So Young Now...

2009-10-03T23:05:00.009-04:00

SURPRISE!

In August, I looked at a calendar, and realized that Kurt's birthday was coming at me fast---and it was a big one! He was going to be 50 at the end of September! Kurt (now known as "Pop-pop") needed something good for his birthday, so I thought a surprise party was in order. His favorite local establishment is Victory Brew--and after much discussion with them, they convinced me to have the party at my house, rather than at the restaurant, and they would cater! They would set up tents, tables and chairs, grills, and kegs in my yard; they would supply buffet tables, chafing dishes, lights for the tent, plates, napkins, waitstaff and everything I needed. I signed on, sent invites out, and plotted secretly for over a month, all the while not knowing whether Kurt was onto me---and all the while hoping for nice weather.

The rain started the second I stepped out of the movie theater with Kurt the evening of his party. Many of the guests had started to assemble back at our house at that time. I saw the drizzle and told myself it would stop in a minute---then it came down harder, and harder as we were driving home! I had to laugh, because the rain has destroyed so MANY days for me this summer, that this should have come as no surprise! But what WAS a surprise was the party back at our house---Kurt had NO idea and was completely surprised to see his family (some came from far away--thanks Kathy and M & M!) and years worth of friends in our kitchen when we got back to the house! He was even more excited when he learned that his favorite restaurant was catering --- and there were Victory hamburgers and a Victory keg in his own yard! It was a wonderful night with family and friends---I can only hope I made it a memorable 50th birthday for my honey!

Sadly, I didn't get everyone in pictures, and I didn't get pictures of the beautiful, water-logged tents!

2009-10-03T22:25:00.002-04:00

SWIM BIKE RUN
After the weather-disaster that was triathlon #1, I signed up for triathlon #2 and continued my training through August and September. Triathlon 2 was a little shorter (swim 1/4 mile, bike 12.5 hilly miles and run 2 miles) and also a little closer to home. I wasn't all that nervous about this one, and actually got some good sleep in the nights leading up to the triathlon! I was excited, until the day drew near and I realized how COLD it was, waking up in the mornings! The predicted temperature was 48 degrees outside at the time I would be jumping into Marsh Creek lake---and I only hoped that the water would be warmer than that. I was more worried about how cold it would feel when I got OUT of the water and started biking in the cold, in my wet clothes!

It felt cold! But, I cruised my way through the bike ride (did I mention it was very hilly!??) and made up for some lost time in my swim. Even with my slow and heavy mountain bike, I did good time! (Don't ask about the swim---I did my usual "panic" mode in open water, and it took me a lot longer than I had hoped, and a lot longer than I could do the same distance in a pool!) The 2-mile run seemed very quick, even though I didn't do it that quickly. It was part trail run, part run over grass and tree roots, some concrete, and I was surprised that the 1/2 way point (turn-around) came up as quickly as it did. I was chatting with a friend for part of the way, and we weren't pushing too hard until the end was near!Here are a few friends near the finish line--they made a banner and were cheering us on every leg of the race...it made all the difference in the world! This race was for males and females. My swim time was 13 minutes 11 seconds; bike was 50 minutes 48 seconds and run was 19 minutes 30 seconds. I came in number 147 out of 303 female racers; and for the females aged 40-44 I came in 27 out of 51. Some day I will make it out of my life of mediocrity, but in the meantime, I am pretty much middle of the pack!

And so, I did what I set out to do---a triathlon! And, I am probably hanging up my running shoes for a few months, until triathlon season starts again in the spring!

2009-10-03T22:04:00.002-04:00

PRESCHOOL STARTED!
Jack was excited and nervous about his first day of preschool---he was certainly familiar with the classrooms, and some of the teachers, because had had been there almost every single weekday of his entire life, dropping off and picking up his brother and sister during the school years! He loved that he had his own new backpack, just like Nicole and Max!

(No, I can't even remember why Nicole was crying, but I know it was NOT because she was sad to see her baby brother off to school!)

OK, maybe I am a little nervous, but I think I'm going to like it here!

Jack didn't cry when Max and I said "goodbye," but he wouldn't quite look at us either. He came running to me when I picked him up 2 hours later, but for a few hours after that, he was mad at me! The same thing happened the 2nd day of school (he only has school 2 mornings a week), but he has been fine, and looking forward to school, since the first week!

2009-10-03T21:31:00.002-04:00

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

August ended with the start of school for Nicole and Max. This was the first time Nicole was going to be at school all day; and for Max, this meant a 1/2 day of school that would be a lot of work and would not afford him much play time at all! I thought the whining would begin, from both kids, about a week or so into the school year!
I couldn't have been more wrong! I still haven't heard a peep, over a month later! Nicole loves being in school all day, and is doing extremely well. She is reading pretty well, doing great with spelling and writing, and claims that she is bored most of the day because everything is so easy! She loves eating lunch at school, and
is doing great this year! On the first day of school, Max was a little nervous going in---but no tears or crying! He came home off the bus with big smiles! When I dropped him off for day 2, he was instantly surrounded by a small pack of boys---all of his new "buddies"---who were playing tag and running around like they had known each other for years! In the following weeks, he has become closer to his friends; has started to learn to read sentences with his sight words; he has had a field trip to an apple orchard; he has improved his fine motor skills; and he couldn't be happier! Not one complaint that he hasn't been able to play very much! And there is a little first grader (a friend of Nicole's) who follows him around, tells him how cute he is, chases him, and blows him kisses! He is embarrassed to talk about it, but he always has a big smile on his face when he does! (Sadly for Nicole and Max, the girl will be moving away some time in the next few months--but I have a feeling that this won't be the last time Max and his cute little smile get chased around by a cute little girl!)

2009-10-03T19:54:00.006-04:00

CATCHING UP

The rest of the summer flew by for us. We didn't take a big vacation, but we did have a "staycation"---one week when Kurt took off from work and we tried to jam-pack as many activities in as we could (kid activities that is!). So we spent one day driving to, and enjoying, Knoebels Amusement Park. The park got an A+ rating from us....except for the length of the drive!!!

We spent day #2 at Sesame Place! We have taken the kids there a few times over their long years, with ever-increasing disappointment. It is extremely expensive, extremely crowded (even on a week day), the staff is slow or non-existent, and I don't want to sound like a snob, but where do they FIND some of the people that frequent the park? I don't want to mingle with these people and share rides or pool water for fear of the diseases I may come home with!

Day number 3 of staycation: I had a previously-scheduled continuing legal education class that day, so Kurt and the kids were off to his parents for a fun-filled day of tickles, giggles and play!

The whining started early on day 4; we had some pretty tired kids. But we were going to show them some more fun, and they were going to LIKE it, no matter what! So, off to the Please Touch Museum in its newly renovated space! It was AWESOME, and I wish I could post 100 pictures of this place----which still wouldn't do it justice! (I am actually having difficulty posting pictures right now, so I will have to add pictures later.) By the end of this museum visit, I had really had enough of locales with seas of screaming kids, but we kept moving onward! Since we were really close to Philly, we took the kids to Dave & Busters and let them play arcade games and earn tickets until they were blue in the face! After a few hours, and a lot of money spent, they had enough tickets amassed to buy--- (wait for it!)--- one candy bar each! I couldn't help but think that I could have saved us all a lot of time and money by buying them one before we ended up at D & B!

For the last day of staycation, we were going to take the kids to another amusement park---Dutch Wonderland! But, they awoke with dark circles around their eyes, tears falling for any reason and no reason at all, and zombie-like demeanors, so we decided they had had enough! A nice relaxing day at home would do just fine for the end of our staycation! Did I mention that this week of running was all done in the one-and-only heat wave we had all summer!?

August also brought: Jack moving to a toddler bed (not one complaint or problem with the transition---and he has never gotten out of his bed until we come to get him in the morning!); a good friend of mine moving away ('bye Erin, still miss you!); and the first day of school for Nicole and Max!

2009-08-06T15:37:00.003-04:00

TRI AGAIN?
The disastrous day that was my triathlon has come and gone, and I still can't get past it. The swim was canceled for safety reasons (the thunder, lightning and torrents of rain probably had something to do with it) but it was replaced with a run, so we had to do a run-bike-run...a duathlon, NOT a triathlon! I managed to finish the race, in pretty poor weather conditions, before the race was called 1/2 way through it, as the sky let loose and dumped 4 inches of rain in an hour. Or so I was later told. Because as I was standing there, it seemed to me that there was a lot more rain than that---but the scarier part was the thunder/lightning, the streams of water running by, and the mud and puddles up to my knees...and being unable to find my ride, or any friends or familiar faces. I did eventually find them...and everyone I knew did manage to get out of there OK (there were some girls who were taken out on stretchers in ambulances!)...and the skies did eventually clear and the scariness of the day dissipated and was replaced with disappointment. I learned to swim for this race! I trained for a triathlon, not a duathlon! My times for the day were OK, but had to have been affected by the weather! And so, I have decided that I WILL do this race again next year. But I also don't want to wait that long to conquer a swim in the river, and so I will be doing a smaller triathlon in the area in September. After all, it can't be any worse than this day was! But if I wake to any sign of rain that morning, I will NOT be getting out of bed!

2009-07-23T20:51:00.006-04:00

SUMMER FUN?

If I'm being honest, I need to step up the fun for the kids this summer! This has been my "selfish summer" so far, and will be for another 9 days, when I will participate in a triathlon (for better or for worse) and then I will take my training down a notch. If the kids had to return to school right now and write an essay about what they did this summer, it would go something like this: "I went to the kidzone at the gym." Since they don't ask kindergarteners and first graders to do these kind of essays, I'm off the hook for now! (It IS a nice kidzone with different creative areas, climbing structures and room to run, so they are never doing the same thing two days in a row, and they have made a lot of friends there!) Actually, since there is a 2 hour 15 minute time limit for the kidzone in the gym, we have spent our afternoons at home, playing in the yard, or being very quiet in the house, while Jack naps. Or, more likely lately, we whisper and tiptoe in the hopes that a very-tired-and-cranky Jack will nap, because he refuses more often than not at this point. Which would be OK, were it not for the crankiness. Which really is not OK evening after evening! So, we stay home in the hopes of a nap much of the time. The upside to this is that Nicole and Max have been playing SO well together. And when the three are together, they travel in a small pack and use a ton of imagination and creativity to play and learn. (Unless you let Max play Wii Lego Star Wars; then we've lost him for the afternoon!)

We have had a little bit of July fun. The kids went to camp for a week at their elementary school, and will go for another week in a different camp shortly. We have gone to a couple of local fairs and playgrounds.

Fireworks are a necessary start to July!

(See, I told you Max and Nicole were getting along so well! We didn't ask them for this photo op, but I grabbed it when I saw it!)

The kids found a new favorite restaurant for outdoor dining! It's too bad for our wallets that it's not a typical kids' place at all! It's a fine dining restaurant with a casual side to their menu and a more casual outdoor seating area that we love! In Downingtown, no less! Max was trying his hardest to make a great bear's face!

Some fun outdoor play; they are performers putting on a concert for their fans! (There was only one fall off the stage, which wasn't caught on camera, and no injuries from it!)

Yes, thanks for noticing that Nicole now has bangs, and no, we haven't taken her for a haircut in a long while. We were also wondering how the bangs appeared around her face one afternoon. Apparently she had a little incident with the scissors. We're still not sure, after a pretty heated cross-examination, whether this was an accidental or intentional fight between the scissors and her hair, but this is the look she is stuck with for a while! They would actually be cute under different circumstances. We'll take her to a stylist to get them prettied up once they grow out a little, and we'll make sure we step up her summer activities so her little brothers don't end up with crew cuts!

2009-07-09T21:01:00.003-04:00

VISITING
Emptiness started to fill the Dungan household earlier this week as Grandpa Powell and Grandmolly packed up their RV and drove away, back home to New Mexico. They were here for almost a month, and now, sadly, they are gone! The kids loved having them around, and sharing their activities with the grandarents we don't see often enough!
The kids got to celebrate grandpa's birthday with him, and help blow out the candles. When we were picking out the cake, Nicole assured me that the cake with the yellow icing and huge pink flowers was the one that grandpa would like the best!

We also got to celebrate Father's Day with Grandpa Powell on two different occasions; once with much of Kurt's large family, and another more quiet dinner with just us. Victory Brew Pub was a favorite with the men!

The kids loved going to the camper to play and visit! Here we are relaxing before a cookout---the cooking was done just before the rain came, but the eating had to be done inside the camper!

Jack's favorite position in the camper was in the driver's seat. He really could barely control himself when sitting there---he would honk the horn over and over and over, even when he knew he was about to get into trouble! Doesn't look like he feels too badly about it!

Grandpa and Grandma also got to see the kids "run" in a little Fun Run on the 4th of July; then see the kids' joy going on rides at the fair. (Well, OK, Jack wasn't too joyous, and Nicole wasn't that happy to go on a ride with him when her friend was off doing other things, but it was fun nonetheless!)

The kids loved the attention they received with two sets of grandparents over for a July 5th barbecue. But as all good things must come to an end, so too did Grandpa's Pennsylvania visit.
We were very sad when the final good-byes were exchanged at the end of the evening. Goodbye grandpa! Hope to see you out in New Mexico sometime this year, but we hope you'll be back for another visit next year!

2009-07-05T22:28:00.007-04:00

ANOTHER RUN...
Ok, so I may have been bitten by the 5K bug, just a little bit! Another one down! Erin (my pacecar from my first run) and I started our day out a little too early, again! I'm pretty sure I was barely awake at this point, when Kurt snapped our pic.

Wow, this was a big one! We're somewhere in the crowd, although I couldn't tell you where!

I kept up with Erin for a while---here we are passing Firecreek in Downingtown---but I had to stop to take a breath at some point along the way, and I lost her quickly in the crowd!Here I am nearing the finish line---it was a hard run for me. The roads were relatively flat, but I wasn't feeling great almost from the outset. I had to stop and walk a few times along the way. I got some energy back when I turned a corner and saw a finish line in sight, a ways up. I was surprised, but I ended up beating the time in my last race, by about 30 seconds. Results: I came in number 402 out of 867 runners. My timing chip time was 28 minutes 12 seconds, and my gun time was 28 minutes 21 seconds (please don't ask me to define these, because I still have no idea!). My pace was 9 minutes 6 seconds per mile. I came in 15th out of 54 runners in my age group (females 40-44 years old) and I came in 130th out of 413 female runners, every age. I was miserable during this run, and as soon as I finished, I vowed that I would never run another one as long as I lived. I don't know what compelled me, mere minutes later, to tell my friend that I was going to look for one more in the next few weeks! I hate running and I struggle through it. There's no explanation other than I've been bitten by the 5K bug!!

We signed Nicole up for the kids 1K Fun Run. (Max assured us a number of times that he had no interest in running.) As soon as Max ran into one of his best preschool friends, wearing a race number for the Fun Run, Max pleaded with us to sign him up for the run! We couldn't turn him down. His friend's sister and Nicole became fast friends the last time they met, so we had a very happy foursome preparing for their run!And they're off...They had to run to a cone and back (the distance wasn't even close to the touted 1K) and Kurt and I are quite proud that both of our kids came in almost dead last. Kurt told them to hit the books because there will be NO athletic scholarship in their future! I ran with Max and was pulling him back to the finish line, not even realizing that Nicole was actually behind us! She really did start out strong!
Everyone is a winner in the Fun Run, and the kids proudly showed off their medals!

Yay for us!

I should note that Jack was screaming that he could not run with his brother and sister. Daddy didn't bring sneakers for him, and there was technically no category for a 2-year old. He was not a happy 2-year old! If I had to bet, Jack would have placed top three in the 5 and 6 year old race, or at the very least, he would have outpaced his 5 and 6 year old siblings by a mile!

2009-07-03T21:57:00.006-04:00

5K ...again!

As I sit here on the eve of a 5K run, I realize that I have not yet written about run number 2, which occurred 2 weeks ago. A different group of ladies ran with me this time, through the streets of downtown West Chester. The run benefited the Chester County Legal Aid Society, but this fact had nothing to do with the reason for the run! I think I was bitten by the 5K bug a little bit---I wanted a few more runs under my belt, I wanted to beat my time for my first run and I wanted to feel good doing it!

(Note to self: Flying pony tail was quite distracting throughout run! Remember to do a low pony for tomorrow's run!) This 5K was a double-loop run which started with a big downhill and ended with a long incline uphill, and was mostly flat in-between. There were a lot less participants than the first run, and it had a lot of much faster runners!! I did beat my first time by almost 1 and a 1/2 minutes---my final result was 28 minutes, 52 seconds, pacing at a 9 minute 19 second mile, and placing 94 out of 150 runners. I was happy enough about the time, but not by my place! Must....do.....better! Must....do.....better!

I will post about tomorrow's run shortly! (Unless I do poorly, then you won't hear from me for quite a while!)

2009-07-02T21:40:00.005-04:00

SOME SUMMER FUN

Although I thought that Nicole and Max would have long outgrown our toddler pool, I was very happily surprised that the pool entertained them more than it did toddler Jack! (I have no idea where the almost perfect Charlie's Angels pose came from!)

Just had to post this action shot! Max is lithely flying through the air to start out his arduous trek to get the car up the hill!Summer fun has begun. I am hoping that Jack's aversion to grass on his feet will be outgrown. This could interfere with some serious backyard play!The kids also had a great time watching a movie played on a large screen in a local park. (Put those feet in the grass, Jack! You have shoes on!)

No really, it's OK to put them down!Hmm, seems like only a mouth full of animal crackers can make him forget his feet-in-the-grass problem!Another June favorite was a trip to the Lego store! We really could have spent hours in there, but for the nasty looks from the staff showing that we overstayed our welcome!

I think they should charge an hourly fee to let me drop my kids off while I shop!!

2009-06-28T21:27:00.004-04:00

LAST DAYS OF KINDERGARTEN

Just as I was starting to get the hang of it, kindergarten ended for Nicole! With a few fun end-of-the-year field trips, and a kindergarten presentation for the parents, the first two weeks of June flew by! The kids presented a few songs to the parents at the end-of-year concert, and I, for one, was pretty impressed with their version of "God Bless America" which was sung AND performed in full in sign language by the kids!There was a little celebration in the cafeteria after the show. We were very happy that Grandpa Powell was in town to enjoy the show with us! (Well, I was also very happy he was there to help keep the boys under control. One look from grandpa and the boys retreated to their seats and cowered there for 10 minutes!)The very last day came too quickly for Nicole, who seemed happy at pick-up time, but burst into tears when we got home because she was going to miss her friends, and her class!Nicole was very happy to have another good year with one of her best friends during her entire three years in preschool; he was the only person she knew who would be attending the same school for kindergarten, and quite serendipitously, they ended up in the same class!

School's out for summer!

2009-06-10T22:09:00.004-04:00

TYPICAL WEEKEND WITH JACK:

Daddy's lament:

(Nicole did egg him on a little, but Jack came to me with the costume, insisting that he wanted to be Snow White. Who was I to turn him down? Although according to a very upset daddy, I should have! But really, he's 2!)

Mommy's lament:

(I know the picture is a little blurry, but yes, that was his finger planted solidly in his nose---and it was held there for quite some time! And not surprisingly, daddy was not remotely bothered by this one. But I was!)

Ahh, my little man...what DOES the future hold for you?

2009-06-09T15:22:00.003-04:00

ANOTHER GRADUATE!

While Max's preschool graduation was a big deal to us this year, we had an even bigger graduation in the family! Big brother Joe graduated from high school in early June! The ceremony was at the Sovereign Center in Reading. Wow, look at the size of that graduating class! (There's Joe in the yellow cap and gown!)

We celebrated with Joe and his mom, and other relatives back at their house after the ceremony. What a fine-looking crew!Congrats to Joe on his hard work in high school! Although Joe was interested in college in California, we are very happy he will be going to school right outside New York City! Not only will we see him more, but we may get a few extra trips to NY out of this! (Don't worry, we won't stalk you up there, Joe!) We are very proud that Joe is receving scholarship money to play water polo at his new school. He has been playing for years in high school, and is the best! Best of luck and much love to you as you embark on this new era of your life!

2009-06-02T22:17:00.003-04:00

RECITAL!

May ended with Nicole's 2-day dance recital. The girls worked hard all year at Crane Performing Arts, and did a great job tap dancing to "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile." She enjoyed her friends in class!

She enjoyed posing in her fancy dress as well!We were very proud of Nicole for being placed front and center as the "lead" in the performance. (Pics are poor, no flash photography and no video cameras were permitted!)We were also proud of Nicole's friend Madison, who was the lead in her dance as well! These girls have known each other for almost 4 years and are always very happy to see each other!

2009-06-02T21:34:00.006-04:00

OUR LITTLE GRADUATE!

Our little Max is officially a preschool graduate! With great report cards and an ever-increasing roster of friends, we are proud to say that Max flew through preschool with flying colors!

Max and his graduating class put on a presentation of songs they have learned through the year, and we were pretty impressed with the kids' memorization of the many, many, many songs they sang at graduation!

Here is Max with diploma in hand!Proud mommy gives him a hug!Daddy and Jack are happy too (Nicole was in kindergarten during the ceremony)!Max will miss his best buddies from school; almost everyone he knows from preschool will be going to different schools in the fall!Jack was in on every step of the action; he was fighting to be by Max's side the whole time, and he kept telling all of the parents "I graduate today!"Since Jack will be starting preschool in the fall, in the same class that both Nicole and Max started in, I am sure his graduation day will be here sooner than we know!

2009-06-01T21:47:00.003-04:00

PROM!

Nicole and daddy went to take pictures of big brother Joe and his beautiful date heading off to their prom! Nicole wanted to be part of the action as well! Joe's date was very sweet to Nicole and told her she could come with her to her prom next year if she'd like! (She'd like!!)

I never did get the details on how the prom went that night, but judging by behavior of all seniors at all proms nationwide, it's probably just as well that we don't know!

2009-06-01T21:22:00.005-04:00

'TIS THE SEASON

Nope, not Christmas in July again...at least not yet. It's the season for cheesy and over-priced FAIRS replete with greasy food, screaming children, and rusty-looking rides that shake and rattle until you're sure your child will be the first fatality of the season!

We took a brief sidetrip to the Chester County Hospital fair in May. We laid down the ground rules beforehand---only a certain amount of tickets will be purchased; only a certain amount of rides will be ridden --- so make your choices wisely; there will be no food or drink purchased at the fair, we don't care HOW hungry or thirsty you are; and when mom or dad announce it is time to leave, you will smile and walk quickly and quietly to the exit at an even pace with no sounds of whining to be heard! This actually worked pretty well for us...for the first time we didn't stay all day and spend all of our money at a spring fair!

Nicole and Max were snaked out of a front seat on a car by a snot-nosed brat who RAN in front of them from behind once the gates were opened by the ticket-taker. They recovered after their initial upset, and even managed to look like they were OK getting a back seat on the ride!

Nicole has forever been a fan of the big slide.

Max has always been afraid to go down the slide (except on my lap) but bravely climbed to the top himself this year. I thought he would be screaming at the bottom after I saw another child fly over a bump, but he had the time of his life and wanted to go again! (Nope, he should have thought of that before he used up all of his tickets elsewhere!)

I thought I would have a hard time containing fearless and energetic Jack when he saw the fun rides he could go on with his brother and his sister! He spent almost the whole time like this and didn't even want to get out of his stroller!

That's ok! He just may be my get-out-of-fair-free card this year!!

2009-06-01T20:48:00.003-04:00

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

I was very happy to have been invited by a friend to her birthday party in May. This friend is a very special friend to many people---she is a fun, energetic and very motivating group fitness instructor at the gym I belong to. She has a large contingency of "groupies" who follow her around every day and pack her classes to maximum capacity! You will never be bored in one of her classes and you will never complain that you didn't get a good work-out!

My friend threw her own party and invited a group of us to celebrate her birthday; we had a night of great food, drinks, and conversation (and an occasional party-crasher interrupting the fun--who IS that guy in the far left of the picture??)

A few tears were shed at the generosity of our gift, but we were all in agreement that Diane is worth a lot more to us than what we gave her!Happy birthday Diane, from your groupie AND your friend!

2009-05-31T22:24:00.004-04:00

NINE YEARS

Kurt and I have officially been married 9 years now. I really can't believe it; nine years sounds like such a LONG time! So, nine years and three kids later, the day went something like this.

Kurt: I took off from work on our anniversary!

Me: Oh, how sweet! Do you want to do something? We don't really have a sitter for the kids!

Kurt: Well, part of the reason I took off is that our lawn needs mowing. It's never been longer, and it's been raining for the last 10 days straight, so I need to get it done.

Me:OK. Great! After you get the lawn done I have a few errands to run; it's so much quicker to do it without the kids.

Kurt: Ok, then I will run to Lowe's to get mulch...

Well, you get the picture. We spent the day running in different directions, trying to skirt kid responsibilities while getting the most out of our individual time! I am assuming (I am hoping) this is a typical anniversary for most people in our position! But we came together for a great dinner (with the kids, of course) and ended our anniversary realizing how great our life has become, in the last nine years. (And we did get to celebrate the weekend before when we had an overnight in Philly, no kids included!) We were at least hoping to get a picture of us together on our anniversary, but:

no shot! It's truly just not about us anymore!

2009-05-31T22:05:00.001-04:00

MAY?

I really don't know what happened to the month of May. I need to catch up with it, as I say goodbye to it!

In early May, Kurt and I got away for an overnight to Philly! We miss it so much, but even more than Philly, we miss our dear friends who also moved out of the city. We are able to connect with them for at least one overnight a year, where we try to relive old times, and create new memories! We don't see them nearly enough, but we love them a lot, and we cherish our times together even more now than we did before! Love you, Hoags and Miss. (And oops, sorry I blew right by your b-day at the end of May, Hoags! The whole month got away from me after our weekend!)

2009-04-27T22:27:00.004-04:00

RUN!

Although I have tried to exercise vigorously most of my adult life, I have never been a runner. I have always thought of running as a mild form of torture, whether on a treadmill or on the street, and so I have chosen to exercise in other ways! But with thoughts of the sprint triathalon still in my head, I have gotten on the treadmill twice since mid-February, and I have taken a run outside on the walking path near my home. (And I still think it is a mild form of torture, even five steps into my endeavor!) But when a friend told me she was thinking about doing a 5K run in the area, I was motivated to do it, as a form of training for the triathalon. Never mind training for the run---we only decided to do this about a week before the event!! I have never participated in any event like this, but didn't think there was much to lose! And so, I signed on!

And here we go, just starting out---the very first leg was up a pretty steep hill! And the hills did not stop! I was later told that this was a pretty tough 5K because of the hills. (Not sure what I would have done if I had known that before the run!)Notice we're smiling at the camera as we're starting out!

Here we are nearing the finish line, 3.1 miles later. I have to say that I almost gave up between miles 2 and 3, but I watched my friend moving along and nicknamed her "pacecar." She kept me moving! No smiles, but lots of determination(or fatigue!)! The end is near!

None of the hubbies were at the actual finish line to snap a pic, but we made it! I have a vague recall of the timer registering 30 minutes, but I was so tired and out-of-breath, I wasn't sure whether that was accurate.

Here are my little racers who were signed up and ready for the "tot trot."

Jack took off in the two-year old race (center of pic), and we were pretty impressed with him until he got to the end and wanted to keep going, so he shot off to the side and took off at a mad sprint... I had to shoot off after him and drag him back to get a medal (all the kids get medals!)
Nicole and Max both ran the 5-year old race (there were no events for 6-year olds, and I wasn't up for the whining that would surely ensue when I told Nicole that her brothers would race, get medals and free ice cream and she wouldn't!) On your mark, get set....and I was really not able to get a picture of the confusion after their start, but here they are at the starting line. (Nicole in the middle, Max at far left.)

My medal winners!And, the results. I came in #159 out of 333 runners. Official time was 30 minutes, 15 seconds, with my speed being a 9 minute 45 second mile. I was number 18 out of 51 runners in my age group. I am pretty happy with the results of my first run!Someone once told me that competitions were addictive, and I said I couldn't imagine wanting to do it again once I've done it once. And of course? I have already checked whether there were some other 5K runs in the area. I have one in my sights, but I only want to do it if I get some more running time under my belt...

2009-04-16T20:41:00.005-04:00

EASTER BUNNY
Easter was a pretty quiet day in the Dungan household! The kids were up at the crack of dawn, and daddy tried to tell them to go back to sleep (yah, that worked really well) before we decided that we wanted to be downstairs with the kids when they saw their easter baskets for the first time. Unfortunately, we missed that opportunity, as it seems that Nicole and Max had already been up rifling through the baskets (even Jack's) for some time before they woke us. We didn't get a chance to see the looks on their faces when they saw candy and a few favorite toys in their baskets. We didn't get a chance to stop them from snacking on a few jelly beans for breakfast (it could have been worse!) and we didn't get a chance to stop them from taking it upon themselves to switch a toy out of Jack's basket (Jack was still asleep) and into Max's basket---although they did dutifully replace the coveted toy with something from Max's basket!

Unfortunately, my pictures from the morning were a little blurred out; my camera had spent the night in the car, and the temperature was freezing overight! While the camera was warming itself up, plenty of photo ops passed me by! I did get a chance to click the pretty moon that was in the sky at the crack of dawn when the kids woke us up! (Yes, still a little dark out!!)

We headed out to church, where the kids were surprisingly well-behaved. Jack was so happy to be dressed like Max, he wouldn't put anything else on the rest of the day! (We didn't tell him that he is wearing Max's old outfit---he has many years of hand-me-downs coming at him, so the less he realizes he gets no new clothes of his own, the better for us all!)

We had a huge dinner at Buca with grandparents and big brother Joe!And on top of all the Easter candy the kids munched on all day, they managed to find room for their favorite: ice cream cones!

2009-04-05T20:46:00.003-04:00

EASTER PARTY!
The kids really look forward to the Easter party at Grandma Dungan's former place of employment! The festivities kicked off with an easter egg hunt, and then food, dessert and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Due to the very high winds this year, the kids scrambled to get their eggs and get inside! (Pun intended!)
Go Jack! He was with the 0-3 year olds, and was a true champ with a bucket full of eggs by the end of his race!Nicole and Max were collecting eggs so fast that most pictures contain only a single body part as they rush out of the frame and onto a new find! (Max in the background.) The cutest and cuddliest Easter Bunny showed up to bring gift bags to all the kids!

Jack probably didn't remember the Easter Bunny from last year. When he showed up this time, Jack went running up to him to try to give him hugs. I couldn't see Jack's face when he was hugging the bunny, but when he turned to me afterward, he had the sweetest and happiest smile on his face! What a perfect age! Nicole and Max like to see the bunny, but they're all about what's in their gift bags!

This year Nicole also won a raffle for a huge kids' gift basket of toys. She could barely carry the basket, (unfortunately, no pics) it was so big and stuffed full of fun things! Max was happy for her until he realized that he didn't win any of the raffles. He had his eye on a remote control car and walked out in tears when another little boy carried the car out of the party. Max recovered quickly when he realized what a cool Hot Wheels playset his grandma gave him; and when he heard his sister being unusually nice to him when she offered to share some of her toys! Come to think of it, that took us all by surprise...

2009-03-30T15:28:00.003-04:00

EAR PIERCING, TAKE TWO...

Nicole's pierced ear finally closed up enough to get it re-done, which she has been saying from the beginning she did not want to do. Her options were to take the 2nd earring out and let that hole close, and she could get them pierced at some future date, OR, to just get it done! She bravely stepped foot into Sweet and Sassy Salon, but was a quivering mess of tears as soon as she sat in the piercing throne! We put her on my lap, but that wouldn't stop her tears. The store manager told her how brave she was (didn't work); tried to reason with her (didn't work); I tried to talk to her (didn't work); daddy was there and was encouraging (nope); brother Max told her how pretty she would look (still no) and even little Jack said "why you crying, 'Cole?" Inconsolable! Then the manager said "what if I give you a manicure after I pierce your ear?" Moment of silence to contemplate, bright smile and an "OK!" and not another tear was shed, even as the piercing happened! Nicole happily went off for her treatment, which included manicure, sparkly star on her cheek, and hair glitter on her pony tail! Her life was complete!

Where did this girly-girl come from, and who will be paying her bills as she grows up?? (And I have to add that the bill today was free; the salon did the right thing and acknowledged that her previous piercing was not properly placed! Now they will have a return customer---likely many many times in the future!)

2009-03-22T22:29:00.002-04:00

TWO FRONT TEETH
The tooth fairy had the chance to pass through the house again! Nicole lost her second tooth---another bottom front tooth. Her big tooth had already been growing behind it for some time so when it actually fell out, there was no gap-toothed grin---it didn't look like she had a tooth missing at all!

Having had the chance to think ahead, the tricky tooth fairy left a gift instead of money this time, and Nicole was beside herself when she saw a pretty pink unicorn friend near her pillow in the morning! Sometimes on the weekends we let the kids sleep in each others' rooms because they love to be together, but Max almost kicked Nicole out of his room before bedtime, at the thought of a fairy flying through his room! I am sure his tune will change very quickly--we're approaching the time when his teeth are getting ready to drop...

2009-03-16T12:42:00.002-04:00

FASHION SHOW

Nicole and her American Girl doll, Kylie, went to an American Girl Fashion Show last week!! This fashion show was a fund-raising event sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House, and took place at the University of Delaware campus.

Nicole was oohing and aahing over the clothes worn by the models and their dolls as they strutted the runway, and I was pretty impressed with the tasty lunch and the level of organization of the event! But most of all, I was impressed with the level of fun Nicole had with her new friend Olivia, who she had never met before despite the long friendship I've had with Olivia's mom! These giggling girls acted like they have been friends forever, and we are hoping that this was the start of another long friendship! (I won't even dwell on the only sour point of the day --- the amount of money I paid for the "hairstyle" Nicole chose for her doll. Two small braids down the front of her face, which I could have done myself for free! $8 and a week later, I am still a little bitter. I keep telling myself the money was going to a good cause, and that does make me feel slightly better!)

2009-03-15T20:59:00.003-04:00

ELMO LIVE!

Jack is apparently a very discerning patron of the arts at his young age. He was only mildly entertained by his first trip to the "theater" to see Elmo on stage!

Why was my little man not over-the-moon when seeing Elmo and all his Sesame Street friends? Was he tired because he missed a nap? Not as excited because his big brother and sister weren't with him? Missing mommy because daddy took him to the show? Or could it be the worst-case scenario; is he outgrowing Elmo? It will be a sad day for me when Elmo is completely out of the picture in the household! Jack used to get so excited every time he saw Elmo---he would bring Elmo to his face for a kiss every chance he got! Sniff sniff! I am not ready for this big step away from babyhood, and I'm hoping that he was just a little overwhelmed by it all!

2009-03-09T22:12:00.004-04:00

FLOWER GIRL

The Philadelphia Flower Show was trying to fool me into thinking that I was visiting Italy once again. I have to admit that more than one display did stop me in my tracks for a minute before I remembered that I was in a rather uninspired auditorium in the middle of Philly. The pictures I have don't do the show justice in the least, but the images do make me smile as I recall the beauty of the displays, and the beauty of my little companion's face as she became more excited at every corner we turned! She is a girly-girl with a love of flowers, and of all things girly and beautiful. Since she was as excited as she was at this show, I cannot wait until the time she is old enough to travel to the "real" Italy with me, so I can help her appreciate all that the world has to show her there!

2009-03-04T22:08:00.004-05:00

MONSTER TRUCKS

Max and Kurt went to Max's first Hot Wheels Monster Jam show last month. They took the subway down to the stadiums from Center City Philly, and Max happily sucked on a lollipop as he anticipated his rare day out flying solo with dad.

They got to see big brightly-painted trucks, making loud noises as they jumped over and smashed up small cars.

Although he enjoyed it, Max was not overly impressed with the show. He may even have been a little over his head in the testosterone-filled stadium that day. His favorite part?

The big ol' bucket of popcorn daddy bought for him to munch on through the show!

2009-02-26T14:58:00.002-05:00

UPDATES
To swim, or not to swim? Well, I got into the water last weekend---and my hopes of participating in the triathalon were immediately dashed. I confirmed that I can't swim even a little bit, and I really couldn't see how I would ever be able to do a river swim---and 35 laps of it at that! I left the pool extremely discouraged, and was sure that my "indecision" turned into a decision not to participate in the triathalon. Since that time, I have spoken to several wonderful women at my gym who are probably going to compete in the triathalon. They are extremely encouraging, and have convinced me to at least take some actual swim lessons. At the very worst, I can learn how to swim---and maybe I can even do a little more than that by the time the triathalon comes along! Another woman is in the same boat as I am, and she and I are going to look into lessons together, so that's where I stand right now!

On a higher note, Jack's potty training is going extremely well! He is asking to go to the potty about a gazillion times a day, and goes every time! Pretty much every poop he takes is on the potty, and his diapers are only slightly wet when he asks me to take them off---as if he starts to go in his diaper, then stops himself and asks to use the potty. Today when I picked him up at the gym, the ladies said he asked to use the potty, and went! I can only hope that this lasts! (The poop that ended up in his pack-n-play yesterday will be the subject of another post, perhaps, but overall, it is going very well!)

Nicole learned to tie her shoes yesterday! She is very proud of herself! But she is a little bummed about her ear piercing--it's putting a little damper on her life! When she had it done, one side was noticeably higher than the other side, and it has been bothering me for weeks! I finally decided that I was taking one side out and having it done again the right way this time! We had been talking about this from the beginning, and she REALLY doesn't want to have her ear pierced again, but I decided that she will thank me later in life. So we are waiting for the hole to close up before I take her back. And she is really in no hurry for the hole to close up!

We have all been pretty healthy these last few weeks. Final tally? Strep got Nicole three times, Kurt once, me once (maybe twice) and the strep rash (but not strep throat) got Jack twice. My hold-out, Max, ended up getting strep throat once! The stomach flu hit all of us once, except Nicole!! I have heard that many families are getting the stomach virus two and three times over....but I just know this won't happen to us! Right?

2009-02-16T22:03:00.002-05:00

POTTY TRAINING, DAY 2
Such excitement! Exact repeat of Day #1!! I am so excited for him, and he is so excited for himself! He didn't ask to be put on the potty early in the day, but he did in the evening, and again filled it with pee, and kept asking to sit some more and "try again" until poop came out too! I can't believe he is potty training himself---I better get my act in gear so I can keep up!

2009-02-15T22:18:00.002-05:00

IT'S POTTY TIME!
Once again our little Jack left the Dungan household in amazement tonight! It was a pretty hectic time in our kitchen --- we were all going in different directions and little attention was being paid to Jack, when he started yanking on his diaper and asked to sit on the potty that has been gathering dust in the corner because no one (well, because I) haven't had the time to start potty training. He also only just turned two, so I didn't think he would be ready yet---I only wanted to get the idea in his head at this stage! He has been exposed to the potty very little---has sat on it a few times at irregular intervals, but we weren't even sure he understood the mechanics of his body and the potty! So Kurt placated him and said "sure, you can take your diaper off and sit on the potty," and we were all kind of thinking that it was so cute that he wanted to sit there. A few seconds later, our jaws were all dropping as we saw some pee leaving his body and going right into the potty! We were jumping and screaming as he sat back down and said he needed to go some more. He sat there for a while pretending (we thought) he was pushing it out, and we saw some more pee come out---and when he got up and I went to empty it, I saw there was some POOP in the potty also!! Kurt, Nicole, Max and I were all screaming in excitement, and jumping around, and Jack was screaming "I did it! I did it!" He sat down again and again, each time leaving more poop in his little potty as the noise level around him rose to hysteria!

I am sure we have a long way to go before he is potty trained, but he took a pretty great first step on his own today!! Nicole was fully trained at least a few months before she was 3, and coaxed with stickers. Despite what everyone told us (that since Max and Nicole were so close in age, Max would just follow Nicole right into potty training at a young age!) Max took his own sweet time and was coaxed with increasingly extravagant gifts as the months (and our frustration) wore on. Come to think of it, maybe that smart little lad had us figured out early as he sat back and watched his rewards get steeper! :) Max really did struggle with it, but was finally fully trained a few months before he was 4. I can only hope that Jack "gets it" early, encouraged by our hugs, kisses and excitement---or at least "gets it" before big brother and sister tell him that he should hold out for the bigger prizes he will get if he just waits us out...

2009-02-13T14:31:00.002-05:00

INDECISION
For almost two weeks now, I have been thinking constantly about something, and I need to make a decision! I keep going over the pros and cons in my head, and I have certainly passed the point where any new thought or idea is going to arise and weigh on this decision in either way. In other words, I need to decide right now whether I am going to do something a little outside the box, and train for, and participate in an all-female mini-triathalon in August. Right now I am probably in the best cardiovscular shape of my life, (although I have certainly looked better in my younger and pre-baby days!)---and I just turned 42 years old last month (OUCH!). If I don't do it now, when will I ever do it?? But here is the kicker for me: I have to swim. I never learned how to swim! I would have to swim 1/2 mile (35 laps!)---in the Schuylkill River (YUCK!)! So I have to get over my apprehension in the water, take some lessons, and do a lot of swimming in the next few months! The other legs of the triathlon are biking for 15 1/2 miles (although I haven't biked outside in a number of years, I feel like I can train for this) and running for 3.1 miles. I don't run at all, but I think that is also something I can learn to do over the next few months. But swimming? Yikes. There are a lot more pros and cons racing around in my head, but the swimming is the big one that will make or break this decision! If I don't decide soon, I will drive myself crazy!

2009-02-04T21:16:00.005-05:00

SHE DID IT!
Princess Nicole and I paid a visit to Sweet -n- Sassy salon in Exton, where everything is pink, where little girls are treated like princesses, and where moms grimace as they sign the credit card bill! She had her hair cut, braided, and sprayed with sparkly stuff, and she was given the prettiest lollipop I have ever seen!

The setting and the mood must have struck her, because she decided that she wanted to get her ears "piersted." (Which pronunciation she used for the last few months until she actually had her ears pierced, at which time she suddenly pronounced the word properly! Clearly, this was a very grown-up day in her life!) As soon as she was ready, I was suddenly full of panic, and sure that she was much too young to have this done! But, I told her a few months ago that she could do it whenever she wanted so...I had to take a deep breath and let my little girl grow up a little tiny bit!They did both ears at the same time, so she couldn't back out halfway through! Some tears fell, and she has been very nervous about the "recovery" period (none really, but we have to make sure we clean them and twist them a few times a day!), but she is very happy she had it done, and she looks so cute! (I know you can't really see them in the picture, but this was the best I could get!) Now she can't wait to get started wearing long and glamorous earrings! (Oops, we should have had this discussion before the piercing sweetie, because there are going to be a lot of rules about the type of earrings you can wear, and when you can wear them, once you are actually permitted to remove these for the first time!)

Did I mention that I wasn't allowed to get my ears pierced until I was sixteen (sixteen!!) and I have always been certain that I wasn't going to make Nicole wait even remotely that long until she had hers done! I have never been sure where I would draw the line, but as she neared her 6th birthday a few months ago, I really thought she was ready, and told her so. She wanted no part of it then! Max is now saying (I think jokingly) that he is going to be one of those "boys who gets his ears pierced," and now I am sure exactly where I draw the line!!

2009-01-31T22:10:00.005-05:00

TWO

My baby, Jack, had his second birthday last week!

Brother and sister were overly eager to assist Jack in opening his gifts, although in actuality, no assistance was required!

We were going to do something fun in the afternoon, but, quite surprisingly, all three kids napped! Nicole and Max have not taken a nap in over two years, so suffice it to say that I was surprised, and I didn't quite know what to do with mysef!

Daddy came home from work a little early, so we could take Jack out to dinner at the place of his choice. Out of a list of five places, he chose Red Robin...

Jack was pretty excited when the waitstaff sang Happy Birthday to him, and gave him an ice cream sundae!Even more exciting was the fact that as they were singing Happy Birthday to Jack, a familiar family was getting seated at the table right next to us. Our friend Matt and his two daughters were getting a quick bite out while mom was away for the weekend. I have to say that I was pretty impressed with Shannon's hubby that he motivated himself to get the girls out, had it all together, was calm and collected, the girls were dressed nicely, and in proper winter gear, and he had everything he needed packed in a diaper bag!When we got home, we had a little cake for Jack, and tried to teach him to blow out the candles! He got an "A" for effort, but failed miserably! But, Nicole and Max helped him out, and pretended that Jack did it, so everyone was happy!The next day, we had grandparents over to celebrate Jack's birthday! Big brother Joe came also, and Nicole and Max were very excited to see him!We had another cake for Jack, and again practiced blowing out the candles, to no avail!Happy Birthday, my little two-year-old! Jack has been such a source of happiness for us---he is always happy himself, he is so smart, full of beans, a handful, a two-parent baby, so much fun, so entertaining for Nicole and Max, so easily entertained by Nicole and Max, a cuddly, huggy, loveable little man who is growing up too fast! He is old beyond his years, and needs to slow down so mommy and daddy can enjoy his time as a "baby" for a little while longer!

2009-01-25T22:39:00.005-05:00

MAX'S NEW OBSESSION!

Although Max has NOT given up on Lighning McQueen, and has a lot of other favorites at this point, he has recently really gotten excited about the "Star Wars" characters. After he received a few small characters for his birthday, and some lightsabres, we rented the original movie for his viewing pleasure...and his life hasn't been the same since! With a gift card he received for his birthday, he insisted we buy a storm trooper/voice changer helmet and he has worn it all over the house whenever possible! (Thank you Grandpa Powell, these pics are for you!)

His weapon of choice is the lightsabre, but he is ok with anything that makes loud and annoying laser noises.Max was happy to share with Jack...but the helmet was so big and heavy that he couldn't keep his head up! He kept on tipping over and bonking his head into walls, and since I was fairly certain I would never be named mother-of-the-year, I didn't rush over to help Jack out---in fact, I couldn't contain my laughter enough to help him, and watched him until he wrestled out of the helmet! (Oops, yes, you're right: I could contain it enough to snap pictures!)

2009-01-25T21:41:00.003-05:00

CHEERLEADING!

After having missed the first week because of strep throat, Nicole was more than eager to get started on her cheerleading adventures! We tried to practice a little at home since she missed the first class---we were actually practicing smiles and enthusiasm, since she was a little lacking in those areas! She got it!

Of course, her American Girl doll had to get dressed in appropriate attire for the occasion!During practice before the game:During the game. Although she was far away in the middle of the auditorium, I am pretty sure Nicole saw my camera pointing at her, and started hamming it up a little!All of the girls received a star sticker to put on their megaphone after the game. (Yes, I certainly was excited that they received a megaphone with their costume. Not enough noise in the house as it is!!!) Here is a picture of Nicole receiving her star; she was awarded the star for great "LEADERSHIP" qualities at this game!

Oh, and some more good news: Jack was the only one who had the stomach virus in the house! (So far!)

2009-01-20T22:30:00.002-05:00

NO NO NO
This cannot be happening. Is this a cruel joke? I was JOKING when I expressed concern about getting the stomach virus at the end of my last post. There is NO WAY we can get the stomach virus when we are still getting over strep, is there? Maybe it was my poor cooking that did Jack in tonight. Maybe he ate something that just didn't sit well with him. Maybe it was just a FLUKE that vomit ended up all over Jack's crib and walls and rug and blankets and pillow and pillow cases, and favorite teddy bear! Heavy sigh. Maybe it's not the dreaded stomach virus. Or maybe he will be the only one in the family to get it. (I hear it has happened in other families!) Or maybe we will bear down, get through this month, and hope that there will be one day very soon when we are all germ-free and able to return to our "normal" lives...

2009-01-17T20:45:00.002-05:00

THIS... IS ...WAR
OK, strep throat. You've hit us all once (except Max, who is still going strong and fighting that nasty little bug!) and now....you've invaded Nicole a SECOND TIME!?? I don't think so. Apparently we were a little too nice around here, but no, you cannot stay! My poor little girl woke up feeling pretty poorly today, and started to get a rash, with a minor complaint of dry throat. The rash was enough that we took her to the doctor. He took one look at her throat and said "strep throat for sure!" I said, "how can that be??? She just got over it....and I am just getting over it." Apparently this nasty little bug can come back again and stay in the family for a while, before leaving for good. I probably got it from Nicole or Kurt, and now Nicole probably got it from me again!! So, Nicole missed her first official cheerleading game today. And the family missed a fun night out at a friend's house tonight! THIS....IS....WRONG! Here are a few finer points for any of you facing the strep bug: it lives on inanimate surfaces for a very short period of time, so while washing sheets and clothes and dishes is always good, that's not how it is primarily spread. The singlemost thing you can do for prevention is WASH your hands! You also need to CHANGE your toothbrush about 3-5 days after you start antibiotics. Of course, don't share utensils and dishes and eat off each others' plates and all of those wonderful things. But here's the kicker, we have done ALL of that, and Nicole still got it a second time! The good news is that once you have been on antibiotics for 24 hours, you are supposedly no longer contagious. The bad news, the incubation period can be up to 10 days (i.e. it can be in your body for 10 days before you get symptoms!)! I am going to fight, fight, fight to make sure no one gets this again. And I don't know what's going on with Max, but he has slept next to Nicole when we didn't know she had strep; he has eaten off her plate before we could remind him not to; he has breathed her air and touched all her toys, and done everything that would make any other human being contract this bug, but so far he as been our anti-strep superhero! So we will fight for another 10 days to ensure this nasty little strep bug doesn't take down anyone else. So far, not a very good start to 2009 in the Dungan house, but we all know that it can always be worse, so we are still counting our blessings!

In the meantime, there is a nasty stomach virus going around that has touched almost everyone around us. I can only cross my fingers and hope it doesn't pay a visit to our house!

2009-01-14T20:11:00.007-05:00

PARTY ON

It has been pathetically long since I last posted! I won't try to offer excuses, just a mea culpa and I'll be on my blogging way! I am "recovering" from strep throat right now, which wasn't a huge ordeal---just a pain in the neck (throat!) because I got it so long after the rest of the family. (Well, my Max is still strep-free and we're hoping he will stay that way!) No aches, no pains, no fever, no time out for me to rest---just a scratchy throat that didn't go away, a prescription for antibiotics and 24 hours of feeling a little out of it. So far. Hopefully that's it!

We had a party for Max's 5th birthday last weekend at a bouncing place--what a blast! Max and his friends had fun too, but I was jumping, sliding, and bouncing like one of the five year olds. I really can't believe how much fun I had. But about Max...he was really in his element with over 20 of his friends around him running and playing! The party was in danger of being "snowed out" by a forecast that never materialized. I really should stop listening to the weather forecasts, poor Max was near tears at the thought of his party not happening! Pictures of his party were tough to come by, since no one sat still long enough to get a clear shot--but here he is in the lobby as his friends started to show up:A break between bouncing:Nicole took a moment to say "hi" to the camera (had to wear a skirt, of course!):Although Jack has been at bounce places before, this was the first time he really "got it" and we had each other running around like crazy people!

Complete surprise here that Max chose Lightning McQueen for his cake! (Thank you again Wegmans, for a cute and tasty cake. And thank you, this time, for having the cake ready when I went to pick it up, as opposed to Nicole's party when you had no record of it ever having been ordered, despite my receipt, and had to make it on the spot 30 minutes before the party!)I loved this so much---all the boys put their hands on top of each other and shouted "we are....beeeesssstt friends!"Happy birthday dear Max!

2009-01-01T23:01:00.011-05:00

FIVE

My little Max turned 5 years old yesterday, and I really can't believe how quickly he has gone from here:

to here:

to here:to here!!

It's funny how time does not seem to be flying by that quickly with Nicole, but I just can't get over the fact that my little Max is already five! He has gone from being scared and anxious to being free and easy going; he has gone from being shy to being extremely social; he has gone from being very whiney to...well, we all need goals to work on in our next year! He is a sweet and caring little boy and perfect in almost every way!

2009-01-01T21:51:00.005-05:00

ANOTHER DAY TO CELEBRATE!

Kurt and I used to be big New Year's Eve celebrators...always a party night out, with fancy outfits, friends, dinner, cocktails, fun hats and sparkly things, and a very late start to our New Year's Day! Until Max was born. On New Year's Eve! We haven't been out to celebrate like the old times since Max was born five years ago! How could we be those parents who ditch our son on his birthday to go out and have a good time without him?? Can't do it! He could be scarred for life! (Oh, and we also moved to the 'burbs shortly after Max's first birthday, which certainly changed things for us, almost as much as having kids did!) So, now the celebrations are family-based and close to home. We went to a neighbor's party last year, and were intending to go again this year (and perhaps stop at another party before that, also pretty close to home) but we had to cancel all plans this year because we had a house half-full of sick and likely contagious people! Nicole had strep! Jack had a rash! Kurt thinks he has strep! At least the birthday boy was feeling good! And who I am kidding, I was pretty happy that I wasn't sick too! Poor Max (and poor me) was stuck in most of the day on his birthday, but I took him to Toys R Us to choose some birthday toys (couldn't you have found something from those clearance racks that were EVERYWHERE in the store the week after Christmas, honey?) and then the whole family rallied to take him to his favorite restaurant for his birthday...On the Border! We had another delicious meal (very poor service again!) and then went back to our house to celebrate with a birthday cake! We let the kids stay up to watch a movie of Max's choice, and then put them to bed. They were asleep before 9 and Kurt (who was not feeling very well) was asleep by 10. I sat alone in a quiet house and watched NewYearsROCKINEve and rang in 2009 with my loved ones safe and sound around me. Markedly different from my prior life, but I can't really say the old way to celebrate was better...

2009-01-01T20:22:00.005-05:00

THEY PARTY ON

Nicole, Max and Jack were all invited to a birthday party at a bounce place they haven't been to before...MONKEY JOE'S. Nicole and Max took off shortly after we arrived, and we barely saw them the entire party! They did surface when food was offered...

The pictures say it all!

2009-01-01T20:01:00.004-05:00

FAMILY

In the days after Santa's visit, we also got to visit with relatives who we don't see very often! Aunt Lynn (my sister) came to visit, after driving cross-country from Texas with all her "stuff," two dogs and one bird! She stayed with my mom, so we didn't have to worry about the kids being scared to death of the dogs. (Really. Any kind of dog, big or small, hyper or mellow, sends them into a panic!) Aunt Lynn brought some presents and spent the afternoon playing with the kids.

The next day, Kurt took the boys to his parents house because his brother and kids were in town! Nicole and Max used to LOVE spending time with them, but the cousins moved to Virginia about a year ago, and the kids haven't seen them since! Poor Nicole woke up that morning not feeling well, and was very unhappy that she had to stay home with mommy to rest. She ended up having a fever and barely got off the couch, but the boys had a great time! (Camera did not accompany them!)

2009-01-01T19:24:00.003-05:00

THE NUTCRACKER

Nicole and I went to see the Pennyslvania Ballet's presentation of the Nutcracker, at the Academy of Music in Philly the day after Christmas. This was her first "real" ballet and she was excited and nervous at the same time! She insisted on dressing up in her best dress, and putting on jewelry and carrying a little purse around with her. We went into Philly early so we could have a nice day out. We went to see the light show at the old Wannamaker's department store (Macy's now) but she was about as impressed as I have always been with it---not very. (And I did not broadcast my lack of enthusiasm of it to her---I always discussed it with excitement!) I had intended on having a quick bite somewhere casual and running around the city, but Nicole insisted that she did not want to walk around and that she wanted to eat somewhere "fancy." We had a leisurely lunch at the semi-casual Italian Bistro before the matinee. I was pleasantly surprised when the waiter asked whether we were seeing a show, and offered a 20% discount on lunch for show-goers!

Right before we left the restaurant, we started talking to a mother/daughter sitting near us. The daughter was about 20 years old, and she was saying that she has gone yearly to a ballet or show with her mom since she was about Nicole's age. It is not always the Nutcracker, and it is not always in Philly (one year it was a weekend in Atlantic City) but it has always been a special mother-daughter thing for her, to spend time with her mom without her three brothers! I am going to try to make this happen for Nicole as well!

Nicole really enjoyed the Nutcracker, and chattered away with excitement through much of it (despite my reminding her 100 times to be quiet!). Our seats weren't perfect, but the day certainly turned out to be!

2008-12-28T13:37:00.007-05:00

CHRISTMAS DAY!

Unbelievably, the kids let us sleep until 7:15 on Christmas morning! Kurt and I were awakened with shouts of "Santa left presents! Santa came!" This is one morning every year that I gladly jump right out of bed, whatever time the kids wake up, just to see the excitement on the kids' faces! A friend whose kids are a little older recently told me that the best Christmases are when the kids are young and believe in Santa. I want to make sure I appreciate this for as long as I can! I have a ton of pictures of the kids unwrapping their presents, but the pictures I am posting are the presumptive favorites of the day.

I can't even blame Santa for the toddler roller coaster that appeared under the tree---it was a present from us to the kids! It really was the crowd-pleaser for the kids, but for me? So far it has worked out into very very poor use of our kitchen space...we pushed the table aside to give the kids all the room they needed to play on the roller coaster, and here we are 4 days later without use of our table, without room on the floor, and with no end in sight! (No, we don't have a finished basement, and the "toy room" (what used to be known as our office) is not even close to being big enough to house the roller coaster! Can't wait until the weather is warm again...this is going to be an outdoor coaster!!) But it is by far Jack's favorite gift, and Nicole and Max are really enjoying it as well!

An honorable mention goes out to Jack's Lightning McQueen tricycle, which he loves to sit on, but his legs are still a little too short to reach the pedals! Again, Nicole and Max love to play with this...probably because it is Jack's toy.

Nicole adores the American Girl pajamas she received from Santa...only because Santa bought matching pajamas for both her Bitty Baby doll and her other AG doll (name still undetermined, but we're 95% sure that she has closed in on one!) She was so excited to dress in her matching jammies, and she didn't change all day!Although Max loved every toy he opened (he is very easy to shop for!), his favorite may be the Hot Wheels Trick Trax deluxe set that Santa brought. It required at least an hour of assembly by daddy (and at least 5 "goddammits" during this time), and it has five loops/tricks and requires five cars to complete the stunts from start to finish! And, who doesn't love a game of Twister!? (Well, the boys didn't really, so I was left twisting it out with Nicole at the end of the day.)

And of course, at every holiday, every child in every family likes this gift the best of all: THE EMPTY TOY BOXES!!!

2008-12-27T20:51:00.009-05:00

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

We are thankful that we were able to give the kids a nice Christmas this year, since the economy has left almost everyone in a completely different position than last year! We did cut back, but it was primarily on things for us--(no gifts, no "unnecessaries") so I don't think the kids noticed at all!

My wonderful hubby did a great job helping to wrap the gifts, and did most of the heavy cleaning to prepare for Christmas! We had some family over on Christmas Eve. I asked Nicole to go up to get dressed about 30 minutes before company was expected to arrive, and she disappeared for about an hour, emerging with clothes, jewelry, and even make-up on for this special night of company!After dinner and dessert,

the kids opened the gifts from the grandparents. Nicole was in her element when surrounded by American Girl boxes! (No one was too happy with me when I said "that's nice that the grandparents got clothes and accessories for your dolls...what did they get for you???)The boys received a lot of matching gifts, and the cutest thing to watch was them trying to figure out their "helmet heroes" toys! (Max figuring out how to work it, Jack figuring out how to get it on his head the right way!)

Later that evening after the grandparents left and the children were nestled all snug in their beds, Santa started his descent to the Dungan house!

2008-12-25T23:10:00.007-05:00

GEARING UP FOR CHRISTMAS...

Nicole's Kindergarten Christmas concert...(she is top row, far right)

Max's favorite tradition of putting up the train around the Christmas tree every year...

Our first fireplace use of the season...And a tradition that the kids have just started this year (a favorite for me when I was a kid!)---sleeping by the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve Eve! I thought they would be afraid to fall asleep downstairs, but they were asleep in no time, under the beautiful tree!

Visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads...

2008-12-20T21:56:00.003-05:00

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

All Nicole wants for Christmas is her two front teeth...ok, well technically it's one front tooth, and it's a very small front tooth (on the bottom) at that, so you may barely even know that it's missing, but SHE does, because she lost her FIRST tooth a few days ago! It seemed like a long time coming, because almost all of her friends have already lost some of their teeth!

It just popped out after being very loose for a few days...no pain, no bleeding, no trauma or drama! It was an exciting moment! Max was so excited for Nicole, that he even gave her a nickel of his own money! I took her out to get her a small gift, and of course, we put her tooth in a little pouch overnight so that the tooth fairy would pay a visit. The tooth fairy didn't forget to come(!), and was pretty generous for that first visit---but I am sure she won't be that generous again the next time around! Truth be told, I think Nicole was a little disappointed because she would have preferred a present over money!! Those days will change quickly honey...of that I'm sure!

2008-12-14T23:14:00.003-05:00

OH CHRISTMAS TREE...

Finally we are starting to get the house in order for Christmas! The kids' excitement level rose to "crazy" this weekend! The tree was purchased, strung with lights, and partially decorated! We are starting to put out the indoor and outdoor decorations!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2008-12-14T22:32:00.004-05:00

SANTA!

The kids had another opportunity to see Santa this weekend! They know now that most of the Santas they see around Christmas time are "helpers" for the real Santa (they caught on pretty early that Santas don't resemble each other in any way, shape or form!) but I keep them on their toes by telling them that they never know which Santa could be the REAL Santa!

Nicole and her "Just Like You" American Girl Doll (name still undetermined, although we may be closing in on one) got dressed up in their Christmas best to see Santa this time!

This Santa may be their favorite Santa of all because this Santa brought them presents! Jack wasn't even remotely nervous to sit on Santa's lap this time around (ho ho ho hum, Santa!) and I am pretty sure it's because he was watching Santa dole out the goods to the other kids who sat before him on Santa's lap!Nicole and Jack were very happy with their gifts! Unfortunately, Max cried like his heart was breaking because he didn't like Santa's gift!! (He had his eye on a toy another little boy received a few minutes before him!) A different little boy traded toys with Max (but it wasn't "THE" toy) so he ended up moderately happy overall, but we are trying to review proper Santa etiquette with Max so he doesn't end up a sad little boy with a coal-filled stocking for Christmas!!!

2008-12-14T22:03:00.004-05:00

HERE COMES TROUBLE

I just love this picture of Jack.He is pretending to be our sweet little boy (and sometimes he really is the most hugging and loving little boy) but he can be a huge handful! Usually he has only one speed and it's RUN. Every time I put him down, he is running across the floors at warp speed, joining in on everything big brother and sister are doing, or harassing them to no end! But, when one of them tries to "fight"back, he runs to me, completely hurt and with real tears!! I always feel sad for him and scold big brother and sister for bullying an innocent little baby!!

But, when he comes to me crying and saying things like "Max took away me," (Max took a toy from him) or "Cole did it," I have to be careful. Upon further inquiry, we usually find that Max was quietly playing with a toy and minding his own business when Jack came along and tried to grab the toy away! If Max refuses, Jack ends up in tears, and tells on poor Max, who did nothing wrong! I have to keep my eye on this one!

2008-12-08T14:48:00.006-05:00

PARTIES AND ACTIVITIES

The kids have had a party-filled week, but I have been remiss in uploading my pictures from the camera, until now. To relieve some backlog, here's an all-in-one of the last 10 days or so!

Two Sundays ago, all 3 kids attended a party at My Gym, and had a blast!
Nicole was whisked away before the cake to another party at the bowling alley. The camera wasn't whisked away with her, so we don't have pictures from the bowling party, but again she had a blast!

Early December found Jack looking for an alter-ego. When daddy saw Jack wearing Cinderella's glass slippers, he said "dude, you're scaring me!"

When Jack decided he preferred being Woody, daddy was relieved!

Early December also brought the excitment of advent calendars! Nicole and Max probably wouldn't be overly excited about advent calendars, but for the fact that there are little pieces of chocolate behind each of the numbers!When Jack heard there was chocolate involved in these advent calendars, he had to see for himself:(No sweetie, they aren't made of chocolate! You have to work a little and open up a flap before you get your reward! And daddy says take those shoes off!)

We had a Santa breakfast at Nicole's school this weekend. After Santa read a story, everyone got a turn at sitting on his lap and telling Santa what they want for Christmas. Jack was a little nervous about sitting on Santa's lap, but was ok since he was with Max. Nicole found a friend at the breakfast, and immediately broke all ties to her family. She did not want a picture with her brothers, and wanted nothing to do with anyone but her friend for the entirety of the breakfast. I guess that's what you do when you're in Kindergarten, but it made me realize what's coming as she grows more and more independent!

Nicole had another party this weekend, and had a great time bouncing around with her friends at Bounce U. Ms Social is on top of the world when with friends!

I even managed to have a nice weekend, spending time with some wonderful ladies at a cookie exchange on Friday night, and then getting together with some neighbors for dinner (with families) on Saturday night!

2008-12-07T21:57:00.002-05:00

SCROOGED
I don't know what's happening to me this year. I like Christmas as well as the next person, but I just can't get into the Christmas spirit at all this season. Two and a half weeks until Christmas, and I don't have one decoration up---no lights, no bells, no wreaths, no pine. I haven't gone to the basement to even find out where our decorations are hiding from last year! No tree. No cookies. (Although anyone that knows me knows that's not a shocker!) No motivation to get it done.

The kids have sat on Santa's lap, and they have gone to Santa brunches. They are opening their advent calendars nightly and we look at a regular calendar to mark off how many more days until Christmas. They talk about what they want for Christmas, and seem excited, but we haven't even mailed letters to Santa and I can't help but think that I need to show a little more enthusiasm, to better the Christmas season for them.

I have started my shopping for the kids, and thought I was doing well despite my lack of enthusiasm, until they sat on Santa's lap this weekend and asked for things that have never been previously mentioned. Heavy sigh, as I headed back out to the store today...I keep hoping that something will click in my head and the magic of the holiday will appear. It always has in the past, so I will certainly post about it when and if it happens this year!

2008-12-04T22:23:00.003-05:00

TERRIBLE TWOS ARE COMING
Bad mom that I am, I was laughing so hard when I saw Jack throw himself flat out on his back on the floor, kicking his legs and flailing his arms as he SCREAMED his head off. He wanted a toy that I had taken away from him because he had just broken it, and it had ragged plastic edges sticking out. Wish I could have gotten to my camera before this episode ended. I never went through the terrible twos with Nicole. With her, it was more like the willful and stubborn threes that resulted in a lot of clashes of wills and emotional exhaustion. Max never had tantrums either, but he was a highly sensitive baby, so a lot of things set him off. His screaming was more about anxiety than about wanting things, or not getting his way. Jack looks as though he is heading, a little early, into an outright tantrum year. The funniest part about this was when daddy came home from work. Nicole told him what had happened, and daddy said "Jack, did you break a toy?" Jack said "no." Daddy said "well, who broke the toy?" and without missing a beat, crafty little Jack said calmly, "uh, Cole did it!" (Nicole) He is not yet two years old, but he gets it, and he may be the biggest challenge to big brother and sister in the game of siblinghood in the years to come!

2008-11-27T21:58:00.004-05:00

THANKSGIVING FUN!

I am thankful for a lot of things on Thanksgiving, but I do try to think about these things year-round and not just on one day. One minor thing I was thankful about this year was that I was able to make Thanksgiving a completely stress-free holiday! No cooking, no cleaning! All I had to do was get up, and drive to Philly for a parade!

I try to get to the parade every year --- citing the reason that the kids will love it and remember it forever. But if I'm being honest, I go because I love it! My excitement builds as I hear the music of marching bands, and as I see my first float come around the bend! I love being out and about where there are people and action. I really do enjoy it more when the kids are enjoying it with me, but I also know that if the kids didn't want to go, I would probably force them anyway! We saw some favorite characters today! Jack was too young to remember the parade last year, but he jumped right into it like an old pro.

No one was scared by the scary dinosaur, but then again, we didn't get too close to that one! (Nicole was also very happy that she didn't see any clowns this year---she still has heebie jeebies from the one last year that rode over to her on a unicycle and took the cell phone from her ear and started talking to grandma in the middle of Nicole's conversation!)

When the parade was over, we drove back home, rested up got dressed and drove back into Philly for a nice dinner out! (Yes, we did plan this in advance!) We were hoping for a nice relaxing dinner out with Grandma and Grandpa Bill, but the kids were not very well-behaved at all---they had colds and were overtired, and they all kept us on our toes the entire meal. Stress-free, yes, but relaxing no!

I'd like to continue this parade tradition every year, but I really don't know whether I will ever be able to see the parade and cook a big Thanksgiving meal on the same day! Sounds like too much stress on my stress-free holiday!

2008-11-26T18:28:00.004-05:00

HO HO HO!

The kids went to sit on Santa's lap Tuesday afternoon! I took the kids a little early this year because I really wanted to avoid large crowds and long lines with three restless kids in tow! Our favorite Santa is the one in the King of Prussia Mall---we have pictures of the kids with this Santa every year since they were born! He looks a lot like my dad, so the kids like to see the Santa that looks like Grandpa! They are fairly certain that this Santa is not the real Santa (they know Santa has a lot of helpers in the Christmas season), but he does look like he can be the real Santa, so I always tell them not to be so sure he's not the real one! (Of course, once he opens his mouth to speak, it sounds like he should be wearing spurs and a 10-gallon hat, and roping steer, not wearing Santa's clothes, so it's best not to ask Santa too many questions, just let the cameras roll!) Nicole got all dressed up and wore earrings (not pierced!!) and her best jewelry, but when we got near him, she said she was a "little bit shy to him." Max was fine, and Jack screamed a little until the photographers started trying to make him laugh with funny toys---then he became obsessed with trying to get his hands on the toys, and forgot about Santa!

Since there are huge signs up now asking you to refrain from using any of your own photographic equipment, I tried to keep my picture-taking to a minimum! The kids didn't ask Santa for any presents when they were on his lap----but don't worry Santa, we have a list at home that's a mile long! We'll send it to you the old-fashioned way! See you on Christmas Eve!

2008-11-25T22:26:00.005-05:00

BUBBLING BROOK
Max had a Thanksgiving Feast at preschool yesterday. The children dressed up as Indians---they had upside down brown paper bags on their bodies with cut-outs for head and arms. They had feathered headpieces (paper feathers!) on their heads, and they wore necklaces of painted and strung-up macaroni products. I could tell immediately upon entry into the classroom that Max was not comfortable in his costume...the paper bag was a little too small. The room was a little too crowded, we waited a little too long for the "tardy parents" to arrive, and the kids were all getting a little rammy. Max was also a little tired from not getting enough sleep over the weekend. This is me giving a number of excuses to justify in my own head the "heckling" behavior that I witnessed in Max during his feast! But really, I don't know whether he was just trying to be the class clown, or whether he was tired, or whether this is a new Max that I don't see at home. He is a really good and respectful boy usually.
As the teacher was welcoming all the parents and explaining the first song they were going to sing about how the Pilgrims came over, there was a lone voice from the 3 rows of (20) children: WHY DON'T WE JUST SING THE SONG! Laughter from the parents. It was funny until I realized it was Max. Of course, I pretended to look around like the rest of the parents, trying to figure out from which child the voice came. I was a little embarrassed inside, but the teacher made a joke of it and moved right into the song. Moment over.
After the kids finished all of their songs, there was again some silence then: CAN I GET OUT OF THIS COSTUME NOW?? (with some urgency!) Again from Max. As I was laughing with one of my friends, another one came over and said that they thought Max said "Can I get naked now" and he certainly might have said that, but no one is sure because the laughter was pretty loud by this point. The teacher explained to Max that they couldn't yet take off their Indian gear because they had to come up one by one and the teacher was going to intrduce them to their parents by their Indian name. Again loudly: MY MOM ALREADY KNOWS MY NAME! Certainly by this point everyone knew that it was Max doing the commentary, and also by this point, everyone had singled me out as the mom of the boy doing the commentary, despite (or maybe because of) my practically hiding under the "feast" table. (Doesn't he look a little smug in this pic as he stares at my camera??? Was he just going for the joke??)The rest of the presentation went without incident, and Max was introduced as "Bubbling Brook."

We feasted on popcorn, grapes, apples and celery. I couldn't get an honest answer out of Max about why he did what he did. He certainly made everyone laugh, but in my opinion it was bordering on disrespectful, and I am hoping that I don't see that again....

2008-11-23T23:09:00.003-05:00

MAX'S SHADOW
When I told Max he had a shadow, he looked at his reflection from the light onto the wall, and said "oh yeah, I know." I laughed and told him that it was a little bit more than that. He does not yet understand the magnitude of having a shadow. His shadow is little brother Jack. I can watch for hours how Jack just follows Max around, imitates exactly what Max does, and says exactly what Max says. He wants to play with the exact toy that Max has at the moment he has it. If Jack doesn't want to do something or wear something, and I say that Max is doing/wearing it, he immediately changes his mind. Even when Max is at preschool, Jack's phrases, facial expressions and physical actions are just identical to Max! And really, I love to see it, I think it's all good, except at times, when it turns bad!! Max doesn't see a downside, but, there is one. He now has to be a perfect role model for his little brother! When I ask Max to come in and eat his vegetables, Max whines and moans and screams "but I don't liiiiiiike broccoli" and the next thing you know, Jack, a former broccoli-lover, hates broccoli! Max refuses to clean his toys when I ask him? Jack will no longer put his things away when I say "clean up!" Max won't wear a hat, Jack won't wear a hat. Max doesn't want to go to bed, Jack screams "no way!" when I tell him it's bedtime! Now I am constantly on poor Max to be really good...to be perfect...so that Jack will learn only good habits. Even taking that into consideration, Max adores having Jack as his shadow, which is very good, because when Jack first made an appearance into this world, Max was having none of it! Max was outright miserable about the new baby for a solid three months, and then it took a few more months for him to start coming around! We knew Max would come around eventually, but I never imagined how close they would become. I can't wait to see them bond even more as they grow!

2008-11-22T23:06:00.004-05:00

BAH HUMBUG
Has it really been a week since I last posted? We really haven't had many bloggy moments, but the week has flown by! Let's see, in as few words as possible? Kurt went away on business (to Disney World! But he assured me he was having no fun whatsoever! And no, I wasn't laughing when I heard that Florida was having some of its coldest and most uncomfortable temperatures in years!) Jack and Max went to spend a little time at my mom's house, so that I could have some girl-time with Nicole, because we never get any! Since Jack wouldn't sleep at grandma's and was up the first night until midnight, and the second night until 3 am, it's a safe bet that Jack won't be invited back to sleep over at grandma's any time soon! I had the opportunity to volunteer in Nicole's kindergarten class, which I can never do since they don't want younger siblings to come. I helped make paintings for an Indian tepee while the teachers built the Mayflower! And, surprisingly, I wasn't covered in paint at the end of it all, despite being assigned 7-8 children who would/could not sit still with their paint and paintbrushes!

I took Nicole to get her ears pierced when we were having some alone time but she took one look around and said "no thank you," she would wait until she was older! She was too scared to get her ears pierced! I don't know whether 6 is too young, but I do know that I was forced to wait until I was 16 and that was WAY too old! But no pressure for Nicole, I told her she could do it whenever she was ready! I have to say that it was really nice to get a little alone time with Nicole! I don't get much alone time with any of the kids, and I realize that I need to!

Everyone was home from their travels by late Wednesday---the temperatures turned cold on Thursday, and we woke up to about 4 inches of SNOW on Friday morning! The kids were very excited, but I was miserable---blustery, wet, freezing, I need to move south! I didn't take the kids out to play in the snow at all---by the time I picked them up from their schools, I came up with every excuse ever written as to why we couldn't go outside and play. I know I will have to step it up next time...

I thought I would try to get started on Christmas shopping this weekend, but my heart wasn't into it. It's too early, the stores are already too crowded, everyone is already too rude, the economy is too shaky, there is an overabundance of "stuff" and I am not ready to rush through this holiday season! Bah humbug! I really can't stand the thought of going out and buying more and more primary-colored plastic toys that will be opened with excitement on Christmas day, then cast aside forevermore with the rest of the never-played-with toys in the house, the day Christmas is over. Instead of gifts, I would love to travel, or do something different, but I know I won't do that; the kids are counting on Santa. Does anyone have any great holiday traditions they can share??

2008-11-15T22:20:00.014-05:00

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING, AND "THE HAT"

Talk about a birthday week!!! Nicole is trying to milk this birthday thing for as long as she can!! I am trying to tally up how many times Nicole has celebrated her birthday with candles and song this week. Hmm, one time at school...she brought in cupcakes on her actual birthday, and they sang happy birthday to her. Then, later on her actual birthday we went out for a birthday dinner to the place of her choice...her only request was for a place where all the waitstaff got together to sing happy birthday to the birthday girl. (Talk about needing to be the center of attention!)

Then, after we got home from dinner, we had to sing with daddy over a few left-over cupcakes, since he wasn't able to make it home in time for dinner.

Then, of course, we had to sing to her at her party a few days later!Not having had enough of this birthday bonanza, Nicole made certain that we sang to her AGAIN over leftover cake, when we were back at the house when the grandparents came over, since they didn't make it to the party!!Five times is enough for any little birthday girl!

I also have to pay a little tribute to "the hat." It has become a little bit of a tradition for Nicole to wear her "Birthday Princess" hat on every birthday celebration! I don't even know where it disappears to during the year, and I have no idea how I find it on her birthday, but there it is, every year, for just enough time to take a few pictures. Our dear friends "Hoags and Missy" bought Nicole her "Birthday Princess" hat for her first birthday. She didn't appreciate it much when she was one.

On birthday morning when she was two, we put it on her to open her gifts:

She still wasn't quite sure about the appeal of the hat at the ripe old age of two.

By the time of her third birthday, she was starting to feel like she could pose in this hat..it was pink and fluffy...everything a little girl dreams of!

On her fourth birthday, Nicole insisted on finding the hat, and bringing it with her so she could be the little birthday princess she wanted to be! On her fifth birthday, we had decided no party, but we went to NYC for a day out. Since it was her special day, she insisted on wearing the hat into, and all around NYC! She really didn't take it off the entire day. And quite a coincidence, when we took her to the American Girl store to choose her Bitty Baby doll, there was a Bitty Baby outfit with a very similar hat!! We knew she was meant to have the outfit (and of course, the doll!)

This year on her sixth birthday, I was a little sad because she didn't even ask for the hat, although she was quite happy when I brought it downstairs before her party. I don't know how much longer "the hat" will last in our traditions, but I am sure I will keep it safe, to pull out when she is 12, or 18, or 25. And come to think of it, as I look at these pictures, maybe time has flown by a little more quickly than I am comfortable with!

2008-11-14T22:12:00.003-05:00

SIX

A favorite A.A. Milne poem:

When I was one, I had just begun. When I was two, I was nearly new. When I was three, I was hardly me. When I was four, I was not much more. When I was five, I was just alive. But now I am six, as clever as clever, so I think I'll be six forever and ever!

My little girl turned six this week, and she is as clever as clever...I do wish she would stay six forever and ever! I am not feeling overly sentimental about this birthday, nor do I feel like these years flew by that quickly, but I wouldn't mind her staying young for a little while, starting right about now. I know she is on the brink of developing in so many ways and branching off in so many directions, but right now, can't we hold on to the innocence, enthusiasm and happiness of youth? Can I keep her from seeing any negativity in our world for just a little while longer? Can I keep her away from the realities of criticism, cattiness and cliques on a smaller level, and from death, destruction and wars on a larger scale? I know I can't keep the clock from ticking, but I know I WILL try to appreciate and enjoy every moment that I can with her, so that when she does have to face the negativity in the world, she will want me by her side as much as I want to be there!

2008-11-12T20:50:00.004-05:00

AMERICAN GIRLS...

My obsession, er, I mean Nicole's obsession with the American Girl Dolls started a little late in her life. While the "Bitty Baby" dolls are made for ages 3 and up, we didn't get her one until her 5th birthday, last year. In lieu of a party, we took her up to NYC to pick out her doll and some outfits, and we were lucky to have been able to schedule a tea for her in the American Girl Cafe, where the dolls are escorted to their own seats, and given their own tea cups and treated as much like royalty as the little girls are!

After we bought Bitty Baby, she of course needed some Christmas clothes, and a changing table, and her own diaper bag and accessories, and bottles and all of the things a new baby needs! We have catalog-shopped for the last year to make sure Bitty keeps up with her growing and changing needs!

I decided that for Nicole's birthday this year, Bitty needed a big sister. When I went up to New York last weekend, I went to the store! Four different times! I get excited even catalog-shopping for the dolls, but I have to say, being in the store is about 1000 times more enticing, and expensive! They really make adorable things for the dolls, and for girls! So, Nicole now has a "Just Like You" doll we gave her for her birthday this week. And a Christmas dress with a hat for the doll. And a matching Christmas outfit with hat for Nicole. And although she doesn't know this one yet, for Christmas she and her doll AND her Bitty Baby will have matching pajamas! And the doll will have another dressy party outfit for her social life that clearly must be more active than ours, as we don't have dresses for all occasions these days! I can't wait to see when the "Just Like You" doll (name still undetermined) will need a bed, and a pet, pocketbook, hair accessories, new clothes and athletic outfits, and earrings and....well, let's just say it's a good thing that I have only one girl!!!

At the rate we are going, Bitty Baby and her big sister won't be having any more siblings come down the pike!

2008-11-11T21:03:00.006-05:00

CAN'T PUT IT INTO WORDS
I have had a few days to think about what an awesome time I had when I went to NYC this past weekend, but I am having a hard time putting my experience into words. I was there for only about 28 hours, but it was so nice to be away from the kids for a little while (as much as I love them!), so nice to be in vibrant and alive NYC, and mostly so special to see friends who I haven't seen in many years! I have to admit that I was a little nervous to see some of them since it has been so long, but within about 3 minutes, all the years melted away and it felt like we had just had our last get-together only days earlier! After shopping around all day in the city (I could have done without the TORRENTIAL RAIN falling down on me the ONE day this year that I got to NYC, but I won't complain, it was still great to be there!), four of my college roommates/suitemates came and met me at my hotel, and we had a toast of champagne and watched a great picture montage that one friend had creatively put together. Then we were off to meet the rest of the crew.

A picture of us leaving the hotel:

I am surprised that we are all in the picture, and all body parts are fully present; the lady taking the picture did not appear to be particularly well-versed in photography to say the least, and she did not appear to be overly happy to take this picture with the five cameras we placed in front of her! (I am really not that much taller than my girls, my shoes had very HIGH heels!)

We met the rest of our friends at a really cute and comfortable tapas bar/lounge--and the rest of the night flew by. Here is a picture of our crew: We started school with a wide range of backgrounds. We connected, we shared, we grew, we laughed and we loved. Over the years we became doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, teachers, and counselors, spouses and parents. Many years passed and we met again, and even though we are very different people than we once were, we reconnected instantly. I am proud to be part of this group, and I am very proud of this group of friends and all they were and all the have become! My only complaint was that it wasn't enough time, and I am left wanting more...

2008-11-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

TRYING SO HARD...
I have been home from a mini-trip, an overnighter, for well over 24 hours now, and I still can't seem to find the time to post about what a GREAT time I had in NYC. I said it before, the last time I came back from a vacation in October, that I will NEVER GO AWAY AGAIN, because the time it takes to play catch-up is exactly double the amount of time you've been away! This time I really mean it, I won't ever go away again!! Been away one day? You need to take the next two days to sort everything out. Double up on your vacation time, ladies, otherwise you'll dig yourself into a hole you'll never get out of! So really, I need to get some sleep now but tomorrow I will post about my fun time in NYC, and seeing old friends, and the American Girl store...and the beautiful doll I bought for Nicole (ssh, don't tell her, she hasn't seen it yet!)...and whatever else I can fit in...

2008-11-04T16:57:00.004-05:00

THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY
I did it, I took care of my civic privilege and responsibility. I voted today---cast my ballot for one of the contenders in the presidential race. I am wholly disheartened by the entire electoral process on a number of levels, but today I need to rant a little about the process on the local level. I will NOT mention the length of the election---why does it take a year or more to conduct a campaign---the time and money spent on a campaign can be put toward so many different and worthy causes, or can be put into the economic difficulties that are currently being experienced by much of the entire world! The US is looking inward to the elections, the rest of the world is focused on important issues of the day!

Furthermore, I won't mention the muckraking commercials, infiltrating my home and driving me crazy! Focus on your own positives, not your opponent's negatives! And please don't create issues out of non-issues or try to convince me that some minor wrong-doing by a remote relative should reflect negatively on a candidate who had no knowledge about it, or control over it, in the first place. Do some of the small things really matter in the big picture? The reification of abstractions or distractions creates poor politics in my mind!

And I am not going to mention the phone calls to my home, 10-12 times per day, from random strangers (or worse, recordings!), trying to sway my vote one way or the other. Whether I have made up my mind already (in which case the phone call of a random stranger purporting to be a representative of a candidate will not change my mind) or not, I don't want to hear from you! If I have questions about a candidate, I'll figure out the best person to ask, and I will make the phone call! I guarantee you that someone calling my home during meal times, nap times, or ANY time, will not be favorably received, and it will likely send me running to your opponent! Except if he is doing the same thing. Which, of course, he is.

And, being the eternal pessimist that I am, while I realize that our presidential candidates have put forth very different ideas, backed very different issues, and made very different campaign promises, I have to question how much of it is accomplished anyway! I want to know how much my life will change in the next 4 years! Less discussions, less meetings, more action!

Now having mentioned all of the things I was NOT going to mention, I have to comment on what I had intended to post about: my one hour and 45 minute wait to cast my ballot. In the rain, for much of the time. Why did it take so long? I did not know until I actually got into the polling place, which was rampant with inefficiency, run without any sense of urgency and replete with the mentality of people who saw themselves in a position of power and prestige, catering to the masses. Perhaps I am being unfair to some---I don't ever like to make sweeping generalizations, I realize everyone is an individual. What I saw when I got inside the building was this: very very long lines and slow movement to check people in---which should take SECONDS per person---with no sense of urgency! And God forbid the "checkers-in" of the M-Z people could take a peek and check someone in at the A-L book, to promote a sense of fairness and speed. The people with last names starting with M-Z were called up to cut the lines so they could be checked in by the people holding the M-Z book. An M-Z person in front of me cut off about 45 minutes of her wait (well, my wait) time by virtue of having an "R" name. The people who were very far behind me in line were finished 20-30 minutes before me! (And did they really need 3 people to look at each book? Wouldn't one suffice? One would assume that if you are doing this job, you are at least literate and capable of finding a name in an alphabetical listing, and don't need to confirm the name with 2 other people sitting there looking at the same thing! Maybe they could use those two extra bodies for other things...)

Moreover, there were approximately 8 voting cubicles, only 3 of which were being used as I stood and looked around! There was no lack of voters! Everyone else was in line waiting to get checked in by the invaluable powers-that-be in the township! Move them through people! And although I don't know about the many different voting methods and machines, (and why ARE they different in every polling place across the US? Shouldn't there be a uniform method to increase efficiency?) I felt like we were using a very antediluvian method of voting. Excuse my ignorance, but is this the wave of the future in our 21st century? We were filling out circles with a pen on a sheet of paper, much like taking a high school standardized test, then putting them into a machine that looked like a photocopy machine---I am told that this is an optical scanner. Whatever that is, I don't know, but I DO know that once your circles were filled in you have to go wait in another line to put your paper in the scanner and then wait until you are given the OK by another "worker" (ha) or "official" before you can leave. Why were there lines there as well, especially when only THREE of the eight cubicles were in use as I stood there!? I don't have any idea whether the machine resets itself after a period of time, but when I was there, leaving the polls at 3pm, the machine registered 714 voting papers. IN ALL THIS TIME SINCE THE POLLS OPENED AT 7AM, IT HAS ONLY REGISTERED 714 VOTERS? There are two machines, so assuming they are both registering about the same, there have only been 1400 people through there in 8 hours? The township population at the 2000 census was about 2800, and we all know how much it has grown since that time with all of the new developments, and apartments! So, they can't get everyone out of there even by 11pm (knowing that the polls close at 8) at the rate they are going! Is this the best they can do?? With the Chester County population growing in leaps and bounds, we need to do better!

I was tempted to get out of line and go home a few times during my wait, but I did not, ONLY because of the historical importance of this election. But for me, when it is not a presidential election, my experience today was a complete deterrent. I don't know whether I will be voting in local elections in the next few years, despite the fact that the people who we are voting into office are the first people in the chain-of-command who need to hear from anyone who has a complaint! They will hear from me, but likely not in the ballot booths (cubicles!) anytime in the near future! Having no better ideas to improve the process at the moment, I will sign off and wait for my lashings!

2008-10-31T22:16:00.003-04:00

INTRODUCING...

Our High School Musical Cheerleader!

Our Lightning McQueen Pit Crew!

And the cutest Mickey Mouse a very biased mom has ever seen!Honestly didn't plan the red color-scheme!

As if we didn't have enough candy in our lives already, our 21-month old really needs this!Lighting our pumpkins after trick-or-treating! And no, honestly didn't plan their jammies to match their High School Musical and Cars movie costumes!The kids all had a super-fun time, and lasted really well for almost 2 hours! After the excitement died down the kids were gently tucked into bed, and are now fast asleep! My favorite time of year...TIME TO RAID THE CANDY BUCKETS!!!

2008-10-31T21:57:00.003-04:00

LAST SOCCER POST, I PROMISE!

Nicole and Max had their last soccer class of the session today! It was a very small class (presumably because of Halloween!) but it was the best by far! After the kids scored their final goals, they ran through a tunnel of parents, and went to the coaches to high-five them and get their soccer certificate of participation. I can't wait until another session starts...

!
Grandma came to watch today, and she helped entertain Jack!No, Jack is NOT dressed head-to-toe in black because he is trying to be ME for Halloween...it is part of his costume! Really!

2008-10-31T15:18:00.004-04:00

BEST FRIENDS

Max had a halloween party and parade at preschool today, and posed for a picture with his best friend, B. This is their third year of preschool together, and we are already talking about how hard it is going to be next year when the boys are in different schools...

They came together over their love of Lightning McQueen, and they have bonded over so much more in the ensuing years!

2008-10-30T20:17:00.004-04:00

PUMPKIN GUTS

Time to carve the pumpkins! The kids had been talking all day about carving their pumpkins tonight when daddy came home! The excitement was palpable---but waned almost as soon as the event started. Max ran off after about 5 minutes to play with Jack (who had only marginal interest to begin with) and Nicole stayed clear of the direct carving area once the pumpkin guts started exiting the pumpkin. She declared them gross and disgusting, and wanted to watch from 10 feet away at all times!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-23T20:47:00.003-04:00

HERE KITTY KITTY!

Nicole's dance studio is having a Halloween recital this year, and she is very excited to be dressed up as a black cat, dancing to "Stray Cat Strut." Her class (5-6 year olds) has been combined with the 3-4 year old class for the recital, and she was very happy to meet up with, and get partnered up with, some friends in the other class! Credit has to be given to all the young girls for learning a dance in the 6-7 weeks since dance class started this year! Unfortunately, most of the pictures of the dress rehearsal came out blurry---much movement and too much light---but since we aren't allowed any flash photography at the actual recital, this may be the best we will have!

Ta-dah!

2008-10-23T13:52:00.005-04:00

KNOCK KNOCK...
In my entire life, I have never really gotten the humor in a "knock-knock joke." I get the puns and plays on words, but I just never found them funny. I don't think a knock knock joke has ever made me smile...until last night.

A little history...I don't know how Nicole and Max started telling these jokes, but it has been at least a few years that they have been doing them. One will say "knock- knock" and the other says "who's there" and then the first will look around the room and say any object they see, like "spoon" and the other will say "spoon who" and the first will focus on another object and say "spoon lamp." And they will both go into an hysterical frenzy of laughter and then the second one will start the joke and do the same thing. "coffee pot lightbulb" (laughter); "phone doll" (laughter). So, not only do I never find a "real" knock-knock joke funny, but I certainly haven't heard anything resembling funny in this house for a long time! (Lest you think I am mean, I DO laugh with the kids as they tell their jokes!) Anyway, I am sure Jack doesn't really get the knock-knock jokes, but he sees that they elicit a good response---laughter and happiness!

Last night, Jack woke up in the middle of the night. I have never been a good middle of the night person, and so when my kids have gotten up in the middle of the night (and thank goodness it is pretty rare!) they won't find me very receptive. Kurt went in to see what was up, and tried to get him back to sleep. He cryed out again a little later, and I went in to see what was going on with him. As soon as I walked in to his room, I said in a firm voice that it was night time, that he had to stop crying and that he needed to be asleep! I didn't make eye contact with him and didn't mince words. He knew I wasn't too happy. He didn't say or do anything for some time and then thinking fast on his feet, he tried to instill a little humor into the situation. I heard "mommy knock-knock!!" and he started laughing hysterically. I suppose he thought this would elicit the laughter that it did with Nicole and Max---and it did, but I did manage to hold it in until I got out of the door of his room!

2008-10-19T21:31:00.007-04:00

A BUSY WEEKEND

This weekend flew by--as they always do when the holidays approach! No time to get anything done!!

Nicole and Max had another fun soccer game Friday night.

My daughter IS the only girl playing soccer in a skirt, week after week! After soccer, I whisked the kids off to the gym for Kids Fun Night---and Kurt and I, Jack in tow, got out to a quick and casual dinner in West Chester.

Jack was invited to a Costume Ball on Saturday morning---his first invite without big bro and sister! The only time he left my side the entire party was to have a little face time with Elmo! Another little boy may have wanted to have it out with Jack over face-time with Elmo, but in the end, they realized that Elmo's arms could hug two little kids!

Saturday night, we went out as grown-ups! We met some old friends and new friends (who are old friends with our old friends!!) in West Chester for cocktails and dinner.

Very fun Saturday night, not so fun for me Sunday morning when the kids were, of course, up at the crack of dawn being loud and making demands!

2008-10-19T21:05:00.003-04:00

HE'S SO NOT MY BABY!

Here is an exciting new first for my baby boy---A FIRST HAIRCUT! Finally! Jack really has been getting more and more girl comments and I knew I had to take the plunge and cut off those adorable baby curls that I KNOW will never ever ever grow back!

Seeing how excited Jack was for his first haircut, the stylist made me sit in the chair with him so he wouldn't jump down and run out screaming!

What did she put in his hair to make it stand up like that? Nicole was CRACKING up during this. Good thing Jack found he could watch TV--otherwise he certainly would have run out screaming if he saw himself then!!

Hey this TV show is great! I need to come get my hair cut more often!What do you mean my haircut is over---I'm not finished with my show yet! I am not posing for the camera, and I am not leaving until the show is finished!Gone are the baby curls and the baby face. My little man has arrived!

2008-10-19T20:21:00.004-04:00

HE'S STILL MY BABY!

Last round of vacation pictures---just showing that while my baby was star-struck by Jasmine, I think he adored these friends a little more! He's still my baby!

He was so happy and tried to give kisses to all his Pooh friends! This may have been the most excited I saw him during the whole trip! Nicole and Max were surprisingly excited as well! So, if you're heading to Disney with young kids, book a meal at the Crystal Palace! The food was actually pretty good as well!

2008-10-17T00:11:00.004-04:00

YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE REVISITED!
Is there anything worse than the endless viewing of someone else's vacation pictures??? Realizing that this isn't exactly falling under"hot topics" and that virtually nobody wants to read vacation posts, I am trying to make them as brief as possible. Dad? Sis? Are you still with me? Ok, let's look...

The kids went on a PIRATE CRUISE! How cute! If your kids fall above the 4-year old age cut-off, you too can get-ripped-off-at-Disney-one-more-time-and-pay-exorbitant-fees-to-drop-your-kids-off-for-a-boat-ride-and-lunch! They will even give you a "free" (ha) pirate hat! And make you sign a long-a** waiver saying basically that if your kid falls overboard, Disney is not responsible! Under any circumstances! If you can get past all that, you're in for a treat!

It was a really cute idea---they got them in pirate hats and gear, boarded the "pirate ship" and sailed away into the morning sun! From what the kids told me when we picked them up, they had a blast! They sailed to a beach (Nicole later pointed from a monorail to the beach at the Polynesian Resort, and said that's where they went) and they followed clues to find pirate treasure. Nicole found a piece of their pirate map scrolled up in a bottle on the beach---they all had to put the map together to follow the trail to the treasure! When they came sailing back two hours later, their bellies were full of PB & J sandwiches and other treats, and they had goodie bags full of a little treasure chest, "real" coins and jewels and other memorabilia! They loved it! And quite frankly, it was nice to be able to take it easy and enjoy a leisurely brunch for 2 hours with only one child talking at us, as opposed to the usual three!

Gearing up:

On board the pirate ship!Sailing off!

Breakfast with Jack and Grumpy (I mean Kurt!)The ship returns:Coming home with their treasure!

2008-10-16T16:29:00.003-04:00

LIGHTNING MCQUEEN IN PERSON!

I thought this would be the moment Max had been waiting for his entire life! Anyone who has ever met Max will have first noticed his Lightning McQueen garb...then shoes, toys...and overall obsession with the Cars movie, which has not wavered since the day he saw the movie in the theaters, well over 2 years ago! When I was pregnant with Jack and on partial bed-rest (what kind of BS is that anyway, especially with two toddlers running around the house!) we put in the Lightning McQueen movie almost EVERY DAY. I don't even think it is possible to count to the number of times we have seen this movie. So, imagine my excitement when I was wandering around Disney with a sleeping baby in the stroller and I saw the "real" Lightning McQueen. I couldn't wait to reunite with Max (off on a ride with daddy and sis) to tell him! When I did, he was jumping and screaming and almost ran the entire way there. So, what happened when he actually got to see and touch him in person (after waiting patiently and excitedly in a long line?) Abstract indifference! We had to force him to touch the car! Barely a smile! Did I have another star struck child on my hands?? Does it look like he was a little afraid to touch him? I am still not sure what happened!

2008-10-15T22:54:00.005-04:00

I NEED A VACATION!!

We just got back from vacation 2 days ago, and I am overwhelmed with the amount of catch-up I have! Suffice it to say that it feels like I need 2 days to catch up on every day that I was away! I'm never going away again!!!

Anyway, I haven't posted in a while because we went to Disney for a week. We had an awesome time! I was very concerned before the trip about how Disney would be with a 20-month old, but he was really a dream! He just went with the flow, did what we did, slept (in the stroller!!!) when he was tired, and loved every minute of it!

Character meals were the way to go--just to avoid waiting in those long lines when you encounter a character somewhere in the park! Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Cinderella, Ariel! I don't know whether it was Nicole or Max who was more overwhelmed!

And Jasmine and Jack had a little thing going on---my heart was broken when my little man's heart was stolen by Jasmine! One big kiss on the forehead from her, and he was star struck!
More posting tomorrow about more characters and fun!

2008-10-05T22:25:00.004-04:00

MAKE-OVER

Needing all the help I can get, I signed up for a free "make-up 101" session at a local salon, Calista Grand, http://www.calistagrand.com/, sponsored by the Chester County Moms group. Kurt was kind enough to watch the kids, even during an Eagles game, while I relaxed with the ladies on a Sunday afternoon. During this very impressive three-hour session, I learned so much about what I don't know about applying make-up! We learned about make-up textures, colors, brushes, and about how much more I have to learn! There was a team of 2 make-up artists who, despite two very different approaches to make-up application, made some beauties out of the already-pretty ladies, by making them look natural with a little bit of something more! Knowing that we are moms, their intent was to show us how to put on a natural face in the 10-minutes-or-less time frame we are usually faced with, as we get ready to leave the house with screaming kids at our feet, competing for our "me" time...

I am so not used to wearing make-up like this, so I feel like every time I smile, the make-up cracks in all the places that my wrinkes are trying to get through (that's probably why I am not smiling in the picture!). I am going to learn to do at least a little more than I do for myself right now, so that I can be presentable.

I do have to say, though, that running errands this morning before the event, in a completely bare face, wasn't as horrible as I envisioned. I honestly didn't care what people thought of me, and that made me feel good. Notice, though, that I am not posting any pictures of that look!

2008-09-29T21:57:00.007-04:00

MORE SOCCER
After Nicole saw how much fun Max had the first week of soccer class, she requested that she be placed immediately on the roster. One of the reasons we didn't want to join her up is that we wanted this to be Max's "thing." Frequently she will try something just one time, and outshine her little bro by a mile. We didn't want that happening here, but we also wanted to be fair to her because it was tons of fun, and because she was in the age group for the class. We did end up signing her up, and she did end up outshining him by a mile, but Max either didn't notice, or didn't mind. The coaches were awesome at the second session last week, when they managed to keep a group of 3-5 year olds sufficiently occupied and excited that the kids didn't even notice the drizzle coming down on their heads. And the chill that came along with it. For the entire hour. But, I noticed.

They both had an awesome time again this week, and the coaches still managed to keep the kids entertained like it was their first time, all the while teaching them soccer skills! I can't say enough good things about this program. Jack even got into the spirit. He spent about 1/2 the class trying to get his feet on a soccer ball, but when he realized I wasn't going to let him play in the field, he found another outlet.

Anytime someone kicked the ball into the goal, he did this, and shouted "HOORAY!"

2008-09-29T21:07:00.001-04:00

KEYS, TAKE 2
Heavy sigh. Some of you may have read my post of July 19, 2008. In short, Kurt has left the front door wide open on a number of occasions (not just unlocked, but WIDE OPEN)...the post explains in a little more detail. I didn't mention in the post, though, that he ALWAYS leaves the car doors unlocked (but closed!) in the driveway, so I am frequently outside at bedtime clicking the keys to the remote to make sure our cars are locked up and safe for the night. Tonight was a new, but not surprising, first (that I know about!) for him. I had an appointment at a doctor's office, so Kurt was going to leave work a little early to watch the kids. He ended up leaving later than expected, so I had to load the kids in the car, and meet him outside the doctor's office. When we met, he handed me the keys to his car, and he got behind the wheel of my car and took the kids home.

I was probably about 45 -60 minutes behind him and when I got home and pulled up to the driveway---you guessed it---rear passenger door WIDE OPEN and swaying in the breeze. Not only did he not try to lock the door, he didn't even bother to try to CLOSE the door! I was trying to get the visual in my head when I saw it...the door that was open was the back door where Jack sits. So, even if the other kids unbuckled themselves and jumped out, Kurt would have had to have unbuckled Jack, lifted him out of the car, then NOT even bothered to try to shut it as he walked away!!! I really don't get it! First reaction? Anger. Next? Disbelief. Then? Laughter. Next thought? Gotta blog this!!!!!

2008-09-25T23:18:00.003-04:00

REALLY NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TEEN YEARS

It's been a really emotionally draining week for the kids...and for me! They are 4 and 5, and I really can't imagine what the teens years are going to be like if emotions are riding so high at this age. In a nutshell, and to save you from the very very mundane details, Nicole and Max both have very good friends, or even best friends, who are branching out and playing with other people as a new year begins at school. I should also start by saying that Nicole and Max are also playing with other people as the new year begins. It's not that Nicole and Max are being left out, they are still great friends with their friends, they are just learning that there are other playdates going on. Although Nicole and Max are pretty close as siblings go, the other friends we are talking about are separate friends, so it is just a big coincidence that it is happening to both at the same time, during the same week, and draining the life out of us all. I point out to both that it is important to have many friends. I point out to both that they are lucky they have each other to play with (that one goes over really well!) I point out to both that they are both playing with other friends outside of their best buddies. (They don't seem to understand that it's the same thing!) I offer to make playdates with their best friends, or with other friends. Nothing has made the situation better for them! I am getting swept up in the emotion as well, because I feel so badly for them and I can't shake my sadness for what they are struggling to understand and come to grips with. I know it will be so much worse when it happens 10 years from now, but for them right now, it doesn't get much worse. Boyfriends, best friends, jealousies, break-ups, heartaches, are all on the horizon and they don't even know what's coming. Just last year, I didn't even think about those things, they were too far in the future. Now they are right here, whether I am ready or not.

2008-09-24T22:24:00.005-04:00

TAGGED
I was tagged by fellow-blogger http://thebestisyetunwritten.blogspot.com/ to write 6 random things about me, and to, in turn, tag six other bloggers. My six random things?

1. I grew up on Long Island, but I don't have the accent!
2. For the longest time, I never ever ever wanted kids.
3. I wasn't even a little bit athletic growing up. I played the piano and was in chorus.
4. I spent a semester of college in London, then backpacked around the rest of Europe for 6 more weeks after the semester was over.
5. I haven't eaten red meat in over 20 years.
6. I miss living in center city Philly every day of my life since I've moved to the 'burbs.

I am not tagging anyone right now until I get to know some other untagged mommy bloggers better...

RULES:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

2008-09-20T22:27:00.008-04:00

THIS USED TO BE MY DAUGHTER

Yikes. This:can happen to you if you don't watch out! Did you nearly have a seizure when you saw all that color? I almost did! This is what happens when your daughter insists on face painting when you go to Kids Day at the Park. As she was in the chair getting her face painted, facing the opposite direction, I was chatting with my neighbor whose daughter was in the next chair... getting a little design painted on her ARM because her daddy, the doctor, refuses to let his kids get their face painted because he thinks face painting is not clean, and he has seen firsthand what can happen when infection arises from a dirty face-painting incident! You can imagine how excited I was as we finished our conversation and my daughter turned around to show me her painted face. Yikes, is right. My neighbor assured me we can knock on his door day or night if the need arose... jokingly, I assume. I hope.

The day started out fine, with happy kids going to the park.

A pony ride:Some moounbounce adventures:

An attempt at the "rock climbing" wall:After Nicole's turn, I was given a challenge by the guy manning the wall, that I couldn't say "no" to, so I didn't. I did make it to the top, but Kurt didn't get a picture of me at the tip top. Ssshh, don't tell anyone, but this was pretty hard!
I have a fear that since we're in painting mode in this house, Nicole will be asking for a fluorescent pink seizure-evoking bedroom in the near future. I'll refuse! (But if we give in, I'll post pictures!)

2008-09-19T21:58:00.005-04:00

SOCCER STARS
Max started a new soccer program today. He has taken soccer before, on and off, through our gym. I know I rave about the gym itself, but I was never knocked out by the "free" kids programs there....like soccer. But I have to say, I was surprised that Max had a really good set of basic skills he presented today, that he could only have learned through ACAC Kids' Kick Soccer!
We didn't know what to expect from the new program, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how organized it was when we first arrived....and I was KNOCKED OUT by the coaches! They were entertaining, friendly, fit, they knew how to play the game, they continually held the kids' attention for the hour-long class...they had props, they played games, all while teaching soccer skills to a bunch of preschoolers! They were a group of young men with British accents (sorry dad, couldn't pinpoint it, definitely north of London, but I am pretty sure they weren't scousers---not only did they not have that scouse accent, but they were also NOT drinking pints of beer, AND they were actually working pretty hard! Maybe Scottish, even?) who I would love to have as the kids' regular school teachers, setting aside soccer for a minute. They were that good!

Max was so excited and enthusiastic, and he had a GREAT time. He exhibited ability and confidence in a way that I have never seen in him ...and his great mood lasted all night! I don't know whether the same coaches teach this all the time, but based on the first lesson, I would recommend the DARC tots' soccer program (taught by the United Soccer Academy) to anyone! As far as I am concerned, the soccer stars today are Max and the great coaches!

2008-09-18T19:57:00.005-04:00

GREEN

I can't believe I'm voluntarily showing clutter in the pictures---but the painter is only 1/2 done (second coat tomorrow) and he has moved things all over and left them in the middle of the room, and I don't want to move them back when he just has to move them again tomorrow. We are happy with the color! We can give it a while and reassess again. It will be easier to paint red over this, than this over red if we needed a change!

2008-09-16T21:49:00.002-04:00

GREEN OR RED? GREEN OR RED?
Ugh, for two weeks at least, we have been trying to pick a color to paint our kitchen/breakfast area. We have really been through the entire spectrum of paints and back (who knew so many colors existed in this little world?) and we have narrowed it down to two choices:

Do we go the "safe"(boring!) route and pick a pretty muted green tone that was recommended by a designer? (And, I had 2 friends over last week and out of about 1000+ swatches of ALL colors in the world, they chose the IDENTICAL shade as was recommended! I did not even realize this until after they were gone, but that made me really say that this SHOULD be the color that I go with! And I have yet to tell my friends how impressed I am with them!)
Do we go for bold and gutsy? A red to make a splash and to really create some color in the house. And if we go red, how do we have a clue what the right red is? The kitchen/breakfast area is large enough that if we make a mistake, it's a pretty big mistake hanging out there...

Any advice on reds? Any success stories or horror stories? I would love to hear them!

2008-09-13T20:44:00.004-04:00

JUST A REMINDER
Is everyone registered to vote? We're running out of time to register, so let's get moving! In Pennsylvania, your registration form has to be postmarked at least 30 days before the election. Every state has different rules about the timing of registration, so check your state for local rules! For my Pennsylvania readers, the form is just a click away! http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/voting/02_voter_registration_applications/onlinevoterregformblank.pdf
You have to print out the form, fill it out (it's very simple!) and mail it to your county registration office---the office address is on the form! Don't delay, get it in today! Election day is November 4th, so the form is due by October 4th at the latest! This is an historic election and every vote counts!

2008-09-11T16:47:00.004-04:00

9-11
I feel like I really have no right to write about 9-11. So many people lost so much on that day, and in my mind, those are the people who can write an authoritative story or post on this topic. I have only a few musings. The day was emotional for me, as I am sure it was for every American, or anyone with even a remote connection in any corner of the world. Before 2001, 9-11 to me was my good friend's anniversary--- a day to celebrate, a day that evoked happiness. I feel badly for my friend because she "lost" the happiness from her anniversary, I am sure it will never be the same to her. Of course, that is a small loss compared to what others faced that day, but a loss nonetheless.

I grew up in New York, so I certainly knew the city well. I had never been up in the World Trade Center, until about 6 months before 9-11. In the spring of 2001, Kurt and I took a weekend trip to NYC, and for reasons we both don't know, we decided to go up to the tower observation deck---we enjoyed the breathtaking views, and had an enjoyable day. We have no idea why we were compelled to go up there---it certainly was not on the list of things I had ever had a great desire to do. Maybe the towers just moved us that day....

I am sure everyone remembers where they were on 9-11-01. I was in my office preparing an ER physician for his deposition. We were in a skyscraper, but were only on the 18th floor. One of the support staff got a call and was told to turn on the television, so the doctor and I were alternately preparing for the case, and keeping an eye on the television in the conference room to see what was unfolding. My co-defense counsel arrived, and we were waiting for the plaintiff's counsel to take the deposition. Shortly after 10am, he called to say he was getting out of town, and he would not be taking the deposition. I raised hell and told him that we were here, that my doctor managed to hobble in here on crutches, we were ready to go forward, and he would be seeing a motion for sanctions from me in discovery court if he did not come and get this deposition taken. I think he got out of town--- he certainly didn't come to take the deposition. The city started shutting down after that, and my friend and I ended up watching the news coverage at the Irish Pub, I suppose it was drowning our sorrows, although we really were lost and had no idea what else to do (there was no getting out of the city for us, we lived there!). Kurt's company was probably the only business in the entire city that didn't close that day! I think often of how something that I thought was so important, getting the deposition taken, pales in comparison to the magnitude of the situation that was unfolding everywhere else. Of course, there was no motion for sanctions filed...

My uncle was not in the towers but worked nearby. After spending enormous amounts of time and energy getting out of lower Manhattan, he ran into a friend who had been in the towers, but escaped. I don't know his friend's name, but let's call him John Smith. As they were walking across the Brooklyn Bridge together, with all the rubble and the chaos all around them, a piece of paper floated down in the air in front of them. The paper said "From the desk of John Smith!" It was his!

My thoughts are with everyone who lost someone or something that day. When I moved to Downingtown, I met someone who eventually became a good friend of mine. It was about a year after we met that she told me that she made it out of the towers that day---and so did many of the people she supervised...but not everyone. She lost friends, and a whole lot more that day, and I can't even begin to imagine what life is like for her, that this horror is only a memory away. The memory can pop up when you don't expect it to, when you don't want it to, and will be there no matter how hard you try to forget it. Although seven years have elapsed, I can't imagine that something like this gets any better.

2008-09-09T20:31:00.007-04:00

A FEW MORE FIRSTS

Max had his first day of preschool yesterday, which went off without a hitch. He was very excited, and would barely stay still for a picture.

Jack had his first day of music class for the session. I didn't take any pictures of that! This is his third session in a row, and I did take Nicole and Max there for at least 4-5 sessions in a row two years before this---so there have been many pictures of music class over the years. Poor third child, I didn't think to bring the camera. BUT here is a picture from the end of last session...many of the people are the same, and if I didn't date my pictures every day, Jack would never know that this wasn't him in class right now! (Okay, his hair was shorter and he looked more like a baby, but you understand my point!)

And, Nicole had her first day of dance class for the year. Nicole is starting her fourth year of dance with Ms. Debbie. The studio has changed this year---Ms. Debbie closed her studio and she is teaching somewhere else---but Ms. Debbie has not changed and Nicole wanted to follow her wherever she went! Nicole has always loved dance, but she was actually not too enthused about starting dance today, and I told her to give it a few classes, and we would take it from there. She came out of class excited and saying she wanted to continue, so we'll see how this all ends up.

2008-09-07T22:05:00.004-04:00

TO THE ZOO

We took a little day trip to a little zoo this afternoon, and had a great little time. This was my first time visiting the Brandywine Zoo, http://brandywinezoo.com/, and I am sure I will be back. Very inexpensive, and not very large, it was perfect for what we were looking for today. We didn't have to worry about crowds, or spending all day there in the hot sun, or about the kids getting too tired of walking too far.

Jack was the most impressed today---he was in awe of seeing real live animals, and he would point and repeat the name we said at almost every cage. The highlight was the condor showing off his wingspan as we were leaving...a very impressive sight for all! Everyone around us thought that the bird was doing it on purpose to show off because he knew people were watching him. As the eternal pessimist, I was sure he was just stretching before his midday nap...or trying desperately to lift off the ground of the tiny cage that imprisoned him! Or showing his support for the Eagles game that was taking place as we walked. Fly eagles fly. I don't know how we got Kurt out to the zoo this afternoon, but he was home in plenty of time to see the end of the game.

2008-09-05T21:06:00.010-04:00

NOTHING TOO BLOGWORTHY

The week in kindergarten seems to have gotten better each day, and Nicole comes home happy, and dare I say, even a little enthusiastic? It is still hard for her to say "goodbye" in the morning, but once she is on the bus, she looks like she is happy and chatty.

On the homefront, we were supposed to stop painting after the family room was done (budget-dictated decision!) but we enjoyed a little color so much, that we had the painter come back to do the foyer and hallways upstairs and down, finances be damned. We are going to leave it at that for now...

Here is a first...Max was so proud that he could show Jack how to ride in a shopping cart car, and Jack was so happy to have been shown this new and exciting form of food shopping!

Max told me "Jack is a rookie," so I told the old veteran of cart cars to make sure Jack did it right. (Yes, there is still a little too much Cars movie in our lives, even 2 years after the movie was released!)

Max had orientation for preschool today, and he was pretty happy to jump right back into the swing of things. He will be with all of the same friends---there is no downside for him this year.

Jack's preschool proclivities lean more toward the academic aspect rather than preschool play. He was a little annoyed to be interrupted by the juveniles playing with trucks on the floor! (I can't get Max to sit down and color or write, and I can't get him to hold a pencil or crayon like that. Seriously.)Sorry Jack, you are only 19 months, you have at least another year before your school career starts. And, I am also sorry, honey, that I am a bad mom. Thank goodness you won't remember this, and so, you likely won't be scarred for life, but at least 4 different people have approached me in the last few weeks to make comments about my cute baby girl; and Nicole and Max have also been asked about their baby sister. I am so sorry Jack...your first haircut is coming even sooner than I expected!

2008-09-02T22:51:00.004-04:00

WE SURVIVED THE FIRST DAY OF K

Nicole was pretty upset the night before Kindergarten. As we were putting her to sleep, she cried and asked whether I could come with her. Kurt promised that he would also stay home to see her off at the bus stop, then he would follow the bus to school to make sure she arrived there ok. (What a good daddy!) When Nicole woke up this morning, she was dressed in no time, and seemed a little eager. We couldn't really get a smile out of her, though.

We made her take some pictures with her brothers, and we managed to get a little smile after a long while. (The bigger issue is why Kurt was snapping a picture rather than yelling at Jack to get his shoes off the brand new couch!!)

Then she was a little excited at the bus stop when she saw some people she knew.

Boarding the bus didn't look too bad! (Although, she later told me she was really scared but didn't want anyone to know!)

The morning went really quickly. (It is only about 2 1/2 hours; less time than she was in preschool last year!) Since she doesn't get a bus home from school, we have to pick her up every day. Here's Max waiting for Nicole to come out of school at pick-up time. (I won't even post a picture of Jack, a screaming mess because he was hot, tired, and didn't want to be strapped in his stroller!)

Here's Nicole with her friend from preschool after their first day of Kindergarten!

Did she like it? Well, what she said (didn't like it!), and how she said it (a little excitement and happiness as she described different parts) told me very different things. We will give it some time and see how it all plays out.

2008-08-31T20:40:00.004-04:00

WHY BOTHER

I keep trying to do things to make the kids' summer fun. It always seems to come back and bite me in the behind. Today we woke and decided to go to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. We thought the kids would love it, and honestly, I was looking forward to an enjoyable day out myself. It's been a long summer, without vacation. The ride down was long and noisy, as the kids were filled with excitement. After we arrived and parked the car, we walked through the lobby of a hotel to use the "facilities." I asked whether anyone had to go to the bathroom, and I was assured that no, everyone was fine. We went to the Inner Harbor and stood in a moderately long line to rent a dragon boat to paddle on the water. As we arrived at the front of the line, Max announced that he had to go to the bathroom. Heavy sigh from mom, and Kurt dragged him away to find a bathroom. I proceeded in line with Nicole and Jack. When it was our turn to rent a boat, I was told that there was a maximum of 4 in a boat, and yes even a little toddler who could be a lap-sitter counted as 1, so our family of 5 could not rent a boat. I went up to wait for Kurt, and when he returned we initially decided no boat rentals, but the kids went crazy, so we decided that Kurt and Nicole & Max would rent a boat. They went to wait in the same moderately-long line again to go for a boat ride while I walked around with Jack, who was just about due for a nap when we arrived, and he wasn't getting happier by the minute. He has never once fallen asleep in the stroller, but I was determined to get him to do it today, so I pushed him around for the next 45 minutes or so. No nap. When the kids were finished with the boat ride, they came out whining that they were hungry and thirsty. We walked around looking for a food court for a quick bite because I wanted to save the big meal for dinner; I envisioned a nice outdoor meal on the water with a cool breeze blowing around as the day was drawing to a close. Too much to ask?

Jack wanted pizza for lunch, of course Nicole and Max didn't. I left daddy and Jack and took the kids across the way to get chicken. One look at the food they were serving, and they whined that they didn't want that chicken they wanted a different kind of chicken. A little low on patience, I took them back to daddy and I told them they were getting pizza. Of course, daddy had already ordered so I had to get in the back of the line to order food for them. Tired Jack was getting into an increasingly foul mood during lunch. We then decided to walk around the harbor to see what we could see and to try to get Jack to take a nap. After about 2 steps (probably more like 100!) both Nicole and Max started whining: they were too hot, they were too tired, they couldn't walk any more, Max stopped and said he "absolutely could not" take another step! We put up with the whining for another 30 minutes before we decided that we had had enough. Of course, about 2 minutes before we arrived at the car, Jack fell asleep in his stroller! I knew he wouldn't go back to sleep once we transferred him to the car, but I wasn't about to keep walking when the kids already knew we were heading to the car. Nightmare drive home. Jack was screaming, we couldn't find I-95 and when we did, we were stuck in major traffic, adding another hour to our trip home. Nicole and Max were also tired, so they were bickering loudly much of the way home until I just wanted to scream!

So, no dinner on the water with the breeze blowing through our pleasant conversation. No memorable "what a great day, thanks for taking us mom and dad!" moments. But, I come away at least encouraged that Jack will fall asleep in his stroller. Except that the next time we try another day trip like this, when the kids are oh, 18 or so, Jack likely won't be needing a nap in his stroller to make it through the day!

2008-08-30T13:37:00.004-04:00

MAKING PROGRESS

I wasn't going to post until we were all finished, but so far, we've gone from this:

to this!

2008-08-28T21:23:00.003-04:00

STEP ONE COMPLETE

A quick update. The painting is finished! (There are weird shadows on the walls in all of the pictures I have taken, but there are no white splotches on the actual walls in my family room!) Next step is to rent a carpet shampooer...I'll shampoo the *&%^* out of that rug to make it match my walls yet!

2008-08-27T20:41:00.003-04:00

UPS AND DOWNS
No mincing words...I like it, I really like it! After one coat of paint, I am very happy! What a difference already! A quick picture, and I'll move on to my more important topic. OK, two pictures, day and evening.

And I forgot to mention that the one "what if" that I failed to think about last night came up today, when the painter nicely asked, "what color carpet are you putting in?" Umm, carpet, well we hadn't even thought about that, and it's certainly not in the budget right now, but thank you for mentioning it, because I will forever think that the carpeting really does not look good with the wall color! Great.

My sweet little daughter will be starting Kindergarten this year, and she has been increasingly nervous about it as the day approaches. She is afraid of the school bus, afraid of a new teacher, afraid of a new school, afraid of a new classroom, afraid of not knowing anyone in her class (except for her "boyfriend" from preschool who has been in her class for the last 3 years and is now in her kindergarten class as well) and afraid of getting lost, and I am sure I am missing one or two more. I have to add that Nicole is a pretty social girl, but can get shy in certain situations.

We had orientation for kindergarten tonight, and Nicole has been nervous, upset and beside herself all day. I was thinking that once we got there and she met her teacher and other students and saw the classroom, she would feel better...not so! She has been on the verge of tears all night, and she held onto my hand almost the entire night. I have said all the things that I am supposed to say ...and more...to comfort her, but nothing is working. We just found out that one of our neighbors is in her class and the little girl was friendly and excited at orientation, and I thought that would make her feel better...but no. A little girl from preschool that was in another class last year will be in her class. Although they didn't really know each other, they recognized each other right away. I thought that would help...but no. I recognized a mom that I had met a few years ago, and her daughter will be in Nicole's class, so I introduced them right away and I thought that would make her feel better...but no. To make matters worse, we were told that the kids had to wear sneakers to school...and won't be able to wear dresses a lot of the time, and her face fell. I don't know WHAT I am going to do with her... my dress-loving-refuse-to-wear-pants-or-shorts-and-only-girly-shoes girl is not happy. I know after a few days or weeks, she will love school! She will have friends! She won't want to leave! But she doesn't know that now, and I don't know how to convince her of that beforehand. And, I have no idea how I will get her on the bus that first day of school!

2008-08-26T20:35:00.003-04:00

NO TURNING BACK

After MANY many days of furniture shopping (see post of July 26, no need to repeat---they were all the same torturous groundhog-day type experiences, thank you kids) and many nights of poring over paint colors, I think we have made some decisions to pretty up our family room. I should say: we have made some decisions to pretty up the family room, and I think (hope hope hope) we're going to like them. The painter is coming tomorrow and Thursday, and new furniture is coming Friday. Hopefully by next week we will see a big improvement, and with a little more time, the room will be all that we've wanted!

Now my brain is spinning---what if we hate the color of the walls, what if the furniture is ugly, WHY are we getting new furniture when the kids are still young and will have too many years to destroy it before they're grown? All our old furniture has been with us since the kids were born, and has seen copious amounts of various bodily fluids over the years; do I really need to subject new furniture to this? AND, will I hate the house because we have one nice room and the rest of the house will still be an empty toy wasteland? Maybe most important of all, HOW could I give the painter, a complete stranger, the KEY to my house so he can let himself in tomorrow morning just so I can go to the gym and not wait around for him to arrive! (Although, there may have been times when we could have had complete strangers wandering around here when "WE" have left the door open when we were out, see post of July 19th!) What if the painter starts painting when I am out, and I miss the opportunity to look at the wall and say "NO, STOP, that's the ugliest color in the world!" The what-if's can go on and on, but we've made the decisions, and we're sticking to it!

Before pictures: This morning.

Tonight after moving everything out to get ready for the painter and the new furniture. (A big improvement already, or at least a step in the right direction!) I will post pictures of the after, after it's done. If we like it.

2008-08-25T13:08:00.002-04:00

BURNING MAN BIRTHDAY
Happy Birthday to my sis, Happy Birthday to my sis! Happy Birthday dear Lynn, Happy Birthday to you! Today is my sister's birthday, and I would call her instead of posting, except that her cell phone won't work. She is in the middle of the Nevada desert. Attending the Burning Man Festival. (Not that she has a wireless router nearby either to receive this birthday message, one would have to assume!) I had never heard of Burning Man before she attended last year, but I did a little research, and found only that there is no single experience or description for it. It seems to mean something different to everyone who attends -- up to 48,000 people every year! It is a festival that people prepare for all year. They go to the desert, camp out in 100 degree temperatures for the week ending in Labor Day, celebrate freedom of expression, display art and creativity, and dress to express themselves in a place that ignores race, class, and social standing. There is an official website, at http://www.burningman.com/. I read a lot of it, but still can't understand the experience fully, and I assume I never will unless I see it first-hand.

So, my sister (older sister!) packed up her paintings, her boyfriend, her dogs (who she dropped off at my dad's in Colorado...a little out of the way when driving from Texas to Nevada!), her fun and funky clothes and the rest of her creativity, and took off to the Burning Man. Hope you're enjoying your birthday, dear sis!