tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23188691525058514032024-03-04T23:16:05.693-05:00Our Happily Ever LaughterThis is a blog of one family just living each moment to its fullest. Here you'll see the story of a girl who loves a boy, and how their love has blessed them not once, not twice, but a thousand times over!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-23002406116670034202012-02-26T20:29:00.004-05:002012-02-26T21:01:03.554-05:00To Zach on his 4th birthday...Here is a picture of my baby taken today on his new bike, with his new helmet. Its a little blurry, but most of his pictures are. That is how he rolls...literally...always in motion, on to the next adventure. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713622042795916098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6liqCsWJY0zT0oN57k6GpCpfRc8qXH0UFyS8z8aiqrU7AE2IyPv7dfyHZrzgvEZzOe63wKOXP6tpaNxaGo7LseLD9X7fCXcAfM0GH-8bODVlC8YI9u65a96_qgyN7b6CW7IvuBr-sVXhy/s400/DSC01099.JPG" /><br />Every year on the boys birthdays I write them a letter reflecting on the past year. Its a tradition I started with Zach, and one I hope they appreciate someday. I want them to know my thoughts on their years, little details I might forget later in the haze of life. I thought I'd share it with you, but unfortunately I can't seem to get my Windows to copy paste into blogger. So here is an excerpt:<br /><br />There is no one in the world quite like you Zach, and everyday I am blessed to be the one that you call Mom. You bring light wherever you go, and you charm and befriend everyone. I know that you have a compassionate heart, one of the sweetest I have ever known. You are always there to offer a snuggle to Mom or Dad, or a "huggie" to Mattie. You love to be loved and you say it often to those that adore you, show it always, and share it completely. Even though you are just turning four, I rarely if ever see you act unkindly towards others, and when you do hurt someone's feelings or by accident, you are always quick to apologize. When I see the kindness within you, I know God's light in this world.<br /><br />I adore you. It is not a secret that you are a Momma's boy in all the best ways. You and I share stories often, in fact you always tell me what is happening in your life, and I hope you always will. You love to ask questions about how things work, why things are the way they are, in short you love knowledge. You are always seeking answers and are never afraid to ask questions, a quality I hope you hold on to throughout your lifetime. For example, one day you asked me where blood is in our body, and what we need it for. I actually found myself explaining the circulatory system to a three year old. You like to know about things you can see and grasp, but also dare to question abount the unseen and more complex issues as well. That makes me think I have a budding scientist on my hands. Sometimes you say you want to be a doctor, sometimes you say you want to be like daddy and build things(even though he doesn't build), sometimes you say you want to be a daddy when you grow up(in fact you've asked me to take care of your blue blankie till your big, and then give it back for your babies). You say all sorts of wonderful and captivating things, and you are always ready with a joke(Your current favorite is out of a book: What does a Triceratops sit on? Its triceraBOTTOM! - and you laugh that infectious laugh of yours), or crazy names or stories to try to make others laugh. You just love bringing joy, and you have a knack for it my dear. <br /><br />-end of excerpt<br /><br />Seriously readers, I think its obvious this I love this marvelous boy and I am so looking forward to sharing another year of his journeys(And of course Mattie's) with you all. <br /><br />Happy 4th birthday to my blonde haired baby boy! I love you always and forever Z!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-92094825386273574252012-02-10T19:22:00.005-05:002012-02-10T19:45:39.032-05:00Cyber-Hibernation<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707672148150851554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbljTwW7f9xLVqr0OHSgnhc0nZ7oIVifqW2SPRGLGC91D-kiLHOxBZBjCms5HrAMrJV50KN_TMEcL32tYvvhu65JYvnvBp8ZUVZuCQdp_fr2Dz3t4aBLeNtQ015xlCKvKmkvsXLuK-cIKg/s400/hibernating-bear.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>So bears hibernate all winter. I have been hibernating for 5 weeks. Seriously, I didn't mean to go into blog shutdown, it just sort of happened. </div><br /><br /><div>First there was a week in January where Wayne was away on business in Aruba...ahem...yes that meant I was home alone with the boys in the tundra while hubby was working (on his tan) and spending quality time with his clients(getting drunk at the swim up bar). After that, there was some much needed family time, and some exhausting days at work, which lead to early nights huddled on the couch. Then there was the fact that there really wasn't much I had to report on. I had cancelled Matt's andnoidectomy since his tube opened up, and the boys were doing the same old same old. I think there were a few weeks when I didn't pull out the camera even. I had unwittingly gone into cyber-hibernation. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I've spent the last month coming online maybe once or twice a week looking at some of my favorite blogs, but slacking on commenting, and just letting the posting pressure go. It has given me some much needed down time, but I realized I am just not ready to let blogging go altogether. I really love the outlet it provides and the fact that I can look back on our days and know just what I was thinking. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>There were a few things I wanted to touch on, like our trip to the Lake House in January, and seeing Zach learning to skate(hysterical), planning Zach's 4th birthday, and some new recipes I've tried and enjoyed lately. So hopefully, my six blog followers, you will come back and share the journey(I suppose I should really start building my blog following) I guess I should start planning a giveaway....now what could I possibly start with? Hum....maybe just maybe, I'll think of something soon! </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-45020187722893654712012-01-09T08:09:00.006-05:002012-01-09T09:01:41.799-05:00Still talking about Christmas...<div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>When we last left off discussing Christmas day. The boys had come home for a nap. Actually if I am honest Mom feel asleep too. When we got up we headed over to Grandma Alice's to hand with the crew. It is always so nice to see my nephews and in-laws, and the boys really love to play together. It seems Zach always needs to sit next to Jason at dinner, because I swear I have pictures of this same scene for the last three Christmases:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695620765179325426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5jsJN7vN7Kc3vEPFDErnhEZVM298TSONHC4jbUgupMk2PZcwak5mCMnC0fW0Zrk-m_v_tJQigSVrdnMiar-BOs9BPz1NNjGYyK0qxJp1qqCTRE1bahf9t2uYzJqO5t2NZeRMPvoRNn5J/s400/DSC00477.JPG" /></div><br /><br />Matt was so excited about the presents that he may or may not have tried to unwrap them all, even other people's, but he was equally excited to look up to his big cousins Jay and Grant. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695620769621111266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei0EcIaUSgItwyqlOXCqv9lIBkdJVbU6B04WbNFOaG4FhtIGNJU20Pgja47uCLNqayFtLHaha_-O5mAkNrPFlV-DNzyeCSDFlodCAlqzVoYHwCTDgBK5jqJonA6uN5_DyfMuGwfqvobYH/s400/DSC00481.JPG" /></div></div></div></div>The boys spent most of the time playing with each other. Of course their was some wrestling, and a whole lot of laughing:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695620775899999618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q5e2Qk3T13By2mXeS_mmlAkZmH0bCeYhhEGTeAwR5yZBtApM2Gf2jBOFYMOEIrUR3oma6K30WL9lyRkj-fdidPE0R1uZaKr6glW1q7rtcu_VvXEV5BSxCa1W9lVBK8SyVZOWEgJyDEqH/s400/DSC00495.JPG" />And after everyone has stuffed themselves full, Matt went into the kitchen and asked Grandma if he could open presents. The boys were spoiled once again. Once they hadn't received from Santa or earlier in the day, they received from Grandma Alice, and their aunts,uncles and cousins. At this point we now officially own all the toys in ToysRUs. They had a great time opening their gifts:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695620808512370690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiM5Rt0HQD91jcpBPu_PuZ5yXbcCdTnaRucybTcATwjW3UCye9pbhtv8_RZGVJAcBXUQv3Tgoy1k00s4RSJLQdOQSuDZV4COtrYY5ouaj9PU-G2ozR2XyxY1Ey295rwP9746-eh-AYNF1X/s400/DSC00504.JPG" />And discussing what they were going to play with first:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695622544298903666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM0QZZSXkydjeGJfhzoYb-ABmWnWJ4s_-H0VCf6SE2AQdAo6lpZxPN8Em_JngyaLMSRv38laXpApZ0LsC8-82VSUuGDkg6sWmvvNqdznWYZJtNVy77UCJvk9i_RSowkCLuS89cPoDI490/s400/DSC00509.JPG" /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p>Zach ripped into the Scooby Doo toys Aunt Lisa spoiled the boys with and hasn't stopped playing with them since:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695622544348669842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VEHhTz9rgDc5pc5HN7FwVQfpLvVIWDPYAzCuljxD4Nf9gxzTtU4kh7SLgvK2BKOhvMxNfE8XvQZmH1c6YVgn3dedDVVquGGeqruUGCtT0Z05qK4iEku6qpRB_KUPUnv-a9m0AQoFwrTx/s400/DSC00517.JPG" />Seriously, my sons are so lucky to have the grandparents they do, and the Aunts and Uncles they do, and their awesome cousins. It was a wonderful early evening, and we were all sad to leave, but we had one more stop that we had to make that day.</p><br /><br /><br /><p>We headed to my parent's annual X-Mas party. This event has been going on Christmas day since 1989. It is always a huge event with both sides of my extended family coming together to celebrate. The kids love it because their are over 20 of them, and the parents love it because we all remember the Christmas' we spent as those kids running together.<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Wayne was happy to get the party started right with a little Grey Goose punch:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695624943974764850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJvxyenRDW0aafMsZpgZWIlr7qtwD8njdH0vtMZ_txc3FPH4dLloNRvAxZSUkD4sw0u2rFTBrCHIXE1ow1xk_4BEYfats0moazjQ8DtghuGvFgAbRCQo8LQClA2rKW5GbZ9nz_x3mepO0/s400/DSC00523.JPG" /></p></div></div></div><br /><br /><p>Zach was thrilled to get back to wrestling with his cousins:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695624948368115634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2woTvbRlNNzEwBJbrmFbHQLUPdnpWOOFwpOLIVrmTabzLyqXYtGu6UW09-x88SuoMaSyH97RdZUZGvXuRGnwPjg1k87eg7D_W9GxMl_nn0xsNa4zwyjHxKLjoTfwHPvKz1Xs1Pezll6y/s400/DSC00525.JPG" />I was really excited to try some of my sister's gorgeously decorated Christmas cookies she made:</p><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695629998903492866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBWwwflYZJTL0y7t6zSAm_f4Gk2zmSvCcZD3_Z_x6pavbbNPru2Peo34JbiTOrrJt8OLHEWyWg4_ULMxLzFK7Ehush81g8Oy-DmCYBsGAoIuxeHcLYZrss2vvGZ6L4uJlJVN3iGfbrMuA/s400/DSC00528.JPG" /><br /><br /><p>The boys however were more interested in playing with the kids:</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695630006325833090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXYPKNuywYIcaXZrSeJFOliUPyZ3wUA0qla6wmrIuBSg2ezHYjmKj5Ohy_caPp4T_8lXi4TuABgzc4AlcBtmMsrp2uyOHr2rz8UUUhcpzXq8r4VG7JvVC9_itssnnbJakh53i2Ffjuel2/s400/DSC00531.JPG" /><br /><br /><p>Matt did take a break to entertain some guests with his piano playing skills:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695630021485229890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Kw7kEL3L7MnB3sm1pYj7_EUuWZFByl_iMh-dF16Q-pMKoIHucBQ2mfBIX-klnhaCD9xMOcFDoyviJTIoKofAyZDBCSqwNxWebH8-5WtJmZTjLQhAuiNsWuayZGF4J16blvB-BrvFbEv/s400/DSC00538.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><p>And we did try to take a family picture:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695630013774705746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwpWo87ir_yAesHjKrnfRKuLjm5RmV5249TWSkhUCXmWtYX-Kj3um9r5POExO9lWDR4ShyphenhyphenX3Lf2CRC6PK6kxP8prLpuvjeXUG7D7jCDav2xp38nRlvIQzRL8yfEKAk3If5k8t6rLmpcue/s400/DSC00534.JPG" /></p><br /><p>The evening ended with a near disaster as one guest accidentally broke the nearly 12 foot Christmas tree. But with some quick thinking and some rope the party went on, and from what I heard well into the morning. </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695630040385509170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rlucSN7Q8S5a7sLsVc1tvgX8fecy17Y1ru9sm23X0Q8sXRnoO7De7l-IfNAWHaQvXZrQcyxgWhyphenhyphendPqzd5DxgcsAm6FUGXeGmlsMnL72IxhPmxXfiXAhc1csRadhRfd9qMK0Ag5OEEco6/s400/DSC00549.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><p>We on the other hand we're tucked in bed by 11 p.m. that night. It had been a long, fun, and memorable Christmas!</p></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-65919670617600905502012-01-02T13:45:00.010-05:002012-01-02T14:49:47.346-05:00Its 2012...Well then I better recap X-mas 2011!<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Of course I am a week overdue on my Christmas posts. It is typical me, but since this week is destined to be super crazy around here, with the return to work and school, I better post now about Christmas or it will be the end of January before anyone sees the pics. Since I took over 200 pictures in a day, I may have to simplify some of the day's events.</div><br /><br /><div>At around 7 am I heard the squeak of my bedroom door opening, and saw Zach coming towards us. I was totally expecting that he wanted to see what Santa brought, but he climbed up into bed with us and asked us to turn on the tv. This little routine, is a weekend treat. It keeps Z content and Mom and Dad get to snooze a bit longer. Both Wayne and I were super excited to see Z's and Matt's reaction, so we asked him what was special about today. He looked at us, and then the lightbulb went off in his head..."Santa came? " We told him we didn't know, so Dad went down to check(ok he really went to get the camcorder ready, turn on the tree, and get the Christmas music on), and Zach and I rushed in and woke Matt up. Zach couldn't get to the stairs fast enough...."He came!" Zach squealed. Matt was still in a semi-coma, but the moment his feet touched the ground he was off and disassembling his stocking...actually it was Z's stocking, but who cares. Here are some pictures of the boys that morning, Mom watching Zach with anticipation open his Hulk toy, the one gift he kept asking for, and Dad doing what Dad's do best on Christmas morning, put together all the new toys:</div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>I know it seems like they are getting along fabulously in these pictures, but there were some wrestling matches over boxes, and fits of who was touching whose gift. All in all, though, once the toys were out, it didn't matter who got what, they both got to play with it all. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693110855223874258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkSxeCAjoqiCK3PPstcOcYI092DKq4_Qb6XDy-50LocO8k_2o23FOLYjakrOfbT6vKZw0xwVHe_07kVTsok0XrkPX7ceNncx6ZSugLR6w-9-5alhsirxTjWMrtEp6P_HLHZCRnMuLqfe/s400/DSC00398.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693110849569683778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzJENrKAuu-N5pxbDrgHozy9HqwE6BMbcV64Vl1j8eosgNKlL_L3q8NHn5Wc9wl6mF-wo4FG99FTYcy13zjpf9AW72l2xjGRH2Kh4Bk35wouX5N4wEAOX-afissVm-h4D86IEGDgeW4yp/s400/DSC00389.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693110888318566834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesBiQFFcv4Utk_PfgKwfCIH0kWpCBsftyFQw8VXes7VtqZnHl-UcPAz2mYtuRDH0VDtf2H1EabMjPR1AOhBUyekg8adPhSGbudBx-pyz6mrqiuyCOSj0e9UbCBebgX8PCaCGxhh_mvogG/s400/DSC00386.JPG" /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>And since he kind of got left behind for all of the other festivities. Here are some pics of Lennie enjoying his new toys on Christmas morning, and playing with his boys:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693112775775263394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ6U4ySAxeSul2DOyiduZanP0dKkgUBL_iN-Re69YBA9ZA7HlhyphenhyphenNb4j7dsMCeEKPDeSOCtKqbuU28J6vv4nRrK4xCB9z-2H3ghkumgkLOx7Ft8mWUk29M17CHFDIhr5-JFanQJlT6ej_T/s400/DSC00415.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693112754377997074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5-XqEwX5Xa16joO5fMoyTQKRr-Mv6onwhJQafCr6Gcl5OYKn4xJNO0W5iiIdJZnDSRAYTzx2T92u0YcIecK3ybCfIMequM29Jys3J2QkrUY-NsaqeTDwesP-VrdCN_wJbFtVvfXkMnC-/s400/DSC00403.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br 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/><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693112698580714818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUCh0ed4-OMlgA8jFWAKdO5KWT7PpPDFAoQEG9u-5Ld0v_eGd1dACO4EqFZs9jlA_LWyN6yGJBEwtgmokNXARY47hXGuwHImatQAGNyqnpMdfKmYIIySbNNMynNdYylhRtplUzMyWPiwn/s400/DSC00382.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Then we were off to my parents house for our annual Christmas morning brunch. Here the boys were snuggled by Papa:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693114282634696578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCWoA43NxoXzDa_iPxTsG2utkJO4Kf7YCaTo-4mHt8SQrDEB6jdRpCqISG_CIxKwe6-syXvhWdcPS4UsQN7GuMmswClvD17zy4kCTatmqt3LQlqnvaF7x8-QYLyLyM9skW-3FgOYXIiLX/s400/DSC00430.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Entertained by Mario Kart:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693114659091726194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mZVcXKTqLgByySTOS8lFYegOBIHsHyI6KE_5pINKOJk5NbSF-wa7UqlZ6Bcm5rvcduwYwlTPUyUh712b3xtBM3l-eJPNFBQVmQLUkx74seXWYLYh6EestDSiOpHdo4K5-Sn_p9609Ilb/s400/DSC00433.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Had some pretty cute ladies around them:</div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693117844770403970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uco9dTNdTpCs3KJ8lrscDbNnvmg7UFSH8npOVZd5BPPAv4X_6od4PcgWjFkHR2CktRl300th3c-NTT5qJ8izop_YsEtNt5xz_hcyDY5nGnAbLijSA9IKdoJxGtBq4PfROK-bJn2EBaRW/s400/DSC00439.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Spent quality time with their aunts and uncles:</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693119166431714130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIHFK7rsvOCv3vMQVZu36Afp2oym_MsODzkMEIsw3KRnaCzGK0ZEI-GyxSADrqIOxFP4BknCugOPQx2XfzqlVBvB7TIHyoaKZU5-ELDF2jnk8ZruVoh6qQYE_d6wrBQMyB9wfxrev7yzG/s400/DSC00445.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693119159100546354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg3Z647w27pJRHksyQwhKcbl05N7NsNQ1qyNchufMjJybU9tnYPfzNq_TEWBU8tHKjvZit7qSfpm_B9jKb13zWbF7StgjbB2k8friHRLigZdkozPi_My7Rg_Uc8n0d-Vd5YerO3C0ptWT/s400/DSC00455.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Ate some great food:</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693119176001041106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo08lcqVa0a_oTW7Gaqol-1LlvT8yYsk3QoCu-f2ZveiF_gK2UMLV0GiyLie5P822g60CV8i10lVElYqL_1jmTf8fVU_M7PJ6e0IhjKk861aVXU_YT1J_Fcrny-RhXGBgGhmnHoxogNhM/s400/DSC00441.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Were super spoiled by Grandma:</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693119193395030514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxeSKBtl_Dp8p6sYsrW1lN_HAheQUpR-PV6sILlsw_IgOiI1SDqSLsN5p_XZ1mN-eLDSiSmkifTNIHMJ23qvjsip5dYopk-hkl0za0QcSEEVvCTUhUdWkuvjmX4KQg17FDYxhLzlR5-_n/s400/DSC00456.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>And were able to play with some of their favorite people:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693119409487559010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Bvtpx8bjJZVZC6Z_6Xj4nZjeAUf1dSBIpaEaoGm9kEtJ1RzxELbSyk9_uhuf5XA26jB6A_6ZAs6sEGSg5CDOktYJiICoE-qSyob14bG5nmmOCx9lIXeqi8uMcLoMfns7e-Tv1jwsr7I/s400/DSC00462.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>And that was all before noon. Then it was home for a nap and off to the next round of parties. But that will have to wait till tomorrow, because nap time is over, and these Christmas gifts need to be played with!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-77306183028300424902011-12-29T21:08:00.011-05:002011-12-29T21:40:53.657-05:00Christmas Eve Pj's!<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>I love Christmas Eve. It must be the traditions. There is something so comforting about traditions and carrying them on. Every Christmas Eve since I can remember my Mom and Dad always gave my siblings and I a new set of PJ's, and a special toy/stuffed animal. My special gift was almost always a stuffed animal, in fact I still have a few of my favorite that were given to me on Christmas Eve, tucked away in one of the boys toy bins. So when I had children I knew I wanted to carry on the tradition. A tradition I still enjoy because my Mom always spoils me with a new pair of PJ's even now that I am "all grown up". For some reason this one gift reminds me that no matter how big I am, or how many years have gone by, I still am their little girl, which is comforting on so many levels. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>This Christmas Eve, my parents came over to our house, as they have since Zach was born, we enjoyed some Chinese food, and watching the boys excitement, and then my Mom gave me my Pj's<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691739469806224018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU5nhQWsmawCeCAU7OkIpCsiRzNqPEnNObCN_5_ZHcwrdan_r_E4WLgWFjNd2mhRb4cRjBLTlsuIfSBlahoQbP3mD4HBkQQbxRqYmvcn3K8lufwiB8o5iJnyYpb-kLYyhNnDxVrWaekGL/s400/DSC00337.JPG" /></div></div>She of course couldn't come without a little something for the boys too:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691739797344900610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoy5jEy7hqh1DQswu5i815V3MJmw5C97aHqOfspj1X264Tt9xxP76CiAlGbUv2cAiWO_J-fBB9hATCMtLhH346d9Ws5bto6CYTyvgWN07o7hTr3FJsPv1LaEQcwDuoCaCsbihxjFjLRpr8/s400/DSC00331.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><p>Another unspoken tradition is that if you love your Christmas jammies, you put them on immediately. Seriously there is footage of me as a kid literally undressing the moment I received them...sort of embarassing, but serious shows my excitement over the Pjs! Unfortunately, my boys were not as thrilled about their Christmas Pj's. They were more interested in the new Geo Trax that Grandma and Papa brought. At first I thought I was the only one who was psyched about the new Scooby Pj's I'd gotten Z, and the footed reindeer Pj's Matt was going to rock that evening. (You'll note in the rest of the pictures, I am wearing my Pj's...traditions are traditions after all, even if I was the only one into it!):<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691741365877864674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCEy7U2dB7nzgA9NsoOIGYaqLOWPCLq3rdWxUTym66F26hhvPpechzLOEyPlEKXynT-Liv_zfd6YrJvhmir8bKbBtJu6bpFLjLIkeaus8LRO-woSz7bHMz-Ba82ChxkznBPvWsTc5RdGk/s400/DSC00345.JPG" /></p></div>Since neither of the boys seemed interested in their Ugly Dolls...I posed for a pic with Dave and Ket:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691741704613289362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_-5yblSRZBcGn1LvOzZ90DgpdfJqVPMzCgTqvwB7rkWE41uYbHqpwbatMFTypHX8ePJ0yRlRl5La6PjC0PdnsNDn3TH36Rj3a5GwAP29vFJ2qDnGiZQpCYxXEZYRzfW4vtiaezXvh0Yp/s400/DSC00350.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Then slowly...the boys warmed up to the idea of getting their jammies on. Zach reluctantly posed for this jammie picture, while Matt refused:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691742372132997170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbUWhi3nZ7USa05FpGcLRWwefX0SFoaSCJm-vJdzL7KSesHyTCnPqDYKoFqj_Ar9qUhDwu8ARRDvQkqEaplrlrgQc5SikHopYmzJ9mptyxK8cUzvzu3n44azSI_Gv9EC1rnqxhssonrkZ/s400/DSC00353.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><br /><p>He was too busy trying to get Papa to play trains with him...or give him his coffee!:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691742380614547970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N9FmaKTwOXlyGGGxdFRzcEnV9t6ri54AKAPkx7QKoYQGcIDUx36dU1RkRC8jqXlI5MFvqgl3NmMLMICk8qC2iQUae0VG7lDJrSmvIN3Y_TwvA2T5KZBKlaHlWrOzJLR7f73H9-HYqrMY/s400/DSC00354.JPG" /></p></div></div>Eventually Matt was willing to do a little posing in his jammies:</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691743029579505346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqktflVcR950QDv-iqgnpP_G5OjlNwBwy8PxG8EfgnTcErKRft9NMwM4PQVM5KzBFfus4Dgj8rHIaaU49N6pcchfvsDEXZQgv-7ojBLNIkIDbVmENUL_8TJnTSSHufjqOxPCHSxi_1P-jf/s400/DSC00358.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>They both were so thrilled to put out the cookies and carrots and milk and water for Santa and the reindeers. Just look at them in their jammies, waiting for the magic of Christmas to arrive! I dare say it might be better to watch that gleam in your child's eyes more than it was to have it in yours!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691743828458845154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZaxuML73BqOokO-KrI8Ql_Vg1KGFYSGns47FFOxX-mSzbv0m84MqdEVUH6FBMraqiWaSVttsWqZR8XaeAqzC-9hBHZqvw0-t1GNj7EKXGwKaHehGCNf0RjsYdn3MByILhdxjmmfjRA_Q/s400/DSC00361.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691743825211833506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOavw-B9b8rdb0hGjlVBLHZodKEb3VSztqxQJHzu1O9_cDH9ksh-hTPcje30Ou6yrZP8XMfjAoPShFjKv2rNoIpl8omc-DtuaWpqv_pgdR0qLtB1PKEqh-S4vj_jEfMqhI-pvclNOQ0pUW/s400/DSC00359.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><p>And while these two slept, Santa did in fact arrive. What a beautiful sight this is to see it all come together. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691743839476013938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins65xz7o_N6Jud4OggWC5fEApEa9mjR7nZG7CTQAThqoehzyTgypxgE35vXOznVWOO07-ABdxkqbkcfbGzl_HEfvIhh-VCrJk-BQvkm7nemAgCOh3X30FPp-oMWt6WCoDrZd1vzOcB4Z3/s400/DSC00365.JPG" /></p><br /><p>(Thanks Mom for taking the pictures, I'm sorry you fell victim to the Mom curse of never being in a photo that night!) Stay tuned for more Christmas fun!</p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-17469485525424156492011-12-23T15:33:00.003-05:002011-12-23T15:43:42.518-05:00Twas the night before, the night before X-masAnd all through the house, preparations were underway, and the stockings were out. <br /><br />I am so excited for Christmas morning this year. Watching the boys react to Santa's visit is pretty much priceless. Now that most of the gifts have been wrapped and only minor matters need to be attended to, I am feeling much more calm about the coming days. I am so sad though that Wayne's Grandma fell yesterday and fractured her hip, needing surgery today. We go there every Christmas Eve, and this year she will most likely be spending her holiday in the hospital. Say a prayer for her. Also, my nephew Grant had his tonsils out a few days ago, and is feeling under the weather today, so hopefully with a little luck he will be on the mend by Christmas. <br /><br />Matt got a bill of clean health yesterday at the Dr's so aside from a cold that I have, everyone in our home is feeling well. I just keep praying that the boys stay healthy so they can enjoy every moment of the next few days. Tomorrow we will get the chance to see some family, and then on Christmas day the non-stop fun begins. It really all goes so fast that if you blink you might miss it. Whatever you are doing, wherever you are, I hope that you are surrounded by the people you love, embrassing the beauty of this season, a miraculous morning, and a silent night!<br /><br />Merry Christmas!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-44614577387561174562011-12-20T21:20:00.003-05:002011-12-20T22:00:49.149-05:00Words you never want to hear...<div>I know I went missing again. There were two really good reasons for that. First I had a ton of grading to get done for the quarter, which I had been procrastinating on. Second there was a lot of illness in my household. First Zach had a bit of the flu, then Matt, than Wayne and then I did. I also had my yearly observation with my administrator the day after I had the flu. All that planning and prep couldn't go to waste so I headed to class, even though I was still not feeling 100% that day. Then came the biggest blow. After almost a month of no ear infections, Matt started grabbing his ear and saying, "It hurts me". I knew what that meant, and as luck would have it, we had a routine checkup with his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pediatric</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ENT</span> that day. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Off we went, just my little tough guy Mattie and me. I hate to think that pain is something he's gotten used to in some way, but the truth is, this boy has had over 13 ear infections since Feb 11, and he has had tubes since June...still 6 ear infections since then. The tubes have been a blessing in so many ways, even though they didn't help to lower his risk of ear infections, they did help him to hear in a normal range, which means he's verbally all caught up. I love his little voice and hearing him tell me, 'Sit down Momma" when he wants to snuggle on the couch. His "special ears" as I call them have changed him. He went from being the most easy going one year old, to a pretty needy toddler. He is used to getting his way, and since he's been ill, I've given it to him. Don't get me wrong he's a sweetheart too, but when he wants something, he can be relentless. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Every time</span> he starts to get into a normal routine, he's grabbing his ears, and I know we are headed for trouble. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>So we went. And we did some tests. And it turns out that Matt had a plugged ear tube, and that an infection was trapped behind it. My smart little man, knows already that pain in the ear, means nothing good for him. The Dr. gave me some antibiotics, some special acidic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ear drops</span> to "try to open the tube" and told me it was time to think about our options. So here they are:</div><br /><br /><br /><div>1. Hope that the drops open the tube, and they don't need to go in to replace the tubes</div><br /><br /><br /><div>except</div><br /><br /><br /><div>2. Obviously there is something going on in this situation because he is still getting chronic ear infections, so it may be time to take his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">adenoids</span> as well</div><br /><br /><br /><div>except</div><br /><br /><br /><div>3. He will need yet another surgical procedure done which will require <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">anesthesia</span>, and should be done ASAP, as we do not want to risk <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">permanent</span> damage to his hearing. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>except</div><br /><br /><br /><div>4. We just had him go through an ordeal of getting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">blood work</span> done, a shot to try to boost his antibodies, and now that seems useless</div><br /><br /><br /><div>except</div><br /><br /><br /><div>5. His Dr's office seems to think we should consider removing his tonsils too</div><br /><br /><br /><div>except</div><br /><br /><br /><div>6. Taking out a child's tonsils is a more extensive recovery time, and do I really want to put a 2 year old through this procedure when he has never had a problem with his tonsils?</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Except</div><br /><br /><br /><div>No....I don't want my baby to have to go through this, through any of these procedures. I don't want to think about him being scared, or hurt, or feeling pain. I don't want him to have "special ears", except, I didn't get to pick and I know I should be thankful that this is heath burden in our family instead of something more "serious"</div><br /><br /><br /><div>except-</div><br /><br /><br /><div>He's MY baby</div><br /><br /><br /><div>and I think its unfair that he will have two surgeries, even if minor, in less than 7 months. I also think its unfair that there is no guarantee that this will solve anything if we go through with it. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>So truth. I am frustrated. I am scared. I am trying to be the most educated advocate I can be for my son, who although he is "young and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">resilient</span>" and "probably won't remember" is my one and only Matthew. I get freaked thinking about the what <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ifs</span>. I want to do what is right by him always, and I can't ask him weigh in, I am the Mom, I am supposed to know what to do. And I do....its just I don't want to do it. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>This week. I want to focus on the magic of childhood, on the smile on his face when he sees his presents, on the light in his eyes as he laughs, on the fact that every part of him is special, not just his ears, and I will try to look to the New Year hopeful instead of defeated, and find faith that someone little, but fierce, will not allow any ear pain to take away his spirit of joy. I mean seriously...this boy loves to be happy...so hopefully his ears get that memo!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 392px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688410808878044178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaCdg_IuukhkwJhoPuGQ5cMaePM8EFN8R9swOMN7Jhyphenhyphen4cdDw30fBNx2JwxdMmHsDczJu4TfpNy1NqK5zu_pF3Hm_Tl_Q2OK0A5svmAtHUV8UCtm8dQ34kqq-onBE89FaoXbrxDDfoHP_C/s400/DSC00287.JPG" /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-91974846206281881032011-12-18T20:37:00.003-05:002011-12-18T20:39:58.920-05:00Life is Messy...<div>During this time of year, everything just gets a little messy:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687647925501785810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkICjRT0M5A4ttH-TfnTOXxsR1S0MddQqfJRJDzL2kiw94EP1cXgWocPFiYkmmU7OJbq0-m4IBW7BueWKKfA517Os0SoqTM6IsJLsXUOrCM0-8QY2ggdi-ZbAC9_pTLJxM7fcop6b6Na4P/s400/DSC00318.JPG" /></div><br />And I think its WONDERFUL! Hope you all are enjoying this last week of crazy prep before the frenzy of Christmas morning!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-7560431997027311402011-12-08T19:41:00.007-05:002011-12-08T20:41:19.226-05:00Our Top Five Nighttime Books...<div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>These books are nearly nightly reads around here. One of the things they all have in common is that they are focused around bedtime, well almost all of them. Both of the boys enjoy these books, and I always feel like you can't have enough help in getting kids to settle in. So here they are, five of our must read before bedtime stories:<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 343px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683925281743689442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbW3ZD-eCsnqVufBNRFrX5wePHS_BeB6VhSxgwn1cPTI1rd7gU7jZnSQgEwGv9S-76-lNEVXcW5rvw1Z5ootEUFsakaF9UDwa10Eq_FhVrWwOSwcAjNK9AzGodFTpP9oIlRsarBGLCtte/s400/Goodnightmoon.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This book is a classic apparently even though it is NOT one that I remember from my childhood. Both Z and Matt have had this book read to them since they were infants...in fact I am pretty sure Zach can recite most of it by heart. I know its a story I've memorized after the millionth read. NOTE: I wish looking back I'd bought the Board book version, our is torn and falling apart from overuse. Maybe Santa will bring a fresh copy!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683926113693175250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgzSP2EnpHK5SG1jdZdiWpEYMbRtZTNAN05f24kfFlTm536T9BX7F7VUCmLRJ3Qr5kgxG90JYdtlbS52aWqLbXI-MJNt47sAqdBX_Zh0DryP3NY3GblTbAScIGse8Wws_uu-zxRTuzv5K/s400/TheGoingToBedBook.jpg" />I read this book to both of the boys when they were in utero, and hundreds of times since! I can recite it at the drop of a dime, and it never gets old. There is something so charming about these little pajama animals. The only part of the book I still can't figure out is why they take a bath, and then go up to exercise! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 387px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683927313782056754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggENmYBPilsAFfVvEzeTg19pg2zuaEPz59Ll6-59YyTmyN6xgvtLNWdM4gE0b2kjfSZevm8MaFYjCrUFNvV_C9kSCKUWkXDzSfmFQIadP1qbRdXlIYFs1h1isZE_e7V_9i-bGsvhbExFb6/s400/llama-llama-red-pajama.jpg" /><br />This book is one of Matt's favorite. He has been saying Llama since he was about 1 1/2 which is just adorable! Speaking of adorable... I absolutely love this wide eyed little llama. We also have some other llama books, but this is one of our favorites. The illustrations are beautiful and it has the perfect ending of letting the main character settle in and drift off to sleep!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683928404459491730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9VkZ2Btyyp3VCUMB2sPoAAwDvuetRIgyvvAP339SE_268L-V6PqBwZIh-YCbr0ToU8VxUIhbp-rdtguiZN9CdGYoLLXWdJhyphenhyphenni_ITsDew_jCNoYCrO92USa9WGlsr5TRkOq05BMk3YKs/s400/Will+you+please+go+now.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br />Marvin K is another family favorite. Both of the boys have always enjoyed this imaginative story where a little boy rides bumbleboats and on a lion's tail. When it comes to reading a children's book, Dr Seuss is a must!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />And finally: </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683936193517916658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc1-UZQqnfeqrHplmXiWxKymASPIQ6SMaSkBVTkMVlybd3bFaVFJJcTHZpSCytWOUsdaaNyIBXN1Zt06Ox04kxbY57rs-dj2I4WSCzCKNaTYZrcDYbZOOlgrHtEeq6Hv4Jbjch6gzLyqE/s400/hulkbook.jpg" />This probably wouldn't make everyone's top 5, but it makes Zach's! He absolutely loves anything Hulk and it is the one book he picks out of the masses at least 5 times a week. I guess it goes to show when they have a passion go with it!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm always looking for great bedtime stories, so please post a comment with your top choices, so I can add to our ever growing collection!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-70329207041475003152011-12-05T19:50:00.003-05:002011-12-05T20:01:42.693-05:00Visiting Santa!<div>Yesterday we went to get the boys pictures taken for the X-mas cards. I am actually usually done ordering them by now, so the pressure was definitely on. Zach and Matt were told that if they took nice pictures they could go see Santa. Zach was thrilled by this prospect even though I can't say it improved his willingness to take pictures. Matt was a little less than thrilled by the whole concept. Not only was he terrified of the photographer, he was shrieking whenever we put him anywhere near the guy in red. After what seemed like a twenty minute struggle between Matt vs both me and Wayne, we relinquished the idea of getting any picture of Matt with Santa this year. So while Matt hid himself on our shoulders, Zach talked Santa's ear off. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Its funny because I remember that Zach has NEVER wanted to sit on Santa's lap before. For the last few years, he flat out refused. This year it was a whole different story. He seriously was so pumped to get his opportunity to chat up Santa, and ask him directly for his Hulk toy, that he probably would have sat there all day. Here he obliged the elves with a "cheese" smile, no bribery required! This is my big boy who is sooo smart and imaginative he makes this most wonderful time of the year truly magical. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682813861268638994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72m9ydvqM8NY8TjYPqDwzNYfd7iyUk3VswyGFWjC6bhGGx-SuB46BnTE0t50W6f0C9KIpZIgU07boPZI6hms3oj9smCyBvrlHstR3ie7RKshMVnn_8Om_KhyWrYj-PijEQNC6ff0BbhRh/s400/IMG_9999-2740.JPG" /></div><br />Maybe next year we will finally be able to get a shot of BOTH boys sitting with Santa....a mother can only dream!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-25917416763608715512011-12-04T09:08:00.001-05:002011-12-04T10:45:56.832-05:00Toys for Boys- Our Top 20!<div>I kid you not, my sons have a lot of toys. I mean they are everywhere in the house. They are in baskets, they are in bins, they are upstairs, downstairs, outside and in! It is sometime overwhelming especially when they tend to play with all the things that aren't "toys", or in ways that the toys were not designed to be played with. Creative, definitely! Frustrating, sometimes! There are hundreds and yes I DO MEAN HUNDREDS of toys in my home. (I am counting all of the Little People individually of course!) Its funny, but when I go to put something away, Zach and Matt decide that they really want to play with that toy. Funny...or they are both genius! With Santa and grandparent and auntie and uncle santas on the way, it is time for some major reshuffling. I know that we are about to get an influx of new toys, but all of the following are stables around our home. They are the toys that both boys flock to on a regular basis, and when you have hundreds of toys to choose from I'd say that makes them very special. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>The Fisher Price IXL-</div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682282253133022914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TCBc5PyROgc1fEYlcQ22hXHNoJ2RIy-Poi4nV0nLuATxkJbn3blOMvgj3CA8BdY6iiH2WCxodWdgzrZKUu95oxGiDnXPfs3A9oq0Y9Han7AeEYik6dnwNxZas-cyY_OVEvZQHGe6mke5/s400/ixl.jpg" /> Both Zach at four, and Matt at two play with this toy. I like that it is educational, they like that they can "read" books and paint pictures. Sometimes I think they just like that it plays music too. The only downfall to this toy is that the batteries need to be replaced often from too much use!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Melissa and Doug Puzzles- </div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682281631099307330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DC0_HmZjuUWGSX26LhIyxdzJKHTy1kbq9WU0SsDBKhWIVgEglBuLAoiFy_ZmhRtadXqwScxK4QL_yvoY5qdAQ3OR49nzb-Gq6yTPFxjbwd6ttvorhbJszkWQ0J7vDxbiJVOJuuN_38Ee/s400/sealife+puzzle.jpg" /> I have always been a fan of Melissa and Doug toys. I have a lot of the chunky wood puzzles, but Zach prefers these now. I think the images are beautiful and the boys really enjoy trying to put them together. This is not quite a toy that either boy can do completely by himself, but I look at that as a plus rather than a minus</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>The Fisher Price Town<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682281365215231842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxo9c-JeXvOqyVTjf2FCGLthwP2R_u7H1SwYaAVLUaWUzQhcUKdTKVmlxA_APNsbr_EfSb0FAKidH3Ke4WGkjzwHC7hhifYplxhQnxhTlGZaIP1Qd72gz0u05BdqBWFTqKZ-0MoT89EJi/s400/fisherprice+town.jpg" /> I have had this toy since Z was one. He has played with it in many ways throughout the years. He and Matt both enjoy putting the "apples" into the tree which counts to them. I really like that they both can play with it at the same time. It seems simple in design, but there are songs, and games to play, and best of all it fold away for easy storage!<br /><br /><br /><br />Angry Bird Plush- <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682280476889942658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmvb0rAlEtpg2_RPceQq4g-O0e6P8Y4s4BaTlInWiBbi7kzTLeVoccZ4mg0qADGh1pz4-Ug-pd7LlqJpVHhorpgST_KUcbqguiWD_w0-ndMTsB9vUfLsQcuDXcPaagei0RuVy_bBO65D5/s400/angry+birds.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />I always loved stuffed animals as a kid, and my boys seem to be following suit. While Matt loves to walk around with his Elmo, both boys find it fun to throw these birds all around the house and at each other. They hide them everywhere, and Zach will even set up pillows and try to kill the pigs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Geo Trax-<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682277877530641650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ij7kcy1YIhrTMTHA81AoQJQiZZ0DA_mJy-5B91yiExfIdP97IU6ZA1O6a09NUA7m2basbDWV1eoiSMxcMvvJr-JnM2GWGeUfzxgafXwkM0xHYefFLKVfXYtX1pghVvfTgliHDr7W8slK/s400/geotrax-train-set.jpg" /><br /><br />There is something fascinating about trains to little boys. While the boys have a great collection of Thomas the train toys, lately they have seemed more interested in trains that they can control rather than push. I know that they will be excited this Christmas when they add to their Geo trax collection<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>Imaginarium train table-<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682277537917780514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyDdjlZZpd7st5TPjW10ElYXNTQ1bCY-GJH2NiszmFQXTrtQYvY0yElNnv89p6bDylu9G33P680ilz3smKgZM_sSt9Yw78CoQvSCOAE9yQ7FEqNO3ou7eQi_-Edkd6cv-Mhjcn8s-oTEn/s400/train+table.jpg" /> I love this train table. Ironically it sits in my living room/aka playroom almost like a coffee table. The set is gorgeous and so worth the money. I had to put the set away for awhile, because Matt was tearing apart the track everyday, but the boys still use the table for the trains, or trucks. I have caught them trying to use it as a dance floor too...see what I mean about toys being used in ways they are not intended.<br /><br /><br /><br />Tonka trucks-<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682277534155196018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w4ofcE7ljNUlY6bFkn6ygXP8NLlmRzzm6xWD8YCERIKOJtD0aKFlXJM6_1m2kbJsr0v7B348uus5cvJ8ViaSWzlIghUCz1iyMkQZ8j6GfCmIIp_UhPP_ivli1y6WTNFFMlPmUTeE5iBK/s400/tonka+fire+truck.jpg" /><br />Trucks in general seem to be a big hit these days with the boys. The great thing about this truck is that is large enough for the boys to push around without by bending over instead of crawling on the floor. This truck is great too because the ladders some out, but be careful sometimes that leads to ladder fights. Honestly if you have two sons, I recommend getting two of these trucks. My boys seems to fight a lot these days over who had this toy first. I certainly hope that getting another big toy truck of somekind is on Santa's list!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Sport Balls/Bouncy balls-<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682276914871881554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht84A_wB42d3RuYvw7IvajWuV2zPe97ugBuQ9zuScSvzFlqsjcMZiWViuWFtxfw0qGkhkle1nMKKvf41UTxRy0sklnz9d_4R8JO0Gu-z4PfTo9pfxWAfmKmpt4iM2x0rK5IiXA1wgOdC8U/s400/sportballs.jpg" /><br />There is a reason that sports are a billion dollar industry, and I have a pretty good understanding that it stems from a boys love of balls! Seriously some of the most played with things in our house are plastic balls we picked up for a dollar. The boys love playing catch, and they also like learning about how to play sports. If you have a little boy to buy for these season, trust me, they will love a ball. I don't know why, they just do!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>Play-Doh-<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682276910632437714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqWbrPlWwuz1zwN_zWYEHNl_Cq_roAnL_XDnNKOClu4qG1eZfP3BlWJnFWzaYszFQZJa-oQcH0BAlCHdLPM4B0VL4PX1EgKJVvi5xe-JFmez6B92DKOKKJ-5BnfkLCBvqLuU1JM7Quha7/s400/sesameplay+doh.jpg" /> Matt recently got this set for his birthday from his Aunt Penny and both of the boys really love it. They are Play doh fanatics, and while I hate cleaning it up, I love that they are amused and creative for 20 minute stretches of time. It is a great activity for dinner making time, because it keeps them in the kitchen with me, but also allows them the freedom to create. My one piece of advice though is be sure to buy plah-doh scissors...just be sure you have one pair for each kid. Oh and if you don't want all brown playdoh...only give them one color at a time!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Rock and Roll Elmo-<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682276902275906834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN26-BsW8fGqWgJNZpEogeYmgZUTr-UN29l_6cx1tDiGB_ZzZb5pjbBWKcE9mrCPqYu7Fe9_8SpAIM8mfQ8yiPPt0s1FEEtZhVoJlFBD97OucCkaD6oeVx1va3qegJuUKdLNLNJK7Z6er/s400/rock-and-roll-elmo.jpg" /> I have to say my boys love all animated toys. They have a Hulk, a Mickey Mouse, and two Elmo dolls and they really play with them all. My parents got Matt this beauty for his birthday, and it is super cool. He likes to sing the ABC's with him and also play one of the extra instruments. If your kids like to sing and dance like mine do, this is a great toy!<br /><br /><br />A play kitchen with grill -<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682293224365071554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmMpjppulzc4d1fqFb1eRR28RnDcNKO8SD4Mj9EGIFedYI499za9JiPRCUErCxWfHGYbDn7RBaBm19YPPmgX5FszxHBFZosy61o-m8ZLXmaVazYp6wcjBYFgAf3F783CZ0UlihsCEyfuG/s400/playkitchen.jpg" /><br /><br /><div><br /><br />I am so glad that I bought a play kitchen for Zach when he turned 1. It has been one of the greatest toy purchases I've made. My husband fought me a bit claiming that a boy didn't need a play kitchen, but compromised on getting one with a manly grill! HA! Seriously the boys really like playing with this toy, and often take the basket liners and put them on their heads as chef hats. They like to bring us lunch, or grill up everything in the fridge! Even if you have all sons, I would say, buy a kitchen...this thing gets used at least once a day!<br /><br />Play food with velcro-<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682279930272707826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hQDeIcV6Fuj8YwLkp0pFE903hP4v0u4jcDWubtyHUxqeoxtd9aoj-etVaZBtpEoKfMgPkNFKSJT8RvKyarfNrlYVPC-PVsOkhdFOUhEnEHhqmzdMwTPfxPbrlMRKUcWszmxuBmHTxyXm/s400/playfood.jpg" /><br /><br />When you get a play kitchen don't forget to buy some food to stock the pantry. One of my favorite sets has velcro that attaches the food together, it makes a really cool sound when you cut the vegetables. Also I prefer the plastic food to the wood food, only because my boys have been known to have a few food fights!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />Nerf guns-<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682276342066948082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3Ns5YkHO6iBfZbEzDZoBPiC50D5nuNPegfawHpgxQ-YuGoExwc6PEccKY3qomvtRRev7NaOfJ35-dr-shatW8RMrPcSlvyPHZhY5_9b5szDH2Nc7kHKU66kxTm9_za6dMd7XzmQFwL5N/s400/nerf+gun.jpg" />Belive it or not, my boys love nerf guns! I know shocking right? I am surprised with how capable they both are at loading the guns and figuring out how to cock the gun- Matt needs some help. These toys have created a lot of wonderful Daddy/son moments. I think the boys like them so much because Wayne loves to pull them out when we are outside, or inside and things need a little bit of action!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Board Games/Action Games<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682276334085924562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOhnPFMBG17VTD8vDOF8Upgziasf0MOcDfPth84xQGmzi9tMTs4zgNGwdOgP1Em-w75EbhXbJ0DwrhtirPPwhQIE2OLkhCsALXVRRUwEq3a7LCKedkEIkjmOTEvUflGDqj930o_EKpIVG/s400/fishing+game.png" /><br /><br />This game is one of the boys favorites. They love to take the fish out and play with them. We don't necessarily follow the directions, but they both can play together, and they both seem to really like that the game is interactive. Lately Zach has been more and more interested in games, and Matt is always close behind. Another big favorite in our home is the Angry Bird Game. The boys just like to play with the birds for the most part, although Z likes setting up the blocks too!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div>Lego Duplo Sets-<br /><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682275603459715634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse5ngzi7td2zWQhUNcyXEEsJbSrvJKllaYW9p_1Wy66kywGmxI4t2HCkMhq93BBNliwmT5rTzHfAllSJ99SA9RSE22nRDKRlrXE7yMm0JACD6d-5cs1-l6VrQOBf7vdyi_qdgDpbiH89S/s400/duplofire.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Kids need blocks. We have a lot of cool kinds. We have Bristle Blocks and Mega blocks, but the boys seem to really enjoy the Lego Duplo blocks. They are big enough that both can manipulate them and they come in some really cool sets. One of the boys favorites is this fire station set. They like the little cars and people that come with them, and also the siren!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Play tent-<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 368px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682275600101724722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83xm_mquFKt2l9dcvPYRFU_nhaX-TDEKCvpPH2zCanMkqQIIatCc8HKmX-Z6CYZIKVEw7v0m7_Na53hoEj-sJaceqgCNwp4zWMuwAgs10MRwf56uYowe8E-iGdmLXWmF3HWZr0lxsD1aX/s400/clubhouse+playtent.jpg" />Every kid needs a fort/hideout! These cool little tents set up in seconds and they allow the boys to feel like they are hiding. Our current tent is too small for both the boys, so this Christmas one of the other Santas are getting them a bigger one! They will be so thrilled I'm sure, and I can only imagine they will spent hours playing together inside. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Superhero toys-<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682277532203656930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN3V9kl1r6q0F1gSXx0lpCH5j_5y9_0Em42_mbsBTEZHGX2FgS7Tt4qTpKAeAg8DDpYXtxz7IxUXsOe5Ile0YvBEhmDb96F2L47BAg8ONQIUQAY2gLIEx9isdZBpCXJwIXIMT-SMqopIz/s400/superhero+toys.jpg" />If you have sons, chances are you have superhero toys. Zach loves them all, especially the Hulk and Matt even knows them by name now. Playskool makes some really cute sets. The boys like to add these heros everywhere around the house. They often are found tucked away in vehicles I find in the kitchen or under the Christmas tree!<br /><br /><br /><br />Imaginext Batcave-<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1AMAMssInjWsPpGPOEpxcp4kL4obyb8YPw_KHhw9BbEto0uMJcTIBvm2kOtc0NJJz52VUk5fEREoSz5vRWD2cK5kiXQHvOhp2RaGpTxVnl6wj47iZPjYDC1slGe4nDlovZIyCYOTpfqF/s1600/imaginext+batcave.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682275596154526994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1AMAMssInjWsPpGPOEpxcp4kL4obyb8YPw_KHhw9BbEto0uMJcTIBvm2kOtc0NJJz52VUk5fEREoSz5vRWD2cK5kiXQHvOhp2RaGpTxVnl6wj47iZPjYDC1slGe4nDlovZIyCYOTpfqF/s400/imaginext+batcave.jpg" /></a> We have a lot of great Imaginext toys, but the favorite by far seems to be this Batcave. Maybe its the fact that the Superheros have a home, or maybe its because there are cool nooks to hide guys in. Whatever the reason, this is one of Z's favorites!<br /></div><br /><div>Musical toys- The Bee Bop Band<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni7vY4lMqN3qJ-MeHw9yObjCvetBVAPNMmlvpzR9sSP3xDRW_SbjjHQVptv9abW0DflO6fg9QPs6cMnBFm8p9G4TqBHnBbuSWgAPRsXVFIfnhK2c7oQoj-Wj9ENdvZIeT25M0W8V7kwUD/s1600/beebopband.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682275594552082354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni7vY4lMqN3qJ-MeHw9yObjCvetBVAPNMmlvpzR9sSP3xDRW_SbjjHQVptv9abW0DflO6fg9QPs6cMnBFm8p9G4TqBHnBbuSWgAPRsXVFIfnhK2c7oQoj-Wj9ENdvZIeT25M0W8V7kwUD/s400/beebopband.jpg" /></a> This toy is the one that started it all. Both of the boys love musical instruments and now we have plenty. Not only do they still play with this set, but it inspired Z to get a drum set, and Grandma Alice to buy them a baby grand toy piano! We love our musical instruments, and if you are looking for a musical toy to give a child over 12 months this would be my recommendation!<br /><br /><br /><br />The Ipad 2-<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicncu0ZffkjCpC00GhgBmg6OS266bhrCl0c3zTozhYqCQTONZC4fhmLbnFHHdN-fL8vFwAJbJGFOiRWgzgvGjchjSE5suL1DZo1Tw03wYVBIVs3oP3dtCLw4TIw-eAxis-kthD6RU9SazE/s1600/apple-ipad-2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682275589877825634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicncu0ZffkjCpC00GhgBmg6OS266bhrCl0c3zTozhYqCQTONZC4fhmLbnFHHdN-fL8vFwAJbJGFOiRWgzgvGjchjSE5suL1DZo1Tw03wYVBIVs3oP3dtCLw4TIw-eAxis-kthD6RU9SazE/s400/apple-ipad-2.jpg" /></a><br />No this is not the boys toy technically, but if you do have one, download some apps and let the kids play. Both of the kids love reading books on the Ipad and playing word and matching games. It can be a great educational tool, and in this tech savvy world, its important to teach your kids how to use and gather information. We also love our itouch because its portable and it is our main source for our dance music. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So there you have it...20 of our most used toys. I should disclaim that both of my boys love to look at books too, but I think I will save those for a separate post!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-68023722284910254492011-12-03T10:51:00.002-05:002011-12-03T11:36:59.253-05:00The Holiday Hustle and Bustle!There is something so magical about the Holiday Season. Maybe its the lights that sparkle in and around the houses, or maybe its the excitement I see in Zach's eyes everytime Santa is mentioned. (Matt is still a little too young to get the full understanding) Actually, I am trying to convey the real meaning of Christmas to Zach this year- that this season is about more than presents under your tree. Its tricky stuff- religion and kids. Sometimes I feel I've waited too long to take them to church, other times I think that Zach's already creative mind might be overwhelmed by too much information. I mean the kid had me explaining where blood is in our bodies this morning. <br /><br />Anyways, I just love this time of year. I love watching all of the classic Christmas cartoons I watched as a kid. I love curling up on the couch nestled under a blanket with my hubby, and a warm cup of hot cocoa in my hand. I love the way the first snow sparkles in the sunlight, and I love watching Zach and Matt trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. I love the week long reprieve I get from my job as a teacher, and cherish waking up to morning after morning when my priority for the day can be completely focused on being Mom. I love that every day is filled with anticipation, and everyone is so much kinder. I love the way people find charity for others this month, even if they live all 11 other months in oblivion. I love the songs on the radio, and dancing in my kitchen with my boys. I love the promise of seeing family often, and the smells of Christmas cookies baking in the oven. I love the taste of those cookies a whole bunch too. I love the idea of taking a drive to look at Christmas lights with the boys, and the prospect of building our first real snowman together. I love it, I love it, I love it. <br /><br />And yet this month is constant hustle and bustle. I know I have a million moments plotted in my head that probably will have to wait. I have tried to finish all my shopping before December struck, and for the most part I did. So I will not be out in holiday lines, I will not be panicked that a package will not arrive in time, I will not be spending my December evening online shopping instead of snuggling. I will not be involved in that hustle and bustle. Instead my hustle and bustle will be making sure Christmas cards get sent, gifts get wrapped, cookies get made, family traditions are carried out. <br /><br />But the most important thing I will do this month is hustle and bustle to make sure my boys feel the magic of this season. I will take them to the Christmas parties, I will take them to see lights, I will tell them stories every night, and watch a million movies I'v seen a million times before. I will sing the same Christmas song 30 times a day, I will let them frost cookies, even though they will mostly frost themselves. I will take them to festivals, and out in the snow, even though I have always hated being cold. I will hide our elf Durley every night, even though most days I am so tired, that its the last thing I want to do before bed. I will talk about Jesus and hope that they learn it, and I will listen to their hopes for what Santa might bring them. I will try to capture all of these moments, and record them for them. I will take them to spend time with family and friends, and I will continue to encourage them to be kind. I will do the extra shopping for their teachers, and I will bring treats to their class. I will remember to listen to them, to stop the hustle and bustle of the world, and sit with them and be present. I will be their playmate, their teacher, their champion, their nurturer, and this month their Santa. Some people might not like the hustle and bustle of the season, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-82515115625499945972011-11-21T20:48:00.004-05:002011-11-21T21:21:28.225-05:00Happy 2nd Birthday Matthew!<div><br /><div>Sometimes it seems impossible that this little baby:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677631894249357282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjRErE7Am5vP3s6otaS2Lj6MteFTLJPnxu8yLux_yRxix2UQzc9vqGSy13cQ0myef4wZGoia8cpGrsT54AUhSwGihWC2akPWSe-mtDovMVx7i7oZvQ2duKEXajrEogVuRguJ2-vDtV8gE/s400/DSC04133.JPG" /></div></div>Is now this 2 year old little boy:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677632264619253442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qqh-VXh5cdB9AAz4V_xSowJNHOWLNHTywgNk9_nDA-F96CUEdATUutvOhFABhFbU8QBgkf1J_hYeI3THj8pCZ-HF3VzTJUdVRN9tt22_WM3seYhGu82vDG1TJPcmG1TrV1zoulBb05HL/s400/DSC00077.JPG" /><br /><br /><p>I swear some days its seems like yesterday I was in the hospital lamenting how I was going to mother two boys under the age of two and others moments its felt like every day was two years. Truthfully those looong days usually come with an ear infection attached, but they have been far too many in the last 10 months. I am so glad that Matt was feeling well on his birthday, and so excited to see him running and playing without a care in the world. I love it when he is happy, because when Matt is smiling, its damn near impossible not to smile too. This is a wonderful quality except when he's smiling as he's jumping off of the furniture! Although I was going to post the pictures from his party, I think I will save that and talk about my baby boy instead. </p><br /><p>Matt is a hurricane of activity. He likes to go go go, and he likes to go where he wants to go. Stubborn through and through, and sweet as can be. Matthew is a daredevil at heart, a real rough and tumble kind of boy, and he is constantly surprising us with the new words he says. Matt's best friend is definitely "brother" and try as I might to get him to call Zach by name, he still prefers to refer to him as brother. It is actually so magical to watch the two of them together....well about 80% of the time. The other 20% looks like head locks, pushing, punching, and antagonizing each other, but I'll take those odds in a sibling relationship any day! This past year has been trying on my baby, he went into daycare, had a series of ear infections, surgery, and more ear infections, and yet he always seems to try to make the most out of his days. He is obsessed with Sesame Street, and only recently started watching television for any length of time. </p><br /><p>At two Matt is taller than his brother was... and just now getting any sort of substantial hair. He is charming and cuddly, and he loves to be "uppie" I sometimes say he is my two year old three month old, because he wants to be held more now than he ever did as a baby. Matt is trying hard to learn all of the big boy ways. He drinks out of cups, can undress himself, tries to put his shoes on, demands to sit at the table, walk in the stores, and be independent whenever he can. He enjoys building a lot and play-doh immensely, and he is one to "colour" whenever he gets the chance. His favorite activities are dancing in the kitchen and singing in the car to Laurie Berkner songs, his favorite of which is "oh ah" as he calls it. If Matt can be outside he's happy, and if he can be swinging he's thrilled. He really loves slides, balloons and bubbles, and trying to play catch or his own game which involves throwing balls in the air, and having them bop him on the head. </p><br /><p>For the most part Matt is easy-going when he's well. He's demanding, but worth it. I know he is head-strong, determined, and smart. I can't imagine what this next year holds as far as his development, except to say that as he start to talk more and more we all better watch out. He will definitely speak his mind, but I doubt he will talk constantly, only because he likes to listen, access, and then take charge. Matt is adorable, and shy at times. He doesn't love to be the center of attention like Zach, unless its in his own home or his comfort zones. He likes to explore, and he likes to push limits. Some of this is his age, other aspects are his personality. He constantly does silly things and asks "I funny Momma" which is super sweet even when what he is doing is trying to climb on the kitchen table. Matthew is my baby boy, and no matter how old he becomes, he will always have the most impressive dimples and breathtaking smile. He is impossible to stay angry at long, and he is sweet in all the best ways. He is loving and giving, and concerned about the people he loves. I am so proud of the little man he is, and while he can be challenging at times, there will never be a moment that I don't feel blessed by having had the honor of being his Momma! Happy 2nd birthday Matthew! I am so excited to watch you grow and learn, and so lucky to be able to relish in your charm! I love you!</p><br /><p></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-72029933034648301242011-11-20T18:42:00.008-05:002011-11-20T20:28:28.902-05:00Broken Arms and Chocking Hazards...<div><br /><br /><div>See these two? </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677229827483440866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8LCSSbQ8IYWG7DOOoKV6WNbYIz2ysrw6oVuqMcXhTKbDazf6j5_H0dKSZo2O3SO7XYcDmx95vMTv_SXptHS6UXqwhgyGO6hyphenhyphen_1MxyI8QAschAhKKoCIhFGXbktyQzCiWiLOqjYtwhgYN/s400/DSC00028.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><p>This week, one broke their arm and the other almost choked to death. </p><br /><br /><br /><p>No, I am not being dramatic, I wish I was. See the cast??? This "lovely" little red thing is on Jack's left arm. </p><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677231650127802114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3nDTls5qpcrmdUi_lIKGkvLXZKtlB-4-CuS2WWE_ZVH0mqujAbCsWbbukChqZ9MgfhnoDdL86r7c9XGb2gEnq_SJHL50ktb-LKFdwC7Ogg2lSNywKS5V0yYE30mwFgTih6UITtRHFi-p/s400/DSC00030.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><p>And see these Dots? </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677230721185625202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQjKD_eX9GDhG51vHiyOSpTPOPfER45Te7uPftJr9lLSnn2dq9lleBQkSj4sq4Z4bfWgTcTE5DRfSbItdVJ4c7hMQGb-Zy4o538uDthHvyN28Vl0cPMW3WYVL1MH1ew6lfw6nakJelL4R/s400/dots.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>One of them was lodged in Z's airway on Friday night.</p><br /><br /><p>It's been a bizarre week. On Thursday Jack had the day off of school and stayed at Grandma's for the day. He loves going to my Mom and Dad's house because they pretty much do anything he asks them to. So when Jack suggested they "wrestle" my Mom oblidged him. Apparently they were pillow fighting as well, and as Jack ran towards my Mom, who had been catching him when he came near all the times before, he stumbled at a full run, outside of her reach. He must have landed just right, because he cracked his bone clear across his left forearm. My Mom says she knew immediately because it just "looked wrong", but it was her first experience with a kid breaking a bone "on her watch". She raised all three of us without incident, but Jack has a remarkable way of being the first! Jack is such a trooper, he seriously only cried when it happened, and then he just said it hurt. He was so calm in fact my sister didn't believe it was broken.(Ironically, the break happened about 5 minutes before she walked in the door from work) Like I said, Jack is remarkable and has always been soo tough on the few occassions he's gotten hurt. After a very long night, my nephew had his very own red cast. Most kids would be down about having a cast, or traumatized in some way, but not Jack...he always bounces right back. I admire that about him, even at age five, that he always takes things as they come and makes the most out of them. Its a quality I know he will keep whatever life throws his way. Accidents happen, and when you are an active boy, it seems accidents happen more often. So Jack, lets hope this is your last broken anything for a long while....and next time don't do it at Grandma's, her nerves can't take it :)</p><br /><br /><p>Speaking of nerves...one of the all time scariest moments of my life as a Mom, hell my life at all, happened on Friday night around 5:30 p.m. We had just finished eating dinner, and the boys were asking for some Halloween candy, as the habit has become after dinner for nearly a month now. I gave Matt some Lifesaver fruit chews and Zach wanted some. The only gumlike treats left were a box of Dots, so I gave them to Z, and went back to cleaning up from dinner. Wayne and the boys were in the family room, and all of a sudden I heard a commotion to my right. I turned to see Wayne dropping to his knees, saying "Are you choking?" Zach was running towards us, his face turning purple and no sound escaping his lips. Wayne tried to hit his back, but that didn't work, so he yelled "He's choking, he can't breathe." I ran over, as Wayne was turning Z around and he began performing the hymlic on Z, explaining that he wasn't trying to hurt him, but that Daddy needed to get the object out. All the while, Zach looked terrified and had saliva pouring from his mouth. It was frightening, horrific, absolutely panic inducing. I did the only thing I could think of. I put my finger in his throat, to scoop out the object, I'd had to do something similar a few times when they were babies, but never to this extent. I know this is the wrong thing to do, I know it, and yet it is what I did. I could feel the dot, whole in the back of his throat, and I moved it, ever so slightly, at the same time Wayne was pushing on his diaphram. Somehow...he started to gag, and I knew gagging was good. Gagging meant air could get through, Gagging meant... life. I think Zach got the gumdrop up on his own after that, but I can't be sure. I can't be sure because at that point all I was doing was thanking God. I literally knew that He'd been there to help on some level...every level. I owe Him, of course, but I'd owed Him before too. Zach was a bit freaked out for a minute, mostly because in my invasion of his throat, I'd scratched him, and he was bleeding a bit. I was not tender, I was not well trained in my search for that candy, I was just so determined that it was coming out. Wayne was shaken after the event too, worried that he'd hurt Z trying to save his life, but within minutes, Zach was up and running about, no worse for the wear as the expression goes. In fact the picture of him and Jack above is taken about an hour later, when we went to visit Jack and see his cast. If the story ended there it wouldn't be the whole story. </p><br /><br /><p>After a great visit with Jack and Emma we came home, and Zach went to bed. Around 10:30 Wayne and I were watching a DVR'd Law and Order SVU, and I heard Zach crying in his room. We went up, and Zach was doubled over, saying "it hurts reawly bad" We spent the next 20 minutes frustrated because Zach couldn't stop crying long enough to explain what was wrong. When he pointed to his stomach, we knew we had to take him in to be looked at. Zach and I headed to the emergency care center near our house, while Wayne called his sister Lisa. It was 11 o'clock at night, but Lisa didn't hesistate to come, she was already getting dressed while Wayne was telling her the story(she was kind enough to come so Matt didn't need to be woken up and dragged to the hospital in the middle of the night) Thank you Aunt Lisa, you have always been there for us and the boys, and I will never forget it! Meanwhile Zach and I were headed to the emergency center, and Zach was acting fine. He said "I want to go home, it only hurts a little bit Mommy", but by then we were committed. We needed to make sure that he didn't have a cracked rib, or any other sort of trauma from the near choking incident five hours before. After an hour and a half of Z chatting up the nurses, the doctors, and anyone else he could talk to, we finally got released. Turns out Zach was fine, just a little bruised. He even invited the doctor and nurses as we were leaving to his brother's birthday party which was Saturday. So if you've made it through this long post, please stop back to see pics from Matt's Sesame Street birthday bash, and celebrate his 2nd birthday with us tomorrow. I can definitely say, I am so thankful this week for my nephew's resilience, my first born son's safety and conversation, my husband's knowledge of CPR, and my baby boy's 2nd year with us! </p><br /><p>As a side note: I am taking a CPR course ASAP...I hope I am never in that situation again, but if I am next time I want to be prepared instead of panicked!</p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-8580664420470810842011-11-17T21:36:00.006-05:002011-11-17T22:06:30.009-05:00Catching up...A week away from Thanksgiving you probably aren't expecting to see Halloween costumes, but since I slacked for three weeks the time was now or never:<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p>Zach was pumped to wear his Red Power Ranger costume:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676161765368496834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJneyXDfB2WOup_k2T6dtnLtIRzZT_4mtBXzPjdgFDDStg4zC1TpfatRsbqfVvemg0SoTzuxIeVbj28d2FRFLRI8oUPUKf3Epn2S_acVJOOwdhHdciXXu1Br8TN5dW3vdicA_az8TgdyMt/s400/DSC09978.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><br /><div>While Matt went into a full fledged meltdown in his Elmo costume:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676161769207942770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk84Tej_yVtxcuQSdR7MTJ7DYE3etdhIMpH-GGR60Eerxhrh6byNkGIMxxMDGo_0zMI7DF3QRjjwLGhfndh7u48bnddf3nvhcfpx-mVGbhJ1E3DBRUqxOtMO5r_gC4jN7sWwyBrGmxgSFO/s400/DSC09970.JPG" />After some snuggles from Grandma, and the promise of treats from his brother Matt reluctantly got into the wagon to head out trick or treating:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676161796228349442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlNHBr4-buD4lgcwHOrv3a2xBJ3GRMOnVNNq88BKkDKwZNAnaYGiHXMOIGmAbSPvnbFXL6jEIJA4GYN4P5CdW2X48HQRsTeIW_a493yl2NWJrSqlJX0zzIcDZSccDUNCMrNhYbp0lIXzP/s400/DSC09985.JPG" />Thanks to Grandma Alice we all were able to go trick or treating together while she passed out candy. Thank you Grandma! We were able to pause for a moment and snap a picture of the seven carved pumkins my husband prepared:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676161793609649218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65-7kHCFpayWshQjAdRGIvU73wCitHFTC4R1Rla3n7baUdlCO1hMDq7HWkP2pVQUl9GudqXjVFNvSpS5dLQe75x1l3E4iyTmVJMc2ZNNQMOOxjhyphenhyphenj4uklTlwVamlHL9vTWq_-rHBVI4k-/s400/DSC09983.JPG" />Three of my favorites this year were</div><br /><br /><div>The Haunted House:<br /><br /></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676163007865366482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuF2HBFRwhZ43eWJF6xyslyTV0l3PdVswKQ_E_av3BHtjQJqCnccLdoRja5CvlZL_KZBSBBZ37Xxv2N2ggUrt0x1VyyAOJ8L3dtCZMCvfDirDoNe9ZWj24HFT1TF2oBREAl6_Id5fInio/s400/DSC00008.JPG" /></div></div><br /><br /><p>The Headless Horseman:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676163014033388466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcoofuHwMA8Nq9W7Bp2g-qjnI_D064wF5TEJyvGWC91w8TkpASa2e6FyQV9Ms_LSsGFRQtiAQEud9XQx9AEEPsayEp0JVFBlrqiT8OdD3l-ka_S4HUQy-S5Eeg3zLFC9Hk2Kd2aAQycSQ/s400/DSC00015.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><br /><p>And the Owl I carved!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676163025197717746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7IIGmYcfGLfeYUPmVjUXUT42YztmKcBbcP75Oz5sKWQw4zgo3ACBPDOUFw0n-ewjyuFnNpkr5ukFSLbEDL1KXZIOCZNwdUyy2hCRXqNj7IeMRU62HP-OeVBVu2wu-ikBmS4QtabawKWd/s400/DSC00013.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><p>After we headed out, Dad took the boys up to the first house. Zach was so excited to get candy, and Matt was so excited to be out running around (He never did get back in that wagon the rest of the evening) </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676164687628442002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_15LbWNvZ1XzNsQNmh0psBq9yd38s483NnYsRrwE3wur4pqO-5QiLYf9c_Rf5aIlxtTMqvjRH97IXJFzQgV7SuRbrRqw-in3EuXDGHo5Fv0sj7yLrTpzoVZmZbZY51A8N7xqwSzOO3R4/s400/DSC09987.JPG" /><br /><br /><p>Here is Wayne and the boys:</p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676164718696988098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvrk6wae4UjWLnfCGUnPd9YDLIAosvyOi9XcHDpxCjBSZbzBQZxkZp7dwUniiETux9YS9TzxUC7KMUyBUVf2MPNJjD7tGF91u7Ka26tvVWdwpyqishyssTuj9PjXTFKPXF-N5GeyPVttY/s400/DSC09994.JPG" /></p><br /><p>And me and my little happier Elmo...our Power Ranger escort had run ahead to get candy:</p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676164722036596818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA63t6pxHJyT-o9Iow02-RGbXKJKhISMRrEtI0lVoxVMfg36mAQujd1Dera5tICWPlzHmmjU-I5Uwv8oFOxIRx3TH5lTnsv4zOs199zvoYD3t6COdcHNq14kr5WsA7ziCSI4lKiHY-32d/s400/DSC00001.JPG" /></p><br /><p>It was a wonderful time. We ran into friends:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676164694036849794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1V7fqt1sejLCWyUbnR7HM0emeB46w2Bstyr0rVsovaAMMOIiOKhLBHjOn-nkN9WRAzSXZy22OfdD16Y5uLCQ4Cw5Ps3HfSYJl8RmKzpigF6WlnavrCLmU9vs3EnlHx6uJsUkvl5hOuPG/s400/DSC09992.JPG" /></p><br /><p></p><br /><p>And ran wildly up the block. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676164733978614722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpZPLjrieyuNId1WDatL-gZ2fd3H8orOAfsaHPlLfKzU_N02omJtn-aSBFF-2vzneYYHyUY3k28b6nVM1TDapm57ZlNJiWu056Hl4brTxyTg2Vg5uJ2XMkaGFVKBHPKE4sjR7QLob4JdZ/s400/DSC09993.JPG" /></p><br /><p></p><br /><p>The boys were done trick or treating after 45 minutes, and then we went home, took of our costumes and ate way too much candy. We've finally gotten rid of most of that stuff, just in time for our turkey feast, and of course Christmas cookies!</p></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-85735603981602372392011-11-05T14:34:00.003-04:002011-11-05T14:59:52.353-04:00To my husband...<div>Happy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Anniversary</span>! </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671583307656593378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IKymd8sTdD_ale_oSZ836cpALh6wJWg23OhU1q30dGXiPrvR2dYOS6I3qhbXy43_g04GNkmLYRgZm5Tn7Us4uLuf9s1Gf1qKgCdac3tIo5Hrbf15bzB5tmOUj-VaUm_P3IurHbPvrVfZ/s400/sand.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>I can't believe it was six years ago today that we said "I do". What surprises me the most is how much has changed since that day. In those years we may have gotten a few more wrinkles, some gray hairs, and put on an extra pound or two, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">every time</span> I see you I always see the same thing, the man I choose over every other to share my life with. I can tell you that I knew you were the one from the beginning, but that over the years you've showed me more and more why. In six years we've accomplished amazing feats, and most importantly we did them together. We've been blessed to add two human beings to the world, two examples of what our love can nurture and build. I always wanted to me a Mom, but watching you be a Dad has brought my life such joy. Our boys are lucky to have a father who loves them like you do, and I am fortunate to have you as a partner in this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">roller coaster</span> ride of parenting! We've had two homes, both beautiful, and perfected by your hard work and dedication, but more important than any residence, you have been my heart's home. I can't tell you what its meant through these years to have your friendship, strength, and love in my corner. Through all the changes the last six years have thrown our way, one thing has remained constant, the knowledge that one of the smartest decisions I ever made was to say "yes" to being your wife, that 1st day, and all the ones that have followed. Happy 6<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> anniversary! I love my flowers, I love that we are having a date night, but most importantly I love you!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-65385312422131981552011-10-30T22:02:00.008-04:002011-10-30T22:40:53.465-04:00Pumpkin PostingIt seems that every blog I've read this week, had a post similar, and since I already have fallen so far behind, I thought I better sneak in this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pumpkin</span> picking post today before Halloween. Otherwise, I will be so overwhelmed with pictures, I'll never get around to documenting our family outing. <br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>For the past two years we have gone to a pumpkin festival of sorts with friends. This year our hectic month of October put a wrench in any sort of weekend outing to a Pumpkin Festival. We had two weddings, three birthday parties, and so our only chance would have been this weekend, except today we had a neighborhood Halloween party, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ect</span>. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ect</span>. It just didn't happen this year, but I will try my best to make sure we get to go again next year. Instead our weekend consisted of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Dr</span> visits, instead of exploring, and hunkering in, instead of venturing out. Matt has yet another ear infection, and so a new round of antibiotics are underway. Fortunately, he is back to a better version of himself today, even if my poor baby went through hell to get his blood taken. Who knows what awaits that little guy, I just pray they figure out what's wrong and fix it. </div><br /><br /><div>On a brighter note, one a shade of orange, we were able to take a family trip to a few pumpkin patches, so we could stock up for carving. Here is a picture of Matt checking out the pumpkins and wondering, why he isn't able to run around like Zach:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669473607436530962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw2Pkdsbi_ukasCC96w4YMVYIWMgefjEjwJuwpoWzf7-LTEDkQ_YSE-WING3kok_iS8S0JEDCskJxjcp-7lOi09U-25ZeMY7zoTYaTURNT-2qCsqMdgA354fMn0W1qwkqq7l3Sgp5pPmT/s400/DSC09930.JPG" /></div></div>Zach loves Halloween, and he really loves looking for pumpkins. What he like more though, is looking for fish...I mean seriously, I thought he was going to climb in this pond at one point:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669474056838339074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmhkp8wsjYkD8C18TVgwupnhXaT-1UgmyKT0ZAy3Ld_EDntLN7IpW8fq1__oxfsF0eemrMztZBSJgOZ0poiI_FdncIvUejCRU6crcSJwMj1CS4ud1n20goThBnp6QqbxBKfvHltSWK6AY/s400/DSC09934.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><p>Unfortunately our first stop didn't have large enough pumpkins, so we headed off to another stop. I must say, I liked the atmosphere of our 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> stop better, and since it was partly indoors, Matt was even able to get out and participate. (Translation:Matt is smart, quick, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">stubborn</span>- If he wants to go he goes. I am overprotective, nervous, and not a fast runner- I know the limits of where I can put him without losing my mind or having a panic attack)</p><br /><br /><p>Here we are at the 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> pumpkin patch- I love the decor, and I also think it is kind of spooky that there is a cemetery behind us:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669475582141551234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurLb4GCX_g4vx1OKhW_YC4_-afq1oOefN3aKrvq5uzH6ozOM9eolBeleZejrNFcs7KSWwQmiZJVeWgXfC4fT1vYzuMXG-auA1rbB_a5z7hCxDzJO15sXRdYwdTPVnrJtbsrsNM-h5k6uL/s400/DSC09935.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669475583027075874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7yRV3Xb74ZCR2x6wYk5pOz61LCzIHIivUMHFBsNuvCGDkfJmNYcyrN8OY3qZaLizS7HKJq6l0KFHysSBWVWs3VHuNcaAdUaCMvZHc1tByegMEipyXEFVM_tUcIj_HkxXBUMQY5Gv03fK/s400/DSC09937.JPG" /></p></div></div></div><br /><br /><p>And just to prove that sometime Zach almost looks at the camera:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669475606772161010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiltOimoXYe4zwLJCrZWogTG4mgLE_RIMi1J_u162TPM6wgUYlsf-Pudm-lA6_WUiJUE5CclvkLsfYB_GNarY8KHNqj3cqFlFac9vByeXhe5bnZLCHO4HUdJZw13OJHdbR7B4vsIa3TbV2/s400/DSC09939.JPG" />Inside we loaded up the cart with pumpkins. Zach picked his:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669477757132936418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVf2vpKIqlg6bFCn2e4GIce3_TPL9rqAVXLp8TziYJaIIRiE1X9PNpg1fDnSipIrv5J9PKH9GUFgYOZ5sAPVcm79w0LlFkKBqO6sTXBAKu21vmHJsW5mUJvB2d95bN_ngc0mhEaEivgk1/s400/DSC09940.JPG" /></p><br /><p>Then Matt made a selection:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669477762557620978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKRS8ygpq2wUK2dlDP0vJiGO5RmeJ-c46PPIVjo4GqczsTGO_LW40-QJt2APRS0-xWdLOmQdhz7L4gIGZ1KnJ5Dsj2LoTR0mJmQEH3A0aU3r4p7TCTdebN3sHH4tcPDjU5Ytxxin2v8cb/s400/DSC09942.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><br /><p>While Zach took his time making sure he had made the right choice:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669477768415471042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK1UUGq86ZZYhWTrPCJT6WkDdv8MPmd9dDOdFvjG1_I3AyKn_TMBfIH_98UQCv4t2qiBfwegPwlZQPrChB5e6LZtT9tEuNVM8AaRvVbFv5PZFY5arGhLkbSkKXs9weEWvsTFpe5Ubofdr/s400/DSC09944.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Matt ran like a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wild man</span> through the rows:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669477780049604338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbINfl_9HHr6WRbSB2beY41CjN5U6Cw_iMrem5ZDcmyW0c21f8X6ErzFcShyphenhyphenR08SljUcKyC4ynk9g5eNLWjEffIuX_lAB2Os1kOgp5gaQJ9ywpjZU4JOj2yosazSj2tksM29OAqqyKfDXv/s400/DSC09943.JPG" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>I finally tried for the "money" shot of my two boys, But this was the best we could do:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669477797343005794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYe00T4jd29EmevaJeGT_hRP606Ii2dsdNuzVJ_Ik273sEvFc6322UCyhUN4_9IYJak2pOQXlQ3OVhPU0jWtG9dc4tXAlsSYuQlN8Y7soPkXa-yB7APBpLZKs1fLTIZKr7hPEW3HIfbdv/s400/DSC09947.JPG" /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669478138932697874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aObmQQbKG-dk9EHcIZULBt7wBbacSTqMxcH4Mj0s-GVywqG_1CmrzCKfAPLPkwe5wuqsBDxyJIN9voe3o1IpE7oQf2_Oolf43Uf8VpyMt7e7XwUhLBSDB6lU0cI9mj3q91vArYoHGMLV/s400/DSC09952.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><p>While Matt lounged in his car seat drinking some apple juice, Zach helped Dad load the loot-He really wanted to smile for the camera, but he wasn't about to take his eyes off the pumpkin to do it:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669478144347306050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9nZBV1NjX42xEWrLRUTSQGf8UUeuLXHtIljV-Uj4LTvPjBYfbJbzPxs7aC3ILNxbwFxbMwyCDiGnFK11bqM9-f_rxmRsWTm10xsMw35LjTHMkUr5F4NDpgD3O23iJ9n4Yi37lUsmeejz/s400/DSC09957.JPG" /><br /></p><br /><p>It was a wonderful day, and I was so happy that Matt was smiley, Zach had fun, Wayne got his pumpkins, and I got some quality time with my three favorite guys. Stay tuned to see the Halloween posts...Oh and,Hulk says you have to come back soon, or he'll "Smash" you!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669478160608491154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nFPxjZAaCKrWLvLzwU-gWXW0PV-kGoYIziykoYIZwzetxd-FN37F1zJ06wdhMXbqD-SYrP50Mf6_cc0lKaeJuX5aDmQqdFz8-BweNBFm458CZ0Epy25e9DltzepETusLZYV_En2-ElRN/s400/DSC09961.JPG" /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-21054789026416872462011-10-25T20:01:00.003-04:002011-10-25T20:13:23.066-04:00Have you ever been BOOed?<div>This afternoon Wayne came home to find a little bag of goodies on our porch. We had noticed these signs up in some of our neighbors houses over the course of the last few days, but thought it must be something to do with the school. As it turns out it is some sort of Halloween tradition where neighbors leave treats for each other, ring the bell and run. I have never been part of this BOOing game, or the Halloween Phantom as my neighborhood is calling it. Here is the poem that came attached to our phantom image:</div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>The Phantom Ghost has come to town,</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>To leave you some goodies, I see you've found.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>If you do not wish a curse to fall,</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Continue this greeting, this Phantom call.</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Post this Phantom where it can be seen,</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Leave it there until HALLOWEEN.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>This will scare away other Phantoms that may want to visit.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Be sure to participate, don't be a "fis-bidget!"</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Make two treats, two Phantoms and two notes like this.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Deliver them to two friends who may have been missed.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Don't let them see you, be sneaky no doubt.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Make sure they put their Phantom Ghost out.</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>You have only one day to act, so be quick.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Leave it at doors where the Phantom has not yet hit.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Deliver at dark when there is no light.</strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Ring the doorbell and run, stay out of sight!</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Happy Halloween!</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Aside from the fact that I had to make a last minute trip to Target, I think the whole thing is a little weird, but sweet...literally and figuratively. I think my first BOOing baskets turned out cute:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667586669969470578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpbolidEtYUWnr-DgJPbIqyP3tz3HFzaQi3UDelGHXPWl4suEE9NjKhaMb8QJX_ZqpTojVVQzUO6uzj8ar9nrNiczRFXvqnGBJ5HGr6KCxVvWaDH9H6r8TAxG-RKzlNyhyx8mazWoAlIe/s400/DSC09926.JPG" /></div><br />Well I'd love to stay and chat, but this Phantom has some baskets to deliver!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-34919702882287465332011-10-23T20:17:00.015-04:002011-10-23T21:18:43.496-04:00One weekend, Three Birthdays!<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>This weekend was a birthday marathon. On Friday we celebrated my sister in law Olivia's 30th with a SURPRISE party. On Saturday we celebrated my Mother in law Alice's birthday with a family dinner out. Then today we rounded out the weekend with a Chuck E Cheese extravaganza for my oldest nephew, Jason, who turned 8! It was a busy weekend, but it was a lot of fun seeing everyone, and of couse all of the cake and icecream was an added bonus.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Friday night we got to Ryan and Olivia's house around 6, so as the boys waited they decided to have some chips and watch SpongeBob: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6vJPnOGPzEZmOruRnAIV32I36lWULb76R3buJTQi676eAVubVQKZy5Q6h2HG-FhD2PCpbIPT4MXGBkreET0dKHX1L3qayNi0QnxOwaRiD300Si2xH0LEY2yl5Owqub_UohDH77Rdg2ci/s1600/DSC09925.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666848240884474258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzdq4yg7FGkPWzxCA1SOfv1JB6ZJLQpuSy9DeyXwjCD8mlBgW22AZdp38Y8hy3faSJrbjufII0nUXM8xXdBuno294ROPj3H_DG_8AADSeekM4TBqDrSSHZ-as24AP6h4tiEGO8IxR8hAC/s400/DSC09840.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GgFLq-vZLnrhf-DxN5BLIButcJgvxtv529xhA9XuV3ip3jcQV-EJLyC6gdgD5OSswT_TCkgzd5BaT2Pq1f3Sawxr9U0Pva_tYVXDDMRqCdMkkYBVlhEhshDqo54rwcP4x39VYrsLt8HB/s1600/DSC09902.JPG"><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span><br /><div></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GgFLq-vZLnrhf-DxN5BLIButcJgvxtv529xhA9XuV3ip3jcQV-EJLyC6gdgD5OSswT_TCkgzd5BaT2Pq1f3Sawxr9U0Pva_tYVXDDMRqCdMkkYBVlhEhshDqo54rwcP4x39VYrsLt8HB/s1600/DSC09902.JPG"><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GgFLq-vZLnrhf-DxN5BLIButcJgvxtv529xhA9XuV3ip3jcQV-EJLyC6gdgD5OSswT_TCkgzd5BaT2Pq1f3Sawxr9U0Pva_tYVXDDMRqCdMkkYBVlhEhshDqo54rwcP4x39VYrsLt8HB/s1600/DSC09902.JPG"><br /></a></div></div></div></div>Shortly after came the big surprise:</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666848478982138738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1F6zhv6I1Po_fZ_RZDmDeJcFXlKeBB1F5rU2GuuhC1IUfmg2JfQ0bR0Sm9Km_QQnxfrr669Q91SL63ud9LsVM1ImHXGftCf_zONdyz_g0kdMRIyQR_ySZMOJ55BEV9uHwqB7KD4VZvFo/s400/DSC09843.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>And then came the dress up part...Olivia was a great sport as her sister "30'd" her up:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666848838851940258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nGDNvYlLeh3uEGZBjRj-qU75eUyUNO1nIO3BJJyqZeo3HZQ2lxeGux73M3I92U_xVxeWECHmzax-4tkstpQkvBrQ8lANFGpBA_dAnSL3uNkKZgb1GcmMNcZ9fA0W0yk5Q4vjV2gDvPw-/s400/DSC09861.JPG" /></div></div>Matt was really fascinated by Aunt Olivia's get up, but Zach had his eye on his cousin Grant's new guinea pigs. Here Z is holding Toffee(I think), while Grant holds Caramel:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666849670384467922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFxh5KdItC0yFzSvf94x0AuMiUmhCFzWX3hx0npyrvi-RX7FkUOG5xeWBWODz2cnvmvof5wSkGeoijRjhHe1n836AIl9fRsoQoHaKqDXmhSJ15L8S-L0-qN930M0XUx9zLBbWuM2hqRPW/s400/DSC09853.JPG" /></div>Matt was interested in the animals, but not interested enough to touch them:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666853743858543650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBefv1KZjxlFxFxh8yd9iVz-VqSY1nvtSf3HzO8BKhAh21d0mluSz1PmdaDxgBl-qMClPknBNIr603qFI5oUbrwxRYBJXbyb5y3fDvShNSY5B69NgX1zLUL9KNK2rmB7K2eXZZzBpeVyCx/s400/DSC09859.JPG" />I hope you get your wish this year Olivia:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666854250797596050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOGFonNoId99_pz2icaJsXV9Kydki-jHRnkNKatxu2Ra1SSsflEEbFfMAZemLNQgDAt55YPjdo1NIR134rcc1ovSRLXKnOz2eLHXOiMdeQ1Tl5MpNUInnE6d8NfOGt_07nq00VxIzCeGc/s400/DSC09868.JPG" /></div></div>On Saturday night, we all met up at Friendly's to celebrate Alice. Here is part of the crew:</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666854934614942594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBsDbpv2YD33DmIJVG8XjIoW8lNfara9-qTnJAw8gRc8p89fRBjpz2QnPeOM0IVT_ho2mVwqIdZihGvQ6lFFwaNiujwy4KO3F-r7a-2WRakz2WsykcUZE-bCpxPBHYHvLtyp7t6hccoL5/s400/DSC09870.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>And at the other end, were myself, Lisa and this smiley little guy:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666855336664659602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub7SxZx-47xDdEFmV_ZrQ2SmUydiGxgJ4NrwBGlvj5gA6W0p2LZgQ8VUeEP0jJ1YSJl78psTf5ngbtLrEABDpJVqS5X57BoP391oK-7g9PbWi5PqYk7KLw7F7-VdAm4NSR8MvO6hW3jb_/s400/DSC09873.JPG" /></div></div>Alice opened up her presents, and then enjoyed being serenaded by three of her grandsons(the other one was strapped into his high chair) <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666856267366317154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxWv9r4ujl_N1DkMdrv-yXAAdPTa8qVufUy-j2q19ARQUQkPVHbk-F-KrkXTTuY8ibiCxIYI571oyaPTYsIW7uIUt-W704SmZbpecc9zqFzzvg1h_3sI_ZRd2FHegurXRKWv6EHo12eZN/s400/DSC09883.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div>The boys insisted they help blow out the candles too, just to make sure Grandma got her wish:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666856890166773170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59y4zxSzKpfLTcnN3brXeSQ-EE_OUpGCFhYlrWwMDM_SbfMrBlQreq-o8TLF3Ze6NUzQmxQ1cYzhzr_mBtzcw8fUTnqELCwzAdRlOlrMzmTwlXUmwbaAJvIEukruDVrjzZs297_0RsRL0/s400/DSC09884.JPG" /></div></div>I think Jason was just getting in a little practice for his party today too. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666858103290977426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguI8s6W_0vV6ocsIVxBTYXTMsbD_aX79jNOkZWtwy6szR21w0nluvi_t3ZIwaqe1u1J-Us0fWrBAv0eEzSoCS1XOZH45l92u5WUXdQI0a13rMCOs9TVu9BORlEbLE7baari3H3FKp5lg7/s400/DSC09904.JPG" />Everyone had a wonderful time. The boys were really into playing in the arcade this trip, even Matt. Well actually, Matt was interested in putting tokens in the slots and then leaving the game. The one game he did like to watch me play was a game where you tried to punch boxers in the head as they moved past you. Here he is getting ready to "play" the game:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666858773107217554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaml7hM2no9lmRPciq6BPEr0-hDXTlDwrtBN7eL89h6FHz3t1QhAgZzqymtpGsg7W0W-2lJkO9vq1oqAnPt8rCchDIczkBNNN5DqIPP5T7Z11ZWQn8rRU4gR8-r4F-AjUYqRxFY5fPs0Ke/s400/DSC09901.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>And here are Z and Wayne playing together:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666858775000186722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GgFLq-vZLnrhf-DxN5BLIButcJgvxtv529xhA9XuV3ip3jcQV-EJLyC6gdgD5OSswT_TCkgzd5BaT2Pq1f3Sawxr9U0Pva_tYVXDDMRqCdMkkYBVlhEhshDqo54rwcP4x39VYrsLt8HB/s400/DSC09902.JPG" /></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p>Jason had a great time shouting for Chuck E Cheese to come, </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666860587263141586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDiVRyw8SEszjOb_f1BF3U9ihho2A1MbBjCX-p3GLypUkL2AyYAVwV-ewoGRz4C3qDfNibzL6t8wr2dA9Q45VmT1mGoPW9Jh_GsTVbR7wpYKNt8cS0YtnhJy0SIkN0kVYhVBXRHTZc658/s400/DSC09911.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><p>and he looked so happy when he got his birthday crown:</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666860593198077506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSsAARU27PBwen39AC3o22CxKSQTtYh78zQHJWqYAc3M1xdXkp2pvjfZrl_nkwEZQV1RXqQs-qC57Iu0zmbxp2CVCVnThQ0qqz0fuk2jYgqHQrlLnpjG3OAQ2XIGA4N-G6Zk5hp2PBQfC/s400/DSC09913.JPG" /><br /><br /><p>I still can't believe that it was eight years ago tomorrow that he entered our lives. Jason, so many wonderful things have happened since you've come, I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. I hope you enjoyed your party, we were so happy to be there!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666860616435019906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6vJPnOGPzEZmOruRnAIV32I36lWULb76R3buJTQi676eAVubVQKZy5Q6h2HG-FhD2PCpbIPT4MXGBkreET0dKHX1L3qayNi0QnxOwaRiD300Si2xH0LEY2yl5Owqub_UohDH77Rdg2ci/s400/DSC09925.JPG" /></p></div></div><br /><br /><p>I hope all of you enjoyed your weekend as much as we did!</p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-62827819055588060172011-10-18T18:53:00.009-04:002011-10-18T19:16:50.204-04:00Picture Relays...The other night I realized that I hadn't taken any photos of the boys in awhile, and I needed a recent one of Matt to go on his 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> birthday invitation. I tried to get him to let me take his picture, but he was more interested in looking in the viewfinder with me than being in one. Zach also "wanted to see", but I decided to play "picture relay" instead of "cheese". The boys seemed to have a blast running back and forth up the hallway, and relaying. I was even able to capture a few photos of my moving targets that are pretty cute. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664970539316790594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qu4ZnorTw7XsgYPrRuj405GtEhciXcrT39KbYeEhVmZLN1KDhjp-XstaddoG-W_Nf3wE-fLgA-qVF096kZfSlE4ASzQ3pK_2s6VO6_-Z8ZvJwSzLhRnnLCa8QMVQ49V6iDGaY2pwnH0e/s400/DSC09804.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664970286560272098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXKiIiMXTBzJZCyTY4XiiwBaQRLyF78s6hL6NyonTuKXoA3qk60xiy2kW2AZC3yU9EmMdXbut95nFiK3-uOz5U1yW04zFH4S6iJwf1pq_vH2E-g9fHR1wCKaMqOseq11_qWfzjjuvr89a/s400/DSC09814.JPG" />After awhile, and about 100 deleted shots, they slowed down a little. You see the point of the game was that they run so fast that I couldn't take their picture. Here is one of them catching their breath before the next relay starts:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664971073859158818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn_LG9WC4B7Y5uGOfjenLnqdMTqk6BnLpkHbeY4AlOoa2iWXqZfP56xItUBJyj3vNsyNKv3a6ug2gLJ_0t-zDnF4HLBuNL1pjDkcksulmXrAOMjsLYhJjQEBqUCBT9r57XhkaLeS_dgjR/s400/DSC09830.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div>And here's one of the trade offs:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664971427065437570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWRd7Tj3Sbop80nYyqa_i4uQh-Hs2snmbd4urHXKVlxwQ26C0f1S09UJDfJH1Xw5HxX9OSN6lJgdcgWxQ_pKWLI9gtcUc8E6eaV-nW0DLHGPWFnUmQzRm6JKRLipyrqzwY6vRCXKLleTZ/s400/DSC09835.JPG" /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>After about 20 minutes of running, I was finally able to get them to sit down near each other. Only after a really typical brotherly moment occurred. One minute a hug:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972195702386354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMbacAIJALKfEoXdP4fa-u9u4pEhmDEZSFqOOuRIX_Nq_-rGyZJCn2EJW1l1xcNiKI4HKtgSq_zros2JA_cTL1poEcwkBzrzcgatigqv_vow3IeNYED8ukm5SLDqUq52EN38Dqhsi3_n_/s400/DSC09755.JPG" /> </p><br /><p>The next minute a headlock:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972198196306082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJNX59i_Ec0EFdFVpFFc2HOn3L3CxmyA2PN5EUKXiRBxkeX5WkRt82JBckzZKzxcpHEGqaAHdgFH67VLLsiJlFxq4JWMq2geU71V682B-gek8InzI1b_2QhKSa8bDYkkooRTXMxe8BBYs/s400/DSC09756.JPG" /></p></div></div>After all that, finally some side by side brother shots:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972885973397090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbb8Uc2zHhcVk9jYl1IdmIx91bksFT3vdqHpDNPYwf19K5EWmHJ9FBXXxrQZU2HQKorqqAILDe411EEdKlotLJ1E2L3e2ZLFbQYQR2CDqN1DUHv3i7IhKChwRm4GiYw7W95WS_WxqI8kH/s400/DSC09757.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664972883690226306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTOQz1ISm2SqC3CAvl3taKjvOYlQ2u1KKKb4Nzd97t_An61FpDWUQ9WIrNWG_J9x9g1niOK2d_J-QFVWiSVEzDeMIX_go2BlwwLHmvzN17STL3Bwww1ct7p42PVyAveUfqUeEtzAxs268/s400/DSC09760.JPG" /></div><br />And perhaps the most precious picture of all, even if its blurry:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664974771034208658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpuUNdeFz6I4A_YAEihb5QtMD0WvwDPrAfP01_MTVFxcPMeuhcvp83OmaF9IqUGwtGY1pYw0tPjgS6JupRvXhyatAPHfmqyi47xgLuXyi8pXs5_QqGs8pVZofZ_VsCs18SnsVIUuGwSiR/s400/DSC09774.JPG" /><br />Its clear these boys are two peas in a pod. A crazy, not-stop, gonna-try-to-drive-me-crazy-sometimes pod, but hey, at least their in it together. I just love watching my boys be brothers, what a blessing that's been!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-2452691780749893832011-10-10T07:56:00.007-04:002011-10-10T10:09:41.002-04:00Hey September...Where'd you go?<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>I cannot even believe that it is the 10th of October today! That means I went with nearly a month between posts, which is unheard of in the blogging world unless you've just decided to throw in the towel. I have no good excuse for my absence except to say that our fall has been extremely hectic with little chance of slowing down in the coming weeks. Time is flying, and months are passing quicker than I'd like. I am already starting to think I should be a lot further along in my holiday shopping than I am, and anticipating the first snow fall, even though it has been in the 70's and 80's this week. </div><br /><br /><div>Here are a few of my favorite things from the month of September:</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>My new Ipad2!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661834655567658498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3_oN7H2TX53ocLeRBofgbTZ5aRQZvPUSx7VRfTAQXjLb6VEdfBi_3ZFzNIdA7TmOdnCe8Lb-oxRk6VmoZPhIoMLpDl1aBifzj-h_whT8NkFYcrXOVsD38YHU6YSXfQKsvuGJpFkyCzfM/s400/apple-ipad-2.jpg" /><br /><br />I was so excited when my parents and siblings went overboard for my birthday and got me an Ipad. I have been envying theirs for so long. This little electronic has consumed a lot of my after kids go to sleep hours, which might be why I haven't been blogging as regularly. I'd love to tell you my fascination is wearing off, but I swear each day I enjoy it more and more. Thanks Mom, Dad, Nick, Cheryl, Lisa, Mike, Jack and Emma for such a sweet surprise!</div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>And speaking of awesome surprises, on my birthday I was totally not expecting this beautiful floral arrangement from my sweetie:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661835876074772130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMebLyhFWdJG7k1UaTo9bfKrCg86YCjgUlnCIpFtUlBQxRBVcwPiq4_bVBwjV_p77Kdz0gFRHFUw28RnZ6yeUHl-xrARgHx4O0UKajiPQjzk8po3XFq7E-39_cNbI06hQvJwmpO9ePFST/s400/DSC09734.JPG" /></div>Especially since he had already bought me this lovely new set of matching patio furniture for the newly completed deck: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661862336678318210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT7hqnnMCVo_bHYc7ASjY_vN7N552ebj27V6w8UXExbc7b9JUVGDbyIWYV6lNkN8m6SWfVX18Qw57Bk10vZz-0pkWQpQxI8QG72k2eIQYEkhr9HWVzf3noRsR0zw6ZcBMSk8z8zxsa8mG/s400/DSC09714.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661862341317723938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn4Hj2BzpAVGpEEQdrWZ2wNSuqLjonugOoj6BSj5yJ32LmArgRKZU7rzutEjxy1V8undVtHYjYt_DspanHHzh9WIpD0iFLt7ddf0qzmXFH2vbA_-N4099ntVI42S2UKsMfbpipG_VXtvh/s400/DSC09717.JPG" /></div></div>And while September was filled with wonderful gifts, none were so special to me as getting to spend time out with my hubby, thanks to Alice, and spending as much time as I can with my boys!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661865151807973234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD7fsBfGo5HxVrHOV3rFmHUQg58zA1eOyqREvlWucK_6hyphenhyphen57LpimfXKwMRm_tJU1MUDdqOaun7WRVFS6J-hez9YUJtnHkJBbnZbqIR15s-jXmeIQSSd74mMhOuplwvWuggYGMA0fasAna/s400/DSC09743.JPG" /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-75532456541372828212011-09-11T07:54:00.002-04:002011-09-11T08:20:03.428-04:00I will never forget...I will never forget:<br />My alarm going off to bizarre reports of fire being reported<br />Rushing to the tv to see a smoking tower in NY<br />Watching a plane crash into a building in front of my eyes<br />Seeing the impossible, two towers crumble like a deck of cards<br />Knowing thousands were gone in the blink of an eye<br />Seeing a side of the Pentagon collapse in<br />Looking at a fiery hole in the Earth put there not by terror, but by bravery<br />I still hear my Mom's voice on the phone, the fear because somewhere my father was flying that day<br />I know the panic of my sister coming from school to sit and wait and watch<br />I remember the need to connect to the people you love so deep and profound that it was the only thought you could sustain<br />I remember the relief of hearing my Mom say that my Dad's plane had been grounded in Atlanta<br />And the sadness of knowing that for many such relief would never come<br />I remember the shock<br />the disbelief<br />the sorrow<br />the sense of helplessness<br />the anger<br />the love I saw that day<br />and the patriotism I saw born from it<br />I remember that on this day a decade ago, I changed,my country changed, our world changed forever.<br /><br />This week I have watched a lot of documentaries on September 11th, and while there have been so many moments that I felt touched and enlightened by these stories one statement stood out to me more than any other<br /><br />One of the survivors of the attacks that day who went through what can only be described as hell to survive stated, "The world saw only the evil of the world that day, but for those of us who were inside the tower, we saw the good." I will carry those words always when I think of this day.<br /><br />I know the attacks were meant to cripple our nation, send fear into our hearts, and destroy our sense of country, they did just the opposite. Those horrible actions and the sacrifice that the victims and their familes endured that day, did something those planes stated. On that day, we were American and we were United. Ten years later, I am proud of my country, and so grateful to my nation, that we rose from the ashes of that day without forgetting the thousands who didn't get that chance. So today, remember to tell the people you love what they mean to you, because when they were faced with death, that was what the victims wanted to do, so honor them, and remember that only love survives even in death.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-51990493434872073272011-09-05T12:23:00.004-04:002011-09-05T12:50:41.457-04:00The first day of school...Tomorrow is officially the first day of school! There truly is no other day like it. I've always hated the last night before school starts because its one filled with anxiety for me. When I was a student; I'd spend hours getting ready, stress myself out about what I was going to wear, worry about how my teachers would be, wonder if my friends were going to be in my classes, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ect</span>. Tonight that will still hold true, except I will be worry about how my students will act, and wondering if the coworkers I like will have the same free period as me.
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<br /><div>On the flip side I am anxious to get into it. Excited by the possibility of what I will learn about the world and myself this year. Anxious to meet 120 new people who will become part of my daily life for the good and the bad. I am wondering what the year holds for me, and know that someone or something I encounter in my classroom will better me, test me, and push me to think...that why I do what I do. The possibilities are endless, and that makes me both anxious and excited. </div>
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<br /><div>This year I am not the only one walking the line of anxiety and excitement. Two of my nephews will be headed to kindergarten <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tomorrow</span> morning. I can see that their parents are also feeling torn between the anxiety of what this new world will be like, and the excitement of watching their child grow and explore. </div>
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<br />See these two playful guys:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 384px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648917445727706194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKRAA_cHU0Jryh_NuNRKmqOwMq8Dwn-JU4cr3wabh58wTDfLCSWtlsbpaApmNqzbxR1FxIHHpg6rqDIWPLXo5V_DpW7bq6RhK7H6D-40fbeFla1wHLvln80ZZghWH8ZhppmrM1wGGBZw3/s400/DSC09003.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648916488971101250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAGkGnEVf-SLepJ0LL5WlEpwdLX5gQQR9fGLLzbnPs0RC5gEpHfsMXQtWPF66uOc_qgOHmijBwRWZ0UUPw4DiUXYWGZNHIYZMWO3ZX_pVW50QFnA_EJsvGXjg1X2QNdhGYA0nqzWHk_zK/s400/DSC08736.JPG" /></div>
<br />They are headed off to school tomorrow. Even though I feel anxious a bit for them both, I know they are going to do great. Grant and Jack I can't wait to hear all about your first days, and to see what you both think of school. I am sure your teachers will adore you! I can't wait to see your 1st day of school pictures and hear your story. There really is no day quite like the first day of school...and this one is an extra special one for you both. Congratulations guys, I love you!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-24561700852880172712011-08-31T16:46:00.002-04:002011-08-31T17:27:04.252-04:00Back to school blues...I guess I should be excited to head back to school, especially since when I am there, I really am happy to be there most of the time. The thing is, I just feel like the end of summer came in a whirlwind, and I wasn't ready. I mean I still haven't finish posting events from this summer and we are already heading into a new school year? Seriously time, quite messing with me.
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<br />I know two of the reasons I struggle to head back are the cute little blond boy with a captivating imagination on the top of this page, and that sweet faced brunette whose smile is nothing shy of dazzling. I know that any working Mom struggles with guilt, and I know that I am doing what is best for my family given the choices we have made. I know that it has been my choices that have led me to this moment in time, and most days I wouldn't trade it for the world.
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<br />And yet, when I had to go back to school this week I felt sucker-punched. I wasn't ready to put my little guys back in "school". I wanted to be selfish...I wanted more than anything to be their every moment teacher more than the teacher to 130 students I haven't met yet. I felt torn in two one side to the passionate educator I was who started teaching 10 years ago, and the other to the all encompassing role of Mom I've become since. I started to feel sad...sad that I have such difficulty embracing them both, seeing that one impacts the other, and that together they have great power.
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<br />I am lucky. My kids are in daycare three days a week. Three days because I have help. They are never going to have to go to daycare in the summer, or a summer camp if they don't want to. They will have their Mom home all during their school vacations, and afterschool to get them off the bus...at least till high school. They are lucky...so why the guilt?
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<br />I guess I know that time is fleeting. I see it in Matt's every movement. In the fact that he is no longer a baby, but a boy who is learning to talk, assert himself in this world, and express who he is. I see it in the size of Zach, his features shifting from the chubby roundness of yesterdays to the more defined features of a little boy. His mind is racing, with questions, and dreams,memories and stories of his very own. "Play with me Momma" he will say, and I know too well that soon, it won't be me he turns to for entertainment. Their world is getting bigger every moment, and I worry that in a blink I will have missed it. You know the time when I was their world, their home was their playground, and their lives were simple. I think maybe Moms who stay at home might even feel this way sometimes...filling their days with all of the other responsibilities it takes to run a household, they probably go to bed sometimes wondering if they made the most out of their day with the kids. Add in being gone for 8 hrs, and coming home on 1/2 empty and things get a little dicey sometimes. Some nights I am ready for bedtime to come 30 minutes after I walk in the door, and then with that thought comes the guilt. How can I love them so much, and value time with them above all else, and still be so willing to give up the precious time I have with them on work days?
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<br />I guess as a working Mom you have to be "ON", all the time. Doing your most with the four hours you have in that day because there is no buffer time, which is why its hard to look forward to school this year. My students want the best of me, my sons want the best of me, and they both deserve it. Its just that today I am wondering...will my best be good enough? I sure hope so...but only time will tell.
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318869152505851403.post-77921998769474779332011-08-28T14:32:00.010-04:002011-08-28T15:47:09.817-04:00One of the best days of summer...Part IIAfter traveling to Sesame Street, the boys decided to do a little grocery shopping:
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<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645977724522802738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifa7On0wxovFL1RhTyJm-5hjKUcenYlJCNOGcnTOY30_eflhKgMYKVifLtfdWuoICPLx3QRFD_CSKKi68bAr8SmmTub2knyPwct43XIbxHRAGXsHrAXZXWQamUimFK6GvJAQi6rnsQM3Zx/s400/DSC09474.JPG" />
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<br /><div>Here Zach tried his hand at his first job, a cashier:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645977729353324034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bvBfoOsj11alZmyBu_1H6JqyR5HlcCZSYV-0QalIgwkbZQ5uWpACNJoQy6orNlNMWEsWXnCSHx0GbWmByiTFTkpxZEQXnr5dGOD76xrA7q_q2wBzlzvYmJUza2Uzajc6FA20LsT8qVx5/s400/DSC09480.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645977728809472386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2kv0QAsdYhcAOt-d9sLfkjHN82lZqb-OSDluTGxc9d2f7HpvA7Q9GcgHt3Og0Qki0Chr-st2-RJNpTDCvx5gJkbveQhUPBNA-dTRXFlEzFoLvH_9sxYsAm7O_m7V9tUtE35B9ofxUtR-/s400/DSC09481.JPG" />
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<br /><div>This was seriously a lot of fun, except for the fact that Zach wanted to put everything in his cart, and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">museum</span> limited it to 5 items, and Matt though he was Mario <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Andriette</span> and was practically running people over with his shopping cart!</div>
<br />Then we were off to explore Japan, where Matt and Z went to see if a friend was home:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645978393536306626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qivp_ktbQsotBDZE3b9p-ykkqMELy9B6l1EB1umsoQHDWNp2tsjE6kFLkQyVKr7LJNZwYt6gXnRlBNvKh69K4bMJzvPzraoddaofuayaGCBRhnjaJOJOhjO2WHzcfWFoehb1TYXtUtlE/s400/DSC09487.JPG" />
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<br /><div>And Zach headed off to school to have lunch: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645978396560232530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeCAt1y_Jph9zKhGIDr4yEk1JNaS8m13YNXng-fVuvau5_Ah2jCOYVQtX01WjSxOwdhMOh0Q8F-ya717pNPevOLkVdZmZd7OxDpmmsXUuofmtpYU9bQDCKzesiqsay1rr-D-0J9rGXNEF/s400/DSC09488.JPG" />And while their father, who lived in Japan for awhile, tried to convince them this room was interesting, Zach had his sights set on something a bit more "comical".<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645979283236626370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_Ik5gVy4ewYWT3gKj99iSZCQc-hwqbLlEkYQUGwR7bFAAUVnX5idWIe_p_evWBO08aFzls0eWsN0m5_TtAja9vCD9vQ_H7ESRPRFiRPOdKsNDqYv-Y8zeGt17Jj7Pbfdj2G8aZyQGVzX/s400/DSC09497.JPG" />
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<br /><div>Wasn't I proud to see him so excited about Reading <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Adventureland</span>...but wait...he's pointing to:
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<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">SPIDERMAN</span>!</div></div>
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<br /><div>This <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">museum</span> had a room that specialized in Marvel Superheros and well, around these parts, seeing life-sized replicas of your favorite pals, is the pretty close to being in Heaven!
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<br />Zach was so excited he almost didn't spot his ultimate hero....THE HULK! Of course once he say him he and Dad transformed into their Hulk <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">persona's</span> too:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645979295440533138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HyZ0XKV1eZ65Bn91711J3nhvrYKVkG0lm9CtPQwXXAkPVQbcUZ8WdivXed3yAbKlRdP3hbZ6RGYZDECsg3G463hyphenhyphenyJMvrt8u8hc9ZEvml8TkdoTSdrUEW87maIWqIMUtGRPdOvcxnvGH/s400/DSC09500.JPG" />
<br />Even though Zach loves to be a Superhero, he was a little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">apprehensive</span> about scaling the side of a building:
<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645981005916381858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlItGw6nWTL7uM38_D1Q8roLmeQf60O0meVqkSkE4vv1sX_y6T-nHl2yvNX3Ri_y7FsT12v4BlMPhA14hYMzS8aRC-pJ1yKUBm9rl2p2S6BePHFGU0Tq0-DvaFNFeOhSl48v6dhfAEGzS/s400/DSC09504.JPG" />I guess even the best of superheroes can get afraid of heights now and again!</div>
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<br /><div>Once we were able to pry Zach away from the Superhero room, we headed down the road to The Bernstein Bears neck of the woods. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645983983223814210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsTIFgbLQK4bRTwP3qjcS4-lAf7vvQtat0GeBMWFm6KPeiYwdOAyvjBjluGBuPqClR9XqWf9Z4z5daoFIjEkbK78MU9PBuyOG4blUHcLai1Ka2vqQNpWyYl8-55ngrf057XtAvUpaoREL/s400/DSC09512.JPG" />At first the boys didn't seem to be as entranced with this room, but Zach got to building, </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645983977544503858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAei7jODfRXPiQJZ28o-cblRrccVzo7rB2FpAzscz3U2-WLyNZJcT-NOW8DhgALStutFHuRqLuc7DSUWtDnJe5I-2LDEIpdQFKHzpMg5j4AKE9_Qwxv0cU2E7K7eeAbpPg-xZCjJjmoPK/s400/DSC09515.JPG" />
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<br /><div>and Matt discovered a slide.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645983984042863426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoxeIRq9Iau5GhhvJAtTpEu24foINa8Ey7IVchdv558JQ1-BnyHlgPpyUR86xcw_3HiF39oeiSn163flMrkklPsZH8CNM6EbANhRCHxUS_aq9gl8_xZxCBiZObL1-e0tY-8EURP0Ghuhs/s400/DSC09518.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>They both took to running businesses:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645983977242853570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQvlLUTMEu0RWP4MD7nmDg3PL80lsnw44xhcprIOdsKr0HmAJVlxikK0cNqROMlnVft1O6XDIMLxTV7H2a1uoAffCmTk79vuOihmMJsu3ufiPV5oIDiSuKrhzF3WPtwVv1je6tCjzq_Qm/s400/DSC09514.JPG" />And Zach served me up a HUGE lunch at his restaurant:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645983991638197378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgjuZUanGwXt36_g4q9DrTXM53D4uDcqm6HuOzGhCj2iwYPOtaoLbUEw-MAKrHl5HO3X4x0cE_0st3Z_vEDULID_rdHVhtzuH7u4-Jn2qBKNKqiAU-juTObEh7zh99sK9z2te953GMr77/s400/DSC09525.JPG" />
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<br /><div>While Matt greeted all the guests:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987254176091410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEgDyQxSKHS46KiHbDHJWjzh0DacK6nt73BqE7hQqZ5xvdNfZhyMB1pY_4CYDHhsWf1NBS7GIvMkJkMCzai3QWb39aUQi2f3MHFvtCJMJdIHJzvAYXQv8YzBVc-ZSNI4j270GI5mJuNi8/s400/DSC09526.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>We made sure to brush after the meal of course:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 326px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987258311946994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmJG5_x8dhLlpRgzehDS-B_Xr3hUIiThOEmPfXuI4YvL2BVO_RawanXXoi29ZcpBb-v5RT0RORwSKHIBrNm_hAk2V3QBG2KNTQHUS0nG-2BFL2OdCW0zPIsDJX2gGm3nApyyIy82va4qw/s400/DSC09522.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>After that we were off to party with pirates:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987263370210210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr71hfF535pxZJ7ntrx6Hr_fM_vRcdfQ5-1iIe0bTWEV41FPNmSkNWrx0Uh1LylrO4SXdTsbLDXr-Owe0tQ1DHlSDXFdg0DtRZMR1WCohv4C_5IJpzQPaLxfrgBdlUnzMPUDKkINXvRLZ8/s400/DSC09533.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>Meet a giant:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987271883455394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5nh5LAYm9CFmn2zXg46zKNMEw_1XCkl61ImzL6Y1V9w8Rw9DFf8PMzDDOiqCtETqAYn-lVbYwxhB1iMBa0oFw60-LbClZ8D27lUQ31x5bia4LARiYz_b9pEtLikliJ_wRTY2X8jPjaer/s400/DSC09557.JPG" />
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<br /><div>Climb his Beanstalk:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987928319205090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUSDBXvgWF-81vg7AisAx1F8VPMiUYmoV-XcTp3lxgvUx41bEUBii-Fc05k-Z41EXCeLfUzfBPGhDBhyphenhyphenindUmjyaDq5Tvci1lMaFLtzRYpGBCDYsskm-7WWPQBC545vv3IlgtmIIDlSCb/s400/DSC09549.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>Pick vegetables with Peter Rabbit:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987949558394514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFwh64MkWDw9hOv4FOf5RMfD1M09hPxyI9u12bnJFdN9prD6jGEOLul0OeaNJx9Ba6ZiIzaGergCwWSGG3i1DA5t6sT3BGUn1S-wqXXDtS44BH4o1_purZeh1KiwDl0EwyeMBkkeP88UU/s400/DSC09564.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>Create our own cartoons:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987267570351618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGklibeB7ydWr3whYYwtU8rPSPzMmGs0BAU9nmfglA-3ZnMrpS5rtFMuWtWtQsrVyJBz9pVTvtuZts2L19l0GCDgLW8XjIyEhV0eT4OE6nbHObs_3TsHMRAaHUJu8yU2_dPR5eMiTKC4xL/s400/DSC09543.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>Then, Matt tried to grab a quick nap:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987947708870098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNgPEBOm-AnXfrdUM7GokB8REgrAT4b8vJD-1abxMfjRFKRWSWn1X8fRJ9d039T_wGZipXqW7jXGlAydxmNTV8EdUz54c_0rXzcogY2pV5yDlutuf6Bf5boLN_7tEbN3yiH0c2lL5vbVD/s400/DSC09558.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>But decided <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">hangin</span>' with a troll was a better way to spend the day:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987942428002994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxvJBwlTWCdL_Vea3MFIjiEAbxh0ADzAlTVB8K1g6jOgLHXFqc0-REO2Yzzb2KHLp9u_IKw_65PjSeYSIOSMJrYQHopqWu4M0kbMbr4jY4s2n2o2_aUcTo4zPrbtlj9o71dXmEqLTEf2N/s400/DSC09552.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>When he was done, he took me to the ball in a giant pumpkin:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645987935497651234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9osLLkJT9yNwofDdHeivNF5-WHJ706YwW9lW-DfzeT0uU7e0S0VB4eEZ-_5O2yd5SFxlUzp2aKsd07SMhDjDxTtbUw_PEOAQaDoyHV1XSOIAEPwDPUXSo7MBOZCQc5LW5o9dLlVvsHo1/s400/DSC09550.JPG" /></div>
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<br /><div>While Zach talked with a dragon <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645988298413045458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cH4FvXw_nYE-ozt9s0xW-zlFwHHl0Tukk9Ld5R_SBasZ8yP6IHw5xETxDK8Bb-HEQ-gsvrjMHigsDkEkKkr2eWoR2bcZUUU5XgGCiLvYPoSbrzXP4UnoE6JLdx9PN3kUG2FfagcKj6c9/s400/DSC09568.JPG" />
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<br />After a wonderful lunch together at a 50's diner, we spent some time riding the carousel, and going on a train ride. Then it was time to get going. Dad spoiled his boys with some friends to take home. Matt of course got an Elmo whom he often sleeps with now. And when he can't find him will call, "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Helmo</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">whhere</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">har</span> you?" . Zach opted for Grover, because we all know he is the superhero of the show.</div>
<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645988304313638594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-CddAUDuVbVemBim_Uy65rEFkYROHgiBgM_13daevsiRRDys02fJGrvMkL7qBFqvzmLZ9UZE7uGpxRhuHG2jgtNb3dBln78tiSXWERjClSBQaHgG6EtsWRFqNUpjjJrwMD3_jmAXZ39i/s400/DSC09607.JPG" /></div>
<br /><div>What you probably don't know about him though, is that he is one heck of a driver!</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645988304658458946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFAv2o9sEobAe136elWm2ak3TRm33i_qMfejRRziSUBS92Zl-u4rTvHdjD5PGAaICKheb1BKjzKwTAEwWHgDf_8slsIPXR06WQec5IaPSQyIzP8kNOMqXw0jFZvMahypfWivhc4Xf0-ge/s400/DSC09610.JPG" />
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<br /><div>Can you see now why it was one of the best days of the summer? I can't wait to go back and neither can the boys!
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346782196527305545noreply@blogger.com0