8 years!

Today marks 8 years in our home.  

It was a beauitful day to celebrate this accomplishment and indeed celebrate we did.  We spent the morning outside breaking ground on our new 6x8 garden.  No no not too big- Daddy says it's a good size for a starter/learning garden, and a learning I am.  First thing I learned, I probably have too many plants! :-)  Trial and error, trial and error :-)  Check back to see the joy of the kids as they water the garden.

Next after I picked Matteo up from school I noticed he was still walking funny (yesterday he said he couldn't walk and his legs hurt, etc.  I just thought it was the weather/growing pains and gave him some medicine and off to bed he went, however when the complaints continued this afternoon I thought a visit to the Doctor was warranted).  Seems as though when Matteo walks he cannot bend one of his legs now which really has me quite scared.  The doctor said he could have twisted something, fractured something or just have a virus in his thighs, either way he said a day of rest is ordered and to bring Matteo back Saturday for a recheck.  Cross your fingers/say a prayer, I'd hate to have to go for x-rays, blood work, etc.  And it just breaks my heart to watch Matteo walk - such a strong little boy, not walks slowly and awkwardly. 

I would have liked to say we came home to enjoy a quiet dinner, but not the case.  Matteo is still in high spirits and funny story at the doctor when Matteo had to take off his pants, there is our little sister, who too insisted on stripping down, only she insisted on taking it ALL off...... Oh Chloe!

Anyway, just when I thought the day was over, not so.  Imagine my surprise when an observant friend sent me the following link: click me.  That's right, I have finally been discovered.  Kindly send your SASE to my residence and I will gladly forward you an autographed copy of the newspaper article :-)  :-)  I am back on top and riding high - - just hope my little Matteo is better tomorrow.

Goodnight. e.

PS - in case you were wondering what we looked like 8 years ago-  pre-all this mortage, homeowner, parenting stress::::
 

Home sweet home.

Halloween in April.

When Matteo asked to wear his Scooby costume today - I don't think he was starving for attention, rather enjoying the perks of being "4" - being able to wear scooby whenever you wanted.  So to two stores, a friend's house, bike ride and out to play, this is how Matteo rolled - all sweaty and warm, but never .... well never shedding his winter coat! 

 

And just when I was about to call the fire department, we got the dog out of the tree!

And in potty news on two fronts: I had Jules teach Matteo how to use the potty without there needing to be a full moon every time...if you catch my drift :-)   andddd....... oddly after a 9 day dry spell, Chloe May had TWO days of accidents (one per day) - - I guess in order to learn we all must fail.

Gramps & Grandma

With all yesterday's fun at the Easter Egg Hunt, we decided to tap off the day with a slumber party of 4 - Mommy, Daddy, Matteo & Chloe May - of course Tiger Leopard joined us as a buffer between the girls and boys :-)

 

And then because when we bumped out the kitchen a few weeks ago, Daddy measured wrong and had to re-build the bump out box, Gramps and Grandma came to visit (after soccer of course).  I didn't tell Matteo they were coming, but when we pulled up, Matteo saw the car and then looked in the window and said "Mommy I see bags on the table, Grandma must be here!!!!!" - and sure enough there was Grandma.

 At least Chloe May remembers Gramps!

 

No matter how tired they are, Gramps and Grandma are always the first (and usually the only) ones to volunteer to help - and it is so greatly appreciated and always returned!  **Hugs** 

And our new "bump out" in the garage (which helped us push the refrigerator into and thus have more room in the kitchen):

Easter Egg Hunt

Thanks to an early morning email from our friend Sarah, we attended the local Easter Egg Hunt at our neighborhood park (which we biked to) - and the turnout was awesome!

I think the whole even was well planned out and pretty well coordinated, with sections for the varying age groups, etc.  Matteo took to the "hunt" like .... well like a bunny to a carrot! Can you spot him in the field?

Even our little Dolly enjoyed the spirit of the hunt (she is smiling there - promise!).

 And with chocolate in our baskets and sunshine on our heads, the kids enjoyed a good 45 minutes at the local playground.  

 

And then like the true gas-conscious people are we becoming, we took to our bikes and rode home - Well ....I walked/ran, but the rest rode! :-) 

Knock Knock!

After weeks of knock-knock jokes from Matteo, we were tickled pink when Chloe May finally told us a new knock-knock joke!  Hope you enjoy as much as we did! 

 

garbage

We have an oddly friendly relationship with our garbage men - so much so that he now has taken to bringing our pale back up the hill for us!  Perhaps its all the treats we give them, or the fact that religiously we are there waving when they come by :-)  Either way, we love our garbage men and perhaps Matteo has found his calling in life:

 And it's not too often that we have dessert, especially in the form of a colored ice pop, but when Chloe May is teething, we indeed indulge!

Pirates and windows

 Sometimes I learn from our friends what phase we are going to go through next - this continued to ring true for the "pirate phase."   When Matteo received an invitation at school (burned and with skulls!) - to a pirate party he wanted to know what pirates are.  Oh how horrible I felt - - I guess I never introduced pirates to Matteo - though Daddy assured me pirates are glamorized a bit now, when in reality they are horrible people (thanks Daddy!).  So when we came home I explaineed to Matteo about "walking the plank" and he wanted a cap like a pirate - so of course whatever Matteo has, so must Chloe May!  I tried and tried to think of an eye patch, but no luck.

And on other news, our new window! 
 

See Daddy, I told you we could have started it yesterday :)