Cousins of fun

Lucas and Addi are very lucky to have two cousins that are very close in age. They were able to come over last night for a bit.


Taralyn and Lucas run into issues being the oldest of their respective families and having the same dominant personality but this also allows for many of creative ideas that I am just sure no one else could come up with!!



Addi just loves Hunter to pits and pieces, after all they are only a week apart. Addi refers to him as Huntie. It is cute although I am not sure he loves the name. He is a very good sport about the entire thing which works out well as Addi puts her own spin on assertive.



A few minutes outide. Too chilly to stay out much longer.




A nice indoor race in the evening. It had to be called early due to the crash. Thank goodness no injuries!







Even Uncle Jeremy got to join in the fun. Nothing like a marathon puzzle session.



A nice Wii session to end the evening. Look at that face. Guilt written all over it.

Ribbit Ribbit

Growing up I never knew what it would be like to have an older brother and really I never spent that much time thinking about it because by the time I was old enough to think I wanted one I was old enough to know I liked being the oldest. Watching Addi idolize Lucas has brought up the thought in my head having an older brother has some serious advantages. Don't get me wrong I have seen first hand that it has a ton of disadvantages also.

I will let Jeremy make his own post of the disadvantages of being the older brother as I am sure he has many of memory to recall upon.

Lucas will teach Addi anything, I mean anything. All she has to do is expresses an interest in wanting to do it. This ranges from blowing bubbles into your milk glass, throwing your shoes from the grocery cart to coloring with the sharp end of the crayon and my personal favorite-using the bathroom.

The other night after reading her a book about frogs he taught her how to play leap frog. We are not sure she got the entire meaning of the game but she sure loved the ribbit ribbit part.

Watch out Aunt Carrie there may be another frog lover coming.

It was nice to see him take his time in teaching her exactly what they were to be doing.

St. Patrick's Parade

Although it is not the great green day yet there are a lot of parades around us. Today we went to a little town close to us, Martin City, for their annual parade. It has really grown over the years. This was the first year we have gone that they actually ran out of candy!! This was serious disappointment in Lucas world as he understood what a parade meant. Yes, we were on the closer to the end of the route so very very little candy and trinkets for us.

Yep, they should have thrown us candy.

Another bummer float.

All was not lost though. There were lots of saddle clubs in the parade and we all loved seeing the beautiful horses in the parade. There also seemed to be a large number of dogs in the parade, far too many of them dressed in clothes, but that is another post.

A nice walk back to the car. One would have thought Addi would have taken a nice nap after this walk...............

so such luck in our world. Still up and going strong.

HAVE A HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

A good cleaning

Do you hate little specs of dirt? Do you worry that you might get caught with dirty toes at the worst possible time? Are you afraid to try on sandals or other shoes in a store if you have to take off your socks? Well then I am your girl.

I take pride in having the cleanest toes in town. That's right if you sit still long enough I will even come over and clean your toes for you. You don't even have to ask or act like you like it. Keep in mind my toes do come first and it can take minutes and minutes to get mine perfect but I am more than willing to take a look at yours also. My charge is a nice Hershey's kiss or a piece of Dove chocolate. I can also work in exchange for a good finger/toe nail polish. I am free most evenings and weekends.

Here are some pictures of my self work. As you can see I am very through in my work.

I take my time and my mom and dad will confirm I do this every night so I am as close to a professional as you should be able to get at 2. And yes every job does include the use of 2 high quality Kleenex. Your toes deserve the best!

Home Time

This was our first Sunday in many of months that not a thing was written on the calendar. What a great day it has turned out to be. I love a nice relaxing Sunday. We started the day out with a trip to my fave brunch location, Nick and Jake's. What a special treat for a free day.

We have been home every sense. I was able to put away a weeks worth of laundry, clean the upstairs. Jeremy finished the books for Ducks Unlimited. The kids were able to find a way to have fun in their day also:

What verse of Happy Birthday were we on?

Me first okay now your turn mom

Hope you were able to find some time to lay around today......

Swim Lessons

Tonight was the first night of swim lessons. We have a new community center that opened 3 indoor pools the end of last year. We decided to take advantage of the down time between wrestling and baseball and get in a few weeks of lessons for Lucas. He had a great time and his class even had a few of his friends it. Amazing how everywhere we go Lucas has a friend or two!

Lucas did very well during his lesson and should be able to do every swim stroke by the end of his lessons.
It is very important to use that both of the kids learn to swim. So many good memories come from the water and many just from the act of the swimming lessons.

I remember every summer taking swim lessons, thanks to Grandma Jo hauling us to Meadowmear. Our lessons seemed to be the first of the morning and the water was crystal clear, not a wave in the pool. Maybe that is because of the thin layer of ice on top. There is still nothing like the feeling of freezing pool water in the summer if you ask me. Gives me a lot of sympathy for those professional athletes in the ice bath after a long game.
Jeremy has many of good stories about the nice bike rides to the pool in Phillipsburg on summer afternoons. Their long ride home after hours at the pool and the hill that seemed to steep to ever get up and an awesome grandpa that would stop by on his way home and let them thrown their bikes in the back of the truck. The part that scares me the most about Jeremy's pool adventures are the many scars on his legs from his decision on where the take the big jump. I am afraid those events may be in my future even with swim lessons.

SNOW FUN!

We have about 4 inches of snow on the ground and it is still falling at a pretty good rate. We have already been outside for about 45 mintues this morning. Jeremy and I woke up to Addi in our room staring out our window screaming SNOW. A nice way to wake on a Saturday morning. Lucas came in a few minutes later and we were outside within the hour.

Lucas was excited to try out the snowboard he got as a Christmas present. We have not had any measurable snow since he got it. He has anxiously waiting to put it to good use! To his shock and amazement he was an instant pro. He is still loving every try. I think he may like falling as much as he does making it down the hill.

Poor dad, all work and no play.

Addi had a great time walking around. She was all bundled up with her layers of clothes and winter coat, built in scarf and mittens are a good thing. Addi lasted about thirty minutes before he snow boots became so packed with snow she could not plant her foot down and would continue to fall. The then end came when she fell into fresh snow and some got down into her mitten. She announced she was going IN, NOW.

Hopefully we can get back in this afternoon. If it stops snowing.....

The room part two

After I put up the pictures of Addi's room I had a very good friend of mine say I should have put up pictures of Addi's bed if I spent that much time sewing all of that fabric. Good point.

Alarm clock troubles

What a morning it has been. Our nights have not been as restful as I would like as for the last week, Addi has been doing more napping at night than restful sleeping. She goes to bed at her regular time but then proceeds to get up anywhere from 2-3am wanting to play. She just does not understand when she brings me a baby doll and change of clothes for it why I tell her she has to go to sleep. The end result is the same: Addi, a baby doll and couple of blankets end up in our bed and Addi eventually drifts off to sleep. Same thing this morning.

Jeremy barked to get up and in the shower after I ignored the alarm clock for the second time. For some reason I could hear the alarm clock but just could not swing my feet to the floor. I pushed myself out of bed and into the shower. Proceeded to do my make-up and put goop on my hair. I always put my clothes on before I do my hair. Of coarse Jeremy was still in bed when I went to get dressed, so I get him up. I have to go to the laundry room downstairs to get my pants. My morning had Starbucks written all over it. I pass the grandfather clock in the living room on the way to retrieve my pants. Humm, it is not 6 yet I say to my slow firing brain. Got the pants went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. What? What did the microwave and oven say? Surly my eyes and brain are not firing yet. It says 4:30! I look out the kitchen window just to make sure it is not daytime. Nope, dark as dark can be. 4:30!! Now my brain is certainly firing.

I climb the stairs and open the bathroom door to find Jeremy. He has finished his shower by this point and for some reason looks unbelievable cheery and awake. Maybe because tonight is date night? I asked him if he has lost his mind and inform him he is going to lose his alarm clock privileges. He sleeps on the side with the alarm clock. His face goes from cheery to confused. I inform him that it is 4:30 in the morning! His reaction, a bit different than mine, he doubles over in laughter. “I told you we were going to get up early and get going this morning.” I finish doing my hair, as it has product in it and if I let it dry I fear the looks I would get today. Jeremy decides to stay up, have breakfast, read the paper and do who knows what. I opt for a good 90 minutes of shut eye.

As Jeremy works solo I am sure he will find time for a nap today. We rode to work together; my mom is getting the kids after work so we can head out for a nice adult dinner to celebrate my birthday. My mission today, to find a nice quiet place to get a good hour of shut eye! You can bet before we go to bed tonight I will be triple checking the alarm clock for the correct time and correct wake time. Thank goodness it is not Monday.

Good Morning!

The Poet

Tonight was poem night at Lucas school for the first graders. They wrote one or two poems to share with all the families then typed them up in computer class and created their own illustrations to go with the poem. It was very interesting hearing Lucas poems.







My Dog

by Lucas


Dog

Fun silly

Crazy funny calm

Devious

and


Cat
by Lucas Long

* Fuzzy
* Silly
* Short
* Big
* Crazy
* Fat

I think Lucas had quiet the time sharing his poem with all of us. It will certainly be one for the grade school scrapbook.

When we got home we had a little ice cream and apple pie to celebrate. Lucas passed on the pie and took ice cream and water because his throat was a little scratchy, his words, from reading his poem to all the parents. The ice cream Addi ate apparently made her a little bit crazy as you can see here.

A BIRTHDAY GIRL

Saturday was a very exciting day around our place. A week after Addi turned 2 we had her birthday party. Being born the day before Valentine's Day makes it a bit difficult to have your party around your birthday. This was actually Addi's first party as last year she, and I, were so sick on her birthday that we had to pass on the party part.

Jeremy stayed up half the night cooking KC B-B-Q for the party, it was extra tasty. I think everyone enjoyed. He has really become the B-B-Q man!! A talent that everyone around the house has enjoyed him trying and perfecting on us. I am not sure I would ever have the will power to smoke and grill a pork shoulder, slabs of ribs, chicken wings, brats and shirmp on the grill in below freezing weather. I guess it goes to show the love of a dad for his little girl.

It was nice to have everyone over for Addi's party because we were able to head right over to Hunter's party after. Here is a picture of her directing Hunter at his party during the gift opening. Apparently he was not moving fast enough for her satisfaction. Good thing for her he was easy going about the entire thing.

Thank you to everyone who was able to come to the party and we hope to see you and everyone else next year.

A NEW ROOM

The time came as Addi drew closer and closer to being two to give her a big girl room.
The dilemma was in keeping a girl room from oozing out pink of every corner. About a year ago I found this fabric I fell in love with. In the end I did not buy enough but I think the pink paisley worked out nicely.

Addi really seems to love her room and is getting closer every time she plays in there to saying purple. A word harder to say then you might think at first.

I am happy to say that Lucas was an amazing help during the painting process. He stayed up late one Friday night to help me get it done. Jeremy was the ever attentive supervisor. Even he will admit painting is just not his thing. Good thing for me I have a couple kids to train! We should have every room in the house painted before they are ready to move out.

I have done a very bad job about getting the word out to everyone we have a blog. I am going to give it a run again with this weekend being Addi's 2nd Brithday.

Jeremy was such an awesome husband that he got me the camera of my dreams, for at least the last four or five months, for my birthday. Saturday will give me the perfect chance to use it!

Come Monday you can check out my posting skills for what I expect to be some great cake pictures.

Here we go.............