Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog!

Thanks to a friend of ours that had extra tickets, we were able to make it to the Friday afternoon show of Disney Clubhouse Live. If you're not sure about the title of this post, then you either don't have children or they are over the age of 5. The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse dance is the "Hot dog" song by They May Be Giants. If you haven't heard it, then you are definitely missing out! We had a great time. Thanks N.H.!!

Click the play button on the screen to the right to hear the song!

Couldn't Resist!

I was looking through some old pics and couldn't resist posting this! This was E's 2nd Halloween (he was only a few weeks old on his first!) Have you ever seen a "Yoda" cuter than this one?!? I, actually, look forward to the time when my boys are old enough to watch and love "Starwars" like their Daddy. How funny that this would be a goal of mine?
As I reflect on the years that have so quickly gone by and look forward to many more "first times," I remind myself to live in the moment. Not to dwell on the past and wish for the future, but to cherish each and every day.

Valentine's Day in New York

View from the top of the Empire State Building


R in front of Central Park sipping his Dean & Deluca



The N.Y. Stock Exchange




A cold view of the Statue of Liberty

Us on the pier

One of my most memorable Valentine's Days was in 2005 when R decided on a spur of the moment trip to New York. Along with some friends, we flew up for the weekend. Now, mind you, I knew it was cold, but I greatly underestimated the power of the wind in between those tall skyscrapers. Nevertheless, we bundled up and trudged on block after windy block to see the sights. We saw "Phantom" on Broadway, we dined at Tavern on the Green, we went to the Today Show (which, by the way, you have to get up PRETTY early in the morning for!) ---all those famous New York "things." It was great --and extrememly cold!

One of the best presents of the week, though, was found right at home when we returned. That's when we found out I was pregnant with E. E's been to the Big Apple and doesn't even know it! Although this Valentine's Day will be a little less glamorous, it will be spent with the 3 men that I now have. Who could ask for more?

Self-discovery

I am planning to make cupcakes for the upcoming baby shower of a dear friend and thought I would practice with my fondant. After baking them, icing the cupcakes, and topping with my fondant "creations" (yeah, I know the pacifier is a little lopsided,) I decided to take a picture and post.

I realized that I have a problem (and we all know admitting it is the first step!) I am constantly inspired to do things. One day I want to paint & redecorate the house, another day I'm going to decorate cakes, another I want to sew my children their own clothes. We won't even discuss the days that I decide I'm going to start exercising each day! The problem with this is that I never really stay with one thing long enough to master it or at least become decent at it. Wonder if I have adult ADHD?

Anyway, new goal for 2009? I'm going to try to stick with something long enough to be good at it!!! But, that will probably change by tomorrow!

PS ---If you think they're even half-way decent, tell me which topper you like best!

Mad Skills

Okay, so I'm sure everyone is a little impressed from time to time at the things their child can do, but seriously, isn't there some type of award for a three year old that can use chopsticks on the first try? Wow! Maybe there is hope that he will not be cursed with my lack of coordination.

Bitten by the Bookworm

Okay, so if your wondering if I dropped off the planet in the last month, well, rest assurred I didn't. Just been disallusioning myself throughout the holidays by reading the "Twilight" saga that has, apparently, had girls of all ages swooning.

In fact, a friend (and fellow addictee) and I joke about how consuming the reading can be. I found myself staying up 'til the early hours of the morning just to spend more time in my imaginary world.

In this world, no one is sick or crying or needs me to fix them dinner. There are no presents that must be bought or places to be..... Only two things, that seem unimaginably important at the time, exist -- the hero and heroine.

Like other love stories I have read before, I find myself longing for that "butterflies in my tummy" feeling again that dissipates slightly after years of marriage. However, after a little more thought, I realized that I traded in (thankfully!) those butterflies for something that won't disappear so easily. Still having that "can't wait to see you at the end of the workday" feeling after 8 years, now that's true love!

And, really! The hero in the book is constantly concerned with her health. Who is really going to worry that much about your well-being ALL the time? Your mother, that's who! No guy is going to worry that every flinch or bruise might be something more. Only a mother can take the verbal abuse of "I don't like you anymore!" and still adore the little, mad person saying it, all the while wondering if he has a cold!!! In case you hadn't guessed, E's been a little cranky today.

Let me just end by saying that I'm glad I got my love story. I'm thankful that my husband still loves me after stretch marks and pounds that weren't always there, after all my clumsiness, after morning breath and no make-up, and let's not forget any hormone induced ravings. I love you, too. Thanks.

Naughty or Nice?

I knew this year's picture with Santa would be a memorable one, with my little one being big enough to be possibly terrified by the man in the big red suit, but this was too funny not to share! As you can see, when closely examined, my hands are holding him and I had to lean out of the picture. This was the best we could get! How funny this will be to show his girlfriends or wife one day. :)

WHAT!!!!!

Panic has just set in as I looked at the Freckled Frog sight and saw the flash banner at the top! I am fully aware that it is December, but it's still somewhere around the first, right? Didn't I just eat turkey and dressing last week? Still plenty of time to get presents and decorate my house for Christmas? I'm sure that the banner flashing 16 DAYS 'till Christmas has got to be wrong!!! That's barely two weeks! Santa's gonna need some coffee!

Christmas Past

Today is just one of those days where I don't feel like doing or going anywhere. I finished decorating our Christmas tree yesterday and the boys' trees and the mantel. I haven't done my dining room, but it's all laid out. It just always seems like so much to do. I need to finish swapping out our winter clothes and put all the summer clothes up, finish decorating, clean the house, start wrapping gifts, finish putting the playroom together, paint some canvases, go to the grocery, the list goes on and on and on. I decided to procrastinate and work on my Christmas cards instead. That counts for something, though, right?

As I looked through our pictures I ran across last year's Christmas pictures. Boy, how quickly they grow. I felt a little like Clark Griswold when he's sitting in the attic watching old movies as I sat on my couch, still in my robe, reminiscing. Here's a few pics from last year. My babies are growing so quickly.

Gingerbread Mess

We made our first gingerbread house, like so many others, this year. It was VERY hard for me to let the boys do it themselves (as particular as I am,) but they did a pretty good job. My lil' man just played "Hanzel and Gretel" and ate the candy most of the time. My big boy decorated as he pleased, as I globbed the oh-so-very messy icing all over.

The next morning, he had his dinosaur pretending it was eating the gingerbread house. I couldn't resist snapping a shot of what appeared to be "Godzilla meets the Gingerbread Man." Boys!

Bright and Shiny

I was a little apprehensive about our first visit to the dentist, but my big boy proved to me just how big he really is. He did great! It also helps to have one of your best friends as your dental hygentist. He knows her so well that he didn't even flinch at the thought of her putting that cleaning tool in his mouth. We really trust our mi-mi (that's what my children fondly call her!) She gave him his own "cool shades" to wear to help block the bright light and, boy, did he love the water dispenser and spitting in the bowl. Little boys seem to love spitting! Thanks to our favorite dental hygentist and dentist for doing such a great job!