Strike 3

Not a good way to end the month...Daddy too has the bug that is going around the house.....but a bright forecast ahead and a Happy and Healthy February to you!

P A R T Y

The big birthday of the second half of January arrived - cousin Jesse's party! And boy were we ever prepared for this ice skating party!

We left home by 8:45 AM in order to get to the rink on time! We were first greeted by the birthday girl herself - and isn't 9 such a pretty age?



Of course we were delighted to party with Jay J and Andrew.

Uncle Jason was never such the life of the party as he was today! Taking everyone from myself, to Matteo,

to Chloe May,


to Auntie,


to GRANDMA for a ride!

Dare I say Uncle Jason was the life of the party - - yes I do say so! :-)

Even Gramps attempted to get on the ice- for the first time ever. Now ordinarily we would encourage new experiences, but when you are 65, on ice skates, for the first time, I think just about everyone there frowned upon the idea! But Gramps had fun - and didn't break anything!

So once again a Happy 9th to our Dear Jesse and thanks to Uncle Jason for the many many rides and laughs!

Skating at Jesse's 9th B-Day

A snipet of all the excitement - and in case you are wondering whose doing all that working pushing people around - Uncle Jason.

After party

Like every good party, this one was complete with an after party..... or well, actually I invited myself over to my sister's house because really when I travel for 2 hours, pay a toll, surely you don't expect me to just go to a birthday party and leave? Only I invited myself over my OTHER sister's house - so here we are, ready for some fun!

Below Jules, Matteo and Andrew had some fun outside sledding with Uncle Jason and then building a fort.




Funny story, at one point Matteo came in - nothing funy there. But then Jay J, Kimmy and Matteo ALL went back outside to play with Jules some more. Well imagine my horror, when about 15 minutes later, Andrew opens the door and says "can matteo come out and play"........ so instantly I am thinking... but he's been outside with you for the past 15 minutes...... so I quickly ask Jules..where's Matteo, to which I'm met with "I don't know". SIDE NOTE: This is not the first time Jules has lost Matteo after a major snow storm this month! So after two of the longest minutes of my life, we finally locate Matteo around the back of the house getting icicles! The joke is now Auntie will never ask Jules to babysit (and neither will I - nor should you).

So we moved play to inside, where apparently once the legos are built, you cannot take them apart.....okay but what fun is that for us?

We did munch on a delicious dinner! Many thanks for the chefs.

And a snuggle by Gramps and Andrew.

Thanks Uncle Jason and Auntie for hosting, but really you didn't have much choice in the matter.! :-)

Skating Saturday, but first....

12:00 - I am wide awake on the computer
12:30 AM - and I am still wide awake..... Jules says he wants to go to bed, so we do.
1 AM - still cannot sleep, so I wake Jules.
1:15 AM - wake Jules again...still cannot sleep and now Chloe is cranky....
1:25 AM - Chloe is vomiting

Chloe vomits three times within 1.5 hours and after her last vomit, her and I fall dead asleep...... clearly a mother's intuition (and Matteo's stomach bug from earlier in the week).

Skating today -



a fun time by all!

and simply because there is 14+ inches of snow on the ground, today was the day I decided the Christmas lights must come down.

A busy Friday

When Mommy, Daddy and Chloe May went outside today...Matteo elected to stay inside.. no biggie. But imagine my surprise when he came outside soon after and was dressed in head - to - toe in snow gear! He even took the chair from the dining room and pushed it to the closet to get his snow pants! Now I knew he could get DRESSED on his own, and I knew he could do most of the snow gear on his own, but to put two and two together....IMPRESSIVE! So what if he rolls around in preschool or says silly words, he is really slowly starting to get things.

So what did he go when he joined us outside - TIRE SWING!



Chloe May never showed such excitement over the seasaw.

Yes, he still remembers!

And notice anyone's spiffy haircut for Jesse's party (and because he needed one).

The sun is shining here on the Lane - no more worries about some dumb preschool and their asinine rules, I'm learning that things are learned in time and when you force it, it makes for sad house. Though of course that it not say Matteo can act out, certainly not - - but getting a time out or calm down is no cause for concern. After all, one day when he is famous on Letterman, surely they will not bring up these little mishaps ;-)

More snow!

You've got the right idea Chloe May!

Having woken up to about 9-10 inches of now, you know this family of 4 was out there shoveling by 7:30 AM (though I am never sure why...as it's not like any of us leaves the house for work).

Matteo and Chloe May of course took many breaks

When all was said and done, this is what our house looked like:


Mommy and Daddy took the kids for a sleigh ride up and down the road

And need I remind you: no batteries, requires no electricity and is always ready to go: the DOZER (plastic too, because really have you seen my lack of muscle arms :-) )!

And for those of you wondering, I never did find those new yoga pants, hence old faithful still works for this Mommy.

Also might I add for the past F I V E years (this month), I have been either nursing or pregnant - - one or the other, never without one - - and I wouldn't change one minute of it. Here's to a winning streak :-)

Snow

Matteo and Jules have taken to skating at our local duck pond 1 or 2 times a week - meeting new acquaintances and enjoying their time.



And today's continuous snow (maybe getting 4 inches total) had us building a snowman by day's end.!

So how did we all sleep again last night - - snuggly of course!

Haha, as if having 4 people in a bed wasn't enough, add Matteo's "tiger leopard" - which is essentially as long as a 4 year old and you what made up our queen bed last night.



Now normally (which Auntie doesn't believe) - Matteo sleeps 12-12.5 hours in his own bed/own room at night, but because he wasn't feeling well and asked I let him spend one more night in our bed.

And Matteo is enjoying the beauty station my piano teacher gave me, complete with hair bows :-) = = why not he's 4!!

And as an added reminder of how to act in school, Mommy sent him with an incentive "no time out chair and we can go to Cousin Jesse's party on Sunday" - hence a necklace with a picture of cousin Jesse.

So okay at the end of the day he got the "calm down chair" - - who hasn't in their life.

Also I have come to learn ANOTHER child went to the "principal's office" - which makes 3 out of 8 children having gone there thus far this year.....makes me start to question the teacher.

Sickness

As if you couldn't tell from this picture, Matteo is sick :-(



When I went to pick Matteo up from school on Thursday, he informed me his friend spit up--- which is 4 year old for throw up/vomit. So this Mommy knew it was only a matter of time...and sure enough Sunday night as I was sitting across from Jules doing my work (which yes, is ALWAYS a fight) - I said - - "did you smell the sickness on Matteo today" - - and my Dear Followers, it was not 5 minutes later that Matteo was "spitting up"/vomiting at 8:52 PM - - - and this lasted until approximately 1 AM - though unlike a few other times that he has been sick in his life, this time the sickness came with intense cramps - which really caused for tears.

So Matteo slept with us all night - - and watched 3 movies in Mommy's bed all day. Even the "bubble drink" did not make him feel better.

Mommy however had a relaxing day and ashamed as I am to admit it, watched my first ever Oprah in its entirety - and it was GOOD.!

VISITORS

Well that's the last time I pick up the phone pre-8AM and cry to my sister over last week's school events - look who showed up for a surprise visit (and brought their new puppy!).

Andrew enjoyed some hot wheels time

Errr....Kimmy, I think you have this backwards.

Chloe enjoyed sharing her Frosty book with Uncle Jason

a duet was played

and then things went downhill and the excitement level was beyond normal limits:

first the whip cream came out


and like Santa, with the wink of his eye and the twist of their nose, our cousins were gone in a flash


But not before one last picture

and this Mama was back in good form. Many thanks to our extended family for the visit and most of all lifting my spirits just by being you :-)

Ice skating - week 3

Chloe May started the day by showing Gramps her Frosty book (see phone on floor).



Side note: I find her absolute love for this book (we MUST read it no less than 10-12 times a day) so very ironic - considering it is my understanding that our friend Rory (who is 6 months older) has to be sung (so I read on her blog) Frosty as a bedtime song. Do you think Chloe and Rory will have a book discussion? :-)

And we continued our day with going to the ice rink where Jules and Matteo both really have taken to ice skating (unlike soccer - which is a whole other story!). I mean Jules is in his class:

and Matteo's teacher complimented him just how well he has done in these past 3 weeks.

Practice Practice Practice - though Daddy did take a spill today and says his knee is hurting.

4 years old

M A T T E O - 4 years old.



Remind me - I often forget.

Today when in a world of billions - this Mommy has never felt so alone. Many thanks to our Dear Friend Sarah who helped open my eyes to the semi-obvious today - her words echoed continuously in our home.

School

If ever there was a day to go away, it would be today. But alas after every night the sun does rise.

Rain rain

With today's continuous rain, what is a 4 year old to do?

Put on his too small raincoat and enjoy puddles of course!

And on a thoughtful note, thanks to our Dear Friends Rory and Caleb (no doubt their mom helped too) - for this delicious Banana bread - just the right size and enjoyed by all!

Tax time

Jules and I visited the tax man today - and unlike years past, this year the tax man cometh and the tax man tookth away!

Taco

For our 14 or 15 weeks now, every monday our family enjoys: Tacos - complete with meat, tomato, guacamole, cheese, beans and sour cream!!!!



Chloe May is enjoying solids more and she too enjoys Taco night :-)

Of course with the guacamole being the most expensive, the kids love it the most - so we decided to add an avocado to make more.

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” - MLK

Sunday miscellanous

Scrub-a-dub-dub, Chloe May is in the tub!! (and check out her new teeth, I think we are up to about 10.25 (that ".25" has yet to break ground).



And next time you are at our house, you might enjoy this fine work of art -

And we had our favorite handyman over today to speak with us/counsel us on updating our failing kitchen. Quite the project if you ask me..... and with two little ones, do I really need ANOTHER job? :-)

Skating - week 2

Ice skating seems to be the way to go for this family. Jules and Matteo enjoyed their second day of lessons (separately of course) today.

Matteo improved dramatically - being able to skate a small bit independently, in addition to continuing to learn how to pick himself up when he falls.

Jules too seems is enjoying being unchained from his desk at home and learning something new.

After class we enjoy a snack and the boys took to an hour of free skating.

After coming home for a brief rest, we enjoyed a dinner out to help celebrate our favorite twin's 36th birthday - Happy Birthday Marisa and Jen!!! (Yes, once a year I go out after dark).

Before/After

Before.

After.

I'm sure this is all going somewhere, just not sure what yet!