Cave Explorers!!!

We had an awesome day yesterday, visiting our good friends down in the southeastern part of the state. It was a spectacular day, our first hint of Indian Summer. Brilliant sunshine, and temps in the high seventies. I had such a fantastic time in the car driving both there, and back. The kids were pretty entertained with a DVD, while I sat in the driver's seat, admiring the gorgeous scenery, and reminiscing about time gone by. I attended college very close to where our friends now live, and I made this trip many, many times during that time in my life...under much different circumstances, though! ;) It made me feel young again....until I'd survey my surroundings...glance at the rearview mirror and see the two kiddos in the back seat, and then realize that I was cruisin' in a mini-van. Well, it was still an awesome day, even if I can't even pretend I'm 21 again for more than a split second!!! ;) Thanks Hannah, for hosting us...we had such a wonderful time, and can't wait to visit again, soon! And now, for a WHOLE SCHLEW of pictures.... :)

Happy Birthday, Annabelle!!! ;)

The lovely Anna's birthday was Saturday!!!! We love you sooooo much, Annabelle, miss you *almost* as much, and pray for you every day!!!! Happy, happy birthday, sweet girl!!! ;)

Fellow Mommies.....I WANNA KNOW!!!!!!

Okay fellow mommies of toddlers (or kiddos who previously were toddlers)...please, please, please share some tips with me regarding HOW YOU GET ANYTHING DONE productively, without losing your patience a zillion times!!! Take cleaning, for instance. Today is my "cleaning" day. I am currently in the middle of cleaning the kitchen floor. As I stopped to check email, this is what happened...the "poltergeists" have attacked, again....or rather poltergeist, as Brooke did this on her own, Connor just came over once he saw what fun she was having. Mind you, they have a whole toy room and living room they can play in--15 feet away. They can do whatever their little hearts desire in there while I clean in the kitchen...I don't care...I just want 15 minutes to clean the kitchen floo

I give Brookie the dustbuster and let her help vaccuum...I let them "help" me wash windows...we took the pack and play away, because that just became a huge collector of toys...a.k.a...CRAP, so that's no longer an option. And, naptime is sporadic and questionable, so I can't always wait for that each day. Please, please, please...any tips or advise on how to keep an intense, high-energy, creative little 18 month old spirit occupied for 15 minutes, in a DIFFERENT area than I'm in, would be ever-so-helpful...as I'm about to lose my ever-lovin' mind!!! ;)

"Connor-isms"...the Latest and the Greatest.....

Just a few funny things our ever-thinking four year old has come up with, lately! :)


Mommy (TO DADDY): "I don't know what we are going to do about Brooke. Time-outs don't work, nothing works...we need to figure out a form of discipline that will WORK!!!"

Connor: "Mommy, I think you need to build her a dog cage......that's the only thing that's going to work." ;)

I guess little ears are always listening to grown-up conversations! ;) We laughed sooo hard (after explaining that though this might be just the ticket, it is highly illegal, and mommy and daddy would most certainly get in big trouble). I'm pretty sure he understood...hopefully.... ;)

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We were out for a walk recently, and the weather was undoubtedly chilly. We only made it a little ways down our street before turning around and heading for home.

Mommy: "It is FREEZING out here. Connor, I'm going to need to drag out your big, puffy, winter coat. I can't believe how cold it is already!"

Connor: "Mommy, what does puffy mean?"

Mommy: "You know, like, big, squishy, lumpy...remember?"

Connor: "Ohhhhhhh...you mean like your tummy????"

Mommy: *Sigh*, "Exactly".... ;)

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Connor and Gramps were sitting watching TV the other day, and this wonderful convo. was relayed back to me. Apparently, a commercial for a toothpaste dispenser came on.

Connor: "Oh Gramps, I wish Mommy would buy one of those things for her toothpaste."

Gramps: "Really, Connor? Why???"

Connor: (Sighs)..."Cause her bathroom is suuuuuch a mess..."

Thanks, Con! ;) I really appreciate you looking out for the cleanliness of my bathroom!!! Time to learn how to scrub out a sink and a toilet...bathtub, too! ;)

It's Been Crazy Around Here!

Wow...gone are the leisurely summer days, spent lazing (er, rather, chasing after two kids) by the pool, playing outside until the sun goes down, evening walks around the neighborhood, playgrounds, parks, heat, humidity. Fall is here, and I think WINTER is following quickly in her footsteps. It's COLD here. It's been rainy and chilly, and those crazy weather-people are calling for scattered SNOW showers on Monday. What?!? It's the beginning of October, people...how is that possible?

The days are shorter, and we're trying to cram as much as possible into each one. Preschool, playdates, visits to pumpkin patches, and the apple orchard, Soccer, and Music classes, and me teaching three mornings a week...it's a tad bit crazy around here. Which, makes me really and truly appreciate mornings like this one, where I can savor my coffee with a hint of gingerbread spice (and no, Brooke is not going to indulge in my creamer today, FB friends, I promptly put it back into the fridge after each use now :), and lounge around in my pj's with my hair a frazzled/frizzled mess. A trip to Target is in order though (woohoo--I looove any excuse to get to Target :), so, I'll probably go run comb through my hair, throw it back, and get the kiddos into their gear--jeans, sweaters, coats..ugh..., and make sure to pick up some play-dough so I can have 30 minutes this afternoon to get a little work done!

Much ado about nothing, I guess! ;)