Surprise trip to MD

I was in New Jersey for work one Monday in May and was asked to be in DC Thursday.  Normally I would just decline but I was asked to coach some of our top performing female managers in our Women’s Initiative program (I’m such a fan of this program, it’s really helped me a lot at work).  I couldn’t say no!
To make the most of it, we decided to make it into a mini trip. I took Sean and Dylan with me so they could spend time with Pop Pop and GG while I was in DC… a win-win.  It was my first time flying with them alone and I have to say, it went really well.  Ok, so when I got to my parent’s house I had to take another shower before heading down to DC but at least we made it with the stroller, our bags and my sanity!
I was still able get out of buying a ticket for Dylan since he was under 2 so that was great, and he ended up sleeping on both flights as soon as we took off.  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with that kid I tell ya.

I’m Coming Back to the Blog (I hope!)

So it’s been a few days weeks since I’ve blogged and honestly I have things from back in March that I haven’t posted about.  It’s a strange thing, this blog, because it’s always something that’s just sitting in the back of your mind, reminding you that’s it’s unfinished and in bad shape. It’s important for me to keep it up though because every year or so I have the past year printed into a little book that I’d love to give the boys when they’re older. When they’re talking to each other one day and wonder what in the world their parents did to make them so weird...  that’s where this blog comes in.  A little reminder of the mostly good stuff that’s happened (when I have time to recap it all!).  Blogs are so personal and everyone has a different tone, message and purpose they’re trying to get across.  I’m certainly no writer and have no skills to really share (maybe how to cross your eyes or create a totally awesome spreadsheet but that’s where it stops) so a baking, crafting, healthy eating blog is not for me.  So I figure since I got to about page 5 in Sean’s baby book and … hmmm… where is Dylan’s baby book?… I might as well try to keep track of our craziness through a blog.

I’m planning to get back on the wagon (back on the bike? back in the seat? how does that saying go?) in very short order.  So far I’ve finally put my pictures on the computer from the camera and honestly I think that’s a very good start.  Maybe over the long weekend I can tell you about some things we did in March ;) Fingers crossed. But the weather looks like it’s gonna be nice and it would be fun to take the boat out. Or maybe go to opening day of the pool.  Well at least I can take picutres and tell you all about it next fall.

The boys have started to watch TV shows together.  This was a few weeks ago on a Friday night. They were watching one of those family shows where the kids and parents compete in various games to win a prize. I wonder if I can get John to audition so the 4 of us can compete one day? You know that’s one of the things on my bucket list - playing on Wheel of Fortune. Maybe this would suffice?

Sean’s New Bunk Bed

Sean had been growing out of his crib-turned-toddler-bed for a while but John and I couldn’t decide what to do next with his room.  After a lot of deliberation, we decided to get him a bunk bed.  Our hope was that one day soon, he and Dylan could have a “sleepover” in Sean’s room when family comes in town and we need an extra room or, more importantly, just for fun.  Deciding on a bunk bed was only half the battle though, because these days there are about a million different types of layouts and material for these things.  Who knew?!
We ended up getting one that has stairs up the side, drawers all the way around (even each stair is a drawer!) and a full bed that you can wheel around for an easier time making the bed.  I have to admit, I’ve been on the top bunk a few times and it’s a ton of fun.  Dylan has been trying to persuade us to let him sleep in there one night, too.  Maybe soon :)
The night before the bunk bed’s big arrival…

Playing the next day…

Over the summer we’ve been making it more cozy by getting fun green sheets for the top bunk and a reading light for the little shelf area so we can read our bedtime books in the “cave.”  All in all I think it was a success!  My biggest fear is hearing those words from Dylan in a year… “Why can’t I have a bunk bed?  Sean has a bunk bed!”
haha

Car Show

We went up to a car show (“auto fair”?) at the speedway a few months ago which was an interesting experience. 

Wouldn’t you know it, but in the sea of endless cars, car parts, car specialists, and car enthusiasts, we found the Elvis impersonator contest.  Like a moth to a flame…
The boys (all 3 of them) loved it!

Lazy 5 Ranch

Back in March we took our first trip to the Lazy 5 Ranch.  I’ve heard really great things about it and was excited that the weather was getting warmer and we could spend a few hours outside.  It’s kind of like a zoo that you can either ride your car through and feed the animals out of the windows or you can take a wagon ride pulled by two Clydesdales with a group of people.  We opted to take the wagon ride and it was so much fun! We saw all kinds of animals and could feed most of them right out of our hands!  After the wagon ride we walked around and saw kangaroos, peacocks, and all kinds of farm animals.

We saw this poor mamma-to-be on the way in.  Just when you think you can’t be any more uncomfortable at 40 weeks, this puts it all into perspective!

Yellow Cake & Chocolate Icing AGAIN!

We celebrated John’s birthday with another glorious yellow cake / chocolate icing celebration.  The boys loved singing and wearing their birthday hats.  Happy Birthday to my sweetheart and MANY MORE to come!

If I Only Had the Words

To appropriately caption this picture.  Here goes nothin’…

- “Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it – Vogue”

- “Oh. You don’t enjoy a nice afternoon in February running around in your dude suit?”

- “Two snaps ‘round the circle and back again girlfriend”

- “My milkshake brings all the girls to the yard…”

- “This belly? Oh it came straight from my Mom.”

 

Easter 2013

Easter came this year with a visit from the Bunny Village and Pop Pop & GG! We were lucky because the original Easter Egg Hunt was rained out so Pop Pop and GG could come with us for the first time to the hunt.  We practiced at home to make sure the boys had the hang of it.  They did pretty well filling their baskets with eggs – a skill they did not inherit from me!

 

 

The Easter Egg Hunt is always fun in our neighborhood because they have a petty zoo and pony rides.

We had a great long weekend with great food, wine, company and eggs! :)

Poor Polly

I’ll spare you from the long (and messy) version of the story, but early in the year we noticed that Polly started having “accidents” in the house.  If you know Polly, you know that she is a very, very naughty beast dog who is always into everything she’s not supposed to be messing with and is always sneaking around getting into trouble.  So naturally, we thought she was doing it on purpose because we weren’t paying enough attention to her.  Well it started getting worse, so bad that I went and got her doggie diapers at the store. One Saturday night, it’s like she just turned into a different dog and I ended up taking her to the emergency vet first thing Sunday morning.
After several hours, a few tears and a lot of “I’m sorry’s” to poor pitiful Polly, it was concluded that she had bladder stones and would need surgery to have them removed.  Naturally, I asked to see the xRay and – WHOAH – it looked like the poor dog was getting ready to lay eggs.
Needless to say, she had the surgery, got a lot of good pain meds, and was back into full swing before we could even get all the trashcans back up on the counters.
 
As much as we complain about this little monster, she was my first baby and I couldn’t imagine life without her.(Ok, maybe John and I do imagine what it would be like… not having to call before we come home so she doesn’t wake up the kids, having a bed all to ourselves, having normal trashcans on the floor, being able to leave your sandwich on the table while you grab a drink without her getting UP ON THE TABLE to scarf if down in .2 seconds flat… Yes folks, maybe we do dream about it a little – and John reminds me several times a week that it was my decision and my decision alone to get her – but what would we do with all that extra time on our hands?!)

1st Dentist Appointment

We’re really lucky that we have a pediatric dentist who lives a few houses down from us so I was really comfortable taking Sean to Dr. Bird for his first dentist appointment.  Sean needs to have everything explained to him well in advance so he can process a new experience ahead of time.  So we talked about what they would do there, drank some “Brave Juice” and were ready to see what this dentist thing was all about.
Sean was a real pro and handled the whole thing even better than I had hoped.  He let them clean his teeth, take xRays (did you know that you can see their big boy teeth already?? they look like sharks!), and have a final look from Dr. Bird.

Yellow Cake & Chocolate Icing

If you know me and John, you know that dessert doesn’t get much better than boxed yellow cake and chocolate icing in a can.  I guess I’ll take getting another year older so I can partake in this delicacy.  John made a fabulous cake for me but we’ll definitely need to seriously consider any plans of expanding our family because now we have to split the cake four ways. Add another little Ward and we’ll need to make two cakes.  One for Mommy, one for the boys to fight over.
What? You think I’m kidding? Not a chance.

To My Grandpa

 

A giant pine, magnificent and old
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power.
Within its fold birds safely reared their young.
The velvet ground beneath was gentle,
and the cooling shade gave cheer to passers by.
Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms”.

It fell one day.
Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.
But men who passed paid tribute – and said,
“To know this life was good,
It left it’s mark on me. Its work stands fast”.
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold -
This giant pine, magnificent and old.

by Georgia Harkness

Stop Clowning Around

For John’s birthday in 2009 (a few months before Sean was born) Leigh gave him a picture of a clown he drew in elementary school.  When my mom shipped my storage unit of things (yes I said storage unit... that’s a story for another time people) down last year, wouldn’t you know that she also kept a clown picture I painted in 2nd grade.  I just framed both of them and now they’re in the playroom.  How cool, right?! 

Help a Brother Out

It’s been fun to see Sean and Dylan work together more and more every day.  Lately Sean wants to help Dylan wipe his hands (pronounced with an English accent), cheeks, mouth and “nosey-nose-nose” after meals.  It’s pretty cute and by the rate they’re moving, I shouldn’t have to do much more than drive the car by 2015. 

Perrrrrfect. 

It’s all happening according to plan. 

We’re so excited Sean can use a camera

Now he can capture shots like this:

… and this:

Yes that’s how we entertained our sons last night while they were eating dinner (man we’re gonna be some embarrassing parents when they are teenagers).  We were going for the Spartan Cheerleader pose.  How do you think we did?