December 7, 2011

Feast of St. Nicholas

December 6th was the Feast of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was an actual person who would travel around his area on Christmas Eve bringing small toys and trinkets to children in celebration of our Lord's birth. The character of Santa was based off this actual person. It is difficult to explain how Santa and St. Nicholas are "related" to a three year old (I don't even attempt it with Danny yet), but at the end of the day as long as Robbie realizes that we are celebrating Christ's birthday I will be satisfied!!!

I did not get a chance to take pictures of the boys discovering their shoes, but this was a "before" picture. Robbie woke up and walked right by these shoes and when I reminded him that they were there his eyes lit up and he went running for the shoes. He was so excited and pulled out each piece of candy and each toy slowly examining them because they were special gifts from Santa/St. Nick. This Christmas is so much fun so far!

Santa Visit 2011

Robbie and Danny visited Santa recently! Robbie was in awe of the man who he says is Jesus' best friend (we are trying to keep the focus on the "reason for the season"). He gave Santa a big hug and when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas robbie said "treats" - meaning sugary foods/cookies/candy. Santa asked if that was all and Robbie decided to push his luck and also ask for "toys". Santa asked him if he wanted any particular toys and Robbie said "bad guys". For whatever reason our little man does not want to be the super hero, he likes the bad guys. I think this is because a few children's cartoon movies recently have told the story from the bad guy's perspective and have made the lines a little blurry between right and wrong - we are now much more careful what he watches!!!

Danny on the other hand was not too sure of this guy in a red suit. He didn't necessarily cry, but he certainly was very concerned that his parents left him in the lap of a total stranger dressed in a very weird outfit!

It was so much fun to take the boys to see Santa. This Christmas has been so special so far because the boys bring the magic back to Christmas. I am planning on spoiling them with fun activities, homemade treats and hopefully lots of special memories!

October 17, 2011

Downtown Festival





Just some pics of the boys at a downtown festival. Robbie LOVES Bibendum "Bib" (AKA The Michelin Man), so he just had to have a picture with him. And then he saw the chicken mascot for Zaxby's and gave him a hug! Danny is pointing at the balloon that flew away...he did not seem to understand that it could not be retrieved.

More weekend pics to follow (pumpkin patch, etc)...

October 4, 2011

Just another day at the Lake






We spent a day at the lake with some friends and here are a few pics from the day . . .

August 18, 2011

Just sittin' here...

I am just sitting in the DC National airport waiting for my delayed flight. This is the end of a stretch of seven straight weeks of travel - I had another one of these stretches earlier in the year. All I can say is I am tired, my nerves are shot and I JUST WANT TO GET HOME!

An update on Kevin's practice - it is up and running! He has not had his "Grand Opening" yet because he is not ready for that, but he is at least seeing patients. The only problem is the patients he is seeing are non-paying patients so the next step is to get this not-for-profit thing turned into a profit making machine! Please keep this process in your prayers, this has been incredibly hard on both of us and we take turns losing our faith in making this decision!

The boys are doing great. Robbie is half way through potty training and luckily I have missed most of the accidents while traveling (wish I could say the same for Kevin, hehe). He is very proud of himself and is also sleeping through the night on many nights. Quite an improvement for the kids who slept in 45 min - 1.5 hr increments for the first 12 months!!! Danny is walking now and his biggest goal in life is to follow his older brother around and steal his toys. It is such a joy to watch these two!!!

Baby #3 is healthy and happy. I have another appointment next week and one month after that we will find out if we are having another boy or a girl! Yes, we decided to find out . . . what can I say, we just don't have the patience to wait!

I pray all is well with all of our friends family and loved ones. I miss all of you and wish I could post more often, especially with pictures of my boys (all three of them), but I guess I just need to take things one day at a time right now and cut myself some slack.

Oh, and I can feel baby #3 moving!!! It is so much fun to "play" with baby squiggles!

July 28, 2011

Wow, its been how long????

OK, I KNOW - I have been a bad bad blogger. Can I just make a few excuses that I know will not matter? Crazy busy job - with a new business development responsibility and a new boss who resides in France; Kevin opening LIFESPAN Chiropractic Centers; two busy kiddos who are into everything and are either fighting with one another or sharing and playing in such an adorable way ;); and well there is one more thing . . .

I am also three months pregnant with baby #3!!!

We are nervous and excited all at once. When baby #3 arrives (and everyone is guessing girl - including Robbie), we will have three children aged three and under. And if we cannot hurry and potty train Robbie we will have three in diapers at the same time two. Goal number one is getting Danny to walk independently (he is so close)! Goal number two is getting Robbie potty trained! Goal number three is getting Robbie and Danny to sleep in one room - without waking up all night long!!! These are lofty goals, but will put me much more at ease having a third baby!

I have about a zillion great pictures that I would like to share, lets see if I have some time to download them on one of my last days of vacation!

I do read everyone's blogs, but then I run out of time and can't post anything - and it is never worth a post without pictures (I am not funny or witty enough for that!)

March 15, 2011

Are you ready for kids???

I just saw this blog on my cousin's blog site. I thought it was perfect, sad and hilarious . . . hope you enjoy!


If you can handle all these lessons then you are ready for children....

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

January 15, 2011

Fun at home and in the snow

my boys just hanging out
a smily faced robbie wearing my combat boots

mommy teaching robbie how to make snow balls
the citadel flag

January 12, 2011

White Christmas

We experienced the first white Christmas since 1960 this year - I am so glad that we didn't miss this special event. It was so wonderful to experience the magic of Christmas with our little family.
Robbie looking out at the snow.
I LOVE this picture

This is Robbie getting "tackled" by his other favorite Christmas gift - a dancing frog. Robbie "shakes" the same exact moves that the frog makes to a "shake, shake" song. It is so cute!

Christmas 2010 (cont'd)

Danny loved these chew toys that crinkle when you grab them. The dog in the background is from my mom - it is a coin bank and the dog barks and moves its ears and tail when you put coins in the bank. Robbie went crazy for it!
This was Robbie's favorite Christmas gift. It is a football "hat" (as Robbie calls it) with jersey and pants. He wears this non stop (literally). He begs to sleep in his football hat. He runs around the house yelling touchdown and tackle and tries to tackle us. I don't want him to play football, but it looks like I won't have a choice!
Opening gifts on Christmas morning
One more of them playing in the crib.
I had to throw this in since I took it while the boys were playing in the crib. We used the same letters to spell out Robert when Robbie was born.

Christmas 2010 (cont'd)

Daniel is getting such a little personality - he loves playing with his brother and is always smiling and laughing. He is so laid back - the exact opposite of his brother and parents!
Robbie and Danny playing in Danny's crib - Robbie begs to get in there to play with his brother. It warms my heart to see this!
Uncle Parker (and Kyle in the background). Parker is home from The Citadel. Robbie adores him and Danny is his godson.
Aunt Megan - Robbie calls her aunt Meme
Robbie and Kyle playing together - Kyle is such a fun uncle, Robbie loves playing with him and shows off for him more than anyone else!

January 2, 2011

Christmas 2010

Bobbye - Kevin's mom and Danny and Robbie's Nana


Our downstairs tree
Our upstairs "kids" tree

Feast of Saint Nicholas

We started a new tradition in our family this year - we celebrated the Feast of Saint Nicholas. The night before the feast, you place your shoes outside of your bedroom door. During the night St. Nick places goodies inside your shoes. This celebration is actually where the Santa Claus character came from. St. Nick was an actual person early in the Christian church who would teach about Christ and leave trinkets and gifts. The boys loved this - we all had so much fun!



Danny's shoes - since Danny could not eat these, we actually used the goodies to fill stockings!
Robbie's shoes
Our boys - they have so much fun together, you can really tell they are going to be the best of friends!

Halloween 2010 (cont'd)


Daddy was suppose to pull Robbie, but Robbie wouldn't have it!
This is Robbie's buddy, Ms. Addison Browning
Our beautiful, and always happy, Danny Boy

Halloween 2010