Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We are not doing anything for Halloween this year. I am not really into Halloween, but I have good memories of Halloween when I was a kid (before things got really creepy) and I don't want my kids to miss out on some of those same memories.

So this year, we didn't even get a costume for Joey, but he still fits his "Bob the Builder" costume from last year, so for the sake of the picture, I dressed him up. Baby Nick is wearing Joey's old pumpkin costume, and looking adorable...even though it is a size to big. Dakota arrived this morning in his dinosaur costume, looking cute. So I quickly dressed the boys so I could get a picture of the three of them.

I made Jack-O-Lantern cookies on Monday. I sent a few home with Dakota, and we are selfishly keeping the rest for ourselves. They won't last the week! Last year we didn't pass out any candy, but this year we have some candy available to be passed out. But I don't think there are too many kids who go trick or treating door to door around here; one, because it is so cold, and two, because they have the indoor trick or treating event the weekend before Halloween. But we will be available for anybody who braves the weather.
Here are the boys all dressed up. Dakota the Dinosaur, Nick the Punkin', and Joey the "Builder Bob". I couldn't find his foam tool belt, so the costume looks incomplete, but since we are just wearing it around the house, it will be okay.

Hope you have a great day. Stay safe on this night.

Late edit: Here is another picture of my Punkin' "Cheesecake"! Ha Ha (Because he's such a cheese ball!) Anyway....cute cute cute!

Joey is so precious; he says about Baby Nick, "He's so much cute." or "He's so much soft."

Okay...I know it's gross, but I have to tell you this. Nick came home from work feeling very sick. He just went into the bathroom and started throwing up. Baby Nick stood outside the door listening, and every time Nick retched, Baby Nick started laughing hysterically. I feel bad for Nick, but I couldn't help cracking up at Baby Nick!

Cutest Boys I Know

I just wanted to quickly show some cute pictures of my cute boys.
First, you will see Baby Nick "talking" on the phone. He will pick up the phone, hold it up to his ear (or cheek) and start grunting his greetings. It's so cute. I remember Joey doing that also. Nick will also use the remote as a phone, as Joey once did, if the phone is out of reach. Notice the mark under his eye. I felt so bad...yes, I did it. My fingernail and his face met in the same place at the same time. I still feel awful, every time I see it.
Bubba is getting so big, growing up so smart. I haven't taken a picture of him for no reason in a long time, so I thought I would show him off a bit. Doesn't he look angelic? Don't let your eyes deceive you! He may be sweet, but he has a sour side as well.
We had Aunt Bonnie's tonight for dinner. As you can see, Baby Nick thoroughly enjoyed his dinner. It was a good thing we dunked in the tub right afterward. We should have put him in fully clothed, with as much food ended up down his front.
But don't forget how much food landed on top as well. It is harder to see, but the right side of the top of his head (left side of the picture) is bathed in goop. He also loves to stick his tongue out. He walks around with his tongue hanging out. He now can stand up from the floor without pulling himself up on something. He has been able to do that for the last two or three days. His fourth molar came in about a week ago. Just four more teeth until he has his complete baby set. And those teeth aren't too far away!

We have an appointment scheduled for Christmas pictures. This year we are only going to have the kids photoed. I bought them matching shirts (a solid green, nothing dorky) and they will both wear jeans and brown shoes. They will be so cute. I decided, since it is close enough, that I will send out Baby Nick's one year pictures with the Christmas cards. I haven't forgotten, I just thought that I could cut down on postage cost, as well as not having to spend loads of money on greeting cards.

Joey and I spent some time together. We went to the library and then got his hair cut. He did very well. It also gave Nick some time alone with Baby Nick. All in all, it was a good day. Tomorrow, we should really be getting going on the kids Christmas program, since it's only seven weeks away. It is a cute program and will be fun to see come together.

Week In Review

I'm so thankful it is Friday. What makes it even better is that Nick gets a three day weekend! His personal time has racked back up to near forty hours (and since he can't accrue any more than 40 hrs, he has to use it or lose it.) So, since he got caught up on some of his work, he is going to take Monday off.
We had a fairly uneventful week. It's just normal day to day things around here. But the kids keep me laughing, especially Joey. The other day, I went upstairs to change the sheets on the bed, and I asked Joey to stay downstairs so he wouldn't be underfoot. As I am clearing the bed, I hear Joey slowly make his way up the stairs. I was in NO mood for disobedience, so I called down to him, "You better stay down stairs like I told you." A couple minutes later, he poked his head up at the top of the stairs again. I issued another warning. Then, a minute later, I hear him at the top of the stairs say, "See, I'm such a big helper. I brought this up for you. I'm a helper boy." How can I punish him for being helpful? Not to mention that it made me smile. So I say, "Thank you, Joey. Now please go back downstairs." Once more, he shows up at the top of the stairs...this time with a smile and a blown kiss! I figured it was useless to ask him to stay downstairs, so I put him to work holding the top sheet while I put the fitted sheet on the bed.
Baby Nick is also very "helpful". Here is a picture of him sweeping the floor for me. What would I do without him? He also likes to unload the dishwasher. However, that is more work for me, not less. He will start the dishwasher when there are clean dishes in there, or he will speed the cycle along to skip all the washing part. Oh well, gotta love him. He is so cute. He has such an exuberant laugh, when you can get him laughing. He laughs the most for Joey and his Daddy.
I love watching the boys together. Baby Nick adores his big brother, and the feeling is mutual. Just tonight, when B.J. came to pick Dakota up, Joey says, "This is my friend brother, Baby Nick. He's so cute. He's such a happy baby." Joey is always quick to comfort Nick when he's upset.
This is Nick's new "personal space." He loves to crawl under the table and play. He has to be careful not to bump his head when he comes out, but that doesn't stop him. He really enjoys it when Bubba looks down on him from the glass top. He really isn't supposed to be under there, but he is so head strong, I can't keep him out. But he sure is cute!!

Well, it is very late, and I am having a difficult time spelling and concentrating. So I will call it a night. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Stinky Winky Little Bitty Booty Boy

Try saying that five times fast! This is what Nick started calling Baby Nick when changing a potent diaper. It's quite catching when you get the cadence down.

Baby Nick is learning to blow on things when they are hot. He usually blows on his milk soaked Cheerios, and more often than not, will blow on his food after it is already in his mouth. That makes a pretty mess! But he is very sweet to blow on my food for me...expecting to be rewarded with the bite. I tell ya, this kid can eat! He eats more than Joey does. He will eat his dinner, beg to get down, and then walk around to each of us who still have food on our plates, anxiously reminding us that we are supposed to share.

I know I have informed you that Baby Nick knows what a dog says...but when asked what Mommy and Daddy say, his answer is the same. Oh well...someday he will learn. I'm just afraid that his answer will be the same as Jesse's was, so long ago, "Mommy says 'no'."

We had Randy and Cheryl over for dinner last night. We haven't seen them since we went camping with them at the end of June. I made my homemade cream of chicken noodle "stewp", salad, and potato-rosemary bread. Nick bought a carmel-apple pie for dessert. The soup was a big hit, and tasted so good now that the weather is turning colder. It was nice to see them again. The brought Cheryl's granddaughter, May. She is almost ten months old and still has to grow into her big blue eyes. She is such a mix of her mother and father. Many babies favor one parent or the other, but in May, you can see an equal (sometimes odd) mix of both. She sure is a cutie, and got upset when we took our boys up to bed.

We had quite a treat last night; we were able to get Joey to sleep in his own bed for most of the night! Unfortunately, since both the boys have colds, they took turns waking each other up. Finally, Baby Nick woke up about ten to four in the morning. When I peeked my head in the door, Joey was not in his bed. He was draped over the mounds of blankets on the floor. I still don't know if he fell out, or if he got out and fell back asleep before he could make it to our room. Anyway, since Nick woke up, so did Joey and neither of them would lay back down in their own beds. So I brought Joey into our bed, and laid down with Nick on my chest for about half an hour. Then I took Nick back to his crib (and since he wakes right back up) made him cry himself back to sleep. But Joey wouldn't budge. Unfortunately, Joey wouldn't hear of sleeping in his own bed tonight, so it was a short-lived victory. Hopefully, we can wean him out of our bed soon.

Nick has to go down to Soldotna tomorrow. They are closing that branch down and have some final things to take care of. He will have to stay overnight since they waste half a day traveling. He and Cliff will only stay one night...but he will still be gone. It will be a long, lonely night tomorrow. I hope the time will go quickly.

My brain is about fried. i can think of nothing else I may have wanted to say. Have a good week, and I will check back in Tuesday night.

Wow...It's Been Awhile

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. It's so hard to blog during the day...I don't have a second to myself except during nap time; but that is the only time I have to rest for a minute. By the time the boys go to bed at night, Nick is usually on the computer until late; and if I am still up, I am beyond the point of concentration. Even now, after getting very little sleep last night, it is too late for me to be able to be clever; but since it has been so long, I wanted to at least let everyone know I am still here.

Baby Nick loves to walk; as I knew he would. He walks all over all day long. When he runs out of floor in one direction, he turns around and walks the other way. He is getting much closer to being able to stand on his own (without using something to pull up on). He will bend over to pick up a toy and be able to stand back up without falling over. Just in the last two days, he has started being much more vocal. He still doesn't say any words, but he is making more sounds and will carry on entire conversations with whomever (or whatever) is near enough to listen. He is so precious.

Joey keeps me laughing half the day (and pulling my hair out the other half.) A few nights ago, Nick and I got to bed very late...2:00am. We were trying to be very quiet so Joey wouldn't wake up. I had to sneeze real bad, but I tried to stifle it. It ended up coming out in some strange squeaky snort-like sound out my nose! Well, for those who know me well, there is not much that can get me to stop laughing once I get started. Trying to stay quiet, I just laid there laughing...shaking the bed (as if that wouldn't wake Joey up). Everytime I opened my mouth trying to explain to Nick why I allowed such a sound to escape my nose, I started laughing harder. Finally, Joey woke up and said, "Kiss Daddy, Mommy." "You want me to kiss Daddy?" So I leaned over and gave Nick a kiss. Then Joey says, "How 'bout I get to have kisses?" So Nick gave Joey a kiss. And then Joey says, "Sanks, Daddy. That makes my heart happy." And he laid his head back down and went back to sleep.

Then last night, Nick and I went to bed and Joey was asleep, so we wanted to be quiet again. This time, I was quite cruel to Nick. I started tickling him mercilessly. Knowing that he had to keep quiet or wake Joey up, there was not much he could do. He couldn't yell at me to stop, and he couldn't thrash around to try to get away from me. Every time he vehemently whispered for me to stop, I just redoubled my efforts. Joey woke up, looked at Nick, and whispered, "Go to sleep!" I couldn't stop laughing. We are usually the ones who are telling Joey to go to sleep. Which is what I was doing between 4am and 6am!

Joey likes to tell me what to do. My least favorites are; "Leave me alone", "Don't talk to me that way.", and "Keep your hands to yourself" (after he has just been swatted or flicked!) But the one that is becoming a favorite is when he is asking if he can do something. "Can I watch a movie. You can say, 'Yes you may.'"

It is way too late for me to stay up. I am taking twice as long to write this blog because I am pausing every couple words trying to remember how to make my fingers move. Hope everyone has a wonderful week and weekend.

Funny And Amazing

Here are a couple pictures to show what the boys are up to. Baby Nick is walking all over the place now, and he can make the sound of a dog (it's more like a grunt...but at least it is something.)
Here; Baby Nick is "riding" the "iron" horse. That is to say, that he has started straddling the leg of the ironing board and bouncing on it as if riding a horse. (That's the 'funny' in the title.)
Now for the 'amazing.' This is a picture showing that Joey now knows how to write his name all by himself! I am so proud of him. I suppose he could get his own library card now, if he wanted one. I can't believe how fast he is growing up and how quickly (and often) he learns new things.

We are still trying to get over our colds. The colds are progressing normally (moving from sinuses into the chest) so at least I am not walking around in a fog. I look forward to the day that the colds are gone completely....from all of us. The kids are currently running circles around the dining room table, making me dizzy just watching. I will get them lunch soon and put them down for an early nap, since the little ones didn't get a morning nap.

Have a blessed day.

Catching Up

It has been awhile since I've blogged (besides the quick post yesterday)...and I'm sorry. After Nick came home Friday night, I have had writer's block. Now, of course, we are all sick with nasty colds and I have no strength to concentrate. So if I sound disjointed, you will understand why.
I'll start with a few pictures. Here is Baby Nick, growing up so quickly, eating Rice A Roni, and apparently, enjoying stuffing his face. This kid could eat all the food in the house if I didn't stop him. He is so active that he burns so many calories and doesn't gain much weight.
Of course, seeing the camera come out made him smile as big as he could so I would take a picture of him! What a goofy boy.
Joey is wearing Daddy's socks; on the outside of his pajama pants. He looked so funny. Nick thinks he looks like he is wearing a speedo with really pale legs. I said he looks like a trapeze acrobat at the circus with his tights and leotard on! You can see how Baby Nick, again, noticed the camera come out and gave a big cheesey grin for the occasion.
Nick and I were puttering around the house, both ending up in the kitchen, when we heard something scooting across the floor. This is not so unusual, as Baby Nick will scoot anything that can scoot so that he can "walk". But when we discovered the object that was being scooted, we couldn't believe it! Baby Nick had gotten up on the bucket of blocks, sat down, and scooted his way across the floor! I had to get a picture of it, so of course, once again, Baby Nick sat there with his cheesiest grin until the picture was taken.

Just over this past week, Baby Nick has decided to start walking more. He will walk around for a bit after being placed on his feet, or if he is already in a standing position (for example; trying to reach something on the couch, or getting into his toy box) he will walk to his next destination. He still isn't walking as his main mode of transportation, but he is walking more often. I have also discovered that he "talks" in his sleep. I heard him the other day through the monitor, and I went up to check on him, thinking that he was awake and playing in his crib. When I opened his door, there he was laying with his arms tucked under him and his little booty up in the air, still asleep, "talking." It is so cute!

Bubba is so sweet. Everywhere we go, he introduces us as, "my friend." So, to Joey, I am, "My friend Mommy." Or, "This is my friend Baby Nick." As we were getting the boys dressed for church, Joey took my face between his hands, and said to Nick, "Hey Big Guy, this is my pretty little Mommy friend." Oh he makes my heart happy. And he reminds me of that, too. "I make your heart happy, Mommy." Of course you do, Joey. I couldn't be happier to have you for my son.

Baby Nick just woke up from a nap (since he got up at 6:15am this morning.) So I better go get him up and let him play any energy out so he takes a good nap this afternoon!

For You, Mom

Especially for your birthday, Mom, God gave you snow! Okay, so it's not a lot, and it's 2700 miles away.....but there is snow for your birthday!
I was hoping beyond all measure, that the snow would hold off for awhile. Granted, it might still be a couple weeks before we see the real stuff come down, but I was shocked to hear Nick tell me that it had snowed. I was up with the boys before Nick, but I didn't look outside (I wasn't expecting to have a reason to.) After we gave the boys their baths, Nick took Baby Nick downstairs while I combed Joey's hair. There is a window at the bottom of the stairs, that is at the level of the top of the stairs. That was when Nick saw the snow. (It was still dark when I got up with the boys.) I almost thought he was trying to get a rise out of me...but sadly, it was true.
You can see that it really isn't a lot of snow, which is good. Last year, the first day it snowed was also a Sunday. There was a couple inches on the ground, but it snowed heavily all through church, and by the time we got out, there was another five or six inches on the ground. Hopefully, that won't be the case today. I think the snow has taken everybody by surprise. We haven't heard of any chance of snow in the forecast.

Well, it is time to leave for church, so I better go. Happy birthday, Mom. I love you and miss you so much.

Five Years At Apria

Today, my husband "celebrated" his fifth anniversary of working at Apria Healthcare. I am very proud of his dedication and commitment to his work. He works so hard, every day, because he loves us enough to provide for us in the best way he knows how.

Unfortunately, he is "rewarded" with a trip to Fairbanks.....but when he gets back, he will have a plaque and three weeks vacation, instead of two!

His five year anniversary at Apria comes just twelve days before our five year wedding anniversary! Sometimes it seems like no time at all has past since we got married. But when I look back on everything we have packed into these first five years, it doesn't seem possible that only five years have come and gone. (I wonder how much more we can pack in the next five?!)

Baby Nick can recognize and point out mommy's nose (which anyone can point out from quite a distance...so I guess that is not that impressive); he knows where his tongue is and can stick it out on command. He knows how to communicate what he wants, although he still uses no words. he is also getting better at not putting everything in his mouth, or if he does, and finds that the object doesn't seem right, he will take it out and give it to mommy. He is very good at obeying me when I ask him to give me something he shouldn't have, and will usually do so with a smile. Now, if only he would listen and obey so well in all other areas!

Joey is learning a lot about the rules of the road. He knows we have to stop at red lights and go at green lights. He knows that a yellow light means we should get ready to stop. A few weeks ago, I was driving through an intersection when the light turned yellow, and Joey said, "Mom, we should be stopping; the light is yellow." Since I was already halfway through the intersection, I explained that you only had to stop for a yellow light if you had enough time to safely do so. He almost always asks why I have stopped, even if he can see the red light. And he is the first to tell me when the light turns green and I can drive again. He is extremely observant and has a memory that astounds me. He is so precious. Lately, I find myself looking over at him and finding tears in my eyes at how fast he is growing up. I feel like I don't have much time left with him. I'm sure that in another ten years, I will be begging for the time to speed up....but for now, I wish time could move forward at a snail's pace, giving me more time with my sons.

I don't like when Nick takes the computer to Fairbanks, because I feel so disconnected and out of touch with everybody at home. But I also feel bad that the only "company" Nick has when he's staying at the office is the computer. I will miss having the computer this week, try to remember those things I should blog about later, and will catch up on all I've missed as soon as I can.

Saturday morning will be another Ladies Brunch at the church, and Tina and I should be able to finally get together and discuss the children's musical. Hopefully, we will be able to get a schedule in place and get started on rehearsals soon. I know that it is only the beginning of October (since it is now after midnight), and sometimes it is hard to feel "Christmassy" this early (for those Scrooges out there, anyway) but putting on a production takes a lot of work. It is important to give the kids enough time to learn the play without over-stressing them with everything else they have on their plates. I am excited to get started.

May God bless you and keep you. Have a wonderful week...and I will be back next weekend.