Merry Christmas!

a toddlers take on "Fall"

"The twees are bwoken... all the leaves falled off!" - Thomas, age 2.5

....a conversation that followed the breakfast debate of when to get the super power leaf blower....

Halloween 2010!

It's crazy-ville around here! Wanted to just post a quick.....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
this will be our last Halloween as a family of four! ;)

Are my bathrooms dirty?

Jack potty trained himself at the gym babysitting room and apparently Thomas is going to follow in his footsteps!

He peed on the potty at school today! Hip Hip Hooray we are one day closer to a diaper free house.

If anyone ever told the younger, stupider, carefree me I would be so excited about pee on the potty, finishing dinners or days at school with no biting, hitting or pushing reports I would have rolled my eyes... oh no but now we make up songs about the like and well, my old self would have thought that's just kind of lame ;).

If anyone even still reads this...

contrary to popular belief we are still alive :)

Summer was too fun and by the end we were CRAVING some routine.

"Thank You for Thomas, Thank You for Jack, Thank You for Mommy, Thank You for Daddy and THANK YOU FOR UMBWELLAS (umbrellas- probably not a bad call on rainy days like today)!" -- Prayers of Thanks by Thomas, age 2

Summertime Fun!

How is it the middle of July!? A few pics from our family vacation. We had the best week ever- even despite the insane heat, ridiculously early wake up calls from my kids and a jellyfish sting (which the best remedy for is vinegar not pee! ha!). The boys made great memories with their cousins and I think I only had to raise my voice once (or twice ;)).
Oooh and ahhing about the fireworks.
Found a cozy spot.

Me and my mom!
The littlest sailor!
Favorite picture of all time!

Two of my favorite guys in the world!
Blueberry picking! Two boys working hard, the littlest one picking his next blueberry victim. He ate his way through that little blueberry patch, no doubt about that! Boy loves him some berries.

what's cookin'

I have been in a total cooking slump. If I haven't made time to log memories in the blog you can rest assured, it hasn't been because I have been cooking.... Just ask AJ :)

But I think I have found my cooking slump cure! The June issue of Cooking Light magically made it into my grocery cart and it is chock full of deliciousness! I can hardly wait for it to be tomorrow to try my next recipe.

Tonight we have a variation of one of the recipes, Grilled Halibut (or Chicken) with Peach and Pepper Salsa:

Fish (or chicken in our case!):
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 (6 oz) skinless halibut fillets
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
cooking spray

Combine lemon juice, oil, paprika, and garlic. Add fish (or chicken) and let stand at least 15 minutes. Grill to desired degree of doneness and serve with fresh salsa.

Salsa
2 1/2 cups peeled yellow peaches (I am not sure i got yellow and i sure as heck don't have time to peel them.... i did throw them on the grill for a few minutes as it warmed up for a little grilled flava.)
1 1/3 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large)
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (I didn't have these and it tasted just fine)
1/2 cup chopped arugula (another omited item in mine)
1/3 c. fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano (didn't use.)
1/4 tsp salt
1 habanero pepper (used a jalepeno - worked just fine)
1 garlic clove, miced
(I also added a little pico de gallo that i had in the fridge)

Combine first 9 ingredients and toss gently. Let stand 30 minutes before serving.

I just realized I really deviated from the published recipe... Cooking light might not like me calling it one of their recipes! ha!

summer time is here to stay!

A few pics from our first weekend at the beach! Lots of sun, bikes and throwing rocks (cause that never gets old- unless you are a 32 year old mom of two boys who like to throw rocks and then it gets old as soon as your coffee is done! Not that I know from personal experience or anything.)

Me and my baby sister before a fun night out... (and by fun night out i mean we were still home by 10:30! Ha)
We even let AJ join us for some fun!
Not sure we got enough strawberries... Don't they know they will be responsible for eating the massive amounts of strawberries...

Apparently we tuckered him out with too much fun... one second playing... the next asleep on the couch. and, let's be honest, that. is. not. like. him.

Pink and Green and everything in between...

Calling all Lilly Lovers... My AWESOME friend, Emilie, hooked me up with Employee Night pass to the Lilly Warehouse Sale... and I am not sure there are words to thank her enough... here are some of my finds! Y'all know I love a good bargain... and can't help myself from sharing... i think i am still on a shoppers high!

Sweater Retails for 300 - I got it for 30 bones (i know, i know last year, but still I love it!)! Shoes (originally bought for my sister but looked too cute with my sweater... so i think i might keep... i mean for $22 I should, right!

When the price is right, get one in every color! Just joking... Some are gifts... ;) 30 bones

Shirt 8 dollars! Skirt 15 dollars!
Not joking... shorts... 15 dollars.
...don't even care if my kids "ritz cracker me" in this because it was a total... bargain!

Ok... brace yourselves... Can you handle all this excitment!? I don't know if you can....
238 dollar shoes for...... 22 dollars!


Stay tuned... I got my sister some really cute dresses! I know you are just on the edge of your seat! :)

mom, i have to tell you something...

"I have a new allergy, I think I am allergic to boring things..." - Jack, age 4.75

gonna be a long summer...

Do you think when Trace Atkins sings his song "You're gonna miss this..." he's talking about:

15 minute power struggle battles every morning to get socks put on?

Or the negotiations that go down to get one piece of greenery into a child...

Perhaps it is the constant refereeing of toys since out of the 1 bazillion we have, they only want to play with the same one!

AHHHHHH I know some day I am going to miss this, but right now, it is making my hair gray not to mention on occasion has me acting like a 4 year old.

... T-48 hours until I can start bribing with the pool! Can I get a hallelujahs!

stocked.

Something about a stocked fridge in the garage makes me happy (and feel very suburban)!! Come over and have a cold bev with us!

i have an announcement...

No, I am not pregnant (ha! but I got your attention, didn't I!?) With a nudge from a couple good friends and an urge get my creative juices flowing again, I am announcing the opening of my etsy shop! I am excited to share with you all and hope you will take a visit and have a look around.

If you're in the market for baby clothes, shower gifts or birthday presents... follow this link:
Tula Designs

oh, right, and feel free to tell your friends! :)

destined for harvard

If you are looking at this...
...and your (almost) two year old is screaming: "Look, Mommy, elephants!" you have a couple of options:
1) correct him
2) bend down and say - "Hello little boy, what does your mommy look like, we should probably go find her and let her know how smart you are..."
3) put down the application for Harvard, it's probably not happening.

Elephants? Really? Dogs, horses I could get, but ELEPHANTS! And after he called them elephants he started calling them alligators... we've got our work cut out for us with this one.

I have been MIA blogger... probably no one still reads this thing, but the kids and work has been keeping me tres busy.

I do have an announcement soon...

Happy Easter!

a little of this and that...

• I think my husband just insinuated, "Pfewf, the kids are all over me, it's 8AM and I finally got to go to the bathroom (by himself)!" Uh, I'm sorry, are you looking for sympathy? Because I haven't gone to the bathroom by myself since 2005... it's 2010. No sympathy here. none. zippo. zilch. The only thing I am feeling is jealousy and slight annoyance, because you actually DID go to the bathroom by yourself.

• I found my vaccum attachments.... you'll never guess where... on the vaccum. WOW! Never thought to look there. I secretly think jack got them out from under his bed and put them back and then poof! Mommy look they're right there!

• Just like potty training jack is- magic!- reading. I think it is part reading and part memorization but we'll take it. This is the first book he read: There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed Fly Guy. Such a great series for early readers.
  

st. anthony...

Why am I so annoyed that I can find my vaccum attachments? Doesn't this mean that I "can't" clean my house? I am more than sure they were used as swords somewhere by my two cherubs... i need to think like a 4 year old and I bet I will find them.

St. Anthony, St. Anthony please come around something is lost and cannot be found. St. Anthony, St. Anthony please come around... there are millions of dust bunnies on the ground.

finally recovered...

i think i have finally recovered from the first round Richmond loss in the tourney... my bracket hasn't but I have.

I think i have finally recovered from the barfs that struck our house and took us down... started with Thomas... somewhere in the middle included me in my bra and underwear when the post man arrived at our door... and ended with changing jacks bed about 5 times.

And... just when I think I might have recovered from the adjustment of getting back to work/getting the kids back to school/and the barf laundry clean... what arrives in the mail today... Season Three of Mad Men... i am sure this is not going to increase my blogging because I'll be "busy" (read: sitting my derriere on the couch watching Mad Men Season Three!)

spider born and spider bred...

and when I die, I'll be Spider dead. So Rah Rah for Richmond, Rah Rah for Richmond...Hip hip hooray!

Every 10 years or so we make it to the Big Dance. Did I hear the sportscasters predicting Richmond to go to the Elite Eight. Be still my beating heart.

I am getting the boys ready... Richmond Flag flying, Tshirts cleaned, fight songs memorized... Watch out St. Mary's here we come!

hypothetically speaking....

just for the record, if your 20 month old locks himself in the bathroom, it is actually not best to try and unscrew the door knob, but jimmy a credit card instead... not that I know from personal experience or anything...

THOMAS!!!!

Dear Thomas,

I didn't really have you climbing out of your crib and landing on your head on my list of things to do today. Thank you for adding to the productivity of my day. Maybe next time you could try to climb out just a little earlier and not when we are walking out the door to get Jack from school.

I am glad your heart can be won with fruit snacks and cookies. Doesn't look like you have managed to seriously hurt yourself. Nice Work.

Note to self: Add big boy bed to our ever growing wish list

Love, mom

haircut boy.

Boy O Boy what a drama-rama I have on my hands... You would have thought he was getting viles of blood drawn at the Barber Shop today.

But despite the wriggling/screaming/head flinching, I think it turned out cute--- it makes him look too old, but cute none the less! (made me giggle just a little that we were this young guys first customer of the week! Oops, sorry about that- cheers to having your most difficult customer to start your week... the good news Mr. Haircutter Man, is that your week can only go up from here!)

not sure we'll be asked to do commercials for Pedialyte

any time soon! I have been trying to get Thomas to drink the P-lyte since he has pneumonia. Poor friend has has such a tough go round this winter. Just one more reason I need Spring to come!

This is his feedback...

tis the season...

for American Idol... Is it me or are the judges tres grumplestiltskins this year?? I mean they did pick these folks right? Surely they saw some redeeming quality in more than one of them?

it's funny what a part time job can do for you.

soooo. last week I had a very important job with 2 (sometimes a little high maintenance and demanding but oh so loving) clients.
My two "clients"

This week I still have that job, but am also back to work for my old company! Can I get a "Whoo Whoo"!? After me badgering them once a month ;) to come back, they (finally!) contacted me on Friday and need some help with recruiting. I am THRILLED to help them out, in fact, today I felt like I should pinch myself because it is the PERFECT balance for me. I'll work when the kids are napping and a few hours at night/weekends/whenever there is a quiet moment. I can even continue to pick Jack up from school. So yesterday I quickly had to throw on my grown up pants and prepare to negotiate salaries as opposed to negotiating additional desserts/shows/minutes in the bath, but I couldn't be happier. It might just be for a short stint, but I will enjoy it while it lasts.

Without getting too much on a soapbox, I think it is sometimes hard for women in our generation. The woman's movement provided us a world in which we can "do" and "be" anything. Many of my mom friends and I have spent the greater part of a decade working really hard to achieve success in the workforce. Typically 10 years + is enough time to achieve some pretty great goals. There was a time where I drank fancy coffee and wore "chi chi" shoes and carried cute purses (if that doesn't make me sound superficial, i don't know what! but you get my drift!)! In my new "position" (aka mom) I am always drinking (ghetto) coffee, in gym shoes and am lucky if I remember my diaper bag -ha! One day in August of 2005 my life was changed forever and I gradually (3 days a week to 3 afternoons a week to no afternoons or mornings a week) bowed out of the workforce. The problem is, I felt like I left part of my identity there- my heart didn't want to be there full time but a part of me did. My "new jobs" were not necessarily my strong suit- laundry, cleaning, diapers, dishwashers. However, there were a lot of the parts of my new job description I did love- my kids, crafts, playdates, blogs, volunteering at school, Regis & Kelly-- ok so maybe everything but the cleaning is pretty fun! I can't think of a bigger blessing than being home with my boys--there is nothing that can replace watching your children grow, an unsolicited hug or the pitter patter of little crazy T. This is the life I have always wanted, I just didn't realize I would miss my old life as much as I did. Anyways... Did you know a part time job is a little bit like a prescription for Wellbutrin! That's all.

reached a new low.

we got this as a gift for someone's birthday. I don't think "someone" reads the blog but just in case they shall remain nameless.
Well today at nap time I noticed that it had a "try it" feature....and, I'm hooked. I've been "trying it" all afternoon and now have a personal best of 68... i hope to beat it by bed time and I REALLY hope the Easter bunny has started reading my blog and brings me one for Easter. :) It's only 15 bones at target. and no I am not getting a free one for posting this.

it's March!

... and you know what that means... (Yes, theoretically it SHOULD stop snowing)... but more importantly....

only 22 more days until Mad Men Season 3 is released! Wahhoooooo.

getting creative...

This is what we have resorted too... painting the snow.... (Yes, we still have THAT much snow...)

Spring... HURRY and get here before I lose my mind...

recipe thursday

Tried a new recipe last night...

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Buffalo-Chicken-Sandwiches/Detail.aspx

Topped with Blue Cheese Slaw.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blue-Cheese-Cole-Slaw/Detail.aspx

Good stuff. Too spicy for the kiddos, but AJ and I loved it. I did use less Franks sauce then they called for... not on purpose, I just bought the smaller bottle on accident.

thank goodness...

Thank goodness I was able to escape to dinner with a friend last night at a local favorite, Meredith's... as we are about to get SNOWED IN AGAIN... Enough of the white stuff! Enough.

We JUST got a glimpse of our roof for the first time this week. And now here comes another FOOT. I better get to the wine store this afternoon! :) This winter is for the BIRDS...

oh gosh...

I am not sure who says "Oh Gosh" but thomas has picked up on it and all morning it has been "Oh Gosh" this and "Oh Gosh" that. It is pretty funny to hear him say it...

And Thank You Auntie Er! Your Christmas present has provided TONS of entertainment (read: a moment of silence) for mommy! YAY!

Leave it to Jack....

who made me laugh before i had kids?

We were riding in the car talking about Lent and what it means... I told the kids that I am giving up eating after 7:30pm and am going to write my Nana once a week. Jack, what would you like to do for Lent?

"I am going to give up dinner for Lent and I'll call Nana once a day. She'll like that."

Oh heavens... how do my children not like to eat and sleep. They are my two favorite activities.

I have finally gotten around to doing some decorating in the playroom... We've only been living her a YEAR! It is only the room we spend the most time in! We hope one day to finish the basement and banish playing to down there... but since all this snow has killed the money tree in the backyard... that will be a project for another day.

I wanted to do something functional... and something that would be ok if one day we knock down the wall between the kitchen and the playroom and it becomes an informal eating area... I just love these beauties from Pottery Barn:

Pottery Barn Blackboard $149.00











Pottery Barn Corkboard $150






Our house... Drum roll please....
My plan is to put a little something in that empty spot near the frames to hold the chalk... I just haven't found it yet...

Blackboard:
Frame Joann Fabrics $25
Blackboard Paint (Lowes) $12

Corkboard:
Frame Joann Fabrics $25
Cork (Lowes) $15
Mirror Hanging stickers $2.50

Total = $80

Daughters...

Apparently our "daughters" only come in the form of God Daughters... and we wouldn't want it any other way! Isn't my God Daughter GORGEOUS! I am smitten with her for sure... and am so happy I have someone to buy those irresistible clothes for!!Baby Emerson we love you!
Look at this motley crew...
Welcome to the "club" Emerson!

i think my kids might be cooler than me...

They just requested Jay Z for dinner music... they have a weird obsession with the song "Empire State of Mind!"

No you don't want Wiggles? How about Laurie Berkner? No, Jay Z and Alecia Keys.... Dance Party Dinner it is...

if you...

put edamame in Spaghettio's do you think it counts as a healthy meal?

Apparently the storm I needed to be productive was not a snow storm after all... my mom and I did more at my house in three days than AJ and I have done in 6 months...

- two sets of curtains sewn and hung
- blackboard frame painted and hung
- corkboard frame hung
- dining room pictures hung
- I am too embarrassed to ask her how many loads of laundry she did for me... let's just say WAY more than 1
- touch up paint downstairs moldings... from where the monsters drives their trucks into the walls... i mean from where the movers were not gentle when we moved in...

She even taught Thomas how to swiffer his own room! Nothing like a self sufficient 2 year old! Love it! I'll try to post pics of some of the more interesting improvements...

Wow- i am tired just typing it all... Maybe AJ should go out of town more often! And just for the record... YES, the children were here!

All in a mornings work....



not sure why its sort of blurry on youtube...

today...

started out so strong... woke up to a few inches (maybe like 4/5) of snow... thought that we dodged the blizzard bullet.

then I turned on the Today Show to learn....

THE SNOW HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET! What?!? If the snow hasn't even started then why have I already shoveled the driveway once today and it's not even 9AM!?

wouldn't you think....

after being snowed in my house would be immaculate, laundry would be 100% dominated, pictures hung, and I would have organized at least one closet?

Not. so. much.

Good thing then that we have another snow storm headed our way on Tues nite! Perhaps the third foot of snow will bring some productivity with it!?

a snowy day

Oh boy did it ever snow! The boys took three hour naps after playing in it ALL morning... I can't believe how long they lasted out there.

Jack's Snowman Measuring Stick... Something tells me we will need about three of these to get the accurate amount!
Biggest Kid of all...
Crazy T helping snowblow

I am not sure how long it takes for nearly two feet of snow to melt, but I am betting it will still be here when we get hit with more on Tuesday! EEK!