Technically ... we are done...

We have gotten through the first 5 months of little Miss Sydney's life and it truly has been wonderful. We have run into very few snags. Very few moments of insanity. I have been lucky...or maybe she is a smart little cookie and knows what I can handle.

We are done. But yet...when I read this post today...I cried.  GO READ IT!  Everything she said, hit home. hard. And I responded to her with this...

oh goodness. I LOVED this post. I can TOTALLY, TOTALLY, TOTALLY relate. I got teary. We are done also...my husband is for sure. And like you...during my pregnancy I knew my body was done. However, a few weeks ago I had to go to the doc for vertigo...and she said, should we run a pregnancy test just in case. I walked by my husband in the waiting room and said, off to do a pregnancy test in the lab. He immediately broke into a sweat. It came back negative and I said to the nurse, "I have three healthy kids out in the lobby. A husband who can handle them all. One of which is only 4 months old. Is it crazy that I am just a wee bit disappointed."


The idea of being done producing miracles with my body is very overwhelming...the idea of 20 more years of period and hormonal rages every month...and then the craziness of menopause...just depresses me. But I guess it is life. And I truly think there are women out there that really are never done because they love babies and life. Deep down I know I am done...but I think I will always have the yearning for another. Because it is so incredible. I think I just wrote a comment that is as long as a blog post. ha! Happy 5 month birthday!

And then she replied with this...

Here's what was going through my head when I read your comment: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.  We are completely on the same wavelength.  :)

(side note:  That's what makes blogging so fun...the relationships that form!)

Anyways, a while back a friend asked me what other names were on our short list when we went to the hospital...since we didn't know if Miss Sydney was a boy or girl.  And I was so sad that I couldn't find the wrinkled little piece of paper (literally 2 inches by 3 inches big).  But then a few weeks ago I found it in my wallet...and it has been in there for the last month.  And I come across it every time I do my crazy search for my credit/cash card when I am in line at Target...you know when the kids are done and you have 5 bags of groceries full and ready to be paid for and you fear you are going to have to tell them you can't pay.  But then in the last second you find your card.  But along with the card comes this little piece of paper...reminding me that I will never have a Lincoln. or a George.  or a Leonard....

So here are the short lists...
In the order that I was considering...
Notice...Sydney is not even on the list.  That name was thrown our way three days before she was born...it was a fleeting moment.  That I am glad stuck with Ed.

Lincoln Edward
George Edward
Leonard James (Leo)
Edison James (Eddie)
Walter James
also on the list:  Stanley, Milton and Harrison

For girls:

 Georgie Ann or Georgina Ann
Lucy Patrice - if Charley or Henry had been a girl

Clara Patrice
Elsie
Elise
Ramona Patrice
Olive
Petah Sofia
Esme
and in pen off to the side...was Sydney

Ed gripped this little paper in his hand during the hours of labor.  I kept asking him "So???"  after our little pink girl was born.  And it took a few hours to decide.  I really wanted Georgie or Georgina...and I think Miss Sydney would have been a beautiful Georgie.  But Sydney just felt more right at the time.  And I am so happy we went with it. 

I am taking this little note out of my wallet now.  Although, because I run into it when the kids are somewhat crazy at the grocery store check out...maybe I should leave it in there...kind of a nice reminder that 3 is enough. 

I am taking it out and putting it in Sydney's baby book.  One of three things that have found their way into it so far.  And I am going to move on from thinking about not having a Lincoln.  or a George.  or a Lucy.  Because our family of 5...Mr. Charley, Mr. Henry, and Miss Sydney...they have each other.  They are a nice tribe.  The are my littles.  And we are so blessed. 

Love - Love

A song that gets me up in the morning...
And out the door with my tribe by 8am.



I LOVE watching them do their thing.
My favorite is swim lessons...
But tennis is great too.
Especially when you see the tongue concentration going on.
Next week Henry will participate in his first independent activity...TENNIS!
But here is Charley...
And get this...next year Charley and Henry can be in the same tennis class!  Can't wait!

June flittered by quickly...

Thursday has arrived.  The last day of June.
Daddy has returned. 
He left on Sunday before the parade...and was gone until Wednesday for dinner.
Maybe short compared to some dads that travel...but for this mama...that pushed me.  It challenged me.  And we survived.  

Today is a full day.  And it is supposed to reach 100 degrees this afternoon.  There is already a bit of heavy humidity out there.  We were up and at'em for Charley's tennis at 8 am this morning. 

Then we dropped him off at his park program...raced home to get Syd down for a quick cat nap.  Then off to pick him up so we can attend a party at the local library - celebrating some of our favorite books these days...The Magic Tree House Series.  That's where it's at with my boys as they drift off to sleep. 

Summer is trucking along here.  This last day of June weighs heavy on my shoulders today.  It is my grandpa's birthday and I wish I could pop in for a long hug with the fellow.  But instead we will make a call, send off a card...and hope that he has a happy day.  I also have a bit of anxiety that our first month of summer is over.  For me August is Back to School month..and even though it hasn't had me returning to the classroom early to get ready for the school year ahead for a few good years...my body clock says...summer is down to only one month left.  So I am trying to focus that there are still 2 FULL months ahead of us...ready to be filled with exciting adventures...but also moments like this...

When daddy finds a ENORMOUS butterfly.  We all gaze in wonder.

The next day it inspires mama to get off her lazy rump and get down on her knees and get her kneecaps and hands full of chalk while going BIG with her chalk art.

Which inspires her now first grade son

 to go bigger....using symmetry!

Stay cool today folks.
Buzz around a wee bit in the air conditioned car.
Go to a movie or eat a leisurely lunch at a kid friendly establishment...
Spend the afternoon at the pool.
Or lay together as a tribe on mama and daddy's bed with the ceiling fan cooling you while you indulge in a little PBS cartoon time.

I plan to get my workout on when I sit on my arse at Charley's swim lesson..I figure I will sweat my body's weight in water during that chunk of time. 

Latte consumed.
Sunscreen applied.
Comfy nursing friendly dress on.
Water bottles with ice today - lucky boys.
And we're off! 

Today:
*tennis
*library
*swim lessons
*packing
*cake baking
*and hoping for another night where Miss Syd only wakes 2 times!  Yes folks...I caught her zonked out comfortably on her belly last night...this phase of rolling and waking...might be coming to an end.  Or maybe it is just catching up to her like it is catching up with me. 

And did I share that I can now hike Miss Sydney on my hip and tote her around like a sack of flower...and this is what she is loving these days...to see the action...and to feel she is in charge...since she is in the bosses arms. 

They were in my wedding...

We met in college...
I met Ed because of Kim.

I met Molly because of Ed.

We partied together in our 20's.
We graduated from college.
We got engaged.
They were in my wedding.

And now we get have spur of the moment get togethers with our littles and enjoy ...
lattes, interrupted conversation, wine, deep talks, frozen pizza or whatever we can wrestle up from the depths of my fridge.

I am so lucky to have good friends that make the journey to hang out at our house.  We have had two early morning play dates with Kim and Tommy lately - and I appreciate friends that are up at the crack of dawn ready to play :)  And Molly, THANK YOU so much for coming and spending the night when Ed was away.  It made the time so much more fun! 

Bucket list...week 2 update

This week we conquered a few more items on our Summer Bucket List

We hiked at a park that was on our list.  It is a favorite of ours and it was daddy's request on Father's Day.

We also signed up for the Library Summer Reading program and jumped into the Monday storytime.

We also had friends over for waffles.  Yummy!

And on Friday we found a great treasure at a garage sale..it was a HUGE bin of Zhu Zhu pet stuff.  The boys each had one zhu zhu pet - goofy toys, in my opinion.  But all the accessories seemed extravagant.  But at the sale they had a bin of all these accessories plus some babies and big zhu zhus...we bargained for them and got this whole lot for 25 bucks!  What a deal!  The boys played ALL AFTERNOON on Friday with them. 

1. Go to the cottage

2. Go to Grandma Barb and Grandpa Bob's

 3. Go to Grandma Charlie and Grandpa Ed's

4. Go to the beach

5. See fireworks

6. Go camping

7. Go fishing

8. Zoo

9. Children's Museum

10. parade

 Henry new little buddy lives on a parade route for our local community festival.

They invited us over to sit in the shade and enjoy the parade.

Loved this afternoon!

11. sprinkler parks ( 1 2 )

12. Mall of America

13. Bonfire w/ s'mores

14. make rainbow pudding pops

15. go out for ice cream

16. Library adventures (visit 5 libraries 1 2 3 4 5 )

We have been to our library twice and my parents library!  

17. Pick strawberries

18. Pick blueberries

19. Make pickles

20. Go to Lake Superior

21. picnic dinner

22. picnic lunch

23. feed the fish at pond

24. walk to the coffee shop

25. water guns

26. Have lunch with daddy

27. Charley bakes on his own

28. Baseball on a field

29. Tennis on a court

30. Cent. Lakes

31. Lightrail to Min. falls for picnic

32. Celebrate mom's birthday

33. Waterslide

34. Eat breakfast at picnic table

35. Have friends for waffles

Thanks Tommy and Kim for being early morning playmates!

36. Richard. Nature Center

37. Water balloons

38. See Cars Race

39. See Great Grandpa and Great Grandma

40. Ice Cream in Bayfield

41. Lunch at Skips

42. Ride on a boat

43. Sign up for Reading program at library

44. Hike at Cl. Lake

45. Community LT pool

46. Movie

47. Farmer's market

48. Candy shop

49. Send postcards (1 2 3 4 5)

50. Find a treasure at a garage sale

Learning a 'latte' #2

So a loooong time ago I hinted that I was working on perfecting an at home latte.  So I need to share!  I owe it to the Bialetti company because they were generous to send me a moka express pot to try.  And it has changed my love of mornings. 

My brother's girlfriend recommended the maker.  She uses her's every morning and is happy.  I thought long and hard about investing but I was nervous in the percolator type system.  So instead of just investing I emailed the company with a few questions.  And a week or two later I held in my hands the moka express 3-cup espresso maker. 

By 3 cup...I mean that it produces about 3 shots of espresso. 

At first I was really careful about how much espresso I was using in my latte...and then after talking to a Starbucks coffee gal,  looking online, talking to friends....etc.  I adjusted my measurements and I feel more confident in my end product. 

I have made my lattes for all of my family, including my sister who isn't a coffee drinker (I used less espresso and more milk for her).  I have made them for my friend Melody who has a fancy espresso machine from William Sonoma and she liked them.  I made them for my friend Kim and Molly and both of them were lovin' them.  They were here this morning and were waiting impatiently for me to get my butt in gear to make them. 

So maybe one of them might have said they were good but lied...but all of them have liked them and have asked me to make them when they came over again. 

Now a Latte requires espresso and the steamed and frothed milk...although I prefer a nonfat, vanilla latte with no foam. 
Along with the Moka Express stovetop pot I also had to get hands on a milk frother.  My friend loves her Nespresso Aeroccino Plus.  So we hit our local William Sonoma store and splurged on the frother. 

The Nespresso Aeroccino Plus claims to:

A luscious topping of foam is the crowning glory of a cappuccino – and equally essential for lattes, macchiatos and other coffee bar staples. Using this compact machine, you can create that perfect froth with the push of a button.
Simply pour milk into the pitcher and press a button; in no time at all, you’ll have a rich, creamy topping for your favorite coffee beverage.
Can also be used to heat milk for café au lait or hot chocolate.
When frothing or heating is complete, the machine shuts off automatically.
For convenient service, the pitcher lifts off the base.
Includes two whisk attachments.

I have LOVED the frother.  I typically use the steaming attachment that heats the milk and gives it a little froth.  But the frother attachment makes a really great froth...you can pretty much stand your spoon up in it.  When I made my friend Sarah a latte with my system she used the frother and LOVED it.  She asked for a second cup before I left her house that day.  And she is a latte drinker..no flavors added.  Just espresso and milk...so I feel like if she liked it - I had myself a decent latte going on here.  I also have loved hot chocolate and flavored steamed milk at night.  YUM!

I prefer the flavored lattes.  I like vanilla best.  So I buy myself a bottle of vanilla creamer found in the refrigerated section of the store.  I pour just a little bit of that in the frother, along with one cup of skim milk.  Two minutes later the milk is steamed and poured onto my espresso and I have a tasty way to start off my morning. 

The Moka Espresso pot is SUPER easy to use and way less complicated than I imagined.  It is easy to just rinse out and have ready the next morning.  The whole process of making a latte takes about 10 minutes. 

Step 1.  Put water in base of pot.
Step 2.  Add espresso coffee..I use the Illy brand that is made for the moka pot.
Step 3.  Make sure base is tight to the top part.
Step 4.  Turn on burner and let heat.
Step 5.  Watch for espresso to percolate out and start spurting...then you know it is done. 


HONESTLY,  I have fallen in love with my maker.  The whole process takes 10 minutes and like I told my friend Sarah...it is almost my little routine that gives me a sense of peace...in the midst of spilled cereal, sticky syrupy fingers, whines about what shirt they can or won't wear, the rush of getting out the door...this little 10 minute time is for myself...and as a mom - who gets everyone to the soccer game on time with sunscreen applied, bladders empty, water bottles filled, and snacks packed...but realizes that I still have no sunscreen or a beverage for myself...and possibly with slippers on my feet...it is kind of nice to know that there is something each morning that is for me. 

Contact me if you are interested or have questions.  It really has curbed my urge to hit up the local coffee shops!  Which ultimately makes our bank account more happy!

The couple of little snags that I have with the makers...both only make enough for one latte...so that means it is hard to do for large numbers of guests.  But each one is kind of a work of art..making it to the individuals liking...and they are more of a treat than just a plain old cup of coffee...so you aren't supposed to drink 5 of them.  So the size is actually probably appropriate :)

And if you have been to my house and tasted the latte...feel free to share your thoughts. 

Kid craft - fruit loop necklaces...

I threw these at them the other day. Henry loved making it...but couldn't figure out how to nibble them off and then they got stale. Charley got frustrated with the marshmallows...so skip the marshmallows.

Materials:

Fishing line or string
kid needles (found at Michael's craft store)
some fruit loop type cereal
And we tried the CARS marshmallows from Target

I don't think I have to explain how to make them. But let me remind you that noodles and other items could be added to this craft :)

Last week Miss Sydney hit the 5 month mark. I celebrated by attending a wine tasting with my neighbor...kind of a tradition. For some reason I was emotional about leaving her that evening...Ed shook his head and said, "Sarah, it is only 2 hours." So the eyeliner was applied and off I went.

The next morning I found myself in a panic when Miss Sydney's face and body quickly became a mess of rash. I had no idea what could have caused it so we raced to the doc...tears might have been shed. The boys were just as worried.

Embarrassingly, I had to admit to the wine tasting and the midnight nursing (Which the doc was fine with by the way). He assumes that she is allergic to the grape skin in the red wine. Yes, you can present me with the mom of the year award. I will take it.

She was still under 15 pounds! She is still my peanut girl who might be teething. A little Tylenol the last few days has seemed to calm her but in my arms is her desire and that works...until it is too much and then my friend drops everything, including her 2 month old to come and save my day and give me a break.

Solo parenting at it's glory. What I wouldn't give to have family down the street. But good friends stop by to do a little holding and others who drop off chocolate make everything better.

On a side note, I am worried about Henry's teeth and he knows it and jumps to brush his teeth whenever I ask. This morning he told Charley if he didn't brush his teeth he would get activities. 3 year olds...figuring out the world. Love this.

Miss Sydney has been sleeping through the night since like...2 months. Unbelievable. But now I am used to it. I count on that. And with the rolling waking her up. And whatever else she is dealing with...teeth or what...the every 2 hour wakings is making me loony. Little girl...you need to sleep. You aren't your happy self...sleep my girl.

On a side note..Charley is a reader. He is picking up books I didn't think he would get through and reading them. He is reading me type over my shoulder. He is loving the summer reading program. His world is expanding by the second.

Miss Sydney loves her exosaucer. Her eyebrows do little things that show she is taking the world in and reacting. She chimes in with her thoughts and has gone from high pitched squealing two weeks ago to a more low vibrato happy sound. Each week she just seems so different.

Her hair is getting too long to stand on end. It is making me sad. I love her girlie crew cut. But we will continue to love seeing her get more and more beautiful in her own way. After being at my mom and dads for a week...when we returned and Ed picked her up and walked around with her...it once again hit me...I may have missed him while we were apart...but he was right there all along in his little girls face. She is very much her daddy.

I hate living life feeling like I am surviving. Getting through a day or a stage or a chunk of time. But the thing that I am reminding myself is that survival is for now getting Sydney back to her happy sleeping place. And it is all about making it til Wednesday. When life resumes as a happy family of five. All of us looking forward to our roadtrip up north next weekend. Which is another cause of anxiety - I want Sydney to be back to herself for the drive, the sleeping, the excitement, and for my sanity. It is hard enough dealing with a crabby baby in the comforts of your own home. Although, the next best place would be in the northwoods at Grandmas, so we'll be okay.

Today:

-focus on the kids and just doing what is needed (Holding Miss Sydney, Library for Charley, and of course a piece of candy for our candy loving Hankers)
-Put a little treat in the mail for a loved Great Grandma in our lives.
-It is Monday. The sun is shining. It is summer. GO!

Let's impress you this Monday morning...

When I was visiting my mom not too long ago...she showed me this picture that she captured when she was visiting a few weeks ago. (I LOVE that I have seen her so much these last few months. It has really worked out with cheap flights and family gatherings). Anyways...this is not a flattering shot by any means...but let's be honest, this is my life right now...

she said...

Ultimate Multi-tasker...

Note, moments before this Henry had been crying because he wanted his very OWN water bottle. He refused to share. So I took a cup and poured some in that.

So scroll down and notice that I....

1. have solved Henry's issue and he is contently drinking his water.
2. am eating a hotdog...without hands. Sexy, huh?
3. am breastfeeding....without hands.
4. am exchanging money with my brother...to either pay for the hotdog or bet on a horse. I will let you decide which one.

I hope this made you laugh! 

Tell me about your Monday?  What are you multitasking today? 

Can WE handle this responsibility?

On Monday we crossed off one of our Summer Bucket List ideas. We ventured to our public library and signed the boys up for the summer reading program. Both boys got to sign up. Charley FINALLY got to be in the big kid program. He is pretty jazzed to get reading. Henry is very proud to be doing it to this year.

We did another BIG thing. Charley got his own library card. He was so serious. He talked to the librarian. Signed his card. Chose two books (my limit) and checked them out at the self check out.

I am nervous about this. I have a hard enough time returning books on time. Now to keep track of two cards. So for now, Charley can check out 2 books with his card. YAY Charley!

ALERT: Kid Activity Cha- Ching!

Another radical RAINY day.
WOO HOO!

I love planners, calendars, and notebooks.
My boys ALWAYS have a homework notebook that they are working in.
So this summer I got them some extra special StarWars notebooks.
In these notebooks we do little homework challenges.

Today our BIG challenge, meaning it required more than mama opening up a workbook or scratching a few addition problems on a paper...

We got out our EASTER eggs.

When I was in the classroom I used these a lot because they always add to the excitement.

Today we worked on counting (pennies) with Henry and counting MONEY with Charley.

1. Earlier I had labeled 10 eggs with the numbers 1-10 and the letters A-J. Charley's were the numbered eggs this time. Henry's were the lettered eggs.

2. I also filled the eggs with coins. In Henry's I just put pennies...ranging in amounts from 1-10. In Charley's I put pennies, nickles, dimes, and one included a quarter. I wrote down the amounts in Charley's on a post it note so I had the correct answers on hand.

3. The boys requested I hide the eggs. I wasn't going to but they thought that would be fun...and heck on a rainy day it adds about 10 minutes to the activity, makes it exciting, and gets them moving around the house (or yard..if it wasn't raining).

4. The boys hunted and sorted the eggs so they each had their 10 eggs.

5. Each boy cracked open their eggs and counted their loot. Charley announced his amount and wrote it in his STARWARS homework notebook. Henry just announced it. (Hint on helping kids count money...always have them start with the coins that are valued at the largest money...so start with counting the dimes, then add the nickles, and always finishing with the pennies).

6. Then they excitedly plopped it back into the bank.

There was much excitement. Lots of concentration. And everyone felt like they were working hard... Since Henry was pretty much doing the same thing Charley was doing!

Other ways you could enjoy these eggs...

You can put words cut up and have the kids CRACK open the eggs and UNSCRAMBLE the words...using sight words for early readers and spelling words for older readers.

You can put math facts.

You can put colored objects and have your littlest sort them once they open the eggs.

You can put other items in and have them try and sink or float.

You can put one letter in each spelling out the outing you have decided to do that day...or the snack you have for them that day...and they have to find them and then unscramble them.

I could go on and on....once again...my ass booty! Sometimes I wish it would find 10 fun ways to unload the dishwasher.