To catch you up...

The boys have both been sick and after another visit to the Dr. today they are good to go. Noah got a clean bill of health and Camden has a sinus infection that will go away with drugs, Yeah!!!

Since they are better, we are going to take advantage of the beautiful weather today and play outside. The sunshine always makes me feel better and I need to get out and rake the leaves and clean up the porch after the long winter we had.

Another reason I may be feeling better is that I gave up breads and pasta for Lent. I have noticed that they tend to drag me down. I am eating lots of fruits and veggies and actually enjoying it, which surprises me, because I am not a huge fan of either.

Mark and Tiffany's pre-wedding festivities are in full swing. Brian and I enjoyed being part of each of their bachelor and bachelorette parties the past two weekends. They are very blessed to have a wonderful group of godly friends. Their wedding will be here before we know it!

Noah has been busy playing soccer. He is probably one of, if not the fastest kid on the team. His love of running is huge! He is still very cautious in a huddle of kids to kick the ball, which does not surprise us because he is not aggressive by nature.

Camden has been busy playing soccer as well, just not on any official team. He believes he is part of Noah's team and it is quite a challenge at practice and at games to keep him off the field. He is loving it and we can't wait until he is 3 so he can "officially" play. Watch out when he does play, because his aggressive nature will be something to watch on the field.

Some cute things the kids have said:

Noah - "Mommy, don't sign me up yet for the... snow... riding on the board... down the hill... sport yet. I haven't had enough practice for that yet."

Mommy- thinking to her self... "What? When have you ever snow-boarded?"


Camden - "Mommy, my ears are broken. Dr. Daniel needs to fix them, he has an ear tool to do that."

Calgon take me away...

I'm a bit grumpy today and not really liking life. Why?

I am functioning on about 3 hours sleep because we had a kid up sick all night.

There are two half naked kids running around the house wheezing, coughing and with nasty goo coming out of their noses.

They are currently underneath a pop-up basketball game that is about 4 ft. long and 2 ft. wide and they are running full tilt with total disregard for their lives and for the possessions in our house.

I see the E.R. room in our future today.

If we don't make it to the E.R. then we will be in the DR.'s office during nap time today. which is always a pleasant experience! I just love being confined to a 6 x 6 room with two sick, restless kids and nothing to occupy them.

We will be at the Dr.'s office so long that the exhaustion will turn into out of control energy when we get home and nap time will totally be lost.

There is a large brown dog out back throwing up. I am too tired to find out why.

Somebody slowed down the speed of the mouse for the computer and I am unhappy and frustrated.

It's only 10:30 a.m.

Funny, I don't like coffee ice cream all that well, my favorite is chocolate though.

You Are Coffee Ice Cream

Energetic and lively, you are always on the go. You're doing a million things at once and doing them well. You tend to motivate others and raise spirits. You are most compatible with chocolate ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Happy Valentine's Day

I was greeted to a sweet Valentine's surprise in my bed this morning. Both boys and Gracie were snuggled up warm watching a bit of T.V. Since I thought they looked so cute, I took them, minus Gracie, to Crispy Creme for a heart-shaped donut for breakfast. Gracie wasn't too happy!

After breakfast we headed home and I was surprised to find Tulip's, my favorite flower, waiting for me in the kitchen.

The kids had their school Valentine's Day parties yesterday and had a great time. They each made their own Valentine holders and a special present for Mom & Dad. Camden also made a "Love-bug" hat to wear for the festivities. They received lots of sweet treats from their friends that have caused quite a sugar high. They were sporting new red Valentine's shirts from their Great Nana & Great Papa, Thank You!!!

Tonight for dinner, Mommy is making a special dinner of Pork loin, potatoes, carrots, salad and dessert! Can't wait! We wish you a very special Valentine's Day!

Soccer mania

It's that time of year. The soccer craze has hit our house. Noah had his first game on Saturday and was completely wore out after running for approx. an hour. It may also have something to do with he is still fighting off a stomach virus.

Boy do I wish they let 2 year olds play soccer in our town. Everday for the last week Camden has been decked out in soccer gear. He "borrows" his brother's soccer socks and puts them on. They are so cute they go all the way up to his hips. He then puts on Noah's old soccer shoes, which are 3 sizes too big and Noah's soccer shirt from last season. Once he looks good he strikes a pose and yells "Soccer" and then runs as fast as he can go through the house kicking things.

Camden was not happy at all after Noah's soccer game. He kept telling me that "it made him sad". After much decoding of a 2 year olds language, I understood that he was sad because he was not asked to play and "kick the ball". He is keenly aware of the fundamentals of the game on and off the field. He told me tonight after I brought in the gatorade that I bought at the store that "soccer players drink one red drink at a time, only one mommy." O.k. buddy.

Gone from bad to worse

Well, we now have two sick kids with the stomach virus. It is funny how different they respond to the same virus. Without going into too much detail, they are both sick from different ends. Not pretty around here.

We have been through our fair share of Lysol, hand washing, baths, washcloths, towels, loads of laundry and the always popular B.R.A.T. diet, which no one seems to like. As I was sitting at the table this morning, I realized that I am the only one who hasn't had the virus yet. Not a welcome thought because I know what is to come!

Taking it easy

I am home today taking it easy with Camden. Turns out the defiant potty-training boy really wasn't being difficult at all, he has a stomach virus.

Poor little guy, it's not very often he just sits and wants to be read to or cuddled. I will indulge his every whim today and soak up his sweetness.

Potty training gone bad

I thought I would try a new tactic with Camden today. All we are lacking is for him to poop in the potty. So I decide to tell him that whenever he wanted too, it was alright to just go ahead in poop in his pull-up. Of course I got the response that I was looking for "no, I am going to use the potty". Great, now let's wait and see.

At lunch he started to go in his pull-up. I asked him if he wanted to go use the potty and he of course said "no". So, I then told him that if he continued to go in his pull-up that I would not change him until after his nap. He was going to have to sleep in it.

Sorry guys if this sounds harsh, but at this point we are trying everything!!!

He walked off and continued his business. Next thing I know Noah is hollering that Camden threw-up in the living room. I didn't hear any sounds of that nature and knew instantly what it was. Camden had a massive explosion in his pants that leaked all down his leg into his shoe and left a large puddle on the carpet. Yuck!

30 minutes later after cleaning Camden, the bathroom, the living room, and myself with disinfectant, Camden now is asleep with a clean pull-up on.

Camden won.

New tactic tomorrow.

I had that experience today...

You know the one... where your child is screaming so loud and your ears are ringing so much that you can't hear yourself think.

You know the one... where your child is screaming so loudly that the entire front quarter of Wal-Mart has stopped to watch you and see what is going on that makes him yell like that.

You know the one... where everyone has that look on their face like "why aren't you making him stop?"

You know the one... that there is no logical explanation for this situation, because after all what set him off is that you bought the wrong birthday card...and HE can't even READ!!!

You know the one... that the yelling lasts all the way into the parking lot and people again stop to stare and don't move because they are a. annoyed, b. stunned, or c. like to witness someone else having a bad day!

You know the one... where you have to physically restrain your kid in the car just to buckle him into his car seat. To the innocent bystander, it looks more like abuse but you know that it is love.

You know the one...where you hold your head up high and try to feel like you have control when inside you just want to melt away and it's only 9:30 a.m.!

You know the one... where 5 minutes down the road, he is still screaming and you are dreaming of your "happy place".

You know the ONE!