Join Us For Dinner

Our Lives of late have been very 'ordinary'. Not that they weren't ordinary before, just that now we are faced with extra ordinary days. We have nothing to blog about. (that's not true) We have not blogged anything of note for quite some time. (that IS true)
So, we are going to blog about the 'ordinary'.

Dinner.

Almost every family we know has dinner. There are big campaigns across the country pushing family dinner. Reminding us just how important family dinner is. It is so powerful to eat as a family that it has been found in studies to reduce obesity, drug use, teen and unplanned pregnancies and eating disorders. It also boosts self-esteem and school grades.

So mix up something good tonight and join us for dinner. As a family.

UGH!

---SIGH----
the biggest, longest, most air ever released at one time;
--SIGH--
an attempt to release some of the tension built up;
-SIGH-
a last ditch effort to pull it all together and move forward
SIGH
the kiss of death to my day.

A Great Fall Day

Today started a bit stressfully with Jury Duty. That meant that I had to empty my purse. As you can pretty much deduce from reading this blog I don't get out much (read: at all). So going out sans kids meant that I had to dig out a real bag as opposed to my diaper bag; which I take everywhere much to the shock of my mother-in-law who offered me a handbag to borrow for my sister's wedding. I told her I'd just have the diaper bag. Her look was like ice water after the hot tub... it's been a while since diaper bags for her.
ANYWAY
I had to empty out my purse (yes I own about one that is presentable). This is the contents. It made me giggle so I took a picture for you so you could giggle too.

It includes some Swedish fish that were stuck to the lining (that are from the Lamaze class Jim and I took together for Nick), Nick's hospital band (how long were those fish in there?), kids sunscreen and of course a measuring tape (that made me feel close to my mom) and some other randomness.
After all that work of putting away (mostly throwing away) the contents of my purse. I re-packed it for jury duty. An ipad, iphone, summer reading book, and birth certificates for both of our kids.
Jim and I drove in together this morning which was nice.
It took me all of 20 min to get out of jury duty (and probably 10 of those were waiting at security)
I came home to my sweeties and then Jimmy surprised us by taking a half day!
We made spaghetti squash casserole! YUMMY! So good and even better the next day as left overs.

A Sense of Accomplishment

I feel the need to share what I did today.
I outfitted my kids for winter. (both of them)
I racked up a total of $110 and paid $32!
(that's $78 saved!)
I get warm fuzzies and the kids stay warm but hopefully not fuzzy. :)

Nick at New Heights

As you all know, Nick likes to climb on things. Anything really. Now he has discovered steps. Like using one thing to help him get onto something higher; easier and with more consistency. He likes this Fisher Price chair, you know the yellow ones; cause it's light, and sturdy. He's into things I never thought he would be into. And he loves, loves, LOVES the silverware drawer, and the computer. He figured out the other day how to take the keys off the keyboard. (thankfully he only takes off the 'option' and 'control' keys and I have two) I feel the need to document it because I know no one will believe me when I tell them about his problem solving skills or his strength and agility. So take a look yourself.
(Insert Video of Nick carrying chair out of my room where I hide it, across the living room and into the kitchen to the silverware drawer where he then navigates it around to figure out how to get into the drawer while one the chair. Blogger apparently deems this unacceptable for viewing and will not load it)

(BOO)

What can I do? does the chair have to go? He likes it so much I wish it wasn't so potentially dangerous.

Date Night

The kids are asleep.
it's only 8:30!!!
they put themselves to sleep.
did I mention; it's only 8:30!!!
The house is clean.
So far a great date night.
If only my date were here :(
Alas, he is food shopping.
Maybe he'll bring home something yummy to eat. :)
Date night is great.

How Long till this Feels like Family?

This past weekend my littlest sister got married. To a guy she adores more than anything I have ever seen her adore, (perhaps even more than sharpie markers and ductape). It was a magical day, watching them make that commitment to one another and more interestingly and impressive, watching them navigate the union of their two families for one day, bringing together two visions (or more) of the way the day should go; and they did it with grace. Bravo! Ami and Mark, Bravo!

It got my wheels turning, about family, extended family, pseudofamily and my own family. It was so nice to see my family. To spend time with them and remember that I am loved unconditionally, something I forget a lot these days. It was good to get hugs, kisses, cuddles and even the jabs were welcomed.
In laws aren't like that. If there's one thing about marriage that I have found it's that even though your 'new' family likes you, accepts you, welcomes you, they'll never replace or replicate your 'real' family. Their hugs will never make you melt as much as the ones your dad gives you, their jabs will always make you think twice, and their kisses will always feel foreign. At least this is what my limited observations have made me conclude. Perhaps as time lapses the lines will blur, perhaps my own family is so close they defy the norm, perhaps I am just having an especially melancholy day. But this weekend made me think, When will this start to feel like family? and Why is Christmas so far away?

Go Ahead. Be Amazed.

I know I am.
This weekend my baby sister is getting married. It's hard to believe, and mostly it hasn't set in yet, until I see her in that amazing dress again. (I cried the first time) But I told her a long time back that I would take care of the flower girl's headpieces, she wanted flowers in their hair in the same color as the bridesmaid dresses. Good thing DB dresses are made for women who are seven feet tall we all had extra fabric that was cut off our dresses. That's what I used. Then I cut it down, took a flame to it (yes I burned myself on the first attempt). But out of the ashes rose these beauties!

I am impressed myself, they came out better than I thought they would. I can't wait to see the girls with them on. and I can't wait to see Ami get married and I can't wait to hug my mommy and daddy. Mostly I can't wait for this weekend!

Apple Picking

We went apple picking with Grandma and Grandpa Bill today. It was the first time picking anything for our little family. We drove and drove and drove some more but in the end it was all worth it to spend some time together, without phones ringing or places to be later. I can honestly say this was the most relaxed we all have been lately.

Nick loved being able to run around wherever he pleased. And surprisingly he did not try to climb any of the trees.

Claire also enjoyed the freedoms of the 'country' and the many apples, I think in total today she ate about 4 apples herself.

Good times were had by all.

We Got Trouble

Right here in New York City.
We are in some serious trouble. We are in need of some cement shoes or something. Today Nick expanded his horizons. Vertically.
I walked into Claire's room today only to find Nick standing on top of the dresser! Yes, the really tall, really beautiful one that GB made for her. Yup. and you know what he did next? He looked at me; all sweet with those baby blues and pointed up to Claire's mobile; that hangs above her bed and says 'budda fly' just like that. He speaks, he climbs, and he aspires to master door knobs in the very near future. We are in some serious trouble.

Good Idea, Bad Idea

Today we played with paint during nap time. "On the floor!?" That was my soon to be three year old's reaction when I suggested it. She's too clean for her own good. She had fun, a change of scenery combined with some new paints and larger work area were a good idea.

A bad idea is for mommy to get distracted by a phone call from the Aunt and chat away the time she should be doing dishes while talking to her budding artist. Another bad idea is for mommy to continue to chat once little brother gets up from nap. Worst idea ever; leaving the room where muffin tin full of paint and budding artist are after little brother gets up from nap to continue to chat. Do you see the path of bad ideas?

We Just Got a Letter

We got our first letter from our letter writing activity today.
The other week Claire checked the mail and was abnormally upset that none of it was for her. I tried to convince her that some of the unsolicited Capital One advertisements were for her but she wasn't buying it. Unfortunately the only letter in the alphabet she recognizes with any consistency is also the first letter in her name.
So I tenderly explained that you have to 'send a letter to get a letter'. She immediately had in mind who she could write a letter to and who 'might' send her one back.
So we set to the task. She dictated to me what she wanted to write. The first one was good, a bit abstract but good. And as they went on they got more bizarre and abstract. (we sent 4 to increase our odds of receiving one back). I believe the last thing on the last letter was something about Uncle Mark picking up sticks to feed to the squirrels.

So she was excited to get a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Bill today in the mail. We see them pretty often lately so there wasn't much in the ways of news but she was thrilled to get a letter. Tomorrow perhaps we will write back.
I forgot to take pictures of the first letters (and I regret it. If you got a letter and still have it could you take a pic and send it to me? thanks). I think if we continue to pen pal with everyone I will compile an album of her letters.

Shopping and The Seal

Yesterday we played 'cash' (as Claire likes to call it). I 'shop' from the food box and she rings me up at her register (which yes, it also doubles as the top to her play stove). We could do this for hours and yesterday we did. Everything at Claire's Grocery costs $3, and some of it is 'ganic' (organic) and some of it is on sale! but even the sale items are $3. And a bag of groceries will set you back... you guessed it $3.

Even Nick got into the fun of ringing me up.
I love these kids! I will miss Claire so much when she heads to school next year.

In other news; Nick has the croup (again). Last night I was getting ready to hit the hay and I heard it; the seal that lives inside my son. We took a walk around the block in the night air and some steroids and tossed and turned and fussed all night. Today we are going to ride it out and see how tonight goes before we rush to the Dr. Please pray for him as the main problem is the fear factor for him. He gets scared and then cries and that makes it worse. poor guy. Also if you know of any ways to sleep without actually sleeping I would pay top dollar. (that means $3 of course) :)

Ah the Joy!

I want a cookie
If you pick up all the animals and put them in their box, then you may have a cookie
Nick made that animal mess
I know, but I am asking YOU to pick it up please. then you may have a cookie
Well I'm asking YOU to go fishing. then you may get a fish.

Do you Know?

What side of the gorilla is the hairiest?
A: The outside
What sound does a hippo make?
A: An evil laughing sound


Additional useless facts :
If facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd most populous country IN THE WORLD just below China and India!

Fun with Fingers

Napped in the car today on the way to the craft store, (more to come from that trip later on) so no real napping progress made today but it did mean that Nick was able to join us for some quality time; fingerpainting! Nick didn't like the texture and Claire wasn't too interested.. I think given the time I would have fingerpainted for hours, I forgot just how fun it feels between your fingers. We made our own fingerpaint out of cornstarch and water and food coloring. what it lacked in the actual coloring part of the paint it more than made up for in the texture. You should give it a try yourself. And remember that you are never too old to fingerpaint!

Additionally I took on a project all my own. A bedtime routine chart. I saw one online somewhere. (if it's your idea, sorry I can't credit you 'cause I don't remember who you are. but I like it) The check marks are magnetic and you can stick them on after you complete a task. I plan to use it later on for chores as Claire gets older.

In other news:

Aunt Stasi is back! We think she might like us :)
She taught us this great raspberry thing... I would like to thank her from the bottom of my slimy arm...

Another Day Another Adventure

Another 'successful' napping experience. (Although I can't figure that it's any kind of comfortable)

And thumbprint bugs. :)

Begin with the Basics

We recently began "sleep training" Nick, I remember how hard it was to do this with Claire and have put it off as long as I could without feeling like I was not doing for Nick what I had done for Claire. I think it's important for children to learn to put themselves to sleep and the earlier the better because they aren't forming bad sleep habits.
*jumps of soapbox*
But it's breaking my heart all over again to hear him cry, to be right there and have to restrain myself from running to him and scooping him up. I know in the long run, and in the grand scheme of things it's only for a short time and it will benefit him and me but... ooo he breaks my heart. It's just a daily reminder of how much I love him.
On a happier note,
I am taking the opportunity that this new napping schedule has offered us to spend more quality time with Claire. We are starting with the most basic, and fun mother/daughter 'crafts'; fruit loop necklaces.

A Cooperative Tale

Yesterday I did my first ever shift at the food coop. The food coop is a grocery store, where I work. In exchange for being able to shop there at discounted prices. It's a pretty good deal. I worked in the childcare room, a nursery of sorts for those who are working or shopping and don't want to/can't have their kids in tow. Nothing to note as of yet but there are so many possibilities for great stories out of this new adventure. (which Claire drew in big red scribbles then told me "This is our adventure mommy") What I loved about last night was the way they use the intercom. It's like if you were in the grocery store and everyone there had access to the intercom. Here are some of the best ones of the night: (but not all - by far)

I can now help the lady who wanted to know about the vitamins if she could meet me by the sweet ice cream treats. Thank you.

Can anyone tell me if we have any more watermelons? (second person's reply) No more watermellons today hopefully we'll get some more tomorrow.

Can anyone tell me what isle the popcorn is in? (second person's reply) Isle 2 is the bulk popcorn for --- cents a lb. and in isle 4 is the prepackaged microwave popcorn - if you want that. Hope that helps.

It's so much fun! I can't wait to go back. Unfortunately we only work once a month for 2.7 hrs. I see lots of grocery shopping in our future, just because it's such an adventure every time now :)

Listen to your mom. She's always right.

So when I was 21 my mom bought me/sent me a book. Things I need to know in my 20's. The first chapter was all the different ways you can make an egg. Sunny side up, Sunny side down, poached, scrambled, and some others I had never heard of. I laughed at it and skipped that chapter for the one that was titled "Marriage is NOT a rowdy sex romp", then passed the book onto my sister who also laughed with me at the egg chapter and skipped to other chapters more appealing to her. I never thought that my husband would ever ask me to poach an egg or how to poach an egg. Then today at lunch Jim turns to me and says "Hey hun, how do you poach an egg?" Just like that! Out of the blue. Panic set in. I was so unprepared. This was something my mother had tried to prepare me for and I laughed it off. Sorry mom. You were right.

Teeth!

Check out those pearly whites!
(you can click the pic to make it bigger)

ok, now show me your fishy face :)

Oh My, I love these kids :)

What Was It?

Well, you never did guess what Claire's drawing was so I'll let her tell you in her own words:

Quite obviously in fact when you really look at it.
And since no one guessed correctly we chose the most interesting and creative guess to win.
So...

Drum Roll

Sarah Wins! with her guess of a Capybara. Seeing as we had never heard of such an animal we thought it might be a typo. But when we googled it, Ha HA! what fun!

And in case you were unfamiliar with the world's largest rodent as well. They eat water plants, fruits, and vegetables, including wild melons and squashes, and engage in coprophagy. (look that one up yourself)

Sarah, keep an eye on your mailbox, your prize will arrive soon, Congratulations!

Sisters+Cupcakes=Perfect World

Stasi has been with us for a week. I fear our constant pestering about staying forever made her fly the coup sooner than if we had kept our mouth's shut. Oh well, there's always October 3!! (YAY ami, I'm SO excited!) It was good to have her. Mostly she was working, working, working but we found time to do some playing. We both (Stasi and I) got our hairs cut and then after her haircut we went to the cupcake store and got cupcakes. yumm. :) It's good to have sisters who come to visit.

From a Child's View

Claire and Jimmy went camping this weekend up to TMR. They had a great time... I think... I asked Claire about her trip and she told me that she didn't eat the entire time, she didn't sleep at camp, she did not boat... Good thing I sent her camera with her so I could see what she did.

She went with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Bill

They went to the lake

I think she had fun. :) What kid doesn't love camp?
Even her pictures are vague and limited. Does this begin the phase where she doesn't tell me everything? Sad. She grows so fast.
Good thing I also send Jimmy who told me they had a great campfire, good food, comfortable beds and a great boat trip :)

Ever Have A Plan?

Jimmy was off work on Thursday for his company picnic. The day before I got my hair cut, figured out what I would wear to impress his colleagues and bathed both my children. That morning Claire and Nick were playing in the playroom while I did dishes and Jim fiddled around on the computer with work stuffs. Then we heard a BANG, or a THUD and then a scream. Nick had fallen/been pushed into our wooden toy storage unit. He split the skin just below his lip pretty badly. So instead of looking fabulous for the picnic we rushed to the pediatrician, then to the ER for stitches.

(us in the ER waiting. which is what we did mostly)

(2 inside his mouth, and about 5 outside under his lip). They didn't have to tie him down. We had to hold him down, Jim had his head and I had the rest of him. And boy is he strong! They numbed him and after that he fussed a bit and fell asleep for the rest of the stitches. (so precious) Then we went to the picnic. I did not have time to shower and fix my newly cut hair, and Nick looked like this:

Sometimes even the best plans are changed. Everyone is fine here. Nick is again able to feel his lip and is thankfully leaving his stitches alone (for the most part). They will dissolve in about 2 weeks. We go to the plastic surgeon in 10 days to have them checked for infections and such.

OO Baby!

Dear 'technologically advanced' people in my life,
Please stop touching the settings on my point and click camera. I like them the way they are. Yes, sometimes my pictures are washed out or fuzzy but they do not look antique all the time which is your newest trick. For the sake of my children whoes home videos are all in antique tones. Stop. Touching. My. Settings. or at least put them back when you are done. I know how to fix it but I am a mom of two little ones, so when I want to take a picture I want to pick my my point and click camera and Point it - and - Click it and take a picture that looks like it was taken this century. I do not have time to change the white balance or exposure settings. The kids won't be cute any longer once I have fiddled with every button on the camera except the one that takes the picture! Thank you for your cooperation and all your good intentions.
Love- Me

Happy Guessing

To those of you still holding onto your brilliant ideas for the guessing game; guess them soon. The answer has not yet been guessed and the polls will close at midnight on Friday. In the event no one can correctly guess; I will realize that my daughter is not the budding artist I once thought her to be and will give the prize away to the most creative guess. So guess away; multiple entries allowed.

ps

does it help to know that the 'head' is toward the bottom of the picture? Some good guesses. But not quite it. :)

A Guessing Game

Nick recently broke in his first tooth, three more are following suit and should arrive any day now. It is so strange to see him with teeth. I knew the day would come. I encouraged and awaited it but now that he has them he looks so strange. Like a different kid. I remember feeling the same way with Claire.
Claire was an early bloomer. Early walking, early teeth and early talking. That last one created many great memories; of 'time on the wall', 'I don't mind it' and a multitude of other cute and sometimes difficult to understand phrases. Fast forward and we understand almost everything of what she says but have entered the drawing phase. I say it like that because I am hoping that other parents go through it too. It goes like this:

Child: Look mommy... (holds up drawing proudly)
Parent: That's wonderful honey (hopes to get off that easy)
Child: Will you draw it something to eat
Parent: (begins to sweat because she doesn't know what 'it' is and certainly doesn't know what 'it' would like to eat and doesn't want to insult her budding artist by asking.) What would it like to eat.
Child has thankfully lost interest in the drawing game and moved on to feed "Dan no hands the one time one eyed wonder horse" some plastic pizza.

So maybe you could help. I have a prize for anyone who can correctly tell me what 'it' is or what it would like to eat:

I did ask later what it was so there is a correct answer. Happy guessing :)

All in the Family

Sorry to have been gone recently. Family has been in town. First sisters, then mothers then brothers and fathers. Above you see our whole family. (including in-laws and not quite in-laws) We are quite a crew. From all over; international to Western to Country folk to City slickers. Pastors to engineers to vagabonds. family of 4, family of 2, family of 11. It amazes me every time we get together just how different we are. And yet, when we are together, mostly we are the same. Fun loving, adventure seeking, newlywedded, God loving, Responsible, Respectful, Adults who moved out of our parent's homes. I couldn't ask for a better family.
We miss you all. Come anytime. Call ahead or just show up.
You are always welcome.

Peek-a-Boo

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

I have heard, often actually that you are able to eat dandelions... mostly people say you can eat the greens like a salad. But here is recipe that allows you to eat the fun flower part. I will put it here and hope that someone stumbles across it and makes them and lets me know how they actually are.
I have no dandelions. In fact I made a startling discovery today that I actually have no grass in my front patch. I have moss, feet and feet of moss covering the area I would like to someday be a 'yard'. For some reason this morning during nap time, instead of folding laundry, mopping floors, changing beds, or (insert other mundane household chore of choice here) I decided to garden. This urge has only come over me one other time. That's didn't go so well.
See, some people (my mother) are gifted gardeners. and some; like me are not. I am in good company with my upstairs neighbor who I share the 'yard' with. She decorated the front 'bed' with plastic plants. Sadly I am coming to accept that this is my fate as a gardener as well. I did however manage to kill three uninvited trees that were growing tall enough to cover the plastic foliage, and take out the pieces of concrete that have lived in the 'garden' since they cut a hole in my wall over a year ago.
And wait - I took out all the dead plantlike life that constituted most of the 'life' in the garden.
I am marking it as a success :)

A Note about Aunts

Ok as I mentioned we filled about 4 cards this past weekend taking pictures so you couldn't have possibly thought that you were done seeing some of the highlights....
We learned a lot about Aunts:

Aunts like to be woken early, and loudly
and with a camera in their face

They like hanging out, eating good food, reading book and swings.


Mostly we learned that Aunts and Uncles love us!

And we love them too!