Better Late Than Never

Today, I finally got around to taking my tree down. Yeah, yeah, I know. It's January 14th.

It was a perfect day to get it done. I was babysitting, and the baby was sleeping, and my kids were occupied with their BFF, Tyler. I knew I had a good hour to get it done!

As I was pulling the tree to the middle of the room, so I could easily take everything down, I realized that I forgot to take the posed Christmas pictures that I had been planning to do (yes, I know, January 14th). So I quickly pushed the tree in front of the TV (not the prettiest tree spot, but good lighting!), dressed the kids in their Christmas clothes, and snapped away as my little helper, Tyler, made the kids smile!









Then, Dylan had it. He got mad, and Lexie tried her best to mimic him!



He refused to smile, while Lexie tried her hardest to get him to.



At last, he couldn't resist her cuteness!



Just for the record, my beanstalk of a son still fits in that cup! All he does is grow taller, not heavier!



Yeah, that was fun!



In the end, I got some cute shots. Maybe next year I'll actually take these BEFORE Christmas!

Top Ten Reasons Why Mommy Needs A Vacation

1. Lack of sleep. Lexie's first nightmare on Sunday night. Check. Back pain/hip pain for the first time ever on Monday and Tuesday nights. Check. Check. Pass the sleeping pills.

2. I have cleaned more major messes in 3 short days than I have in the past several months combined. Messes caused by two miniature blonds, and some 4-legged members of the household. Note to every living being in this house: NO MORE MESSES! I'm done!!! I can't clean anything else up! I'm running short on paper towels. And cleaning spray. And clothes. And I'M LOSING MY MIND! UGH!

3. The past three days, my completely potty trained daughter has been having accidents. She gets so caught up in playing, and waits until the last minute, which results in pee trails to the bathroom. WHICH I HAVE TO CLEAN UP!!!

4. There is a mysterious leak in the roof over our sunporch. I can't see where it's coming from, but Lake SnowMelt is covering the floor of the porch. I am so ready to just bulldoze the sunporch and turn it into a deck!

5. Minor health insurance mishap. Grant went to the pharmacy yesterday to pick up a prescription, only to find that he no longer had insurance. Say what?!? The money certainly was taken out of his paycheck. Turns out, the health insurance company had no clue what had happened and blamed it on the pharmacy. Everything was perfectly fine today. I'm thinking said health insurance company had some issues after a recent major change, and decided to put the blame on somebody else! ;) At least I can put this one out of mind.

6. Kids in rare form. It has been incredibly cold over the past week, which resulted in cabin fever. My kids just want to play outside!!! We're supposed to have a warm spell, starting tomorrow, so hopefully they can burn some energy. And, you know, get covered, head to toe, in mud from the melting snow and thawing ground.

7. The yelling. I've been yelling so much that even I'm giving myself a headache. I blame it on stress and lack of sleep.

8. Extra money? Where are you? 19 nieces, 9 siblings, 4 parents, 3 grandparents, many friends, babies being born, 2 kids, and a husband. All in need of birthday presents and Christmas presents. It is always something!!! Literally. Always.

9. The moms of the Preschoolers that get out of school 15 minutes ahead of Dylan's class. Stop standing in front of the school doors, blocking them, while you chat! And, oh yeah, it would be really awesome if you could leave, so I can actually park my car. So I can pick up my child. And, oh yeah, there's a park and a coffee shop just down the block. Thanks a bunch.

10. My incredibly quick growing children, that grow only in height, but never in weight. Slow down, please! I can't keep up with your clothing demands! Nor can my bank account!

*Sigh*

I definitely realize that things could be a lot worse, and I'm grateful for all that I have, but I'm just feeling stressed and overwhelmed at the moment. Hopefully I'll get back to my calm, roll-with-the-punches, optimistic self very soon!

Tuesday Tidbits

Tuesday Tidbits...A day to remember all the cute and funny things my kids say and do!

I've slacked off on my tidbits over the past few weeks, but I'm coming back full force! Here are the cutest and funniest moments of the week:

While eating dinner the other night, Dylan paused and said, "My belly is talking. It says, 'Hey Dylan! It's your belly! I'm really full!'"

Lexie is into using adjectives. "Mommy, can you put Polly Pocket's beautiful dress on?" or "Can I wear these gorgeous shoes today?" She is always very descriptive!

Grant's grandma owns a duplex. She lives on one side and Grant's parents live on the other side. As we were leaving Nannie's house on Sunday, Dylan asked, "Why is Nannie's and MawMaw's house stuck together?!?"

Lexie has ponytails in her hair almost every day. Last week, I left her hair down because it looks so cute now that it's longer. As I was carrying her through the Pre-K parking lot, a look of shock crossed over her face, and she grabbed her head. I asked her what was wrong. "My ponytails are gone!!!" Ever since then, she holds her ponytails when we're outside. She's afraid they're going to blow away!

Dylan says "destructions" for instructions. As in, "Let me get the Lego destructions so we can build it!" He also says, "May the forest be with you!"

Lexie's new phrase is "I don't care!" She uses it for everything, even when it doesn't make sense. If her feelings are hurt or if she gets into trouble, she'll run to her room, and sob, "I doooon't cay-er!" Last night, a nightmare woke her up. I heard her crying, "Mommy, mommy, I want you! I don't cay-er!" It is so cute!

We were all laying in bed, chatting, one morning. Out of the blue, Dylan said, "When I was a cat..." Grant interuppted and asked, "When were you a cat?!?!?" Dylan answered. "Ummmm....last night. Tomorrow."

And, finally, the tearjerker...

Tonight, I walked in on Dylan staring at his picture of Bob Frog (Bob passed away a few months ago, and Dylan was devastated). He didn't even realize I was there. He stared at the picture, and said, "I really miss you, Bob. I love you." Then he leaned forward and kissed the picture. My heart broke for him, all over again!

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There may be tough moments with my kids, but these cute and funny moments keep me going!

Not Me Monday

It's Monday! A day to air out our dirty laundry. A day to confess. It's refreshing and therapeutic!
Head on over to MckMama's blog to read more posts just like this one!

My Christmas tree is NOT still up.

It is NOT still up due to the fact that I haven't taken Christmas portraits of my kids yet. I am completely on the ball with this one!

My husband did not bring home a box of Dunkin Donuts on Friday. I most definitely did NOT eat four of them over the weekend. No. Way.

While grocery shopping with my kids on Friday, they did not talk nonstop, and call my name over and over again. This did not cause me to ask them if they could please stop talking for a few minutes so mommy could actually think.

I did NOT spend all but an hour in my pajamas on Saturday. I did not throw on clothes from 7-8 PM for a spontaneous visit from a friend.

I am not losing my mind quickly today, thanks to getting only 2 hours and 37 minutes of sleep. Or less. I am not desperately hoping for a nap.

Lexie's second lovey, a tiny Strawberry shortcake doll, did not get decapitated by the car door this morning. She is not insisting that I glue the already duct-taped doll's head back on, even though she has a perfectly acceptable backup doll.

I do not get horrible anxiety when driving on snow covered roads. This is not caused from a 14 hour drive through a blizzard, before we had kids! This is NOT going to be a long winter, considering we've had more snow in just one month than we've had over the past few years.

It All Started With A Fight...

...and ended with a sleepover!

Let me back up a bit to earlier this afternoon. Today was the first day that we didn't have anywhere to go. Okay, scratch that. I did have a baby shower to attend, but felt really sick this morning, and decided not to go. So we spent the entire day at home. That hasn't happened in months!

Lexie and Dylan were playing so well together. Until I began preparing dinner. They were playing with Lexie's Dora horse trailer at the time, and I guess Lexie took it away and brought it into the kitchen. Dylan tried to get it back, and the fight began. When he realized that he wasn't getting the horse trailer back, he got so mad!

He stomped out of the room, and quickly returned with a piece of paper and a pen. "I'm going to make a sign that says 'No Lexie allowed' and hang it on my door." He stomped back out of the room. A few minutes later, he returned with his sign. Sure enough, it had a picture of Lexie on it, with the "NO" symbol around her. Her name was written next to it. He asked for tape so he could hang it on the door.

At that point, I stepped in. I informed him that it was his choice to hang it up, but he should really think it over before doing so. I told him if he put the sign on his door, I would, in turn, put a No Dylan Allowed sign on my door and Lexie's door.

He shrugged. "Okay."

Grant began talking to him about how families need to stick together and defend each other. He mentioned a previous instance when his cousins were mean to him, but Lexie stood by his side.

Dylan stood in the room for a few seconds, completely silent. He marched back out of the room, and returned in a few minutes with the No Lexie Allowed sign. Only this time, he had transformed it into a drawing for her. The Lexie with the No symbol around her was no longer Lexie-it was a monster! Lexie was now standing above the monster with Dylan and two of her cousins. (I'm not quite sure what the object is below the 4 figures...perhaps an animal?)



He put it up on her door and said he made it for her because they were friends and loved each other.

Dylan must have been feeling really guilty. He informed us that he was going to sit next to Lexie at dinner, sit with her on the couch, share his toys with her, and have a sleepover with her tonight.

As they sat side by side at dinner, Dylan began listing the top 13 reasons why he loved his family. It took the entire meal time, and he did more talking than eating, but I think we got the point across about sticking together and being nice.

After dinner, Lexie returned the favor, by drawing a picture for Dylan and hanging it on his bedroom door.



Dylan did share with her all night, and cuddle with her. Sure enough, they had their sleepover. Lexie and Dylan are currently in Lexie's crib, sleeping peacefully. Crisis averted. Lexie and Dylan are the best of friends. Just as they should be!

Horse-iversary

Every year, on this day, I celebrate. I got my horse, Cherokee, on this day! 17 years ago, today, to be exact! It's crazy to think that it's more than half of my lifetime.

Cherokee was a belated Christmas gift from my parents. Every year, I asked for a horse. Yet another Christmas came and went without getting my biggest wish. On January 8th, 1993, that was all going to change!

I came home from school on a Friday afternoon, and my dad told me that we had to go to a farm to rescue two sheep. It was a cold, snowy day, much like the one we're having today! When we got to the farm, I didn't see sheep anywhere around, but I did spot a pasture filled with horses. Being the horse obsessed 12 year old that I was, I ran over to see them. As I was standing there, I heard a horse in the barn behind me. My parents suggested that I go into the barn and look. There was only one horse in the barn. As I approached him, my dad asked, "What are you going to name him?" I was so confused, and just stood there, with my mouth hanging open. They finally told me that he was mine. I remember screaming, crying, and telling my parents that they were lying.


Cherokee arrived at the stable I rode at the following day, and that began my adventure in horse ownership!

Buying a horse for me was the best thing my parents could have done. Taking care of him taught me to be a responsible, dedicated person. I spent so much time riding, training, and caring for him, that it kept me out of trouble! My childhood was just so much better with Cherokee in it!

Cherokee has been with me for 17 years now. He will stay with me until the day he dies. I love him dearly, and can't imagine just getting rid of him. He's my pet and my friend.

I don't have nearly as much time to spend with him as I once did. This past fall, I did start riding again! Even better, my kids now get to ride and take care of him!

17 years spent with my awesome horse! He was my first baby. I can't even remember my life without him! I have so many amazing memories of all the time I spent with him and all of our adventures together! We grew up together. He has brought so much to my life...all the fun rides, the shows, the excitement, and most of all, the friendships I've made through riding.

Here's to our 17th Anniversary of meeting each other, and to 17 wonderful years spent together!

A Very Belated Post

I meant to get around to posting about Dylan's birthday. After all, this is my blog, a blog that chronicles all my family events. But...Thanksgiving got in the way. Then the Christmas season was in full swing. Between parties, parades, shopping, holidays, and more, this got pushed aside. And now, here we are, a month and a half after the fact!

Better late than never, right? ;)

So, let's back up about 6 or 7 weeks, to my baby boy's birthday.

On Saturday, the 21st, we had a frog-themed birthday party at our house. He was spoiled with many great presents, and had a great time playing with his cousins and friends. There were a lot of friends and family members who were unable to join us, but he still had a great time, and that's all that mattered!

All the adults got to sit around and talk (HA! Who am I kidding? If you host a birthday party, you don't get to sit around and talk!), while the kids ran off to play. Then it was present time! Dylan was so happy with all of his gifts!



After the gifts were unwrapped, it was time for the activity I planned. I set up the table with a foam sticker craft. We all made snowmen!




Well, everybody but Dylan. He was too busy playing with his new gifts!



He gladly joined us for cake. He loved the frog cake that my mom made for him!






Lexie could not wait to eat the icing off her cupcake!



Do. Not. Disturb. Cupcake eating in progress.



The last of Dylan's friends left around 11 pm. He posed for a few pictures before falling into bed!



The next day was his birthday! He was so excited to wake up and open his presents from us! He was just the sweetest little man on his birthday!




He loved the frogs and shirt that Lexie bought for him.




Dylan loves Playmobil, so Grant and I bought him the entire Ghost Pirate line. And another Star Wars light saber!




It was Sunday, which meant there was a Steelers game on! We went over to Nannie's house to watch it there, and celebrate Dylan's birthday with Grant's family.





After the game, we came home and made dinner. Dylan wanted steak and macaroni and cheese! He insisted on wearing his new Ninja outfit!



He posed with mommy and daddy, and then it was time for some Wii!





He had a great party and a great birthday. He loved all of his gifts, and was so excited to be 5!



I am so proud of Dylan, and head over heels in love with him. He is THE sweetest little boy! I STILL can't believe he's 5!

The BIG 7-0

My dad turned 70 today. SEVENTY! I can't seem to wrap my mind around that number. He is so important to me, and is an amazing grandfather. The kids and I are incredibly lucky to have him in our lives.



I'm feeling horribly guilty, because I didn't get to see him today. I think this is the first year, ever, that I haven't seen him on his birthday. That makes me sad.



I tried. I really, truly planned on going to visit him today. I left 45 minutes before I had to be somewhere, just so I could pick up his gift card. What I didn't count on was the horrible driving conditions. The back roads that I had to drive on were treacherous. (Listen up Pennsylvania...take care of your roads.) I was sliding all over the place, nearly hit a salt truck (coming the other way, of course!), and then found out that the road that I needed to drive on was closed, due to a serious accident. By the time I got to where I needed to be, I didn't have time to pick up his gift card. Plus, after that driving experience, I had no urge to go back on the roads. So I didn't go. He understood. He always understands. But I feel guilty.

I definitely plan on celebrating his birthday with him on Friday. I'll try to make it as special as I possibly can. Dylan, Lexie, and I called him and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. I'm sure it made his day to hear his grandchildren sing to him. I still wish that I could have seen him today. I know I'm going to beat myself up about this for weeks!



I'm not going to lie. I am having a really hard time with my dad aging. He has always been the strongest, most active man that I have ever known. He was always my rock. I never thought anything would slow him down. But over the past year, he has slowed down.



It is so hard watching him age. He has aches and pains, and doesn't move as quickly as he once used to. He is complaining about the snow and the cold, and turns the heat up in the house. He's cranky. He doesn't have the energy to do as much with Dylan as he has in the past. I honestly hate it. I hate thinking of him as being elderly.





I find myself wondering how much time we have left with him. I know the fact that he has been dealing with cancer (they were able to remove the tumor and he gets preventative treatments and frequent checkups) over the past year makes me worry more. I can't even stomach the thought of losing him, so I hate having this on my mind, especially as his 70th birthday neared.



Now that I got this off my chest, I'm going to try to stay positive. Even at 70, my dad acts younger than what he really is. I do notice the signs of aging, but it's because he's never acted his age! He always says that age is just a number. I know he's right. No matter what the numbers say, he will always be my rock. He will always be there for me. He will always shower my kids with love. He will always be the strongest, most optimistic man I've ever known!



My dad has led a long, happy, healthy life full of adventures. He has seen many places in this world, and has felt the love of 8 children and 19 grandchildren. He is blessed. And we are blessed to have him in our lives.



Happy 70th Birthday, Dad! Here's to many, many more! We love you!