Spreading Good Cheer

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Today some fellow Moms and I took our kids to my Grandpa's nursing home to decorate a Christmas tree with ornaments we made at a playdate a couple of weeks ago. The kids, ranging in age from 2-4 did an excellent job decorating, but had even more fun with a cardboard box.

Reagan and Nolan playing on the ramps until their friends arrived.

Reagan and Sarah decorating the tree.

The supervisors taking a break! Nolan and his friend, Matt.

First it was a box, then a sleigh, and finally a bed.


Even though most of the kids are too young to understand the joy they brought today, it was still a nice way to teach the lesson.

Papa's House

In the 1950's, my Grandparents bought a house in Slavic Village to raise their family. Three kids grew up there, they had pets there, snuck out at night from there, grandkids gathered there every Sunday--one even lived there when he was first born,and my Grandma passed away there. The house hasn't been the same since that day.

Now I'm not going to paint a rosy picture of a loving family playing Scrabble around the dining room table each week.

That was not us.

You see this side of my family thrived on bickering. Supposedly in a playful manner because there was always laughter, but usually someones feeling were hurt at the end of the day (mainly my Grandma since she could dish it, but not take it). The grandkids would run in circles from living room, to kitchen, to dining room eating the spaghetti (my cousin Terri wouldn't eat anything else) and thumbprint cookies (my Grandma had to hide them from cousin Tommy or he'd eat them all) Grandma Neiman made. Once we grew up, we'd go upstairs and talk to each other through the big wall registers and play with the glass doorknobs or hang out on the back porch listening to music in our teenage years. It was what we did every Sunday.

Times changed. Kids grew up and had "better" things to do on a Sunday afternoon. My Uncle Bob moved to Texas. I can't even tell you for sure the last time we were all together in that house, but it might have been for my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. I know my Dad and I shared a few drinks on the back porch that day. Come to think of it, if Dad and I were drinking then the whole family MUST have been there!

A lot of us gathered there when my Grandma took ill and was confined to bed. I was unemployed at the time (and, looking back, was glad I spent the last few weeks of her life with her.) I will never forget the day I was laying in bed with her and she started talking about how she wanted her funeral to be. I asked careful questions and filed it away. It was a difficult conversation to have, but I'm glad she trusted that I would get it right for her. I never shed a tear or choked up, I just kept asking exactly what she wanted. Once she fell asleep, I got up, walked out of the room and promptly fell apart. After that day, there was really no joy for me in that house.

Despite a changed neighborhood, my Grandpa held his ground and was not leaving his home until he physically couldn't stay there anymore. That happened this past May. It was an unceremonious ending. He fell in his living room, my mom took him to the ER, and he never went back.

Our family has this tradition of driving by a loved one's home when they pass away. When we make that drive with my Grandpa someday it will be that much harder because that house is no longer our families home.

Today is the last time someone in the Neiman family locked the door.

Tomorrow a new family moves in. It is hard to imagine anyone else walking up those stairs, or washing dishes at the kitchen sink.

May our memories live on in those walls and may another family make good memories there.

Chandler

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Oct 26, 1994-Dec 14 2009

Rest in peace, our sweet fur-kid

Chandler & Reagan May 14, 2007

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you muct do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can't be won.

You will be sad- I understand
Don't let your grief then stay your hand
For this day, more than all the rest
Your love and friendship stand the test.

We've had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears
You'd not want me to suffer, so
When the time comes, please let me go.

I know in time you too will see
It is a kindness you do to me
Although my tail, it's last has waved
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Don't grieve that it should be you
Who has decided this thing to do
We've been so close, we two these years
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Tis the Season To Be Busy

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Well, well, well. Thought I'd forgotten about you, especially those of you not updated on our day to day life via facebook? It's been hectic and tiring and when the sun doesn't shine, I'm not that motivated to do much of anything, especially with a sick kiddo. Reagan has been coughing her head off for 2 days, poor kid. I just wish when people are sick they would stay home and get well instead of going out and spreading their germs around. No one needs to be sick, especially a 2 year old that doesn't know how to blow her nose!!! Just a little pet peeve of mine.

To catch you up... in the last week we have made ornaments with fellow moms and kids from my early childhood group to take to my Grandpa's nursing home,

we ventured to Penitentiary Glen to partake in Snowdrop's Adventure game,

went to The Farmpark for Country Lights,

and finally had a little surprise shindig with some of Bill & Sam's oldest BFF's for their birthdays at a local restaurant.

Phew. I'm tired just reading it. Oh yeah, in between I got Christmas cards mailed, wrapped almost all the gifts, made 3 collage boards with Deb for the party and kept the kids fed and clean.

I have posts started about Snowdrop's Adventure and Country Lights, but they will keep until another day. It is cold, sleeting outside, and I want to get in bed with my book.

For those of you that are thinking good thoughts for our oldest fur-kid, Chandler. He is hanging in there. He is literally shrinking in front of our eyes, but he has started to come back into bed with Bill and I at night and is purring and receptive to being held. He drinks alot, but doesn't eat much and I know he is not long for this world. I just don't think either of us can make the step to send him off just yet since he is not in visible pain. The other day Reagan was coming down the stairs and Chandler was at the bottom of the steps and she said, "Aw, Chandler is an old kitty. He's going to have to go bye-bye soon." I know she is right, not sure how she knows it though as the only thing I have told the kids is that they have to be extra careful around him and to make sure they don't fall on him or step on him.

Wanna Win A Blu-ray DVD

We got a Blu-ray player because of a great deal on Black Friday....now we need blu-rays. I'm entering this contest and you should too (and if you don't have a blu-ray, you can gift it to me ;)

http://www.coupongeek.net/2009/12/giveaway-3-tinkerbell-bluraydvd-combo.html

Lots of Decorating, Eating, & Shopping

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After stuffing ourselves silly on turkey brussel sprouts ( no joke, Bill made THE best brussel sprouts any of us have ever had) and braving black Friday for the first time (you MUST experience Wal-Mart as it opens for Black Friday shopping once in your life), we had decorating to do.

The sprouts

Chowing on a turkey quesadilla

Grammy and Aunt Deb fighting over the sinful (made with cream cheese, butter & cream) mashed potatoes.

I curb-shopped a Christmas tree a few weeks ago. Some people had it, along with a bunch of exercise equipment, on their tree lawn with a "free" sign on it. I thought it might be fun for Reagan and Nolan to have a tree in their room that they can decorate however they want, and all the better that it was FREE. We'll work on decorations during the next month, but they are thrilled with just lights, garland, and a few jingle bell ornaments for now.

Nolan is just like Mommy, always has a camera in hand.

The next day we moved to the outside to decorate. They were a big help. Not joking either. They carried all the candy canes out for me and helped hold cords for Bill. It is the first year we've had our act together since moving here and it is nice to have "decorates" outside again. We did a little lighting ceremony, a la Clark Griswold, and I loved their "wow's" in whispered voices. So cute.

About as crafty as I get!

Next was the big tree. We gave up our glass ornaments last year, as you can imagine why. The kids had fun putting all of their ornaments on about 4 branches. I don't care. They were so proud that they decorated the tree.

Next up.....wrapping. Need to figure out how to wrap hula hoops.

Turkey Day Savings

Yes, I went couponing on Thanksgiving morning.

I know. It is an addiction.

How could I pass up:
$.06 Colgate toothpaste
$.44 Gillette shave gel
$.49 Secret deodarant
free Herbal Essence mousse
$.99 Herbal Essence shampoo
$.50 Hot Wheels

All of that for a total of $4.19

Thankful

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Today makes us reflect on all we are thankful for.

My list is long.

They are, of course, at the top.

2008

I met one of Bill's old friends last night, from way back in his Utopia days. The subject of how the twinadoes came to be came up. He and his wife had the same struggles we did. They went to the same doctor we did. Anyone that has gone down the infertility road understands the rollercoaster of emotions it involves, you don't need to speak, it is just something you understand.

We talked about our doctor, Ricardo Loret de Mola, and what an amazing, fabulous, wonderful, caring man he is. I wrote this blog in March 2006 about him. Last night was a great reminder of how thankful I am that he was in our life. He is a humble man who has no idea how he has impacted so many lives. Reminiscing last night brought a tear to my eye.

I can still hear his voice calling with the pregnancy test results, "Well, you did it" he said. "No", I said. "You did."

Dr. Loret de Mola, I hope you are enjoying your day. Because of you, I rediscovered the magic of Santa's arrival at the Macy's parade today. I held my kids close and heard their intake of breath as the big guy made his way onto the screen. Without you, I wouldn't have made that memory.

Happy Thanksgiving indeed.

Here Kitty Kitty (Chandler's Big Adventure)

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This is how our Sunday was supposed to go: The kids would wake up around 8:30a, we'd get them dressed and loaded up and meet friends at Bar Symon for brunch before a marathon 24 hours at Kalahari Waterpark.

Here's how the day really went. (Because you know things just can't go the right way for us, right?)

Around 8:30am the kids start to wake up, Bill announces that he hasn't seen Chandler all morning. In fact, he wasn't in bed when Bill got up (highly unusual) and he didn't come when breakfast was served (even more unusal.) Chandler is a cat that has never missed a meal!

Bill starts looking for him while I get the kids up and dressed. We are hoping he just fell asleep somewhere warm and comfy and doesn't hear us calling him. He is 15 years old, afterall.

9am The kids are outside shaking cans of Cheerio's, calling Chandler to come for a treat. Thank goodness I packed *most* of our stuff the night before, because we are all searching the neighborhood and not thinking about Kalahari anymore.

9:30a Call friends and cancel brunch plans. Talk about me going ahead with the kids while Bill continues to look for our oldest "boy."

10a Drop kids at my mom's so they can eat breakfast and I can focus on helping Bill search. Also, I can't take the kids heartbreaking cries as we drive around. "Where's Chandler? He's our best friend!" "Oh no! Chandler's missing!" I couldn't have seen him if he would have jumped in front of the car holding a sign, I was crying so hard.

We were not even sure if he was outside or in. We can't pinpoint how/when he would have gotten out, but he is also old so maybe he just went somewhere and curled up and passed away.

10:45a When I pulled back in the driveway after riding around the neighborhood again, I see our neighbors dog going crazy in the backyard. Barking, sniffing around the shed in her backyard. I walk over to the fence and ask her if she found Chandler. She comes over to the fence, gives me a bark and goes back to the shed.

Sure enough. There was our boy. Hackles up and not wanting to come out. It didn't take much coaxing, a few shakes of the treat bag and a poke from a broomstick and he was in Bill's arms.



11am Our earless wonder, minus one life, home safe and sound.

Swiping A Good Deal

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Another great deal that I found through a little research on the money-saving blogs.

Raising twins is not cheap and we still want to be able to enjoy the things we did in pre-kid life. Mainly eating out and drinking decent wine (which doesn't have to cost an arm & leg, btw) so when I can cut corners and get great deals, I do to allow us to still do that.

I got this.....


for $11.25 TOTAL (less than the cost of 1 of the TP's @ full price.)

Northern on sale: 5.99 each (regular $12.99)
Crest: $2.69 Single check rebate of $2.69 offered
Nyquil Twin pack on sale: $8.99 (regular $12.99)

Total before coupons: $31.50


-1.50 Nyquil coupon
-$5/2 Northern From Rite Aid website
-$5 off of $20 purchase from Rite Aid website for watching 10 minutes of video
-$.75 Crest coupon (meaning they paid me $.75 to take it out of the store)
-2.69 single check rebate for toothpaste

Total: 16.25

But wait....there was a $5 rebate from Real Simple floating around that expired yesterday for $5 off a qualifying purchase of $15. The Northern is on the list.

Total out of pocket: $11.25


Gotta love cheap TP. After all, I certainly would not pay full price for something that only gets flushed anyway!

What They Have Been Saying

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I have a new system for recording the things Reagan and Nolan say that I want to record to embarrass them later for posterity. I have a dedicated notebook now and If I'm out and about, I call home and leave myself messages to record in that notebook. So far, so good. No more pieces of napkins floating around my purse or backpack!

We finally replaced our old over-sized chair. We settled on a love seat, however the kids have come up with their own name for it. "I'm climbing on the love chair."-Nolan

Reagan has become a bit of a picky eater. One day she likes X and the next time I serve it, she refuses to eat it. Spaghetti is one of those foods. Sometimes it is flying into her mouth and other times it makes its way onto Nolan's plate. However, she will consistently eat "Grandma" Rose's" (my mom's friend and surgery buddy) spaghetti. "Grandma Rose made it & I love it!"

On Halloween morning, "The great big pumpkin left me a present!" -Reagan

Lots of the kids conversations when they wake up revolve around Kalahari waterpark.
Reagan: "Do you want to go in the lazy river, Nolan?"
Nolan: "Kalahari is closed."
Reagan: "No it's not!"
Nolan "Yes, it is."
etc, etc, etc.

Nolan has developed a voracious appetite, especially where eggs are concerned. He can put down three scrambled with no problem. The other day, when I put a breakfast of eggs, banana, and Cheerios down in front of him, he said, "Wow. Look at all this stuff. It's gonna make me strong!"

Reagan was not wanting to leave the park one day and I pulled the mother trump card and said "because I'm in charge." She looked up at me and said, "How did you get in charge?" Very good question, my dear girlie girl!

Last week I bought a toy organizer from a fellow MoM (mom of multiples) and we had to pick it up on a street off Button Rd. I was explaining where we were going and that I needed to look for Button Rd. Nolan replied, "Well, Corduroy's button was on a mattress!"

Nolan was playing behind the shed and I called him to come in the house. He stuck his head around the shed and yelled, "Did you call me, Mom?"

Reagan was watching me cut coupons and file them. She sat down at the table with me and dumped her night time snack, a couple of different little cookies, on the table and started separating them. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm organizing my cooks."

Once in a great while, one of the kids will not want to go to bed when it is time and there is a little whining once the lights are night. On this particular night, Reagan was whining and Nolan told her (in a very compassionate voice), "Don't whine. I'm here."

Last week Nolan's crib was close to the wall and naptime became a disco with the light switch going on and off. They got a good talking to about it and they said they wouldn't do it again. This morning I heard Reagan over the monitor tell Nolan to "turn the light on." He answered, "No! only Mom turns the light on!"

When discussing days of the week and what month it was. Mommy: "It's November." Nolan: "It is not. It is YESvember!"

Reagan and Nolan both love the fish tank at a local family style restaurant. There is a clown fish (Nemo) in the tank. Reagan insists that "he has bandages on him!"

We were discussing what baby animals are called as we watched a show with animals. We were talking about piglets when some ducklings walked into the picture, Nolan exclaimed, "Aww...look at the ducklets!"

Reagan was "helping" me file my coupons when one of them ripped. I told her it was hard to use them once they ripped and we had to be careful. She told me I could "just sew it back together."

And finally, a moment that just melted my heart. Reagan fell pretty hard in the driveway and was crying. She was wearing a lei and holding chalk when she fell and both of those went flying. As I picked her up to check out her skinned knee, Nolan picked up all her stuff and was rubbing her leg as I held her. After she got cleaned up and bandaged, we came back out to play and Nolan went over and held the door open on her Cozy Coupe car for her.

Fireman Nolan

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Nolan saw all the candles coming and he knew he needed to be prepared.... lol

Reagan and Nolan always have a good time when their Aunts & Uncles come over to play.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Seems like yesterday we took this on one of our trips to Dallas! Good memories and here is to many happy more. Sweetie, Reagan, Nolan, and I love you so much!!!

Rockin' A Rebate Deal

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I like sales. I like coupons. I like rebates.

I hit the trifecta at Toys R Us today. A sale, a coupon, and a rebate allowed me to walk away with 7 Hasbro board games for the whopping total of $3.68!!

Candyland
Chutes & Ladders
Memory
Don't Spill The Beans
Don't Break The Ice
Cootie
Hi Ho Cherry-O

All on sale for $3.99 each
Original total: $29.68

-$2.00 instant coupon on Hi Ho Cherry-O
Total:$27.68

-$2.00 Hasbro mail-in rebate on EACH game
Total: $13.68

BONUS: -$10 Toys R Us gift card(valid on next purchase) because I made a $25 Hasbro game purchase
Total: $3.68

Funny part is I figured this deal out on my own and didn't even know about the bonus gift card until I got to the register. I was going to be happy paying $1.99 for each of these games! Usually I read the coupon blogs to find such deals, but didn't have time this morning.

That pretty much completes my kids BIRTHDAY shopping for next May with a few Christmas gifts for friends thrown in as well.

Ah, its the little things in life that excite me these days! LOL

snopes.com: Christmas cards for Noah Biorkman

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I found out about this little guy through a post on facebook. I researched it and verified that it is true. If you only send one holiday card this year, please make it this one and please do it right away.
-Shelley

snopes.com: Christmas cards for Noah Biorkman

Posted using ShareThis

Why Nothing Else Matters

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...so this was supposed to be published on Sunday, Nov 1. Our anniversary. Let's just say there was a little operator error......

Bill and I are not the most conventional people, so when it came time to plan our wedding we knew exactly what WE wanted. No borrowing pages from anyone else’s book.

Since music is a strong part of our lives, we picked selections that reflected our life together. In the “early days” of our relationship, The Goo Goo Dolls were “our” band. They were one of the first concerts we went to together, the first song Bill sang at Karaoke for me (at the lesbian bar none the less!) so it was a no-brainer to pick “Slide” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

“And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

Little pieces of the nothing that fall

May, put your arms around me

What you feel is what you are

And what you are is beautiful

May, do you wanna get married

Or run away”

My walk down the aisle song was very important to me as well. I am a Metallica fan (file that under something you didn’t know about me!) Bill didn’t really appreciate them until he and I hooked up. I know a lot of hardcore Metallica fans don’t like the slower stuff or the orchestra stuff, but I do. That is what I appreciate most about their musical abilities and creativity. Thinking outside the metal box. Who would think to pair heavy metal with a woodwinds section?!

A few months before the wedding I heard some harp versions of songs. Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters was one. I immediately knew that was what I was walking down the aisle to.

"So close, no matter how far

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trusting who we are and nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way

Life is ours, we live it our way

All these words I don't just say and nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you

Every day for us something new

Open mind for a different view and nothing else matters"

Six years later and those words are such a strong reminder. Life wears you down, little things get in the way, time & patience are short. But, really this is it.

“Forever trusting who we are and nothing else matters”

Happy Anniversary Sweetie. I love you.

We Are Making A Big Nest

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Our neighbor, the guy who has every power tool imaginable, lent Bill his leaf blower. It looked like something out of Ghostbusters! It was nearly dark when we started and pitch black when we ended. The photos were taken in complete darkness. I'm pretty happy with them, but a fill flash would be better.

The kids had a blast "helping" Daddy with the leaves.

They made nests.

They jumped.

Daddy dragged them around the yard.

They stood in the whirlwind of leaves.

I went to bed with their belly laughs ringing in my head.

My mom reminded me of the one year I "helped" my Daddy rake leaves and procedded to jump into the pile and come out covered in dog poop (we never had dog!) Good times.

Bawk, Bawk, Bawk

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Mama chick finds her long lost baby chick at the car cruise's trunk or treat.

Repeat

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We hit up the park again. Aunt Deb joined us. Nolan drove her to the zoo.

It was just too beautiful not to get out and enjoy it. I'd like to put days like these on permanent repeat. Perfect temp, leaves at peak color, and the kids having fun.

The Farmer & The Chick

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We had a great time at Boo At The Zoo on Friday night and will get a post up soon, but just had to show off my little chick and the "John Deere tractor drivin' farmer" (yes, that is what he called himself all night. The firemen-at least I didn't say something totally stupid this time- running the hayride got a real kick out of him.)

bawk, bawk, bawk

Eastlake's Finest

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We stopped by our local fire dept. today so the kids could say hello to my mom's neighbor who works there. Really, we went to climb all over the trucks, but hey, it was because of her that we got to do that.

When we pulled in all the hoses were unrolled and filled. It was the yearly pressure check. Our timing couldn't have been better. What is more fun than 2 2-year olds and a bunch of hoses?! Of course, it also gave me an opportunity to say something totally stupid, like "Wow those are some big hoses you've got there." Yeah, I don't get out much anymore. Kind of lost my ability to socialize and tend to say whatever pops into my head. Kind of like a 2 year old.

I found the visit very informative because I got my burning question answered. Last month I kept seeing other local firetrucks using this big tube thing in the front yard of the fire station. It is a tester of some sort and our city is the only one that has it. Each truck is required to be checked once a year.

I also got the scoop on the fire that happened at an apartment building just down the street from the firehouse last week. We had been driving home and when we got to the intersection, Nolan saw all the flashing lights so we went to check it out. We had missed all the action, but I did see a news story on it. The fireman that was showing us around today happened to be interviewed for it and I mentioned that I saw him on TV.

I also mentioned that we saw them practicing with the jaws of life on a couple of cars this week in the empty lot on our exploring route.

After I mentioned the last two things, I said, "yeah, we kind of stalk out the firetrucks. You know, for the kids." Again with the stupid comments.

At this point he said goodbye and closed the doors.

No really, they were all super nice to us. They let the kids climb in ambulances and firetrucks. They gave them hats and badges. They even let them drag the hoses around and play with them.

Full days photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39296&id=1418118548&l=aaf3c45e84. There's some artsy ones and scenic shots of the Chagrin River as well, so if you enjoy those, take a peek.

A big THANK YOU to firefighters everywhere. Thanks for being there when we need you!

Indian Summer '09

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In storytime this week, the kids were given shiny scarves to throw in the air and act like they were falling leaves. Nolan decided to be the class clown and put his scarf on his head and yell, "I'm wearing a kabuska!" (In case you are not familar with babushka). Everyone; fellow moms & grandma's, librarian, even other little 2 year olds busted up. That's my boy.

Pre-story time playing


Reagan's fave spot

It was a gorgeous day, so instead of usual stop at Chik-A-Yeah after storytime, we headed to the park. I got to go take a few pictures while Grammy and the kids played. Of course, I took a million more pictures of the kids. I just can't resist their Campbell Soup faces.

The Three Amigos

Photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39178&id=1418118548&l=b814940198

Yes, It Was

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The kids haven't asked to go on their exploring route in a long time, but after playing outside this morning, they asked to go in the car so they could look at "the mailboxes". This is part of their route where almost everyone on the street has a fun mailbox. Our favorite, the 4ft. tall walrus, always gets a rousing rendition of, you guessed it, "I Am The Walrus".

As we crossed the one-lane bridge over the river to get to the mailboxes street, Reagan looked out her window at all the geese and ducks in the river and said, "It's a beautiful day for the ducks to come out for a swim".

Yes, Reagan P. It was the perfect day.

Probably the last we'll see around here for a long time. So glad she made me stop and enjoy it even more.

Let The Haunting Begin.....

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Halloween is the kids favorite holiday. Well, really it is Mommy's favorite, so theirs by default. We've got lots on the calendar for the next two boo-tiful weeks.

1st set of costumes. A really scary, fire-breathing dragon.

Baby Kitler showing Mom her paw.

Saturday night we headed to the Farmpark for the annual Haunted Hayride. Last year it was rainy, and Nolan was under the weather so it was just not that great of a time. This year was the exact opposite. It was chilly, but the rain stopped earlier in the day and the kids (and grownups) had a great time.

Reagan proclaimed that she was not afraid, but she also said I needed to hold her tight on the hayride.

Nolan stopped to talk to some scarecrows along the haunted path, but our little kitty cat only had one thing in mind.

The pony rides!




Nolan's favorite thing of the night. A John Deere. He even gave me the model #, but I can't remember it.

Full photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38739&id=1418118548&l=64020ffb19

Pumpkin Patch

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It was a quick visit to the pumpkin patch as it started to sleet about 10 minutes after we got there. Still got some good shots and the twinadoes managed to touch each and every pumpkin in the patch!

Must have been an inside joke.

"It's very heavy. I'm very strong!"

"Lift, lift, lifting!" This is a line in one of his construction books, so I laughed out loud when he said it.

Kiss The Star Game

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If you know my Uncle Bob, you know he and the Dallas Cowboys go hand-in-hand. He's loved them since he was a kid (they had football then?), and he never stopped. Family vacations were planned around games and visits to Texas Stadium. When he moved there in the early '90's he got a job with the Cowboys and the love affair continued.

All things Cowboys are held in his high regard.

He was over the other day, wearing (of course), a Cowboys shirt. He picked Nolan up and Nolan was counting the "o's" in Cowboys. UB told him to kiss the star, so Nolan did. UB threw him into the air.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Now, as soon as he sees UB, he yells, "Kiss the star!"

I had on a Cowboys shirt today and he wanted me to play the game. All day.

Monitor Musings

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Reagan and Nolan (well, mainly Reagan) have a lot to say once they are put down for naps (sometimes bedtime, but mainly nap time).

For example, as I type this, Reagan is yelling (to a snoring Nolan) that they are "going to Australia!!!" She must be reading one of her books their Aunty Susan (who lives in Aus got them). She takes numerous books to bed so who knows what she has in there!

Other times she likes to talk about places they have already been, mainly Kalahari Waterpark. It is my habit to always ask them questions about something we have just done. What was their favorite part? Do they want to do it again? etc. So, again to a sleeping brother, she yells, "Did you like Kalahari, Nolan?" "What was your favorite part?" After about 6 times of this, he groggily answered, "the bucket is my favorite" and went right back to snoring. Reagan replied, "Me too!"

The other day, he turned the tables on her. He woke up first and started talking to her. She was not having any of that. She yelled, "I'm sleeping, Nolan. Don't talk to me!"

There is also lots of singing going on up there. Right now, it is mainly Duran Duran. Yes, I have created two Duranie babies. The other day they were singing, "Please, please tell me now....." Their other favorites include "the wolf one (AKA Hungry Like The Wolf)" "Planet Earth" "Save A Prayer" and "Sunrise". They even have dance moves for Sunrise.

Some other cute things they are saying these days...

On rainy days, they like to walk outside with their "cumbrellas" and "soak up in the rain."

With all the Halloween "decorates" out in the stores, Nolan declared that he "doesn't want to look at spooky."

Reagan is always very sympathetic and run over to give you a hug and big "awwww" if you mention something is wrong. She is always very encouraging if you say you can't do something she says, "I think you can Mommy, I think you can!"

Conversation from the bathtub: Reagan, "How are you today, Nolan" Nolan: "Ummm...Pretty much good."

Nolan enthusiastically says "Thank you very so much" or he "certainly does need X" and things that are pretty are "absolutely gorgeous!"

Everyday their vocabulary grows, most times Bill and I are just Mom & Dad, not Mommy & Daddy, and they are just so fun to talk to.

They've had some fun with Uncle Bob & Aunt Chrissy this week (more on the "kiss the star game later) and last night during their bedtime routine (lights out with glow in the dark stars for Twinkle, Twinkle, then the "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" prayer, and a special prayer for people they think need special prayers--The list always includes Papa, Grammy, Grandpa P, & Baby Jaime. Others are added as necessary) Nolan added Uncle Bob & Aunt Chrissy to his list. I have to say it brought tears to my eyes (and UB's too when I told him). The boy can just ooze sweetness and love at times.

Ok, enough Mommy-sap for now.

Bad Blogger

http://www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com/

Guess I won't be winning any blogger awards if I space my posts by almost 2 weeks, huh?

What can I say, time truely flies when you spend your day with 2 (almost) 2 1/2 year olds. They are busy from the moment their eyes pop open, until they get tucked in their new Lighting McQueen blankets at night. Yes, we are in the midst of the Cars obsession at our house. Fine with me, I love it!

Last week I had some "me" time. First off was dinner with Carrie at a cute little Italian joint that just opened. Then I was selling some of the kids things at a nearly new sale, so I had set-up on Friday, the sale on Saturday, early dinner (at said cute Italian joint again) & Abby Normal with Kathy, and then Browns tailgate & game on Sunday. Honestly, I missed the little buggers by Sunday afternoon. It could have just been that I could forsee the disappointment I was going to face as a Browns fan, but all I wanted to do was go home for a cuddle. Sigh. I guess that makes me a Mommy. Or "Mom" as I have become in the last week. WTF? They are not even 30 months old and I am already just Mom.

I've got lots more scrapes of paper with cute -isms I want to record. I just need to find the time to do it.

Until then, here are a couple of photos from our trip to the local nature center today.

Back off man, he's a scientist.....

Reagan likes to stop and smell the flowers. Every.Flower.

Scheming.

This Place Is Like The Crazy Waterpark Show

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Once in a while, as Reagan and Nolan are getting ready for bed they catch a few minutes of the show "Wipeout". Reagan dubbed it the "Crazy Waterpark" show.

When we walked into Kalahari, the world's largest indoor waterpark, (something I didn't know until we watched the commercial on the hotel TV 5,000 times), Reagan yelled, "It's like the crazy waterpark show in here!" From that moment, their little legs took off and they didn't stop for 26 hours. Well, they did sleep, but I bet they were sliding, riding the waves, and floating down the lazy river in their sleep. I know I was.

I was totally impressed with Kalahari from a service standpoint and the fun factor. The fact that they have an adult swim-up bar helps too! There is something for everyone and all the employees went out of their way to help. (Yes, I know it is their job, but unlike another waterpark just down the street, people actually smiled and talked to you when you didn't expect it.) The gentlemen that helped us with our bags even gave us a tip on how to get in the waterpark without having to go through the arcade. Something I should have tipped him $100 for because that is probably what he saved us in cash and sanity!

Reagan warmed up right away and was slippin' and slidin' over and over. Nolan took about an hour to adjust and then he discovered the fun too.

Bill even rode some, including the slide that is like a toilet bowl. He said it was 8 seconds of terror in the dark and then swirling around about 4 times before being dumped (maybe that is not a good work to use when I compare the ride to a toilet bowl) into 6 ft of water. Very disorienting, but an adrenaline rush. Good thing he didn't do it while he was all "hopped" up on the Ju-Ju IPA the night before.

I opted for the more serene rides. The lazy river would be a good place to spend an afternoon and I enjoyed the wave pool, it even tasted like salt water. I could close my eyes and pretend I was 12 years old and vacationing at New Smyrna Beach, FL.

The babes have never slept outside their crib, unless they are in bed with us (when they are sick, teething, etc). We decided we'd forgo renting the pack 'n plays and put a mattress on the floor in their room. Oh yes, I said "their" room. I scored an awesome deal of $99 for a $350 suite. Going back to one room is going to be tough. Anyway, Nolan was out within a minute of being tucked in and Reagan was about 90 seconds behind him. They haven't slept together in 2 years, since we separated them at 5 months. It was just like old times.

Notice that Nolan has his paci loaded and ready to go on his finger!

Reminded me of this......4 weeks old.

Kalahari pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=36792&id=1418118548&l=845debb446

The Air Show

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Hey, better late than never.

(Not sure which "kid" had the most fun!)

We were lucky to be guest of a beer distributor at the airshow. For Angie and I, it was a place out of the sun to feed our kids and let them enjoy the planes. For Ed and Bill it was probably the 3rd happiest day of their lives. (They'd better say the birth of their children and their wedding days are #1 & #2.) Surrounded by FREE beer, malt beverages, powerade, food, and front row seats to the airshow is not an awful way to spend the day!

Unfortunately, Nolan's fever returned just as we were finishing lunch and he got into my lap and curled up and tried to go to sleep. He has never do that, so I knew we were not long for the airshow. Reagan was out dancing around Bill as he took pictures of a demo (no idea what it was and I've still not given Bill the password to the blog after he made some comments I didn't enjoy, so we will never know which plane it was. Hey, my blog I can do what I want.) and having a grand time until the plane turned on it's burner (or whatever makes the loud noises) and scared her almost out of her skin! It was time for us to go. After that both she and Nolan put their hands on their ears and that is where they stayed until we got in the car.

I did get some fun pictures, so here you go: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35751&id=1418118548&l=6ef8eae390

The Zoo

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It was such a pretty day, so we headed to the zoo (and we had free tickets to use for the Bommerang train before the end of the month and I can't let anything free go to waste.)

It would have been a perfect day, had it not been for the darn yellow jackets. They are most annoying this time of year. One even made it's way into the van as I was loaded up the stroller. I didn't realize it until I heard Nolan saying "Shoo fly, don't bother me!"

A flamingo who thinks he's a peacock.

Giving Grammy some love on the tram.

So tired.....it's hard work being a koala.

Gratuitous shot of my boys long eyelashes.

Reagan is not afraid of sharks anymore.


More pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35676&id=1418118548&l=92fc4d2b9dv

Pitt Day 2 Incline & Fatheads

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In all the years I've been traveling to Uniontown, PA & the Pittsburgh area in general, I've always wanted to ride one of the inclines, but never got around to it. I love that having kids is allowing me to experience things I've always wanted to do, but also getting to see it through the eyes of two year olds.

We all really enjoyed the Duquesne incline and the views. Well, not the view of Three Rivers Stadium, come on, our family bleeds orange and brown.

We made the requisite stop at Fatheads Saloon for lunch after the incline. Even though they built a Fatheads on the far west side of C-town, we get to the one it Pittsburgh just as much. Bill loves all the beers they have and their food, enough for several meals, is very good.

Wearing the shirt, drinking the beer :)

Can you smell the garlic?

Pushing in those garlic fries!


The epitome of our girl.

After lunch we stopped at Ikea, which turned into a cluster f&*^ due to miscommunication about changing diapers and Reagan and I walked through the whole store 2 times to look for Nolan & Daddy. Ended up being our cheapest Ikea trip ever since we spent all our time looking for each other and not at stuff!

You'd think after all that, the kids would have passed right out. Nolan did, but not Chatty Cathy. She talked our ear off from the Ikea parking lot to the Sonic Parking lot in Streetsboro. The ice cream finally gave her a reason to stop talking! It was actually cool because we didn't take the turnpike home, but instead took back roads. There was a lot of farm type stuff for Reagan to enjoy and we enjoyed her running commentary.

More pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34631&id=1418118548&l=16f435f5ba

We Interrupt This Blog.....

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For Roseola.

High fever for 3 days followed by a rash. Two calls to the doctors office, yet they never wanted to see Nolan and then they decide we should go to the E.R. after taking 2 hours to return the call. Glad it wasn't a real emergency. All the while we NEVER spoke with our doctor, just whoever happened to get the note. None too pleased with the service and will be looking for a new ped's office. Sad because we really like our ped herself, I just can't take the cattle call that is the Cleveland Clinic anymore.

The E.R. staff looked at us like we had lobsters crawling out of our ears when we told them A.) Our "doctors office" never wanted to see Nolan and B.)That they told us to go to the E.R. for the symptoms he exhibited.

As soon as the rash appeared, I googled the symptoms and within 30 seconds could see that he most likely had Roseola.

While I would never take my child's illness lightly, the symptoms he showed did not warrant an E.R. visit. Of course we took him, probably exposing us to even more germs, for basically nothing.

There is no treatment for Roseola. It just runs its course and will probably have it's way with Reagan in a few days.

So it's lots of indoor play for us for a few days......

Love to build.....

and use the Mega Blocks for "bathtubs"

Nolan's tell-tale sign he is sick....dark marks under his eyes. Just like his Daddy gets.

The Storybook Forest Adventure

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We woke the kids up a little earlier than usual, changed their diapers, and loaded them into the car in their PJ's. Figuring a rest stop after breakfast and snacks would be a good time to get dressed and stretch their legs. It was a good plan. We had a "hillbilly" picnic for breakfast (i.e. eating off of frisbees while in the car) and then the kids played with their bags of car toys and some new things bought especially for the trip.


"Are we there yet?"

The drive was a tough one as it POURED for a good solid hour. It was white-knuckle driving and I was glad to be the passenger. We hoped that would be our only run-in with bad weather for the day, but that was not to be the case.

We were amused with Idlewild's old-fashion charm as we headed straight for Storybook Forest. I visited Storybook Forest as a child, so it was a full-circle kind of moment for me. Nolan enjoyed himself, going in every little house and checking things out. Reagan was more tentative and observed more from the outside. Just as the path through Storybook Forest came to an end, the rain began.

Hard to believe I stood in front of the Storybook Forest storybook 30 years ago. Ah, where has the time gone?!


"All aboard!"

We actually didn't mind the rain since it chased most of the yellow jackets away. The kids could still ride most of the rides and there were no lines. Who cares that we were soaked? My only concern was my camera, but I managed to keep it pretty dry and still get some good shots.

The trolley into Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.

The kids were asleep before we got back to the freeway to head to our hotel in Pittsburgh.

After getting settled in at the hotel, we walked over to Primanti Bros. for some dinner. The kids were still tired and so were Mom & Dad, so it was a quick bite and then back to the room to rest up for the next days adventure.

More pics here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34427&id=1418118548&l=090b3fa23f

Stayed tuned for Day 2 of the Pittsburgh Adventure.