Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving this year went very smoothly, almost too smoothly, and seemed to be over before it began. We managed to get all 4 of us dressed and our youngest members changed and fed and into the car by 8:40am, our goal was 9am so we did great. Our hope was that Stella (and Luca if we were lucky) would nap in the car during the 2 hour trip to Parkersburg, WV. Luca played happily with trucks and his doodle pad and Stella spent her time watching the trees go by and watching her big brother....she's infatuated! Not a peep our of her the whole time, this from our Little Miss I Don't Ride In Cars! Oh how far we have come in just a few months time.

We arrived around 11am and were able to spend a few hours with my Grandparents before heading to my aunt and uncles house for dinner. A few family members couldn't make the trip this year, and were missed, but all in all it was great food and good company. It was really nice to see my cousin Jaime since we hadn't seen her since last Christmas! Luca was in heaven with all the yummy food and stuffed himself with turkey, potatoes, corn and especially sweet potatoes; he loves sweet potatoes! Afterwards he got to pick his own desert and then spend the next hour entertaining the family with song and dance :) Well, he sang one line from Jingle Bells over and over, told an incomplete knock knock joke and shook his bootie to some good music....he's such a funny little monkey and everyone just loves him to pieces. Stella spend her turkey day being passed from one family member to another, just smiling away and looking like a princess. By the time everyone was done eating she was pooped and took a nap on mommy while big brother entertained.

We got home late but the kids did great, again not a peep in the car. We had a little dinner, brushed teeth and into bed for all of us! We are not a 'black friday' family so we were all able to get a full nights sleep and woke up to snow flurries this morning! Yeah for the holidays!!!

Hello and Goodbye

This weekend went far to quickly and took far too long at the same time. Yesterday we traveled up to Hubbard for the baptism of our niece, Sophie. Sophie is my SIL's baby who is about 3 1/2 months old now. We didn't get on the road until early afternoon so we had very little time spend doing our 'usual trip home' stuff. We checked into the hotel, ran to Target for baby wipes (because you always seem to run out on a trip) and headed to MIL's house. Maggie was at work so we visited with Patty and Sophie and let Luca run around like a silly fool and get his wiggles out.

The baptism was this morning and went very smoothly. It was a bit strange, going back to Steve's home church, after being so used to ours. Theirs is a more old-fashioned, and frankly kind of gloomy in comparison...I missed our upbeat hymns! Sophie did well for the most part with only a little crying. Afterwards there was a small reception lunch with yummy italian food (gotta love that real, Youngstown, made by hand, good old fashioned Italian food!!!) and cake.

We were able to spend a little bit of time at Steve's grandma's house before getting on the road. Each time we go up I try to get pictures of the girls laying next to each other so we can see how much they change and grow. Sophie and Stella love to stare and smile at each other and now that Stella has become more mobile she likes to show off her moves for everyone.

Sophie had to be careful though, they were holding hands at one point....at least until Stella decided it would be better to chew on her hand than hold it!

Today I'm Thankful For...

A husband that cleans the kitchen

Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi...love that stuff!

Uneventful (in the good way) well baby check ups

The ultimate joy that is planning a suprise for someone

Baby sneezes, so cute!

I am Thankful for....

An amazing husband and father for my kids
Two happy, healthy children
Family that is near and far
Wonderful doctors and dentists to take care of my family
A roof over our heads and food to eat
Steve has a good job that allows me to stay home with the kids
Disney Channel.....enough said!
A creative nature
A wonderful new church home and family
Plastic resealable Gerber baby food!
Parents.com-for hooking me up with the most amazing 'may moms' from all over the country
Good friends to share with, cry with and laugh with
Fels-naptha soap that gets out absolutely every kind of stain

I Challenge You

A friend of mine issued out this challenge on facebook this morning and I think its great!

Let's see how many people can do this. Every day this month until Thanksgiving, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it as your status. "Today I am thankful for..." The longer you do it, the harder it gets! Now if you think you can do it then repost this message as your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today.

Now I am fully aware that I will NEVER remember or have the time to get on here and post every day until thanksgiving so I am going to make a list of all I can think of and add to it when I can.

When you least expect it, along comes a funny

After a rough day, this make me laugh and smile and know that I'm loved.....

At dinner, I'm in the living room and Steve is at the table with the kids....

Steve: aw shoot
Luca: what daddy?
Steve: I dropped some chicken
Luca: you make a mess daddy?
Steve: yeah buddy, a little one
Luca: you clean it up mommy?
Me: yup, probably (chuckle)
Luca: you super mom (big smile at me)

Gotta love the little man of mine!

ARG....and arg again!!!

Let me start by saying, I love my kids....there are days however I'm not sure I like them very much! Is that horrible? Are moms everywhere looking down their noses and tsking to each other?? Well so be it. I love love LOVE my kids but I find I have those days now where the cocktail of preschooler and infant just make my hair want to fall out, that's right, it just falls out I don't have to bother with the pulling...its as eager to escape the noise, spit up and poopie diapers as I am!

I guess its just certain parts of the day really, like the evenings. Those hours after nap and before daddy comes home, that can be so trying. Stella has become like a third arm, always attached, and if not she is screaming to be so. I never to this day have dealt with separation anxiety with Luca but I've come to learn that this sweet daughter of mine has no intention of doing anything the same way her brother did. I put her down and she cries...heaven help us if she is happily playing in her exersaucer and I walk into the kitchen for 2 seconds to make a bottle! I am venting, I know this but what else is a mom to do? We love our kids for better or for worse, much like a marriage but much much more permanent! I know these days will be gone before I know it and I will mourn her baby days as I do with his, and I will want more kids; forgetting the horrible morning sickness and colicky days. Big sigh, deep breath...only an hour until bedtime!