Water Safety

I'd say he's ready for some time in the water this weekend!

And isn't his new haircut the cutest?

Wordless Wednesday

Book Review: Heart of the Matter

To date, I have read all of Emily Giffin's books, but I got behind somehow and didn't realize this book was out until about a year after it was published.  

Plot: Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her mother’s warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.

  Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie---a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance---and even, to some degree, friendships---believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

  Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined. {via}

Review: I enjoyed this book and honestly couldn't put it down at times (mainly because Emily Giffin is a very gifted writer IMO).  However, with that said, I found the subject matter very difficult to read.  I can't really expand on why without giving a lot away of the plot.  But if you've read any of her books, you'll know that is somewhat typical for her.  Yes, she writes chick-lit, but, to me, her books seems to have a little more substance to them.  Overall, I would recommend this book and look forward to her newest book.

Urban Swimming

Our first swim of the season!  

In Auntie K Dub and Uncle Sky's puppy water bowl.

What?  Is this trashy?  Nah!

Randoms

• Trent came out of his room last night with his baby monkey 'in his tummy' (under his shirt).  So cute!
• When we read books at night, I judge myself by how many mistakes I make.  I get really happy when I make it through a book without messing anything up.  Is that weird?
• Brent is playing in a golf tournament and will be gone all weekend.  Thinking up fun things for Trent and me to do because I know we'll go stir crazy in the house.
• Sometimes I count my steps when I walk.  I used to do it a lot.
• Trent won't eat.  His daily sheets from school have said 'not much', 'some', and 'less than half' recently.  Last night his dinner consisted of some Gerber snacks and milk.  I know he won't starve, but seriously - why won't he eat?
• I read all 3 of the '50 Shades of Grey' books.  They were fun! {grin}  Anyone else read them?  Thought about doing a separate post for them...but I'm not sure.
• Has anyone watched 'Don't Trust the B in Apt 23'?  Thinking about checking it out.
• Trent and I will be picking my parents up at the airport on Saturday after a week in Cali.  I'm excited to take him to see airplanes!

Friends

I remember reading that kids didn't really socialize until older than I thought they would (you mean 6 month olds don't want to play together???) and wonder if we'd ever get there (roughly 2-3).  Well, we are getting there!  Of course, he loves Miles (and tolerates Blair), but those are his main companions.  Lately, we've been seeing more of Macey, and those 2 get along great (for a 2 3/4 and 4 1/2 year old at least).  It is really neat to see...and photograph! {grin}

Being silly

 Tickling and laughing

A little independent time

Ready to read a story

How cute is Macey here?

We are still dealing with toddlers here...

I love this...sharing toys.

Scared

About 10 minutes after putting Trent down for bed last night, he started bawling and trying to get out of his room. (Remember when I admitted to being a terrible mother who locks her son in his room?  Yup, still do.)  Brent and I were talking in the dining room, so I hopped up and went into his room.  I scooped him up out of his tent (yes, he's been sleeping in a tent the last few weeks) and started to rock him.  He told me he was scared because it was dark in his room.  

Back story...I decided when Trent was a few months old to quit using a night light in his room because I didn't want him to develop a fear of the dark or need that light to help him sleep.  Yet it didn't work.  A few months ago he started asking for us to leave his door open so he could have light from the hall.  We thought he was stalling or just wanting his door open so he could get out of bed, but it turned into crying fits at night.  Brent made a great point that a night light isn't really a great idea for our son, as we fully believe he would take it out of the wall and try to put something else in the plugs.  One night at Target, we found a mini-lantern that runs on batteries.  Genius!  Trent has been sleeping with his lantern on for probably 2 months now with almost no tears at bedtime (he is still a toddler).  The batteries have been wearing out a little recently, and I guess tonight it was just too dark in his room.  So we replaced the batteries and he was happy to get back in his tent to go to sleep.

It makes me curious what causes this fear.  What does a 2 1/2 year old have to be afraid of?  Why do kids develop a fear of the dark?  As a mother, I hate that he is afraid of anything and want to make sure he feels safe all the time (which is completely unrealistic I know).  So, for now, a $3 lantern from Target is doing the trick...but I hate thinking about what his next fear will be.  Somehow I doubt we'll find another solution at Target for $3.

Broadway Across America: Mary Poppins

Last night was our 5th play in the 2011-2012 season of Broadway Across America.  We saw Mary Poppins.  My mother-in-law was super excited to see this one.  I was a little reserved.  I didn't think Beauty and the Beast translated so great to the stage, so I was curious how this one would pan out.

I would say I liked it, but I didn't LOVE it.  It was pretty different from the movie, but I've read it takes some elements from the children's stories that didn't make it in the movie.  I liked that it was a little different because it kept it interesting.  There were also a few musical numbers that were incredible - just really showcased the talent of the entire cast.  My favorite was probably 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'.  However, I think it was too long and there was just too much singing.  Yes, I realize I was at a musical, but it was almost ALL singing.  So that being said, by the end, I was ready for it to be over, but I did enjoy the majority of it.  

Anyone else see it?

My Annoying Husband

Last night I was irrationally irritated with Brent.  I fully admitted I was being irrational, and he just laughed at me.  But it got me thinking about all the things that annoy me about him.  So here goes...

• He watches TV on my side of the bed.  {Although, flip side, he keeps my side warm.}
• He hates flat sheets, so he constantly smushes ours to the bottom of the bed when watching TV on MY SIDE of the bed.
• He breathes too loud sometimes.
• He doesn't like fans on when we sleep.  {Too bad, I have 2}
• I pop my knuckles because he used to pin me down in high school and pop them to torture me.  The habit stuck.
• He refuses to put dishes in the dishwasher.
• He pops his neck when I am rubbing his neck.  That feels SO sick.
• He consistently doesn't replace the toilet paper roll.  He will get a new roll and rest it on the empty one.

So there you go!  I know I make him sound like a troll {grin}, but I'm glad he isn't listing his pet peeves of mine - the list would be too long!

Our New Method of Discipline

We came up with the absolute best way to discipline the boys.  Lock them in a cage!*

Miles was behaving well enough to get a treat

Hey cousin, what did you do?

I'll come keep you company.

Oooh, this is a tight squeeze.

If we promise to be nice, can we come out?

This is BS, let's get out of here!

*Obviously I am 100% kidding, but I wanted to make it very clear that neither me nor my sister lock our children is cages as a form of punishment.  The boys did this all on their own. {grin}

Blair's Party

We celebrated Easter with my family on Saturday but also celebrated Blair's first birthday!

How cute is that dress?

Every busy girl needs to tuck her dress into her bloomers to be able to get around.  Right?

Yum!!

Such a beautiful family!

Singing 'Happy Birthday'.  Both so happy!  I love Miles' face.  (Just like at his party)

I'm supposed to eat this?  I'd rather just smoosh it.  

 Time to hose her down!

 She loved opening presents too.  Such a girl already!

Man oh man, do I love this little girl!  Happy birthday to the best niece around!

Easter 2012

It's time for another challenging holiday...another 3 mile drive across a few neighborhoods to my parents house for a big celebration.  Sigh.  It's a rough life!

Blair is DONE eating lunch and ready to play!

Getting the brisket cut.  Yum!

Can you see all the sampling of the meat?  Less sampling, more cutting men!

Isn't my dad adorable?

 All the kids playing

Kiddos!

Hunting for eggs

He doesn't look happy at all does he?

We have an amazing time with family celebrating a joyous holiday.  Hope you all did too!

Excuses, Excuses

I took a ridiculous amount of pictures this weekend.  So many that I'm a little overwhelmed trying to organize them and decide what to post.  Be prepared that this week will be kids, kids, and more kids.  The trio were absolutely adorable this weekend!  We celebrated Easter AND Blair's FIRST birthday!!  So to hopefully tide you over...

Blair's bee-day cake...made by yours truly!

Happy Monday friends!

Randoms

• I may be a CPA, but Brent and I JUST finished our taxes this week.  Slacker much?
• Trent got a weird rash today at school.  Teachers saw it after morning recess.  I'm hoping it's just heat rash.
• Trent loves a show on Nick Jr. called Team Umizoomi.  I had never heard of it until the other day.  It's actually really cute and educational.  Ever heard of it?
• I'm really looking forward to this weekend, lots of family time!
• My dear friend, Kelly, had a second miscarriage this week.  Will you keep  her and her husband in your thoughts?  My heart breaks for her.
• I accidentally ground up an icing tip in the garbage disposal.  You know, the main one I need for Blair's birthday cake.  As if I wasn't nervous enough that I'd mess it up.
• I have THIRTY recorded Ellen's on the DVR...unwatched.  Part of me wants to just delete them, but I can't bring myself to do it.
• It has been so nice to leave work when the sun is out.  Still super busy but slacking a little. {grin}
• 15 years ago today, I told Brent he was my boyfriend.  (Yup, I am such a romantic.)  According to him, this anniversary doesn't count, but it is and always will be a special day to me.  Love that man!

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!!

I can't believe this little bundle of joy has been here for a whole year.

She may be bossy,

but she sure is cute.

Happy 1st birthday, Blair Allyn!

We love you to the moon and back!

Cake Master

As my preparation for Blair's birthday cake begins (can't wait to share the finished product), I had an assistant.  He was so helpful at making the trail run cake...  Or really at licking the mixer.  Because isn't that the best part of baking a cake?

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

Well, I didn't make it to the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games ($5 for Project 52).  But I did make it Sunday night!!  I went with Kelly, Rhonda and Dez.  We went to a local theatre that is also a restaurant and had a great time. It was so nice after a 70+ hour work week!

So I normally start with the plot synopsis.  But I think everyone knows what this is about.  If not, go here, and you can read about my book review and my first thoughts on casting.


Review: OMG.  Love, love, love, love, love.  I totally DID have a 180 on casting.  I loved the cast.  I loved everything about the movie.  Was it a little different than the book?  Yes.  Did it matter?  No.  I absolutely cannot wait for November 22, 2013 and want to read the books again.  SO ABSOLUTELY GREAT.  {grin}