Owwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you hear my Matthew this morning?

For those of you who have toddlers, you know how busy they are. For those of you who have taken toddlers to the peds. office you know how challenging it can be to entertain them in a place where they're not supposed to touch anything. As a favor I was watching our little friend Peter today so he came along with us to Dr. Lafeer's office for the kids' annual check-ups...and shots. yeah. I think I could stop right there and you might get the picture. But it just wouldn't do the morning justice.

In the waiting area Matthew was bossy and inapropriate towards another little guy and I had to take him out to sit with me. Matthew HATES discipline. I know nobody likes it, but most kids tolerate it a little better than my Matthew. SO...we have the full on tantrum in the waiting area. No one can hear themselves talk and I'm trying to convey the msg. that you can't just be mean to other little kids. All this after we'd been waiting for an hour. I impatiently began to check my watch every 5 min. When is it going to be our turn?

Finally we're called back, I've got paperwork for the kids and all three of them are being silly, silly, silly. I actually needed them to demonstrate physical and mental accomplishments so it was not easy getting them settled. I try to make it fun, we get through it and then....it's shot time.

Ella Jane went first. I finally understood when moms say it was soooo hard having my child get shots. I've never had a problem with it. They get a shot, they cry for a minute, and you're done. Oh my little Ella belle. By the time they got to the finger prick, she was trying her hardest to hold back tears (no crying at this point just the contorted little face) That was a little hard to take. But, give her blankies and passy and she's fine.

Matthew on the other hand....Now in his defense, he has had his share of being poked and prodded and has been and ABSOLUTE CHAMPION for all that he has had to endure medically. I had prepped him all week that he'd be getting shots but apparantly that didn't matter. When it was his turn, he lost it. I mean lost it. I had to physically lay on him and hold him still with all of MY might! And he had 4 shots and a finger prick. It was not pretty. But, he got 5 bandaids out of it!

and a lollipop. Peter even got one b/c he's such a great friend to join us for 3 hrs. at the doctors office. Kudos to all you moms next time you take your kids in for check-ups. I'm not kidding about the 3hrs. thing either.

Which one has sugar in it?

We had the big party yesterday and had so much fun!! Weather was nice and hot, just perfect for our pool party. Kids were wild and crazy and had a wonderful time. My two favorite quotes came from our little friend Peter who is 4 yrs. old.

When checking on kids during dinner he kindly told me he didn't like his hot dog. I chuckled and said, "Oh are you just going to eat your fruit then?" to which he replied..."no, do you have macaroni and cheese?"...no honey.

Later when given a choice of two capri suns to drink, he asked "which one has sugar in it?"... They both do honey.

The crown and the wand was a big hit with the boys. This is our little friend Jake Weller. Matthew decorated his own cake...it's a rainbow.

The Package Man...

came to our house this afternoon in a big brown truck. He brought us a box with birthday gifts inside! The kids thought he was soooo nice! I had to explain that the presents were from Auntie Teresa. It's been a fun week with a little something each day for BOTH of them. That's the way to go when they are young like this. No one gets left out. Ella Jane is in her new dress guarding her vitamins and Matthew is opening and activity book.

I've been so proud to see the pride on their faces when they tell someone they are now "2" or "4". They are so excited and willing to share. It's great fun to see.

A touch of Hawaii

Thanks to Amy we are sporting a new look around our house. The kids immediately wanted to try on their new gifts, and I've even used my hot pads a few times. We're so tropical now. I'm surprised by how much they like new clothes! I suppose this might come from me, when everytime Ella Jane has on something she hasn't worn in awhile I send her out to show daddy and Matthew and then to look in the mirror.

Don't they look cute together?

Happy Birthday Ella Jane!

Ella Jane turns two today and she is sooooo excited about it. About a month ago she noticed that Matthew was taking vitamins in the morning, along with mommy and daddy and she wanted in on the action too. I said "when you're two you can have your own vitamins." I even had a bottle of Pooh vitamins ready for the big day. So, this morning I reminded her that today was her birthday, and that she was TWO! We sang the song and I asked her what it was that she finally was able to do now. Matthew remembered...VITAMINS! Yeah, so we went to the cupboard and got 'em out. She was so proud and excited to have her own vitamins. She has carried the bottle around all morning.

I can't believe she's two now. What a milestone.

carol

Every time

Hi all,

We're at the church...AGAIN! Sometimes it seems we are just always here. We've had 90-100 temps. for about 2-3 weeks now with only a sprinkling of rain in between. Needless to say everything is DRY. Until today that is. This afternoon we were blessed with a little storm...all of about 10min.! but we lost power anyway and with that our water, so life just feels so stuck. So, we packed up the fridge and headed to the church. Why does the power go out every time I have the fridge stocked full of food?:) So we are here to take advantage of the A/C, the fridge and of course the t.v.!

Carol

Endurance

Well, this obviously won't be very current! I'm at the library without kids...yea! so I have a few moments to get caught up. They are at the church with some sitters this morning and I have used my free time to go running and to catch a few moments at the library. I'm semi training for the Marine Corps marathon in Oct. It's the one where you run around all the sites in D.C. and run with the Marines. Very patriotic. I think I'll really like it. HOWEVER, my mental capacity to think ahead to 26.2mi. is about nil these days. So, I'm taking it one week at a time and hopefully I'll have the guts to commit soon!

Went on a trail run this morning with my friend Mary and she and I can just talk so freely about parentings ups and downs that she is such a great outlet and resource for me. What a wonderful time we had. And she brings her Golden Retriever, Charlie so he leads the way for us.

My new thing with Matthew is SCHEDULES!!! He craves this kind of structure so I have posted our daily and weekly schedule on his blackboard in his room. It helps with daily chores and getting a perspective on the day. This is only day two, but he seems to be responding really well to it.

Ella Jane...she's just a little pistol. What else can I say. She is VERY snuggly and at that very active stage. Wanting to be a part of everything. Her favorite thing to do is swing, and read stories.

That's the latest with us today!
Carol

Here we go

Hello All,

Thanks to the Suyets, I have started our own family blog. We are at the church passing the time. It's a great place to come when I don't have energy to do anything else and I've got a few hrs. to kill before dinner!

Ella Jane is currently showing everyone her bandaid that I just put on her toe. Now she is demanding a second one. She's into bandaids these days and at the slightest hint of an owie will inform me that she needs two bandaids.

This morning we went to a new place in town called the Jump Yard. It's one of those places where you jump on the brightly colored, air inflated castles and slides and such. Adults are even allowed to get in on the action and I must say I had a lot of fun. Ella Jane is such a little daredevil. Nothing much phases her...after a few run throughs with mom, she's climbing to the top of these really high slides and flying down all by herself.