Ahhhh, the Fall

My "Tractor Tippin'" Masterpiece (from CARS)

Grama and Nano took in an O's Game

As much as I hate to see those long summer days go away, there is something special about the chill in the air, the frost on the grass and the rosy cheeks of little boys playing outside. I do like fall and winter, I just don't like the cold. I am one of those chronic cold people--ask any roommate of mine, or my mom or my husband and they will tell you I always have socks, slippers, an extra sweatshirt and usually a blanket on me just to watch TV. It is annoying and it can get very uncomfortable, but I have learned to cope with lots of layers and especially when I am forced to be outside several times a day with the boys, to keep moving!! That is good for the hips at least!

We have had lots of fun this fall season. We hit several fall festivals and got many different sized and colored pumpkins. It stayed really warm in MD till Halloween, then it has been cooler--requiring cute fleece jackets and the occasional hat or mitten search. The boys look so sweet all bundled up, with just their faces showing. Reminds me of days not so long ago. My little babies. How they keep growing and learning and amazing me.

Nick is a thinker. He loves books and being told stories about various things. He comes up with those questions where you are not sure how much detail to go in to, or if you should answer at all. He is constantly LISTENING and WATCHING and ABSORBING, which can get scary! He will ask me questions about NPR as we drive....that is tough--"What is politics? Why did Obaba ruin the US? Why did that train crash?" Hmmmm. I have been saving NPR for alone time lately!!

Owen continues to challenge us as parents. He is, as the books like to say, "Strong willed, precocious, curious, determined, hard headed, challenging, independent" and so on and so on. He just likes things a certain way and if you know Owen, that means OWEN'S way!! It is tough to manage at times, and alot of the time we know we are making mistakes, but for the most part, the books say to try to be consistent and we are at least trying to do that. He is incredibly smart and figures things out quickly, so we hope that helps him in life. We still want to help him, that is where the problem usually occurs!! He is potty training now, and while it is going better than expected, it is hard when you ask your little one to go on the potty--and he hates being told what to do....so he quickly says "NO", then 10 minutes later, he wets his pants..... I guess that is potty training and I should continue to take these lessons to each me about all of Owen's stages!!! I told the new tee ball coach, we are thinking about calling him "Chuck" since he rarely responds to "Owen" anymore!!!

Whew-- what a summer!

Annual trip to the Butterfly Garden

The boys loved fishing at the Lake--caught some good size fish too!

July 10, 2010--6 years and counting! Still in love!

Ahhh, fresh air!! I love opening the windows and front screen door to let in the clean, cool air that we have been enjoying these past few days. It is such a nice feeling to hear the wind blow the leaves and hear the little voices playing outside after school. We had such a great summer filled with little and big adventures alike. I think the last time I posted we had gotten back from WI and we were gearing up for some fun here in MD for the month of July. We spent alot of time swimming this summer as Owen has followed in his Big Brother's footsteps and found his love of the water this year. We had to get a bigger pool for the back yard so Nick could do "laps", goggles and all. Too funny. Mostly that meant belly flops in to the pool after running from 20 feet away. They really lived it up out there and I loved watching them. Our gym pool is awesome as well and we would go there 2 or 3 times a week, especially after work when the sun was not quite so hot (ha ha, still 90 at 6 pm!) It was so nice to be in MD during July. We were always on our trip to MI, so being around was a good thing. I was training for the IronGirl triathalon and had a great time mixing up the workouts--swimming, running, biking. Whatever my heart (or timeframe) allowed. I have taken to that biking thing! It is exhilarating and so easy on the joints! The race went great--finished in 2 hours and felt awesome! Looking forward to the next one. The boys and I did a week of Vacation Bible School or "VBS" as it is known as around here. I had never done that as a kid and this year the boys were very familiar with our church and teachers, so they had a blast! I taught Nick's 4 year old class and had fun with them. Owen gave the teacher a run for her money, but she said he was good. :) Our trip to MI was amazing. The drive there was easier than expected, the weather was awesome, the boys slept great, and we just played on the beach all day long. Lots of fishing by the boys and fish to eat too! I got to swim almost every day for 30 mins, then decide if I wanted to run or bike or both!! I loved those pleasant 78 degree days!! What a dreamy to train!!

Our dear Owen turns 3 this Sunday--sniff, sniff. Where has my baby gone??? I still think of a 3rd child daily, but wonder if I have the stuff it takes. I see myself getting pretty worked up with some of his antics and just need the downtime when I can get it to process how to do things differently!! I started reading The Spririted Child as it has been recommended to me many times. I think I have read EVERY SINGLE parenting/discipline book out there, and that is not always the issue. It is really trying to figure out HIS intentions, thoughts, ideas, and temperament for the moment that is struggle. Both Andy and I get frustrated by this and know it is up to us to change and figure it out, as he is only 3...The good days outweigh the bad at this point and that is step in the right direction. Thank goodness his daycare provider loves him to death and thinks he is hilarious!! It gives us a nice break!!

So as both boys nap--yep even my Nick, I get to reflect on another year of parenting ups and downs and realize we are not doing so badly. They are happy, healthy, boisterous boys who keep us on our toes and bring smiles to our faces. They truly are our best accomplishments to date and I love having Andy to share in this wild ride. He is the best partner for me and I thank God for him daily.

Summer sun and fun

Down at the creek (frog release day)!

The frog we grew from a tadpole.

Picnic lunch with the Gramas, Drew and Megan.

Grama and Nano want us to stay.

Well there has been no limit to the energy these two put out despite the heat of MD. We have been busy busy busy and they keep me moving at all times. Thank goodness for the occasional movie watching that keeps them still for approximately 45 minutes!

We enjoyed a great visit to Wisconsin. Lots of good people and awesome weather. Grama and Nano wished we'd never leave (or at least that the boys would stay forever!) We got to see the Menominee Zoo, playground and even swim in the Lake. I don't think we initially thought there would be real swimming, but their legs are only 18 inches long, so "wading" turned in to swimming very quickly. I did not have the insight to get them undressed first, but they were happy to jump in clothes and all. They always have a good time and that is all that matters. Morelli's kindly hosted the annual family get together and it was well attended. Both sides of the family came and had fun catching up. The boys loved playing with their cousins and we loved seeing everyone. We also braved a hot day of Summerfest with my friend Stacy. It was great, but the boys literally melted and we headed out!

Back in MD it is HOT HOT HOT. Sometimes too hot! We spend lots of time at the pool or in our backyard pool. I have been working my required 12 days and enjoying some free time between. The boys transitioned to a new daycare provider and have been loving it at Donna's. They get to play in the sprinkler or baby pool and they are water lovers! We have been catching up with good friends here. Lots of playdates and dinners. It is fun to be here in July--everyone seems to be around to play with!

We are getting ready to pack up for Michigan. Another big trip to endure. It will be great no matter what and it has to be better than last year!! I am gearing up for some early morning runs--we have resigned to the fact that he just needs to GET UP as soon as he WAKES UP on vacation....not fun for us! At home he might wake up early, but he knows to quietly play/read till we get him. I like that situation alot better.

I am still training for the triathalon in August. I have IT Band syndrome in both knees and have been laying off the running lately. Lots of stretching will hopefully help the problem. I think I will still be able to do the run, but the day after will be a slow one!

Oh the Weather outside is DELIGHTFUL!

Well, well, well. We have got ourselves one gorgeous spring on our hands and my two little people really know how to enjoy a nice day. They have me getting them in and out of swimming suits several times a day, and most evenings we can forgo bathtime or at least just rinse them off as they have spent the better part of the night in that blow up pool out back. I recently got the next size up which is a doozy. It is rectangular which provides a bit more space for Nick's "swimming". They both love it and we love watching them splash around for hours. We also figured out that we can SIT while we watch them and there is little chance of drowning now!! That is a big feat as any parent of small children can attest to! I actually read several CHAPTERS of a book one fine Saturday while they played together! YIPPPEEE!! I can't believe I still fantasize about a third child when we have virtually made it to the next level of parenting and are kind of on an easy street of sorts! We also had a group of people over and we stayed up on the deck drinking beer and eating snacks while all the children (even ours) played in the yard. OMG!! It was very exciting, especially for one very tipsy mommy! :) We had our first beach getaway of the summer as well. A special friend of mine from work generously loans us her beach house each year and it is just a fabulous place and gives us a great weekend of relaxation (even with the kids!!) The boys love the house and the beach, and since I packed lots of fun "vacation" foods, they were triply excited! Some donuts and Corn Pops for breakfast?? No problem! Lemonade or root beer for dinner? Sure!! "WE ARE ON VACATION!" Once Owen got himself settled down the first night (after rocking his tented pack n' play on the ground for 30 minutes screaming "LET ME OUT!"), all went very smoothly. That little guy just likes to test things out when we go away, and it is pretty understandable, but when the older one just climbs up in to bed and is snoring 5 minutes later, it can be very frustrating. We managed over a few beers to calm ourselves and get him to fall asleep--finally...The weather was perfect, the boys just dug and dug up the sand. We found lots of sand crabs, which I had never seen and a blue crab actually got washed up on the beach. A BIG one, and it was very alive and very mad. We looked at it for awhile and Andy threw it back in. Again, we were able to SIT in our chairs for better parts of hours, although playing with them in the surf and sand was a bit addicting and we found ourselves neck deep in it. Happy Hour arrived early at the beach house since we still enjoy nap time with the boys. What a happy time! The house is quiet, we are all cleaned up and one of us says "You want a beer?" and the other says "Why not??!!" Bliss. Everyone was sad to leave the house on Sunday morning, but we will be back. I am so glad the boys love the beach. We don't get to see the ocean as much as I would like, especially living so close, but when we do it is just so fun to see them be so natural in the water and sand. Our blow up pool is no comparison, but they get pretty much just as excited. It is the simple things in life.

Come spring come!

Nick's Baseball Diamond Cake w/ baseball cupcakes

We definitely were in need of some good weather and the Gods above blessed us with a couple of weeks of really warm, sunny weather. The first week was messy--lots of mud and muddy shoes and clothes. We just take it all off outside and run inside to change (not so much me as the boys!!) The next week it had dried out some and we really got to have fun on the bikes, play basketball and baseball and blow bubbles and just have fun. There were even some tan lines to show for it and one tick (YIKES). Poor Nick, I felt a little bump on his head at nap time and so I turn his head over and start hollering for Andy to "COME QUICK, NICK HAS A TICK!" That was probably not the best way to go about it...but we got it out and after that he was pretty terrified of his bed and his room and had to lay with me on our bed for a while before giving up on a nap altogether!! He continues to ask if there will be more and if they come in our house...whoopsy. Just when I was loving opening windows each day and even wearing flip flops....it gets butt cold again. Not loving that Mother Nature! Only 42 degrees today?? Does anyone understand that my boys need to be outside at least twice a day??? So, we were...outside...in 42 degree weather at the very cool airport playground where big, huge airplanes take off and land pretty much right in front of us!! There can't be any bad stuff spewing out of them if that is what you are thinking--it is just too darn cool. But no matter how cool it was, it was down right COLD!! I was not prepared for that, but we made it an hour and the boys ate their picnic in the warm car on the way home. All was well.

Owen is getting better. A bit more rational, yet still a crankpot on a regular basis. I feel like this is a window into his teenage future, all "What??!!" (he actually says that, ALL the time when you ask him a question...) and "I want that/I don't want that/I get to change my mind at any moment with no warning and just lots of carrying on and crying..." It is exhausting. Good thing he is so darn cute. We are making headway, he is understanding some consequences. The hard part is the consequences seriously have to be so consistent that it makes you want to give up on the spot or leave him some where to fend for himself. "This too shall pass" and "God grant me the serenity" are said over and over again in my head. Thank Heaven for exercise, yoga and Diet Coke. Beer doesn't even touch this stuff!! :) Stay tuned.

Cooped up

I just re-read the post about being stuck inside with nowhere to go....and I admit I love being home and being together and finding fun things to do, but this has gotten a bit ridiculous!! The first snow storm was exciting and new and we were able to sled and run around a bit. Oh and it WENT AWAY!!! Then when the mud was finally solidifying, we get clobbered by 30+ inches of snow. Now, mind you, I AM FROM WISCONSIN, where we get a shit ton of snow, but it comes in waves and we know how to deal with it. In Maryland, a state I have grown to mostly love, we cannot deal with anything close to that. Not many places can. So, when it started, my smarty pant, sarcastic and non-believing mother FROM WISCONSIN says "maybe it will just pass us by". Hmmm, that would have been a blessing, because as this nonsense kept falling, she changed her tune and we all knew nothing was passing us by. OMG!!! It was beautiful and amazing and sort of fun, except I have two little people who are addicted to going outside to play. Maybe I did that to them, so be it....but these two said little people are approximately 36-40 inches tall, so that does not bode well for movement in the snow when the actual snow is 30 inches deep--and I mean DEEP. Like so deep I could barely get through it and boots were getting stuck down so far you could not even see them deep. It was crazy. We would be outside for about 5 minutes before Owen's mittens were soaked and left behind in a random foot hole and he was crying because, like his mother, he has freakishly cold hands and feet, so the pain starts quick and you just want relief, but ain't none comin' when you are coated in snow and stuck to your neck in it. You get the picture. Thankfully my mom was here and could go in with him and get him warmed up with cocoa and marshmallows and any of the snacks we baked or stocked up on. One week later we get walloped with yet 20+ inches of snow. You read it here and I know you heard it on TV. They were not exagerrating. It was nuts. It still is. The glacier on our roof scares the doo doo out of me and someone should just set up a videocamera to shoot the front of our house because I am sure it is going to come crashing down on one of us this weekend with some warmer weather. My point is, is that all of this snow makes it hard to play outside, which my boys LOVE. So we have done just about everything known to man in the house and have watched WAY too much TV. At least they have good vocabularies and language or I would be more worried. Today we ventured out the back deck and I broke my back shoveling about 3 feet of REALLY heavy snow to make a path, then trudged to the playground to shovel the fort part on top that literally had 5 feet of snow on it. I know that most of you out there CANNOT imagine the amount of snow we have, unless you have been to Mammoth in California, cuz that was alot of snow. Maybe the U.P. gets this kind of snow sometimes, but again, they can deal with it!! So we smelled the fresh air and looked up at the sky and tromped around and it felt really good today. Thank G-D because I was about to throw one of my little guys out in the snow if we hadn't made it. :)

This too will pass...

Ahhh, the "terrible twos" as they are called are upon us. We thought Owen had challenged us some from 0-12 mos or from 12-24 mos, but NOOOO, he was saving the really good stuff for 2-3 years. Now that he borders at around 38 pounds, he can really show us what he is made of, and likewise, we do the same. Every day is a new day, thankfully. We go to bed at night saying prayers about being good listeners, trying to share, being kind to one another and I always throw in one about patience. That mommy and daddy need lots of patience. Most books and people have been telling us that this is totally typical, very normal, practically predictable....so we persevere and hope that the next day will bring a renewed spirit and a little bit of maturity. He can really throw a tantrum. He gets his whole self in to it. Full of detailed spewing about what it is he WANTS or DOESN'T WANT!! Yesterday it was the whole pack of 12 juice boxes, instead of just the usual one. Lasted 20 minutes and included heading the door, kicking the door and trying to scratch me. NOthing gets me more riled up than my kid hurting me, so I had to leave him in the basement to work it out. He did, and we survived. Lots of deep breathing goes on in our house and thank Heaven for prayer, because without it, Owen might have ended up on the curb by now!! I like to think that we will look back on these days and laugh, till then, there is little laughter.