Strawberrie Picking...

Cribs create strange emotions!

I never dreamed it would be so hard to get rid of a crib. Mary-Ann was bursting into tears and I was holding back all my tears. It was our first crib! Both children slept in that crib as infants the day they arrived home from the hospital...and now...it is gone! I felt a mixture of emotions. I want another child one minute but the next I am very happy that I have two healthy beautiful children. Michael and Mary-Ann are both so independent now. It is easy to go to and from places to some degree. They are starting to get involved in activities, make friends, and entertain themselves. But....there is always that feeling of not feeling "complete" or "done".

My Mothers Day Gift

For Mother's Day I received a gift that every mother dreams of......A DUMP TRUCK! I wasn't the happiest person, but knew that it would benefit Mike and his business. It is the only way at this point his business can grow. It made me nervous. I am in school, not working except 4-6 hours a week and the last thing I wanted was another car payment. Mike assured me everything would be fine until.....it didn't pass inspection and needed a new computer part! We were stressed and weren't sure what in the world was going to happen. Mike was devastated and felt awful! I felt terrible for him! I kept telling him that there is light at the end of the tunnel and as soon as the truck was on the road it would be a good investment (as far as his business was concerned).

So....here we are....the DUMP TRUCK PASSED INSPECTION and is OFFICIALLY ON THE ROAD!!!! HOORAY!!!!

A Mother's Day Gift that turned into a Father's Day Gift!

Summer Fun!

Michael and Mary-Ann have been best friends....the days have been so relaxing! I am not breaking up fights, problem solving, or struggling to entertain two very active toddlers! The weather has been perfect, absolutely beautiful! It has been so nice to go to the pool and watch them play and learn to LOVE the water. It has been amazing to see them grow as swimmers and build there confidence!

Beach Days

Beach days are so fun with friends! We have enjoyed going to the beach until later that evening we are covered in dots from head to toe! Michael was in the water the entire time and was blessed with DUCK ITCH!!! Needless to say our beach days will be limited!

My Gymnast

Mary-Ann has been going to gymnastics for the past 2 1/2 months. Saturday, June 19, 2010, was her very first gym show! It was an adventure. The day before she had no nap because we were enjoying the day at the beach and she was exhausted! We had to wake her up to get ready, she wasn't cooperating, and the entire way to Plymouth she complained she was tired. When we arrived the gym had its usual smell of foot cheese and there were at least 30 twinkling star gymnasts running around, as well as, older children.
The topper was it was at least 90 degrees and every parent, grandparent, aunt and uncle were there supporting there gymnast!

Mary-Ann, our fearless leader, and far from shy child, was so scared to go out on the floor. I had to bring her out there and wait for her gym coach, Randi, to come and take her from me. I was so nervous she was going to cry or have stage freight. As always, Mary-Ann proved me wrong and was herself...trying to take off her shirt, grabbing herself, picking her noise, and was far from acting "lady" like!

It was very cute and a great show! At the end they called each gymnast onto the floor and presented them with a trophy! She had a great time and soaked up all the attention!

My Little Fish....

A year ago, we were struggling to get Michael in the water. He was so scared and hated the water. We tried the beach, we tried a kiddie pool, we tried the tub, and we tried Ahpe and Ahma's pool...but all he would do was cry and avoid it. I was stressed and overwhelmed. Swimming is a life skill and he had to learn to swim and hopefully love the water. I remember thinking to myself, what am I going to do about this? Then the solution came...a child's biggest nightmare.......MR. SWITZER!!!

What an experience not only for Michael but for mommy as well! Not only was he screaming and glued to my leg, but he was taken away from me, hollering "mommy" and thrown into a pool of freezing cold water! IT has been one of the worst experiences for me as a mother.

I sat on the side with my sunglasses on while tears ran down my face...I felt horrible. I wasn't sure we were going to make it through the two weeks. My stomach was in a knot and I was stressed. We would drive to swimming lessons and he would cry the entire way! One time he told me to pull over...I asked him why and he said because, your car is broken! It was a constant battle with a positive ending. Not only did he leave there able to swim, but he got his beginner 1 card.

Today, a year later...Michael is my little fish! He LOVES the water! Now the problem is trying to keep him out of the water and once in the water getting him out of the water to take a break.

This past week has been horrible weather wise. Today the high is 70 but it is 68 according to my car and looks like it is going to rain or storm. Ahpe and Ahma's pool is 65 degrees! Do you think this would stop him? NO!!! Michael was determined to go into the pool while I stood on the side in my long pants and sweatshirt praying I wouldn't have to rescue him!

Michael's favorite part of the day was discovering that he could touch!

Traveling with Toddlers!

There was a time when riding in the car it was somewhat quiet. The kids would listen to music and/or fall asleep and here we are today...and there isn't a minute of silence! It is either screaming or yelling...singing very loudly...arguing with one or another or yelling at me to go in a way that I as a child would yell at my mother.

I was driving home from Gymnastics this morning and I was in Center Harbor having a hard time pulling out into traffic because of motorcycle week...there was a split minute that I could pull out...Michael screams "punch it" and Mary-Ann screams..."punch it Margaret!"

I started giggling to myself, because I used to always say that to my mother!

What a Accomplishment!

Kick your legs out and then bend your knees...."in and out". I can't even begin to say how many times I have said this! Michael and Mary-Ann both love to swing on the swing, but...someone has to push them. Once someone has started them off, Michael can pump on his own. It is getting started that is tricky.

Swinging on a swing takes coordination, balance, and of course timing! This is something extremely hard for a toddler to grasp. Here we are today and Michael has grasped the concept of how to pump on the swing on his own. He can do it all by himself! YAHOO!!! He was screaming with excitement. "It's all because I am almost five mom," he screamed!

Squam Lake Science Center!

Summer is officially here when Squam Lake Science Center opens! It is a favorite for the kids as well as for me. The kids get to look at all the animal exhibits and play in their play area and mommy gets to get some exercise while walking the nature trail! Today, is not the nicest of days so we headed to the Science Center. When we arrived there were 10 buses in the parking lot! I completely forgot this is a popular place for end of the year field trips, but we made the best of it.

Michael's favorite parts where to see the bear, balg eagle (bald eagle), and the mountain lion. He particularly liked the mountain lion because he said that, "he makes a face like me (himself) when I get mad!"
Mary-Ann liked the bear, fox, and mountain lion! This year they were a little more interested in learning about the animals and of course were very fond of the telephone that they could pick up and listen to someone on the other end talking about the particular animal. I am not sure where they get there liking for the telephone from (HA! HA!).

On our way home, both children wanted to go back with Ahpe and Ahma, Daddy, and Kim, Tommy, and Charlotte, when, and if, they come for a visit!

A Sigh of Relief

Mary-Ann had her 3 year check up. She is 36lbs. and 39 1/8 inches tall. The doctor was very pleased with her height and weight. It still appears that my children are going to be jolly green giants! Overall the checkup went very well. Mary-Ann is at the four year old "level" for gross motor, fine motor, and intellectual ability. The benefits of having an older sibling.
I had a huge sigh of relief when the doctor told me that behaviorally Mary-Ann is no different than an average three year old! In the last few months I feel as though Mary-Ann is a ping pong ball. She has a very hard time with body/spatial awareness, sitting still and following instructions (if it isn't what she has in mind). The doctor assured me that this is normal behavior and she should grow out of it with structure and organization in her life. I am keeping my fingers crossed because she is exhausting.

Rainy Days!

There is nothing better than a lazy rainy day to sit inside in pajamas all day, bake cookies, and watch Disney! It is a favorite for all of us!

Mud Mud We Love Mud!

Our Little Helper!

Michael LOVES to work! One of his favorite things to do is to go help Daddy in the evenings with landscaping. Today, Michael was really bothered by all the pine needles that were all over our neighbors driveway. So......we had to work! Michael spent the afternoon racking the pine needles into piles, filling his wheelbarrow and the back of the John Deere and dumping the pine needles into the woods. He is such a great little helper!

Two or Three

It has always been a dream that I would live in a house with a picket fence, stay home with the children, and make cookies all day! So far, some of that dream has been fulfilled. I live in a colonial home with a white picket fence, for the most part I stay home with my TWO children, and CLEARLY I frequently bake cookies all day! The one part of my dream that has not been fulfilled is the amount of children I always wanted. To this day I have always wanted THREE children!! In my opinion THREE children is the perfect amount. Ideally, the two children we have is the perfect amount. My father, Ahpee, frequently has Michael and Mary-Ann and has voiced to us on numerous occasions that he wouldn't take the children if I had another because he doesn't do the baby thing and Mary-Ann is hard enough. Also, what would I do about the school thing. How would I go to PT school prego and manage to study all night, take care of Michael and Mary-Ann and be a stress free mom. As all of you know stress and Jenn go hand in hand. However, my philosophy is when there is a will there is a way and by golly we can make it work. Today, just justified more that we need to have a baby because Mary-Ann was in her glory when Alyson and Emma came for a visit! Mary-Ann would be the BEST big sister!

Mary-Ann is 3!

Where have the last 3 years gone? My baby girl is 3!!! I can't believe how quick time goes by. This past weekend we celebrated Mary-Ann's 3rd birthday with family and friends! We all had a great time despite the rainy day! Mary-Ann loved being the center of attention and enjoyed being with family and friends, having NO nap, and eating her DORA cake!!! Mary-Ann shared her special day with her cousin, Abby, who just turned 4! As a mother, I wish I was able to capture the day better, however, Mary-Ann is a VERY active child and doesn't know how to stay still for a picture.