Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas was merry and bright!

We all had a wonderful Christmas. Great kids who were amazed by Santa's magic, knowing just the right things to bring, just the right time to come both to Mom and PopPop's house and in the middle of the night while sleeping. He ate our cookies, drank our milk and took the food to his reindeer.

We got more than anyone should during a time that is so hard on so many people and we are thankful and very blessed.

Thank you.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Happy Birthday!


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
Today, Jack turned 2 yrs. old. He is smart as a whip, can talk your leg off, a very fast runner and had a ball at his family birthday party Saturday night and playing at Chuck E Cheese while carrying around torn tickets that he was more excited about than the prizes you get for said tickets. He is growing so fast, playing so much, loving with an open heart and stubborn as a mule. He's perfect.
I love you, Jack!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Long overdue, but totally needed

Here is my list of things/people I am thankful for:

My family, the list is long and you know who you are (mostly the only people who read this blog if any of you still do, which I don't know since you NEVER comment), my home, warmth, food-a- plenty (even some of it I have made with my very own two hands!), a life that lets me spend an extraordinary amount of time with my children who both amuse and amaze me every single day, more times that I am laughing than not, free long distance (and if you know me at all, you know I am serious about my phone usage), our dvr (I really do use it multiple times per day, every day), healthy family members, loving friends and a country that we have a voice in and are able to say what we want, when we want to and not fear what may happen to us.

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving and are almost done shopping for Christmas!!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

My mini-me

Jack is acting a lot like me these days. Very much a lap-time baby, loves to be held, tickled, played with, chased and loves to laugh at funny stuff on TV. He loves his sister SO much and cannot wait to get her from school everyday. He is SO funny!
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Tomorrow is a day off of school and we are having a playdate with our good friends. We are meeting them at Pump It Up for jumping fun, lunch and playing after and general F-U-N!! She is so excited she actually grabbed my shirt and jumped up and down and screamed when I told her about our plans. She is having an amazing kindergarten year and she deserves to have a fun playdate as much as the next kid, don't you think?
All A report cards are worth it, right?

More later...

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Kids


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
Here is one of the only pictures of multiple children looking in a variety of directions. Jack, Daphne, Lauren and Daisie. Cute and LOTS of fun. Some candy, not too much, great fun!!
Yay Halloween!!!!!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Happy Halloween a day early!

This year Lauren will be a princess (no surprise) with a skirt that lights up with fiberoptics. She is thrilled! Jack will be Bam Bam to Jenna's Pebbles. By next year, I am guessing, he will have an opinion on what he wants to be. We got him a Blue's Clues costume a few weeks ago, but it freaked him out SO much that I think he was sure we actually skinned Blue and tried to make him wear her. The logic of an almost 2 yr. old escapes me. Anyway, he was so sad, we returned it. I fear (like another blog I read http://mightygirl.com) he will be the kid in the "this IS my Halloween costume" t-shirt in a few years. Fingers crossed that I am wrong.
Lauren's school doesn't do a Halloween party since so many children don't celebrate Halloween, but they do do a Christmas party. Whhaaaaaaaaat? Anyway, no party at school tomorrow which is a shame because I remember school parties with such fondness!

I will post some pictures as soon as I can.

More later...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Foxy and Harris


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
So sad to see Foxy go. Great dog.

Rest in peace good girl!

Say hi to Bubby and KyKy for me!



(Harris, by the way, is in excellent health!)
So I got tagged...

By Amy Summers (http://summerz1.blogspot.com/) and it means I have to tell you 7 things about me you don't already know. OK, some of you know everything, but maybe I will surprise you.

1. I was decorating Bob Hart's dad's grave when I found out that I won my car.

2. Our grey and white dog was once a black and tan puppy.

3. I wore my beautiful green and black formal to 3 different proms, with 3 different dates, but only one who really matters.

4. I have lived in 6 different cities in my life.

5. When John and I were introduced, I was more interested in watching the series finale of "The Wonder Years" at Joe Rayes house than I was in meeting "...some high school kid".

6. For several years in a row, Rebecca and I would welcome the coming of summer with our annual "convertible sunburn". We would borrow mother's car and drive around with the top down until our arms were pink. That's when we knew it was no longer winter.

7. When John and I were first dating, we had gone to Evansville and our way back stopped at Windmill Bakery for donuts and milk (party animals!) and John took off at a green light really fast and made me spill milk down the front of my shirt. To this day, he makes fun of me for it.

I don't know how to link to other people very well, but Amy's blog is at the top and I recommend it.

More later...

Saturday, October 18, 2008

A kiss from the birthday girl!


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
Jenna is now 1. And so is Jack. Wow! That's a lot of one year olds in one rather small family. Her party was very nice, well attended by her family and full of presents that Jack was more than will to show her how to use or to claim as his own. Lauren waited patiently (for a 5 1/2 yr. old) on the sidelines as each gift was painstakingly opened.
The year has flown by and the kids have changed so much. I can just be glad that the rest of us look just the same and have not change one ounce in the last 365 days...sigh...

More later...

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Updates:

We had a movie night at school the other night and Lauren had a BALL! Jack did too, but she had lots of friends there and it made me happy to hear all of her friends call out her name when they got there. Lauren! Lauren! So nice to know how many friends she has. Jack enjoyed being included in some games with "big kids". He laughed and ran and laughed some more. It was great fun.
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Jack is potty training and doing well. He potties in public, at home, at friends houses. He is doing great and I am so proud of him.
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Jenna is almost a year old already and I can hardly believe it. She is so big, has 2 teeth, is crawling and has the sweetest smile. What a doll!

More later...

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The trash can ride


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
We went to Golden Heritage Days last night and all of the kids had fun. Lauren rode this ride three times. Jenna enjoyed people watching and Jack wanted out of his stroller to run and run and run. After the festivities, we went to Rebecca's house for a bath and then home to bed. It was a fun night and we avoided all of the rain, although there was a huge clap of thunder and a few bolts of lightening in the distance. We were able to stay dry and that was pretty important, too.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

MOMMA! We're going to go to Chuck E Cheese!!!

So, today we are going to the place normally reserved for birthdays only in order to support our school's fundraiser. I know she will have a blast and so will Jack, but the only way we can go is because John is in town. Otherwise, I cannot be two places at once and we wouldn't be going.
I will let you know how it goes...

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Did you ever have one of those days...

Yesterday, Jack woke up foul! Angry, screaming, tears. The whole nine yards. It barely improved, up until the vomitting in JCPenney's. He just missed the clothing, but made a HUGE mess. Then we came home, I took the stroller completely apart to clean it, got Lauren from school, we went to dance class and her teacher was 15 minutes late for our first class and most days I could have stayed late, but last night was my first PTA meeting and I am the secretary, so I should be there. Headed home from dance after sitting in traffic and during the entire class and drive home, Jack SCREAMED, "ALL DONE! ALL DONE! ALL DONE! ALL DONE!!!" Relaxing, it was not. Came in the house, got the kids in the tub and out, fed them supper, passed John in the doorway (literally) and got to my meeting with four minutes to spare. Good meeting and kids were good for John and happy when I got home, so all was well.

Friday, September 05, 2008

So...

How tired does a baby have to be to ask for a nap? Pretty tired. I have one of those today...sigh

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Jack and his class

Yesterday, we had Kindermusik again and he had a much better time. We are just going to have to go at his pace and not try to do what kids who have been in the class since before they could hold up their own heads can do. They know what to expect. They know the approximate order of things. Jack doesn't. He's trying. And I think he's doing pretty great!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

And so...

She's been in school just under a month and seems to love it. EVERY day for lunch she has a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chocolate milk, so we are going to start sending her lunch on Tuesday. We'll see if she eats any more than just a sandwich and drink now. Any ideas what else I can send? I'm thinking apples, grapes, cantaloupe, banana, chips, some sort of dessert (obviously not all of that fruit in one day!). I don't know if she'd eat veggies, but I may try it.
Jack is still lost without her most of the morning. He goes from room to room calling, "Sis? Sis?" It's sad to hear him. He and I have started Kindermusik classes. They are proving to be a challenge since he does have to stop moving all over the place for about 45 minutes. He got in big (baby) trouble the other day and it ended with his lip out, tears welled up in his eyes and him not making eye contact with me. I felt badly that he was upset, but he needs to know his actions have consequences. It begins.
All in all we are all happy and healthy and going strong.
More later...

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Aug. 11, 2008


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
First day of school!
Kindergarten

We have now had 10 days to adjust to full day school, new friends, new schedules, new rules, new teachers, new building and the same old lunch, again, of peanut butter and jelly and chocolate milk. (When you ask her about lunch, she sighs, puts the emphasis on again, then tells us. It's pretty funny.) She has made some friends and sits with the same ones everyday at lunch. Her class is now at 29 students, with more to come possibly, but there is an aid in there too, so hopefully they can maintain some control. She is enjoying herself, but homework starts this week, and later dance class and Daisy scouts. We will see how this whole thing goes.
Oh. And I volunteered to be the PTA secretary. Do you see where it says sucker on my forehead?

More later...

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Vacation Installments 2-7

So, the jellyfish ruined everyday on the beach, but we frolicked in the pool, Lauren learned to not only go all of the way under water, but to jump in without holding the side of the pool and to doggie paddle from one end of the pool to the other. Although Jack liked the pool for a while, his favorite spot to play was in the shower normally used to get sand off of you before you leave the beach. Oh well. To each their own.
We ate at lots of places that were wonderful with great food and view to match. The best meal we had was at Pompano Joe's (http://www.pompano-joes.com/). Both the food and service was outstanding and the view was fabulous. We also enjoy Whale's Tail At Seascape. Also good food and service, but the view was the best. Jack had a little diaper issue here and there was no changing table, so that sucked, but we handled it. When John and I went out for our "date night" we found some seashells which was amazing, because this part of FL is not known for shells, but then we ate at The Donut Hole Bakery Cafe and it was AWESOME! Great food, HUGE portions and very personable staff.
We got to shop at Publix (http://www.publix.com/) and I love Publix. Great store brands and good prices. We got Cuban sandwiches from there and they were so cheap but great value.
Yes, I know I sound like a review site, but so much good food on one trip is almost unheard of.
On Friday, John and Chuck went deep sea fishing on a charter boat and had a ball. They each caught a big King Mackrel fish and would definitely go again.
We took a dolphin cruise and I won't go again. The water was too rough for me and Jack vomitted too, so that's enough for me.
Jack cut a tooth while we were there. Lower left 2 yr. molar.
Glad to be home...

Friday, August 01, 2008

Our vacation: Installment 1

We arrived last Saturday and the condo was very nice. We unloaded our truck, went to the beach and that is when Jack decided sand is EVIL EVIL EVIL and surely going to eat his feet. Thus, running (as well as you can run in very soft sand and being just shy of 20 mo. old) toward the stairs was the only plausible option for him. We noticed no one in the water and wondered why, then John spotted the jellyfish. They would be our nemesis the entire trip.
We explained to Lauren about the different colored flags on the beach and what they meant and that we were waiting for a green flag. It never came. Purple flag means aquatic life which can be jellyfish, stingrays or other dangerous fish. Everyday with the purple flag and varying degrees of yellow and red warning of medium to large waves.
That night, we ate at Joe's Crab Shack. It was good food, good atmosphere and the best part as far as I am concerned was the playground for the kids to use while we waited for our table. The kids got new tie-dyed shirts and that was it for day one.

More later...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Attitude anyone?

No? Didn't think so. Know why? We have all of the attitude in the world RIGHT HERE!! Seriously, this is the worst it has been...so far. I know, it might get worse, but then again, we had a heart to heart tonight, Lauren and I, and we discussed consequences, not the least of which is losing possession of a cherished bear one day for each display of attitude as well as not seeing our best-est friend in the whole world at all this week. Sounds serious? IT IS!

We leave in six more sleeps for vacation, but as far as I can tell, the weather may be rainy while we are there, but that may help us avoid quite so much misery of all being sunburned, so...

Lauren found her backpack for kindergarten. It is Hello Kitty, pink and sparkly. All of the requirements set forth by Lauren being met, we got the rest of her school supplies. Now, the countdown begins.

More later...

Monday, July 14, 2008

Less than a month...

In less than a month, Lauren starts kindergarten. She will be with the big kids, in the real world. I'm afraid. I'm very afraid...and a little sad. She is still my baby, although a chatty baby I will say. She is looking more grown up, especially with all of the missing teeth. Currently, she has lost 7 teeth, and is missing 5 right now. She is an awfully cute little jack-o-lantern.

Jack is running faster all the time. Also, protesting louder EVERYDAY!! And protesting the most mundane of things...where is his drink, he wants his shoes/he hates his shoes, he wants to potty, NO! POTTY!, downstairs, upstairs, down again. I must say though, he is a SOLID napper, great sleeper at night, funny as heck and loves to play!!!

More later...

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Granddaddy and Lauren

Here's another one I edited. I think I like it and I know Lauren does. Anything that offers pink anything is OK by her.

How do you like this?

There is a new editing tool on flickr that I tried and I can't decide if I like it or not, but here is a picture of Jack cropped, softened, with a frame, rounded edges, and text added. What do you think? Not too bad for free!!

Friday, July 04, 2008

Happy 4th!

We had a wonderful day. Lots of family came to our house for a cookout that was rumored to possibly be rained out, but wasn't (YAY!), packed up and went to Princeton to Rebecca, Bryan and Jenna's house. We ate some more, went to the fairgrounds and watched fireworks in the mist and it was honestly kind of cool. Half way through the fireworks, Lauren and Jack were ready to go. It was no Disney fireworks display, but it was nice. We had a great spot to sit, no one was in front of us and we walked to and from Rebecca's, so no bad traffic.
What a fantastic 4th! Life is really, really good indeed!

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

SO...

She loved bible school, still sings the songs and today wished she could go back right now. I explained that it is over for the year, but she wants to go back anyway.

Today Lauren said, "I know! We could train Jack like a dog!" I said, "To do what?" she said, "Anything!" and then proceeded to put her shoe down, have him pick it up, praised him and then offered him a bite of a banana. Wow!! He's a good dog!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

FRIENDS

That is what her bracelet said that she made today at bible school. Today she had fun, but keeps talking about these big boys who are SO BIG! Don't know if they are mean or nice, but I hear they may be 7 or 8 years old and that's old!!
Her friend Jack is in her group and normally they stick together, but at the end of today, they were separated by several kids and neither minded too much. That's fine since next year he won't be in our class, but I am sure that will throw her, for a couple of days anyway!
She seems to like the music as much as anything, though I am sure crafts rank way up near the top as well. We were able to get a CD of the music a couple of weeks ago, so it is familiar to Jack, Lauren and me and they sing the songs at the end of each day and now the songs are getting stuck in her head, which is more than a little frustrating if I do say so. Anyone know any remedies for that particular problem?

More as the week progresses...

Monday, June 16, 2008

God's big, big, big, big, BIG backyard!!

Bible school started today. She liked it, but it was at her old preschool which kind of threw her for a loop not having her regular room, her regular teacher, her regular friends. She does have friends in her class, but it's just not the same. She did have fun, but it wore her out. VERY GOOD INDEED!!

I'll check in later in the week to keep you posted!!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Summer break

So far, we've gone to the library a couple of times, picked up bible school music and done a whole lot of nothing else. Thanks gas prices...
She has a reading camp, which sounds much nerdier than it will be, the first three weeks of July and the fourth week, we will be on our way to the beach. Then school starts Aug. 11, so summer seems remarkably short this year.
My big girl will start kindergarten this year. I cannot believe it. Seriously...

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Momma! He's so pretty!

Uh-oh. Never a good sentence to hear your 5 yr. old girl say about your 1 yr. old boy. He came in with stick on earrings on and I just heard her say, "Pick your hair clip. Which one do you like the best?" I would stop it, but why? It won't be too long that he will allow this kind of playing, so why fight it? They are very funny and to hear them in the other room laughing together makes me smile every time. He thinks it it SO funny to sit on her when she is lying on the floor and then he bounces on her. She starts laughing, so does he and then I stop them for fear he might really hurt her, but it is fun for a second.
And now he is crying because the clip won't stay in. Sigh...

Monday, May 19, 2008

3 cuties

Here is a recent picture of Jenna, Lauren and Jack. This is the closest of all of our attempts to get all of them in the same picture, facing the camera, eyes open and not crying.
Sorry...

Not been on a real computer in a while, so here's what we have been up to:

Lauren is almost done with preschool. :(
Jack is running and laughing.
We are going to the zoo tomorrow (if it doesn't rain) for a field trip.
Jack asked to use the potty yesterday and did 7+ times. YAY!
We went to Indianapolis to see Backyardigans LIVE! with friends.
We have planned vacation to FL in July.

I will try to keep the posts more frequent, but forgive me for not. Maybe I will be better once we get a new computer.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Gardening 101

Jack, Lauren and I went to Rural King to buy some plants to plant. They liked seeing the dirt dug and Lauren loves to do the watering. We are trying to grow tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe, squash, cauliflower and broccoli. Wish us luck...Any growing tips GREATLY appreciated!!!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Pictures!

If you can see my flickr.com account, please check out all of the new photos. If you are not a member but want an invite, let me know. I have some pictures marked as public, but not too many of the kids. Mostly just Disney and zoo stuff. I try to keep the kids private because of sickos! Anyway, lots of new pictures if you wanna see. Send me an email, I'll send you a flickr invite. Simple.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Parties....

We took cupcakes to school Thursday and she had a ball. On her actual birthday, we had our play friends meet us at Chuck E Cheese's and fun was had by all. Saturday she lost another tooth, this time her front center right one, and we geared up for her family party on Sunday. She got her big gift (a Hula Girl bike!) and promptly fell off (and John ended up with a scraped knee) and declared she was not going to ride again until she is 8 years old. Within 3 hours, she was back on it and doing fine.
Tomorrow, we go to the doctor for her 5 yr. old appointment and Tuesday, we have kindergarten round up. YIKES!
Up next: Figuring out how to slow time...

Thursday, April 03, 2008

And now...


blue tongue
Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
the blue tongue!!!

Her big entrance!


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Originally uploaded by The Joys of Motherhood
Lauren brand spankin' new!!!
This is it...

We are at her 5th birthday-eve. Dang. I remember where we were that night and what we did. First, Rebecca and Mother came down to go with me to see Dr. Brown, we decided to induce the next day, we went to the hospital to see Daisie (who up to that point was the most beautiful newborn I had ever seen), went to Kiplee's for supper, came home and went to bed, didn't sleep, was already awake when the alarm went off, listened to WRAY where Rebecca was working and playing all baby-related songs and our wedding song for us (which, by the way, made me teary then and when I think about it now) and the rest is history...WOW!
And what a history it is!!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Water water everywhere

Canoes anyone? Have you seen my basement? Water. In the walls. Up from the floor. Etc. Yuck! Lauren can't play down there. Jack can't either. When will the rain end???
Sigh. Spring has already sprung.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

She survived, actually, thrived!

She had a ball on her field trip and didn't get lost or separated or even miss me being there ;( I don't really know about that last one, but I bet she didn't mind going without me. She has kindergarten round up coming up in way less than a month and then in a few short months, she will be thrown to the wolves in the real world. With real other (potentially really mean) kids and real (potentially really, really mean) teachers and school lunches (that she probably won't eat) and homework.
Sigh...Didn't we just get home from St. Mary's with her in a blanket and Gymboree sleeper and look in amazement at what we had made? How did we get here???

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Tomorrow she grows up a little more...

She's going on her first field trip without me. Sigh...I can't believe it. They are going to the museum here and she is very excited to tell me all about it, "...and I promise honest I will tell you everything Momma." My baby!

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Sorry for the lack of posts

You know how it is chasing a 15 month old. If you don't, it is BUSY! He is starting to stand up for himself and make himself laugh. Lauren is an amazing big sister and protector, but watch out if he "takes her stuff"! It's war! She yells no and he yells it back. It's almost comical. Almost.
More later...

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Running everywhere

Jack is off to the races! Walking bordering on jogging. He needs a bit longer, but it's not long now...dang it. Lauren can keep up with him, but we barely can and he knows it. He got a temporary reprieve today at Target when he was sprung from the cart. He laughed and "ran" from us for 10 minutes. He is SO darn cute!!!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I'm not one to brag, but this IS my blog...

Lauren is a genius! One of the most intelligent in her class (according to her parent/teacher conference) and she is "sparkly"! She counted the highest when asked to count, can hop on each foot, skip, walk backward, copy shapes (pre-writing and pre-math skills), write her name with a capital letter followed by lower case letters, knows her capital letters (and said them as fast as she could) and all of her lower case letters (except for the funny looking 'g' just like that one that she told the teacher did NOT look like a g...) and she has a lot of friends and interacts with them all very well. Her one thing to work on is to wait to talk. "...she is just bursting with information to share and she has a lot to say, but thinking 'is it my turn to talk or my turn to listen?' is something they will be working on for the next 3 mo." I am SO proud of her!!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

I know. It's been a month...sorry

We have had a LONG vacation. It was great, but LONG in case I didn't mention it. We went to the beach, to Mark's wedding (it was beautiful, btw!), and to Walt Disney World. The kids loved it. We did too. 4 is a magical age to go to Disney. 1, not so magical. Bored. He also wanted down A LOT and he is SO strong. We did get to take him on 2 trains, the Carousel of Progress, The Transit Authority and a few others. He did like the fireworks each time, but slept through Fantasmic. Lauren was thrilled to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Leo, JoJo, Goliath, June, Cinderella, Prince Charming, the wicked step mother and sisters and WOODY from Toy Story.
Look at my www.flickr.com acct. if you want to see pictures.