Leap Year

Happy Leap Year! What are you going to do with your extra day this year? I hope it can be spent doing something you love. I was having fun this morning playing with a new(ish) filter for my camera. I am trying the more artsy thing instead of the traditional photos. I am such a traditionalist in life that I have a hard time sometimes breaking out of that mold even with my photos. I thought they look cute, but how do Critter and Pumpkin not look cute! I may be slightly biased though. I hope your day is filled with fun and happiness. I sure hope ours will be! :)

Peek-A-Boo

Critter has discovered a love for the game peek-a-boo. Luckily there is a little Pumpkin who equally loves to entertain him. I have some video of them playing together, I am just trying to figure out how to post it. It is funny, when you have an older child, you forget how fun the simple things are when they are this little. I now get to see life through both of their eyes! How fun is that!

Plus, I am loving this seat! It is so great to work on neck/back strength...and a great way to help get things done without holding him all day! I wish I could hold both these munchkins all day long, but the dishes, laundry and everything else would complain too much! :)

Tuesdays Treasurers

I am loving the opportunity to look at my possessions and figure out what I really treasure. I think it is a great way to figure out how much stuff we have that we really do not need! So, here I give you my treasure for the week. This is a ceramic dish that was at my grandma's house while I was growing up. I have no idea how long it was there before I was around. I just know that my grandma had a HUGE sweet tooth and would store candy in this dish. It is made of the type of ceramic that is imposible to keep quiet, so everyone knew if you were trying to sneak candy. I think she did this on purpose, just like keeping the potato chips in a cabinet where pots and pans hung on the door...try to be suble then! I don't keep candy in this yet, but one day i will. It also reminds me of the wonderful pies that she used to make, and I would "help" her. Everyone said that she made the best cherry pies, but since I do not like cherry pie, I loved her apple pies.

I will always treasure the few things that I have from my grandparents, they were such a big part of my life growing up that I love remembering that part of my life.

Can't resist them

I have had my camera in my hand quite a bit lately. I just can not resist these kiddos. They just make my heart soar. I know there are loads of pictures, I just could not resist sharing them. We had a fun couple of days with daddy off of work, so there are loads of smiles!

Yep, that is his tongue sticking out!

She loves to hold his hand, I just love it!

I love how they love each other

Concentration is so important while playing! :)


That smile will get her ALMOST anything!

Big news (for us)

Okay, well this is big news in our world. First off the bodily function news. Pumpkin has been wearing underpants at home for about a month now. I have not had the courage to put her in them out of the house mainly because of Critter. But, on Monday she decided she wanted to wear them to her gymnastics class. So, I bit the bullet and let her. She wore them all day without an accident. Then, she did not want to wear a pull up on Tuesday either. So, once again i just went for it. Once again...SUCCESS! So, we are now officially in underwear during waking hours. At least it is only one set of diapers that I need to purchase now. Man, does that feel awesome and sort of sad. Mainly because the other news is that our girl is now signed up for preschool. I fell in love with a program and she will be starting in August, unless we decide to put her in their summer program as well. I just can not believe that she is old enough to go to preschool. She is so excited about it. She is talking about the new friends that she will meet because "My other friends are not going to my school, but that is okay". I am amazed at her comprehension of the world. It seems like yesterday she was the age that Critter is and just discovering the world. Man, they grow up so fast.





I also remember the days when big news was different big news. It had nothing to do with potty training or preschool. It was about job changes, promotions, money stuff. All the things that I thought mattered back then. I think it takes some time in this world to really realize what is important. It is the little things, the friends, the family, the things that make your heart soar with pride or love. With all the changes for Pumpkin, I realize how much change she brought to my life as well. She has helped me find the friends that truly add to my life, she helped me find the balance of my heart, she helped me realize that potty training and preschool are big news worth sharing.





My hubby pointed out to me the other day, that I don't necessarily talk about all the good stuff all the time. I have a tendency to complain to him a lot! :) He made the point how good it is to actually talk about all the good stuff going on. I want to make that effort. I think that is why I might be babbling here a little bit today. There has been a lot of pain in the lives of people I care about. With that, I have been feeling the pain and the downside of life. I need to realize that the feelings that I put out into the world has unknown effects on the lives of others. I might as well put joy out there to try to make the world a little better and possibly put a smile on someones face.

Our big girl!

Tuesdays Treasures

One of the goals I set for myself when I graduated high school was to run a marathon by the time I turned 30. Well, from a high schoolers standpoint, this was an easy goal..."30 is forever away!". Well, the closer I got to 30, the more I realized that it would be a more difficult endeavor than i had first thought, especially after having a child. But, in January of 06, I decided that it would be the year. I was REALLY out of shape and needed to start from scratch. Over the course of a year, I got myself into decent shape. I honestly did not have the time to train for a full marathon, so I amended my goal and decided a 1/2 marathon was good too. Last January (07), I ran my first 1/2 marathon. I even beat my goal time by 3 minutes. I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Since Critter was due in December, I could not run in again this past January ( I am crazy, just not that crazy!). I do plan on running again in the next one. Each time you finish one of the Rock and Roll marathons, you get an awesome metal. This is the one I recieved, it is hanging on my wall right now. I am planning on getting a nice frame for it one day. Oh, and I made my amended goal, I turn 30 this year.

Mornings

This is how most of our mornings have started lately. If Pumpkin wakes up before Critter or while he is eating, she will climb into bed with me. Or when she needs to get dressed, she insists that Critter lays with her. This always ends up with her cuddling him in bed. I mean, how can I complain about it. She loves to hold him and love him. Yes, she has been going through a phase of really wanting attention, but at least that is directed at me and not him. From birth, there has been nothing but love between the two of them. I count my blessings everyday for their relationship. She is so protective of him and he is already looking like he is protecting her. I love this picture because of this. It looks like they are completely there for each other. There is such a special bond there already. I can not describe how elated this makes me. Even if the rest of my day goes downhill, how can I not wake up with a smile on my face when it starts like this!

Being a mom

I swear that being a toddler must be like having split personalities. That is the only thing that makes sense to me. One minute Pumpkin is happy as a clam playing with me, then BAM...I am the worst person in the world. One minute she listens like an angel, the next it is "What did you say, I could not hear you". I thought that these were the years I was looking forward to when she was a teenager, not now. There are many moments of the day when Critter is crying and Pumpkin wants all the attention. I am surprised that I don't have a head of gray hair yet. Then I get reminded of what is wonderful about my job. I get to look at these smiling faces filled with love and trust. They know me. They trust me. They love me. I adore them. How can I not? No one can accurately tell you or make you understand the difficulties in motherhood or parenthood. People do their best to prepare you, but it does not work. Yet, there is no way to accurately let you know how full your heart can be when looking into your children's eyes. It was a tough day today, but I just look at these pictures and know that at the end of the day, I love where I am in life and what I am doing. Plus, I needed to post pictures from Valentine's Day, and this cleared my head as well as got the pictures up here!

I love how they love each other already!
He is our little "Stud Muffin", or maybe it should be "Stud Poundcake"!

I just love her natural exuberance for life and having fun. Man, to be a kid again!

Changes to this blog....

I wanted to let everyone know that there are going to be some changes to this blog. A dear friend of mine had an interesting experience which really made me think about what I am putting out there. I was thinking about making this space private so that only the people that I invite can see what I am writing. Really, this space is to keep updated on the kids and my random musings. I was afraid that might scare some people away from looking here since you would have to log in each time to see this page. So, instead I am putting some safety measures in place. I will now put water marks on the pictures so they can not be used elsewhere and from now on, the kiddos will be referred to by their nicknames..Pumpkin and Critter. Hubby will be hubby (there is only one of him, so that is safe to say you know who I am talking about!). I would like to ask that if you come and make a comment, please do not use their names. I know it will happen, but I am trying to take these extra steps. Thank you all for understanding all of this. Sometimes it is good in this life to have a healthy fear of your surroundings. I probably see things in a different light than many due to hubby, but it is good to have perspective on the world. We want to think that the world is a happy and trustworthy place. Mainly it is, but there are those out there who take advantage of the freedom of people and their nature.

So, I will continue to blog, but slightly more cautious. I want to remember the childhood of my munchkins and this is the easiest way to do so. Thanks for your understanding!

Happy Valentine's Day

Today was a day designated to show those in our lives that we love them and appreciate them. While I think that today has become overly commercialized, it is a good reminder to do what we should do daily. We should let our friends and family know how much they mean to us. With a hubby who does what he does for work, I have learned to appreciate today and let him know how much I love him before he walks out the door each day. I hope that I let my friends and family know the same thing. It is easy to assume that they know how we feel. It never hurts to say it anyway. Because has anyone ever said something nice that just makes your day? It is hard to know the impact of the simple things in life. The simple comments are the ones which usually make people's days. The ones that don't take the massive effort and huge credit card bill. The things that you really don't have to think about. They just come naturally. I think that the daily "I love you" and "I appreciate you" mean so much more than the dozen roses once a year. Don't get me wrong, I do love a bouquet of flowers, but I love them more on a different day of the year! :)

So, I guess my point here is, I hope everyone out there got to enjoy today. Whether you spent it wtih friends, family or enjoying some quality personal time, I hope you cherished today for what it is. One more day to smile and look upon the world with fresh eyes. Each day has its ups and downs. I try to end each day realizing what great things happened and what greatness might come tomorrow. This does not always happen or is not always easy, but putting the effort in brings life into perspective.

In case I have not told you, my friends and family, lately...I love you and appreciate the impact you have on my life. Happy Valentine's Day.

Our little man...

I can not believe that two months have gone by already (well, as of last Friday). You have brought so much joy into our lives. Your big open mouth smile brings us joy every time we change your diaper! That is your favorite place to almost laugh. You can lift your head up and you are getting so strong. You are trying so hard to fit your hands into your mouth, you are just not quite there yet. It is adorable the way you soak in the world around you. You and your sister are the same like that, not wanting to miss a thing. It is no wonder that my back and arms are getting strong. You weighed in today at 15 lbs. 12 oz. and 25 3/4 inches long. You have gained over 6 pounds and 4 inches since you were born. That is just amazing to me. It seems like you are growing so incredibly fast. I want to remember every moment of your babyhood. It is amazing to watch you grow into a little man. Each time you grab my hair, shirt or necklace you are really touching my heart. I love you so much. I can not wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Fun times....

Great friends, a great reason to celebrate, what more can I say!

Happy Day

Happy Birthday (slightly belated) to two wonderful, caring men. It is wonderful to have you in our lives and influencing our children. Hopefully you enjoyed the celebrations of all you have accomplished in these 30 and 60 years.

Out of the mouths of babes

Pumpkin has been absolutely adorable with some of the things she has been saying lately. I just have to document them so I do not forget. They just make me smile only the way a 3 year old can!
~ The first time we changed Critter's diaper together "Mommy, why does Critter have such a big butt" (She is not used to seeing boys have their diapers changed)
~ Reasoning with Papa about eating breakfast "Pumpkin, if you eat all of your breakfast, you can hit an extra 10 golfballs", Pumpkin responded with "How about 5!"
~ When she is trying to get away with something she should not be doing or thinking about doing something, she likes to tell us " I love you!"
~ Anything she wants to do for a long time is "Let's do it for 5 days"
~ Phrases taught by daddy: "My daddy is the greatest", "My daddy is number 1", "My brother is a stud"
~ "I have a good idea..."

I know there are so many more, but these are coming to my head right now. She is full of such life and vigor. To say our house is not quiet is an understatement. I love the conversations that we have with each other. She is such a joy in our lives.

Tuesday's Treasures

This clock used to be at the bottom of my grandparents stairs. As you ducked your head to avoid the ceiling, the first thing you saw was this clock. It no longer works (I just need to get it fixed), but it brings back memories of them, their house, and my family. We would spend summers and holidays at their house. There would usually be at least 10 people in a 3 bedroom 1 bathroom house. It was the greatest place to spend my childhood. Everytime I look at this clock, I can not help but remember them and cherish the memories I have of life.

A fun filled weekend

We had a great weekend at my parent's house. It was a nice get away for the kids and myself. Here are some of the cute pictures from the weekend.

And yes, for those that know my clothing idiosyncracies, I am wearing a blue shirt with jeans! I am trying to make progress....or they were the only pants I had and I wanted to wear my new Superbowl shirt which was blue! :)

Game Day

GO PATRIOTS!

(Or Giants!)

The good thing with family on both sides of the game is that you really can not lose! Enjoy the game!

Friends

I have been thinking a great deal about friends lately. Each one in our lives brings such a different perspective. I went for a long time in my life with friends who did not necessarily bring out the best in me. As an adult, I have finally learned to surround myself with people who add something to my life and the lives of my children. I know that I can count on these friends for anything. That is truly an amazing feeling. I love the fact that my daughter is developing friendships which I hope will last her a lifetime. When I was her age, I met a friend I still have to this day. The power of a friend can lift you up from your darkest places and make a bright day even brighter. I am so thankful for the friends that I have in my life. I know that quite a few of my friends have been going through stuggles lately. These have torn at my heart. My prayers have been flowing to each of you daily. Being that I love to fix things, i would love to scoop in and take your pain away. But...as I am remembering from these posts that I have to "let go" and just be there. So, for those of you who might need this ( I don't know of many who don't at some point), I found this poem that struck a cord in my heart. I love you all and am so thankful for each and every person that I can call a friend.

The Gift of an Angel by your side

May you always have an angel by your side ~ Watching out for you in all the things you do~ Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days ~ Finding ways for your wishes and dreams to come true ~ Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun ~ Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide ~ May you always have love and comfort and courage~

And may you always have an angel by your side ~ Someone there to catch you if you fall ~ Encouraging your dreams ~ Inspiring your happiness ~ Holding your hand and helping you through it all ~ In all of our days, our lives are always changing ~ Tears come along as well as smiles ~ Along the raods you travel, may the miles be a thousand times more lovely than lonely ~ May they give you gifts that never, ever end: somone wonderful to love and a dear friend in whom you can confide ~ May you have rainbows after every storm ~ May you have hopes to keep you safe and warm ~

And may you always have an angel by your side ~

~Douglas Pagels