Ava's First Day Out In The Snow

Our first snow day this year!

Mom came up and watched the kiddos while I worked from home. Ava had never been out to really play in the snow before and had never been on sled!  She loved it, Wyatt was too excited. I had so much fun watching them get started. All was good and Marnier was getting her work out, the two kids learned how to take turns sledding down the hill in our front yard. All good until Ava took off down the hill after Wyatt and face planted in the snow. The little marshmallow couldn't move!

Happy Anniversary to Our Home & A Little "Me" Time

I'm home alone this weekend. Which has a few benefits, one being I finally have time to catch up on this blog and everything we've been up to this winter. A year ago yesterday we moved into this house, which has now become home. Although Wyatt still refers to it as the "New House". All the boxes are unpacked, pictures hang on the walls (not as many as my Mom may want to see - haha) and the old house is FINALLY rented to a couple that has expressed their desire to buy, eventually. So we can breath a sigh of relief, for now.

Our home in the snow last week.
Taken at twilight when it was quiet and peaceful.

If nothing else I think John and I have learned that through good times and in bad we are resilient people. We get though it together. Even if all the cracks we're left with take a gallon of glue to fix.

A few weeks ago I had what can only be described as a "Mommy-Meltdown". The stress of the bills, houses, daycare, work, family and so on came crashing down and left me in tears, pouring my heart out to John about how stressed I was and how unhappy I felt. After our talk that night I woke up the next morning with a new resolution to get "me" back. I realize this may seem ridiculous if you are reading this… I have a loving husband, two amazing kids, a supportive extended family, fabulous friends and a steady job. Please don't get me wrong I am INCREDIBLY grateful for all of these gifts that God has granted me. However, a person needs to have time to breath and I haven't been able to catch my breath. Here is what I'm trying to do to get some air:

1. Realize and appreciate that I matter too. Parents reading this know what I mean - It is so easy to loose yourself in your family and work. I'm guilty. Most Mom's I know are too.   
2. Loose all this baby weight! I have to feel confident in myself so that my kids see that side of me. I also can not afford a new wardrobe, so time to get back into the old one. I don't have time in my schedule to do a traditional workout, instead I've decided to eat better, count calories and be more active with the kids. It's good for all of us!
3. Get out every once in a while! John has been so nice about this. I've gotten a good start. So far I've joined a great friend, Jessica, for dinner out and had a morning shopping trip with Mom to a architectural salvage shop. Then there is this weekend… It's nice to have a little alone time, but I miss my PA family something fierce and wish I was with them, so this is a toss up! 
4. Try, as hard as it is, not to worry so much. I want to distract myself by focusing on the present, the moments that are worth enjoying. 
5. Give up trying to find that elusive thing called "balance", there is no such thing. Just deal with what requires my attention in the moment I am in.
6. Done is better than perfect. 

Alright, now that I have proclaimed this out to the world maybe it will help me on my journey to stay focused. Making me a better mommy, wife, friend and career women. I'm glad I've typed this out… feels more like a mission now, I like a good challenge.

Cheers!

Lovely Little Moments

Here are just a few little things I don't want to forget:

Wyatt is doing good at preschool. He had a rocky week, so bad that the teacher asked it everything was alright at home (ugh!). Well after a few days we got him back on track. His first official punishment was no train DVD in the car on the way home from school (almost an hour drive). He balled the whole way home, pleading his case and saying he was sorry. It was awful, longest ride of my life! But it worked, for now. Since then he hasn't been bad at school once! Every day when I pick him up Wyatt runs up and tells me "Mommy, I've been so good today!" Then quickly follows up with "I can watch a movie, right?"

Wyatt is very into gender identification right now for some reason. He'll go though everyone in the family and say what each of us are. "Mommy's a girl, Ava's a girl, I'm a boy, Papa's a boy…" then he'll get a crooked little smile "…and Daddy's a girl!" he'll laugh and run from John. Goofy kid!

Wyatt has a tough time with "S"… The white stuff falling from the sky is "no", he gives me a hug and a "kiws" - It's so darn cute.

Choo-choo!

Ava is starting to talk up a storm. My favorite is "Mommy, R U?", she always finds me. I may never get to pee alone again.

She is so funny with "cuppy". She is drinking from a sippy cup now, but Wyatt's is always better. She'll throw her's to the side and grab his the second he puts his down!

Ava loves books. She'll throw one in your lap and say "read, read". She's very patient and will sit and listed to the whole thing as long as she gets to turn the pages.

My co-worker one snow day.

Silly girl chillin' at Ms. Becky's.

Nap Time

Christmas 2013

Christmas was magic this year. Wyatt is now old enough to get it; the magic, excitement, anticipation and all. Although next year we are going to have to work on the details. For example Wyatt is convinced Sam's Club is Santa's Club (can you tell where we shop). Christmas Eve we see Mom, Dad and Poppop at church. Then we all enjoyed a yummy dinner at their house where Mom and Wyatt made reindeer food.

Santa left his footprints!

Christmas morning John and I popped wide awake, we were too excited to sleep! When the kids got up it was game on for the rest of the day!

Waiting to go downstairs and see what Santa brought!

The weekend after Christmas we loaded up like Santa's sled and headed to PA. We had a great time with the whole family. The gifts exchanged to all the kids left enough wrapping paper on the floor for Ava to get lost in! I'm sad to say I don't have many pictures, but I do have this little video which will give you an idea of how wonderfully chaotic it was. To those of you that we celebrated with - Love you bunches!

The Cousin Train

We had a visit from Deb, Al, Jackie and the kids during the weekend leading up to Christmas. It was so nice to have them and do a little pre-holiday celebrating.

Saturday night we had my parents join the crowd for dinner. Poppop came straight to our house after traveling down from CT. The house rang with the sound of cheerful kids and chatty adults. We all sat around the table eating cake and celebrating Jackie's recent graduation. I'm so proud of her for what she has accomplished!

Sunday we went and saw a few of the houses on the Tacky Light Tour. It was a very rainy night, but the lights were fantastic! We've lived in this area for years and never done this. I'm so glad we finally got to! The kids all loved it too. When we got back that night the kids made the best of a few boxes and rope. Who needs toys to play with when you have all the makings of a perfect cousins train.

In all the excitement Cameron tried to pull the train with her teeth. Next thing we knew Cameron lost her first tooth! The tooth fairy came for her first visit to our home, I'm sure she said hi to Bob-Icecream and Frosty Pancake on the way through.

Frosty Pancake & Bob Ice Cream
doing the mission impossible to get a Kiss. 

Just to top the weekend off, on Monday as the little ones napped and Lil'Chris laid on the floor watching  TV the Christmas tree came crashing down on top of him! He was okay, but maybe a little stunned. Making memories (isn't that right Jen, hahaha)….

Can't Miss Thanksgiving

I can't forget to mention Thanksgiving! We celebrated at our house this year with Mom and Dad. It was a great day and we indulged in a meal that could have fed twice as many people. I have so much to be thankful for! 

Ava showing off her favorite tutu.

Wyatt made his India head
dress and necklace at preschool.

Brother & Sister in their turkey shirts.
Wyatt's is made out of his footprint and hand prints.
Ava's was a gift from Ms. Becky.