Thanksgiving

minus the pictures, as I left my camera over at Muddy and Guppy's house.  I'll get it back tonight, and will hopefully have time to upload the pictures before leaving tomorrow.

Things I'm thankful for:

Two children, who are energetic, independent, smart, caring, sassy, fun, creative, happy, loving, and entertaining.  

I'm equally thankful for having a body that allowed me to carry those two beautiful children past their due dates, and allowed me to breast feed them for as long as they wanted .

My health.

My husband, the man who is the loving doting father to those two energetic children.

My siblings, that's the plus of having lots of siblings, there's always support and interest from someone about whatever is going on.

My parents, who I'm blessed with being close to, both in proximity and relationships.

My friends, both old and new.  My former co-workers who have remained friends since I left CDS are deeply cherished for many reasons, but mainly because you already know me and what I bring to the table.  To my new friends, you've got no idea what's in store for you!

My online network of girlfriends, who while I haven't met most of you, you keep me entertained and up to date in each of your lives and were here for me this past year when things weren't the happiest.

 Digital cameras and instant picture printing capabilities.

DVR

Having a job where I'm respected and appreciated for the knowledge I have. Also knowing that I have a job, even in these bad economic times.

Having a husband who works his butt off and knows he has a paycheck too.

Our house, while never fully "clean" is full of laughter, song and joy most every day.  

For a country that realized enough is enough and took a stand.  

Community Organizers/social workers/advocates/volunteers- for making the world a better place, no matter what.

Finally, I'm thankful for Disney and the fact that we are able to go again this year.  We are all SO looking forward to seeing that Mouse and all his friends.  We're equally excited to be able to spend this vacation with Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Amanda, Bill, LouLou, Kate, Muddy and Guppy.  I'm sure we'll have sooo many memories from this week together!! Can't wait til tomorrow!!

Some current pictures

Watching Tinkerbell, right now.  Addie said, "Mommy, look at this" since she knew how cute they are being.

Very proud of the building we created, using all of the blocks.  If you look closely, there are many windows and alcoves, because we always build to suit the Goofy and Donald figurines Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda sent for Ben's birthday.

Ben, not happily, showing off his new mittens, hat and coat.  Everywhere we go, people comment on how cute his hat is.

Fire making helpers.  Notice how Ben's head is resting on Brian's shoulder.

Carrying the firewood in to help get our first fire of fall 2008 going.

Serious bed head

My little snow bunny Addie.  The picture doesn't do the puffiness of this coat justice.  She looks like such an adorable little lady in this.

Construction man Benjamin at your service.  These are part of the presents that Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda gave him for his birthday.  He's got tools all around his toolbelt!

Total FREAK OUT!

You should have seen the reaction that this emailed link from Muddy received!! 

Watch for sheer amazement! (and yes, Ben got one too)

http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/8524-muddyofaddie/

Updating amongst chaos

Not sure how long this will be, as Addie and Ben throw a ball to one another, with the actual goal of  "bouncing it off your noggin."

Addie and Ben both LOVE Christmas music (which isn't shocking for those of you who know me in real life; I mean genes account for somethings right?).  Their favorite right now is "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas."  Something about that song makes them march around like nuts.  

Addie's favorite movie for the week I was in Houston was Tinkerbell.  It's an ADORABLE movie.  Ben loved it too.  

Tinkerbell was the favorite until I unearthed our copy of Elf, the Will Ferrell movie.  Addie now loves "Buddy" and has watched it every night.  Luckily for her, Brian thinks it's hysterical and very willingly cuddles up with her to watch it.  We all still laugh at certain parts.

Ben has been doing some very cute things.  He's such a little love, in general.  Each night we've also been building towers from the Big Legos he got for his birthday.  He's known for his love of knocking over towers with reckless abandon.  However, the times when the tower falls over on its own make him put his hands on his hips and exclaim, "Oh my!"  It's very funny and cute how he says it.  

We had our first snow this week too.  We had about an inch on the ground when we left for work and daycare.  It was basically Ben's first snow.  Last year we had one snow, and that was it.  If you recall from my blog, we didn't even have sleds so the kids used ghetto cookie sheets to slide down the hill.  We ran out that night to get sleds and never needed them.  Hopefully this year we'll get snow on days we can play in it.  Both were infatuated with the snow. 

Ben loves to wear his winter hat and mittens.  In fact as daycare he doesn't want to take them off.

Ok, wild ball throwing is getting rough....

Some zingers...

Just now, Brian is sitting on the couch and Addie accidentally kicked him.  He said, "Addie, you just kicked Daddy in his no-no."  Addie replied, "Daddy, it's not a no-no.  It's a penis."  Correct!

Tonight Addie wrote her letter to Santa.  Actually she dictated it to me. I wanted to make sure I wrote down exactly what she said.  I'll have to copy the whole note once the elves retrieve it.  But as a teaser, she said, " The truth is, I've been a good listener."  Think she's a little worried Santa might have the inside scoop?!

Yes, we're alive

Not that I've gotten any "OMG, are you guys ok emails?" or anything, but I felt compelled to do a quick post to say we are indeed alive.

Busy, as usual.  We're actually on vacation starting Monday, for 2 weeks, so that should give me some time to get things posted.  

Hope everyone is somehow making it through life without my updated blog! ;)

Quick updates

I'm off to Houston this afternoon for a conference. I won't be home until about 11pm Friday night.
Addie and Ben both went to the pediatrician on Monday. Both came home with Augmentin for upper respiratory infections. They both went back today for Ben's 2 year check-up and to get flu shots. Both came home with orders to do nebulizer treatments ever 4 hours or use an inhaler and spacer every 4 hours. The spacer takes about 2 minutes; a neb treatment takes about 20 minutes. I hope they choose the inhaler!! Ben did his like a pro at the office. Addie wanted nothing to do with using the spacer for herself. We'll see. Actually Brian will see- since he's on 100% parenting duty for the next 72 hours!
Yesterday was Veterans Day and Brian had off work. He decided to keep the kids home and chill with them. I called in the afternoon to see how things were going and he informed me that they were visiting Brian's Grandmom. She's 88 years old and still on her own. Really a fiesty, fiercely independent woman. Addie was all lovey on her. Ben, as Addie said, "was scared of Great Grandmom." When I asked why, she said, "She has scary teeth." Ben then told me, "No hugs for Geat Grandmom."
After their visit Brian took them to lunch at a diner. Each ordered a drink. On Addie's lid, the waitress wrote "APPlE" for apple juice. The lady's handwriting was such that the p's looked like capital D's. Addie took one look at it and said, "Daddy!! How did they know my name?" It really does look exactly like how Addie writes her name, with capital ds. They had to save that cup, since it was so special to her.

Ben is TWO!

Ben turned two on Friday; Guppy turned 69.

Busy walking at Muddy & Guppy's house.

Enjoying cake and ice cream during Guppy's party.

His party was a jungle theme.  I made the monkey cake without any special pans or anything!

A great picture of Ben, Addie and Graham

Taking a break from the festivities for a beverage 

Cousin Matthew jumping on the moonbounce, having fun

Of course during the party, it became very apparent to Benjamin that the tarp needed mowing. 

Opening presents- we made the mistake of him opening Handy Manny and his tools first.  Handy Manny hasn't left Ben's side since.  Seriously, sleeping with him cuddled in his arms.  He's been at every meal with us, with Ben sharing some of his food and drink.

Muddy, on the Plasma Car that she and Guppy gave Ben, just a moment before running into the table and falling off of it.  *About 10 minutes later, Graham did the same thing, but knocked the lamp off the table and broke it.

Addie being a goofball.  That growth out of her head is Brian's mom.  Doesn't that look weird?!

Remember a while ago I said I got the funniest things for the kids?  This is what I was talking about.  We gave each child who attended this inflatable costume.  Ben never wore his until his party.  Apparently seeing other kids in them made it more interesting.  Each costume has velcro at the wrists & ankles.  Inside is a little fan that constantly blows (with 3 C batteries) while the person is inside.  It's HYSTERICAL to see people waddle around in them.

Addie hugging Graham the inflatable dragon

The birthday boys.

Holy crap

I'm sitting here in front of the computer screen with knots in my stomach. Oh my God, I'm a nervous wreck! DE polls don't even close for another 20 minutes.  So far McCain has Kentucky and Obama has Vermont.  I just don't know how I'm going to get through this night if it remains close. 

We Baracked the Vote

All four of us were at the polls at 7:05am (they opened at 7:00). We waited in line for one full hour. Addie went into the booth with Brian; Ben with me. Addie pushed all of Brian's choices. Ben pushed my "VOTE" button, submitting my choices. Both Addie and Ben were perfect angels in line. Addie read "Barack Obama" everytime we passed the "sample ballot" sheet. Ok, so maybe she didn't "read" it, but she has visual recognition of his name. She does the same for John McCain.
It felt exciting and wonderful to vote this morning. Like so many others have said, the lines and energy around waiting to vote, the showing of such determination and committment amongst Americans, is refreshing. It just goes to show that we're not complacent. We won't settle anymore.
Here's to President Barack Obama and VP Joe "Delaware" Biden! Yes We Can!
(and omg, I sooooooooooooo hope I'm right!!!!)

Halloween

I loathe how Blogger puts these in reverse order.  I'll do better next time, I promise.

Guppy needed a costume too at the KinderCare parade, so he posed with Ben's tail on his head.

Ben was having lots of fun building with the outdoor legos.  Guppy was a big help too

Can you find anything different about the two pictures?

An adorable action shot of Ben, as he was talking to another parent

Showing off his tail

A happy Dragon

Princess Mermaid Addie and her friend Corin

My group at work were the Spongebob characters.  You can't see me in the picture, but Muddy made me the pineapple under the sea.  She also made Gary the Snail who you can see on the end.  We made all the others in the office.  There is Spongebob, Patrick, Patchy the Pirate, Sandy Cheeks the squirrel, Snellie the Snail, Plankton, Squidward, and a jelly fish too. We won the best group, as voted by the patients!

* Oh yeah and there's nothing different with those two pics.  It just posted twice. LOL ;)