStart Computer, so he can play his Nemo game when I'm trying to get Justin settled. I've been promising Jake some Valentines Day art projects - which means tomorrow will be filled with construction paper, glitter, and all sorts of mess!

I stopped by the various craft stores in the area this past week and treated myself to some new projects. Between now and July, there will be 5 new babies in my world - which means I've got lots of gifts to make! So I grabbed some wooden letters to paint - some little Valentine's cut outs to decorate - and a new pattern to make a quilted duffel bag. Unfortunately, no one has figured out how to add more hours in the day, so I'm not exactly sure when I'm going to get this all done...

Steve started back to school this past week - which means hours of reading, posting, researching, and reading some more. But I guess he's only got 3 more classes till he's done with his Master's degree. It seems like the poor guy has been going to school forever!

Hopefully I'll get the chance to post more this weekend. If y'all are REALLY lucky, there might be some video of the Pork Chop walking!!

Chef in training

2008-01-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

In the hope that I'd actually get Jakers to eat something other than yogurt, chicken nuggets, and cereal bars, I've been having him cook dinners with me. I'll give him the choice (within reason, of course) and then we'll make it together. So far it hasn't really worked too well - but at least I'm able to prepare a dinner without too much hassle!

Last night I gave Jake the choice of kapusta and kielbasa, or soup. He chose soup, much to the dismay of my tastebuds (I've been craving kapusta and kielbasa, with some fresh rye bread...mmm.....) So I dove into the freezer and cabinets, pulled out the necessities, and began to cook.

Stirring the pot...

Adding the tortellini...

"Yumma yumma in my tumma tumma!"

The finished product:

OK - so the picture doesn't really do it justice. But it was G O O D!! I'm not sure where I got the recipe from, but I've made it so many times over the years that it's never the same. This version had sweet Italian sausage, garlic, chicken broth, vegetable broth, tomatoes, spinach, cannellini beans, mushrooms, and cheese tortellini. I made this HUGE pot - and it's all gone! It's one of Steve's favorites, and I had hoped to have some leftover to freeze... Guess I'll have to make it again!

And Jake STILL didn't eat any!!!

Think he's tired...?

2008-01-27T11:44:00.000-05:00

Steve has this magic when it comes to Justin. When he's tired and cranky and hungry, he just wants mommy. But when all else fails, and I just can't get him to settle down to sleep, I give him over to daddy and leave the room.

Last night, Justin was super cranky - and Jake needed to go to bed. I tried my best to get him to settle with no luck. I handed him over - went up to brush Jake's teeth - and was pleased when I didn't hear any more crying. I came down 10 minutes later, and this is what I saw. Apparently, Steve set him in the corner of the couch to grab his bottle. The next thing he knew, Justin was wedged in the corner of the couch, out cold.

And I still can't get him to sleep through the night!