Should have invested in diaper stocks

Disappointed!

2008-04-19T18:52:00.001-07:00

So I saw this family with a double stroller at the air show that I have NEVER seen before. I stalked them until I could approach them with the question "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!!!" I was so excited! It looked awesome, you could push or pull and the lady was telling me alll about it! You can even fit carseats in them for airplane travel. This would be PERFECT I thought! We are traveling to Disney World next April (my excitement is unbearable!!! this is my dream to go to WDW with my OWN kids!!!). So of course I have been researching it all night! Our double stroller now is used almost daily and needs to retire to the dumpster! It pulls to the right and doesn't evenly distribute all their weight! But after my research I found that it's more trouble than it's worth but I will be checking up on this to see if any corrections will be made to it! I was just so excited I had to include it on my blog!!

Birthday Fun!

2008-04-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Since I worked 8:30am-after 7pm on my birthday....I decided to celebrate with my babies today! I had woken up (6:40am-ugh but wide awake) starting to clean and planning my chores for the day...laundry, walmart shopping and bill paying. Then errrrrk! What am I thinking! We are just going to have a funday today!!!!!!! All play no work!

We started off at the gas station (hahaha I know the fun never ends in a small town). I didn't have any coffee (aka diet Pepsi Max) at home so I had to stop and get one! So I told the boys they could choose whatever they wanted. "What no water??" I'm sure their taste buds were thinking lol! Of course they choose some nasty blue sugary drink in a fun bottle! Then I decided very last minute to take them to the Air Show at the airport. SO WORTH IT!! Christy, you should def go!!! Just seeing everything through their eyes was priceless! All different kinds of airplanes put on all sorts of air shows, the motorcycles did stunts (be still Ashie's heart), we got to walk in all different kinds of planes from fed-ex to military planes, and course they had a neat kiddie area. It was well worth the 10 dollars, 20 minute wait to park, 30 minute bathroom line, scorching hot soon!

We then came home to fun in the sprinkler and washing the truck. Of course I was using a rag and soap on one side and I looked and the boys were using rags and muddy water for the other side....did I get one picture of any of this of course not ;-)

Freaky!

2008-04-14T18:47:00.001-07:00

So everyone remembers our dear friend and former neighbor Minnie right? OK, so she calls me tonight and says that she just talked with her best friend. The best friends grandson's legs went out on him this weekend! Just like what happened to Asher in November! The doctors kept him in the hospital for 3 days and couldn't find anything wrong other than he couldn't walk!!!! Very werid.....

Azalea Fest Weekend

2008-04-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

We had a GREAT tiome at Azalea fest this weekend! I met up with my girl Anita, whom I haven't seen in a while! We had a fun time walking through the street fair, braving the kiddie park and ending our search for some ever wanted ice-cream! I appreciate all her help with making sure the kids had fun despite their grump moods haha! Of course I put lotion on the kids and didn't on myself. I used to get away with this but having kids has changed my skin. So I'm sporting the sunglass, t-shirt, and flip flop burn!

I also found out that Aidan knows a lot more than I realized. I was loading things in the car when Aidan climbed into the driver's seat and grabbed my keys I had thrown into the seat. He chose the right key and started that baby right up! Didn't turn it over or anything!! I was shocked. So next time you see that three year old on the highway driving, please call me lol! He also can repeat every word to the Dora the Explorer DVD. Usually I use DVD time to clean, etc so I rarely sit down. But tonight I did and he spit out sentence after sentence before they said it. So two things I learned this weekend: 1. Keep keys out of site 2. Turn off the TV Bad mommy! lol

But tomorrow is back to work and I will miss them TERRIBLY!!!

Anita I stole these from your MS ;-)

First Day!

2008-04-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

I AM POOPED LOL! Our day started at 5:30am. The kids were groggy but excited! I got them up at about 6:30am. OF COURSE for the past weekish they have been sleeping till 8:30am!! So this was an early rise for them! Work went great! I trained on a laptop alll day and, observed, and did some transactions myself. Pretty much same schedule all week. The kids seemed to love "Granny's". This woman looks nothing like a granny (prob in early 50's)! Aidan, my non-napper, took TWO naps!!! Asher my good napper, took zero! So Aidan was worn out and Ash was so excited he didn't want to sleep! lol But she said they were good, really good! I was like Huh? My kids?!!! lol! So that eased my mind a lot! I sure did miss them a lot but then again I sure did love being around adults!

So lunches are packed, clothes laid out for tomorrow, and soccer gear all bagged up. Another even longer day tomorrow! :-)

Never Turn Your Back on a 19 month old

2008-04-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

(I don't know why in every picture I take, my house looks like a tornado hit and there are always some underwear on the floor hahaha)

FINALLY off the ba-ba

2008-04-04T19:49:00.001-07:00

OK whew! I feel better! So tonight was FINALLY Ashie's first night off the bottle!! Today at naptime (which never happened) we threw away the ba-ba's and said good bye to them. I thought the big ceremony would help- no Super Nanny it didnt! He cried for two hours plus! Usually his bedtime isbetween 7 and 8pm. He is finally asleep at 10:50! Of course I try everything and he will not go to sleep. Mat comes home and puts him right to bed!!! Of course it was becuase all the crying wore him out! Right!? lol

Speaking of Mat and the kids. So today I had to go sign some papers at BB and T. Mat had gotten off early and was here to stay with the kids. It's been a looong time since he has been with the kids by himself lol. When I got home they had each others clothes on (put on by him), nothing REMOTELY matched, and Aidan was sleeping in the middle of the living room (which isnt out of the ordinary!). Oh this is going to be interesting! He is going to have to take a lot of the responsibility when I go back to work. He gets off earlier and on fridays he ususally gets off at about noon. So he's going to do all the picking up.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

2008-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

WHY DON'T MY KIDS SLEEP ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I know they have spoiled me for so long!!!! No naps and its 10:09pm!! AHHHHHHHHHH

Hanging up the SAHM apron

2008-04-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

:-( :-( :-( :-( I'm not looking forward to this but it's something that has to be done. We've cut back alot but cannot make it anymore on one income. So yes I am returning to the working world. Granted I am exicted about adult interaction and getting the kids socialize (which they VERY much need!!!) This all happened very fast but I am thankful to find a great in home daycare with a great price! I got offered the job at my interview. I am going to work at BB and T, starting on Monday. So I'll have my weekends and nights off! Tonight I'm depressed about it, tomorrow I'll be excited lol! Oh well, we will just take one day at a time! I think Aidan will be ok about it. I talk to him about it everyday and all day he asks if we are going to "school" now! Ashie on the other hand might have a panic attack! He does well at Play Date (the drop in child care I may use once a month or so when I'm in need!) but I don't think he is going to like this at first! Just keep us in your prayers as we make this new adjustment.

Go Ashie, Go Ashie...Go Go Go Go!

2008-03-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

As i have mentioned before, my Ashie loves to dance. Let's just check out some of his skills

Blog about food

2008-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Aidan and I have been reading green eggs and ham. So I decided to make green eggs this morning. AS DISGUISTING as it looks, Aidan thought it was neat but didn't dive into them like he usually does!!

The other photo is Asher eating yogurt all by himself. Ignore the laundry strown all over the floor, today was spring cleaning day! I scored a bunch of shelving (we have zero closet space) at a yard sale for 3 bucks, so I decided to spruce things up!

More talk about the A Team!

2008-03-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

The boys can't stay the same way for too long! All my worrying and gripping about Aidan has diminished! So maybe it was a phase! Oops! lol He is a much better little boy! His fits have lessend and his anger seems to have subsided! I think I just have a very emotional, moody, dramatic little son! He has become quite the little eater! He finshes his meals completely and never complains about food, unless it's green beans! You can't fill him up thats for sure! I love that he still wants me to cuddle with him. I love how he is not a morning person and I need to leave him alone for a few minutes while he fully wakes up. I love how he comes up with such grown up sentences. I love how excited he gets over bugs and lizards!

Asher is my sweet sweet mama's boy! Though when it comes to eating his appetite has become non-exsistent! Yes, I know, he may look like he eats 6 meals a day but that's not true! He picks at his meals and I'm lucky if he finishes one thing on his plate! Aidan has stopped getting in bed with us in the middle of the night and now Asher has started. But I don't complain anymore. I love it and feel lost if he doesn't! I love when I get up to go to the bathroom and he wraps his small arms around my neck and says "way down way down mama". I love how the other day Aidan was calling for help as I was getting ready in the bathroom and Ash was sitting on the floor reading a book. Ash hops up and says "I coming broder I coming broder" and runs to see what Aidan needs. I love how he calls me "hunny" when I'm not answering right away! I just love my boys! I felt like gooshing!!!

Aidan vs. Asher

2008-03-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to have a manly tea party with the boys (hey I will most likely never have a girl so let me have my fun!) We got their stuffed animals together and they loved it! Asher was so cute feeding his "baby" with the plastic spoon and giving the baby a "baba" when he was thirsty. He took care of each of his babies like this! He is going to make a great daddy! Aidan on the other hand threw his babies on the floor and went to crashing his cars. Ahhh siblings!

It was so beautiful all day we started playing outside at about 9am! This afternoon we took a walk to the grandmas and enjoyed a nice afternoon there! Asher went on a long walk with me and Yai-Yai. He was sooo good! Talking and singing and joining in the conversation with us. Aidan stayed behind to help La-La make a flower bed and collect bricks. He will have such a green thumb when he gets older! He certainly hasn't learned any of this from his parents! lol Everyday I've been trying to take a nice pic of the two of them to put as my myspace page. So far no luck!

Absent

2008-03-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

So I've been on the computer a lot less than normal. I'm trying to steer away because I'm really on it way too much! But ok so the REAL reason is John and Kate plus 8. We have no cable, only bunny ears. So my mom taped all the Jon and Kate plus 8's (and 4 tapes of Noggin). I AM ADDICTED!!! Mat and I put the kids to bed and scramble to put the next tape in! It's great! Most of all, it makes me think I should never ever complain about my two kids!!! Mat will be working this weekend so I will catch up on our busy week!

Oh I forgot!

2008-03-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

The BEST part of my Easter! I got a framed Easter picture of the boys! AT first I thought it was professional!! I was like WHEN did they do this??? The boys have never been away from me that long! lol! But I found out they did it one day when the boys were playing at grandmas and I snuck away to throw a load of laundry in! But it was soooooooo cute!! Just the idea of it too! They threw a white sheet in the background, put La-La's bunny (Sassy) in a basket and added some Easter eggs! I'll have to show you when I scan the pic in! They did it all at home!

Happy Easter 2008

2008-03-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

First of all let me say how blessed I am to have everyone in my life that I do! For the most part we are healthy and happy and I was happy to them of everyone while celebrating Easter with my own family!

We started off the morning with a visit from the Easter bunny! As Ash would say the Easter Buda Buda Bunnkneee! They got lots of goodies such as a Bunny Mr. Potato head, a kiddie pool for the summer, Alphabet letters for the tub (score with mommy there!), soccer balls, a new monk-monk, and lots of ends and odds! Ashie had the best time going through his things! Paul was diappointed this morning to wake up and see that the EB had not come. So mom called us over real fast only to find out the EB put the baskets in a different room! :-) No soccer goals were constructed this weekend due to lack of parts, so the orange cones worked well!

We then went to church. For the first time they had children's church! We usually have about 4-5 kids including mine...today was about 15!! So that was a hoot! Asher stepped up to hold the picture of Jesus and quickly thru him to the ground when he saw the stuffed bunnies! Everyone laughed as the associate pastor apologized to Jesus and blamed it on one of his heavenly children. I had children's church today so we had a massive egg hunt! It was fun but chaotic! I enjoyed hearing what each kid got for Easter. Including the 5ish boy who got an IPOD!!!! I dont even dream of getting one!!! lol I then passed out the Jelly Bean Prayer bags Aidan and I made (ok I made and he ate) lol.

We then came home to another Easter egg hunt, dying eggs, and yummy lunch made by mom! The boys loved having their cousin Paul there! Paul is like an idol to them. For example Paul clubbed Ash with the plastic golf club on accident as he swung for the ball. Didnt phase Ash! He just stared at Paul's next move lol!

I'm sure there is more that I missed but my horrible allerges and sun burnt face says I need to go to bed!!! God Bless!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2008-03-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we found a park here in our new town. They kids had a great time and it was something different for them! We then took a long walk becuase it was so warm and supposed to be nasty the rest of the day, so I tried to do all of our outside time in the AM. Well of course mommy was a little sweatie! Well then lunch and naptime soon followed. I laid down with Aidan to sing Jesus Loves me and say his prayers and he goes *sniff-sniff* "eww Mommy your hair is stinky!!" hahaha I loved it!

Today we went to the library for the regular Thursday story time. The kids read the book "It looked like spilt milk". Well Aidan sat there so good and soaked up everyword while Ashie was engrossed in saying "Hey baby" (to all the younger siblings) and rubbed their hair, looked at the fishes, played on the computer, and stared at the boy who was having a snack.

Tonight we have no water. Another reason to add to my list of why I HATE well water. We can't fiqure out what is wrong with it. So we have to wait till tomorrow to get someone (hopefully) out here to fix it! I guess mommy will have stinky hair until tomorrow! lol

Here comes peter cotton tail

2008-03-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

Of course I forgot my camera tonight! Aidan participated in one soccer drill tonight. Hey it's an improvement lol! I feel like it's prob because he doesn't go to preschool or day care or anything! But next week we may try letting grandmas take him and see how that works. I would rather him get something out of it and enjoy even if that means I can't go :-( They got their shirts, shorts and socks tonight! He looks so cute in his jersey!

We then moved onto the Easter Bunny at the mall. Just like Santa, Aidan was star struck and Asher was happy to say "Bye Bye Bunny"! We then went to Moe's and everytime the crew would shout out "Welcome to Moe's" Ash sayin "wemdkfkf MOES!!!!"

I joined a new mommy group. This one is a little more laid back than Mops and closer. They have different activities and you choose which ones you want to go to! This gives me something to look forward to each week! On Friday we are going to the Learning Express where there is a bunny exhibit! So I was reading the profiles of the mommies and so far all are in their 30's with kids under 5. I guess I'll have to say "Hi! I'm Lauren and I'm 25 AND A HALF!! lol"!!

Say a prayer for my MIL tomorrow. She is having 4 teeth pulled WITHOUT anthesia!! Poor thing! I'll be making mad mashed potatos for the next few days!

Get Service

2008-03-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

I just love this video.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2008-03-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

We did nothing "green" to celebrate but I tried baking a cake with the kids! I cut holes in either ends of the eggs to save them to dye this weekend. This is what Aidan is doing in one of the pics, blowing the egg into the cake batter. We all had a great time! Tomorrow we are going to soccer then to see the "Bunny Bun" (easter bunny as aidan calls it) at the mall! Woohoo!

Updates on The Boys!

2008-03-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

Oh how the boys are changing everyday! Everyday it's something new or different or fun! I mean don't get me wrong all three of us have our break downs (lo, me Aidan and Asher that is). Mommy even put herself in time-out today or she was going to explode! I wish I could bottle up all that fun and happinesses and put it into words but I'll try my best!

Today, Asher was beating the TV with a toy and I said "Ashie I'm gonna spank that toushie if you don't stop!" He stops, walks over to me and turns around sticking his butt out at me. I was laughing so hard I couldn't do anything but laugh! He is more than ever flapping his gums! Talk talk talk! And a dancing machine! He will dance to anything that plays! He is starting to form sentences like "I hurt foot, Broder trrrooouble, I hungee, Tank you mama, I go Grandmas house. Tonight's newest phrase was "Where Thumpkin?"

We were in an office the other day and the lady looked at their charts and gasps "Oh my! No wonder they are so wrestless! They are so young! She said I thought the oldest was 5 and the younger was three". Oh no I say 3 and 18 months. Then she had to preceed to walk down the hall and ask two different people "How old do you think they are?". Yes woman I know they are big kids lol!

Aidan is growing and changing everyday. We are still having a big problem with his temper and attitude. It's something I'm going to talk to his peditrician about. I feel like it's getting past the point of "a phase" or "the terrible threes". But he does have his good moments. Tonight he helped me make spagetti by breaking up the noodles and "washing" the dishes. He loves nature and pointing out different insects. He can write an A now. He could read 24/7 if I had the time and patience lol! We have started going to the library every Thursday to Story Time. He sits right up front and listens intently. My Ashie likes to rearrange the chairs and sit beside the older kids and touch their hair (Aidans got the ear fetish and Ash has got the hair! lol) He may be 3 but he is still my cuddler and love bug! Or as I call him my sweet angel!

Waaaaay Behind!

2008-03-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

No nothing pressing we have been up to has kept me from blogging....I just got lazy!! So here's an update on our lives.

Soccer!! Last Tuesday was Aidan's 1st soccer practice. Coach was a no show so the 3 kids that showed up just kicked around the ball but he LOVED it!! I was PISSED though!!! He looked longingly at the other teams and how much fun they were having with their coaches!! I emailed the program director. He mailed me back explaining how he was told she called AND emailed all the parents saying pratice was cancelled. 1. How are you going to disappoint nine 3-4 year old by canceling the first practice 2. Funny how "I must have provided the wrong email AND phone number" and the same goes for the other 3 parents/kids that showed. You had no prob calling me on sun saying that there was going to be a pratice this week!! 3. I called the front desk that day asking if any practices had been cancelled AND Mathew asked again before we left home (he got there early). But all in all he had so much fun....the first time.

Stomach Bug!! First it was Asher, then me, then Aidan. Fun stuff. Aidan says "I grow up" instead of "I throw up!" I wanted to shoot myself where as the kids got sick then got back to bouncing off the walls lol!

Soccer Pratice Week !!! Ooohhh I was even madder...with Aidan this time! He wouldnt do ANYTHING!! He wouldn't participate or even go near the field. NOTHING worked! I was about to send Ash into the field because he wanted to play sooo bad!! So we opted for CiCi's to calm ourselves ;-)

Last Weekend!!! Paul came down with Auntie Melissa and UNcle Brandon. They brought their dog (maltese) with them and it stayed at our house!! Made me want a dog even worse!! Made me want a third child even less ;-)

Time Change!!! AKA kids sleep "later" lol. So does mom! I don't think I could go back to work! I had an 8am appt in town (30 mins away) to get Allstate to look at the damage to the truck. Yeah usually the 6:30 alarm clock of two scurrying feet always wakes me up. I wake up at 7:30am and roll back over. :-)

And thats my lazy update!
And thats my lazy update!

What a day! What a day! My baby brother ran away and now my tuba will not play!

2008-03-03T19:13:00.000-08:00

Anybody else remember that book? hahaha Oh yes what a day it has been! Why is it so much easier to bitch rather than compliment? Oh well thats what blogging is for! :-) So here goes....

We start off at about 10am. I put Ashie into the carseat and Aidan is running in the yard. I go to get him and he is up to his knees in ants. Damn ant hills. We need to find something that will terminate them forever!!! Luckily he didnt get bit (just me). So I load everyone into the car and notice that a sippee cup (ya know the "non spill ones" hahahaha) has exploded in my diaper bag. So I lay everything in the truck to dry because I'm not going into one place long enough that I need to drag the bag in with me. I go to the tax office to get a sticker for our cars so we can dump trash. Bitch of all bitches waited on me! Apprantly it was my fault the world turns lol. Next is Food Lion. I pull into a parking space. As I am turning the Uhaul that is parked next to me has not secured his door shut. The wind blows it open as I am turning and it scraps allll down the door of our flawless silver Toyota truck. So we wait to hash out insurance and file a police report. Thank goodness my MIL is with me! So we deal with that and finally run in for the 4 things we needed. I had Ashie in the cart and he spills the candy that he was eating. I bent down to pick it up and as I was coming up he was falling out (he had stood up...there was no seatbelt... I just had to get 4 things...)...I catch him as my heart races. So he resides on my hip as we continue shopping. Aidan runs behind a cardboard fixture. I go to scold him and he yells back at me as people gasp and stare. I break down because of the events that happened between 10am and 12:30pm. I regain my composure and hurry home to read the section in my new book about "Back Talking" . I am a mommy and I love my job. I am a mommy and I love my job. I AM A MOMMY AND I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!!! Ok thanks guys I feel better!

On a better note my sister Kirsten came to visit this weekend!!! We had so much fun and she LOVED spending time with the boys!! They loved having her and Ashie still asks for her daily! Though I think I scared her from EVER having kids!!!! 6:30am wake up calls, half eaten food being placed in her hand, poopie diapers, and non ending days really tired her out lol! We can't wait to see her again!

Aidan starts soccer tomorrow!!! It's supposed to rain! Pray it holds out!!

The Next David Beckham

2008-02-26T19:17:00.000-08:00

Or at least close to it! I signed Aidan up for the YMCA Youth soccer today! I'm so excited! He is going to have a blast! It's a group for 3-4 year olds. They don't have games but teach the skills and just have fun! I guess I can literally be a soccer mom now!!! lol Now I just need the van!

I scored a deal on the gear! I got adidas cleats, shinguards, and soccer socks for $8 on yardsales.com. They were all brand new. The lady had spent over $40, only for her son to decide that he wanted to do karate instead!

Ashie is MR. Personality! He has been a little under the weather but I think it makes him a little silly! He has started to ask questions (other than HUH?). Like what did you say, where is it, whats that. Not that it's that clear. Its only in a language I understand lol! He is associating things with people. For example, he knows who's cell phone is who's, who's shirt is who's, etc. He is OBSESSED with dogs and motorcycles! I wish I could capture his reaction when he hears a motor! It's too cute!

Tomorrow we have to clean the apt ugh! I would like to get SOME deposit back!! Off to bed. I have been drinking this sleepy time green tea before I go to bed and I feel like it knocks me on my feet (it's nothing herbal or funny its just normal grocery store hot tea lol!)

Aidan's 3rd Fireman's Birthday Party!

2008-02-24T18:46:00.001-08:00

Well we had (aka we survived) Aidan's 3rd birthday party at the fire station! I was so very tired last night! My body even hurt this morning lol (I know very sad!). Anyways the boys had so much fun! The little boy in the picture with Aidan is his cousin Paul. The party was also for him, so we just combined their two parties. His birthday is March 2.

We invited eight children, ages 8-1, and they all had a blast! They got to tour the fire trucks, spray the hose, and watch a fireman put on his gear! Aidan was most excited saying, "Is that fire truck for meeee?" He had big saucier eyes the whole time. Like his lifetime dream had come true!

Asher enjoyed trying to see how many paddles (from the ping pong table) he could snatch and paddle people with!

Thanks to all who came!! It meant so much to the boys!! (and us!)

My pics aren't working on the blogs so check out some pictures of the party here: http://2boysofmine.shutterfly.com/action/

Now I know my ABC's!

2008-02-22T18:10:00.000-08:00

Asher means Happy in Hebrew! How perfect is that!

ABC's according to Asher

Sand Box Fun

2008-02-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

So the length of the video is the amount of time we spent outside lol! It's soooo cold!! I thought I would bundle the kids up and get them some fresh air!! There's not enough bundling in the world!! http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/34e22d7cb0e77ca4ee009f11c0eb0087?index=0

Happy 3rd Birthday Aidan!

2008-02-19T19:51:00.000-08:00

Today my baby boy turned 3!! We had a fun day of picking out a toy and paying for it all by himself, making cupcakes, playing outside and being spoiled with hugs and kisses!! He was quite excited to tell EVERYONE Happy Birthday and "wanting more presents". He grinned ear to ear when we sang happy birthday! This morning he had eggs and a cinnamon roll with a candle in it. Then after dinner was a cupcake and more candles! He got lots of cards from all his family! We love you Aidan!

We are well on our way......

2008-02-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

To life WITHOUT diapers!!!! This is just the beginning but it's a start! Today 3 random times Asher took his diaper off by himself and said pee pee. So we ran to the potty and TA-DA! He went pee pee!! I'm so proud of him and he loved everyone making it a big deal! Like Aidan he prefers the big potty instead of the millions we spent on cute, fun potty chairs! Also, with Aidan we shoved treats down his throat to reward him but Ashie is just fine and dandy with cheers and claps!!

Oh I wish I had gotten a picture! The boys were playing outside after the sun decided to show up! It had been raining allll day! We HAD to get out of the house! So of course they get into a mud puddle, then it was all over! They splashed and played till we could see no more color on them! All boys I tell ya...all boys!

We now have doors that are raised higher than normal doors at the bottom. After I lay Ashie down for his nap, he has started to get out of bed and lay on the floor and watch us from under the door. Its too cute. He doesnt cry or say anything. Then he eventually gets back in his bed!

This no dishwasher or garbage disposal is killing me. I was the type of person, if I could shove it in the disposal, it would be chopped up! My hands are so dry! We are slowly fixing the water, adding filters to everything. I HATE well water! My hair is so thick and the water pressure is so low! I have to turn the bath water on at the end of my shower to make sure I rised all the soap out lol! But no I'm kidding, I know I could be ALOT worse off!!!

My baby will be three tomorrow....bitter sweet!

A-Hole

2008-02-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

So I was just informed that my father and 2 sisters went to dinner and the subject of Lauren came up. My middle sister asks what I am doing now a days. My father's response was "just staying around with the boys". All you SAHM's please email me for his address so I can tell you where to send the HATE mail! Thanks! OK gotta get back to staying around! ;-)

Adventures of Aidan and Asher

2008-02-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

It's so cute how he remembers things and reacts to them. Yesterday his grandma went to the doctor. She cameover today and sat down on the couch. He came up to her and said "Where's your bandaid?" She was like I don't have a bandaid. He said "You went to the doctor?". He thought she was supposed to get a shot and a bandaid becuase she went to the doctor. lol

Tonight he says "Mommy you got somefin on you face". He licks his thumbs and wipes my face. I think I'll stop doing that and reach for a wipe instead lol!

This morning I was washing dishes (because we don't have dishwasher.....waaaaahhhh!) and the whole time Asher clung to my leg. This is unusual for Asher, esp for the long time that he did this. Finally he says, "I hurt, I hurt, I hurt" then blaaaaa, puked everywhere! Poor baby! I stuck him in the bath and he says "I feel good" (I don't feel good he means) But I don't know what it was because he was his active care free self the rest of the day!

Dear Mr. 99 year old Walmart Greeter.....

2008-02-14T17:42:00.001-08:00

I have been many places today and Walmart was my last stop. Please leave me alone. Please do not tell me what I am doing wrong. Just try to help me or leave me alone. I have two young very cranky children and I am having a bad day. Don't preceed to tell me that my child's shoe is missing and then tell me it's in the cart, I know this. Don't tell me that my goldfish box is open is will prob spill everywhere, again, I got it covered. When you see me struggling to bring in two bags of sandbox sand inside and corral my children so they don't jet into the street, don't comment that I should have gotten a cart. I know. I didn't feel like trucking BACK up to the front with two CRANKY children just to leave my full cart and get another. I'm patting myself that I have made it this far in Walmart, don't burst my bubble. Don't keep telling me where to place the sand when I'm trying to yell at my 3 year year old to come back, just take the damn sand and stick it somewhere. Just leave me alone and go back to greeting.....Thanks!

Done!

2008-02-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

Well long story short we have MOVED!!!! I'm so tired everynight! They boys so far love it! Aidan calls it the "New House" and Asher the "hooooowse". We split the bunkbeds up so they have matching twin beds. Asher's is enclosed so it looks like a twin crib lol! I'll included pics soon! As Mat said the other night "Welcome Home Sallese Family, Welcome Home" lol!

Moving Day....

2008-02-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

....is nearing us! We started to move a few things today and tomorrow is D-Day. OMG at all the JUNK we have! Next time we move I'm opening up the house and saying "Everything's a Dollar". Thank goodness Mom and Steph took the kids for tonight. Tommorrow is dropping off Paul's new bed then picking up the bunkbeds, then back here to move. I've been preggo the last two times (or just had the baby) we have moved, so I got out of it. This time not so lucky! hehe

Asher Moving Us

Super Bowl Sunday

2008-02-03T17:37:00.000-08:00

It's my excuse to eat a lot of junk foods ;-)

Tonight I tried to capture our blessing at dinner time. Of course this ended in an Aidan protest. But here's the video anyways!

http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/4a9b002c8bcd80beb5af8a43b8324666?index=0

Then it's more Aidan and Asher playing, Ashie doing sign language, and another rendition of 'Jesus Loves Me'

http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/77178686ed48545e97dc78de7e4402bd?index=0

Quick Update

2008-02-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

Whew! Things have been crazy around here :-P So I haven't done much else with the new camera! Ashie now has pink eye in both eyes (knew that was coming), a cold and was running a small fever today. Grandmas took Aidan today so I could focus on take care (babying) Ashie today! Our church had their monthly yard sale today so I tried to get rid of as much as I could....less to move! We went and cleaned the new place the other day. The truck battery died at church. Not to mention we just bought a battery for my car on Monday! More packing! Trying to plan Aidan and Paul's birthdays. Eh packing... Every bill imaginable seemed to pour in lately...car insurance, truck insurance, vehicle taxes, bla bla bla bla. Mat's sick, I'm on and off sick, but Aidan's good to go! I think I'll go crawl under the covers and hide for as long as possible! ;-)

One More Time

2008-01-30T21:07:00.001-08:00

ok try this link

http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/a9925f80f8f4249013d13480b29e7a0f?index=0

Errr

2008-01-30T20:24:00.001-08:00

OK it's not working....TO Be Continued!

Welcome to the Video World Lauren

2008-01-30T20:02:00.000-08:00

I got a new Flip Camera today. No frills or bells. Just something plain and simple that I need! Now I can save everything to the computer and not have to search for a 2 inch tape floating around this messy house, if I want to watch a home video! This is a test one. Be prepared for more to come!

A New Things Kinda Day!

2008-01-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

Carseat: Aidan got a "big boy" carseat now! He is so much more comfy in it! He loves it so much! He keeps saying how he loves his new carseat and is it for Aidan? "It's not Ashie's carseat? It's mine?" It's a Graco Nautlis! After Mathew installed it, he shook it and the car shook instead! It's a really great carseat and I feel so much more safer because he was def growing out of his old one!

Park: We went as a family today to the park and bundled the kids up to take a short walk. It was nice to get out of the house and let the kids play! They played on the playground until their fingers started to turn blue so we headed home! (not really but the sun was going down so it was cold).

New House Stuff: I started buying things for our new place. Only 2 more weeks till we move!!! I got a jungle animals shower curtain and monkey curtain rings for the boys bathroom. Their bathroom is jungle animal themed right now but we have those annoying sliding doors so I never bought a curtain. I'm excited to have our own bathroom again. Right now we have 2 bathrooms but the boys tub is only used to throw dirty towels or clean out nasty stuff in. So we have to rake all the bath toys out of our way if we want to take showers!

Eyes: Yes both of them, Aidan has pink eye in both eyes! Poor baby! To the doctor we go tomorrow! Which yes means Ashie's is right around the corner! I guess more bring hulled up in the house for a few days! Mat's response: Oh my gosh, I am not touching the kids till they get over it!!! I'm sorry but I'm not. I can't get it and miss work!!!! Thanks honey thanks for the support! ;-) LOL

NKOTB: Oh yeah that's right, who's coming with me???!!!

Bad Day

2008-01-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

It's just been a bad day overall!! So these are some pics I took this afternoon and tonight. I just wanted to share them with everyone.

So to sum up my bad day I must vent to someone. I went to do my taxes and came home to more holes in the celing and water drizzling down from it. This is because my boyfriend "didn't fall asleep on the couch" while he was with the boys and they flooded the upstairs bathroom by stuffing wads and wads of toliet paper in the toliet and flushed it repeatedly. Somehow everything I ever did wrong was brought up and turned into my fault...Then Mat's sister called, he handed the phone to me, "Hey look we are driving up today and I wanted to know if Mat can go out with us tonight?"

Thanks, thanks alot for including me, thanks for asking if we could find a sitter so we can all go out, gosh Lauren I know you are with the kids 24/7 and sure would like a break...let's all go out. No it was Mat come out with us.

And what did Mat do? Did he say "hey I'll try to find us a sitter or I'll ask my mom so we can go out"? No of course not! Did he stay at home with his wife because it wouldn't be fair for him to go out and have fun and me ALWAYS GETTING STUCK AT HOME. Nope. Did he do ANYTHING to make this situation better for me? Nota. This will somehow get turned aruond on me. Just watch.

I didn't wanna go anyway. Thats not the point. So anyone wanna come over? I'm baking a pity party cake!! ;-)

1st Dentist Visit

2008-01-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

And we survived it! The office was great! The receptionist were wonderful and the hygienists very kid friendly. The dentist on the other hand, I wanted to ask him why is he in this field? Very distinct, impersonal, "get in get out" attitude. Now on the other hand he works with screaming brats all day, it's Friday and it's 3:30pm. But here's how our visit went!

Mat came with me because they suggested two people come (for two kids). I went with Asher and Mathew with Aidan. I layed down on the chair and Asher laid on top of me. Of course he cried. Brought "monk monk" but he didn't help much. He was scared with the new experience but the hygienists talked to him the whole time. All they did was brush his teeth and give him fluoride. The dentist came in and looked at his teeth for all of 30 seconds. He got a clean bill of health as he sat up and said through the sobs "All done?".

Aidan did great! This is all what Daddy told me! I asked him before we left did he remember EVERYTHING they told him because I want to know every detail because I'll go back and ask them to tell me!! LOL. Aidan was very cooperative! They brushed his teeth, put fluoride on them, took Xrays, counted his teeth and wiggled all of them. Mat said he did great cooperating with everything that they told him to do! He also got to lay on Daddy lap (so no threat of leaving your child back there alone Rachel! At this one at least they have notices everywhere to stay with your child at all times). I'm so proud of my big boy! He came out just a beaming but I think the experience was also a little new to him because he said as we left "No more demtis mama?" Also the dentist told Mat "He doesn't eat a lot of candy does he?" HAHAHAHAHAHAAH He doesn't eat a lot of candy but sweet stuff! And I'm not perfect on the brushing either so I thank Cheese for the good check up. The boy eats more cheese than anyone I know!!! I've heard that cleans your teeth. They also said next time they will put sealants on some of his teeth just to prevent cavities!

So whew that's over with!! At least for another 6 months!

Finger Painting 101

2008-01-24T17:13:00.000-08:00

First of all I'm happy to report that my real Aidan is back!! The fun-loving, caring, compassionate little boy is back. For the first time in a really long time, I cooked an entire dinner and Aidan and Asher sat in the toy room reading books to each other the ENTIRE time. Usually me cooking dinner consists of, the boys running around like wild monkeys, Aidan hitting (pushing, running over, jumping on, etc) Asher, me putting Aidan in time out, going back to cooking only to hear Ashers cries because Aidan has tormented him yet again!! All the while I am scrambling to try to find Super Nanny's number! ;-) But today was a GREAT day! Even when Asher went to bed Aidan and I played like we were at the beach, read lots of books uninterrupted, cooked and ate goobs of (fake) food. Usually before his bedtime is lots of crying, whining, throwing, and tantrum throwing! He has even gone down to nap and bed with no fight!

It was too blustery cold today to play outside so I bought some finger paints and poster board from my second home....oh I mean from Walmart. The boys had a BLAST doing it!! I've included some pictures! Ashie painted with everything but his hand including his butt, his feet, arms and elbows! But it was fun having them do a craft that they could both equally enjoy!!

Prayer

2008-01-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

Tonight just take time out to pray! Pray for the babies who come into the world struggling. Prayer for their parents. Pray for the sick children out there and the healthy! I came across a blog tonight that sparked this urgency of prayer in me. A family is pregnant with a son who has spina bifida and T18. Unexpectantly the mother has gone into labor (I'm not sure how many weeks she is). The husband is out of town on buisness and desparatley trying to get back! The baby may live an hour or may live a few days.

Ring Around the Rosies Sallese Family Style

2008-01-20T16:51:00.001-08:00

This is Asher's most fav game ever!! "wing wond, wing wond", he says. So we get up to play. We hold hands, Asher lets go of Aidans hand, Aidan cries out for him to take his hand back, Ashie screams no and tries to run away, Mommy gets in the middle of the two, in the middle of the game Ashie tries to hold Aidans hand again, hell break loose again, we all fall down, but Ashie is still standing, Aidan runs over to him and does a football tackle to knock him down, daddy yells, aidan yells, ashie yells, and finally mommy is yelling at everyone. Ring Around the Rosies.

Little bit of everything!

2008-01-18T18:57:00.000-08:00

So, I'm in my "I want another baby phase". This phase comes and goes. Thanks to IUD this cannot happen for at least another 4 years! Wahoo! Also EDUCATION is slowly turning me away from baby number 3! I was reading my Parents magazine on different college savings programs for the kids. By the time our kids are college bound school will cost between 140,000 and 470,000. Better buck up on those football skills boys! lol This scares me too death! I've also been researching private schools for K-12. I'll have to work 3 jobs to do it but hell it would so be worth it!

So now I have to brag! Tonight, Aidan was doing something wrong so I started the counting...I said 1, Asher says twooo, freee, so I kept going I said four, he says fii. Then I did it a bunch of ways different ways and he always got the numbers right up until 5! One time when I said 6 he said nii (nine?). I WAS SOOO EXCITED! And he wasn't feeding off my excitement. He was playing with those pop together blocks and saying his numbers as he tried to push them in! He just acted as if this was nothing! Aww I love him, couldn't he stay this age FOREVER!!

Aidan on the other hand, is he 18 yet???!! I am having the worst problem with him! First he was mean to Ashie then he switched to great and helpful, now I feel like I yell at him 24/7!!! I feel like I've tried everything! After time out, and a talking too on what he did wrong, he gets up and walks right over to his brother and takes away a toy or starts beating on him! I'm sure it's an attention thing but it's driving me to my wits end!! I seriuosly think it's time for preschool or some type of regular interaction with other kids on a regular basis!!!

The rest of NC is getting snow, while we are singing rain rain go away! No I'm kidding I know how much we need this rain! Well I must go clean up, scrapbook, exercise....umm play some more on the net ;-)

PS: Any mom's reading this: The Children's Place is having an AMAZING sale! The stuff online is even better but I got a Sweater for Ashie and 3 pairs of socks for 5.32 today!!!

Quote

2008-01-14T20:24:00.000-08:00

"The walks and talks we have with
our two-year-olds in red boots have
a great deal to do with the values
they will cherish as adults."
(Edith F. Hunter)

Way behind!

2008-01-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've fallen behind in my blogging! Nothing much new to report today just ramblings!

We sign our lease for our new place tommorrow! Wahoo! I'm excited! Just ready to get moved out/in! Though that won't be for another month! I'm kinda at a lull for packing! Now it's just the stuff we use all the time! I know most of it I could pack but "just in case" lol! There are only two things I dread about this house 1. well water and 2. NO DISHWASHER!! I stick everything I can in my dishwasher! I also have a phobia about using sponges. I guess I need to get over it quick huh? I just think it's so nasty to clean something with something I've already cleaned dirty things with! Paper plates it is!

Aidan spent the night with his Grandma last night! Ashie throughly enjoyed his alone time with mommy and daddy! Though he frequently went to the bottom of the stairs and screamed "Ai-daaaaan!" When we went to pick Aidan up Ashie ran right over to him and rubbed his head and said "HI!". While Aidan was away we went to Sears to check out some washer and dryers. After that we went to Roc-o-la to eat because not cooking and cleaning out weighed not spending money! lol! We were shocked and happy to learn that Mat's boss paid for our dinner! What a treat! Now what does she want from him lol!

Speaking of Mat...and men. I noticed a trend lately of how men do not really understand how important ages are at such a young age. Just something kinda funny I observed! Mat was speaking to someone on the phone and said that his boys were 3 and 2 years old! Ok so aidan is close to 3 but NOT YET!! I don't want him to be any older than he is! And hell Ashie....ain't anywhere close to 2 yrs lol! What was he thinking! Then at church, I was keeping children's church. A man brought his little boy in and I asked how old he was. The man said 19 months. His mother was talking with me later and said the boy was 17 months...big difference man! They do so much month by month. I don't know why I'm talking about this...just an observation.

Aidan is taking suuch a grown up role lately. Helping around the house, running "Daddy errands", helping me with Asher, eating alll his food at every meal, directing me what is right and what is wrong! My MIL will be sending me videos she has downloaded of the boys so I should have those sometime this week!

Asher on the other hand...is very mychevious! Always testing us, cutting his eyes, testing some more, throwing food at meal time, and more testing! He is finally saying "Wuv wou" all the time!! And of course everything is "eady, set, go". If he is getting in trouble and we count to three we say "One" and he says "Twoooo". And I fall out laughing! It's so hard to punish this child!! He is a talker!! He always asks where everyone is! He goes through everyone's name and then says "Huh?" after I explain it to me, as he does EVERYTHING I explain to him!

What's in a name?

2008-01-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

Aidan is all about some names! He wants to know EVERYONE's name! "Mom what's her name?" "Hey, what's your name?" He loves to hear first and last names! He just learned his full name, and mine and daddy's. So recently it's been "that's not Daddy, that's Mathew!".

My sweet little good boy has turned bad! LOL! Ashie's new word is "FINE"! EVerytime he cocks an attitude it's "FINE" followed by throwing something! This is usually happening at meal time. He is going through one of those phases were he wants to eat NOTHING! He covers his eyes when we get mad at him and peeks through his fingers, making that devilish grin face! At this age he needs to know discipline but HE's SO DARN CUTE!! LoL! It's so hard to really get mad!!!

One of my MOPS mom's her second child last night. AT the last MOPS meeting they prayed for speedy, painless birth. Wed night she noticed some spotting and told her hubbie they needed to head over to the hospital (she's at 40weeks). The neighbor came over to watch her other child and she went to pee one last time before going to the hosiptal. She felt the baby's head!! She screamed for her husband, he lowered her onto the floor, her water broke and out came the baby! See prayers really do work!! lol!

Funny comments

2008-01-08T17:05:00.001-08:00

Aidan's language just gets better by the day! His comments really crack me up! Today after Ashie hit him he came to me and said "Mommy Ashie broke my brain!" After Daddy tried to get off the phone with Aidan today he exclaims "Daddy, wait, I have to tell you sumfin!"

Aidan and Ashie are lost without one another. I love it! I know Aidan has been really mean to Ashie lately but it seems to be subsiding. Whenever they are apart the other one constantly talks about the other. Today Mat took Aidan with him to Wal-mart and Ashie constantly said "Aidan?" "Aidan?" Then he lays down on the floor drinking his sippee cup until Aidan burst through the door. Ashie pops up and screams "AIDAN" and they give each other the most precious hugs and kisses.

I remember when I first got preggo with Ashie and I stood in the shower bawling my eyes out. The hormones had kicked in by this point and I was so upset that Aidan wouldn't feel loved, or I wouldn't have enough time to teach him things because of the baby and he wouldn't be as smart, or he would hate me for not feeling loved enough. Yeah THAT all went out the window after Asher was born and I learned to juggle them both. Now I'm like I can't imagine Aidan without Asher! By the way Asher is about a month and a half shy of being Aidan's age when I had Asher and now I look back and think OMG WHAT WAS I THINKING lol!!

We've been doing some packing today since Mat had the day off! I don't wnat to be so overwhelmed since I will prob be doing most of the moving in/out and cleaning myself!! So we are doing a little bit everyday!! I don't want to jinx anything but hell I think we've got a place. We just have to go sign the lease!! I'm sooo excited. It isn't a WHOLE lot bigger than what we have now but it's something we want and can afford and has almost an acre of land. It's in the country and in a great neighborhood! It also has 2 sheds with electricty so that's where Mat will be living!! lol!

First Movie!

2008-01-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

Yai-Yai and La-La took Aidan to his first movie! They saw Alvin and the Chipmunks! They said he enjoyed it and sat for the whole thing, just getting up to pee twice! How exciting! He then spent the night with them. Yai-Yai said that he woke up at 5:45am and said "OK I all done sleeping". He also was getting ready to feed their cats and said "Hey boy! You hungry boy? I gonna feed you boy!" Such grown up language now a days! I asked him to clean up his toys and he says "Ummm how bout later?" lol!

While Aidan was away we took Asher to Fit for Fun! He had a great time! He has such a different personality when it's just him and me! But he frequently asked for Aidan which melts my heart!! Aidan has started to be so mean to Asher lately! So we are working on why we are mean to Ashie and what we can do instead of hitting him. Though Aidan tells on himself and is VERY honest with me about what he does lol!

The pictures I've included are 1) not the 1,000 of dollars worth of toys but the Huggies box that Asher had hours of fun in! 2) Playing at fit for fun!

Goodbye Gletto!

2008-01-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

We put in our 60 day notice (yes this craphole requires a 60day!) So I got less than 2 months to find a new place. We have one in mind so cross your fingers but I'm not getting my hopes up! I'm so ready for more room and a yard!

I think we may actually have this thing called winter now! I had to put on a jacket to take out the trash. But no frets I'll be back in my Rainbows by Friday ;-) We had a good New Year. Mat got sent home from work early which was a nice surprise!

I'm hardcore scrapbooking now! Well I finshed my first page lol. I love to scrapbook but it stresses me out so bad!! Everything...must...be ..perfect. Even though I know it's not! But I want to do the boys books before they get to old and I forget things! Speaking of I have what I told Rachel is "the mommy brain". For example, we were at Golden Corral with our nephew and I asked him what flavor of ice cream he wanted he told me and I turned around to get it and just stared at the machine. I totally forgot what he just told me. I went to Walmart today and left nipples boiling on the stove (this is the 5th time I've done this). Luckily Mat was home but he didnt catch it in time enough to save our apt from the wonderful smell of rubber.

Yes I was boiling nipples because my child is STILL on the bottle. Now some of you may be gasping...bad teeth, dental probs...etc. I know I know. But here's my explanation. First he only takes it at night. Second I tried everything, rocking him to sleep, pacifiers, nothing but screaming. I know the longer I put it off the harder its going to be but I have a plan. When we move and don't have neighbors on the other side of the wall, I'll just let him scream it out. Our neighbors recently got a noise complaint so I dont want that happening to us!!! We are loud enough as it is! Maybe we will have a Bye Bye Bottle Party and make it a big deal how good it is that he is giving away his bottle! (like people do with pacifiers) For now I'll add it to my "To Do Later List"

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T21:37:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

A Day at the Park

2007-12-30T18:59:00.001-08:00

Ashie's Words of the Day

2007-12-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

"I boke it" - I broke it
"Nasy"- Nasty..he just screamed this outta nowhere in the truck yesterday
"I got it"
"Monkey"- his curiuos george
"Spngabob"- spongebob
"aaaaahmen"- said randomly throughout dinner
"aple juice"
"makey"- monkey

Aidan and I were reading all of his new books the other night. He looked up at me and said "Mom, this is great". Who is this grown-up talking child?! All of us are sick now...sore throats, coughs, runny noses, etc..fun times. I wanted to start walking again to walk off this 10 pounds I have gained over Christmas lol! But instead I sit around eating and sniffing! Since our nephew Paul has been staying with us, he calls me Aunt Lauren. Well now Aidan calls me Auntie Woren. Its too cute! *UPDATE* aidan screams out right before we take communion "I wanna go up there and get my cracker!!"

Even More...

2007-12-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

More Pics

2007-12-26T16:24:00.000-08:00

Wonderful Christmas

2007-12-26T16:04:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year! So many wonderful memories made that I can't describe them all! But here's a recap:

Christmas Part 1: We went to DDoc's (my granddad) in Oxford and had a wonderful time with him and my parents, and sisters! Asher enjoyed climbing up in the window sill with him and saying "git doggie, git!" Aidan enjoyed cuddling with him in the window seat and watching the Elmo Christmas special. My sisters, mom, and dad did a wonderful job spoiling the kids silly with all kinds of love, attention, and TOYS! We packed up all (well mostly) of the old toys and sent them to goodwill. Mama kept the boys one night so Ddoc, Kirsten and I could go out to dinner which was sooooooo nice!

Christmas Part 2: My moms side of the family always does Christmas on Christmas Eve day in Raleigh, so I was excited we got to go to that this year! I've included the picture we all took. The boys were spolied with more attention and toys! But it was sooo good to see everyone again! My cousins had grown up so much!!

Christmas Part 3: Christmas Eve we had returned home about 5:30pm and went to church service at 8:30pm. This was special to Mat's mom because the whole family went. Something she has wanted for a long long time! The boys only lasted half way through the service but considering they had been on the go in strange places for 4 day they did sooooooo well! Aidan and Ash passed out by the time we got to grandmas so i did the milk, cookies, and reindeer food (thanks to Grandma Dori---gotta tell ya later where that came from) with 5 year old cousin Paul-Paul! It was so exciting to see him so excited!! Christmas morning we woke up about 7:30am and started on the presents. Mat had eaten the cookies and left one that was bitten into! It was just cute looking! Aidan was THRILLED with his kitchen and nothing else mattered after that!! Asher (as you can see in the pic) had gotten an extra comfy monkey blanket (he loves curiuos george) and he decided to lay down in the middle of presents and take a rest, so Mat and I finished with the presents. I got a bunch of "chef man" stuff for my kitchen from Melissa (we drew names), Mat got clothes and a leather coat from mom, and we had a picture frame engraved for Melissa and Brandon and melissa was very touched about it!

Christmas Part 4: By now Ashie knows the word presents! Minnie got Aidan some Spongebob coloring stuff and the movie and Ashie got a telephone since the child is OBSESSED with phone. That was the only present that he gasped over! We had a good small celebration with Minnie!!

Merry Christmas!!

2007-12-25T19:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm way to tired to blog tonight. But stories and pictures are coming soon! I'm keeping my 5 year old nephew for a week so bear with me in the blog dept! We had such a wonderful Christmas with some wonderful family! Hope yours was just as good! Peace to all!

Lauren, Mathew, Aidan, and Asher

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

2007-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

So much to do so little time!! Me and the kids are leaving for Oxford on Friday until Sunday. Monday Christmas with my mom's family in Raleigh, drive back Monday evening, Christmas with Minnie that night, Christmas Eve service at 8:30pm then spend the night at Grandmas. Then Christmas day at grandmas. So bewteen today and Thursday I have more Christmas shopping, laundry washing (all the "good clothes of course"), packing, wrapping and panicking!

Asher is doing great so far. We went to the ped. yesterday and she says she has seen cases like this but there is no explaination. If it continues to happen we are taking him to a Pediatric Neurologist. But hopefully it won't come to that and he will continue to improve!!! Thanks for all your prayers and concerns!

We were in church Sunday and Asher sang along with the choir. "sing, sing , singsing, sing" he says!! He will be the next American Idol! Aidan is too qucik for me and I can't "slide things by him anymore". For example, his Daddy got a haircut and he came home and then went back out again (the lady at Walgreens overfilled our printer cartridge and he went back to raise hell when it leaked all over our printer). Aidan says "where daddy going? going to get haircut?" instead of explaining the Walgreens trip to him I said yes Aidan. He snaps back "No mommy he already got haircut! Where Daddy going?" Oops!

We went to the CARE Christmas party on Sunday night. This is for the kids affected with HIV/AIDS. It was so nice to see the excitement on their faces for all their toys and good food! Makes me think how grateful I am to have such healthy kids and to be able to provide a Christmas for them!!! Everyday Aidan asks Santa for his kitchen and I don't know what I would do if we couldn't afford a Christmas for them!! After that we went to the Christmas Cantata at church. That lasted all of 5 mins before I said ok thats it we are leaving!

Today is haircuts, maybe a cute shirt for Aidan (because we must look perfectly adorable right Rach lol), and shopping for my family! God bless us during this wonderful? time of year! :-)

Pay It Forward

2007-12-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?s=7477964

Prayers for Ashie

2007-12-14T17:19:00.000-08:00

So you will all prob think I'm a neurotic crazy mother. I"M NOT I SWEAR! lol.

OK here goes the story. I swear this past week has been full of downs! Mat got off work at 3pm yesterday and Mom wanted to take Aidan for the night. Great! So we decided to do some Christmas shopping with Ashie. Long story short we shopped and went out to eat from 3-6pm. Ashie was in the stroller or high chair the whole time except for one time at Target when I got him out when we were in line and he toddled around. We arrived home and I took him out of the carseat and put him on the ground to walk to the door of our home. He couldn't walk. I tried holding his hand, thinking his leg was asleep and his leg cont'd to collaspe and not cooperate. OK I was worried but still thinking his leg was asleep from being in the stroller for so long. So Mat and I got inside and rubbed his leg and foot and tired to get him to walk it off. Well minutes flew by and he still couldn't walk. We took him to Minnie's house JUST to make sure we weren't going crazy. She said you need to take that baby to the ER.

So by that point my mind was racing with fear! There was no injury, redness, swollen, pain when you touch it, NOTHING! But Ashie was fine and dandie! He just couldn't walk on his left leg! So to the ER we traveled. Again long story short. They did X-rays (my baby boy was soo brave). Nothing, they showed nothing. The doctor was perplexed. He could obviuosly see the child coudn't walk on his leg but there was no sign of anything! We were told they couldn't send him home not being able to walk and no diagnoses. So they admitted him to New Hanover because Cape Fear didn't have a PED Unit. Again my heart is racing and I feel so sorry for my poor baby who only wanted to go home and sleep in his own bed. Maybe one day I'll tell about the adventures we had in the ER that night!

Well they had no beds avaliable at NH Ped Unit so we had to wait. We arrived at the ER at 6:30pm and FINALLY at 4:30am (with no sleep from Mat and I) we were transported by ambulance to New Hanover. This was a little extreme. Just send us home and we will come back in the AM to get the bone scan! But no it had to be done this way! So we both took our first ambulance ride with Ashie on a stretcher (with a seat belt you would be HORRIFIED at Rachel). We got settled to a room and got 2 hours of shut eye. Longer story short my poor poor poor angel had an IV, bone scan and blood drawn. NOTHING!!! THEY FOUND NOTHING!!!! We were released at 4:30pm today. Part of me is glad they didn't find anything bad but they other part of me is PISSED they can't tell me what is wrong with my poor baby!! It's just lots of watch him. Another part of me is researching immunizations because he just had 3 last week and I know there are some recalled ones out there.

Like I said he is happy and otherwise healthy but he just cannot walk on that leg!! I'm sure it is just nothing but its just so hard to see my baby frustrated and not know how to help him! Just keep him in your prayers!!! :-)

Open mouth.....

2007-12-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

We were at the mall today and a lady on a scooter was trying to get by us in JCP. Aidan went up to her and laid his hand on her hand (again he doesn't understand stranger danger) and said "You driving your motorcycle?". She dies out laughing as well as I!

Recount of the days events

2007-12-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

Seeing a light at the end of the tunnel! I got alot of Christmas shopping done today! We picked a name of a little boy infected with HIV/AIDS to buy Christmas for. I think I was as excited to buy for him as I was my own children! I am almost done, thank goodness! Now to more dreaded wrapping....

Today was a very productive day! I got laundry done, both cars vaccumed out and shopping done! This was done on very little sleep! I was up until 1:30am wired for some reason. Then at 4:30am I heard, "down down, mama, down down". Ashie was up and wanted out of his crib! Today we made our daily trip to Walmart and since Mat was with us I let Ashie walk from the car to the entrance. He was such a big boy!! We had to park at the very end of Wal-mart and he held my hand and walked with such a big boy stride the whole way! At one point my hand slipped out of his and he stopped in his tracks and held up his cute little hand for me to take again!

Aidan had a little smart mouth today. I told him I left his cup in the car and he said "No Mom it's in Daddy's TRUCK!" (we drove the truck today). He called me out on every bad word (which included stupid, idiot, ok and ass- Wilmington traffic is the worst and we DEF have the worst drivers EVER and I tend to lose control -opps!). So he says "oooh mommy you NO say bad word! you bad boy!" so of course Ashie had to join in the bad boy (aidan doesnt understand the sexes yet). I'm sure this is not yet the worst that he will teach his "baby broder" (as aidan calls ashie).

Well let me go turn off my AC. Yes it's December and I have to turn off the AC for the night. Craziness and it will be like this all week! Oh well at least we can play outside (and get all that advent calendar-chocolate-induced-energy out!).

PS:Description of the picture: Aidan had fallen asleep on the floor (aka Daddy was watching the kids while mommy did laundry) and this is what Asher did when he woke up to find Aidan asleep on the floor!

Updates

2007-12-09T16:44:00.001-08:00

Oh so much to say! We've been quite busy lately and it's not going to get any easier from here!

Aidan is my big helper! He was helping me unload the dishwasher tonight. He was telling me where to put each cup and plate and he got it all right! We went to a family dollar yesterday in Wilmington that we had never been before. His La-La is the manager of the one in Burgaw and during Halloween she scared him in her store with a scary mask. Well when I pull up to the Wilmington store he says "Mommy, I'm scared." I said why Aidan? He points to the store and says "The Halloween monster is in there". Now how the hell did he know we were at a Family Dollar? Kids amaze me!

Asher woke up one morning and has not stopped talking since. When he sees a Santa he says "ho ho!" with his little lips curled up! He grabs a toy or a can of food and says "Open dis". But EVERYTHING is "What's dis?" or "What's dat?" EVERYTHING Aidan says Ashie repeats it in one way or another. This also goes for whatever Aidan does! We were in the car today and Aidan was pulling up his pant leg saying "see this (scratch) mommy?", I look over at Ashie and he is also pulling up his pant leg saying "see dis?" and pointing to his leg! I just LOVE this age!! He will go crawl up on the couch and cuddle with a pillow. When we were at Grandma's Aidan was sleeping in the playpen and I put Ashie in there to wake him up and Ashie says "wake cup wake cup" and went and snuggled next to him and Aidan put his arm around Ashie. Of course I didn't have a camera!

We went to the Christmas Parade tonight and I just LOVED watching their faces! I wish I could post videos on here because their expressions were priceless! Not a whine or a cry during the whole thing! Asher waved to everyone and danced and sang to the music. Aidan waved at the all people dressed up as characters and also loved dancing to the music! And I thought he might havea panic attack when Santa rode by! He jumped up and "hey Santa, hey there Santa" in the most deep grownup voice I have ever heard!

We FINALLY took the damn Christmas pictures at Olan Mills on Saturday. Our appt was at 10:45am and we didn't get done until 12:40pm. No one said "Oh we are running behind so and so mintues go walk your restless kids around the mall", it was just "we will get to you asap". At 12:41 I was ready and willing to give these kids to anyone who would take them (just kidding). But it was crazy and it was over and I get them back Dec 18th so Christmas cards are coming everyone!

Well the mail key has been lost for 7 days now so I must go through the piles and piles of mail that has backed up. It was in the stroller the whole time. The whole time I turned the house upside down and found a lot of missing items along the way. So I must go dive in some bills. Good night and God Bless!

Firsts

2007-12-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

YAYAYAAY! Tonight I laid Asher in his crib and said "I love you baby" and he replied "Uv wah". AKA Love you!!! I was thrilled and I got him to say it again just to make sure that is what I heard!!! I'm so proud of him! He has started to say "ho, ho,ho" when he sees a Santa. He is just growing up so fast! I hate it :-(. Minnie calls him the little midgit. She says thats no baby thats a midgit lol. We love Minnie!

Aidan is doing so well with his shapes. I made a little matching game with shapes for him today and he got them all correct! He is so eager to learn! And update on the potty training...he is good to go now! He wears undies (I say panties but get yelled at if anyone else hears me lol) all day and a diaper at night. I tried the undies at night but that didn't work. He has also started this getting up after I put him to bed, with all kinds of excuses!

Well I wrapped some presents tonight which was depressing because it showed me how much shopping I need to do! AHHH! Oh well I'll prob be at Walmart on Christmas Eve! lol I'm watching Waitress now...it's cute..goodnight!

Busy Bee!

2007-11-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

Whew! I've been pretty busy the past two days so I'm just going to make this short to catch up on home stuff! I have another yard sale at church tomorrow in which we are going to sell some jackets from http://www.leatherjacketbarn.com/. I've been waking up and walking each morning before Mat goes to work. I'm quite proud of myslef! SO PROUD that I took the top off of the carrot cake Minnie made me and I'm eating it as much as possible LOL! Oops! I think my child is spoiled and I need to do something about it. Tonight he told me "mama I told you to get me some water not orange juice"....what what what what??? He marched his little hiney RIGHT up to his room! lol I was just quite caught off guard! Ugggh the cake is kicking in! Someone take it away! I've included some pics of tonights dinner on Asher and my spoiled brat with his dog, blanket and popcorn! I think I'm going to go wrap some presents, or shower, or pay bills, or organize the paperwork that it piling up on my desk, or find some yard sale stuff, or put away laundry, or.....play on the web some more ;-)

I'm so lonesome I could cry!

2007-11-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

Yai-Yai and La-La came and got the boys for the night. A night to myself to do whatever I want...AND I HATE IT! I miss them soo bad! This is the first time I've been away from both of them! They've never taken Ashie before. Mat spent the night at Mom's with them before while I worked late but that was a different story.

Tonight I walked quietly up the stairs, not to wake them, I sulked as I walked past their empty room (which I closed the door to make me feel better), I bought all their fav foods at Walmart, I feel like I need to turn the TV down, I ran to the truck to get the groceries for not to leave them in the house for long. Waaaah I hate this!

So mom's night off and what did I do? Go to Walmart!! Woohoo! I walked through the toy aisle not running, I STOOD in the card aisle and READ every card I wanted and then re-read them, I got out of the truck in 2.5secs instead of 20.5 mintues, I chose a long line to stand in just because I could, I looked around as I waited and listened to all the merry customers bitching and not standing there saying, sit down, stop crying, don't touch that.

Oh! Is it tomorrow yet? So I can wish they were back at Grandmas again! ;-)

Oh Boys!

2007-11-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

I got Santa Clause 3 today! Knowing Aidan's fascination with him I thought he love it! Well in one part the reindeer are pooting...I've prob had to rewind that part at least 12 times. He laughs so hard he can't catch his breath! Thanks to Go Dog Go (read 1,258,982 times) Aidan can now spell DOG! ANd this is random but I want to look back and see what they were doing at this age....When Aidan is tired he sucks his thumb and rubs his (or preferably someone else's) ear. Yesterday Aidan told me "mommy, it's AshER not Ashie". HAHA too late son, his name is Ashie lol.

Ashie's new word of the day is....Phom (phone). He picks up his play cell phone when he wakes up and doesn't get off till he goes to bed!! He says "Hewo?" and "Goobye!" He also LOVES TO SING! When we are in the car he is just back there singing away, radio or not! When Ashie is tired he twirls the hair on top of his head. Today Asher ran from across the room with his hands out in front of him and pushed Aidan to the ground....the knock down drag out is coming....I've included a picture of last nights fight!

Sometimes I hate that I can't capture all they say and do into words. These boys are so special to me and they are growing and learning everyday! It's just the little things they do! Like when Ashie runs away on his tiptoes with this cute scrunchie face. Or when Aidan places his "baby" in the highchair with a cookie on one side and a sippee cup on the other. I'm just so proud of them, how smart they are, how caring they are, and overall how HAPPY precious boys they are!!

Santa Claus

2007-11-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

It's not even December and we are knocking Christmas activites out like crazy! lol! Today we made our trip to see Santa at the mall! Aidan was star struck! With wide eyes, he told Santa he wanted a kitchen and a fire truck. He said he had been a good boy and went pee-pee in the potty! Now Ashie on the other hand, was just fine and dandy positioned on mommy's hip! He shyed away as Santa tried to give him a high-five but was very eager to say "Bye-Bye".

Since photo session #1 didn't work out we ran across an AWESOME deal at Olan Mills at Belk. One 10X13, One 8X10, Four 5X7, Four 3X5, 32 wallets, and 6 greeting cards for 9.95! I'm sooo excited!!

We did some more tree decorating today. So I included some more pictures. Fun was had by all! Mat and I are going to watch a psychological thriller called Mr. Brooks, then its bed time. Starting today I'm going to TRY to wake up and walk for 30 mins before Mat goes to work.....we'll see how long I keep this up ;-)

Black Friday

2007-11-23T17:38:00.000-08:00

So Black Friday brought us some great deals! Mat bravely went out this morning. He got a Life Style Dream Kitchen by Step 2 (Aidan- HE LOVES to take your order then cook you something), matching Cars PJ's (both), Fisher-Price Computer Learning Keyboard Topper (ashie), VTech Nitro Notebook (Aidan- its for 5 yrs but it was such a great deal and he is fairly good at the computer so we might try it and we might save it for later!), and a Playskool Sit n Spin (both).

So this got me in the Christmas spirit! Mat had to work from 11-3 then 3pm-1am. So Aidan was so excited to "open Christmas" when daddy got his break! I've included some pics of us decorating! We only got half done but it fun listening to the "all Christmas music channel" on the radio! Aidan kept trying to blow out the lights on the tree and Ashie kept trying to put the bulbs in his mouth and saying "ball, ball, ball!" I finally got around to labeling the years on the ornanments from years past! I want to remember who got what when!

Oh! By the way! I mentioned we were taking professional pictures on Wednesday! Well yeah that didn't happen! Ashie was NOT having it! So we will reschedule for a morning time! Aidan always posed so good for pictures no matter his age...but Ashie will NOT have his pic taken lol!

A Few Thanksgiving Pictures

2007-11-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

A few pictures of the boys riding 4-wheeler, coloring (ashie eating the crayon), reading and of course eating!

Thanksgiving 07

2007-11-23T03:03:00.000-08:00

Well we survived Thanksgiving 2007! The night before both boys were running fevers over 102 and had stuffy noses, coughs, and upset tummy's. So worry wort here took them to the hospital, even though I knew what they were going to tell me! It just eased my mind with their fevers so high!

We went to Mat's mom and enjoyed some great time together and some GREAT food! We had turkey, yams, cranberry sauce, mashed potato's, stuffing (my fav!), corn and rolls. It was deeeelicious as Aidan and DDoc would say! Aidan and Asher were feeling alot better so they had a GREAT time playing with their cousin Paul-Paul. Asher was soo very excited to be included with the "big boys".

Then we went over to Ms. Minnie's house and ate again!! She had cooked all our favorites (including Mat's ribs and my carrot cake). She is so unbelievably kind to us!!

Finally, 12 pounds heavier, we got home and started researching Black Friday ads. I went last year so Mat wanted to go this year. So he was at Toys R Us at 4am and he is trying to get through the line now at 6:12am! Then it's off to Walmart!

I hope everyone "survives" this holiday season and don't forget the reason for the season!! I am so thankful for my family and all the blessings they bring me! I'll post some pics later on today when he brings the car (with the camera) home!

Dear Santa

2007-11-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Mom's Request of Santa
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold 62 cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground, and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's Girl Scout sash with staples and a glue gun. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone. On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the In-laws' house seem just like mine. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, Mom

(I'm not sure who wrote this so I don't know who to give credit too!! But it was too cute!)

Those Unforgetable Sentences

2007-11-19T17:03:00.000-08:00

So Aidan and I were reading tonight before he went to bed. He picked a Spot book. Well the book just has one word on each page (book, curtain, dog, bear). As I was reading each word Aidan stopped me and said "No, no, no mommy you reeeead it. Don't say the word you reeead it. Like this (he takes the book and spits off a sentence I couldn't understand)" My heart SANK! It was soo precious~

Ugh the holiday rush is setting in. I have to get the boys haircut, set up and do a picture appt (its been too long!), get together with their cousin and have him do a picture too, cook for Mat's work's Thanksgiving potluck and for our church potluck, pay bills, try to plan out how we are going to Minnie's and Mom's on Thanksgiving, and prob some other stuff I can't think of right now!

Asher let me know he was NOT ready to get up today! I walked in their room and Aidan pops his head up and says "I sleep ALLL day mommy (this was 7:30am lol)". I go over to Asher who is jumping in his crib and pick him up. He says "No no no" and points to his crib. So I put him back in and went downstairs and he just chilled there for about 30mins. I guess he just needed some "ashie" time! Yesterday he was punishing Angel (grandmas dog) saying "Stop! Sit! Baba! (bad bad)"

OK the boys are in bed and off to put away laundry, clean the kitchen and living room, vacuum blablabla!

"Mommy , Christmas is Coming!!"

2007-11-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

This is the phrase my child uses to manipulate me. Starting today everytime I got mad about something, he would chime in, "Mommy Christmas is Coming"! Then I would forget I was mad cause it's just soo darn cute and I would say YAY! I'm still not totally in the spirit yet but hopefully Thanksgiving will help me out!

IT was a MOPS day today! I dropped Asher off at his class and he grabbed me and said "Mom-"...oh wait new toys....mom? what mom? Aidan had a meltdown! Well 1st of all I felt really good because there was another girl in Aidan's class wailing for her mommy. She kept coming to me for comfort and everytime I would try to walk away they both would wail! The teachers aren't moms, they are high school/college students. So I'm thinking I was motherly to her and she turned to me? Yes? No? Maybe So? Made me feel good anyway! We had our mentor mom answer questions today and she lifted my mommy spirits. Pretty much, you do what you can, when you can and with what you have. All children are different, respond to different things, and learn at different paces. You take the good with the bad and just spend as much time as you can with your child. I just love MOPS because it's such a refresher that other people are going through the same things I am no matter young, old, rich or poor!

Aidan and I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies tonight. He LOVES to cook/bake!! So Santa is bringing him a kitchen! He's going to be a good domesticated hubby one day!! He loves to help with the laundry, dishes, and caring for Asher! Oh and that's another thing. When Aidan was crying for me not to go at MOPS he said through the tears "I wanna go play Asher". I love that they have such a bond between each other!! Brings tears to my eyes!

Ugh! I think Asher is getting sick (along with everyone else we know!). I pray he is better before Thanksgiving! I'm scared to give him any medication with all the recalls out there! I guess we will just sweat it out!

I'm so tired! Off to bed, to bed I said!

An Everyday Mommy Blog

2007-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

So tonight I did some major cleaning. Like moving the furniture to vaccum under it and actually organizing the toys instead of throwing them on the shelf. So why not blog about it ;-)

You know your a mommy when...
*you clean mashed potatos off the wall on spots that are taller than you are
*you pull wipes out of the back of the fire engine truck
*under your couch are mounds of goldfish and cheerios
*you look in your tub and there is a sock, a spoon, and a toy truck
*your in the Walmart bathroom praising your child for "going pee-pee"
*you look in the cubby hole under your childs bed and there are multiple stuffed animals, blankets, long lost sippee cups, and an empty 2 liter of diet pepsi (I HAVE NO IDEA!)
*the kids plates, cups, and bowls take up more room than your dishes in your cupboard
*you have to make a "plan" to anything: bathroom, shower, clean, "run" to the store
*you let your kid pee in the post office parking lot (I'm not getting my other child outta the carseat to drag 2 kids BACK into the post office, just for them to tell me they dont have public bathrooms)
*your kid has more laundry than you= your kid can wear a different outfit everyday for a year, you have 3 that you can pick from
*you check on your children and they are peacefully sleeping and in the back of your mind you know in just a few hours you will hear the kicking of the crib, the singing, and the knocking on your bedroom wall from theirs...YAY!

Operation Potty Train- Day 2

2007-11-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

To those of you who don't care about my son's bowel movements please feel free to skip the following paragraph! :-)
So today was a little bit of a set back but it still went good! We had 3 accidents. Though to give him credit, he knew he had messed up. Everytime he had an accident he would say "Oops! It's ok Mommy. Don't worry mommy! I don't need panties". At least he didn't pee and not say anything. The best moment is when we walked over to Hollywood Video to get Shrek 3. I asked him before we left the store if he need to go. He said yes (though I think it was the excitement of using a new bathroom) and said "I do it". So I pulled down his pants and he went into the stall and closed the door as I peeked through the slot. He went pee pee all by himself!

Ashie-poo has learned to test the limits! He recently started scurrying up on the coffee table and looking at me, pointing his finger and saying "Dit Don" (get down). He says "No" to everything!! Except bedtime. I say "ashie do you want to go nigh-nigh?" and he scurries over to the baby gate in the kitchen and reaches up and says "Ba-Ba" then grabs it and toddles over to the steps. He also runs from me. Lately he picks EVERY little thing off the floor and says something to the effects of here, whats this, eww, yuck. But he is still my cuddler! And I LOVE it!

God Works in Mysterious Ways!

2007-11-13T10:10:00.000-08:00

The Coble family had a lot of impact on my family and we don't even know each other! They are the main reason that I quit my job and devoted myself to more family time. All 3 of their children were killed in a car accident back in May. This story really impacted me. I thought about how precious time with your family is and how un-important money is when it comes down to it. After I heard an update on the news today about this family i BAWLED! All day! Take a look!

http://www.ocregister.com/news/chris-coble-lori-1917434-three-cobles

A Much Needed Vent

2007-11-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

So I try to be happy and think everything is hunky dory but then life steps in the way!

So most of you know the background with my family. Well things have been GREAT the past couple of months. Well my mom's side of the family always gets together a day or two after Thanksgiving for their T-giving festivities. Well I'm thinking now that we are all re-connecting I'm going/am invited to Thanksgiving there. WRONG!! It was just all an act. My family is just fake (excpet for sister Kirsten). I guess it was a big joke on Lauren or an act for my older grandparents. APPARENTLY everyone has been planning when to get together for thanksgiving WITHOUT me! Oh I just broke down in tears today but now I'm just pissed. My sister said "Well havent you been getting the emails everyone has sent to each other about when is a good time to get together?" UM NO! The thing that set it off was my mother had sent a mass email about her trip to Oc. Island last week. I wondered why she just send one to me. Usually when she sends emails they are to EVERYONE. So I asked Kirsten if she got the email. She did and it had said at the end 4pm Friday after Thanksgiving. Mine did not say that. Thats why she has sent a single email to me....she just left out the thanksgiving part. I AM DONE! DONE! So much effort and emotion to try to reconnect to these people and I AM DONE. Ok so thanks computer for letting me beat the letters out of you and thank you to my readers for letting me BITCH!

I've got my REAL family (Mat's family) and thats all that matters!!

Operation Potty Train- Day 1

2007-11-12T16:29:00.000-08:00

So this week is "get Aidan potty trained week"! I know he is ready we BOTH have been to lazy to actually do it! Today went great! Before if he was naked, then he would pee and poop. But I was determined to cover those parts and really potty train. So today he wore underwear all day and went pee and poop in the potty ALL DAY! Then he played outside in his underwear and jeans and he still came inside to go potty. I can't express how proud I am of him!!!! We've gone through LOTS of sugar- free candy today but he did GREAT! I'm so suprised though. I went to Wal-mart today and bought extra underwear because I fiqured I would go through 5 pairs just today! But no accidents! He did wear a diaper to Wal-mart and during nap-time...but babysteps is what we are doing! Check back tomorrow for more potty details...I know your biting your nails with anticipation! ;-)

Blah, Blah, Blah

2007-11-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

So Aidan is at his Grandmas house, Mat is working and Asher is sleeping. So I'll talk to my computer (WOW I need to do something more productive!). We had an eventful day! I woke up at 7am to drag myself to the laundry mat. Fun I know. I took Aidan with me to get the laundry when it was done. He was so cute helping me carry the basket out in his rainboots that are 5 sizes too small. I then passed a yard sale on the way home I couldn't resist! Scored 6 pairs of pants for Ashie for $3.00! Woohoo!

We went to Baby Johnathon's birthday party this afternoon. He turned two but I'll always call him Baby Johnathon! The boys had a BLAST! The boys best friends, Tommy, Trinity and Violet, were there also! I found out Tommy was recently potty trained (he is 1 day older than Aidan). This got me inspired to really get Aidan potty trained. I mean he is there but I have been to lazy to really work with him. So this is my new goal for next week! (ugh!)
Asher enjoyed seeing all the airplanes flying over during the party because this is his new favorite word! "Arpane" He also frequently uses "Bay-Bay" and "Outsi" (outside). He is LOVING to sit in my lap and let me point to pictures and he repeats what I say! I love to watch him run! He looks like a short little man running! I LOVE IT! He has been going to bed MUCH better now! We have been off schedule lately and I think this was upsetting him! He screamed, cried, and yelled "Mama" repeatedly for a couple of weeks. But all is well now! **whew
**

Well I think I'm going to go clean something....which really means go downstairs, decide I don't know where to start, say I'll get to it tomorrow, then grab something to eat and replant in front of the computer! ;-) Have a Sensational Sunday!

Brotherly...Love?

2007-11-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

The boys are at a great age now! They play together and interact well. I love when they both back up to the front door and Aidan says "One, two, four!" and they take off in a "sprint" to the other side of the room! Giggling and laughing the whole way. Usually Ashie falls down so Aidan does too and they then end up climb on top of each other and wrestling.

Aidan was throwing a temper tantrum the other day and Ashie climbs right on his back and starts jumping on his back and smacking at his head. Aidan better watch out, Ashie is going to beat him up one day! Tonight Ashie was in my lap cuddling and Aidan climbed up too. Ashie reached over pinched a big chuck of skin outta Aidan and screamed "NO!" I was quite taken back!

My first memory of Aidan comforting Ashie was when Ashie was just barely a couple of weeks old and we were in the car. Ashie started crying and Aidan reached over, grabbed his hand, and said "It ok Ashie. Don't cry. We almost dere". I bought died!

Aidan is VERY into imagination and make believe! Everything is pretend like: "Mama, want icecream cone? Here eat it!" Well the past few weeks he has been talking about "his sister". He and "his sister" so everything together. They mostly fight but they also cook and eat icecrea, cones alot!! Now Mat and I have sisters but we refer to them by name and not "sister". SO I don't know where he learned sister from. And I'm DEF not preggo, so I'm thinking its his imaginary friend!!

I don't have any old pics of the boys because we didnt have the computer when Ash was born so this is an old one I scanned a while back. I'm too lazy to go find some more to scan! Enjoy :-)

PS: Aidan says the blessing now, "God is great. Thank you food. AHHHHMEN!"

Totally Tuesday!

2007-11-06T19:03:00.000-08:00

Today I started, what hopes to be many more days of crafts! Thanks to my gracious friend Rachel, I have many ideas of crafts! I'm trying to get in the holiday spirit! It's harder this year! But it will come! I love these holidays!

Today Aidan and I made trees with real leaves. He enjoyed going outside to search for "priddy" leaves! His next favorite thing was to pour the glue on the page! But soon enough Elmo's World won out over the second picture but he did a GREAT job of recanting to Daddy how he made his picture!

The other picture shown is just more proof of how our "baby" cuddles his bottle everynight. I am planning to dedicate a whole scrapbooking page (ya know when I get around to doing it when they are 30!) to pictures of how he cuddles his "ba-ba". Asher has developed a fondness of reading now. He will go toddler over and grab his Book of Words and crawl up on the couch in my lap. He will look intently while I say what each picture is! He will then point to each one and say "Ball, Ball, Ball etc"! Too cute! He has started doing the cutest thing! Whenever he hears an unfamilar loud sound (like fire trucks or ducks quacking) he will get an intense look of excitement on his face and shiver like a cold chill is going down his spine. It kinda worried me at first to tell ya the truth but now I realize he is just unfamiliar with a lot of sounds! Another cute/gross event I have to add in here is he is not all smarts and cutes. I turned my back to fix lunch this morning and he proceeded to open the trash can and eat the popcorn from last night out of it! EW!

Speaking of sounds...Mat and I faintly heard the icecream truck coming around 6pm tonight. I had bought Aidan some new shoes ($1.80 from Dollar General..score!). We decided to talk really loud and distract him with the new shoes. So as we were loudly blabbing just so he wouldn't hear it, Aidan says "Mommy, I no want icecream" Oooo Busted mama and daddy!

A Good Monkey Joe Kinda Day!

2007-11-05T18:34:00.000-08:00

We headed off to Monkey Joe's today! It was Aidan's treat for being a beeeaarrry good boy for the last week. Minus the birthday party episode, he has very few (if any) tantrums, meltdowns, talking back, rolling eyes, screaming and whining. He has been the complete opposite: helpful, patient, caring, loving and polite. I love this new child I have. Monkey Joe's is his favorite place! A kid place where he can jump, climb, and slide on a bunch of blow up things! Asher enjoyed just running around on the carpet! He also enjoyed the toy fire truck! The big batman scared him and he put on the most pitful (fake) face when he saw it. I think this ame from seeing Aidan's reaction to the Halloween stuff! Here's some pics!

When is Winter Coming?

2007-11-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

It is November 4, 2007 and we had our AC on today! Yes we are a strange family and do like to live as Eskimos but dern...when we it get cold and stay cold! Even our children have inherited our Eskimo behavior. They get very hot very easily! This is why I packed up all their PJs (except for one pair) and gave them to our neighbor. They sweat bullets if they wear PJ's to bed. So the attire is diaper and skin!

We went to a birthday party today at the park after church. The boys friend Jake was turning 4. We were there for about an hour and Jake got a Hummer Hot Wheels. Aidan drove it for a few minutes before I told him to get off and share. The meltdown started. In the middle of the birthday party he started to fling himself around the grass screaming and crying. I had Ashie on my hip and proceeded to walk up to the parents, thank them graciuosly for inviting, Happy Birthday Jake, walked over to my "fish outta water child" and drug him kicking and screaming to the car. Utter embrassing nightmare. Then we got home and Daddy didn't leave the key for us to get in. Aidan had fallen asleep in the car so I had to wake his ill ass up for him to crawl in the kitchen window to open the door. Well after I lowered him in I realized the two obstacles: 1. baby gate in kitchen that a 2 yr, who usually will scale right over it, suddenly forgot how to move his feet 2. childproof doorknob on the front door (but he didnt even make it past the gate)! So after calling Mat and chewing him out I retrieved the key and put two little boys in bed!!

Asher is going to make some woman VERY happy! He LOVES to cuddle and kiss his stuffed animals! I was changing sheets in their room and he would go grab an animal, run to the corner, rub their heads, gives them hugs and kisses, and lay them down gently! Too sweet!

Aidan told me today, "I BEARY proud of you momma!" He is very big into being "the good one". If Ashie bites, Aidan says " I no bite mommy! I no go to time out@ I a beary good boy mommy!" He says this everytime I punish daddy or ashie! He is a good big brother though! He always makes sure he gets his hugs and kisses from Ashie before he goes to sleep!

Eventful week this week! Jessica and Travis got married, as well as Carri had her baby boy! What a great way to celebrate the begininng of November!

Mommy NEVER gets in the pictures

2007-11-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

So I'm also the picture takER and never the takIE. This is mostly on purpose. But I'm going to suck it up and and show some mommy/son love!

Trick or Treat!

2007-11-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

We had a good time trick or treating yesterday! We started off by going across the yard to their favorite lady- Ms. Minnie! She spoiled them with tons of candy and hugs! We then went to Mrs. Cynthia's house where once again they were treated to the cutest Halloween baskets made by Mrs. Cynthia and Christy! (Thanks girlie!) We then went to a near-by (Aidan is laying here watching Dora telling me- "Mommy shh! You type too loud!) neighborhood and went trick or treating. Aidan loved going up to the doors and knocking on them and peering into the houses! Surprisingly (as terrified as he was of Halloween pre-trick-or-treat) he did great! He held my hand and said "Just petend, mommy! It not real!" The only thing that made him shrill was an adult dressed up like the devil! Ashie was soo cute! He toddled up to a few doors with his little chunky hands wrapped around his pumpkin and held it out! Then had a fit because he couldn't eat the candy right then. He did manage to sneak a sucker which I found him crunching on minutes later! The only thing that terrified mommy was the cars driving by in the residential street at 70mph!!

Today was a MOPS day! It was my tables turn to bring the breakfast. I have STRESSED about this all week because I am a new chef! I am learning to cook and have been trialing some of my moms recipes all this week trying to make the "perfect breakfast". Well when my sausage balls turned out dry and burnt and my two yr old spit them out and wiped them off his tongue, I thought I was doomed! But it all came together at the last minute and I ended up making some popular quiches!! We had a great fellowship! I learned some great things! Other moms potty train their kids where they run around naked, other moms hide from their kids while sneaking something good to eat (as in junk food), other moms have kids that have embrassing habits- such as picking their nose till it bleeds or in their sleep, other moms get confused about measurements on a ruler, other moms find it stressful to be "Krafty Kathy", esp in large groups when the pressure is on and other moms just "understand". We made de-cu-pag (I have no CLUE how to spell it!) clipboards. They are soo cute! We finish them next time so I'll take pics then! Kymmie's husband told her last night "Honey you don't need to de-cu-pog when you are tired!" (this woman is the queen of alll stay at home moms!) I just thought this was funny. If Mat saw me doing that he would say, "What project are you strting now and how much is this gonna cost me?!" LOL

We had a great prayer request time! We had one mom who just had a miscarriage and one who is waiting on word on whether or not a birth mother will choose their family as a permanent home for her daughter! Our leader Kymmie gave us a great uplifting story. She had just joined MOPS when she was just about to give up trying for her second baby. It had been about 2 and a half years and no baby! She went to one of her firsts MOPS meeting and the leader ask everyone to lay their hands on Kymmie and pray for her a child. So what did she do after MOPS? Of course she ran right out and bought a preggo test! POSITIVE! Isn't that a great story!?

Because my day wasn't busy enough, I also decided to attend a wedding. But seriuosly my great friend (and former boss) Jessica got married to her fiance of 3 years!! (and I thought we were holding out!)

Aidan GREATLY suprised me tonight as we were reading a shape book! He called out things I never knew he knew! Circle, oval, square, dice, lemon, candy corn, square, triangle, and horse shoe!

You know sometimes I feel bad because sometimes I don't boast about Ashie like I do Aidan. But I don't want anyone to think that I think of him any different! But he is one and everyday is smiling, laughing, copying words, rolling his eyes, dancing, and just overall bringing a bright light into our lives! He gets so excited when he sees his bottle because he starts grinning and stomping his feet and saying "nigh, nigh, nigh!" (not that he goes down that easily!) He has also started saying "Muah" when kissing!

Tape Recorders Wanted

2007-10-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

I wish I could carry a permanent tape recorder with me so I could capture every cute phrase they say! I can't so I have to resort to my memory to help me out!
Aidan
*"Two more days till Halloween, I be a pirate, I say Arg!, and I no take my shirt off!" (I said 2 more days this morning and he remembered it tonight and he hates to take off his shirt to put on his costume...odd child)
*It's ok Ashie, I right here!"
*Daddy: Where's my teddy bear? Aidan: Daddy, your teddy bear right here!
Ashie
*"Diaper"
*"Ishes" (fishes)
*"ooue" (shoe)
*"Mine"
*"baa" (bath-when I say bath time he runs to the stairs and starts climbing)
*"No"
*"Ouch"

I love these boys! They are my world. Sometimes I can't wait to go to bed at night just to wake up and see them in the morning! I'm so excited to see Aidan's reactions to the holidays this year. He is so enthralled with everything that has to do with Christmas or Halloween! I was just thinking today how independent he is. How he is only two but is set in his ways. Then I look at Ashie and see how care-free he is. How HAPPY he is! How it doesn't matter whats funny- he laughs, it doesn't matter what Aidan is doing- he wants to do it too, it doesn't matter how dangerous it is- he wants to try it, it doesn't matter if they are strangers- he will give them a hug and a kiss and even bite their shoe! I love them!

We went to Moe's tonight (our fav place to eat out) to celebrate Mathew being smoke-free for a week now! I'm so proud of him (and so is my wallet!)! It was kid night and they had a clown there. Aidan was just thrilled and was excited that he saw her get out of her car. He kept saying "That clown car! Right there! See it?!" Asher took one look and screamed bloody murder! He kept turning around to look and would start crying! But after going up and meeting her his fears were calmed!

As I close this, I want to pray for the 7 college students who were killed at Ocean Isle on Sunday and to remind everyone to check their smoke detectors and have an evacuation plan!

Pumpkin Patch Day!

2007-10-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

We FINALLY made our trip to the pumpkin patch! It was fun? Asher kept saying ball, ball, ball and was more enthrolled with the other children there. Aidan was afaird of the blow up scarecrow and Halloween Snoopy but very much enjoyed all the pumpkins! It was hard to get a 2 and 1 year old to look at the camera at the same time and smile! That was my main focus, get a "perfect pumpkin picture"! This is the OCD in me. Yeah didn't happen but did get some cute shots!

Aidan has been so grown up today! He told me this afternoon, "Mommy, put you (meaning him) in Aidan's bed". OK!! He was so tired! Tonight he said, "Mama, what you doing?" I said I'm cooking dinner for mommy and daddy. He said "No cook Daddy, Daddy not home." Too smart! When Daddy got home he preceeded to tell him "Daddy, no eat those! This is Daddy's cookies!" We made special cookies for Daddy!

Asher is very affectionate lately! Kissing and hugging everyone! Whenever I put his shoes on him, he goes directly to the front door and tries to grab the doorknob. His favorite word is "down". Whether he wants up or down! He has a little attitude! He rolls his eyes now and it's sooo hard not to laugh because it's too damn cute!! The word for sippie cup is "brrr". I have NO idea why! (Daddy just informed me that maybe it's because Daddy drinks beer...beer-brr...this is a man for you!! ;-))

Milestones...well kinda

2007-10-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

So Aidan poo-pooed in the potty today!! Peeing has been easy but the child will not go "number 2"! But he told me "I need to goo poo-poo". I helped him sit down and there he went. I was elated! You would have thought he just graduated college! Now we need to work on wearing underwear and go potty. Right now he will only go if he is naked. This is fine if we are at home but we can't stay at home all our lives lol! But I remind myself he is only two...time will tell!

Ashie has outgrown his bath tub seat. Well I guess you can say he grew himself out of it! He kept trying to climb out of it, so I gave in. He now sits in the bath like a big boy with his brother! (with mommy hoovering over him of course) He loves it! They have so much fun together! I guess our next step is a toddler bed, but I'm not ready. I was so eager to do Aidan's firsts and so eager to keep Ashie a baby forever! He is starting to repeat a lot of words, in baby-language of course. I took him to Play-Date the other day while I ran some errands. Aidan was supposed to go to but the little leach refused to stay. His teachers said that he played very well with the other kids and very well by himself! I was so proud of him and so glad to hear that! This was my 1st time leaving him like this so I was very nervous! But he could have cared less!

We got Ashie's mop cut today! Nightmare experience! Not with Ashie but with Aidan. Ashie was great! Sat there perfectly still and got his haircut! Aidan wallowed in the floor, threw balls around the place, pulled down the newspapers, went up to every person and said "Hey, what are you doing here?" (his favorite new phrase) I'm sure they were glad to see us go! Please please just let this be a phase...

We are headed for our nightmar....I mean fun trip to the fair tomorrow!! It has been years since we've been! I was pregnant and working to much, Aidan had rotovirus and I had a brand-new baby in years past! So stay tuned for Sallese Family Fair Trip...take one..

Just for today...

2007-10-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Just For This Day
For Dhylan
By Sally Meyer

Just for this morning, I am going to smile whenever I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.
Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your flannel and I will hold you until you are ready.
Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say you’re beautiful.
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I am going to eat a huge breakfast , with bacon eggs, toast and waffles, and you don’t have to eat any.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles.
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won’t stand over you trying to ‘fix’ things.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you put all kinds of barettes in my hair, and put lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look.
Just for this afternoon I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a Happy meal so you can have both toys.
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born, and how much we love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get angry when you throw water over your sister’s head.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch swing and count all the stars.
Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle beside you for three hours and miss my favorite show on t.v.
Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything, except
just one more day.

Birth Control for the Day

2007-10-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

So any thoughts of having "another" have quickly diminished! Today I kept Mary Kate's boys ages 23 months and 4 months. So yes I had 4 boys under 2 and a half today. But I have to give two shout outs...ok three. 1) They were angels. I really couldnt have asked for better boys! 2) My friend Christy came over and helped out alot! 3) Aidan was a big help to me!

He loved that baby so much! He kept asking to hold Carter. When Johnathon tried to get near him, he would say "get off my baby! that's MY baby!" When Christy was leaving he was so worried that she was going to take the baby with her!

I had my MOPS group today. Good tip I learned was when your child makes a craft, take a picture of him/her with the craft and put it in an album. This way you don't feel obligated to keep every craft they make.

Not feeling very bloggy tonight. I'm so tired and have so much to do but I'm going to throw in the towel tonight....because it can just wait till tomorrow!

Aidan or Asher?

2007-10-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

So we have a humidifier sitting on the boys dresser we turn on at night due to Ashie's cold. This morning I walked in and the top of it was dumped over and someone had poured it all in Ashie's crib. So I scolded Aidan for it and made him stay in his room for a few minutes for time out. Well Ashie had woken up from his nap this afternoon and Mat walked in to get him. Where was he? STANDING on the dresser shaking the top of the humidifier into his crib!! I felt so bad I had punished Aidan, when Ashie might have been the culprit. So looking past all that...HOW did my 13 month old climb out of his crib (that has the railing up and mattress all the way down!) onto the dresser??? There will be a changing around of the room and I will take the humidifier out when I go to bed!!

So I created a "Chore List" for Aidan to follow daily: Pick up Toys, Make Bed, and Brush Teeth (ok so this is more to remind me more than him lol). Each morning I remind Aidan and teach him how to make his bed. Well, this morning I walked in and he said "Look mama, I makea my bed!" I was so proud of him!! He had made his bed all by his self! No, nowhere near perfect but he did it and he was so proud!

Last weekend we attended Riverfest! The fun parts included: Aidan getting to go into a fire truck, Aidan more interested in seeing inside a portapotty than the fire truck, the boys riding the mechnical animals at the kid zone. The REALLY fun parts included: the 90 degree weather beating down on all of us, Ashie screaming non-stop because he was miserable, Ashie throwing down a whole slushie just seconds after purchasing it and people not moving out of the way of a double stroller full of 60+ pounds.

All 4 of us enjoyed a picnic at the park yesterday! Finally the weather was BEAUTIFUL! Ashie enjoyed launching himself down the slides on his tummy...fearless child! Aidan was quite worried that the little boy in the Halloween costume would come back. We had went the day before and encountered a scary Halloween costume (PLEASE you mother of the child- do NOT let your child wear a scary Halloween costume to the park).

I Pray- I pray for all these school shooting to stop. I pray that not another child will be hurt during all these recalls being made. I pray for not another life to be taken in this war. There's so much bad to pray for these days but I am thankful for the happiness my friends and family share!

MOPS and such

2007-10-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I started MOPS. Mothers of Preschoolers. This is a WONDERFUL group full of moms (some working, most not)! We meet at a church and have a wonderful time of fellowship! We eat breakfast, blab about our kids, take prayer requests (which one included praying for the mom who had to go through her kids poop because she swallowed a silver marble ball), pray, more blabbing, do group activites and made a craft. Best part: 2 hours and a half hours with no kids!! No, but seriuosly it's nice to get aidan and asher around other kids without mommy present. Asher could have cared less but Aidan had a hard time leaving me! But the group was fun and it was nice to be around other mom with young kids! I loved hearing their stories, knowing thier mommy secrets and most of all feeling that I AM NOT ALONE!!
At one point, we got into groups and were supposed to discuss our holiday traditions. I hate this stuff...so I'm sitting their thinking the last 2 christmas's I had babies that had no clue what Christmas was. We haven't really developed any traditions!! Only chaos! Remember when Christmas was just fun, presents, and seeing family...well now we are in charge of all the behind the scenes stuff!! So, I sit back hoping no one calls on me too answer, as my fears finally subside. I expect these mothers to start bringing up baking cookies, handmade ornaments, giving to charties...but I was wrong. The answer included 1) the big fight with the husband about which in-laws to go to 2) what is the present limit for the kids this year 3) which Christmas decorations, that the MIL gave you, to make "disappear" this year! I love this group! To learn more http://www.mops.com/

Well I need to update on the kids! Aidan is saying his ABC's:ABCDFGLMNOPQRSWXYZ...so proud of him! He hates green beans but loves every other food! He is PETRIFIED of Halloween. Daddy and La-La both scared him with a mask so now he screams..no shrills at Halloween stuff. We cannot go near the Halloween section in Walmart. The first time we did this after the "incidents" he clunged to me shaking as I hurried out of there! So the trick-or-treating will be interesting! He loves to count-everything! Which I am glad, don't get me wrong, but I get evil looks from some people as Aidan is pointing at them to count them....they must not have kids...123678911! He is so proud of himself!

Poor Ashie has a cold and cough, which has kept him from going to sleep like normal (he must now be cuddled-I love this though because I miss it sooo much already!) and he wakes up a lot! We had some great alone time tonight, Mat and aidan went to Grandma's house. So it was just me and Ashie. I just starred at him tonight and noticed for the first time my "baby" is now a toddler! Makes me soo sad! He was so cute tonight running from me and giggling and stomping his foot to "If you are happy and you know it stomp your feet". He has 12 teeth. He loves any food. Though if I put all his food togther he will eat everything but the meat. He is not a meat fan! He is doing so good with his manners. He can sign more eat, please and thank you! I thought it would take forever to teach a one year old how to sign but he really picked it up. His favorite phrase to say is "All-dooone", whether it's eating or bathing or playing.

Little Mr. Independent!

2007-09-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

That's my Asher! He is developing QUITE the personality! He is getting into all kinds of things! He takes the little stool we have, brings it over to the coffee table, climbs up and stands in the middle of the table (of course when I'm not looking)! He will be playing with something he isn't supposed to and when I tell him to give it me he will run away squealing! He copies EVERYTHING Aidan does! I love it when they both get to giggling soo hard they can barely breathe! He just talks up a storm now! He knows exactly what he is saying! I don't but he sure does!

Aidan has been Little Mr. Daddy! For the past few days he has adopted a "baby" (random teddy bear). This baby is spoiled rotten! He must have shoes, bottle, blankie, diaper and juice cup. The only problem is keeping Ashie away from baby because he loves to cuddle a stuffed animal! This has rubbed off on Ashie, Daddy, and Mommy. He has been very lovely dovey. Don't get me wrong he is still a TERRIBLE TWO but the past few days he has been really gentle. He wants to "carry" Ashie to bed, cover him up and give him his Curiuos George. Last night Aidan and I were cuddling on the couch and Daddy went outside to smoke. He knocked on the window and Aidan and I were pretending we were scared. Aidan got on top of me and said "Mommy, I got you! No be scared. It's ok, Aidan got you" I meeeelted! He is cuddling with Daddy right now watching Dumbo, rubbing his ear and sucking his thumb!

I was telling a friend tonight about a quote I heard. Something about you know you are the mother of boys when your coffee table is filled with trucks and cars. This is true of our household. I put a cute little pumpkin and scarecrow on the coffee table when seconds later they were rammed off the table by two little Tonka trucks. Maybe I'll decorate when they get older ;-)

My Brave Two Year Old

2007-09-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

What a day! These two pictures are the before and after shots! Before: I took the kids to the Arboretum (sp?) today. Thought it would be a pleasant, fun and new experience for them! They have paths of gardens, flowers, fountains, and a playhouse for the kids. We stopped to take a picture in front of the fountain. We then decided to go into the children's garden. We walked onto the wooden board (planks) walkway. I was pushing the stroller with my happy excited baby, as I looked at my two-year old gleefully running ahead of me towards the playhouse, I was just thinking how peaceful and wonderful this site was when......BOOM! Aidan took a spill. He gashed his head open on a piece of the wood. Poor baby was bleeding so bad! It was small but it was deep. I could see if gapping open! TERRIFYING I say! He cried for a bit (a real cry...not the usual whine!) and then by the time we got back to the car he was fine.

So we arrive at the ER and go to check in. At this moment I knew nothing about my child, I was so frazzled! He asked Aidan's date of birth....umm, well, uh, I, oh yeah! 2/19/05! The worst was his middle name...I was really stumped!! lol!! my own child!! I just kept thinking about a million other things!! Well 3 hours and two cranky babies later, he finally got 4 stiches!! I cried along with him! All you mothers out there think shots are tramatic?? This was a million times worse!! I never wanted more to trade places with him as I did then. But he was so brave!! Of course he cried during the stiches but did GREAT the rest of the day!! Whew what a day!!

Updates on all

2007-09-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since I have written. So much has happened! The boys are growing so fast! Tonight Asher touched his nose and said "Nos". Daddy was looking for a book to read to Aidan and Aidan replied "Daddy,(it) should be right here" (pointing to the coffee table). He also got mad at Daddy tonight and he put his hands on his hips and said "Gosh I am so mad at Daddy!". Maybe mommy should start watching her words!

Asher is growing like a weed! And so is his hair! He is one year old and already has had 5 haircuts! He is practically running now! He is very steady on his feet, unlike Aidan who wobbled and stumbled until almost 2 years old! He is learning sign language. He knows the sign for "more eat". So if he is hungry he signs. It's so cute- if he is really hungry he does it really really fast! He had his bottle (that we have made no attempts to wean him off of :-() sitting on the coffee table and Daddy was pretending to reach for it and Asher grabbed it and said "Mine!". He has learned that when he says "mama" he gets a response from me. So he is saying frequently! He lovingly gave Aidan cuddles and kisses tonight. So sweet! He loves his little girlfriend (our neighbor). He gets so excited with squealing and huge smiles when he sees her. He continues to give her hugs and kisses!

Now Aidan....Aidan is two. He is giving me a time with his fits! The tantrums and screams in Walmart and the running away from me in dept stores (talk about heart stopping!-just happened the other day!). He just ran to the next aisle but it's a fear I never want to feel again!!! He is testing us and it's driving me crazy! I feel like I am yelling at him all the time! When he wants to be, he is very sweet and loving. But here lately he is a holy terror!! But he did do the cutest thing today and I caught the very end of it. He must have climbed over the baby gate in the kitchen, grabbed a cup that was sitting on the edge of the bar, went into the fridge, got out the milk, opened it and poured himself a glass of milk. And might I add hardly spilling any!!! My big boy brings tears to my eyes to see how much he is growing up!!

Mat and I are doing well! I still LOVE being a stay at home mom! I think this cool weather has put a spring cleaning bug in me! I am into organizing. I am buying many rubbermaid containers so everything will have a place. I think I have developed OCD! My goal is for everything in the house to have a label and a box to go in! LOL! Mathew is doing well. Enjoying his job (as much as you can enjoy a job!) and going to "man-night" with Wes. They joke and say it's one night where they go into the man room and drink and smoke with guns and knives laying out! Umm when's MOM night?!!

We recently took a wonderful trip to Oxford! We saw DDoc whom the boys just adore! Aidan and Asher also saw my mom and dad for the second time and are getting to know one another. Things are going good with that and both parents and boys really seem to enjoy each others company!! I think a lot of prayers have been answered! They also saw my grandparents in Raleigh, Papa and G-G-Ma! Grandma said she feels so blessed to have her kids, grandkids and GREAT-grand kids under one roof!! Asher even crawled up in Papa's lap and feel asleep!

Well as you might see on my myspace page the leatherjacketbarn.com. I felt as if I don't have enough to do so this is my new project! My mother-in-laws have started an online buisness. They both work full-time and have kind of put it to the side. They asked me to try to get it back on track! So I am currently the "marketing manager" for the website. So if ya'll know anyone who would like a leather coat..send them to the website!!

Things I'll Never Forget

2007-09-07T20:50:00.001-07:00

*Aidan running up to the ice cream truck and all by himself saying, "I want some icecream". The man asks okay what kind? Aidan responds "Umm I want Dora". The man gives him the icecream bar and Aidan gives him the money. All by himself. I teared up!

*Telling the boys "Ok boys lets go take a bath". Then watching as Aidan starts walking up the stairs and Asher's little naked butt toddling after him.

*A child takes a toy away from Asher and Aidan grabs the toy back, gives it to Asher, and goes over to asher and puts his arm around him and says, "That Ashie's toy. He is playing"

*I lean over to hug and kiss Aidan and after I do he says "OK get off me now".

*Ashie grabbing onto my leg and hanging on for dear life when he is shy or afraid.

*Grandma trying to explain to aidan that daddy is her baby. Aidan responds, "Daddy not baby, Daddy is Daddy!"

*Ashie's big bright smile plastered on his face Morning, Noon, or Night

*Ashie's obsession for curious george

One year Ago Today

2007-09-02T10:20:00.000-07:00