Happy Boxing Day!

Wow, it has been over a month since my last post. A new record! To my defense, there has a lot goin' on. My mom and dad came to visit on December 8th and Sophia had her 4th Birthday party on the 12th. We then left for Los Gatos, CA to spend Christmas with Ethan's sister, Sylvia and her family and Emily on the 15th. The period prior to the 8th was filled with Christmas gift buying, birthday party planning and Christmas card making. As soon as I get our cord for the camera (left behind) I will post pictures of all.

Sophia's 4th Birthday party was held at Ellis Gym and she had a BLAST. Was so great to see her laughing and running and playing WITH the other kids at her party. She claimed it was the best birthday party ever. YAY! We had strawberry cupcakes at the gym party and chocolate raspberry cake at the "after party" at our house.

I had my mom re-teach me some knitting stuff and teach me some new knitting stuff. I was able to crank out a pair of mittens for Dylan in the midst of the chaos at the house while they were visiting and get started on a sweater for Dylan. I finished the sweater (in about 8 days) in CA with a little technical assistance from Emily and Dylan wore it on the 22nd and has worn it another two times since. My fingers are all a jitter and I am anxious to start on my third project. Will hit the knitting store soon.

We had a nice Christmas Eve party here and I went to town on the butter tarts. They were fine even with my mess up on the sugar type I put in the crust. Bob prepared a feast of lobster and beef and we munched on fancy hors oeuvres like pate and caviar. The highlight to my night was seeing Dylan chowing down on a slice of bread with caviar on it. He was licking the caviar OFF, rather and leaving the bread. Then I asked him if he wanted more caviar or a cookie and he asked for caviar!

I have been making the most of the weather here - approx. 3 mile run everyday plus another 3 mile walk into town for last minute Christmas gift in the first week. The kids are enjoying their stroller runs with me, so I hope to keep it up in the frigid Boston air. We'll see...

We have another four days to go in Cali and then back to the grind. Sophia has really come out of her shell here and I hope she stays out. Syl and Bob invited their friends over a few night after I arrived with the kids and Sophia REALLy took to their boys (aged 5 and 7). For the first time ever, she forgot all about me and ran, chased and laughed with them all night. It was great to see. When I told her they were coming again on Christmas Eve, she asked "Jack too?" and when I told her yes, she squealed with delight. Hilarious. She has left no platform un-sung or dramatized upon while here either. So funny how she is such a performer. Dylan has become one with the little green tractor ride on toy here. He is on it everyday and at the party was zooming around after anyone who would ride on another one in front of him. Good times :)

10

Dylan can count to ten! We have been reading the Foot Book while he, er, sits on the pot for a while now. I think this has helped him with his numbers and colors. One page says "more and more feet, 24 feet" Then I count the feet with him and he has gotten to 10 all on his own. The feet are also different colors and we identify the different colors - show me a pink foot, etc...

My Christmas/ birthday shopping is well underway. I am pretty happy with the amount that has been done, however, I have to keep on top of it this year because we are leaving on the 15th.

New Niece

As of Friday, November 13th, I have a new niece: Sydney Paige Stevenson :) Welcome to the fam, little one. Can't wait to meet you! Congrats to Lana, Brent and Marysa on their new addition.

What else is new.... Well, Dylan sent us to the ER again recently. Ethan was in Minneapolis and Dylan got sick, of course. No phone on me, I went to the pedi office and they sent us to the ER. Poor little guy needs some better lungs! Thankfully he is better now, could do without these scares, though.

Fall has come and we are having a string of good weather. Nice to have 60+ degree days in November. Getting ready for our trip to Canada on the 25th to visit Ainley and my other nieces and nephews. Gearing up for Sophia's b-day and Christmas. Keep going through waves of thinking things are under control and then others that everything is a loose end and will never get done in time. Normal for this time of year for me I suppose.

Wicked Smaaht

Sophia and Dylan keep surprising me with all the little things they know. In the car, Sophia told me that she is sitting on Dylan's LEFT side. Yay! She has figured that out! Dylan has been doing very well with his colors and number's too. Sophia has been talking a lot about being three and almost four. Dylan surprised me recently saying he is almost three! He knows three is after two, woohoo.

Stroller drama. I am the worst at picking strollers. Started off by picking the cheapest and they really didn't work out. Then there was BOB. Paid a small fortune for "him" and thought I had the best stroller out there. He was big, bulky and heavy. Not cool. Not good for jogging. I have tried to like it, but I have had serious stroller envy of all the others out there - in particular the Phil and Ted. So, I decided to unload BOB and get me a Phil and Ted. I SO with P&T was my FIRST stroller. Could have skipped a lot of back break and frustration with ALL the others. Not sure what is up with the wheels on this new stroller, but I hope to have worked out the kinks. Rides like a dream, is SO small and light! I know it is way late in the game to be getting a new stroller. But I sold the BOB and made sure i didn't spend more than I sold it for. (which I practically GAVE AWAY, grrrr.)

Happy Halloween!

Repeat after me

I have noticed more and more lately that Dylan will say things and keep saying them until I repeat back what he has told me. I think it is a confirmation to him that he has said it correctly if someone else says it back - like he has been understood. I can't just answer him, say umm hmm, or yes. He will get louder and keep saying it until I repeat what he has said.

And now I will repeat what I have said about Dylan in the past - he is such a little sweet heart! He has a heart of gold. If I mention I have an ouchie or someone else (Sophia) complains of something, he right away runs over and gives a kiss. Catches me off guard sometimes as sometimes I just say the word while talking and he comes to kiss me. In books, too, if a character is hurt, he leans in and gives that character a kiss. SOOOO sweet. He is going to break a lot of heart - will be a vicious circle - break a heart, kiss it, thus breaking another heart, then has to kiss it...

Giddy-up

Here's another shout out to Lana. I have found myself treating the kids a lot like horses, perhaps due to my dear friend, Lana's, influence. When trying to put on shoes for instance, I will tap their leg as I have seen her do to her horses to get them to lift their leg up. I do the cheek "click click" to get the kids moving, hurry up. Sometimes I will even pat my leg to get them to come. Now if only I could get Dylan to eat apples and carrots like horses we could be onto something.

I realize I have neglected this site for quite a while, so here is a summer/ fall recap. We spent most long weekends up in Maine through out the summer. Most of my time was spent scraping, priming, painting and then painting some more. I don't miss that, however, I do miss the extra calories that I burned. Winter fat is setting in - EARLY. I then brought in the peach crop from our tree and made jam, chutney, sauce and pies. Oooo, so many peaches...

Sophia started her second year of preschool in September. She is at a new school and I like it so much better. I think she will really like her teachers and be able to make some friends. We got to go apple picking in the fall and I can't believe how YUMMY fresh they taste. Made a few apple pies out of those as well as my first apple turn overs. YUM.

We were able to get a good price on plane tickets and now our on again off again trip to California for Christmas is on again. The kids and I will head up mid December and be joined by Ethan on the 23rd. Come home new years eve - wahoo! Now I have a million things to get done between our upcoming trip up to visit Ainley for US thanksgiving, Sophia's b-day and getting Christmas shopping underwraps in time.

I have also been slacking in posting photos, so here is a link to some I posted on Picasaweb

How things have changed...

As a teenager and young "adult" I would spend hours in the bathroom. I would primp my hair, dust my face, primp my hair (I have a lot of hair). Now a days I STILL spend hours in the bathroom. This time it is mostly with Dylan inhaling obnoxious fumes. He is the cutest little guy, but MAN his poops smell bad. And he enjoys his time on the pot a little too much. Upon sitting he right away insists on "read book". And we read the same two books over and over while listening to Elmo shout "Great job!" "you did it!" you're growing up, just like Elmo!" His leg is pressed against the button, so these shouts outs are repeated over and over and over. I have found putting a book under hi foot to help move his leg off the button a bit. Anyway, it really is stinky. At least when he was in diapers he would find a corner to discretely do his business and then return to the room, I would get ONE whiff, change him and be done with it. I now spend the money I am saving on diapers on air fresheners.

Oh, here's a shout out to my little Lana. Thanks for reading! Woot Woot!

Fairy Tales and other Children's Classics

I have recently gotten into buying "the classics" for Sophia. We don't have many movies and I thought she should know about the princesses as she IS in prime princess age. I also started to remember the titles of classics I was read as a child. Well, it has been becoming increasingly more evident how horrible they are for kids. All the princesses are in fear of their lives from an evil witch wanting to kill them. The classics like Hansel and Gretel are about evil mothers wanting to abandon her kids in a forest only to have them "rescued" by an evil witch who wants to eat them. GRRR. I tried to read Lion King to the kids and had to change it up and have Mufasa "sleep" at the hands of the Wildebeasts. Sigh...

Wish lists

Christmas and b-days are a coming, so check out the running wish list on the right for ideas for the kids and eventually me. I will take stuff off as I buy it. I hear amazon jacks up the prices close to Christmas, so I will try and get our shopping done early...

First day of school

Friday was Sophia's first official day at school. I thought she was going to make it without any tears, however, after our little good bye and kiss the waterworks started when I neared the door. She only cried for a couple minutes after I left, though and had fun. I guess I am not up for mom of the year. Unlike the other moms, I did NOT take pictures of my little girl on her first day of school. I did NOT have a special outfit for her and I did not shed a tear. I guess having her go to school last year made this less climatic, but I had none of those things happen last year either...

Dylan's potty training is going well! He has had very few accidents. Yesterday at the gym he even told them he had to go and they came to get me! Tonight he went upstairs on his own, pulled down both pants and undies, sat on the toilet and commenced action. Only problem was, aim. Luckily I was peering around the corner and caught the fountain and was able to redirect "traffic" without too much mess.

Potty training still on...

Third morning, third dry diaper, third big first pee in toilet. I took the kids to the gym today and noticed there was pee in his diaper when we got back when he asked to go. I will cut him some slack as he WAS with strangers, haha. my champ.

4 pees on the potty... TODAY

Things are moving fast. Maybe too fast. I have heard of "windows" for potty training and this really feels like a "window". Dylan is excited about it, he even asked to go a couple times. He really pushes it out just to get something. pretty funny actually. But is he REALLY ready? I don't think he knows how to actually hold it yet, though he has been able to stop mid stream. hmmmm. With Sophia, it took an entire day of her peeing on the floor with NO attempts to go on the potty AND she seemed unable to stop the flow. Perhaps if I were to just let Dylan go all day with no diaper like I did for Sophia that he would have accidents all over the place too, but then would get it after a bunch of puddles. I don't look forward to the "leave the house anxiety" either. Sophia was older and also in a bed - able to get up to go if needed. She was also dry all night and able to hold it for a long time in the morning. Hmmmm. Not sure if Dylan is dry at night or if he pees as soon as he wakes up. He has been wet through his pj's a bunch of times. Oh, decisions decisions... He is really having fun with the potty, though... Got a poop out yesterday even. Ok, it was literally the size of a pea, but STILL :)

D.O.N.E.

One month ago today. Ok, maybe one month and three days, but who's counting. Started "operation paint house". Bob helped get things started with the pressure washer and then helped when he could with some scraping. I finished the scraping, sanded and then went on vacation. HA! Once again, upon return, Bob got things cooking again and started the priming. Thanks to him, the house was primed. Then he went and bought a house of his own and then there was one. Me. I called in some reinforcements - Emily, to take over with the kids so I could get some serious painting done. And now, the green is complete. Or at least as complete as it will ever be. Two coats on 95% of the house (NOT doing a second coat above dining room bump out - "light" ladder wouldn't reach and that orange ladder is just too much for me to ever try hoist again to reach that area). There are two coats on half the garage - not doing the two sides that aren't ever seen. I even patched a bunch of the roughed up boards before getting the second coat on. And now I am done. Let's hope the trim really does just "take care of itself..."

Peeing on Command

Ok, Maybe I am a little more anxious than I was with Sophia to start potty training. I really hate poopy diapers smelling up the place. Plus, Dylan has had more "inspiration" than Sophia did to start - gets to watch THREE people use the potty. At any rate he has used the big (little) boy potty about 5 times now! First couple were caught mid stream while he was releasing in the tub. He was able to stop, let me take him out and finish on the potty. The last few times were pees on command. Two were bath time requests to sit and pee before bath and once was a mid day request to have a seat and see what happens. Yay Dylan!

Summer Vacation

We are up in Wayne this week. Have been having good weather so I don't mind the thunder shower we are currently experiencing. Nice even. Arrived late Friday afternoon, been on the boat everyday. Gone tubing, knee boarding AND skiing. Pretty sweet. Sophia went tubing BY HERSELF for the first time ever today. Very impressed with her brevity. She joined me for a ride and we even had some wake behind the boat. Dylan is covered head to toe in skeeter bites (as I knew he would, but is still sad to see). Here's a look at our trip thus far.

I DID IT!!!!!

This was heard after Dylan completed this puzzle. He has done this ALL on his own three times now. Woot Woot!
Before:

After:

Paparazzi

Ok, this is kind of a test. me trying to be, well, computer savvy. HA! Trying to link into Picasa's website as photos here take FOREVER to upload and can only be done a few at a time. Here is goes!

Sophia has been taking over the camera a lot lately. Ok, BOTH kids have, but Sophia has actually been able to aim a little and get the desired object in the frame and capture it. Dylan is mostly interested in the flash.

Have a look at what the paparazzi has been up to.

Clicked

So, between yesterday and today, the act of cycling has really clicked with Sophia and clicked quite a bit with Dylan. Took the kids to a parking lot/ basketball court near our house with their bikes in between the rain today and they were AMAZING! Sophia no longer appears to have fear of her big girl bike. She would actually speed up coming towards me so that she could brake quickly. She was riding in circles around the courts and doing tight bobby pin turns going from one fenced in court to the next. Dylan too, actually! He was on his two wheel green bike (with training wheels, duh) and though he wasn't able to brake without the use of the fence in front of him and found it more difficult to start peddling sometimes, he exhibited great control, doing that bobby pin turn and following Sophia around. He would get distracted in his fascination of his feet and act of peddling and have to be reminded to look where he was going, but I still think this is all leaps and bounds for both kids. Wahoo! Family bike ride could be in the near future!

Tour de France

I think I will sign the kids up for the Tour de France next summer. Ok, maybe a Tour de Quincy. BOTH kids were on their two (ok, four with the training wheels) bikes yesterday doing laps around the boat. They did SO well! Peddling on their own, Sophia cruising on her giant 14" wheel bike, braking and even managing to stay balanced over the monstrous dips and lumps that make up our driveway. The only problems the kids ran into was when the back wheel went over a dip too slowly while the training wheels were on higher ground thus rendering the bike to be a stationary bike with the back wheel spinning in the air. Oh, Dylan had some steering issues too as he would stare at his legs and feet rather than the direction he was headed and collided with the boat a few times.

Project house paint underway

A color has been selected and the de-painting has begun. I must say I much preferred the mornings activities - frolic at the beach with the kids. It has to be done, though... We tackled the biggest wall first - south west. We each had a turn with the power washer - Bob, me and then Ethan took over while Bob and I handled kid needs and hand scraping. PHEW. Ethan just informed me that the lady at the end of the street approached him as he power washed our granite wall and asked him "how much to do her house". HA! And she wasn't kidding. I guess Ethan must have looked really professional. We are in relax mode now and I suspect that will change to pain mode in the morning. Yippy. No turning back now...

Colic

Is Dylan too old to have colic? Cuz he sure has been crying ALOT lately, inconsolable, throughout the day. Ok, Ok, he DID just turn two. Sure does have an awful case of the twos. Yesterday he cried for about two minutes (seemed like an hour) because his cracker broke in half. He cries because he has TEARS in his eyes! Outrageous. He has about one good hour first thing (way early) in the morning and then it is melt down central for the rest of the day.

Short and Sweet

SO, Dylan had his 2 year check up yesterday and it has been determined that he is short and sweet. He ranks around 25th percentile height and weight. Weight has come up a bit making him even steven for proportions. So, although he isn't the tallest kid in class, at least he still fits into his 12month size swim suit and saved me $30 this summer not having to get a new one :).

Taking the train into Beantown this morning. Fun fun!

Put your toes into it.

Dylan turns 2!

So, we had a hectic time this past week. Spent the 4th of July weekend up in Maine for a nice weekend with family. Uncle Mike and Aunt Jenny threw a cute pirate party for Dylan. Got home Sunday with a million things to do for the party. I didn't even finish unpacking the car and pulled out the lawn mower to cut the lawn. (pretty pointless considering the monsoon rains we had for the party). ANNNNNNNYWAY... Monday was a beautiful day and I wanted to let the kids enjoy at least an hour of it. Sophia ended up getting hurt and we were in the ER from 9pm-1.30am waiting for her to be checked out. Got 3 hours sleep and then up with Dylan to set up for an outdoor party that turned indoors almost precisely at the commencement of the party. GRRR. continued to rain and POUR for the whole thing. Dylan was having fun and I think liked his party anymore. Both kids were tuckered and were down for their naps at 1pm and 1.40pm and slept until FIVE. I even went to revive Dylan. His afternoon naps have been super long lately...

Party Boat HatsBoat princess

Awaiting cake...

Le Cake

Water Balloon fun
Speediest toe biker ever.
Cool helmut. Note how legs are a blur.
Today was another rainy start. Went and picked up Dylan's new Balance bike (which Sophia immediately tried to claim as her own). Then to the gym for a long over due workout. I was SO taken when I went to pick the kids up from the daycare. Sophia was snuggled up next to Dylan on the aptly named kiddie "love" seat reading him a story. The girl at the daycare said they were like that most of the time. SWEET.

Name that poop.

Sophia is hilarious going to the bathroom. First while performing her duty, she spreads her arms out in an airplane fashion with her butt in the bowl. Then she keeps trying to maintain balance while lifting her shirt up so as to not be near the action. THEN, after mission accomplished, she peers into the bowl and identifies each specimen. "That is the daddy, this is the mama and that is the baby" or " that is snake, banana, grape... etc".

Good answer!

While nibbling on the chocolate treat I gave him, I asked Dylan if it was good and he replied, ya. Then I asked him what he likes more: treats or mama. And he said MAMA! That's ma boy!

"I DID IT!"

This is Dylan's newest favorite saying. He can be heard exclaiming this as LOUD as he can all day about every little accomplishment - getting a noodle out of his bowl, flipping a page... Very cute and very loud. Everything is pretty loud with Dylan these days. He no longer seems to speak, just yells everything.

XL weekend in the homeland

We took a 4 day weekend up in Canada - Kanata, Ont, to be exact. My Parents arrived in the morning at Ainley's and we rolled in at approx. 10pm. Left the house at 2pm and Dylan immediately crashed for a 2 hour nap. Sophia rejected a nap, unless you count the 30 minute one she took in the beginning. Yup, 7.5 hours in the car. Fun. Sophia also took another 40minute nap at 9pm and that got her going until 11.30 or later - oh joy. Started the weekend with a end of year school recital of singing and reciting poetry. S and d were VERY tired and HUNGRY, so they didn't do so well through this. Once back home they took good naps and the weekend officially began. We lucked out and got lots of sun instead of the rain that was predicted for us. Yay! Sophia remained shy among her cousins, however, Dylan was happy to be led around by his big cousin Rhianna. It was very cute to see him take her hand and just go where she led. Even on that first day!

On day two of the trip, Princess Sophia was re-born. She first emerged in a blue dress and then the hoop skirt dress was found and she wore that ALL the time. Here she takes the arm of Prince Kieran. It was so funny when Sophia walked in the house once while Kieran was sitting in the living room. He looked up at her and casually greeted her with, "helllo, princess!" (he is 4)
This was SUPER sweet. My mom called me over to see Sophia sitting next to baby Declan and "reading" to him. She got the book herself and set herself up too. She took her "babysitting" duties very seriously.

She kept asking to hold him. It was fun to see her imitating the things we would do - shhh-ing, plugging him with the pacifier...

Partial family portrait. The ones with all of us were not zoomed in. take what you can get...

Princess on wheels.

Kieran teaching Dylan how to make lego cars.

Even Ethan got his turn being toted around in the green wagon.

And we all got our shot on a bike.

From the very young....

To the, ahem, very old? Heheh, Sorry dad. You know how they say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks? What about re-teaching an old dog old tricks?

When in doubt, just say B

Dylan is replacing words more and more with the letter B. The first to come was "B-bar" where the letter B replaced the word cereal. The next to come was B-bus. Here the letter B replaces either school or city. I will keep adding the list of B's as they arise.

Another interesting kid note is the extension of Sophia's music. She has always walked around singing all day. Her songs have taken a new twist, though. Now, she will sing a sentence and add "TCHSHHH TCHSHHHH" to the end. ie: she will sing, " take my shoes off mommy, tchshhh tchshhh". Pretty amusing to me.

Another cute Sophia-ism is her conversation starter. It is always started with "remember when..." and then the second part is a random memory. "Remember when Dylan hurt his head?" And then I have to think - WHICH time? She remembers the littlest things that happend long ago (relatively speaking, of course) and it amuses me to see what she remembers.

A star is (re)born

I was at my sister's place in Ottawa this past weekend (full post on that later) and was going through the box of Dylan's old clothes for the THIRD time. Re-folding and re-sorting them. Strolling back through memory lane.... Well, third time's a charm they say. I was folding a little jumper and felt something hard. Hmmmm, what could that be? There was a little pocket and inside this pocket was the missing PURPLE STAR from our shape puzzle. My spring cleaning this year was in part brought on in attempt to FIND this star. I had been bothered by it's disappearance. I mentioned this to Ethan as it was a little difficult for hands of a 1 and 2 year old to stuff in there and he smiled and said it sounded familiar. Sigh.... At least my puzzle is once again complete :)

Beantown adventures

I took the long anticipated trip to Boston with the kids today. I have been wanting to do the "ferry" thing with them for a while. The morning started out cool and damp but I had hope in the weather reports. We got off the ferry and headed for the playground. Then passed this carousel It was only 10 and it didn't open until 11, so we toured Quincy Market for a while. Then we got here at 10.50 and they were 10 minutes late opening. I had to listen to "can we go on yet?" for 20 minutes. Ugh.

Went back to the park and were sure to stop and smell the roses.

Ok, I guess that was one too many smiles to ask for. Getting goooooofy...Yup, and back to the ferry to head home. Great morning.

The rains of yesterday and more prodigy updates

Dylan was cute as could be during our rainy Sunday morning. Once inside, Ethan dumped out a boot full of water from Dylan's firetruck boots. He was fussing about "something" at one point while we were out and I thought he was complaining of a rock. Then I thought, there was no way a rock could be in there and brushed it off. The "booter" explains it.

Earlier in the week I made blueberry pancakes for the kids. Note in addition to Sophia's very "beautiful" hair (her new favorite word), her nice clean face. Markings of a true little lady.

And then we have D. Blueberries ALL over his face and hands. SO cute. Markings of a true blue little boy.

Today I went to REI with the kids so Dylan could test drive a Skuut. I was very disappointed that it was TOO BIG! They are supposed to fit 2-5 year olds. He needs another couple inches. Sigh... Sophia, on the other hand did amazing on the 16" two wheeled bike! It has training wheels and they are especially needed as her feet don't reach the ground, but she road around the store about 20 times. I didn't even follow her after a while, just let her make a solo loop. That bike was a little $$$, but I will definitely be getting her one this summer. She is doing really well on the tricycle and has been enjoying her bike rides. Toddlers look so cute peddling really fast on those, don't they?

Reading Dylan stories tonight, he surprised me again. I hadn't done the alphabet book in a while so I asked him "want to do A B C's?" and he replied "ALPHABET". I never even mentioned that word. Brilliant.

Back to Sophia's "beautiful". She has been using that word a lot lately and I think it is so cute to hear her describe things with it. Thank you for buying me these shoes, mama. They are very beautiful".

Dylan counts to THREE!

Dylan was trying to climb up the side of the front steps (garbed in a diaper only) and I told him to get down. I decided to try the "1 2 3" thing described to me this weekend and I told him I would count to three. I said ONE and then HE said ooo (two) eeee (three). He is really quite advanced :) I have already mentioned his advanced "jump" move - being able to get both feet off the ground at the same time already. Well he upped the ante on that one and jumped off the third step of our little slide on the lawn and landed on his feet. He also is getting quite good at throwing rocks in an overhand motion. A skill my "baby center" update thing-y tells me is mastered at a much later age.

So those were the highlights of my day. Things involving myself were less than stellar. First I started with getting into someone elses car after buying groceries. I was reading my receipt and clicking the lock on my key chain at the same time and not really paying attention to the car. It just so happened the door was UNLOCKED, so I didn't even realize anything was wrong until I was INSIDE. I sat down and first noticed that the seat was really far up and was trying to figure out how that happened. Then I noticed that the seats were more firm and covered in fabric, not leather. It then took me about 5 more seconds to put it all together and realize I just sat in someone elses car! I immediately got out and hurried to my car two cars away. YEESH!

Then I went to the paint store to pick out some house paint colors and stopped and DD on the way. I got my iced coffee and felt the car keys were pretty light. I was almost at the car when I realize the car key fell off the chain! I traced my steps back to the store and again back to the car. I finally realized that I could still open the car with the unlock button and found the missing key all the way over on the passenger seat.

My third mishap was minor - forgot to put the eggs into my banana loaf and had to take it out of the oven after being in there a few minutes and stir them in. Not a disaster, but not great. I think I might be getting TOO much sleep now adays, haha. Dylan has gone 4 for 4 now and slept as late as 6.30! Go D!

Rainy day shopping spree

The rains couldn't hold me back today! Took advantage of "the babysitter" and got to buy groceries in the morning without kids jumping in and out of the cart and asking for treats the whole time. Then I was able to finally hit the Wrenthum Outlets and do some serious shopping and damage to the ol' credit card. I left after getting Dylan down for his nap and flew to the outlets. I made out SO well in Gymboree with all the sale merchandise. I paid about $4 or $5 for most items. The raincoat was a STEEL - $4.27 HA! They mix and match VERY well too. Yay, me!

So, we have had a strange thing happen in our house this past week. Dylan has slept in past FIVE! He made it past 5.30 even. THREE TIMES. Today was the latest yet at 6.15. Wahoo. He was coughing for about an hour between 3.45am and 4.45, though. He didn't make any other sounds and I lay there praying for him not to be sick and to please please please not wake up completely.

A good day

Today was pretty good all in all. Nice weather - much warmer than I had anticipated. Started the morning cleaning the house a bit after Ethan took off with the kids for a canoe adventure. Then went on a hike with a couple girl friends around 9.30. Funny how much later other households with kids THE SAME AGE as ours start out. One mom rolled out of bed 8.45 and her kids were STILL SLEEPING. The other just doesn't get going until later and thought 9am was early. It's like our household is from a different planet. ANYWAY, the kids had a good time on their adventure and then Sophia and I went to the grocery store for some lunch fixings. As usual, I decided to pick up a few more things. Sophia carried her own basket that was about as big as she is and kept wanting me to put the fruit and other food I was collecting in HER basket. So cute to see her struggling to lift it and carry it like a big girl. She slowly let me help at first by carrying it with her and then taking over all together.

The kids BOTH decided on an early nap - noon. Ok, sure. Sophia had a good nap and Dylan went all the way to THREE HOURS. Apres-nap, we headed off to Houghton's Pond. On our way out from the parking lot, as we passed by part of the pond we came across a little clearing down to the pond. Sophia stopped and informed me that this is where we could launch a boat. Hilarious! Once at the beach, Dylan and Ethan hung out by the water and Sophia and I went where else, but the playground. Sophia then started thinking about snacks and we joined back up with Ethan and his snack bag. Ethan went so far and took the plunge into the pond in his shorts. There were a lot of people in the water and he couldn't resist. Dylan took a less intentional plunge. As he was studying his toy boat he lost his balance and rolled over into the water. Poor little guy. He is just so sweet to watch - all that concentration, slow, careful movements, studying "things". He was pushing his boat up through the sand and then lifting it up and watching the sand drop out from the bottom. He wanted to know all about this amazing act. After coming home we slapped some chicken burgers on the grille and the kids played while we ate outside. This is about the BEST play day ever with the kids. They were laughing, chasing each other, Sophia would swing Dylan around and do ring around the rosie... They played together for about an HOUR. Then they were laughing and playing together in the tub. So sweet :)

Tortoise and the Hare

So, first we had our yard bunny and now the playground turtle. Ok, the turtle visited us once before, last year, but it is a new visit this year. I was in the playground with the kids waiting for our playdate friends to arrive when we came across this guy. He hung around about 10 minutes after climbing out and then sllllllloooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyy waddled away. Ethan "rescued" this turtle (or one very similar to it) last time we saw it in the playground. Playdate went well. Sophia didn't drag me away and interacted with some of the kids a little. She REALLY liked baby Julia (1 year old).

FIrsts and cuteness

This morning Dylan woke up at FOUR. We had passed that stage a couple weeks ago. I know there could be a link to our weekend's visit to Maine, however, it was no less appreciated. When I first heard him there was the age old debate - do I go to him or not? He wasn't crying - singing, rather. Kind of cute - I heard him say "where are you?" (of course not that clearly, but I knew what he was saying). Anyway, while in Maine, he woke around 11.30pm the first night and I went to him, stroked his face and sang twinkle twinkle. I thought, maybe he would think it was like that and went to him, did that and left. He said night night, and then continued to sing until about 5am and then here is the first.... WENT BACK TO SLEEP! And sleep he did until 6.30am. I even got up before him, haha.

And now for the cuteness. There are actually two. At around 5.45, Ethan's alarm went off. He got up and I heard Dylan's door pop open. I didn't hear Dylan and wondered if he was going to get him up. Strange. Then I lay there and didn't hear any steps on the stairs. strange. About 6.10 I got up and saw Dylan's door ajar. I peaked in and there Ethan was on the rocking chair, with Dylan's blanket, waiting for Dylan to wake. CUTE! He has really taken to liking getting up with Dylan. Second act of cuteness is from Sophia. Last night I remember her walking around before bath with my robot jammy top. Then this morning when I went to get her I saw she had SLEPT with them like a little blanky. Awwwwwe.

Now, even though Dylan is hacking away and had a fever of almost 101 yesterday, he is zooming around the house - pitter patter pitter patter.... SUPER CUTE! I guess that would be a third, right? What a difference waking up at wake up time makes :)

A 90 degree day

Ok, it is not what you think. It wasn't 90 in Boston today. That is the temp one of our angels set the house at. The kids were playing in that corner early in the evening and I had gone up to "draw" their bath. My room temp OCD came in really handy. I noticed that Dylan's room was 69 degrees. I had put the little space heater in there earlier as the house has been turned down to 60 and his room was registering 65/ 66. It has been so cold here that I thought his room could use a little boost. I thought it odd the room would be that warm with the heater at the setting I put it at. As I was walking down the stairs I noticed a nice warm draft and heard that familiar "clink" of the radiators. Went over to the thermostat and was shocked to see it set PAST 90. Luckily I caught it before it went past 70. Ahhhh, kids.

Today also marks day one of "serious bribery". Probably won't find this in any parenting book or magazine, however, after about 2 weeks of Sophia getting up many times after being put to bed and STILL being awake after 9pm I put into action Plan Desperation. I did the unthinkable and gave Dylan a BIG chunk of chocolate in front of Sophia and told her she couldn't have any because of her bedtime fiascoes. I did show her the last chunk and said she could have it TOMORROW, if she went to bed nicely tonight. Ugh. Not off to a great start so far. She has gotten up once, but that was to make "poo poos" and she did it all on her own except the wiping, which I was glad to help with. I think I am hearing stuff up there, but not sure. Fingers crossed this works.

Independance day, a little early.

Sophia has been wanting to dress her herself much more lately. She has been taking her jammies off in the morning, putting them on at night and now and then putting her pants on for the day and shirt too. I have been choosing (sometimes with her help) her outfits for the day, though. Today, however, she did ALL the choosing and dressing herself. And though I probably wouldn't have put the pink shirt with polka dots together with the red pants, I think it is GREAT that she got everything herself and proceeded to put it on too.

Uh oh, speghettio

Yup. If you guessed Dylan's latest "catch phrase", you are right. Much cuter when he says it, of course.

We survived a hot one today. I think I much prefer the 70 degree days. I feel old thinking that. I remember not too long ago being at work and my boss telling me this was his ideal kind of weather. I couldn't have disagreed more. How boring is THAT?! You can't hang out at the beach and enjoy 70 like you can 90's!

Wow, how time flies. This post has been sitting in my draft box a while. I recall wanting to add to it, but life and kids "came up" and now I suppose I should just post it as is before I forget my own name.

Rabbits, Arbors and Macgyver

This little rabbit (among others) is kind of like our pet. Though we can't pet or hold them, we also don't have to feed or clean out their cages. We just get to enjoy them and step in their piles of poop all over the lawn. Hmmmm, that cage isn't looking too bad right now...Went to the Arboretum yesterday to let the kids run wild with their ride on toys. There were a few puddles remaining from the morning's rain and Dylan found then all.Off we go into the (groomed) wilderness. Sophia and Dylan's pilgrimage up the hill, each carrying their own riding device.

Then, WEEEE WEEEE WEEEE, all the way down.

Classic Sophia "pose". She loves to sing and use hand/ arm gestures so this position is very typical to see.

Walking with dogs. S and D were quite taken with this pack of dogs.

Our other adventure this weekend involved going out on the boat after the kids' naps. We packed a dinner and planned to bbq some burgers on the boat next to an island. Ethan remembered the grill and extra propane tank and I remembered the food and flipper. Neither of us remembered the lighter. Hmmmm. After searching the entire boat the only lighter Ethan could find was the spark plugs for the boat. SO..... I turned the key and he held the plug in the BBQ and I held my breath. It worked! It lit, however the wind was strong and it didn't stay lit. phooey Carrot sticks, spinach dip and cheese sandwiches it was. I was very impressed with the Macgyver move. Looking him up on the net to get the spelling right I found out the show was and America-Canadian production. HA! I guess our family is more true to the show than I first thought!

All Her Ducks/ Trucks in a Row

I love seeing this kind of thing. Sophia lined up her cars on the couch before going upstairs for bath. I couldn't resist taking a million pictures of Dylan in these glasses. Too cute.