Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from our lil' stinkers!!!

This week has been so, so, so crazy!!! I will update you with all the events over the weekend.

Headed to The Martha Stewart Show

I am headed to a taping of the Martha Stewart Show tomorrow with 9 of my mommy friends. I am extremely exited but there is one small problem...the weather! The high in the city is supposed to be 47 with wind and rain. Yucky! The rain not only poses a problem in terms of maneuvering the city on foot but also for my hair. My hair goes totally limp in anything but the optimal weather, which is the cool, crisp fall air. I hope I don't look like a drowned rat on national television...if the camera pans to me. So set your channels to the Martha Stewart Show and look for me...I'll be in a dark pink shirt and I may possibly look like I have been through a typhoon!

Saturday Morning Traditions

Every Saturday morning, Ben wakes up early with the kiddos and takes them to Home Depot and then returns with Dunkin Donuts...all the while I sleep in. It's just one of the million reasons why I love Ben so much. It just dawned on me that my dad used to do the same thing with my brother and me. He would take us to the local hardware store on Saturday mornings where they would have donuts for the patrons. It just so nice that my kiddos have the same tradition that I had as a child...purely by accident.

Wordless Wednesday - Two of a Kind

Cami playing with her friend, Adam. Cami and Adam were born nine days apart.

Have You Seen My Pumpkin???

I noticed yesterday that Cami's pumpkin was not on the front porch where I had so thoughtfully placed it the day before. Immediately I thought that the dog must have eaten it so I took a walk around the yard but I didn't see any pumpkin remains. Could the dog really have eaten the entire pumpkin...even the handle? So I called Ben to ask him where he put Cami's pumpkin, he told me he had not moved it. So where o' where has her little pumpkin gone???

I have two theories:

1. Pumpkin-nappers

2. Pumpkin-eating animals

I don't know which theory freaks me out more. Let's start with theory 1: Pumpkin-nappers. First of all if the neighborhood kids think it's cool to steal a pumpkin from an infant, that's just pathetic. Secondly, I would hope they would of set their sights higher. I mean they took the smallest of all four pumpkins. Kids, if you are going to steal...go big! Finally, what really freaks me out is the fact that at some point someone who was not invited, came onto our property and up to our front door. That's just too close for comfort in my mind.

Theory 2: Pumpkin-eating animals kind makes me shiver as well. I mean, it was a small pumpkin, but that was really in comparing it to the rest of the pumpkins (don't you all buy one pumpkin for each member of the family...biggest for daddy, medium-sized for mommy, small for Brayden and the smallest for Cami). It was way too big for a squirrel or rabbit to carry away so it would have to be a rather large animal and there are no pumpkin remains so I know it definitely took it to another location. What type of creatures leave in these woods? But we don't have woods so what type of creatures inhabit this subdivision?

It's a mystery...that may not be solved any time soon. In the meantime, I will be going back out and buying another pumpkin for my sweet baby girl and hopefully this time it stay put on the porch.

All the Picking Rolled into One

We finally found some free time this weekend and took the kiddos apple and pumpkin picking. It was a gorgeous fall day...maybe a bit too windy but the sun was shining, the kids were bundled and we had a great time.

Ben and Cami waited for the shuttle to arrive while Brayden and I went and looked at the animals in the petting zoo, although there was NO touching of the animals. Petting zoos freak me out. They seem like a breeding ground for yucky germs so we just looked.

We took the shuttle out to the apple orchards. Since we were late in the picking season, most of the apple trees were pretty much picked clean. Brayden found a few apples close enough for him to pick off the tree but his favorite part of the trip was eating the apples. You will notice in most of the pictures he either has an apple in his mouth or very close by it. Granny Smith's were his favorite...Mommy's too!

Next stop was the pumpkins. Brayden immediately found the pumpkin he wanted but that didn't stop him from trying to pick up every pumpkin in the patch! We decided to only pick one pumpkin in the patch and get the others back at the store since Ben and I only have two hands and it really didn't seem plausible for us to maneuver the shuttle with two kiddos, a 1/2 peck of apples and multiple pumpkins.All in all, we had a great day. I can't wait until next year when Cami will be able to chomp on an apple and pick a pumpkin of her own.

Why does my butt smell minty fresh?

As I have been lathering both my kiddos up with Destin these past few days, a really funny story keeps popping in my mind. So I thought I would share because a) The story doesn't involve me and b) The story doesn't involve my stupidity, which frequently comes ripping through the seams of most of my stories lately.

Brayden had an ear infection the entire month before I had Cami and with his ear infection came many different kinds of antibiotics, which in turn caused lots and lots of unpleasant diapers and with these unpleasant diapers came some pretty nasty diaper rashes. Three days before my scheduled c-section, we had finally gotten rid of the ear infection but Brayden came down with a nasty stomach bug! Let's just say it is really hard to care for your sick, whiny toddler when you are 5 days from your due date.

As you can imagine, my hospital stay felt like a week long trip to the spa and yes, I was recovering from major abdominal surgery...that's how bad it was at home! Brayden stayed with my parents during my quite lovely hospital stay...lucky them and yes, he did infect them and my visiting brother with the stomach bug. They brought him to visit me in the hospital and told me about the mornings activities, one of which involved lubing my son's bottom up with toothpaste??? Apparently, Brayden had a poopy diaper so my dad got stuck with diaper change duty. Papa (my dad as he is known to Brayden) took him upstairs, changed his diaper and applied the cream that my mother had given him, which turned out to be Brayden's toothpaste.

When they told me this story in the hospital, I couldn't stop laughing...not good for a c-section recovery, as some of you may know. Although lack of glasses and general confusion have been given as reasons for the mistake, I think it may have been from the over tiredness that having a toddler in the house generally causes...that a senility...just kidding Dad (and Mom too!)

Wordless Wednesday - Bumpy Slide

Here's Brayden and Owen having lots of fun on the "bumpy" slide at the park. Brayden shot down that slide like a rocket. His landings were pretty funny.

My Personal Training Success

Remember way back when I promised to update you on my work with my personal trainer, Diane. If you don't, check this out. So here is your update...Diane rocks the personal training house! I have had so much fun with getting in shape with her. Here is the success story she asked me to write for her website:

After having two children and two c-sections, my body was a wreck! I decided that it was time to get back in shape and do something about the extra pounds and flab. I turned to Diane for help, not only because she is a great trainer but also because she is a mom too and would understand exactly what happens to your body after having kids! When I decided to start training with Diane, not only did I want to feel good about my body but I wanted to set a good example for my children about health and fitness. How could I expect them to take care of their bodies if I let mine fall by the way side! It was time for me to take some time to take care of myself.

Working with Diane has been a dream! Not only does she tailor each workout to your fitness needs but she makes it fun to workout. In only a couple weeks, I started to see results. My clothes started to fit better and I had friends and family commenting on how great I looked! I think the defining moment of my success was when I bought a pair of jeans in my normal size at the mall but when I took them home and wore them, they were literally falling off. I went back to the mall and tried on the next size down and they fit perfectly. I couldn’t believe it! I hadn’t worn that size since before I had kids.

Diane has really helped me to understand that it’s not only about the number on the scale but also about how your clothes fit and how you feel about yourself. Since I started working with Diane, I have more energy and in taking time to take care of myself, I feel like I can be a better mom and wife. Diane is a great trainer; she really takes the time to listen to your needs and work with you as an individual. She puts together work outs that fit into your life. The focus is on you, which is exactly what I needed. I would recommend Diane’s services to anyone. She really has changed me…not only my size but also how I feel about myself and for that, I am forever grateful.

Here are the Before and After pictures that Diane took of me. The picture on the left was taken six weeks before the picture on the right. Although the outfits are not the same, I can definitely see a big difference!

I'm Back...

No, I haven't forgotten about all of you in the blogoshere! I just haven't been able to get my act together and post. Maybe I have been in a bit of a blogging rut, maybe I have just been busy watching all of my shows, or maybe I have been reading a great book...whatever the reason, I promise to fill you in on a more regular basis.

Since I don't have time to do that now, I will give you a cute meme that I saw over at But Wait It Gets Better. All you need to do is find the 6th folder in your picture files and then find the 6th picture and post it. Here is mine:
This picture is from my May folder so I guess the hat is from Memorial Day. I remember the hat was bought at the Target Dollar spot, which Brayden is allowed to pick out one thing from at the beginning of the trip. It's really the only way I can get him in the cart. Sad, but true.

Feel free to play along. Just leave me a comment and I will hop over and check it out.

My Beautiful Little Princess

We took Cami to get her sixth month pictures (even though she is 7 months...we don't need to be exact here!) taken last week and I wanted to share them with you all. Never mind the watermark...we don't have a scanner so I stole them off the photo studio's website. She just looks so beautiful. Don't you agree?

Help Me!!!

I bought Brayden a new CD for our trip down to Florida in August. I thought that he was a little too addicted to the DVD player in the car, so I push (and push) and he finally stopped asking to watch his movie and was fine listening to the CD.

So we have been listening to the CD now for 4 weeks and I want to rip all the hair out of my head! This CD is apparently toddler crack. He begs for it, cries for it, screams for it...it is really insane. I mean, it has good songs. I like "Under the Sea" and "The Tiki Room" but I am only allowed to sing along when I am instructed by my master Brayden. Sometimes I forget that I am not allowed to sing until told and Brayden says "No Mommmy. You no sing. I sing." It was cute at first but now it's irritating. I will sing when I want. If I have to listen to this CD, then I will darn well enjoy myself and sing along!

Brayden's favorite song is a version of Davy Crockett by They Might Be Giants. Davy is an astronaut and the words are really cute but I mean how many times can a person listen to Davy Rocket on repeat before they totally crack up. I am seriously getting to that point. Either I am going to go completely over the edge or Brayden needs a good month in the nearest Disney rehab facility. Help me, please. What CD are you currently listening to with your kiddos or are you all driving around happily listening to the radio?

Wordless Wednesday - Do you mind!!!

Cracked Up!

We have a new member of the family to welcome and his name is ??? Brayden hasn't given him a name yet but he has thrown around Pete (not to be confused with the goldfish formerly named Petey...may he rest in peace), Davy Crockett (weird, I know but it is his favorite song right now...and not the old version, the new They Might Be Giants version that plays on Disney and my CD player, on repeat!) and Blue (which is the name used the most often; I guess because I asked him his name last night and he thought I asked what color he was and now it has stuck). Let's just refer to him as dead Blue until we know otherwise.

So Blue is a beta fish, which I have heard last forever but we have already tried to kill the poor bugger. His new digs totally rock and I mean, red rocks with a fake plant and cool glass bowl, which apparently has a rather large crack in it.

I got up this morning right on time late and came down stairs to a flood on the counter top, where Blue's bowl had been placed safely out both dog and toddler reach. I soon realized (okay not that soon but it was early and I hadn't had coffee yet) that the bowl was leaking so here was my list of to-do's this morning in the half an hour I had before we needed to leave for preschool:

• Make/feed Cami breakfast
• Make Brayden breakfast - luckily he can feed himself, what a time saver!
• Pack snack for preschool class - today was my day...doesn't this stuff always fall at the worst time's.
• Pack Brayden's preschool bag - since I didn't do it the night before...kicking myself now.
• Find Passport (no I did not decide to leave the country because of my extreme morning stress, although I did consider it!) and Marriage Certificate - Had to renew today at the Post Office since our couples-only Caribbean trip is only a few months away and it had expired with my maiden name on it and apparently there isn't any form on-line that deals with both of those issues...that's the government for ya!
• Find Blue a temporary home - I envisioned returning after preschool to a fish in a bowl with red rocks, fake plant and NO water and that would be two dead fish in a week!

Needless to say, we were a bit late leaving for preschool so I did have to do some crazy backing up in the parking lot this morning, which is exactly why it is so important we leave on time...any one who knows me knows that I do not do well driving in reverse! In fact, almost every fender bender I have been in (caused by me) has been while attempting to drive backwards. But I am happy to report that I have yet to hit another preschool parent while attempting to back up my boat minivan! Now who wants to place money on the same sentence being true in six months...if you a smart, you will say NO...just like your momma taught ya!

P.S. Has anyone caught on to my new HTML trick?

Gone before we even said hello...

So I have been meaning to let you all know that we had added a member to our family last weekend. Brayden won his first fair goldfish and named him Petey. He was a cute, little goldfish and Brayden loved to feed him and watch him swim around his bowl...notice all the past tense I used in that sentence.

Yes, you guessed it...Petey has gone belly up!

He lasted 8 days with us. I came down on Sunday morning and Ben informed that Petey was sick and that he would not be getting any better. Ben told Brayden Petey was sick and let Brayden feed him his last meal, although truth be told, he ate his last meal the day before...but Brayden didn't know any better.

We hymned and hawed the rest of the day trying to decide what to tell Brayden happened to Petey. Ben wanted to tell Brayden that Petey was going to the ocean with all his fishy friends and then flush him. I was all about flushing him but not in front of Brayden. I just imagining how much it would cost us in plumbing bills to have 4 or 5 of Brayden's toys pulled out of the pipes after they were sent to the ocean by a certain little boy! Last night before I went to bed, I told Ben to flush Petey because it was really becoming quite disgusting to keep a dead goldfish on our kitchen counter.

This morning Brayden informed me that Petey was sick and that we needed to feed him "real food". He ran and got the stool so he could feed Petey but Petey was not were he left him. Brayden asked were Petey went and I told him that Petey had to go home. He said "Petey go home" and I said "yes, Petey went home so we went be able to see him anymore" Brayden said "Petey went home to see Mommy Petey?" I said "Yes, he went to be with his mommy." Brayden got down and went about his morning.

He seemed content with that explanation but he did ask for another fish so Ben is taking him out tonight to get a Beta fish because we have heard they live forever...just what we need, another nut in this nuthouse! Hopefully this next fish will last at least 10 years so Ben and I will be the only one's crying at his funeral at sea.

Wordless Wednesday - Best Buds

Brayden with his best buddy, Owen

Cami's First Race

This weekend Cami ran (or should we say was pushed) in her first 5K by her Daddy. This was not only Cami's first race but Daddy's first race in a long, long time...almost two years to the day to be exact!

Two years ago, Ben and I ran this same 5K and Ben pushed Brayden, who was about 5 months old at the time. That was not only Brayden's first race but mine as well...it was also my last race! I hated it. I got second to last...only because Ben is such a great husband and let me go ahead of him.

It was awful. Old men on the side of the road heckled me. When was the last time they had a c-section and ran a race only 5 short months later...NEVER! You do even know how hard it was for the state champion cross country runner to get last in a race he could have very well run but he stayed with me the whole godawful time. Did I mention what a great husband he is!

So this time around, I decided to cheer on (not heckle) the runners, including my husband, father-in-law and family friend, Carol. Brayden loved seeing his daddy and Grandpa run.

Cami had a great race. Although it was a little on the chilly side, she happily screamed and screeched the whole way through the race. Ben finished in 33rd place (first one in with a stroller!) and was just over 20 minutes. Just think of how well he could have done if his training consisted of more than going out for a jog a couple of times in the past two weeks! Ben's goal is to push the stroller over the finish line next year in first place...I will keep my mouth shut on that one. I am trying to be a supportive wife.

Here are some pics of the race:

Missing: My Brain!

Missing: My Brain

Last Seen: August of 2005

Last Seen with: Me...I think?

My brain has gone missing...either that or it just doesn't function as it should anymore. Today I seriously put my child in danger and it makes me sick just thinking about it.

The garage door is broken (again!) so after dealing with that whole situation, I put Cami in her car seat and Brayden climbed into his. We turned on our (or should I say Brayden's) favorite CD and we were off to music class...on time too I might add.

I am about 10 minutes into our drive and I look back and notice that Brayden is really slouched down in his seat and then it just hit me...I didn't buckle him in!!! So I immediately pull over, jump out of the car and buckle him in. Thankfully we weren't on the highway so I was able to fix the problem right away.

I am now officially in the running for the worst mommy of the year award. I am just so thankful that nothing happened and I hope after our little talk, Brayden will kindly inform me when he is not properly strapped into his safety device...this momma needs help!

Wordless Wednesday - Tub for Two

Tackle It Tuesday - Kitchen Pantry

I hate the shelves in our kitchen pantry! They have open spaces and stuff is constantly falling over. They are so annoying so Ben thought of an idea of how to fix them...he totally rocks!

Ben went out and bought some white solid bathroom board (Yea, that's right...now try and find that in the Home Depot and not to sound too much like an idiot, kay.) He cut it down and voila, perfect kitchen pantry!

It's so beautiful and organized...the real questions, is will it stay that way? Put your money on NO!