A great birthday

I had such a wonderful birthday.  It was a fun packed day where I felt special and loved.  I enjoyed a pretty "normal" day with some special birthday fun tossed in to make the day even better.  I must admit these birthdays in my 30's are melting together a bit I had to double check with Shawn how old I was this year.  I remember my Mom having to figure out how old she was when I was a kid and I could never understand that since I was always looking forward to my birthday but now I understand.  Age is really not that important to me and so I had a good laugh when I asked Shawn how old I was this year. 

I started my day sleeping in which was a treat and when I woke up I received a bunch of birthday love and my present wrapped by the kids it was so sweet.  They picked out a red polka dot bike computer for my bike which I have been wanting for quite sometime.  It was so sweet and the cards they picked were awesome Symeon always picks a  card that sings and Marin chose a princess card they were really funny. 

Then the kids and I went to volunteer and I enjoyed lots of phone calls, emails, FB messages, and texts with special birthday wishes.  I was so touched by the kind, thoughtful, loving messages and cards.  Then the kids and I went to our favorite coffee shop for a birthday Boba and then we were off to the playground.  The weather was beautiful and we had lots of fun on a warm January day.  We went home for lunch and a little quiet time for the kids and a great work out for me. 

After quiet time and a work out we had a spontaneous birthday dance party for a good portion of the afternoon.  At Symeon's school on people's birthday they do a dance party and he loves it so it was his suggestion so we turned up the tunes and had a great time dancing and singing.  It was honestly the highlight of my birthday we had such fun as a family and I love to watch Symeon and Marin dance it is so cute they both get into it.  Then we went to Lil Kickers and then I decided to have pizza for my birthday dinner and we did a picnic dinner in the living room it was perfect.  We ended the day with Carvel ice cream cake and a great round of singing Happy Birthday by the kids.  I ended my wonderful day by putting Marin to sleep a she wanted to hold my hand while she drifted off to sleep.  I laid with her for awhile after she feel asleep listening to her breathe while we held hands.  It was a great ending to a wonderful day being loved on by my family and friends. 

 Pizza Party

The Dance Party

Love the dance train.  Marin is rockin' out!

Volunteering

Since leaving Paxton I have been wanting to have the kids volunteer some place so this past week we have started at our local food bank.  Here we are dressed and ready to volunteer.  I love this picture because they both pretty much dressed themselves which is an exciting adventure in and of itself.  We had a good time volunteering they both stayed with it and wore gloves to package food into more family friendly sizes.  Babes and songs for the other volunteers and Symeon was a work horse to be honest.  He was focused and ready to do any job he was given.  We had a good time and I was able to talk with about food banks and why they exist.  We are all looking forward to going back next month.  This Thursday we are trying an Assisted Living place since it is about as close to Paxton as I could find.  

Babes loves breakfast

I love egg whites with spinach and basil and I eat it several times a week for breakfast.  Well Babes started eating a bite here and there and then she started eating several bites and one morning she ate my entire breakfast.  So the next time I made egg whites I made one for her and she ate the whole thing.  Since then we both eat egg whites a couple times a week.  She loves it with fresh spinach, fresh basil, and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese and always with a clementine her favorite.  What I find so funny is that she still likes to have a bite of mine even though they are exactly the same I am sure my family would say she is definitely my daughter always a bite. 

Noise

In general I am quite person.  I hardly ever listen to music when I am alone and I only turn on the TV if there is something I want to watch never for noise.  I don't like background noise and I wear ear plugs at the gym because all the background noise is irritating.  I will always choose silence when given a chance.  So over the years as my two toddlers have begun talking and often at the same time or over one another or crying I have found myself wincing and often craving some sort of quiet.  But today as I write this quick note and they play a song on their pot and pan drum set I am moved to tears by the "noise".   They are having so much fun, they are laughing together, changing up their instruments and overall enjoying themselves.  I am struck by the beauty of this noise I am struck that season to shall pass and my home will be quiet. 

I must confess I do not always see the grace and beauty of the loud and I am often  moved to tears not because of joy but with frustration but today I am moved by the beauty that this "noise" is bringing to my life and our home.  For today for this moment I can say I would not want it to be quiet I would never not want to hear the background noise that is the beauty of their creativity and lives.  I am thankful for the pounding sound echoing in my head and the small voices in between that remind life is short and amazing and banging a few pots and pans is good for all our souls, our home, and our family.  Rock on kiddos you are blessing this Mama's soul!

A fun Christmas craft

I bought Marin a cute little mirror you decorate yourself for Christmas and she was able to work on it this past week and she was only to happy to have her brother help her.  It came out so cute and now she can look at the back of her hair like I do with my mirror.  Now we match and she loves that I figure I should enjoy being adored because I am sure that will not always be the case but I can be sure that I will always adore her.

A trap

Symeon's love of traps continues.  He made this one the other day and now that he is tying knots the world is his oyster when it comes to materials he can use to build his traps.  The container of bungee cords PaPaw bought him for Christmas is also helping him build bigger and better traps these days as well, thanks Dad. 

Tea Parties, Tea Parties, Tea Parties

Babes received a tea set for Christmas from my Aunt and cousin and she has enjoyed it to say the least.  When she wakes up sometime like at 5 am she is asking for a tea party and I have to remind her that rule is no tea parties in the dark but when the sun comes up we can have a tea party.  The other morning I slept in a bit since I had been awake for so many nights in a row with Symeon being sick and when I came up the stairs I saw Shawn and her having a tea party in the living room while they watched soccer.  It was such a sweet and tender moment between her and her Daddy.  Here is one of the tea parties that Symeon and Babes had the other day along with a few other honored guests. 

 Two guests are a naked baby and a Cinderella with two missing arms

 Some other guests include frosty the snowman and snow white

And of course what would a tea party be without a mini Cinderella and the one who helped Rella which is the Fairy God Mother.  

The whole tea party was so cute and it lasted most of the  morning.  At this particular tea party the guests were dining on cheddar cheese rice cakes one of Babes favorites and goldfish. Thank you Auntie Judy, Steve, and Jesse this was a hit. 

No heat over a very cold weekend

Well a few weekends ago we realized it was really cold in our house and by Friday night it was almost unbearable so we called the maintenance hotline for our property mgmt company (a huge benefit of renting) and they sent someone out.  The bad news was that the part  needed had to be ordered so we were without heat for the whole weekend.  It was really really cold and we spent the afternoon one day at friend's house and then we hung blankets and used tiny space heaters to try to keep the living room and Shawn's office bearable but honestly it was just okay with several blankets and multiple layers of clothes.  Our thermostat only goes down to 45 so I know it was at least that cold but I am guessing it was lower than that.  Overall the kids did fine enjoying the adventure of it all but it was so cold the hardwood floors were like ice and the cold came through whatever shoes you were wearing.  It made me so thankful for just a few days rather than an entire winter trying to get by with little money and no heat or living on the streets.  Sometimes it takes something like this to remind you to be thankful. 

One night at dinner

 

You just never know how she is going to come to dinner.  On this particular night she wanted her dress over her hockey jersey and she was really into feeding her baby.  Although through the meal she would get up and say to the baby eat your dinner NOW!  I looked at Shawn and said do I sound like that and he assured me I do not.  Over the next few days I listened to myself very carefully and the "now" part is something she hears quite often from me because without being clear that I mean to do something now she would listen in her own time frame which could be in quite awhile.  I love that she does everything with a bit of flare.  

Updated pics of our new house

People have been asking me for some new pictures of the house since we added color and a few other things.  We are still not done we have an island to get installed and some lighting needs to be addressed but we are getting closer.  Here are a few pictures of what we have done so far. It is still a work in progress and probably will be for years. 

 A brick accent wall we just added and Marin's favorite seat

 Entryway and stairs.  We painted and had the carpet ripped up and the floors refinished.  

 Our bedroom

 Upstairs bath, this is on my renovation list although we will for sure keep the claw foot tub.  

 Babes room, Cinderella style.  She told me she wanted it blue like Cinderella's dress.  I am not a themed room person I actually can't stand them even for children to be honest at least not in my house but her Daddy won out on this one.  We did compromise with wall stickers that peel right off when we she doesn't like it anymore which I am hoping is soon.  But gosh she was so happy helping telling me where she wanted all the stickers.  It was so fun!

 What would be a set of pics without a bit of Babes attitude

 Symeon wanted a rainbow room, one wall purple, one yellow, one black and one white?  What I compromised and gave him a purple accent wall with 3 gray walls.  He has angry birds and the solar system.  He loves planets and space right now and it looks really great on the purple wall.  His Dad also won out on this room as well but once again wall stickers that come right off.  Symeon was so happy putting these on as well deciding what his solar system would look like it was such family fun.  

 They wanted me to take a picture of them doing something funny and this is what they decided on, so cute 

 

 Our newly finished stairs I love the way they came out they just a bit of trim work and they are finished.  

 The dark family room is getting better we added some nice green to the walls and we are changing the lighting to brighten it up a bit.  

 My office slash the spare bedroom.  I love both of these colors.  

  A close up of the wall

Kitchen and dining room but that light fixture is going hopefully by tomorrow with some additional lighting added above the sink.  

 The living room with the fireplace and our first meal there, pizza from the local pizza shop.  

Entry way with a low coat rack for the kids.  I am so glad I changed the color from green to this warm taupe. 

Sick kids means lots of computer time for Mama

Well we have been battling bronchitis in our house all week.  Poor Symeon has been coughing to the point of turning bright red and for hours on end at night.  He is on an antibiotic but with the cough, fever, snot nose, and did I mention the coughing he has been mostly laying on the couch for about 4 days.  He often wants me to sit with him which gives me lots of computer time so I am feeling a bit caught up on some computer stuff I wanted to get done but a bit behind in most other areas. 

This was Symeon's first morning not waking up at 5 am and coughing for 2 hours or so but Marin took up where he left off up at 5 am coughing for 2 plus hours so we will see if we are headed back to the doctor tomorrow.  Overall though we have been pretty healthy this winter season so I can't complain.  I  must confess the anal side of me who had our week all planned out with playdates, dinner guests, school, volunteering, and a host of other fun stuff had a hard time setting aside my agenda for a quiet week at home.  I am a get up and go kind of person and mid-week when I was stir crazy I took the kids to a local coffee shop to get them each a cookie and me a boba for some sanity and it was a disaster.  Kids coughing, crying, acting out people staring and me frustrated and over tired so not managing myself the best.  I have slept in the recliner with a sick kid for several nights and although I must confess I loved holding them it was hard to watch them in so much pain.  I do enjoy the quiet of the middle of the night while rocking a sweet baby in your arms.

Here has been our week in a nutshell when you run a 102 fever for several days there is little you can or want to do, my poor guy.  I knew it was bad when I offered to play his favorite game and he said Mom I can't play with you now I am just to sick. 

 

Christmas in CT part V

Well we finally made it to CT for a few days to celebrate Christmas over New Year's.  We had a relaxing and enjoyable time but by the time we got there we were all exhausted and happy to hang our at my parent's and brother's house.  We went for walks because it was beautiful weather and overall spent a ton of time with family.  Once again I took very few pictures but luckily my Mom took quite a few so here we having some fun over a blessed and restful holiday.

 The cousins - Austin 11 soon to be 12, Clover 10, Symeon 3 soon to be 4, Marin 2 and 1/2

 Here are the cute hats my Mom made the kids

 Austin opening his slingshot

 Symeon opening up his rocket from Auntie and Uncle Mike

Symeon opening up his bungee cords from Paw Paw, they were a big hit. Marin in the background with her Little Ponies and a hat from Oma.  

 Opening up cameras from Oma and Papaw, we have been doing lots of photo shoots since these were opened.  They take video as well so we have put on lots of shows.  

 Marin and I sporting our hats

 Clover got a dollhouse she can put together and decorate herself.  Her sidekick Marin was impressed.  

 Austin loves popcorn and since he had eaten all of my Mom and Dad's they bought him some more.  

 My Dad made us this cross as a house blessing for our new home.  I look forward to hanging it in our entry way.  We love it!

 PaPaw made Marin and angel for her new room.  It is beautiful and I can't wait to hang it in her new room.  She loved it although this picture does not do it justice.  

 When we went to Hershey we had customized Hershey wrappers made for Austin and Clover.  

 My Dad's new floor mats for his truck  

 She loves her Uncle Mike

 He adores his Auntie Traci

I just loved this picture of my Dad.  I think it captures an essence about him that is hard to put into words. 

 Clover and her Daddy

 They both received Babies.  Marin loves this baby and sleeps with it every night.  

 Clover and Symeon building a trap with the new bungee cords.  

 Here they are being indulged by my parents.  They are eating breakfast on the couch while they watched their morning show.  Yes the strawberries are healthy but the other bowl is full of Lucky Charms.  Connecticut is the only place they get sugar cereal for breakfast.  I have a pretty strict no sugar cereal policy in our home but CT is a free for all and they love every minute as do I.  

 This is the finished Gingerbread house they made with Oma.  They did lots of crafts in her craft room and often when one of them woke up they would ask Oma if she wanted to do crafts.  Hours of fun for them all.  

 The girls in their hockey jersey's Marin is yelling go Flyers

 One of the many many tea party's Marin hosted with her new tea set.  Thanks Auntie Judy, Steve, and Jesse it was a big hit.  We continue to have them everyday here at home as well.  

 Symeon is teaching my Dad how to use the kindle fire.  

New Year's Eve was lots of fun with family.  We hung out at Mike and Traci's house and with my parents.   We all started to melt down right before midnight so we went to my parents to watch the ball drop.  Symeon and I fell asleep about 10 minutes of 12 and Marin made it to see the ball drop.  I love this picture of our family just being together saying good-bye to one year and welcoming another.  I feel overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude and love for my husband and children and I look forward to another year of living life with them.  

 These two are so sweet together they adore each other so much and have so much fun.  Clover is so good at making them feel loved and special along with being a ton of fun.  

I love these random pictures of Marin.  She wore this hat a good portion of the  morning.  She looked so cute they were wearing it during the magic show they were doing where they sawed Austin in half.  It was really sweet when they told me don't worry Mom they were pretend swords.  

We had a beautiful and wonderful holiday season full of blessings and love.  Thank you to everyone who made our family feel so loved.