Epcot 2012

One of our Christmas gifts to the kids was a 4-day pass to Disney.  We invited the grandparents to Epcot.  What a treat it is to see Disney's magic through the eyes of our children.

Almost there...

Turtle Talk with Crush.  Crush was a hit with our crew because he singled out Papa for not participating with the group.  It was funny.

Living with the Land.  A very enlightening ride in itself, now add in 2 farmers.

ImageWorks

Bamah and Papa in on the music-playing action.

Spaceship Earth

Sleeping Beauty

Wondering where Brandon is?  He decided to stay home with Miss L.  It just wasn't the same without him there, though.  So he made it to the other 3 days of Disney.

Epcot's iconic architecture.  I remember my mom and Aunt H. from Japan getting a picture in front of this building, probably 30 years ago, or more.

 

Bamah introducing the kids to funnel cakes.  She was sure more of the powdered sugar ended up on her shirt than in anyone's mouth.

 

Some character greetings.  I honestly have no idea who this character is.  Mickey's cousin, maybe?

Whoever he is, Nathan is not too happy he's around.

Jim was ready to head out of Dodge after the pic with Mickey's cousin and I stopped the whole family in their tracks.  We don't make it all the way to Disney to get a picture with what's-his-face when Mickey is right next to him in line.  Line up family.

Nathan is his father made over.  Check him out checking out Mickey.  Shady character he is.

Innoventions had this really neat area for kids to learn about house fires.  It helped bring up some really neat and valuable discussions about what we all should do if there's a fire in our house.

Kids learning to stay low when smoke is around.

Mommy proudly watching.

Crawling around the fire.

Serious talk with a dude that stands next to the fire truck.

Nathan needing a nap.

More serious talk with fire truck dude.

Mommy and brother being silly.

Going underground

 

When I started this blog, it was with the sole purpose of documenting our lives so family and friends could keep up with us AND allow me to make up for not processing the thousands of pictures stored in our digital cameras.  Each year, I turn the blog into a book for our children to hopefully one day read when they get a hankering, get a better idea of what raising them was like and hopefully, just hopefully, enjoy.

And I did that.  And I love it!  And I LOVE getting feedback and comments from people reading about our crazy lives.  This little blog gets anywhere from 12-45 hits/day with steady readers in CA, PA & NC.  In true Joey-from-the-TV-show-Blossom form, WHOA!

But one thing is troubling... I'm not quite sure who all is reading the blog.

I divulge personal information about us.  Enough for a stranger to track us down.

That, frankly, is kinda scary.

Back in August, I even tried to get a good idea of who was reading the blog so I could keep tabs on our 'life-viewers', but only 2 people responded.  And those 2 readers weren't the unknown visitors I was hoping would unveil themselves, they were more the people I wouldn't mind watching my kids so I could go grocery shopping for an afternoon.

I wasn't so concerned about unknown visitors reading about our lives almost 3 years ago when I started this.  The idea of creating a blog that others would enjoy seemed to outweigh any danger there might be to my family. But, I gotta be honest.  This isn't the dreamy high traffic blog I envisioned turning into a side job or possibly even a little notoriety.

Side bar:  I have to explain that last part.  My friend, Amy and I, went to go see the movie Julie & Julia when it came out in 2009, right about the time I was thinking about starting or had just started the blog.  To fill you in on the movie, just in case you didn't see it, the plot synopsis is this: "In 2002, Julie Powell is a young writer with an unpleasant job. To do something she enjoys, she decides to cook every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961) and blogs to motivate herself and document her progress.  Woven into the story of Powell's time in Queens in the early 2000s is the story of Julia Child's time in Paris throughout the 1950s, where she attends Le Cordon Bleu to learn French cooking and begins collaborating on a book. The plot highlights similarities in the challenges encountered by both of them.  Eventually, Powell's blog is featured in a story published in The New York Times, after which her project begins to receive the attention of journalists, literary agents and publishers."

So long story short, I left that movie not feeling motivated to cook (phsbst, are you kidding me?), but motivated to follow this passion I had about writing and see where it took me.  I know, I've got quite the imagination.  My husband tells me allllll the time.

Dreamy high traffic blog that exposes my secret writing prowess and leads to a book deal --> fantasy

Little, occasionally boring, picture-riddled blog that sounds like a stressed-out and overworked mom looking for an outlet --> reality

I get it.  I GET it.

So, there I go again, off on a tangent.

My family's safety is more important than a thriving blog.  Today, a security system salesman scared the bejesus out of me, enough to make me call the Police department and report him for being slightly aggressive and prying too much into our personal lives.  The Edward Jones dude had to talk to me through the locked glass door and the Jehovah's Witness people don't get me answering the door anymore, just a 3-year-old looking through the glass side window shouting, "Mommy, deh's people outside!"

The dealio is this, I'm going to add a password protect to the blog.  I would still LOVE for friends, family, friends of family and family of friends to read it and enjoy it.  Just not unknown visitors.  I might like you, but I just haven't met you yet.

I'll give it a week or so before I add the password, and the plan is: just email me and I'll send you the password.  For those of you who know me, it will be super easy to remember.

I really enjoy doing this (because comments from you all make my day, really) but something the last couple of days has caused me to hunker down, really take notice and I must trust my gut.

My love to all 6 readers!  It used to be 8 but I have to keep re-sending my parents the website because they've "lost" it.

Cool George

This cat couldn't have been any better for our family.  He is not the typical cat that avoids children at all cost (that's our dog), he's a trooper.

For some reason, Katherine thought it would be fun to dress up George.

So she attached a wedding veil to his torso and it looks like a lacey skirt.

Poor George.  He's just staring out the screen door, begging to go outside.

And then precious little fuzzy wuzzy wants to play with George also.  Now George is really focused on getting outside.

Nope, brother stopping by gave her just enough time to grab a wardrobe change.

George, you are the man!  Even though you might not feel like it right now.

A little announcement

After completing the last post, a month after the previous one, I realized I haven't let all 3 of my readers know (via the blog) what my June 9th plans are.  There is a fantabulous reason why I've been slacking on the blogging here lately.  Well, maybe not a fantabulous reason, but at least really good explanation.

You see, here lately, I have been on a pretty good sleep schedule.  I actually get tired around supper time, can feel my body start to slow down, and by the time children are in bed, the kitchen is cleaned and after whatever pressing matter has been addressed, I'm ready to crash.  And I've been crashing pretty soon, rather than watching TV for a couple of hours hoping to fall asleep any minute.

No, I'm not pregnant.  I might just be crazier.

Back in November, I randomly made a comment to Jim about setting a goal.  An exercise goal.  I am not an exerciser.  Periodically chasing children around the house, driving to and from school twice a day, sitting on the front porch while encouraging the children to play and an occasional trip to Wal-Mart walking up and down the grocery aisles because I can't find Knorr's seasoning does NOT constitute exercising.  No matter how much I've tried to convince myself that having 3 children is exercise enough, it just isn't.  And I finally came to that conclusion.

I also realized, after paying $10/month for a gym membership we had for over a year that I visited twice, exercise was not practical in the evening.  We turn into a single-family household which isn't fair to either one of us nor the children.  So, as much as I didn't want to admit it, a membership to the gym a mile away from our house, that offers childcare, was the only answer to my lack-of-exercising dilemma.

November 15, which I like to refer to as the Ides of November, was my Join date/Begin torture date/Hope to change my lifestyle date.

So back to that goal...

Jim, who is usually sooooo steady with his emotions, just about bust a lung when I mentioned my desire to participate in a Triathlon.  Now, I can tend to be a bit spontaneous, not thinking everything through, so I can see why he thought that was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard when I mentioned it last year.

Well, I wasn't kidding, and he quickly realized that I had completely thought it out.  Race date, training schedule (which didn't mean more work for him), missing equipment, cost, time commitment, etc.  He was surprised I had done most of the planning quietly.  (I tend to blurt out ANY and ALL thoughts that remotely cross my mind, way before I've had time to think them through).  So, he quit laughing, sat up straighter, stopped what he was doing and said, "Ok, I support you."

Whoo hoo!

I think.

Oh that's right.  One thing I forgot to tell my husband was how convenient it would be to not tell anyone, that way if I get a month or two into this ordeal and I'm not really feeling up to it, I can just back out.  Right?

Oooops.

He must be secretly really proud of me because he has managed to tell 95% of the people we know that his wife will be participating in a Triathlon.  So guess what that means... Can't just back out because I don't feel like it.  Too many people know and will be questioning me if I don't.

At Christmas time, my sister-in-law was concerned I was going to kill myself.  No, that's not the plan.

I would say my "training" (and I use that term lightly) is going well.  Of the 3 days/week I make it to the gym, one of those days is what they call a Functional class (I consider it a strength training class), another day is strictly for running since that's my least favorite, and the third day is dedicated to cycling.  Swimming while cold outside is out of the question, so that's just now starting to get cranked up.

It's crazy what a little exercise does for the body.  I feel like I have more energy, my sleep patterns are fairly normal, Nathan gets a chance to socialize and get some energy out and I have noticed a slight change in my body.

So there you have it.  The reason my beloved blogging has been put on the back burner.

Just to clarify: I'll be running what's called a Sprint Triathlon which is 0.4 miles of swimming, 10 miles of biking and 3.1 miles of running.  This ain't no IronMan Tri (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26 mile run).  I haven't completely lost my mind.

June 9th is race day and my goal is to finish it, not win it.  I'll keep you posted.

Typical morning table

A typical/random day of kid's eating.  Pictures of precious memories I don't want to forget.

These were a couple of months ago, well like January really.  Now, the scene is more like Brandon shoveling whatever I've put in front of him, while the other two swear after 2 bites they're full.

 
The scene location has changed a little bit also.  Now, the older 2 are sitting at the little table and Brandon is standing next to them, terrorizing the food on their plates.  They've figured out how to sit at the little table, place their plates on the bigger table and eat while strategically keeping their food away from the "tosser."

His hair doesn't stick up as much anymore.  I even took him to a barber and told the man to "take a little off the top", thinking that might make it stick back up again.  Didn't.  I do everything I can to encourage it.  I'm afraid it's not going back up on it's own.

Sweet, sweet memories.

Cooking FAIL #659

Yep, the cooking Fail that occurred tonight was p.r.e.t.t.y bad.

I've cooked pot roast with potatoes and carrots in the crock pot at least once a month since getting married.  Partially because it's my favorite meal and partially because it's so dang easy.  Or at least, I thought it was.  But never fear, the Cooking Hack came to the rescue and found a way to screw up a meal she thought she had added to the "easy" list.

It was so bad...

Katherine very innocently and kindly said to me, "Hey Momma, those carrots were awful, but look, I ate all of them!"

Nathan very seriously warned his father, "Dad, be careful.  If you eat dat chicken it will weave bones in your mouf."

And Brandon, the child who eats ANYTHING, was throwing his food, overarm throwing his food while screeching at the top of his lungs.



You know it's bad when before the meal is cleaned up I'm asking about going to Moe's tomorrow night.




May the God of everything, even cooking, smile down upon our family.


(Notice, I'm hoping and praying for a miracle to happen.  I'm not offering up any concrete solutions.  I've known it for a while, but maybe I should look into a cooking class.  Who, seriously, has the time, though?)

The usual chaos

Brandon has taken a liking to ripping paper.  So, I pulled out an old phone book (does anybody still use those?) and gave the kids free reign to start ripping.  What happened amidst the ripping is our "usual chaos."

I love to watch this video and notice the mommy-growth I've experienced.  The wrestling in the background while totally ignoring the words coming out of my mouth seemed to not phase me one bit.  I was pretty sure no one would get seriously hurt, because if they did I could so pull out the, "Well that's what happens when you play rough, guys," comment.  And my focus was more on the videoing process while keeping little curious fingers away from the lens.

Ahhh, siblings.  Just a couple more months and there will be a 3rd little booger in the wrestling mess.

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Our little pre-walker

It's crazy ridiculous what us adults will do to make a baby laugh.  All of a sudden, just because there's a mini adult around, we feel we have a license to break out the goofiest sounds, movements, gyrations and gestures just to get a smile out of them.  Could be because that smile makes us feel sooooo good inside.  Who knows.

Mothers are guilty of this also.  Even though they, of all people, should know what makes their baby tick more than anybody else in the world.  It's got to be a strange little world our babies live in when watching us adults.  One moment, we're perfectly adult-like examples, the next moment, delirious craziness overcomes us just 12 inches from their little faces.

I, am no exception to this rule.

Mind you, the focus of this video is supposed to be on his scootin' skills and his walker mastery.  NOT, my crystal-shattering squeals.

Enjoy.

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Well, it's official.  I have no idea how to remove that last paper-ripping portion of the video.  Oh well, you'll get to see it again next post.

Familiar scene

Every now and then I run into a deja vu moment.  Something I'm positive I've seen before and sometimes, just sometimes I fortunately happen to have a picture to back it up.  For instance, back when Jim graduated we were celebrating the free time he finally had and dancing ensued.  Nathan was 10 months old, Katherine was 3 1/2.

 

Whaddyaknow, it happened again but just because.  Here, Katherine is almost 6, Nathan is 3 1/2, and Brandon is 9 months old.

Brandon update

Oh my sweet, sweet baby boy Brandon.  Where do I begin?

You wreaked such havoc on my body and mind while in utero that I was petrified you'd be a terror.  Au contraire.  You make having three children look easy.  (so far at least)

You are laid back, easy going, happy, content and a joy to be around.

When a rare sickness causes you to experience sleepless nights, I am reminded of how most infants cause severe insomnia in parents and how fortunate we were to skip most of that.  I got better sleep immediately after you were born than I did before.  You have always been a good sleeper.

You have taken off and started growing like a weed.  At 7 months old, I was starting to wonder if you'd ever be interested in rolling over, much less sitting up or crawling.  But over night, you had a change of heart and decided it was time.  Within a week, you went from barely rolling over to crawling and trying to pull up and stand.  That was a lot of change in a week for me to accommodate.  But you did it in stride, at your own pace.  'Twas a great reminder for this old mom to parent your brother and sister with gentle, loving hands, for they too will develop at their own pace.

 

I'll always have fond memories of you and Nathan helping me "drive" when we go to pick up sissy in the car line at school.  I'll get both of you out of your car seats and let you sit up front with me while we creep through the line.  Both of you are so charming as you stand in my lap and chew on the steering wheel or check out the cars while half-way hanging out of my window and your brother stands on the console with his head sticking out of the sun roof and parade-waves to the teachers helping load up the students.

 

You love to explore outside and do your best to keep up with the big kids.  Leaves are a favorite of yours, just like your sister.

Brandon - 9 months

 

Katherine - 12 months

The dog is fascinating to you.  She's not a big fan of the pounding or hair pulling you like to love her with, so the old girl usually gets up slowly and moves to a place far away.

You are cruising everywhere now.  Anything you can get your hands on to pull up on, you grab.  And now, at 10 months old, you're slowly letting go to sit down.  Good signs of balance and pre-walking my little man.

You are a smiler.  You don't smile at random strangers like your brother did, but you also don't stare down familiar family members like your sister did.  Your smile is genuine and contagious.  The first one of us to have dimples.  Your little dimples are between your cheeks and your ears.

You had two bottom teeth for the longest time, it seemed, and now you have 3 more up top with another one coming in.  I'm pretty sure you were cutting 4 teeth all at once.  Trying to outdo your brother I take it.

I'll always have nicknames for my kiddos and some that have stuck for you are Boo, Bran Bran, Sweet Boy and (you're going to kill me for this) Fuzzy Wuzzy.

Your father has tried to convince me many times to cut your hair and I won't.  It's what makes you who you are, and besides, you have your whole life to worry about your looks.  Why not pull off fuzzy hair while you have the chance?  It's your trademark.  You're accustomed to people hovering their hand about 2 inches above your head to feel the hair.

I got the biggest compliment today at the Y.  The child care worker there said, "You have the best behaved kids."  She said that right after Nathan tried to comfort a little boy crying outside and you started crawling to Miss B, the girl that usually watches you.  It helps my exercising so much that you don't get upset when I drop you off there.  Thank you.

 

Your sister has begged us to put you in her room.  Just like I did with my little brother.  The little mommy also asked to do that with Nathan when he was an infant.  You boys better watch out, whether you like it or not, she's a nurturer and will be there to care for you through the years.

Waving, you have mastered.  Bring on the admirers because with the raise of your right hand, a slight flip of the wrist and your small smile, it has them all sold.  Notice it's the right hand.  Never have we witnessed a wave of the left hand.  It must be on permanent reserve for any thumb-sucking emergencies.

I've noticed you have a more gentle demeanor than your brother.  I'm not supposed to compare, I know, I know, but you two are different.  By 9 months old, Nathan already had the fist-clinch-in-my-hair technique perfected, along with an intensity that was hard to understand my first go-a-round into mothering a boy.  You do not have that intensity.

Nathan - 9 months old

Brandon - 9 months old

Oh, now I feel I'm being unfair to Nathan.  He did have a sweet, soft side too.

I believe your favorite song I sing to you is "I love you, a bushel and a peck."  All I have to do is start singing the first couple of notes to that song and you start laughing.

 

I say all the time that I can't imagine my life without you.  You have brought such joy, excitement, love and a totally new and fresh dimension to our family.

I love you Brandon James.