Eastlake's Finest

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com

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

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com

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

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com 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.....

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com

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

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com 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

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com

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

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

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

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com

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

www.nolanpchak.blogspot.com 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