Joey and Ally

New Pics to Share

2009-01-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Seems all I have been talking about lately is weight and exercise. So, I will keep that part brief.
I'm doing great. Still doing the 30 Day Shred everyday. Still losing. Still eating what I should be. Still happy as ever.

Moving on.

I havent posted pictures in a bit. So, this is our week (ok maybe 2 weeks) in pictures...

I bought the ratties a handmade rat hammock online. They were beyond thrilled with their new place to hang out.

The kids and their Disney sweatshirts.

Probably the GROSSEST place I know of. The tubes at Chuck E. Cheese. Talk about a Petri Dish. Yuck.

This picture is cute, but you have to look close. The pink things are Ally's legs and the blue is Joey's arms reaching around her to help her into the tubes. Such sibling love.

And lastly, a picture of Ally being a ham.

Milestone #1 Reached

2009-01-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

Today was a good day. Every morning, the first thing I do is get on the scale. Which, I know is frowned upon. Weighing yourself everyday is not recommended....But, it works for me. And I will continue to do it. This morning the scale told me I had lost 20 lbs since I started this plan in December. 20 freakin pounds!! GONE.

And I have to admit, its been quite easy. MUCH easier than the last time. I've changed up the program a little bit. I tweaked it to fit ME.

I spend about 1 1/2 hours exercising everyday. I do the 30 day shred for 1/2 hour in the morning. And then 1/2 hour on the Gazelle (to equal a 30 minute walk) and then 30 mins of yoga or pilates. The Gazelle and yoga I do after the kids goto bed, when I have time to myself. Its easy to jump on the Gazelle for 30 minutes while I watch TV. I dont do any specific workout. Just moving is good enough for me. Sure beats sitting on the couch.

The 30 day shred must be the HARDEST workout I have ever committed to doing. We are still on level 2, and everyday when I finish I feel amazing. Who would have thought that a 30 minute DVD would provide better results than hours at the gym??

The proof is in the measuring tape. I've lost 5 inches around my waist. That is incredible. INCREDIBLE.

As far as food goes, it takes a little time to get used to a new and different way of eating. Setting yourself up for success is the way to go. If you dont buy junk, you cant eat junk. I use PEAPOD to order all my groceries. I can take all the time I need, and I can organize my thoughts and meals. Add things to my cart and remove things from my cart. For me, its a fantastic tool.

I always have a veggies and bean soup in the fridge. When I dont have time to cook, its an easy meal to microwave. And its a perfect snack.
When I do cook, I double the recipe and divide it sensibly into containers and throw them in the fridge. Mike takes them to work for lunch, and I'll sometimes have them for dinner. It works great, and I end up cooking less.

I get most of my recipes from realage.com Its a great site for TONS of Healthy Weight Ideas.

I DO NOT EAT:
High Fructose Corn Syrup
White Flour or any foods with white flour in them
Sugar
Trans Fats
Hydrogenated Oils

I EAT:
Everything else. lol Multi-Grain Hot cereal every morning for breakfast. Lots of fruits veggies and whole grains...Lots of beans, and lean proteins. Red Meat once every two weeks...
I try to eat 5 times a day. For snacks I usually have a small glass of V8 or a piece of fruit.

I DRINK:
Tea, Lite Silk Soy Milk, and Seltzer water. Flavored seltzer water is great for when you want something sweet. Flavors like Peaches and Creme or Black Cherry hit the spot without any calories or sugar. And after 3 weeks of no sugar, seltzer actually tastes sweet. :)

I need to start drinking regular water. I'm working on that.

The one thing I DO NOT do is count calories or measure my food. Thats too much work. If I have to work too hard, I more likely to just give up. Instead I try to keep my tank on 3/4 full. I've been listening to my body and its cues. Am I hungry because my body needs food, or because I just "feel like" eating something? I dont just reach for things without thinking about it first.

For me, just paying attention to how much food I am eating, and when is all I need to keep myself in check. The scale tells me I am doing a good job.

More than likely there will be a time when I plateau, and I will need to take it up a notch. I will burn that bridge when I get there.

We leave in February for Disney World. My goal is to lose 22 more pounds by then. I know I can do it. I've come this far, no turning back.

"You cant be overweight if you dont have a lifestyle to support it." -Dr. Phil

My 2008 Questionnaire

2008-12-29T06:21:00.000-08:00

Stole this from All & Sundry...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Took the kids on vacation without my husband. Not that I wanted to, but he couldnt get time off from work. It was the first time I had to parent alone for any length of time. And we all did just fine.

Also this year we started donating to charity.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My New Years resolution was to be more positive and to strive to be a better me. Its still a work in progress.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my niece was born in January 2008.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, not extremely close to me, but he will be missed & we had to say good-bye to our family dog

5. What countries did you visit?

Just the U.S.A

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

My own income. But until the kids are both in school, I dont see how that is possible. And more time to spend with my husband.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Christian dying in Iraq, having to put the dog to sleep after 15 1/2 years, registering to vote, voting, and the big finale Election Day

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

We all made it safely another year. That is pretty amazing, isnt?

9. What was your biggest failure?

Jumping off the healthy lifestyle bandwagon. Glad to say, I am back on.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, thankfully.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A Brand New Washing Machine. (How sad is that?)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My kids. I could not ask for more respectful, polite, loving kids. They amaze me everyday.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

That stupid mother in Florida who killed her daughter.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills. Bills. Bills. Joey. Ally.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Christmas. For some reason this year, Christmas gave me so much joy, and so much to be thankful for. I fell face first into the entire Christmas season.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Apple Bottom Jeans and Boots with the fur. Joey still sings that song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier, much happier
b) thinner or fatter? thinner, barely
c) richer or poorer? richer in life, about the same in finances

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Read more, saved more, spent more time with Mike and kept better in touch with friends

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Waste my time with the DVR and computer (but here I am on the damn computer)

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Big breakfast at my house for the in-laws, Lynz and Scott, and then the afternoon at my grandma's house

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

I've been in love for a LONG time.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

LOST

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Not anyone additional, maybe just a little more hate towards the individuals on the list

24. What was the best book you read?

A New Earth

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I rediscovered Stone Temple Pilots

26. What did you want and get?

Time. And Health.

27. What did you want and not get?

The stupid loan paid off. Maybe next year.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I rarely go to the movies, and I rarely ever watch movies.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28. All my friends came over and we had a relaxed party.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More debt paid off, an awesome family vacation would have been amazing and being able to have been there when my brother got married.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Comfortably simple.

32. What kept you sane?

My kids cute little faces. Mike. All my friends who listen to me bitch and moan. Starbucks. Target. Shopping Online.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

John McCain

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The whole election had me at the edge of my seat. Not the result I was hoping for, but we will see how it all plays out.

35. Who did you miss?

Samantha. And Bob.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

OMG, Did I meet anyone new this year? I guess I will go with Lynz bf, Scott. But I think I am cheating but I think they met before this year started. I need to get out more.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

"Time waits for no one at all. No, not even you"

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"With the eyes of a child
You must come out and see
That your world's spinning 'round
And through life you will be
A small part
Of a hope
Of a love
That exists
In the eyes of a child you will see" -The Moody Blues

Christmas Book is Closed

2008-12-28T15:28:00.001-08:00

We had a fantastic Christmas. All around, it was great. The kids were totally "into it." From the second they saw the Christmas tree with the display of presents all around, until the very last gift was open, they were ECSTATIC.

Mom and dad worked very hard to get every detail right. From the wish list, to the milk/cookie/carrot plate, even Santa's snowy boot prints. We did our best to make it as magical as we could for them. And not to toot my own horn, but I think we succeeded.
We had a total of 11 people at my house Christmas morning. I made a HUGE breakfast. And it was a great time to spend with family and friends. The kids went straight to work ripping open package after package. Getting more and more excited with each gift they opened.
Mickey Mouse called to speak with Joey and Ally to tell them about their upcoming Disney Vacation. (The vacation is a Christmas gift from my BFF and her BF) And we all couldnt possibly be more excited.

Christmas night, we tucked the kids in, and went straight to work putting the house in order. Mom doesnt like it when the house looks like a tornado came through. The Christmas decor was all taken down, wrapped up, and reboxed for next year. The Christmas tree came down and is awaiting pick-up outside. This gave us ample room to put the kids toys together and make the house look organized.
Now, I'm looking toward the New Year. 2009 is going to bring about changes. The biggest one is Joey will be 5 and will need to start school. Just thinking about it makes me feel weak. But, thats a topic for another day.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Hiatus

2008-12-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well, good news and bad. First the bad news. Healthy eating and exercise flew out the window this past week. Good news, ITS BACK!

Over the h0liday we were invited SO many places, and had SO many people over. I dont know if we were coming or going. Actually, in hind sight, we didnt do so bad. Probably could have done without the pudding squares and Chinese food. But, it could have been much worse. I did stop myself from baking. We made one batch of roll-out cookies with the kids. (Because that is holiday-must-do.)

I surveyed the damage this morning. Up 3 lbs and 2% on the body fat. Grr... Serves me right.

Today, is a new day. And as my favorite blogger, Linda Lee, pointed out so well:
"There’s no reason why you shouldn’t start now. If you need to start over, that’s okay: start again now."

We have officially started over. Back to the 30 day shred. Back to whole grains, lean protein, veggies, and water. Bye-Bye to you Sugar, White Flour and HFSC. You are poison.

The plan for the Treadmill has been put on the back burner. We are going to Disney in February. We need to save our extra funds for that. So, the Tony Little Gazelle is coming out of hiding and back into motion. It will do, until we get something else.

The Eve of the Eve

2008-12-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

I have been a mommy and wife for 4+ years now. And there is one thing I have yet to figure out.

How the heck can I keep my house clean?? HOW? HOW? HOW?

Mind you, my house isnt dirty. Its just not as put together as I would like it to be. For instance today was my day to clean my house top to bottom in preparation for Christmas morning. I had two rooms completely and totally clean to my standards.

And then my mom showed up to spread Christmas joy in the form of Christmas presents for the kids. Dont get me wrong, I am glad she came over, and the kids had a blast tearing open her packages, but geesh. I just cleaned that room!

And then I gave up. Clearly there was no point in pursuing house cleaning, when I would just need to redo it tomorrow.

Being that I am doing the 30 day shred, and trying to live a healthier lifestyle, I pretty much banned Christmas cookies in our house this year. However, I've come to realize, every kid should have the fun of making homemade cookies for the jolly man in the red suit. So I caved.

Into the mixer went the butter, sugar and white flour. I enlisted the help of my bff, Lyndsay. Rolling out cookies and use cookie cutters is a rite of passage. Joey was happy to do a few. Ally, on the other hand, would still be sitting at the table right now if I let her.

Oh, and here is a fun picture of Ally and the rats.

I thought I would take a few pictures of our Christmas decor. Its been up since the day after Thanksgiving. And once the Christmas holiday is over with. So is the tree and everything that goes along with it. I get anxious to take everything Christmas down and restore the house to original order. And based on the kids Christmas lists, we are going to need the extra space. Seriously.

Tomorrow will be my day to clean the rest of the house. Who am I kidding? I will be cleaning the whole house. And I will shamelessly park the two little tornadoes in front of the TV to watch Christmas Specials.
I am planning a nice Christmas breakfast. And all the prep work will be done tomorrow. I still have to run out with my niece to get her shoes. I have a few more things to wrap. Its Ally's turn tomorrow to move the star on the Advent calendar. And then we get to help Santa put all the gifts around the tree.
Its going to be a busy day. But well worth all the effort for the Grand Finale Thursday morning!

Christmas Anticipation

2008-12-22T11:41:00.000-08:00

Other than one small gift, I AM DONE SHOPPING. D.O.N.E. Done. Well, other than that one last gift. Mike is in charge of picking it up anyway, so technically, I am done.

I hit the mall today with my bff, and we both finished everything up. 99.97% of my wrapping is completed, and I am giddy with anticipation of Christmas morning.

I bought Ally Christmas PJ's so she can look festive on film while opening her Christmas presents. Joey's, Mr. I-dont-grow-much, still fits into his Christmas PJ's from last year. I also bought Ally a frilly, lacy, velvety, over-priced Christmas dress. She loved it, until it got stuck on her head on its way off of her. She has no desire to put it back on. Now I have buyers remorse. Its going back tomorrow.

I never posted our Santa picture from this year. What an experience that was. Joey made it clear he would need to stand while speaking to Santa. Not at all interested in sitting in some strange mans lap. Ok, by mom.

Joey asked Santa for Scooby Haunted House, Thomas and Percy Carnival and the Rhinosaraus with the birds. (The rhino with the birds thing took me forever to figure out. Took the help of an eight year old)

Ally was in shock. She was terrified of the jolly old man. And barely muttered something about a princess.

She wasnt having her picture taken without mom and dad their. So, it became a family shot.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Oh Snowy Day

2008-12-20T07:07:00.001-08:00

We are just about done with our first snowfall of the season. The kids were, as you can imagine, so excited about the snow. As we all were. It is so pretty and delicate as it falls. And it leaves a nice clean coating of white on EVERYTHING.

After the kids were all tucked in and sleeping last night, Mike and I decided to go out and shovel. And shovel, and shovel and shovel. TWO hours of non-stop shoveling. That beautiful delicate stuff was HEAVY. And after we were all done, I've decided I'm all done with snow. And I am ready to see the flowers bloom. Well, after Thursday that is.

The plow came through over night and pushed another few inches of the white stuff up all around my car. More shoveling is going to be required before I actually go anywhere.

In other, BIG news. We are taking the kids to Disneyworld! Thanks to the generosity and heart-o-gold of my bff, Lyndsay, we are going to Disneyworld. The kids are so excited about meeting Mickey Mouse face to face. Every day they ask if today is the big day. Its not until February, so they have a little longer to wait.

And I would be lying to you, if I said I wasnt so totally excited myself. I havent been to Disney in 15+ years. So, its going to be great fun to go with my kids, my husband are our very best friends.

AND, our digital camera finally crapped out. Luckily, Santa came early and delivered a new one. I convinced Santa to let us open it early so we can use it on Christmas morning.
So, for your viewing pleasure, PICTURES:

Wow, this kid grew up so fast!

Boxes are great fun.

Posing in front of the Christmas tree.

This is when the snow first started. Ally was napping.

Ally's first snow experience of the season.

How cute are they in their snow outfits?

Sorta sledding. Our slope in the back isnt quite steep enough. They had fun anyway.

30 Day Shredding

2008-12-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

I bought into the craze and ordered Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. OMG, this is the awesomest workout ever. There is a lot to be said for a work out that makes you feel like you are going to puke and then die, and then leaves you lightheaded. All in 20 minutes. What a time saver!
I am in love. And she says 20 lbs gone in 30 days.
I'm up for the challenge.

I've also been doing lots of yoga. Oh, how I love you yoga.

In other news, the snow is falling. Crazy New Englanders are acting like its a HUGE surprise to see the white stuff falling in December. I am SO excited. We took the kids out and bought them new boots. Crocs, although super comfy, arent really ideal footwear for the snow.

Pictures of snow-themed-fun to follow shortly.

A Better Me?

2008-12-16T16:29:00.001-08:00

The room project was put on a slight hold. My father is engrossed in something else, and I'm next in line. I'm planning on directly after the new year. I will post pics as it transforms.

I am currently working on a new me. This one is a little too "fluffy." Its time to drop this "baby weight," (my baby is 2) and get into better shape.

Goal is to lose 100 lbs. I've lost 12 so far.

How, you ask? Very easily.

NO Sugar, White Flour, High Fructose Corn Syrup, or Hydrogenated Oil
Yes Whole Grains, Fruit, Veggies, lean protein and cooking food fresh

NO sitting and being lazy
YES 30 day shred & yoga

NO soda, alcohol, and drinking your calories
YES Tea and Water

Its really that easy. Eat better, get exercise. The fat goes away. Who knew?

Christmas is right around the corner. I have a stack of Christmas cards here that need to be written out and mail. That is my project for this evening. I started crocheting Ally a blanket. Keeps me busy and out of the kitchen. lol

The kids are SO excited for Christmas this year. We are counting down the days until Santa gets here. We are in a good place this year, and I am so happy to be ending this year, and starting a brand new one.

2008 was good, but I really believe 2009 is going to be FANTASTIC.

My new little project...

2008-11-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

The kids room is (has been) in need of a drastic update. My kids arent babies anymore (tear), and they need a room that doesnt look like a nursery. Good Bye Snuggle Bugs wall paper.

So, I've been shopping around online, and brainstorming ideas. And I think I finally have the picture in my head of what the finished product is going to look like. Some plaster on the walls, new paint, a new border, new curtains...Its going to look great!

Here are the before shots....

Those "Curtains" were my solution for the early morning sun that wakes me kids WAY before they need to be. Clever, arent I.

We were lucky enough that this room had a walk-in closet. We took of the crazy-retro-mirrored-doors (because EEwww) and now the kids have a place for all their zillion toys. Of course, not all the toys will fit in here. That would make it too easy.

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Halloween is done and over, and it was a BLAST! It was a far cry from last year. Last October, Ally was walking, but not far distances. Joey refused to wear a costume. And when we did get it on him he screamed and thrashed around like his Thomas the Train costume was eating him alive.

This year the kids were SO excited to participate in as much Halloween fun as we could squeeze into a 24 hour period.

Halloween Pancake Breakfast. Are you impressed? My kids sure were.

Followed by a Halloween Party at Monkey Business. Ally is dressed as Tinker Bell and Joey as Peter Pan.

Next, came the fun part! TRICK OR TREAT!

And then one of my favorite pictures. Two smiling happy kids.

Hope your Halloween was as spectacular as ours was!

Hello Again White Rug

2008-10-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

Being the smart person I am, when we moved 2 years ago, I insisted I wanted to replace our wine colored area rug for something to better compliment our shedding white dog. OBVIOUSLY, a white colored rug would hide the white fur better.

I didnt stop to think about foot traffic, stains, and KIDS.

Only when my friend pointed out I was INSANE after she saw my pretty new white living room rug did I realize the mistake I made.

White rugs are not meant for houses that are inhabited by humans. Period.

Because they end up looking like this:

THANKFULLY, Home Depot rents the Mother-of-all-Rug-Shampooers. And for $36 its all yours for 4 hours.

I took the kids out for breakfast and then an extended browsing session at Target, while Mike stayed home and cleaned the rugs.
It was nice to spend time with the kids. (Wait dont I do that all day, every day?)

And the finished result????

Not too bad. We still that one stubborn stain. That was an entire Venti Vanilla Soy Ice Coffee my daughter dumped on my WHITE rug. OH well, that is where the ottoman goes, anyway.

Is it November 4th Yet?

2008-10-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or does it feel like this election has been going on FOREVER. I am so sick of talking about, hearing about, thinking about it, and arguing about it. Can we just vote already?

A little walk.

2008-10-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

Remember how I said we were in the market for as much fresh air as we could possibly get?

Today turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL fall day. The morning was chilly, so we had to pass on the original hike we had planned with my brother. It wasnt worth having sick kids for the next week. And with Halloween coming up, we want everyone as healthy as possible.

This afternoon, I took the kids out for a walk. I was surprised that Joey knew the entire route. It was a pretty long walk. I was able to snap some pictures. Enjoy!

One of the nice things about living on a HUGE hill is the amazing view.

Joey doesnt like to have his picture taken.

Autumn Stew

2008-10-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, this isnt my recipe. I found it somewhere online. Its vegan. Its healthy. But, dont let that scare you away. It is SO delicious, and so perfect for this time of year. Go make some. Right now.

Autumn Stew

1 1/2 Cups water OR vegetable stock*
1 Tbls Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 lb (4 cups) winter squash (I like Butternut)
2 15-oz cans diced tomatoes
1 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin
Black Pepper to taste
2 15-oz can Kidney Beans (or any mix of beans you like)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen sweet corn

Heat 1/2 c. stock (or water) and soy sauce in large pot, then add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent and most of the water evaporates.

Cut the squash in half and remove its seeds, then peel and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Add squash cubes to the onion mixture, along with tomatoes, remaining stock*, chili powder, cumin and black pepper. Cover and simmer until squash is "just-tender," or about 20 minutes. Add beans with their liquid and the corn. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve with crusty bread.
*I added an additional can of College Inn Vegetable Stock when I put the squash in. I like it a little soupier. You can do what you feel. :)

You know you want some.

What a crazy, fantastic weekend.

2008-10-26T13:40:00.001-07:00

We are in a mad dash to get as much fresh air as possible before the weather gets so cold you cant stand it. Every free moment we have its like: "What do you want to do? Where do you want to go? Who is coming with us? Lets go, Lets go, Lets go." We are not new to New England living. We know soon is going to be bitterly cold and spending any amount of time outside is "SUCKY."

So, we had one hell of a crazy, busy, weekend. This is how it all broke down.

Thursday morning: We picked up Samantha's ashes. Another wave of sadness. She is in a little floral tin, and we received a certificate. She is in a better place, and at peace.

Thursday afternoon: I spent the day making Autumn stew (I will post the recipe, its that good) for my vegan brother who was coming to visit with his new wife. You can find their annoyingly perfect wedding pictures on this blog. And then I baked cookies for Uncle Bill. He has cancer, and since I never had the right words to say, I bake when I feel helpless. So, I baked.

Friday Morning:
Left here at 9:00 AM, bound for Essex to ride on the Steam Train. Coming with the four of us is my dad, Mike's mom, my niece, Mike's cousin Suzanne, her two kids Ben and Nathaniel, her mom Auntie Cookie, and her dad Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill is the one I was baking for. I love when the family all gets together. It doest happen often enough. Train ride:

Our beautiful family.

Joey, Ally and their cousin, Hailey.

After the train ride we went out for Pizza. At this cool pizza place that had a crush stone floor. Thats right, the floor was made of loose stone. The kids thought that was the most amazing thing they have ever seen. I didnt take any pictures. I am regretting that now. Moving on.

Friday afternoon:
Gillette's castle. There is some sorta of history to the castle. If you care enough you can google it. Joey is fascinated with Castles so, it just seemed like a good idea. And its right on the Connecticut River. Its a beautiful spot. And it required a ferry ride across the Connecticut River. Talk about an adventure.

Joey, Ally and Ben.

Joey and Ally having a blast. Sucking in all that fresh air.

Oh, and I need to mention the creepy bathroom. It has composting toilets. No water. Just a black hole of scariness. Modern toilets. But still totally creeped me out. Eek.

Friday Night:
Bob arrived with his wife from Oklahoma. Ate delicious Autumn Stew. Played Buzz!

Saturday Morning:
Joey had his class. The rest of hung out a did not much of anything.

Saturday Afternoon:
Went apple picking despite the fact the skies looked angry and the wind was howling. Left my camera home, so I have no pictures to share. :(

From the orchard we went to Castle Craig at Hubbard park. The view was awesome. The wind was ridiculous.

From Castle Craig we went to my grandma's house.

From Grandma's house we went to the Pet Store to pick-up Pickelegrooven.

From Picklegrooven I went grocery shopping.

From grocery shopping, I went home to make MORE autumn stew, Kay's Crunchy Cole Slaw, and Apple Crisp.

And then I went to bed.

Sunday Morning:
Made pancakes and bacon for the locals. Mike, the saint he is, took the kids hiking while I stayed home to put the house back in order.

I got on toontown for all of 1/2 hour. And here I am.

Bet you are tired just reading all that. Imagine how I feel. I'm wiped.

Our New Friends

2008-10-26T13:14:00.001-07:00

So, we were in the market for a new pet. Problem #1, Joey is allergic to most everything. Problem#2 hypo-allergenic dogs are the same price as a new Honda. Problem #3 I dont want a new dog, I still miss the old one. Problem #4 Birds are highly annoying. Problem #5 Fish are boring, and we already have those...

So, a wee-bit of Google Research pointed us to Rats. Yes, I know. RATS. Joey isnt allergic to them, they are CHEAP, they arent a dog, or a bird, or a fish. So, now we are the proud owner of not one, but two rats. Yes, Rats.

You cant have just one rat. They are very social creatures, and a rat alone is a very depressed animal. And who can stand a depressed rat? Certainly, not I.

So, we own rats. And I have to tell you, after you get past the "OMG, we own Rats." They are truly a great pet. They are happy to stay in their tank and play together. They are even happier to come out and run around on a table. Especially the computer table or Joey's train table. They arent stupid like guinea pigs and hamsters, they wont jump off. The love to sit up your shoulders and hang out with you for as long as you permit them.

Our first rat is named Mr. Nutty Goose. After Joey's first Toontown Character. We had to wait 2 weeks for the second rat, and his name is Picklegrooven. Named after Joey's 2nd Toontown Character....

And I suppose you want to see what these little creatures look like....Oh here you go....
And might I add, If you think taking pictures of kids was a challenge. Taking pictures of two wound up rats, is nearly impossible.
Regardless, wait no longer:

This is Mr. Nutty Goose.

NuttyGoose is on the left, Picklegrooven is on the right. Picklegrooven is still a little shy.

I think this is NuttyGoose, I dunno for sure.

Ally and NuttyGoose.

When you put them in a confined area, taking their picture is much easier. Picklegrooven on the left, Nuttygoose on the right.

So much for confined. It didnt take long for them to figure out how to get out. They are rats afterall. Yes, Rats.

Picklegrooven in the very useful engine shed.

Good-Bye Old Friend

2008-10-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

So, this past Friday, October 10th, we had to say good-bye to our old friend. Samatha. She came into my life when I was only 12 years old. I had fallen in love with her cute little face at the pet store, and I couldnt bare the thought of her in a little tiny cage. So, I begged, and cried, and begged and gathered all the money I had, and cried and begged some more. In April, 2003, she became part of our family.

How could you resist that little face?

She was on duty 24/7 for the first 14 years of her life. (Before she went deaf) She protected our family from strangers, friends, family, and the recycle bin at the end of the driveway. She barked constantly, and as smart as she was, we could never get her to STOP BITING PEOPLE. She was a dog only a mother could love.

She could sit, stay, balancing things on her nose, walk on her hind legs, speak, rollover, play dead, beg. She was so easy to train, and so willing to please us.

She came to live with me fulltime in 2000. After I had moved out. I loved having her with me. She was a great companion, and I always felt safe with her around. We would go to the park everyday. I would take her to NYC with me. She would sit in her own seat on the train, and growl at everyone that walked by her. So funny to think about now. You should have heard her barking in Grand Central Station. The echo was incredible!

I even shaved her down a few times. Just to see what it looked like. If you are curious, this is what is looked like...

She was in my life long before my husband and children. Truly my oldest and dearest friend. In 2003 she fell, and broke her hip. Thankfully the vet was able to reset it, and with some TLC, she was quickly back and around. But, never quite the same. And old age really took a tole on that hip. It was hard for her to get up, and hard to walk. She started losing massive amounts of weight. She was having accidents in the house ALL THE TIME. She wasnt the same dog she once was.

So, we made that horrible decision to let her go. And I made peace with it. I knew it my heart is was time. But that didnt make it any easier to say good-bye.

We made the decision to stay with her until the very end. She had always been there for me, and I wasnt going to let her die alone. In the car, I opened the window and helped her put her head out the window, one last time. The ride to the vet seemed like it took hours.

I carried her inside. We spoke to the vet, well actually the vet spoke to me. I couldnt speak. I was going to lose it. The vet wanted to give Samantha a sedative to help keep her calm. I agreed. They gave her a quick shot, and within a minute she was quiet, peaceful and content. We could pet her again. For so long she wouldnt let us pet her. Probably because she was in pain. The vet came in, shaved off a little fur on her leg, and got the needle ready. I couldnt watch them do it.

I buried my face in her fur. And just cried. And cried and cried. She took two deep breaths and that was it. She was gone. We sat with her for a little while. I continued to cry and cry.
When it was finally time to leave her behind, it was so hard to walk out of the room and leave her laying on the blanket. SO HARD.

Now, her dishes still sit on the kitchen floor. Her leftover food and bones are still in the cabinet. I just havent been able to get myself to throw them away. It doesnt feel like she is gone yet.

I still expect to see her when I open the door to come home. And the first thought on my mind when I wake up, is to let the dog out. Its going to take time. She was 15 1/2. God Bless Her. She is in a better, happier place.

We pick up her ashes next week. Her favorite place to walk was Steep Rock in Washington. My brother is flying home in a week. And we all plan on taking one last hike with her up to the top.

We will spread her ashes on top of the mountain. And say good-bye, one final time.

Nothing Like a Sick Kid

2008-10-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Ally has the sickness. The green goop pouring out of her nose. She points to her nose and tells us its broken. (its pretty adorable)

Sure, I feel bad for her...Her little nose is all crusted up. She is pale, and grumpy. She did have a fever, but that didnt last very long. We took her to the doctor. Her ears, and throat are clear. Its just a head cold.

When she is happy and sickness-free, she doesnt sit still for more than a moment. She doesnt like to be cozy or lay around and snuggle. She is always on a mission, and she is always determined. She is Miss Independent. She wants to do everything for herself, without help. Gone is my little baby girl that I could fuss over, and do everything for.

Now that she has the sickness, she climbs up into my lap and just wants to be held. And I love it. It seems like yesterday, but also so long ago, she was just a teeny little baby that I could hold and nap with. Or just sit and stare at.

When she wakes up in the middle of night, I have no reservations about bringing her into bed, so she can sleep in my arms.
After all, she has green goop pouring out of her nose. Clearly, she needs me. :)

Soon this sickness will pass. Probably in the next 48 hours. She will go back to being 2 going on 13. She wont want me to hold her, or snuggle with her.
At least not until the next time she gets sick.

Fall is in FULL SWING!

2008-10-05T15:20:00.001-07:00

Welcome Fall. Its my favorite time of year!! The days are cooler. Comfy sweatshirt weather. Crisp Air. Its the best.

Yesterday, Mike and I had a kidless afternoon. We left the kids with my mom and took off for a hike. We brought the dog-in-law (my inlaws dog) and were gone for 4 1/2 hours!!!

A little old lady scolded us for letting the dog run, in the woods, unleashed.
She pointed her bony finger at us and told us we were committing a crime. I guess, she is right, but geez, let the dog have a little fun. Not to mention she is the sweetest dog in the world.

Anyway, we hiked for miles. Admired the scenery. Breathed in good fresh air. And recharged our parenting patience. Nothing like a few hours away from the kids to make you miss them so much your heart hurts.

It was a perfect day. If only I would have remembered to grab the stupid camera. Oh well. There will be more of these days to come.

Why I love my husband....

2008-09-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

Top Reasons I LOVE my Husband.

1. He works a less-than-great-schedule, so he can spend the most possible quality time with his kids.
2. He cleans up after the dog.
3. He does whatever it takes to make his crazy wife the happiest woman in the world.
4. He loves his kids more than I can explain to you.
5. He builds awesome tracks that keep Joey occupied for hours.
6. He takes joy in cleaning the house. (freak)
7. He lets the wife control the remote.
8. He says things like, "Yes, wife, you are absolutely right, and I should have listened to you in the first place." And "Do you have enough cash, or do you need the debit card, too?"
9. He tries to reason with our two year old.
10. He never complains about my Starbucks habit.
11. He doesnt mind getting up with the kids in the middle of night.
12. He speaks the language of Joey and Ally almost fluently.
13. He would gladly go without to make sure his kids have everything they want and/or need.
14. Tells his wife how sexy and beautiful she is, even on days when she clearly isnt.

I love him, and would be lost without him. <3

Joey

2008-09-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

I have to blog really quick about Joey. I've been talking about Ally so much, I havent been giving Joey equal blog time. :)

Joey is doing AWESOME! His throat (or FROAT, as he calls it) is all healed. And the sleep apnea has gone away!! He is sleeping better, and that translates to a happier little man during the day.

I was going back in time on our ebook of pics, and WOW, he has changed SO much. For fun, I found this little video of Joey skating when he was almost two.

When Joey was 2 1/2 he had a vocab of barely 10 words, and his doctor was concerned, so we had him evaluated. And thus began my fight with the public school system here. We accepted the help of a speech therapist, WHICH DID WONDERS. And he quickly began increasing his vocabulary. He was in birth to 3, and at the age of the 3, his speech therapist released his file to the public school system, which would take on his case from there.

To make a long story short, they wanted him to start their school readiness program that was 5 times a week, 4 hours a day. And they suggested he take the school bus so he can be like the other kids. It was my opinion, that was WAY to much for my sensitive little boy. And instead we opted for Monkey Business. And it was the best decision I ever made.

With patience, love and understanding, the staff at Monkey Business really helped him to blossom. And gain confidence in himself. Now, he talks NON-STOP. He sings songs, and makes conversation. He is a riot. He says things like, "Are you kidding me right now, Mom?" and my favorite "Mom, YOU ARE MAKING ME CRAZY." I love it.

I am so insanely proud of my little boy. I just wish he would grow a tad bit slower.

Miss Independent

2008-09-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

So, Ally is two. And in the past week its become VERY clear that we have a two-year-old in the house.

Baths have been replaced by showers. There are no more diapers to be found in our house. She must do everything for herself, and if I dont permit her to do so, her world comes crashing down, and chaos ensues.

Miss Independent no longer needs mom hovering over her. She prefers to dress herself, two legs through one pant leg. Brushing her own teeth, water everywhere and baby tooth paste running down her arm. Buckling and unbuckling her carseat, she tries that one, and finally gives in to dad's help. Making her meals, or at least she wants to. I dont let her use the stove. Am I a mean mommy, or what? She seems to think so.

Heaven help anyone that tries to help her do anything.

She is in that difficult stage of testing her boundaries and her limits. We, as her parents, are holding tight to our rules and expectations. We are hopeful that if we stay consistent this stage will pass QUICKLY. It will, right?

RIGHT?

This seems like yesterday.

Where the heck did this toddler come from?

You've Got Mail

2008-09-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

"You've Got Mail" back in the early 90s was a welcome greeting on AOL. Meaning just as it says, You've Got Mail.

Sometime in the mid-90s there was a movie by the same name. A Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks chic-flick. The kind of movie you wait for to come out on video. A cute little movie, but nothing spectacular.

Unless you are me.

I freakin love that movie. Its not the predictable plot that did it for me. Nope, not at all.

Two things I love about this movie. I love that its NYC, and Meg Ryan is running a mom and pop book shop on the upper west side. I love mom and pop shops. The coziness, the warmth, the friendliness, the knowledge. I'm a wise consumer, and whenever I can, I like to support small businesses.

The second thing that keeps me hitting the rewind button (thats right VHS, baby) is that the story unfolds in the fall. The story opens with Meg Ryan walking down the fall streets of New York. The leaves on the ground, a scarf around her neck, a Starbucks coffee in hand. Talking about back to school time, the smell of tape and freshly sharpened pencils.

They show a fall festival on the streets of NYC. Bobbing for apples, pumpkins, hay, sweatshirts, scarves, and everything fall.

I just cant get enough.

I love the smell of fall. The dryness and coolness of fall. In the morning that feeling that the bus will be here any second to pick me up for school. And that sudden relief, NO ITS NOT!
The way the breeze sounds different through fiery colored leaves. The hay rides, and pumpkin picking, glazed apple cider donuts, apple picking, The Big E, Halloween costume planning, cinnamon-sugar apple cider donuts, sweatshirt wearing, maple syrup, Thanksgiving recipe gathering, plain apple cider donuts, corn mazes, hiking, letterboxing, the way the guts of a pumpkin feel when you are scooping it clean. And we cant forget Grandma's homemade pies. Everything is better in the fall.

In New England there is a certain craziness about fall. We take pride in our trees and our fall tourism. There are so many fall activities to be had, and such a small window to have them in. Every weekend there is something fun going on. I just soak it all in and to try to enjoy as much of it as I can.

And then that one late afternoon comes. As the sunsets, the skies grow darker and you know rain is coming. All night long it rains. And in the morning, the leaves are gone. A few stubborn stragglers hang on. But for the most part, its over.

I can watch "You've Got Mail" 100 times over. No matter what time of year, and I can dream about a better season. Fall.

All these pics are from last year. I'll be posting new ones, as the season unfolds. :)

This is Steep Rock, one of our favorite hiking spots.

Picking out the perfect pumpkin. Ally was just a baby!

Practicing for Halloween.

My Little Brothers Wedding

2008-09-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

My brother and his fiancee got hitched in Antigua a few weeks ago. They requested it to be a private ceremony, just the two of them, barefoot on the beach.

Of course, I protested. He is my only sibling, and being at his wedding was something that was important to me. Because, hopefully, he will only have ONE wedding in his life.

But, their mind was made up, and it was what it was. Just what they wanted.

And, I have to admit, after seeing the pictures, it was a beautiful wedding. He made a handsome groom and she was a beautiful bride.

The only way the pictures would have been better, is if I was in some of them.
But, I guess that is what Photoshop is for, right??

Grab yourself a pink drink with an umbrella in it, and enjoy the pictures.

Lyman Orchards

2008-08-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

We spend the entire fall season, every year, at Lyman Orchards. We go up just about every Friday. It has beautiful scenery, beautiful foliage in the later fall months, fresh fruit, and some of the best goodies around.

The kids love to run around in the orchard and pick fresh fruit to eat. Dad likes the bigger-than-your-face-chocolate-éclairs. And mom loves the apple cider donuts. Add in a cup of coffee and some duck food, you have yourself a beautiful fall day.

We got a jump start on fall with these cooler than normal temperatures. The corn maze will be opening this weekend, that means the end to the sunflower maze. And since we hadnt made it up there, we decided Wednesday would be a great day for Lyman.

And boy, oh boy, was it ever. We could not have asked for a better weather day. The fresh air, and sunshine was just what I needed to clear my head. And the smiles and laughter from the kids, its just indescribable.

After the maze we went pear picking. Ended up deciding the Asian Pear was the family favorite. And then headed up the hill to the Peach Orchards. The peaches are the size of softballs. Warm from the sun, juicy and perfectly delicious.

We headed down to the Apple Barrel (Lyman shop of delights) for an obscenely huge éclair. A bag of apple cider donuts, and some duck food for the natives. :)

It was an absolutely perfect day. And the best part of all??

Its only the end of August. We still have weeks and weeks of fall left to enjoy!

My Vote

2008-08-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

So its almost time to do my duty, my privilege, my right and vote. Step up and vote for who I think should be the next President of this fine country we live in.

Everyday, my vote goes a different direction.

I'm a simple person. I dont pay much attention to politics. I get my info from watching "The View" every morning while I fold laundry. And watching Leno at night before I goto bed. And from the bits and pieces I read online.

I like the idea of Obama. Him and his big ideas of change. He is an excellent speaker, and you almost find yourself believing the stuff spewing out of him mouth. I really like his wife. I appreciate there struggles. Growing up in working class families. It makes me feel like they understand the "American Way."

My issue with Obama...Well, I have a few. First is his safety and the safety for his beautiful family. There are a lot of people in this country, I am NOT one of them, that will never accept a black president. I worry about his little girls, if something does happen to him. For instance there were a handful of people arrested in Denver for suspicious behavior at the convention. And Obama wasnt even on the premises. Is the presidency worth risking his safety and his families safety? I guess thats a question only he can answer.

Also, there is the pro-choice issue. He claims to be a Christian. But, I dont understand how you can be a Christian and also support abortion? That doesnt sit well with me.

McCain is the obvious choice coming from a conservative republican family. I appreciate his values. And I appreciate his own struggles. And I agree with his pro-life stance.

Although, I couldnt tell you what it is, I have heard good things about his foreign policy.

His age is a worry. And his health. But, I guess any of us can have health issues at any age. And he does remind me a lot of George Bush. Just in the way he speaks. Its hard to explain.

Thinking back to the last time we had a Democrat in office, things were pretty ok. Maybe that is what we need again.

So, as you can see my vote keeps changing. I'm not in love with either candidate. I probably wont know which way I will vote until I get to the polls.

Pictures have been posted!

2008-08-26T15:05:00.001-07:00

Crista Acosta, our favorite photographer, posted a sneak peak of the pics from the kids party.

You can see them here:

http://www.cristaacosta.com/blog/?p=177

Enjoy!

Another Year, Another Party Success

2008-08-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

Operation Celebrate Children's Birth was a success. The party was a huge hit. Family is scattered about, and its nice to have a reason to get together and celebrate. We dont do it nearly enough.

All the kids had an amazing time running, jumping, playing and squealing in delight.

The adults chatted amongst themselves, pointing and laughing at above mentioned children.

My favorite photographer was on hand to capture the fun, and I'll be sure to link the photos when she posts them. (cristaacosta.com)

Mom, of course, got a little misty a few times. I cant explain the way it feels to see my kids growing up. Its scary, exciting, heart breaking, sad, happy and 1000 more emotions all at the same time.

I am so proud of them, and so in madly in the love with them. I know I have said it many times before, they are my world, my heart and I cannot imagine how I survived without them.

A Mommy Moment

2008-08-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Joey's birthday is Monday. This past week, today being the last day, he went to his summer camp class. It was 5 days of playing, snack time and craft making. Lasting 2 whole hours each day. The big finale today is actually a 3 hour class. Whoa.

Two of his classmates had birthdays this week, and their moms brought in cupcakes to share with the class. Joey has severe allergies to nuts and peanuts, so he could not partake in the cupcake eating like his classmates.

Had someone told me the following day there would be cupcakes, I would have made a batch and sent a 'safety' cupcake to class with him.

He was left out. He didnt care. He didnt even seem to notice. But, mom noticed. And mom was sad for him.

Well, I had the bright idea to make a batch of my own cupcakes to send with him today to celebrate his birthday on Monday.

And I was going to make these cupcakes as special as I could.

Joey and I went to the party store, and I left him pick out whatever cupcake papers he wanted. After much deliberation, he selected Lighting McQueen. And then we went to the store and he selected the Funfetti cake mix. I am a snob about frosting, we dont use frosting out the can. lol He didnt get to pick the frosting. But, he did get to pick the decorations. Chocolate sprinkles his favorite.

So, we spent the day yesterday making cupcakes, frosting them with his favorite chocolate whip cream frosting, and sprinkling the crap out of them with sprinkles.

Needless to say he was pumped. He kept saying he was going to share them with all his friends. And he wanted to make sure everyone got one. Such a sweet boy he is.

So, this morning, I had to make him a lunch to eat as his class. All the other days they just had a snack, but today they are going to eat a bag lunch.

I got all misty, AGAIN, packing his little lunch, in his little lunch bag. Lighting McQueen, of course. He took his lunch bag and his show and share toy, and put them in his back pack.

"I am all set dad, lets go. Its my birfday."

My little guy is growing so fast. Seems like just yesterday, I was sterilizing bottles, and driving all over the place looking for his favorite organic baby food. Now, I am packing turkey sandwiches and making him cupcakes to share with his friends.

Its almost too much for this mom to handle.

Ally's Birthday Story

2008-08-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

When Joey was 1 we decided to try for baby #2. We got pregnant again, rather quickly. And sadly, 8 1/2 weeks later I had a miscarriage.

We had to wait for few months to everything to get back to normal. And we started trying again. Around Thanksgiving.

A few weeks later, I had a positive pregnancy test that confirmed, once again, we were expecting. This time around we were so much more cautious about sharing our news. I went to the drs weekly to have my hormones levels checked. And at Christmas, it was safe to tell our families, another baby was on the way. Due the end of August!!!

Ally's pregnancy was equally as uneventful as Joey's was. I was just more drained because I had a toddler to care for this time around.

When we found out we were having a girl. I was overjoyed. I always wanted to a little girl. And now that I had one of each, we could call our family complete.

We agreed on Ally. Mike wanted Alexandria. I agreed, because I wanted her middle name to be Elisabeth after my grandma. Alexandria Elisabeth it would be.

She was another big baby. And I knew I would end up having her early. I planned Joey's birthday party for September 2nd. I figured she would be born the beginning of August, and that would give me plenty of time to plan a birthday party.

Fast forward to the middle of August. I was getting bigger every minute, and no signs of labor. One night I woke up with terrible back pain. And Ally wasnt moving. So, I got up and drank a HUGE glass of OJ, and waited. No movement. I was terrified. I couldnt get the doctor on the phone fast enough.

The pain was getting worse, coming and going. And Ally wasnt moving. 4:00am we called the sitter for Joey and flew to the hospital. They hooked me up to the monitors. Another backwards baby. Another back labor was in my future. But for now, it was just false labor, and within an hour she was kicking my ribs like a pro.

They kept me until lunchtime, and sent us home.

I met with my midwife on Aug 25th. The day after my due date. I had to have a nonstress test to see how Ally's heart rate was doing. It was even. It wasnt accelerating the way it should, but it wasnt decelerating either.

She wanted an OB to do an ultrasound to check on Ally's size, and heartrate. My OB, not the one that delivered Joey, another OB in the practice, looked at my belly and said "WHOA, We got a big baby here." It was a Friday. My 2 favorite OBs were leaving for vacation the following day. My placenta was aging. And he suggested we schedule a section for that evening.

Again, I was sold. The heart rate thing made me nervous. And I just wanted her out.

This section was a cake walk compared to Joey's.

I went in. Was prepped. 20 minutes later I was in the OR. I was rested, relaxed, and excited. I had the epidural. The drs pulled her out. And then it was done. No pain. No weird experiences.

Within 3 hours of checking into the hospital, she was in my arms, eating like a champ. What a difference.

With Ally, I requested no visitors except for family, and I didnt let them stay long. I wanted the time to just spend with her bonding with her. She never left my side.

Oh, she was born August 25th. Remember that Birthday party I had planned for Joey?? I was wrong. She wasnt early, she was actually one day late. And I had a birthday party to throw 1 week postpardum. Talk about exhaustion. Lucky for me, there were about 20 people waiting in line to hold Ally while I entertained Joey.

After things calmed down and we got into our little routine, it was clear, she was the perfect final piece to my puzzle. My heart is now whole.

Joey's Birthday Story

2008-08-13T12:00:00.001-07:00

Around this time every year, I get all misty and excited. Joey and Ally's birthday is coming up, and I cant help myself from going back in my head to the weeks leading up to each of their births. What an exciting, and wonderful time that was. And I cannot fathom how I survived 24 years without them. What the heck did I do with all my time? And that huge hole in my heart that only they could fill??

When Mike and I started dating, I made is clear that I wanted kids. NOW. I will never forget the look on his face. He didnt know if I was kidding, or if he should pull over and throw me out of the car. He just got all flustered, and told me that he also wanted kids, but he wasnt ready yet.

I continued to remind him of my need to be a mom regularly, and then one evening over Martinis he agreed. We were 23, and talking about marriage. We both were working, and we were stable. It seemed like a good time to start trying.

Only a few days later, I woke up and ran directly into the bathroom to throw up. Hmmm.....

A week or so later, pregnancy test after pregnancy test came up negative. I was confused and discouraged.

Only then, sitting on my bathroom floor in tears, did I actually read the entire sheet of instructions that came with the test. It suggested you use your first morning urine. What a novel idea. Ok, that is what I will do.

That was Dec 23rd.

Dec 24, Christmas Eve, Mike and I went to Walmart to pick up last minute Christmas doo-dads. And a pregnancy test. I had told him I was going to wait until the morning to take the test.

Christmas Morning.

I didnt sleep much that night. My brother was visiting and staying at our house, things were crazy for the holidays, and I was thinking about the test in the bathroom.

7:00 am. I had waited long enough.

I took the test.

My sleepy eyes watched the test 'develop.' And two beautiful lines appeared. I was pregnant.

I was speechless. I remember not being able to get the bathroom door open, I was shaking so badly.

On my way to wake up my sleeping boyfriend, to tell him the fantastic news, I saw the phone. I couldnt help myself from dialing up my best friend at the time. It was Christmas morning at 7:15 am. She answered on the first ring. (Turns out her kids were sick overnight and she was waiting for the pediatrician to call.)

I told her, "I am pregnant!"

She paused, and in a voice filled with joy, tears, and overwhelming emotion, she said, "You are going to have a BABY!"

My heart fell to the floor, and I stopped breathing. What did she say? Baby?? No, I wasnt going to have a baby. I was pregnant.
Only in the that moment did I fully grasp what was happening here. We only ever talked about getting pregnant. Nobody ever talks about have a baby.

I woke up Mike and told him the good news. He was so happy, he rolled over and went back to sleep. Men.

Anyway, we decided to wait until after the holida y to spring our news. We werent married and we werent sure how our families would react. And it would probably be best if I had at least one doctors appointment to make sure all was well.

And besides, we had other big news. Under our Christmas tree was an engagement ring. We were getting married!!
What a Christmas it was.

So, to make the middle of my story shorter, and to save you from all the boring prenatal details, our families were over joyed when we told them. We found out we were having a boy. And immediately had his name all picked out. He is named after his dad.
The pregnancy was relatively easy. I did what I was told.

I saw a Nurse Midwife for the majority of my pregnancy. I had a vision of a beautiful natural delivery without any meds. And she was very supportive of my wishes.

Until week 36, she went on vacation and I was forced to see my OB. Dont get me wrong, I love my OB. But, he didnt share my vision of the natural childbirth.

At 37 weeks, my belly was HUGE, and Joey was estimated over 9 lbs. He suggested an induction the following week, if I couldnt get labor going on my own. I remember him leaving the room to call the hospital to schedule my induction.

When he came back in he said, I would be admitted on Aug 17th, and then would get pitocin and have Joey on Aug 18th. I got all teary, which I did regularly when I was pregnant. I informed him Aug 18th was MY birthday. I was going to have my baby on my birthday.

Looking back I wish I would have told him I didnt want the induction. But I had waited 24 years to have a baby, and this doctor was telling me I could have him in my arms as early as next week. I couldnt resist. I was onboard with whatever he wanted to do. Ofcourse, as you will learn, it didnt quite work out the way we all had hoped.

Well, we tried every trick in the book to get labor going on our own. Nothing worked.

On Aug 17th, my bag was packed by the door. The nursery was perfect in every way. The car seat was in the car, bottles and pumps were sterilized, laundry was all washed in dreft. Believe me when I tell you, EVERYTHING was ready.

Except for my kitchen floor. For some reason, I felt the need to get on my hands and knees and scrub every inch of the floor, with a 9lb baby in my belly. Crazy, I know.

Anyway, I finally got checked into the hospital. And was given Cervadil to soften things up and get my body ready for tomorrow's pitocin.
I sent Mike home to be with the dog. I was just going to sleep, no point in having him there.

3:00am rolls around, and I have a wicked back ache. Seems scrubbing the floor the day before wasnt the best idea I ever had. The nurses suggested I get the in shower and let the hot water hit my back for awhile.

I did that. No relief.

I called Mike. And pleaded with him to get here ASAP. I swear it took him 7 years to get himself to the hospital. By the time he got there, it was pretty clear, I was in labor. Back labor. Joey was facing the wrong direction.

They started the Pitocin drip around 7:00am.
Around 8:00 they broke my water. That was an interesting sensation. Everytime I had a contraction gallons of fluid came flowing out like a river.

Around breakfast time the parade arrived. My mom, Mike's mom, and my best friend. They sat in the room and watched me labor. Waiting on the edge of their seats for the baby to pop out.
They stayed all day. ALL DAY. My dad came in for a little while. My sister in law popped in for a
little while. I just layed in bed, and waited for my spine to fall out.

My nurses, at the time, were fantastic. They checked me frequently. I requested shots of narcotics as often as I could get them. It took the edge off.

Joey was amazing through the entire ordeal. His heart rate stayed right where it needed to be. He continued to move around. He did fantastic.

Sometime in the afternoon I heard the word C-Section. I knew it was time for an epidural. My worst fear was having Joey go into distress and have to have an emergency c-section. If there wasnt time for an epidural, they would have to put me out. And that was that last thing I wanted. I wanted to be awake, it was important to me to hear his first cry.

So, I requested the dreaded epidural.

Ever have a needle jammed into your spine? No? You should try it. Its oodles of fun.

After the epidural, life was better. The pain stopped. And I progressed to 5 cms. And then I stopped progressing.

My OB was on his way to perform a c-section.
It was close to 10:00 at night.
I had been in labor for close to 20 hours. 98.34% of that was without an epidural. I was tired, deflated, sad, and scared.

The new nurse I had was a not very nice. She prepped me for surgery. She didnt provide me very much comfort. They left Mike behind and wheeled me into a freezing OR. All I could see where the eyes of the people that were going to work on me. The anesthesiologist was not very nice to me. He was blunt and quick. He said he was going to increase the epidural drip.

Mike was finally able to join me in the room. Right at my side. I told him I was scared.

The anesthesiologist put an alcohol prep pad on my face and asked me if it felt cold. Of course it did. Then he put the same pad on my belly, and asked if I felt it. I said yes, it feels cold. He was annoyed.

"BUT, DOES IT FEEL AS COLD AS IT DID ON YOUR FACE?"

I said, "No, I guess not." He told the drs, I was all set, they could proceed.

I felt everything little thing they did to me. Another anesthesiologist was in the room, and she had kind eyes. She told him they were going to put medicine in my IV to help with the pain.

Only a few minutes passed, and I felt this incredible pain. I screamed. And then a mask went over my face. The doctor with the kind eyes told me to breath. I tried to fight her off, but she kept the mask on my face.

There was no oxygen in the mask. Only gas to put me out. I felt like I was dying. And all I could see was this doctors eyes. Only a few seconds later I was out.

And I had a totally insane out of body experience. It totally freaked me out, and I didnt talk about it for quite awhile.

When I was put out there was something spinning in front of me. Like on a string. And there was this terrible constant sound. And I asked "Is this eternity?" And I got the response that yes it was. For eternity I would have to listen to that horrid noise.

Suddenly I was outside, and there was water. A huge pane of glass separated the water in half. To get to the other side, I would have to swim under the glass. I was told that my baby would be on the other side. I jumped in and started swimming under the glass. On the other side, I was swimming toward the surface, but just couldnt get there. I had my arms out stretched, reaching. I couldnt breath and I felt like I would die.
I kind voice told me, "You baby is right here, come get him."
With that I hit the surfacing and woke up in the OR taking in a huge breath and gasping for air.
I heard the sound of a baby crying.

"Is that my baby?"

The nurses said, "Yes it is." 9lbs exactly. Healthy, pink and breathtaking.

I was able to take one look at him, and give him a kiss. And he was whisked away to the NICU, where all c-scetion babies go, for observation. I told Mike to go with Joey. And I passed back out.

About an hour later, I woke up in my room. Everyone was in there. Family and friends. They had been there the entire time, and had watched Joey through the glass in the nursery. They all told me he was beautiful. And they all left so our news little family could be alone.

The not-so-nice-nurse was there doing paperwork. I asked her where Joey was, and that I wanted to see him immediately.

Her suggestion? She wanted to me to sleep, and I could see him in the morning.
Brave woman saying that to a new-mom.

I complained enough that she went and got him. She wheeled him in, and went back to her seat in my room to finish my chart. Mike stood over him.

I was like GIVE HIM TO ME.

Mike had never held a baby before. And he had no idea. The nurse barked at him to just pick him up. She wasnt very helpful.

But, Mike did it. And at last I had my baby in my arms. He was absolutely beautiful. Seriously, he was the cutest little newborn. So chubby and just perfect in every way.

10 Things I CANNOT Live Without

2008-08-12T21:12:00.001-07:00

1. The Kids.
2. The Husband.

Ok those were givens.
Lets start over...
1. My bed. Without sleep, I am worthless. And my kids love to snuggle in the morning with us. I love that time of the day.

2. Caffeine. Without it, I would be a pile of mush on the floor.

3. TiVo. If you currently are living without a TiVo, please explain to me how you do it.

4. The Internet. Toontown, Blogs, Myspace, email, recipes, woot, old navy.com, its endless...

5. My cell phone. How I hate that stupid thing. But, I never ever leave home with out it.

6. Thomas the Train. Without him I wouldnt have $1000 worth of trains to pick up everyday.

7. The dollar menu. When you are out and about and you totally forget about having to feed your kids....Nothing spells relief like a dollar menu. Where else can you feed a family of 4 with $10??

8. Our Britax car seats. I cant say enough good things about them. I really should work for that company.

9. My shark steam mop. Good Bye swifter. Hello washable replacement pads!!

10. My friends. Love all you guys.

Wedding Fun

2008-08-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

My best friend, Lyndsay's sister, Liz got married this past weekend. (did you get all that?)

Due to childcare needs it worked out better if Mike stayed home with the kids, and I end up bringing a dear friend as my date. (My third child, Meghan)

Mike hates weddings, and was more than happy to stay home and entertain the kids. I was more than happy to leave him home, so I didnt have to worry about entertaining him. :)

The wedding was absolutely beautiful and probably the best wedding I have ever been too. Besides my own, I guess. lol

It was an outdoor ceremony, in the country. The bride even arrived with her dad in a horse drawn carriage. It was amazing.

And I all I had to do was think of Ally getting married someday. I sobbed through the entire wedding ceremony. I'm such a girl. lol

The reception was a blast. I ran into a bunch of people I hadnt seen in years. I wore something other than mom-clothes, and I left the flip-flops at home.

I drank more than I should have, danced more that I should have, and had more fun that I should have.

And then I spent the next day remembering that I was too old to have that much fun.

This is the bride arriving in the horse drawn carriage.

Walking down the aisle with her dad. (This is about where my weeping began.)

Taking a carriage ride of our own. That is my 'date' Meghan. (My other daughter lol)

Meghan, myself, and Lyndsay

Here we are. Best Friends. Lova Ya, Lyndz

Our Day out with Thomas

2008-08-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

Let me just start off my saying, I wish I would have invented Thomas the Train. Because someone out there is making a fortune!!!!

This day out with thomas was in Thomaston instead of Waterbury. What an improvement!! The train ride was more scenic, the people were nicer, and the atmosphere was just overall better.

Joey and Ally had a complete and total blast. Ally even insisted on wearing one of her brother's Thomas shirts. I'm totally surprised he allowed it!!

Anyway, enjoy the pics....

Sneaky Snake

2008-07-29T13:15:00.001-07:00

If there is one thing I cannot stand in this world its Snakes. (There are a few others, but lets just focus on snakes for right now.)

I dont like them. I dont like the way they move, the way they just pop up on you, the way you can never tell which way they are going. I just dont like them. And I hate seeing them, especially outside in their natural habitat.

They just freak me out.

Today Mike decides to take the kids for a hike, to give me a break. Yes, he is great guy. It gave me a chance to sit around and play Toontown. Super. lol

They went to Peterson Park in Wolcott to walk on the trail. Somewhere we go all the time. And only once have we ever found a snake.

When they came home my son had an empty Starbucks container in hand. "Look mom, I gotta show you."

"Show me WHAT?"

A SNAKE. Right there coiled up in the bottom of what used to be a Vanilla Soy Iced Coffee. A ring neck snake. That my 4 year found all by himself.
He was so proud of that snake. And I was so repulsed. Even though its the smallest snake I have ever seen.

Yes, that is Joey's little hand.

That is my little princess playing with a snake.

Anyway, the snake didnt stay in captivity long. Mike let the kids play with it for a few minutes and then let it go in the backyard.

Yep, thats right. So it can come into the house in the middle of the night, and kill me in my sleep.

You Are Now Entering a Peanut-Free Blog

2008-07-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

It became quite apparent back when Joey was 14 months old, he had a-not-so-nice relationship with peanut butter. I gave him peanut butter on toast, a cookie with peanuts in it, and some candy with peanut in it. He threw up each and every time.
Hmmm....
A visit to the pediatrician and one blood test later, we had some pretty terrible news. Joey was allergic to peanuts. Oh and Tree Nuts, Milk, Soy, Wheat, Dogs & Cats. Can you imagine getting that message on your answering machine?
We have followed up with more blood tests and skin-prick tests. And it seems Dogs, Cats, and Peanuts are the ones we have to look out for. We carry an epi-pen and read ingredients, and I have to ask 1 million questions whenever he is going to eat, and I wont be right beside him. But honestly, it hasnt been as horrible as I originally thought it would be.

That is until our trip to Cape Cod. Here is what happened:

On our last night we decided to go out for pizza. The kids were fussy in the pizzeria, the wait was long, and they were tired. So, I told them if they could behave, and be still I would take them out for ice cream afterwards. The promise of ice cream did the trick and all was quiet and calm for the remainder of our pizza adventure.

There was a small ice cream shack across the street. It was starting to rain, so I suggested we get the car, in case it downpours, we wont have to walk back to the hotel in the rain. (The pizza place was close to the hotel, so we had walked.)

Ok, so we get to the ice cream place. My mom and Dan order first and get their yummy looking ice creams. I had the kids all pumped about their ice cream cones.

This is how it works when you have a nut allergy. First, you tell the server, you have an allergy. You then ask for a clean scooper. Soft serve is better b/c there isnt cross contamination, but hard is ok, as long as you have a clean scooper. Then you ask for them to go in back and get the sprinkles for the big container. So, there isnt any cross contamination. And then you put an extra dollar in the tip cup for their troubles.
Here in Connecticut, it works beautifully. Once you say, PEANUT ALLERGY, the server knows exactly that to do to ensure my son wont need a trip to the hospital. Ok fine.

So, I approached the counter and said. "My son has a peanut allergy, would you be able to accommodate us?" The skinny bitch (I hate to use that term, but that is exactly what she was, check the dictionary, you will see her picture) behind the counter, looked at me like I suddenly sprouted 10 heads. Another skinny bitch from behind her said, "Oh you have a nut allergy, we cant serve you."
This time I looked at them like they sprouted 10 heads. "YOU CANT SERVE US? If you use a clean scooper and get the sprinkles from the big bucket, that will be fine."
They both said "NOPE. We were told we cannot serve you or anyone in your group, per our boss."

I was totally floored. It would have been one thing if they explained they could not promise everything to be 100% peanut free. I could understand that. But to be rude, and refuse any service at all?

We walked away from the counter, and my son started to cry. Heck, I started to cry, too. This skinny bitch just told me that my son couldnt do something because he is different that everyone else. It made me weak. It really did.

So, I explained to my mom and Dan we would have to meet them back at the hotel, we had to get these kids ice cream before they had a nervous breakdown. In the car we went. I was SO thankful we had decided to go back and get the car. The kids were flipping out because we were leaving the ice cream place empty handed and it was POURING rain out.

Back on Route 28 towards Hyannis. There must be ice cream somewhere.
We found some. In Yarmouth. It was pouring, there was no covered seating, there was nothing. The kids would have to eat in the car, and in their freshly laundered car seats. Oh boy.

I stated my case about the peanut allergies. NO PROBLEM they said. And got a new, clean scooper and the big tub of sprinkles from the storage room. All was well. I handed off the ice cream cones to Lyndsay, who delivered them to my children. Lynz had her ice cream, and I was waiting to pay.
$14 later, everyone was happy. Thats right $14 for ice cream.

Until 30 seconds went by, and Ally's ice cream dropped off her cone and into her lap. Lynz held it in her hand until I could get a bowl. Ice cream was dripping like crazy, it was still pouring. What a mess it all was.

I threw out my empty ice cream bowl. And then Ally said "All done, Mom!" I asked her, "Do you want me to throw yours away?" She clearly said, "YES."

And in the garbage it went.

And then the screaming began. "I want my ice cream!!!!!!!!!"

Screaming so severe the old couple in line, looked like they were ready to call the authorities. I am not kidding. I quickly explained the situation and they laughed. Phew.
She screamed the entire way back to the hotel. And then told Grandma how I had thrown away her ice cream. Great.

Boy, did I learn my lesson.
Next time. Goto Stop and Shop and get Popsicles. Problem solved.

Cape Cod, Our Mini-Vacation

2008-07-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

So, two weeks ago I called my mom hoping she would agree to watch my kids for a few hours on Saturday. I had planned a day trip with my friends to visit another friend of ours in Stamford. However, my #1 Babysitter had other plans, and I was desperate for some one to watch the kids.
(Ended up not being able to find anyone, so Mike stayed home with the kids, and it turned into an-all-girl-adventure to Stamford)

My mom said she would have loved to watch the kids, but she would be on the Cape. Seems she and Dan bought a timeshare, and were heading to the Cape for the week. All of this was news to me.
Hmmm....I love me some Cape Cod. But, there was no vacation time available for Mike to take in July. Had I know a few weeks previously, maybe we could have worked something out. Oh well.

A day later, I get an email from my bff. She had some vacation time coming and was thinking about taking next week off. The same week my mom would be on the Cape in her time share.
Hmmmmm.

I ran the idea of taking off with the kids to the Cape, past Lyndsay, my bff. She was game. I asked my husband. His kids are everything to him. And taking them away for a few days, might kill him. But, he was game.
Lastly was my mom. She was game.

SWEET. We are heading to Cape Cod!! The kids, Lyndsay, and me. This is going to be interesting.

We packed up Lyndsay car. Stuff in every corner, floor to ceiling. Wednesday morning, we are on our way. The kids are pumped about going to the beach, and swimming and being on VACATION. 1/2 way thru Mass, they were done being excited. Ally was complaining she was stuck in her seat. And she wanted to get out. She had to pee like a freakin race horse. She wanted to watch Laurie Berkner, Joey wanted to watch Cars.
And Lyndsay and I just wanted to GET THERE ALREADY!

When we finally arrived, I was dying to scope out our living conditions. We were promised a loft we could all stay in. We had brought out air mattresses and hopes were high.
Well, the only way up to the loft was with drop down stairs. Much like the entrance to an attic. Could be worse, I guess. We will deal. The loft had pitched ceilings, but was rather spacious and airy.
The one down side? The big ass hole in the floor where the stairs are. The Mom in me was totally panicked one if not both of my kids were going to trip and fall. And then I had to worry about navigating those stairs in the middle of the night taking kids back and forth to the potty. (Boy, I wish I wasnt so quick to potty train the kids.)
I took a deep breath. It was free. My mom and Dan were gracious enough to let us stay with them. It could be so much worse. We will deal.
Lets go to the beach.

It was a short walk to the beach. Probably about 10 minutes. The kids had never really been in the ocean. West Haven, CT doesnt really count. The water was like bath water. They were a little apprehensive. I had Joey in the water with me, and he said, "Ah, Mom. This isnt for me. I like the sand better." What a nut he is. He ended up really loving the waves, and running in and out.

Ok, Ok...Here are some pics:

Joey sitting the beach chair getting up the courage to go into the water.

Finally putting his feet in.

Ally and Dan. He must spend more time in the sun than Ally does. She is SO white! lol

Going with Nana to build a sand castle.

Ally stopping to strike a pose.

So the beach was a big hit. We wanted to get back there to take even more pictures, but the weather didnt cooperate.

So there is this shack of a place in Yarmouth that has the most amazing pancakes. Well, at least that is what Lyndsay says. Its called the Pancake Man and we headed there in the morning for some Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

Joey is catching up on some "reading." lol

I'm not sure about the nutritional content of a chocolate chip pancake smothered in chocolate sauce.

But its vacation...

And, he sure did love 'em.

Ally opted for Strawberry. And lots of whipped cream.

After that we headed to mini-golf. There is a place called Pirates Cove. Its pretty nifty, and very well done. Evidentially, the rest of the Cape agrees with me, because the place was packed.

Joey lining up his shot.

Thats a creative way to hold the club, but whatever works.

Ally found it much easier to just pick up the balls and walk them over to the hole.
She has a valid point.

Moving on. A LONG LONG time ago, when I was on the Cape with Mike for our honeymoon, we discovered this place called Toad Hall. Its basically a car museum. Sorta.
In a nutshell, this guy named Bill, starting buying all these antique cars. Painted them all red, and then stuck them in this huge garage for all to see. (For a small fee) At the same location, Bill, runs a B&B. The Simmons Homestead. Its a very nice place that Mike and I say we are always going to stay in, but havent as of yet.
The other attraction to this place is the cats. Bill owns 31 cats. All long-haired, all beautiful. Most friendly. Some may come for the cars, we come for the cats. My kids could spend the entire day there chasing around the cats. The cats are allowed just about everywhere. My husband cringes as they walk all over the classic cars.

Joey and the welcoming committee.

Ally getting welcomed, as well.

I told you, the cats lay on the cars. Some of the cars in the museum.

Enjoying a swing on the hammock before leaving Toad Hall.

Another Cape Cod attraction is the Cape Cod potato chip factory. Its free and there are free samples at the end. How can we pass this up??
There are only a few pics, because after I snapped these, I saw the sign forbidding pictures. Oops.

Enjoying those samples, I was telling you about. Delicious!!

So, other than hanging around at the pool, that was pretty much it.
We had a great mini-vacation. It was a lot of work, and I came home tired, and needing a nap! :)

I have some more to blog about, but right now the kids need a bath and a good nights sleep. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow.

Unscheduled Summer

2008-07-15T21:02:00.001-07:00

One of the joys of a mommy and me class is to sit quietly and listen to the conversations around you. Parenting means so many things to so many people, its interesting to just listen to what moms are talking about and what they are saying. The formula feeding vs the breastfeeding, the working moms vs the sahm, the au pair vs the nanny. Ah, let the mommy wars begin.

I recently ease dropped on a conversation about summer activities. One mom was telling another mom about soccer, and summer camp, and tee-ball and arts and crafts. And her husband was giving her a hard time about how much everything was going to cost. And her response to her dear husband was, "Dont you want the kids to have FUN this summer."

I had to walk away. How much fun is it going to be schlepping hot, sweaty, tired kids from one activity to the next? And then having to pay for all those activities and the gas to get from one to the next?

I come from a time when summer break meant your mom kicked you out after breakfast. You ate lunch at your friends house, and then you made it home for dinner. Totally filthy and exhausted. All for FREE.

My kids are having an unscheduled summer. For one thing gas for my boat is EXPENSIVE. Groceries are double what they were, money is tight, and truth be told, mom wants to relax and enjoy leisure summer days.

How am I entertaining my kids, you wonder? Glad you asked.

Mornings are family time. We go hiking, shopping, errands, or whatever other family adventure we have planned.
Lunch at home.
Ally naps, mom and Joey play on the computer, read books, or play trains.
Afternoons, we head out back to play in our $7.99 wading pool and our FREE slide someone gave us. If I am feeling especially silly we break out some water balloons and have more fun than necessary.
In for dinner.
Hang out, and have some quiet time. (ie TV while Mom picks up the house)
BATHS and BED.

Restart again the following day.

Seriously, this is shaping up to be the best summer ever. Simple, relaxing, easy. And budget-approved.

Here are some pics for this afternoon outside:

Ally going down the slide, "Like a Shark." (I have no idea where she gets this stuff.)

Joey going down the slide.

Testing the waters.

Maybe she needs a little push.

Yes that is just what she needed.

Joey is much more cautious.

Sometimes.

Joey swimming like a fish.

Thomas the train rescue mission.

Adventures in Losing Diapers Part #2

2008-07-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

Can I just take a moment and say "My Daughter is Brilliant." Thanks.

Potty training is completed and its been a HUGE success. (She isnt even 2 yet!)

It goes something like this:

Ally: Mom, I have to go peed.
Mom: Ok, lets go.
(enter bathroom)
Ally: My do it.
Mom: Let me help you.
Ally: No, Big Girl.
Mom: Ok
(let her get as far as she can)
Mom: Need some help?
Ally: Yes, Pwease. Help Ally.
(peeing begins)
Ally: I peed.
Mom: You are awesome.
Ally: I awfum? No, you awfum.
Ally: Napkin. (yes she says napkin instead of TP)
Ally: REACH. (yes she says REACH)
Ally: Pull. (yes she says pull.)
Ally: Rip. (yes she says rip)
Ally: Wipe. (yes she says wipe)
Ally: All done. I peed again. Thanks Mom.
Mom: Good Job Baby Girl.
Ally: Bye Peed.
Ally: Turn light off.
Mom: Ok.

Cutest thing ever.

She still wears a diaper at nighttime, but it probably isnt necessary. It just an insurance policy against changing sheets in the middle of the night, if the need should arise.

We have been out of the house for entire day, no diaper required. And she has used a public bathroom. I showed her how to properly tp the seat before she can get near it. :)

And, it has just dawned on me, I cannot tell you the last time I changed a poopy diaper. Ah, the blessings.

Friday Family Fun at Action Wildlife

2008-07-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Ever Friday around here, is Family-Fun-Day. Sounds exciting, doesnt? Well, it is! Mike has off, and we do something fun with the kids. It can be anything from going to the aquarium or just going for a leisurely walk in the woods with the kids.
It all depends on how much money is in the checking account. :)

This past Friday we went to Action Wildlife. I had to twist Mike's arm to get him to agree to go. I'm so glad I did, because we all had a blast. Getting their was cake. Its minutes from Route 8. We parked and walked in. The attendant was super nice, we paid our admission and we were left to our own devices. You can walk through the park or you can drive. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to start off walking.

This isnt the Bronx Zoo, by any means. No elephants or giraffes, but my kids were quite impressed with the selection. Some goats, and sheep. A beautiful Zebra, and some Bison. They sell bottles of feed. And when you shake them, the animals come running. My kids got a kick out of it.

They have a drive thru (or walk thru) safari. We decided it would be a good time to get the car. It was getting hot and Joey is still in 'recovery.' The safari was a tad disappointing. It must have been feeding time because all the animals were in the middle all together. Not exactly what we are expecting, but still cool.

The petting zoo part was a blast. They sell baby bottles for the baby animals and feed for the larger animals. My kids were a little nervous about feeding the animals. Finally, they warmed up to the idea. Sadly, the battery in the camera died, so I dont have any pictures of that. Darn.

We headed up to the new museum. VERY cool. I am disappointed I wasnt able to take pictures in there. Its basically a hall of taxidermy. But beautifully done, and creatively displayed. Upstairs that had some assorted reptiles and a gift shop.

There was also a play ground area for the kids and some really comfy chairs under a shady tree for mom and dad. Two thumbs up on that one.

We spent almost 4 hours there! And for the price we paid to get in, it was a great day. We went on a Friday, and the place was just about dead. I inquired about the weekends, and they said its much busier. But the place is so big I'm sure it can hold quite a few spectators.

This is how the day ended in the car. Perfect. (She was asleep about 2 minutes after I snapped her picture.)

Our Favorite Photographer

2008-07-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

So, what is my blog missing? PICTURES. I promise I will try harder to include more pictures with my posts. I must warn you, pictures I post in the future will not hold a candle to the pictures I am posting here.

We were lucky enough to snag Crista Acosta for an afternoon. She provided us with the best photo experience EVER. No studios, no props, no gimmicks. Just my kids, being my kids. Breathtaking. Enjoy.

Peterson Park, in Wolcott, is one of our favorite "walk woods" destinations.

Ally and Daddy.

Joey.

Testing the waters.

CATCH ME DADDY!

Strike A Pose.

A beautiful moment captured beautifully.

Take a minute to check out her blog and some of her work. You wont be disappointed.

http://www.cristaacosta.com/blog/
(Dont forget to bookmark it!!)

I'm Not Perfect

2008-07-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

So, who has kids and doesnt know who Laurie Berkner is? Probably not many. I am co-parenting my kids with Laurie Bernkner. Whenever mommy cant take anymore, we put in the DVD and I get an hour to recompose myself while Laurie takes over and does the entertaining. Its a nice relationship we have going on here.

Today was an all around awful day. Joey was out of sorts and put on such a show of screaming, and kicking at Stop and Shop, I wanted to leave him in the produce department. Ally then went onto totally freaking out because Mike had to go to work. Um...He goes to work 5 times a week. And every day, Ally gives him a kiss goodbye and there is never a scene. She is usually even tempered and a joy to be around. Today, she was the exact opposite.

So, here is some mom math for you:

One recovering from surgery, grumpy kid + a potty training toddler having a meltdown + a PMSing Mom = D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.

Mom had a mini-meltdown of her own. Dad left for work, the screaming ceased. And all was quiet.

And then I heard a little voice coming from our Thomas the Train table. Joey singing the I'm Not Perfect song. Or at least paraphrasing the I'm Not Perfect Song.

Its a Laurie Bernkner original. Its not on her DVD, but we have the CD and Joey watches the video on Noggin.com.

Its this cute little song with a cute little melody you hear once and you retain it forever. Basically:

"I'm not Perfect, No I'm Not.
I'm not perfect, but I got what I got.
I do my very best, I do my very best,
Each Day.
But, I'm not perfect, and I love it that way."

And just listening to him sing it, I had a moment of mommy clarity. No, my kids arent perfect. They have and will have their fair share of meltdowns at the mall and at Stop and Shop. Ally will continue to pee on the bathroom floor after she sits on the potty for 15 minutes. Joey will argue with me about who's turn it is to use the computer. Ally will need help going potty 30 times an hour and she'll keep getting up 3:30 every morning to be "Cozy with you, mommy. Pawease."

But, Wow. I am so BLESSED.

I think sometimes I expect too much from them. And Joey is absolutely right. He isnt perfect. But, I sure do love him that way.

**I would live to add, he wasnt singing the song because I made him feel bad in any way, or because he was sad. I could see where you might get that from this post. He was watching the video on Noggin.com and happened to be singing it afterwards. His timing was just perfect. Its just when I needed to hear.

Day Tripping for FREE. Sorta.

2008-07-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are following the story, I need not tell you, Joey is recovering from having his tonsils taken out. The doctor scared us into agreeing to stay home for two weeks, with the threat of post-op bleeding that would require another trip to surgery. Yikes.

"Yes, Doctor, I will keep him home for two weeks, and make sure he sits perfectly still, and doesnt eat any toast or pizza. You have my word." No post-op bleeding for my kid.

And then things got a little tense around here, and it was clear we needed to get out, or some one was going to get hurt. Sorry, doc. I gave it my best shot.

So, our first stop was Castle Craig at Hubbard Park in Meriden. Cost: FREE.
There are a variety of ways to get up to the 'castle.' First you can hike in the woods. Second, you can walk the road that leads up the the castle. Third, you can be lazy like us, and DRIVE.

Its actually a beautiful little drive that ends with one big ass hill. Which is why we didnt walk it.
The road is totally paved, a little narrow, a little curvy, but lovely. It goes around a large body of water, a reservoir perhaps? And then it goes through the woods. When we drove through, it was after a rain, and the woods smelled fresh and intoxicating. Fresh air is a wonderful thing. I cant get enough of it. Its pretty scarce where we live.

Once we reached the top, we were the only people there. There isnt much up there other than the castle, (Read: tower), a flag, and one heck of a jagged cliff. We walked up the stairs (ouch.) And, enjoyed the view. It was a hazy day, but still the scene was breathtaking. And back down to the bottom we went.

On to stop number 2.

This one isnt free. But we cant resist stopping in when we are in that neck of the woods. Off of 91, in Meriden, is a little German Deli called Noacks. Oh boy, is it a find. Bologna, hot dogs, kielbasa, knockwurst, bratwurst and the legendary smoked pork chops. All made fresh on the premises. And my new discovery the GERMAN POTATO SALAD. Mike tried the Blood Wurst. Basically, its all the parts of the animals that they didnt use, add some pork blood, stuff it into some intestines and smoke the crap out of it. He says its one of the best things he has ever had.
I say, "I'm not eating that. Period."

On to stop number 3.

This one is in the Cheshire, off of the beautiful Cheshire/Farmington walkway. Cost: FREE!!

There is a little place called Brookvale Park. And, actually I think its considered Hamden, not Cheshire. Anyway, it looks like a just a parking lot next to a baseball field. But, if you notice, there is a little sign that says ZOO. Again, lets use the term ZOO, loosely. Its more like a glorified farm. To my little kids, its the best place EVER.

So, you walk over to where the animals are. Rabbits, chickens, a peacock or two. There are some quails..Some sheep, goats and some tiny horses. There is a flower garden area, and some swings. Its quiet, fun, and free. Perfect for us.
And that ended our day out.

We came home, got the charcoal going, and grilled up our goodies from Noacks.
It was a great day.

My legs hurt, and I am ashamed.

2008-07-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Lets talk about something other than tonsils and surgery.

My legs.

Mike and I were on this health-kick for awhile. We read health magazines and ate whole foods and nothing was processed. We did yoga daily and cardio regularly. We went to the gym and played racquetball.

We felt better than ever.

And then something happened, and we fell off the bandwagon.

Back to doing everything unhealthy and feeling like crap. Why? I dunno. Probably because its easier. And cheaper. Organic everything really adds up quick. Who has time for Yoga and cardio?

Anyway, back to me and my legs.

We decided to take the kids out the house. We had been house-bound during Joey's recovery. We were all cranky and hostile. Despite the doctor orders to stay home and relax, we went out.
Joey loves castles, so we ventured to Meriden to Castle Craig at Hubbard Park. Let use the term castle loosely. Its more like a glorified tower. But, to my 4 year old, it was the biggest castle in the world.

For those of you that have been there, you are aware that there are stairs involved. Not many. But still stairs. Maybe 50 stairs. No biggie. My kids climbed them with ease. Mom was a little nervous because the landings were slatted and therefore you could see through them. Makes me a little queasy. Nevertheless, We climbed to the top. Enjoyed the view, and went back down to the bottom.

Last night my legs were sore. I mentioned it aloud, and Mike agreed that his legs were also sore. Hmmm....Could it have been from the journey up the stairs? No way. We hike all the time. We are active. We walk. We run around like idiots with the kids. Surely, a few stairs cant have this effect, right?

Today my legs are WORSE. I can hardly move. Am I in that bad of shape that my body is aching from just walking up some steps? This cant be good. I actually took a Motrin! That speaks volumes, because I never take anything.

Sigh. Maybe this is an indication we need to reintroduce ourselves to the whole grains, and the daily yoga.
Maybe tomorrow.

Adventures in losing diapers.

2008-07-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

Little Ally has finally joined the big girls club. We have ditched diapers. (Except for Nap and Bedtime.) She is doing great. It took some work, but she finally figured out she had to pee in potty, not on the floor after sitting on the potty for 15 minutes. She also figured out standing like her brother doesnt work quite as well for her. She also figured out Target has an assortment of fancy underwear she can trick me into buying. She isnt even two and she has just about mastered this skill.

Today was the first day she left the house without a diaper on. It was a quick trip to Target. And thankfully she didnt ask to pee. Public restrooms TOTALLY freak me out. I am hoping we can make it into her teen years before she will need to use a public toilet. With some planning, I think its possible. :)

Anyway, she did great. I am so proud of her.
I hate to say it. Because you are going to roll your eyes at me.
But, she is brilliant.

See what happens when you dont listen to you mother....

2008-07-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

He over did it yesterday. I tried and tried to get him to settle down and watch TV, or play with the leapster, or go online. Jumping on the couch was more fun, I guess. He talked too much, screamed too much, and ate too much salami.

This morning he woke up and said, "I dont feel good." Gee. I wonder why. Its actually a blessing because he has been much quieter today. More TV watching, more toontown, more leapster. Slightly less screaming.

Lynz is coming over tonight for pasta. She is bringing more toys. Just what my sick little boy needs. More TOYS!

Recovery from the Big Day

2008-07-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

The whole ordeal was a lot easier than I was planning on. Checking it was no fun. Joey gave that poor nurse a run for her money. He wouldnt wear the hospital pajamas, and totally freaked when she insisted he take his crocs off. He refused his blood pressure, and he acted like that little temperature sticker was burning his skin off. She was totally defeated. She was so nice to us. I felt really bad.

When the time came for him to go through those door, two cute nurses came to get him. One was named Mindy and totally fit her name. She was an older woman, very grandma-like. We walked to the double doors and Mindy took Joey from Mike and my heart fell on the floor. I couldnt hold back my tears. Joey was screaming for us. And I agonized over whether or not we made the right decision.

45 mins later we were reunited with Joey. He was just waking up, and confused. And thus began the 3 hour wait before we were allowed to go home. I dont sit still well. So, this was one of the hardest things I had to do. 3 hours felt like ALL DAY. Joey begged on and off GO HOME. He missed Ally and couldnt wait to see her again. We were finally given the blessing to go around noon.

At home, Joey did great. He ate a bunch of popsicles, watched TV, played his Leapster, played trains and talked up a storm. I couldnt believe it. I then knew we had made the right decision. He went to sleep right on time. And woke up at 8:00am. He is acting like Normal-Joey, only he poops out a little quicker than normal.

I am hopeful this will continue. However, a part of me thinks it just the calm before the storm. There is no way we can get off this easy. Where is the crying? The refusal to eat/drink? The grumpiness? The whining about his throat? Is it really possible we will make it through this whole ordeal with out all these things?? Whoooo....Only time with tell.

Joey's Big Day

2008-06-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

So, I've wanted to do this for awhile. I've certainly commented my fair share on other people's blogs. So, I guess I will open this little window into my world.

Joey, my almost 4 year old son, is having his tonsils and adenoids taken out first thing tomorrow morning. I am both overjoyed and terrified.

I know that getting them removed is what is best for him. But there is always that risk that something with go wrong. And I cant shake it. Every one I have talked to, reminds me that is only tonsils and it could be so much worse. Hell, I have even said those words. But, when its your kid its different.

Putting my trust into the hands of perfect strangers to care for, and make the best choices for my child, is by far, the hardest thing I have ever had to do. We are not allowed in the OR. He will have to go through the doors by himself. There will be tears and screams, and its going to break my heart. And, I am terrified.

So, why the heck am I doing it? The poor kid has huge tonsils and adenoids and has sleep apnea. A dangerous condition. By doing this "simple procedure" it will give him something he hasnt had in a long time. A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. He has been grumpy, sad, and overly cranky for a while. And I'm hopeful getting this procedure done with get him back on track.

You cant help think about the What Ifs. He has asthma, and allergies. And, I keep thinking I am forgetting to tell some one something. I've disclosed all his allergies and all the meds he taking...They have asked me a zillion questions about him.

I just have to trust, and hope.

Joey and Ally

New Pics to Share

Milestone #1 Reached

My 2008 Questionnaire

Christmas Book is Closed

Hiatus

The Eve of the Eve

Christmas Anticipation

Oh Snowy Day

30 Day Shredding

A Better Me?

My new *little* project...

Happy Halloween!

Hello Again White Rug

Is it November 4th Yet?

A little walk.

Autumn Stew

What a crazy, fantastic weekend.

Our New Friends

Good-Bye Old Friend

Nothing Like a Sick Kid

Fall is in FULL SWING!

Why I love my husband....

Joey

Miss Independent

You've Got Mail

My Little Brothers Wedding

Lyman Orchards

My Vote

Pictures have been posted!

Another Year, Another Party Success

A Mommy Moment

Ally's Birthday Story

Joey's Birthday Story

10 Things I CANNOT Live Without

Wedding Fun

Our Day out with Thomas

Sneaky Snake

You Are Now Entering a Peanut-Free Blog

Cape Cod, Our Mini-Vacation

Unscheduled Summer

Adventures in Losing Diapers Part #2

Friday Family Fun at Action Wildlife

Our Favorite Photographer

I'm Not Perfect

Day Tripping for FREE. Sorta.

My legs hurt, and I am ashamed.

Adventures in losing diapers.

See what happens when you dont listen to you mother....

Recovery from the Big Day

Joey's Big Day

My new little project...