A whole decade!

                           A whole 10 years in the making!!!

How do I recap 10 years of wonderful, wrapped up in the body of a 10 year old? I'm not even sure I could if I tried. All I can say is that it has been an honor, privilege & absolute joy to raise that sweet, sweet child of mine. He's really everything a parent hopes their child will be. He's compassionate, funny, loving, helpful and happy. He's always been that way. I have been completely blessed since the day he was born.  So, here's to you Bubba, may the next decade be everything you hope for!!!

Cold weather, a time change & and a day off...

It's November 4th already. My favorite holiday is in three weeks. I'm getting the familiar must-put-up-Christmas-tree itch. Brace yourselves for holiday madness kids. I'm so, so ready for it. We started a Scooter countdown. 25 days until his arrival. I'm hoping my Grandma is proud of the shenanigan's we created with him. Our other major countdown says 44 days until my family is all back in NY. So very ready for that!!

Anyway, the chill of November has arrived in Upstate NY. We broke out the winter coats, hat & mittens this morning for the trek to the bus stop. I hate waiting for this bus to arrive with my kiddo this time of year. I dread going out for the bus but, the school district will not allow him to walk home alone even though I can see him from our front yard. Bummer. That time will come soon enough & I'm not ready for it. That will mean another 5 years of waiting for a bus to arrive & depart. The small child in my house will start kindergarten and that freaks me out. They grow too quickly.

The time change back an hour is totally messing with all of us this year. Even gaining an hour of sleep, it still feels like we haven't gotten enough. Normally falling back is a glorious event. Not this year. It's throwing off the mini girl horribly. Plus side to that, she's taking naps again and it isn't throwing off her bed time. HOORAY!

Tomorrow is another day off of school. Gav is going to help me with the littles "school". We do projects every day, practice colors, counting, ABC'S, do work sheets and all sorts of fun stuff. He's looking forward to being a "teacher" tomorrow and I'm loving the fact that there will be an extra set of hands. I'll even make an extra project for him to do. It'll be a fun day. Play-doh, baking cookies, board games, movies, hot cocoa. I love days off as much as he does.

I'll post some pictures of our wee shenanigan's. Happy Monday world!

Happy Halloween?!?!

It's October 31st. Already. How did that happen? I feel like we just waltzed our way through the last 10 months. I'd prefer the slow sauntering through the seasons of my childhood. Time marches on and waits for no man (or woman) though.  It's hard to believe that in 60 days we'll be celebrating the year that was and welcoming in 2014.

Here's some of my favorite fall moments with my littles. I love celebrating each holiday with them. It helps me remember how much I loved them as a child. The wonder of a child is truly an amazing thing.

 Trick or Treat Street with Bumble Bee & Strawberry Shortcake

 Autbots & Rainbow Dash (both kids had help)

Pumpkin picking @ Sunnyside gardens

We'll be getting ready to head to Gav's school soon  for the Halloween parade. I'll be accompanied by a sweet unicorn & bringing Captain America as our security detail. There will be pictures! We'll post some more later once the littles have passed out into their inevitable sugar coma.  Good thing this only happens once a year!

It's October already?!?!?

I can't believe we're 8 days away from Halloween. How the crap did that happen? This summer was a blur. A family reunion for the 4th of July, Aunt Ali left for her new home in Virginia, a 9th birthday, Oma & Poppa left for their yr long mission trip in West Virginia ( we survived both sets of departures), Oma & Ali came home in August for a visit, lazy days at the lake, sunshine was soaked up, a trip to Great Escape. We enjoyed every second of bliss that accompanies summer. School started (3rd grade!) and he's been doing AWESOME! I keep getting awesome phone calls from the teacher & principal. He's made huge progress. I know now we made the right choice to change schools. He needed AES. I'm beyond proud of  my little guy!

Oma (& Poppa-best surprise ever) came home the 11th for a visit. This will be their last visit until Christmas. They'll be home in exactly 57 days (not that anybody is counting). Having them leave again was tough, we love when they're home. Gavin is being a storm trooper for Halloween, Teagan has decided (for the 3rd time) to be a unicorn. Pictures will come later. We'll be going pumpkin picking with Nana & Grandpa at our favorite place this weekend & going to trick or treat street at the high school. It'll be a fun but busy weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

Back to the costume changes. Originally, she was going to be a cupcake, she decided she hated it. I let her pick another one knowing we could sell the other one easily. She decided on Strawberry shortcake. Given the flimsy nature of the costume & the weather forecast for the next week, I made the executive to change back to her original desire to be a unicorn. The one we found in September was too small, we found a bigger one for $5 the other day. We're all done switching. I swear. Pictures will be added later!

I promise to keep at this one & to post more often.

Jelly Bean Field Day

Today, is June 7, 2013. I'm pretty sure this will be Gavin's most favorite school day ever. It's Jelly Bean Field Day. Just the name sounds fun. Jelly Bean Field Day is a day held every first friday in June at AES. AES is my beloved Elementary school. Jelly Bean Field Day was always my favorite day in school. We looked forward to it ALL year. It's a day filled with a bunch of different games and activities the kids play. For each game/activity they complete, they get a certain amount of jelly beans at a jelly bean station. The kids run around, get all sweaty and then, just when they can eat no more, they break for a picnic lunch with their classmates. It's the stuff childhood is made of. It's rainy and blah today so, the fun was moved inside. The littles would have been overwhelmed & cranky. Maybe next year. I can't wait to hear all about his day. I hope he loves it every bit as much as I did.

fad or legit?

I was watching Dr.Oz the other day & he had an interesting segment on "Paleo". I'd heard of it before and noticed a lot of my "friends" on pintrest were re-pinning "Paleo" recipes and info. I started looking into it. If it does what everyone is saying, my body will feel amazing and my kiddo will feel better. The great question is, "is it a fad or, is it legit?" I guess we're about to be the suckers that find out. I've heard it helps with arthritis, celiac, lupus and other auto-immune issues. I've been doing some more ADHD research, and have come across several professionals that thing ADHD is a link to auto-immune & gastro issues. If this is the case, and eating Paleo works, I'm ready! We shall see & keep you posted on our findings!

17...

If you could go back and tell your 17 year old self something, what would it be?

Mine:
 You're a senior. It'll be a tough year, you'll graduate in June and leave the safety of home in August. Avoid that boy. You can do better. You'll go home, you'll be sad but don't shut down or shut people out. Just because you didn't graduate Caz doesn't mean you failed. There's a reason you weren't meant to be there. Be grateful for the girls you met there but, don't feel bad if you don't stay in touch. 

Your life plan will not work out but, it's okay, there are better things in store for you. Your dreams were big but, God's plan was bigger. Embrace it. That guy you think is a creeper will turn out to be your best friend and the love of your life. It'll take a while but, you'll marry him someday. 

You'll get pregnant. You will be terrified of telling Mom & Dad. Just breathe, they love you and, they know. You'll do the right thing even when you're being told not to. You're brave. You're loved. That baby will be the best thing that ever happened to you. He will save your life and he will be perfect. He will be so very loved. He will make life better. 

You'll have a daughter someday. She will march to the beat of her own drum. She will try your patience. Love her! Someday, she will be just as scared & insecure. Tell her she's beautiful, every day. Make sure she knows it. Set her standards for her prince charming and set them high. 

You'll have women in your life that will be your sanity when you have none and that will be there through the worst of things. You'll be surprised who they end up being. Count yourself blessed. Because, you are.