This too shall pass...

...the sleepless nights, the shades of grey, the snow storms. And when it does I look forward to getting a good night sleep, being happy and energetic and enjoying the warm weather and the beach.

For now I will hold my breath and hope it all comes soon (lets hope I dont sink!). If I do I am so lucky to have plenty of people to pull me up.

We had yet another snow storm last night. Here are some images from it. I do not think I have ever seen so much snow in my life. This is the eighth storm since Christmas. While I love snow, everything in moderation!!!

Black Rock sleeps under a blanket of snow (an 18" blanket of snow).

We have been house bound for weeks. Its starting to get to me.

Taken by Owen

my boys having a lazy snowy morning

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We have gotten out for a little sledding. I would like to do more but its hard with Shane.

So all in all we have had pretty quiet, snowed in days. I am not going to say that I am ready for spring because I do enjoy a good snow storm. It seems that the norm around here these days is 12+ inches.

Enjoy your day!

Go With Out

My family means everything to me. There is nothing more important in this world than my husband and kids! I have been blessed in that department. I was lucky to stay home with Owen for the first year of his life. I am equally lucky to be home with both kids now. I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

Recently, I have considered going back to work. For silly, selfish reasons really. There are things we want and cant have because I am not working. We are going without and sometimes that is hard. I have everything I need right here in front of my face. My healthy, happy children and my hard working husband. They are all I need. I know in my heart everything else just brings temporary happiness. What is more important, having "things" or raising my children. I know the answer to that without having to even think. This is a choice I made, staying home. Going with out is just part of that. Its not hard but sometimes I want "things". Its normal, right?

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I am starting what I call an Owenism part of my blog. This is where Owen says things with such confidence and seriousness and they are just hysterical.

This morning Brian and I were ragging on each other like we do most of the time. Owen and Brian usually gang up and rag on me. Owen said "Do you guys want me to say the J word?" Brian and I looked at him and then at each other wondering if we really wanted to know what the "J" word is. We told him to go ahead and say it. "Dramatic, you guys are being dramatic." We were laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. He is still learning how to spell and he usually spells things the way they sound. Sometimes "dr" words sound like they begin with a J. That made my morning.

Is it bad that I dont correct him all the time? Its just really cute.

Another Owenism is Nibbles. He calls nipples nibbles. I love it!

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Shane has not been sleeping very well. He seems to be waking up every few hours. Not always to eat, he seems to be restless and I think its from him teething. Then there are the nights he wakes up and stays awake. Thats fun, let me tell you.

I wish I could stop time for a bit. I feel like my baby is growing too fast. His newborn stage flew by. I feel like I just gave birth to him last month and tomorrow he will be five months. In a month he will have been here for half a year. HALF A YEAR!!!! I cant stand it!

I am still breastfeeding him and plan to do so until he turns one. That is if his teeth dont get in the way. YIKES!!!

Shane has been eating cereal for a few weeks now. We have not introduced anything new yet. I am going to pick up some fresh peas and green beans and make him some veggies. I am sure it will take him a few weeks to get to like them. I read somewhere that you have to feed them something new ten times before they aquire a taste for it. We shall see!

Have a great weekend.

Teeth, Teeth and More Teeth

We are getting toothy around here. My big guy just informed me that he has a tooth growing in. Its an adult tooth. Its in the same exact spot as his little brothers tooth that came in. The only problem is that his baby teeth are not falling out. So off to the dentist we go. I have a feeling he will have to have the baby teeth pulled. Poor guy. He has been looking forward to loosing his teeth for a year and a half. We will see next week what happens.

We got some more snow last night. Its beautiful!!! I woke up this morning dreaming of the day I can wake up before everyone, grab my camera and go! I just wanted to head out and get snap happy. I saw the sun coming up, shinning through the snow covered trees and just wanted to go! Instead I watched the beauty from my living room while I snuggled with my boys and sipped coffee! The day will come when I can do that but today was not it.

We are off to the mall today! A nice little family outing!

Have a great weekend!!!!!

Hello 2011

Man did 2010 go by fast. I cant believe this time last year I was laying on my couch, sick as a dog with a little bean in my belly. Look at us now.

I have made my resolutions for the new year. Some are public and some private.

Each year I try to be better than the last. Try to learn new things and become a better person. My resolution last year was to blog more. Boy did I live up to that one. The year before was to be more green. I held up my end of the bargin on that one too. This year it is to not "eat" and "drink" our money. We are so quick to order take-out when we have a house full of groceries (300.00 worth). We are so quick to run to the package store for a bottle of wine just because we feel like it. We are eating and drinking our money. Well not this year. Special occasions call for that bottle of wine. And we just need to stop being lazy and cook a damn meal!!!! Its better for our health and our bank account. I know we can do it.

Our holiday week was really a relaxing one. We spent a few days in our jammies. We practically hibernated. It was much needed for all of us. We needed to relax to have a great start to 2011.

My boys are growing so quickly.

Shane has two teeth coming in. The bottom two. He likes to chew and suck on my fingers. I usually give in and let him have my hand. He is constantly trying to get it! This is a huge pet peeve of mine when other people do it with my kid but I am allowed ;) When I put my finger in there it hurt when he bit down. There they were. Two little teeth coming through. If I didnt put my hand in there I would have had no idea. No fever, not very cranky, only a tiny runny nose that came and went in a day. He has been really good. Now of course every little fus he makes is because he is teething LOL. But my boy is extremely easy...he is a good teether.

He has started to eat cereal. Such a big boy!

Both kids made out like bandits for Christmas. They got tons of clothes and toys. We do not like clutter so two days after Christmas Brian went to town taking down all of the decorations and purging Owens toy box.

Here are some videos of Shane laughing. He has a tickle neck just like his dad and brother!



This one is "tummy time"

Christmas, Blizzards and Sickness!!

I am surrounded by the smell of cherry menthol  cough drops, vicks vapor rub and the sound of sniffiles and coughs. Brian is down and out with some kind of sinus infection. Owen is sick too. What he has, I am not sure but he is hacking up a lung, staying in his jammies and snuggling with dad all day!!! They have spent the day in bed. Shane and I are fine. We are in "nurse" mode. Bringing water, going to the drug store, making sure they are ok!!! All while trying to catch up on house work and such. No fun!!!!

Christmas is done. I am cooked! I love this holiday more and more each year. It gets better every year with my kids. I feel like I spend weeks preparing for one evening and one day. They come and go so fast. I am usually depressed after because of how fast they came and went. Not this year. We had the best "day after Christmas" ever. We were snowed in! I couldnt have asked for a better way to end the holiday. We stayed in our jammies all day and watched the snow come down, listened to the winds howl, sat by the fire to keep warm and played with Owens Christmas gifts. It was fantastic.

Christmas Eve has always been spent with Brians family. Sadly with the way our families are so spread out over the state we have decided to start our own traditions. Its bitter sweet. I love being around family so much but its just so much driving and with such small kids its better to be home, have a nice dinner, get the kids in their matching jammies and open presents. So as sad as I am to end one tradition I am beyond happy to start my own.

We were so happy to welcome John the Elf into our home after Thanksgiving. Christmas Eve is time to say good bye. He goes back to the North Pole for the rest of the year. Our time with John has ended. He spends his last day with us in our tree. So that way when Santa comes he just leaves with him. Good bye John!

My sister and Bryan did not have anything going on so they joined us for dinner. I have not spend Christmas Eve with my sister in at least 10 years. It was so nice to be with her. They were able to share in our new tradition.

This is the night we exchange our gifts. Owen gets to open any gifts he gets from us or anyone else that sent them. We got him a PSP (play station portable). He loved it!!! He and Brian have been playing video games alot lately. I thought he was finally old enough for something like this. I am not a fan of video games but boys will be boys!

Shane got him a sponge bob snuggie. He loved that too!!!

Christmas Day was just as great! We went to my moms for brunch, visited with my Grandfather at my Aunts and spent the eveing with Brians parents. It was alot of running around but so great to see everyone.

My mom and Bill cook a big feast. It was sooooo yummy!!!!

Thanks to my father-in-law we have pictures of the evening. I was so tired and that point and just didnt want to juggle the baby on my hip and the camera in my other hand. So Thank you Dan for taking these pictures!

We had such a great Christmas. I am so looking forward to 2011.

2010 has been such a great year for us, I am sad to see it end but I cant wait to see what the new year has in store for us!!!



Here is a preview of our "Not so christmas" Christmas Cards.