Mom's Night Out

I have finally held my first monthly Mom's Night Out evening.

Inspired by a group of friends in Texas that I used to meet with for a crafting out night, I devised a scrapbooking night out at my house. We started at 8:30 P.M. and the last person left around 1:00. We actually spent most of the last hour just chatting, but it was oh, so nice!

I baked pumpkin bread with and without chocolate chips for sharing. And several of the other friends brought food and drinks for sharing as well.

Everyone got a lot done, which was even better. I happily completed Katie's birthday party invitations, which I didn't intend to do, but then figured I might as well. I also scrapped these 2 pages which I love.

Things I Love

Check out this great site for weekly mass activities.

They have two levels: 3-6 year olds and 7-12.


We are back to loving this book.

I just finished up relaxing and watching this set of DVD's.

The kids adore and laugh hysterically through this DVD.

And with all the drama going on at my absolute favorite, Dancing with the Stars, I am gearing up for my next 2 nights of tv watching.

The kids, like Michele's have been playing with the Do-A-Dot markers a lot.

And I have also enjoyed this bad for you treat.

The Wiggles

The Wiggles have come and gone in phases at our house. First Katie when she was only a year or so, then Nicholas around the same time, and now Nicholas once more.

Lately he can be found singing Hot Potato, Hot Potato or Fruit Salad around the house or as he goes to sleep. And for this reason, I bought tickets Sunday morning to go see the Wiggles at the Cintas Center on Monday evening.

We didn't tell the kids where we were going, and the whole way there Katie made guesses. The zoo, a fair, the park, where??????? But once we got inside the building she looked around and saw the Wiggles merchandise and knew where we were.

I'm not sure who enjoyed themselves more, Nicholas, Katie, or me watching them enjoy themselves so immensely.

And for your entertainment, I present Katie and Nicholas.

Halloween

The island princess and her fireman friend.

The weather could not have been more perfect for trick-or-treating this year. Cool enough to wear costumes without sweating, but not so cold that we needed coats. The added bonus of having daylight savings time not changing until the following week, meant that we got to go around in sunlight for the first hour or so.

The kids had a blast walking around with some of their neighbor friends, and got lots of candy. Nicholas was the first to poop out, and just enjoyed a ride in the stroller. Then Katie declared herself done, and we returned home to hand out candy to the other kids of the neighborhood.

In the meantime, daddy had gotten the dreaded stomach bug, and was spending his time in bed resting.

Ballerina

The pretty ballerina

Another One Bites the Dust

The stomach virus has now successfully taken down, Nicholas, Nicholas again, Mommy, and Katie. All 3 seem to be recuperating just fine on a diet of oyster crackers, saltines, oodles of Dora soup, mashed potatoes, Sprite, Gatorade, Pedialyte, popsicles, jello, and anything else bland and tasteless.

Katie was hopefully the last victim, this morning. Daddy has midterms this week and next, so there is great hope in this house, that the stomach bug has officially been Clorox wiped, Lysoled, bleached, and sanitized OUT!!

Prayers would be most welcome.

MOM, I Puked!

While that is probably the grossest title ever, it is the statement that describes life the last 12 hours.

On Monday night at 9:00 during my favorite, Dancing with the Stars, Nicholas ended up throwing up in bed. On pillows, pillowcases, sheets, and into the mattress. You get the picture. But yet he remained absolutely normal in activity, and just kept saying I puked.

Then he woke up Tuesday morning, fine as could be. Spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday fairly normal. Then midnight last night, another round of throw up, with the call of Mom, I puked. He has since managed an episode of projectile vomiting. Amazing how far pancakes can fly. But he keeps asking me for food.

I'm telling you, this boy would literally have to be dying, not to be hungry. In the meantime, he will be subsisting on oyster crackers, popsicles, jello, and pedialyte for the day. He luckily had a doctor's appointment scheduled tomorrow for his 3 year old checkup and flu shot. Maybe this is just an effort to get out of the flu shot. Could he be that smart??

Definitely YES!!

The Boy Who Golfs

Thanks Uncle Doug!!

Purdue Game Day

Last Saturday we went with Grandma and Grandpa B. to the Purdue v. Iowa football game. We met up with my parents and brother there, and I think everyone had a relatively good time. The weather was gorgeous. A little cool in the shade and just about right in the sun. But the best part for the kids was getting to slide down the fountain after the game.

Plus we all got to enjoy a nice dinner together in our own private dining room before we all returned home.

It's Finally Out!!

It took a month and a half, but the little tooth that wiggled and jiggled is finally out!!

And the toothless girl couldn't be happier.

A Day of Learning

Okay. I know this weekend was ridiculously hot for the 2nd weekend of October, and I know that I complained that it was too hot and there were too many bees to host an outdoor picnic. But really, I didn't need the temperature to go from 91 to 51 in 24 hours. Really, a gradual downward spiral towards fall would have been okay by me. The kids didn't even know what hit them when I handed them socks this morning. I think Nicholas may have even looked at them as foreign objects never seen before in his short life.

Anyway, we went along in our lessons today, since it was way too cold to go outside, and I have instituted frequent breaks throughout the day. I find that we could sit 2 hours to get certain things done in the morning. Or I can break it up in 2 subject intervals and get it done usually faster.

So, we worked on our history lesson for the day on Egyptian writing, and did our map work. And as I am helping Katie with her maps we are reviewing what we learned about ancient Egypt's kings. And she tells me that the white king won against the red king, and took over all of Egypt. And I inform her that she has it backwards and the red king won and that is why the first pharoah's crown is red on top and white on the bottom. 2 minutes later, I find she was indeed right, and after I tell her, she smile and giggles, reveling in the fact that she knew more. I knew this day was coming, but I didn't have any idea it was coming this soon.

But so far, The Story of the World seems to be a hit. The textbook (if you want to call it that) is engaging and well-written. It presents new vocabulary with each lesson. The activity book is also laid out well, with excellent ways to eek out a good narration after reading. And then it has some awesome craft and activity ideas to reinforce the lessons. Plus the list of fiction and nonfiction books to correspond with each chapter is fabulous. With the addition of our own timeline, and using the globe to find places, this is definately turning out to be an excellent year of history.

The PARTY

While Nicholas informed me nightly that he wanted a blue birthday cake, I had already envisioned a dump truck cake for him for his 3rd birthday. After all, isn't a toy and dessert all in one a good thing? So here is the picture of the cake this year.

One brand new dump truck, 2 pans of brownies cut into squares, one package of Oreos crushed, and a package of gummy worms. 15 minutes and the cake was done. Oh, and don't forget the bed liner of wax paper so that the toy needed minimal clean up. Of course, being the birthday boy that he is, he managed to find the cake prior to the birthday celebration, but since it was covered with red plastic wrap, he only really knew that his cake was in a dump truck, he didn't see the gummy worms.

He still needed some help blowing out the candles for his official celebration this year. More spit than air seemed to be coming out. And as I served cake into bowls for his little guests, he swiped as many gummy worms as he could.

We ended the party with a ribbon pull pinata. Katie was the lucky contestant who opened the pinata filled with candy, mini-playdoh, cars, and bouncy balls. For you people who are nuts enough to use real pinatas and trust children under 10 with a stick, bat, or other whacking device, I am not that brave, and I have never seen one open that way. Seems the Daddy is always stuck using tools to gouge a hole at some point. So for now I stick with the ribbons.

This small but fun birthday party was definately a hit. He had a great time playing with his friends, being sung to, eating cake, opening presents, collecting pinata treasure, and playing outside in the heat and mosquitoes briefly. I don't think I have ever seen him so happy!

Happy Birthday #3

Happy Birthday to the cutest big boy ever!

The one who likes to say "Chicken Feet".

The one who asks for ice cream for breakfast.

The one who happily dips his apples in ketchup.

The boy who is always hungry.

The one who loves all things green.

The one who drives a pink Barbie Jeep around without a care.

Who loves Playdoh and Legos and playing outside.

The boy who is all boy.

The one with the sweetest wet kisses.

The one with the most vigorous hugs.

And the one who loves his daddy, mom, and sister at different times in different ways.

Happy Birthday #3!

I DID IT!!

While I am not completely thrilled with the new look, it finally is more fall themed and I got my picture of the kids up.

I finally with no help from any blogger people figure out how to clear the cache on the computer and that seems to have fixed the problem of making changes one at a time. Now unfortunately I am forced to do this if I make an error and want to make a change every time. I still blame Blogger, but I am done making changes until Christmas time.

Halloween Fun

We live in a very large neighborhood with lots and lots and lots (did I say lots) of young kids. And with Halloween comes the giddyness of young kids dreaming of what they will BE for the holiday. But also comes the goofiness of the young parents in the neighborhood. And last year that goofiness came a few short days before Halloween. But tonight when the doorbell rang at 8:30 in the dark, it caught me off guard, and made my heart beat a little faster with fear. Who rings the doorbell at night??

Why the Boo people of course. You see I received a lovely paper bag of treats with this picture enclosed.

The idea is that someone comes to your house after dark and deposits a bag of treats on your doorstep and then rings the doorbell and runs. Enclosed with the treats is this picture, which you are supposed to hang up on the front door so you don't get BOO'd again, and another page with what is this year a weird poem. The poem instructs you to make two copies of the poem and two copies of the above sheet, and then go BOO 2 other houses within 24 hours.

Last year was our first experience with this, and having never had anything like this type of neighborhood in Texas, I found it kind of a cute way to do something surprising for others. So I pass this on for anyone who would like to try it in their neighborhood.

This year's poem is this:

The air is cool, the season fall

Soon Halloween will come to all.

The spirits are after things to do

In fact, a spirit brought this gift to you.

Boo is the shield from the witching hour

Just hang it up and watch its power.

On your front door or window is where it hangs

It wards off Goblins and their scary fangs.

The treat that came with coupled note

Are yours to keep, enjoy them both.

The power comes when friends like you

Will copy this and make it two.

The others here among our friends

Will give Halloween treats near twilight's end.

We'll all have smile upon our faces

No one will know who "Boo'd" whose places.

Just one short day to work your spell

Work fast and no one tell

And don't forget a nifty treat

Like something cute or something sweet.

Please join the fun - let's really hear it

And spread some "Boo's" and Halloween spirit.

Like I said, last year's poem was much better but I don't remember it, but the idea behind it is a fun one.

Tree Installation

When having your old purple leaf plum tree pulled out by professionals, and your new October Glory maple tree installed...

the best seat in the house is definitely sitting on the driveway in the Barbie car with your cold drink of water...

Oh, and don't forget the baby!

Soccer Boy, Part 2

One boy -(minus) one pair of cleats - (minus) one pair of shinguards = PURE JOY!

What a difference 2 weeks and no soccer equipment makes.

All In a Days Work

For some, work is considered a job.

For others, it is too much fun!!

Still Angry With ME

Blogger still is quite upset with me. As you may have noticed a very large picture of my wee ones was once in the title, but has since disappeared. It takes approximately 3 days between each mistake before I get a chance to try to correct it. Something is wrong and I have e-mailed the blogger people but nobody seems to care about lowly old me on the totem pole, and therefore it may still take a few years before this site is back to being about something other than fighting to change the look.

Blog In Progress

I have been messing around with my blog, which I know is frustrating some of you, but blogger has decided to be difficult, and every time I try to change something, it lets me make one change and then revolts, and it is driving me crazy because it means I have to wait several days before it forgets that I irritated it and lets me try to make another change, so please just stand by, programming will continue in hopefully a few days, weeks, months.... who knows??

My Days

My days seem full and busy lately, much like a friend of mine. And while I wish that I could call one day of the week my own, I keep reminding myself that I volunteered for a few things that occupied my free time.

So here is a look at our weekly schedule.

Monday: School for Katie until 9:30, when we leave for swim lesson at 9:45. Then we return, eat lunch, do more school, put Nick down for nap, and finish schoolwork.

Tuesday: School for Katie, gymnastics 4:30 to 6:30

Wednesday: 9 to 12 at our church working Faith Lessons for Moms childcare. Lunch and nap for Nick, school for Katie

Thursday: School for Katie, gymnastics 4:30 to 6:30

Friday: School for Katie, gymnastics 4:30 to 6:30

Saturday: Ballet at 9:30 for Katie, soccer sometime between 9 and 12 for Nick, and other random gymnastics exhibitions and team things.

Sunday: Sunday school at 8:00 for Katie and I. Other random gymnastics exhibitions and team things.

It makes me tired just looking at it. Then throw in the doctor, dentist appointments, errand running, and other stuff that comes up, and whew, how did life get so busy from one year to the next.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

After returning on Sunday from our trip, we planned out Daddy's birthday. He asked for pancakes for breakfast, which we happily made and enjoyed. And then we went to the library to pick up a book I had special ordered for him, to Subway for lunch, and out to a nearby park for a little play time.

For dinner it was homemade pizza, and cake.

Katie really wanted to make a cake for daddy. So we ran out to the store to get a cake mix, frosting, and decorations. Talk about last minute planning. The kids chose a set of baseball players at Michaels and from there we planned what kind of cake to make.

I think it came out well for a last minute cake, and it tasted delicious.

The kids practiced singing Happy Birthday, and then enjoyed a very smoky candle blowing.

The Beach

The kids picking shells.

My water baby.

The boys throwing rocks.

On the Road

The mountains of Pennsylvania in the distance.

Midway through Pennsylvania

The best part of the drive...picking acorns at a rest stop.

HOME SWEET HOME!!!

We are home from our all too quick trip to New York. Everyone arrived back safely, in one piece, although a bit tired.

And for that reason, I shall say nothing but that I will post more in the next few days. Pictures included. But school starts back up in our house tomorrow, and I am sure our days will be busy ones.

King's Island

Yesterday morning started early (7:30) as Katie and I left for her first Sunday school class. I am assistant teaching a kindergarten class, and she is in the classroom right across the hall. And needless to say, she loved it. Although I am not quite sure what she spent the hour doing. All the papers we covered in our class, came home blank from hers. HMMMM???

Anyway, afterwards we took off for a quick drive to King's Island, a nearby amusement park that used to be owned by Paramount, but is now Cedar something or others. This means that they have a kids area that is entirely themed on Nickelodeon. So the kids had a fabulous time riding the kiddie rides.

We met Blue

The Backyardigan Swings

Go, Diego, Go Cars

The Kiddie CarouselAnd Nick's 1st rollercoaster Little Bill's Giggle Coaster

He loved it!!

Hello Benny!!

Gymnastics Girl

After Nick's soccer game, Katie had a gymnastics exhibition out at one of the summer fairs. Even better was the fact that it was right on the library property, so I could run in after to pick up some books I had on hold and a movie.

Here are some of the better pictures I got. She is getting really good!

The back handspring in progress!!

Nick's 1st Soccer Game

I signed up Nicholas to play Itty Bitty Soccer at our local YMCA over a month ago. He was so excited and couldn't wait to play.

Then came the shin guards, and soccer cleats. After the knock-down dragout fight at the shoe store to purchase the cleats, he fought Daddy on Saturday morning when actually having to put them on for a game.

While we finally convinced him to practice with his team for the first 15 minutes, once the game actually began, he looked much like this photo.

I'm pretty sure the next game will be played in regular socks and gym shoes. But he does look awfully cute!!

My Tooth is Looth

My little girl has got her first loose tooth. She complained for 2 days that her tooth hurt when she ate, and daddy said he checked it and nothing was wrong. But when I touched it, there was some definate wiggling going on.

How is it possible that my baby girl is already losing her teeth!!!!

Pictures will be following in the next week or 2 I predict.

The First Day of School

1. Don't expect widespread enthusiasm the first day. After all, the weather is still warm and a 5 year old can imagine endless possibilities of better things to do.

2. A spider the size of your fist will definately show up wandering the living room floor, and both children will SCREAM hysterically until it is killed and vacuumed thoroughly. Even then, they will continue to discuss the spider the remainder of the day. It was definately more interesting than the numbers we were previously writing.
(And maybe it was only the size of a half dollar - but it was GIGANTIC)

3. A spider will then meander on the ceiling, directly above the 5 year old's chair. Mind you this spider is the size of a pencil eraser at most, but all work will cease until the spider is disposed of properly. (What were they doing looking at the ceiling in the first place? Am I really that boring???)

4. The simple mention of tea, cookies, and painting will brighten anyone's day. But attempting to instruct the 5 year old to paint like Monet with dabs instead of lines, will result in long protracted sighs, and comments of "I like lines better!"

5. The first Magic Tree House read-aloud was a raving success, and instead of 2 chapters as scheduled, we read 5 by days end, as well as printed out the Passport. Thanks Celeste!!!

6. A sticker chart that shows what needs to be accomplished for the day is a wonderful incentive.

7. Illustrating poetry, and then memorizing it is considered great fun by 5 year olds. Who knew?

8. A 5 year old is totally and completely able to complete a math worksheet on her own, while mom puts the 2 year old down for a nap. And she even will quietly whisper when she has finished. HURRAY! HURRAY!!

9. After completing a first full day of 1st grade, I cannot fathom how I could ever spend more than 3 hours max teaching her a very full curriculum. And somehow the state of Ohio expects 5 hours a day for 180 days of the year. Are they NUTS!!!

Little House in the Big Woods - or Ohio

When you wonder if the book you are reading to your child is a little too advanced and if you should just wait and read it when they are older.....

You will find your 5 year old busily teaching her brother how to hunt and kill stuffed animals for meat, and then "make the meat".

She must have been listening all along.

Sleep Please!!!!!

I know it is just a phase. Katie did the same thing. But I am about to go insane.

I now have a 2 year old who desperately needs a nap, but refuses to take one. He plays in his room. He lays on the floor, peeking out of the crack at the bottom. He rocks in the rocking chair in there. He comes out the door every 15 to 20 minutes.

His eyes are droopy. He is crabby and whiny. But he refuses to give in, and I can not get him to sleep unless I lay with him for almost an hour. I don't have that kind of time.

We are experiencing the same delight at night basically. He has a hard time falling asleep, then wakes up sometime during the night, whimpering, "I'm hungry mama", "Go downstairs". ARGH!!!

I promise I am feeding the boy a snack right before bed, and he is eating, but for whatever reason, he has gotten it in his little head that nighttime is get up and eat time. The only night he got food was the rice krispie night.

To my crafting friends who remember the early history of baby Nicholas, any ideas? I think I am ready to try a baby gate at the door, but I am pretty sure he can climb over it. And I won't lock him in. I am starting to go crazy, and with school starting next week, we need to try to get past this phase quickly.

A Midnight Snack

Have you ever had that craving for a midnight snack?

Well, when you are 2, apparently this means wandering your way downstairs in the dark. Opening the pantry, grabbing the box of Rice Krispies and dumping half on the floor. Opening the dishwasher and getting out your own bowl. Attempting to pour the Rice Krispies into your bowl, but managing only to get them on the floor, not a single one in the bowl. And finally crying in the dark for mama.

Then mama walks downstairs in the dark, whispering Nicholas, steps in the pile of Rice Krispies, and then scoops up the toddler and sends him upstairs with the promise of a graham cracker.

After cleaning up the mess with a dustpan and broom (don't want to run the vacuum and wake the rest of the peacefully sleeping clan up), mama brings the promised graham cracker, lays with the toddler until he is finished, and then tells him DO NOT get out of this bed again!!!

5 Is Sweet

A week ago, Katie was invited to a High School Musical 2 party with her gymnastics training team. They were planning to watch the movie, have snacks, and paint nails. I figured that I would let her watch the first one at home before, so that she would kind of know more about the movie. She watched it and loved it.

We had been listening to the soundtrack in the car for several months, and now we are listening to the soundtrack to the second movie. She tells me that she likes the movie because of all the singing and dancing. Her two favorite things to do.

Last week she asked if the people were real, and I said yes. She asked if we could go see them, and I gave a short explanation of maybe someday.

Tonight, she asked again about going to see them, and I gave the more in depth answer of how they are actors and it is there job, and they have real homes, and may live in different parts of the country, but most are probably in California. Blah, blah, blah.

Then she asks again, so when can we go see them. Like I can just drive up to their homes and say hi. So now we have gone into explanations of if they ever have a concert that comes to Cincinnati or nearby then we could see them sing songs from the movie, but that would be it.

Having a daughter has it's fascinating moments.

Shopping Trip

I am finally about to finish a quilting project that I started in Texas over a year and a half ago. More details and pictures will come soon on that one.

In the meantime, I have found a quilting store in Cincinnati. It is called Quilter's Square and is located near one of our favorite shopping areas/ malls. We only stumbled upon this place accidentally. We had gone to Half-price books and then out for dinner. Across from the restaurant, Mike saw the quilting shop, and we decided to go over afterwards. It was closed. On our way home, we realized Nicholas had left his stuffed dog in the bookstore, giving me the opportunity to head back out there the next day.

And this is what I came home with:

A pattern I had been wanting to look at closer for some time called Yellow Brick Road, and the four lovely pieces of fabric above. I still need two more fat quarters to be able to make a quilt with them. I am thinking a purple and a tangerine.

Any thoughts??

Sometimes It's Love/ Sometime's It's Not

Recently, I had one of those days. You know the kind. Kids are yelling, whining, fighting--- constantly. At one point, I had to declare a Mommy Timeout, and sent both kids up to their rooms to take a break.

But the past three days, and finding this picture on my camera from a week or so ago, remind me that the two little people above do enjoy each other, and I desperately love being their mom.

Blueberry Festival

We have been having our very own blueberry festival over here.

We have tried Celeste's Blueberry Muffins. Mom and dad thought YUM YUM! Kids not so happy.

We tried Suzanne's Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze. DELICIOUS! And Nicholas agreed, while Katie was still skeptical.

Then we moved on to a known winner. What grandma has called the Bellerose Blueberry Cake. Although it turned out to be a minor catastrophe (aka - don't leave your husband with known baking problems to finish judging when the cake is done)

(aka - ask him about the pumpkin pie incidents - notice the plural)

However, this one is definately still a 1st place recipe, even when you can only eat the outside edges.

I think a new one will be made today, but for now a recipe to be shared.

Bellerose Blueberry Cake

1 c. blueberries (I used more)

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg beaten

1 3/4 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. milk

1/3 sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix blueberries with the 1/4 cup flour. Cream sugar and butter well and add the egg. Sift flour with baking powder and salt and add alternately with milk. Beat well after each addition. Fold in berries. Pour into buttered 8 X 8 inch square pan and top with mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. (Or possibly longer- HEE HEE)

Or make as cupcakes and bake for about 20 minutes.

The Next Invention

Okay, smart people knowing how dumb people are, have put lovely buttons on our remotes to our cars, so you can push the unlock button and see your car lights blink, or if you are really lost, hit the car panic button and follow the loud obnoxious honking.

They have put a button on your phone wall unit, so that you can find the missing handheld phone that you left on the couch, desk, etc. Just follow the beeping noise to find your phone.

If you don't remember where your cell phone is and you managed to leave it on, just dial the number and you can easily follow your ringtone to the missing device. If it is really well hidden this may require several calls.

But the digital camera.... no such device exists. Now where are you hiding precious camera with the blogging pictures?? I know you are here somewhere.

Aquarium & Friends

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of entertaining and visiting with Nicholas' godmother and children. Since she was a high school friend of mine, and a college friend of Mike's it was a wonderful visit.

While she was here we tackled the nearby aquarium, and when I say nearby, I mean in a whole different state, Kentucky. Of course it is only a minute over the Ohio border but it did make Katie wonder how we were traveling to another state just for an aquarium.

I liked how the aquarium was layed out in general. You are basically on a one-way path that leads you to every part of the aquarium that there is to visit, ending in the gift shop. Where else? They did not allow strollers though, making it a journey of keeping track of 5 small children. But after going through on a very crowded day, I understand why they don't allow strollers in the summer. It was packed. But we did have fun and got some cute pictures.

And no, that is not a fish, but one of the many divers that were cleaning the shark tanks. This particular funny guy, played a cute game with Nicholas of can you touch my hand.

I Am Here

I am here. I promise.

Blogging time has been limited and therefore I have been busy trying to catch up on other blogs rather than entering my own.

I will try to make some posts very soon. But for tonight, I still have dinner to prepare, tomatoes to wash and ballet to take Katie to, which will keep me occupied until 8:30.

Soon, I promise. Soon.