The Greeting Card

Katie D.

Selecting the perfect card is no small task. I often go for the funny card. I am that person in the card store that gets laughing so hard that I will hand a card to a complete stranger and tell them to read a card that I think is fabulous. But a newer section in the card store has transformed my life; the music/action card.  I've looked at them before and never had one that was the right fit for whomever I was shopping for. 

Tom's extended family have a lovely tradition that on Christmas day they all exchange Christmas cards.  It's a sweet gesture that I always liked.  This year, when we all got together on the Saturday before Christmas, they gave both Colby and Lincoln Christmas cards. The boys were thrilled to be included and opended their cards as soon as we got home. And this is when our world of cards changed forever. Singing penguins, dancing dogs and spinning snow globes will forever be be the standard for card receiving and card giving. 

Almost a month later and the cards are still being played with, usually all at the same time which makes for beautiful music.  When we went to the store to pick out a birthday card for Tom I wasn't that person handing around the really funny cards, I was the mom with her kids playing all of the really loud and obnoxious cards to find the right one for daddy!

So times, they are a changing! Just watch out when your birthday comes and you get a card from us! You're welcome!

What We've Been Doing The Last Two Weeks

Katie R.

Wow… 2 weeks since I last blogged.   Really I don’t have a reason other than I’m lame.  Luckily Katie D. has been picking up the slack and has had some really good blogs.

So let’s do a quick recap as it has been a little bit crazy here.  We have a lot of self-induced stress at our house so here is the update:

1.     We sold the CRV so after it is delivered (back to Ohio from which it came) we will officially have 2 vehicles again.  As we won’t have 3 drivers for another 13 years this is a good thing.

 

2.     Thanks to Joe’s mom and aunt we were able to go away for a night last weekend.  We had a great time at dinner although we had our credit card information stolen which was kind of embarrassing when the card was declined at dinner.  Of course, I felt it necessary (in part because I had plenty of wine with dinner) to explain the entire situation to the waitress and she probably still thinks we just maxed-out our cards.  We also went to listen to some music after dinner and soon realized we had at least 10 years on everyone at the bar.   At first it was fun but we quickly started to feel like the creepy old people at the bar so one drink and back to the hotel by midnight.  Oh well at least no hangover.

 

3.       I am trying to get a web site done so that I can start doing some event planning.  It’s exciting and scary at the same time.  Exciting as I love to do it and scary as what if no one hires me. 

 

4.    Joe is finalizing the lower level renovation as we realized the inspection is due in a few months.

 

5.       I am totally obsessing over which pre-school program to put Andrew in next year.  This only comes in a close second to my obsession about when to send him to kindergarten which I have been driving everyone crazy with for at least a year (yes he is 3 ½ right now).

 

6.       Wes who is 15 months, yes 1 year and 3 months, climbed out of his crib yesterday.  We are praying it was just a fluke because there is no way he is ready for a toddler bed.

 

7.     Joe miraculously lowered our cable bill and in doing so we realized how much money we spend each month on “other” thing in the budget, meaning wants not needs.  So, we are now on a much tighter budget, which is good.  It also means I have to cook more and find more stuff to do around the house with the kids.  We’ll see how that goes as we’re not great on doing crafty crap projects so I’m going to have to get creative.  Although check out below the pot pie I made (and please note it is not a store bought crust) the other night when I was trying to use ingredients we had around the house instead of eating out or going to the store.  It tasted great too, although lunch today was hot dogs and baked beans so we have a long way to go. 

 

8.       We considered buying a house in the neighborhood which fell through but it did mean numerous trips to the house, meetings with a realtor, trips to the mortgage broker, etc.  In the end we are staying right here.  Which is good because I’m pretty sure I’d never living through having to keep my house “showing ready”.

 

9.       Tonight Andrew is having a “sleep over” with Wes.  It’s a trial run for the trips to grandmas, possibly a first sleep over at a friends, vacations etc.  It’s been 14 minutes and about over. 

So that is what has been going on the past 2 weeks.  Oh and it has been ridiculously cold, like below zero cold, so I haven’t left the house much.  I don’t do well staying home for long periods of time so I may actually lose my mind very soon but luckily my parents come next week so it’ll be nice to see them and let them visit with the kids (aka they can watch the kids).  It may actually help save my sanity, but we're taking Andrew to Disney on Ice so the jury is on on the whole sanity thing. 



Not bad, right?

Viewing the World in 3D

Katie D.

Colby and Lincoln received a very cool map book at Christmas that included 2 pairs of 3D glasses. The book is detailed and has beautiful pictures and maps and with the glasses on they become quite stunning. However, 3D glasses make me a bit sick to my stomach. This is not true for the boys. Linc and Colby think it's fun to view the world through them. It cracks me up to hear Colby say, "I'm looking at the world in 3D!" Yes you are buddy, yes you are!

We don't have a 3D TV but nonetheless they enjoy cartoons with these fabulous shades on! I had to keep asking Colby to back away from the TV.  I fear it will bring on seizures!!!

The boys always want me to wear them but I cannot take it for too long.  When I wear them I always close one eye so I don't see both shades of blue and red.

 

 

Don't mess around with a man in shades..............Oh No.......

Sitting in Tiny Chairs at Tiny Tables

Katie D.

It's a rite of passage when you have kids, no parent can escape it, it makes you nervous and you try to manage your expectations going in. Yes, I'm referring to the parent/teacher conference!

Colby attends a preschool program that I couldn't be more thrilled with. It's a few days a week and gives him the confidence and independence he needs to thrive in this world; it also gives me a great opportunity to spend one on one time with Lincoln. 

The school doesn't have set times for conferences but gives us the ability to email, call or set up meetings when we feel the need.  I hadn't done a touch base with them all year so I sent one of the teachers a quick email....

I was wondering how you feel Colby's progress has gone this year! He continues to love school and I see him grow and learn everyday! Also, anything that you and (other teacher)  feel that I could focus on at home would be welcomed too! Thanks!

To be honest, I was thinking I would get an email back from her detailing the good and the bad of Colby at school and what I could do to help at home but instead I got this....

(Other teacher) and I are happy to meet with you to discuss Colby’s progress and which class would be a good fit for him. Fridays after class work well. The boy’s could play with the extended day kids while we met.

So I got this reply and freaked out! We should meet and discuss Colby's progress! What is wrong with my kid! Tom, of course, was away at a confrence so I couldn't freak out on him and I didn't want to bother anyone else.  And she also took care of what to do with both boys during the meeting so she really must need to tell me something! Good Lord, something is wrong. So I write back....

Friday after class would be great! Thanks! I hope he's doing well during school!

I'm hoping for a little bit of something from the teacher to assure me that my child is not the worst student in the world but nope......

Great! See you on Friday. The boy’s are welcome to bring their lunch with them.

Awesome, pack a lunch! This is going to be a long meeting telling me how bad my child is.


Obviously Colby is a good kid and the fact that they have had no problem with him in the past let me talk myself off the cliff I put myself on! But as my 1st parent teacher confrence the irrational fears that creep into my head where amazing.


Fast forward to Friday after the meeting......Of course it went great! Colby is sweet, smart and stubborn. He, like any other almost 4 year old, has areas he (we) needs to work on but overall is doing well.  One thing that blew my mind was that when they visit the pool he loves it and many times is the last one out! Yeah, shocking I know, remember Swim Lessons?!!  So I survived my 1st parent teacher conference. I only hope I can work on keeping all my irrational fears in check a little better next time.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Katie D.

It's going to get very cold this week and I'm okay with that. Colby and Lincoln love playing out in the snow! I enjoy it too....for the most part. It's the getting all the stuff together, getting them and myself dressed and then actually getting out the door before I sweat to death that drives me insane.  Once we all get outside we all have a good time.

Tom and Lincoln

Snow wash!!!!

  Fun times on the "big hill" in the backyard and epic snowman building in the front!

Colby was pretty proud of himself

Showing off his new "cheese" face!

Hopefully with all this cold air the ponds will be ready for ice skating next weekend! Until then it will be time for puzzles, play-doh and all the other indoor activities that will keep them happy!!

Pefect Outing Until It Wasn't

For the past few days Tom has been away at a conference so I've been at it alone with the boys! I enjoy being a stay at home mom but, I won't lie, when Tom walks through the door at night I'm relieved that I don't have to do the rest of the night by myself. I decided to take in stride my time alone with my boys! Sunday morning I had the grand idea to take the boys out to breakfast by myself.  As a general rule Tom and I don't take the boys out for meals alot because they can become hot messes at the drop of a hat but they are getting older and easier to manage.  I figured breakfast was a good option because it is a quick meal and Colby and Lincoln will eat anything first thing in the morning. So, off we went in the big tan van to the the local truck stop for some fabulous food! I got them both enourmous maple donuts that were to die for and they stayed happy.

I'll be honest, I was feeling pretty good about myself! I felt the trip was going off without a hitch! The boys ate their Mickey Mouse pancakes and I got to enjoy my meal too.  They were so good I was able to go to the counter and pay while they sat in the booth finishing their milk. Colby, Linc and I threw on our coats and heading to the van and just when  I thought I had pulled it all off all by myself we get to the van and realize I had left the doors open the entire time we where in there! Good Lord! Overall it was a successuful trip and we live in a community where I don't freak out that I left the doors open on my vehicle!

Tom gets back late tommorow night.....It will be nice to have him home...at least to keep an eye on the doors of the big tan van!

Nothing Will Stop Joe from Getting the Great Photo... Even Drowning

Katie R.

 

This morning Katie D. mentioned her kids had a blast last night playing in the bathtub with bubbles.  So today, on my daily trip to the grocery store I picked up a bottle of bubbles.  Joe gave them a bath and at some point grabbed the camera. 

 

One thing about Joe is that he will never give up on the chance of a good shot.  Even as Andrew "hugs" Wes which turns into them both falling back and going under the water with Andrew's arms still around Wes.  Luckily Wes bounced right up and held his breath so no harm. 

 

 

Right before the takedown

 

 

.....More Fun

....And still in the bath after an hour

 

... and as cute as buttons in their matching jammies

 

 

 

When Did I Become A Grown-Up?

Katie R.

It happens.  We grow up.  The question is when does it happen?  For me most days I still feel like I’m in my early 20s and I wonder who thought I was responsible enough to have 2 kids.  But it’s true, I’m a grown–up, some may say old, but I’ll stick with grown-up.

How do I know?  Well I think these examples of things that have happened lately prove that I’m all grown up:

1.    We used our credit card rewards points for a new dishwasher.  Not a trip, not a night out on the town, a dishwasher.  Oh and I’m ridiculously excited for it to get here at the end of the month.

 

2.    The sign at the bar said you can drink if you were born after January, 1992.  Enough said.

 

3.    I realized, and it was confirmed by Katie D at dinner this week, that I (we) should never shop in the juniors department, American Eagle, Abercrombie or Hollister.  The good thing is most things won’t fit anyways, but I do have a confession that the sweater in the photo is from the juniors department and my husband will never let me forget it.

 

4.       I watched the Price is Right the other day for the first time in quite awhile and I realized I would rather have the appliances than the car.  One because I need new appliances, two because there are way too many taxes to take the car and three because the cars were way too small to fit kids.

 

5.       As I write this it’s Saturday night and I’m in my pajamas watching a bug’s life and my plans for the night end with sending Joe to work, putting Andrew to bed and watching TV.  Yep it’s another wild Saturday here.

It doesn’t mean I’m always a grown-up.  Next weekend Joe and I have family coming to watch the boys and we’re going to go away for the night and hopefully eat and drink way too much.  And of course let us now forget my very ungrown-up behavior at the Reindeer Party.  For now I guess I’m ok with being a grown-up as long as there are few times a month I can still be “in my 20s”.

All Fish Are Not the Same

And the conversations continue with Colby...

As previously mentioned Colby has entered the "why?" stage of life. Every conversation I have with him has at least 3 "whys" and I do my best to answer and still move the conversation along.

Scene: Pulling out of the parking lot of Kmart....and action...

Colby: Mom, I want a fish!

Me: We are not getting a fish.

Colby: Why?

Me: Because we watch Andrew's fish when he travels and that is enough fish for me.

Colby: Why?

Me: Because we don't need a fish.

Colby: Why? Wait, Stop! A grocery store, Mom, just stop here and we can buy a fish!

Me: Buddy, the only kind of fish we buy at the grocery store is the kind we eat!

Colby (with mind just blown): oh...okay...

So not the right answer but it shut him up and moved the conversation along!  I'd still consider it a failed parenting moment but I'm okay with it!

2013 Resolutions.. yeah I know I'm late

Katie R.

January 7, 2013 and I have begun my New Year’s Resolutions.   Yeah I know I’m a week late but I had to wait for food to be delivered, get back from our trip, yada yada.  So now it’s the 7^th and I’m ready to go. 

Every year I make at least 3 resolutions.  Is it because I’m an overachiever? Is it because I’m feeling so motivated I know I can take on much more this year?  Is it because I know how important the resolutions are?  Nope.  I make at least 3 in the chance that I will succeed on at least one of them and 99% of the time I fail all three by February 1st.  But what the hell it’s worth a shot.

1.        To try a new recipe once a week (even though I won’t be eating it for a few months… see #2) I did this on Saturday making Ritz cracker and poppy seed chicken and it was pretty good.  I tried a Italian sausage pasta recipe last night, which counts for this week’s recipe, and it was ok.    

 

2.       To lose 15-20 lbs.  I started Medifast again today so hopefully I’ll only have to be on it for a couple months. I was on it last year and had to do it for 7 months but I had a lot more weight to lose.   I hope to follow the diet as religiously as I did last time although I am going to allow myself skim milk in my coffee (just a little). 

 

3.      Once a week, on a day Andrew doesn’t take a nap, spend the time when Wes is sleeping listening to his stories, playing board games or reading books.  NO tv, iPad or computer.

I was going to make a resolution about laundry or cleaning but I already know that would be a big fail so not even going to try.  So here's to 2013!

Unforunately this will all I'll be drinking for a while!

 

 

Lucky Me

Katie D.


The conversations with Colby just keep getting funnier and funnier...

Scene: The bathroom at my parents house.  I took him in to go pee and wash up before dinner and I had to pee too. After Colby finished I sat down to pee.....and action!

Colby: Mom, why are you sitting down to pee?

Me: It's just easier for me to pee sitting down.

Colby: Why? (good lord, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that question)

Me: So I don't miss the potty.

Colby: Are you using my potty seat?

Me: Nope

Colby: Is it because your butt is so big you fit on the regular potty seat?

Me: Yes.

Colby: That's awesome (his new favorite word)

Me: Yup buddy, Lucky me!

Another Meal Another Conversation with Colby

Katie D.

Let me set the scene: Another holiday meal, this time at my Dad's house. Presents opened and spread throughout the house waiting to be played with.

Colby: Mom, can I be done eating?

Me: Here's the thing buddy, you can be done eating but you need to sit at the table with all of us until everyone is done eating!

Colby:(quietly to just me but with feeling) You gotta be kidding me!

Me: (laughing) I'm sorry, just a little longer.

Colby: fine

Colby was a trooper; it was the end of a long, amazing holiday week but he was on overload and that's when the things that come out of his mouth just make me laugh.

Colby and I celebrating together
 before sitting down to dinner

A Tale of Two Christmases

Katie R.

"This was the best Christmas ever."  These words screamed (because Andrew does nothing quietly) couldn't have made me more happy.  It really was an amazing December for him and probably the best month of his 3 1/2 years.

Then there was Wes.  Not only did Wes catch my cold and cough, he also was teething.  So in a nutshell he was a snotty, coughing, drooling, mommy's (well daddy's) boy mess.  He basically would not allow anyone but Joe and I to hold him and even when held was pretty miserable.  He did have some good moments and everyone felt bad for the little guy but I would guess if Wes could talk he would disagree with Andrew's statement. 

There are a million stories from the month but really we are all pretty much tired of Christmas so here are the photos that pretty much tell the story of Christmas 2012.

Looking at Christmas Lights:

 

 

Photos with Santa:

 

 

Opening Presents:

 



 

Playing in the snow:

 

 

 

Watching movies with their cousins:

 

 

Here are some random holiday photos (Wes is happy in some of these):

 



 And this pretty much explains it all:

 

 

 

But as we move in 2013 I will remember fondly Christmas 2012... every snotty, drooly, teething moment of it.