Shelli And The Boys

Ya gotta check this out....

2009-01-31T19:26:00.005-05:00

My hubby started a new blog! It's a blog for parents that shares stories, reviews and fun activities to do with your kids. The catch is...it's ALL written by dads! How cool is that?

Here it is! Go check it out!

Our Future Philadelphia Eagle

2009-01-27T13:52:00.006-05:00

I can't believe that I even wrote that. I never imagined that either of my boys would ever play football. There are so many other sports and activities that don't include that same type of physical contact. I know I sound like such a sissy, but I cringe at the idea of someone tackling my babies. And then to think about the possible injuries...ugh! Again, I can imagine what you're probably thinking at this point. Luckily, my wonderful husband is a bit more sensible than me when it comes to things like this and I would truly never want to hold my kids back from something that they want to do.

Anyway, it's so funny how AJ has recently taken to football. He loves watching football with daddy and throughout the game, he runs over to our big screen TV, points at it and says "fooba". It's so cute! He also runs around the house playing with his football. I am pretty impressed with his ability to catch the ball.

I guess we have a few years before I have to worry too much, right?

...and Daddy got mad!!!

2009-01-27T13:26:00.002-05:00

When I went to pick up Michael from preschool today, I was told that he had been telling stories about daddy. Apparently, during snack time he started telling everyone in the classroom about our dinnertime experience from last night and they all found it to be quite amusing. I decided to "quiz" him on the way home to see exactly what it was that he told everyone. This is the version I heard:

"Daddy got mad at AJ. AJ not eat dinner and daddy talk loud. Daddy say - You eat dinner, AJ! AJ not eat. AJ get down. AJ no like hot dog. Daddy frown at AJ. He not happy. AJ not good boy."

I guess you probably get the gist of the story. He was pretty accurate. As you can see in the picture above, he even demonstrated how daddy frowned at AJ. I couldn't contain my laughter.

AJ was always a very good eater, but has now decided that he will only eat his favorites (of which are very few) and doesn't particularly want to try out new foods. Breakfast (oatmeal and applesauce) is always easy, but lunchtime and dinnertime are becoming a real challenge. It can be very frustrating for Frank and I, but obviously Michael finds the whole experience to be very entertaining.

My baby has finally taken up reading!

2009-01-07T11:38:00.011-05:00

It's funny to observe how different Michael and AJ really are. Michael is all about calm and quiet, often preferring to observe what's going on around him. He enjoys reading, watching Mickey Mouse Club House, playing with Play-Doh, playing with his train table and building with blocks.

AJ, on the other hand, wants to be doing some of what Michael is doing but in a noisy, physical way. He loves the train table, but instead of standing next to it like Michael, he prefers to crawl onto the table itself and sit right in the middle of the tracks. He also loves blocks...or at least the dumping out of them. Once they're all over the floor, then he's pretty much done with that activity. AJ also loves to watch Baby Einstein - Baby MacDonald being his current favorite! But, instead of quietly sitting in his chair, he climbs onto his little rocker and tries to tip it over. This child is fearless and an accident waiting to happen! I have come to realize that this is the one who we will be taking to the emergency room for broken bones, stitches, etc.

I can't believe it, but AJ is now starting to have an appreciation for reading! Can you tell how thrilled I am? He definitely doesn't have the attention span that Michael had at his age, but he is able to finally sit still long enough for me to read one of his favorite Touch and Feel books...and sometimes more than once!

Below are a few pics of AJ reading. Notice the various positions. Ya, that was all in less than 5 minutes.

Christmas

2009-01-03T08:46:00.020-05:00

We had such a wonderful Christmas. It’s times like this that remind me how truly blessed I am.

Frank was gone from about noon til 9pm, so I started a few new traditions with the boys. Here are a few highlights from our evening:

- We went to the Christmas Eve Service at CCV. It was awesome, as usual. They’re always so creative and unique.

- We picked up dinner from Sonic on the way home from church. This was a special request from Michael. He LOVES their corn dogs and apple juice slushies!

- We watched Santa’s movements on Noradsanta.org and then tried to find him in the sky. As I was loading the kids up to go to church, Michael stood by the truck with his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky. He was so disappointed when he told me, “Mommy, I NOT see Santa!” I explained to him that he was still in China, but would be getting to our house later that night.

- We read the Christmas story, then watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (Ya gotta appreciate those classics!)

- We prepared cookies and milk for Santa. Michael loved doing this.

- We made Jesus’ Birthday cake (angel food cake). Considering that this is a dairy-free cake, AJ was able to enjoy it with us.

- Frank and I enjoyed some special quiet time together once the kids were in bed. We sat by the Christmas tree and opened up our presents. What a perfect ending to a special day!

Michael got up early with Michael on Christmas morning. As soon as Michael got downstairs, he immediately went in search of the cookies he left for Santa. He couldn’t wait to tell Daddy that they were gone. Santa ate all the cookies and drank all the milk too! I love this age – filled with enthusiasm and still so much innocence.

AJ has been sleeping in lately (till around 9:30 or 10:00), so we waited until he was up and fed, then we let the kids open their presents. They had so much fun. Our families spoil these kids. What can I say…I guess it’s one of the perks of being the only grandchildren on both sides of the family.

The rest of the day was very quiet. I’m starting to get used to the quiet holidays now. Growing up, I was usually surrounded by my sister, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and great grandparents for the holidays. It was a lot of people, but always fun. It’s interesting to think how differently it will be for our boys. In some ways, I really miss being with all my family, but at the same time, I kind of enjoy the quiet, peaceful traditions that we have begun here. Without all the hustle and bustle, it makes it easier to appreciate and remember the true meaning of Christmas. I want that to always be the most important part of the holiday season for the boys. Who knows...maybe some day my family will be here for the holiday and we can all share in our new traditions together! :-)

I hope you and your families all had a wonderful Christmas!

Here are some pics from our holiday:

Michael showing me his favorite Christmas ornament.

Michael decorating the Christmas tree.

AJ showing me the hanging kitty ornament.

My favorite present of all...a gift from Michael that he made in preschool!

The boys-not wanting their picture taken.

My favorite ornament- another special preschool project of Michael's.

AJ unpacking the boxes of presents from MT...

...and putting them under the tree.

My other elf placing more presents under the tree.

Michael sitting next to the cookies and milk we prepared for Santa.

Say Cheese!

2009-01-01T19:11:00.004-05:00

This morning, I was in the living room changing the baby when Michael came downstairs. He was hiding around the corner and suddenly sprung out at me and said "Say Cheese!" while snapping pictures.

I couldn't stop laughing. He got this awesome waterproof digital camera from his Auntie Lori and Uncle Jim and absolutely LOVES it! He goes around the house taking pics of everything...and I do mean everything (i.e. me, Frank, AJ, toys, the cat, the table and the list goes on). It's such a great camera and so easy to use. He knows how to take pics, review them and delete the ones he doesn't like. You can save up to 50 pics on the camera.

To get the full effect, I guess it might be something you kinda have to see for yourself, but trust me...it's very funny when he tells the kitchen table to "Say Cheese!"

Still alive and kicking...

2008-12-18T13:27:00.004-05:00

I'm sure that most of you are shocked, but I am still alive and kicking - just not bloggin'!

I do have some pretty good excuses though. First, I was busy working, then our computer crashed due to an awful virus (that I accidentally downloaded from Facebook). The clincher is that I used to NEVER download anything for this very reason AND I am not even that into facebook. Bummer for me, but mostly the hubby. He was so amazing in fixing this for me. It took him many, many hours and days to get rid of this virus. After trying everything (and keep in mind, he's really good with electronics), he had to wipe out EVERYTHING and reload all our files, programs, applications, etc. He also went out and bought an external hardrive for my pictures. It's 1 TB in size - which he tells me will last for the rest of my life. So, anyway, it looks like I am back in business. I was in the process of trying to download some pics from Halloween when our virus starting acting up. So, I might still put some out there.

I have to also share a conversation that I had with Michael this morning as he was getting ready for daddy to take him to school. It went like this:

Michael - "Where's daddy going?"

Me - "He's going out to pull the car up for ya."

Michael - "Daddy no do that."

Me - "Why?"

Michael - "Car too big for daddy pull." (While he's saying this he is motioning as if he's pulling his wagon.)

Me - "Oh, you're right. I meant that he's driving it up to get ya."

Michael - "Up?" (As he's pointing up...)

Me - "No, I guess that doesn't make sense either. He is driving the car over to us." (I then grabbed him and his bags, quickly brought him downstairs and passed him off to Frank as I was laughing.)

I guess having kids really makes you think about what you say. They take everything so literally.

Sometimes it makes me wonder...am I really qualified for this parenting thing?

Preschool Field Trip

2008-11-24T20:06:00.019-05:00

A few weeks ago, Michael's preschool class took a field trip to Northern Star Farm. It's the only working dairy farm in our area. The kids had so much fun touring the farm and seeing the animals. Michael was thrilled when he was able to pet a cow, a goat, a donkey, a horse and some sheep. I was completely amazed at how fearless he was when he walked up to each of them and started petting them.

After touring the milking area and visiting the other animals, we headed out to a corn maze. We were with a group from preschool and it was so funny when no none could find their way out of the maze. I have to admit that it was a bit of a challenge considering that we were in the middle of a corn field and I was trying to push AJ in the stroller. Yikes! Michael continued walking until we backtracked our way out again, but he didn't enjoy that experience much at all.

We were then taken back inside so that we could enjoy some fresh apple cider, juice boxes and cookies. AJ was thrilled to be out of the stroller and munching on some snacks. It was the first time he was out of the stroller all morning and he was absolutely angelic.

Next, we took a ride out into the pumpkin fields to handpick our own pumpkin. It didn't take long before Michael found "just the right one". We cleaned it off and he picked it up and carried it back to the wagon. Once we got back to the farm, he decorated it with farm animal stickers.

After the field trip was over and I had loaded them into the car, I took note of the "extras" we were taking home with us: some dirty, SMELLY shoes on Michael, a class sign (but not ours) that AJ somehow got his hands on and a beautifully decorated pumpkin.

What a wonderful, fun day we had!

Not again....

2008-11-11T08:24:00.004-05:00

Yup. Unfortunately, Michael is sick again. The poor thing is on SIX meds per day and is to be getting meds via nebulizer three times a day. My poor baby. I hate giving him Albuterol because it really affects his personality. He goes from a normal angelic state to completely out of control. After just two doses yesterday, he started throwing toys and pushing his little brother around. He would just go right up to AJ, look at him and push until he fell down. AJ would then throw a temper tantrum out of frustration - kicking and screaming while trying to find Michael so he could bite him. Michael would then start crying because AJ was going after him like a shark. Eventually, we'd get them both calmed down and put Michael in a timeout (which normally works great for him, but not yesterday). This happened over and over and over again. Luckily, Frank was off yesterday. I'm sure the poor guy couldn't wait to get to work today! Hope Michael gets better soon so I can get him off of these awful meds - for both his sake and mine!

Happy Monday!

I don't know.

2008-11-07T13:28:00.005-05:00

It's been one of those days...

The house looks like a tornado hit it, the boys were fighting all morning and I'm just exhausted from Michael getting up at least once (if not three times) EVERY night.

So, I decided to get them out of the house today - especially since it's so beautiful (64 degrees!) We went on a simple shopping trip to Walmart (which we haven't been to in months) to see if we could find some jammies for AJ and to get some baskets for a project for work (which I am not allowed to talk about or name online). Anyway, we didn't find any pajamas I liked, but we did find some cute (most importantly - inexpensive!) baskets that will work perfectly. The boys were so pleased just to be out and about.

On the way home, I decided to grab some fast food for Michael and I so that I could feed them quickly and then get them down for a nap. Oh, I'm so looking forward to a few minutes of quiet mommy time this afternoon! I absolutely adore my boys, but I do have these type of days once in a while. Anyway, I pulled into Wendy's to grab a hamburger and fries for us. As soon as we turned in Michael said, "Wendy's!" I didn't think he would know that - it's not like I go there that often. I know he's a very smart boy, but obviously I don't give him nearly enough credit. It's probably because of the fact that, until recently, he wasn't very verbal. In the last month, he has had such a burst in his overall speech. It's been an amazing thing to see. God's really done incredible things with this little boy. His largest delay was speech and he's finally making some huge progress now!

So, we got home with our food and I was sitting there in between the boys at the table feeding AJ and talking with Michael as he was eating his hamburger and fries. I asked him if he liked it and he said, "M-hm." I then asked him if he preferred McDonald's or Chic-Fil-A. He thought about it for a few minutes and then looked at me and said, "I don't know." I couldn't believe my ears. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal at all, but for anyone who knows Michael and what we've been through - this is a huge thing. He has NEVER said that before. Obviously, he's now starting to talk in full sentences! Yae!!!!!

I really needed something exciting like that, especially on a day like today.

Funny Video

2008-11-06T13:53:00.001-05:00

You have to click on the link below and pop over to my hubby's page and watch the video he posted from the service on Sunday. It's hilarious!

http://www.frankchiapperino.com/2008/11/2008-election.html

Baking with Auntie Krisi

2008-11-05T10:18:00.006-05:00

We have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to put any pictures on flickr or blog our happenings. As you can see, I'm tryin' to catch up!

Last week, we were making Halloween cookies for Michael's party at school. Auntie Krisi was out visiting that day and wanted to let Michael help us out. He had a blast! He is a very detail oriented child and caught on very quickly to the process of forming the dough into a ball, rolling it out, cutting out the shapes and then putting them onto the cookies sheet. He couldn't wait to bring the cookies to school.

Fall Festival

2008-11-05T10:01:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, Frank was in Chicago for a few days on business. Whenever he is gone, I try to keep the boys busy. It just so happened that there was a Fall Festival at the Sunnybrook Country Club while he was gone, so I decided to take the boys. The grounds were decorated beautifully with flowers, pumpkins and other fall decorations.

Inside there were tons of vendors selling beautiful homemade crafts and many sweet treats. Outside they were giving wagon rides. They also had fire trucks and an ambulance that you could go inside. AJ enjoyed being out and about with all the activity. I thought that Michael would love the firetruck, but when we went up to it for a closer look, he got really nervous. I think he was intimidated by its size. His favorite thing of the day was the ambulance. He surprised us all by walking right up the steps and into the back of it. He was all smiles while checking out all the equipment and showing me where 'sick people sleep'. The EMT made his day by giving him a special color book and crayons. It was so cute. He thanked him and then asked for another for AJ!

Apple Picking

2008-10-18T13:50:00.017-04:00

Last weekend we went to Highland Orchard to do some apple picking. This has been a tradition of ours since we moved out here almost ten years ago. We always go to the same location - Highland Orchard. It's a great place with lots of stuff to do - especially for the kids. They have a cute little playground, some goats (which we ALWAYS have to feed), a wonderful little store (with a great bakery!) and a deli. They drive you out to whatever orchard you want, based on the type of fruits you want to pick. We usually have some of our friends go with us. This year, our friends John and Cyndy (along with their daughter Ashleigh) and Mandy joined us.

The kids had so much fun feeding the goats. We then let them play on the playground for a few minutes before heading out to the orchards. The kids were such big helpers and had a blast! They all LOVED the apples - even AJ (who had never tried biting into a whole apple before). It was an absolutely perfect day to be outside. This is my favorite time of the year! The weather was gorgeous and the leaves were just starting to change color, making the valley a breathtaking sight.

We packed our apples up and headed out to catch a ride back to the store so we could get a few specialty items. Their apple cider donuts were unbelievable! I wish I had gotten more - one was not nearly enough. After we finished shopping, we stopped at Ludwig's Corner to buy some mums, hay, and pumpkins to decorate the entrance of our houses. Last, we headed to Isaac's for some lunch.

By the time we got home, the boys were exhausted. I put them to bed and started working on the apples (with my handy dandy apple/peeler/corer). It took a few hours, but I got them all peeled, cored and cut up. I made a pan of apple crisp and froze the rest. It's so nice to be able to make fresh apple desserts during the wintertime. It was such a fun day!

Mission Complete!

2008-10-01T14:43:00.002-04:00

I had one goal for the day....to find Michael a Halloween costume. And we succeeded! We had such a fun day. It actually started last night. Frank was in NY for a retreat and was scheduled to come home today, but surprised us by coming home last night! I was so happy to see him! He went to work a little late this morning so that he could spend some time with us. The boys really enjoyed that! After he left, we got ready to go and headed out to shop.

Yesterday, the baby and I shopped while Michael was in preschool. We went to Kohl's, Children's Place, Gymboree, Boscov's, The Halloween Store, Sears - basically everywhere we could think of in Coventry Mall. We had a lot of fun, even taking a break to play with the toys outside of the toy store and stopping for lunch before heading back to pick up Michael. But, we were totally unsuccessful in our main purpose for the outing - a Halloween costume for Michael. When we went to pick up Michael, I ran into our friend Amy and asked if she had any suggestions. She recommended Target. So, that was our first stop for today.

I was so surprised when we got to the Halloween section. They had a TON of costumes. Every other store had a few picked over leftovers or nothing at all. I was so excited to find such an assortment - especially his size! We went up and down the aisle shopping for just the right costume. Michael kept shaking his head or telling me "No mama!" every time I held up a costume until the very end when I held up the SPIDERMAN costume! He hesitated a bit (and I figured that this may be my last opportunity to save myself from a bunch of grief), so I instantly showed him how Spiderman shoots a web from his hands. He watched me demonstrate for a few minutes (Ya - at this point I didn't even care if anyone was watching me!!) and shook his head confirming to me that this was THE costume! I could have done a special dance right there in the Halloween aisle at that moment! I had succeeded in finding my 3 year old a costume that he actually wanted! This was really important to me considering that if he helped choose the costume, I was hoping that it might mean that he might cooperate when we try to get him into the costume!

I was beside myself with excitement and contentment for the remainder of our shopping experience! I guess that's maybe why we ended up with a few extra items (i.e. candycorn, Halloween Reese's Pieces, a cookie sheet with Halloween shapes, etc.)

Once we checked out, I figured that since it was lunchtime, we might as well continue our fun. So, we headed over to the eating area and got Michael a healthy lunch of hot dog and cherry icy. Oh, I guess I should mention the healthy part - a mini drinkable yogurt! :-) AJ enjoyed a large jar of bananas and some graham crackers. He had been snacking a bit earlier.

I couldn't believe how lucky I was to find exactly what we were looking for on our second trip out. Oh, in case you are all wondering...this was all about Michael because I had already found the perfect costume for AJ - NEMO! It's the absolute cutest thing I have ever seen. It's made by Disney and is gonna be hilarious when it's on. I can't wait to get their pics taken. I will definitely post them so you can see how cute the boys are in their costumes!

The boys and I had such a great day that we decided to make daddy's day extra special too. We're making him a special roast with veggies and potatoes along with homemade Italian bread (which he absolutely LOVES!)

My new job

2008-09-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

I mentioned my new job in a post a few weeks ago. Well, since then I found out that I am not allowed to mention this new job on the internet or put a link on my page so I have taken down the previous post. At that time, I was experiencing a few issues with my webpage and the ordering process, both of which have been fixed. So, if any of you are interested in ordering any of our products (unfortunately I cannot mention by name) please e-mail me at shellionthego@gmail.com and I will send you a direct link to my webpage! Sorry about having to be so vague, but I certainly don't want to break any company rules. If any of you don't know what I'm talking about, please e-mail me and I can give you the details. Thanks!

First Day of School

2008-09-29T17:30:00.000-04:00

Michael is back in school (for a few weeks actually) and he loves it! He is in Miss Joy and Miss Sue's classroom this year and they are wonderful with him. They have a pet wolf named Lollipop in their room. Michael loves to talk about Lollipop. He loves to hug Lollipop, get candy from her, make howling noises just like her and anything else he can think of. It's absolutely adorable!

He has made huge progress in his speech in the last six weeks. He loves to come home and tell us about his day. His best friends are Jack and Gigi. He has to remind us that Jack sleeps during class. This will be forever in his memory since the first day of school when Jack was adjusting to the class full of new kids and chose to stay in the corner of the room and lay on the floor and take it all in quietly. Michael saw him and thought he was sleeping during class!

Today, I got a note from his teacher complimenting his behavior. All of the kids were in the auditorium playing when Michael noticed that Tyler was no longer in the room and just so happened to see him walking out (but didn't see his mother right in front of him). He immediately knew this wasn't right, so he ran to find one of this teachers and tell them that Tyler "ran away"! He will definitely be a big help to the teachers in keeping tabs on all the kids.

Older Parents, Younger Children

2008-09-14T17:10:00.006-04:00

I have to admit that I am addicted to reading blogs. I don't feel bad about this since it was actually my husband who got me started (and he's MUCH worse than I am). So that makes it ok, right? Anyway, I usually try to read new ones and I came upon this one today. I couldn't help but laugh as I was reading this since Frank and I didn't start having children until we were in our 30's, whereas our parents were much younger when they had us. Below is an excerpt from the post. You can go here to see it in its entirety.

I’m not making fun of you 40-something parents, believe me. I’m one of you. I feel your pain…literally. It’s usually in my back, but sometimes I feel a little tightness in my hamstrings and pectorals. Sure, we could take drastic measures and consider something like getting into shape, but who has the time? If these kids aren’t getting us into shape, a whole year with Richard Simmons isn’t going to help.

That’s why I’ve developed a series of energy-saving activities that will allow you to make it through a day without first aid treatment, while still providing your children with delightful fun and exercise. Feel free to replicate these in your own home. There’s no charge.

*Hide - You’ve probably played more than a few games of hide and seek in your time, but have you ever tried playing “Hide”? In this game, you volunteer to do the hiding, and your rambunctious little one has to “Seek.” There are at least a few places in your home where your child won’t look, and let’s face it…they aren’t that great at seeking. Take a magazine with you, don’t make a sound, and relax. I’ve been known to get fifteen-to-twenty minutes of resting time with this technique, and my kids love it. They think I have magical powers.

*Teeter - You’ve probably gone on the teeter-totter in the park with your kids, but have you ever used the device as it was intended to be used? Put the little one on one side, sit down on the other….and then don’t move. Your child will remain teetering in the air, unable to escape, for as long as you need to rest. Listen to them squeal with delight as they stare danger in the face and survive.

*Time trials - A stop watch costs a few bucks, but it’s worth every penny. When the kid’s energy level is making him or her bounce off the walls, it’s time to head outside and do time trials. Fix yourself a nice cool (or hot) drink, grab a chair, pick a starting line and you’re all set. The key to this game is insisting on a circular path. I always make the boys run around the house. The house always remains the same size, and they can chart the improvement in their times.(Note: If you don’t want to buy a stopwatch, you can always count the seconds out loud. This makes them run even faster—and tends to tire them out.)

*Big Helper - After chasing Junior around the house all day, household chores become even more chore-like. But wait! You’ll never have to fetch another thing as long as your “Big Helper” is in the house. Phrasing the request correctly is essential. I recommend the following: “Do you think you’re a big enough boy to go fetch the garbage can upstairs?” That usually works. If it doesn’t, don’t forget the stopwatch. “I bet you can’t get the garbage can upstairs and bring it down here in thirty seconds. Ready? Go!”

The funny thing is - Frank is great with the boys at this time, but I could TOTALLY see him doing some of these things as he gets a bit older! Sorry honey! :-)

Tacos, Tacos and More Tacos

2008-09-11T09:18:00.006-04:00

Boy do I miss my tacos! Oddly enough, Montana has GREAT Mexican food. They have wonderful sit-down and fast food restaurants. It took us years before we found a good Mexican restaurant in Pennsylvania - Los Aztecas. Luckily, it's only about 10 minutes from our house. Every time we go back to Montana, I make sure to get my fill of tacos. This visit was no exception. I ate tacos at least once a day, sometimes twice a day. This is no exaggeration. I was loving my tacos!

Michael had never tried a taco until this vacation. I didn't think he'd like them, but figured we should have him try one since we were frequenting those restaurants so much. He ended up loving them. (I guess there is a little bit of me in him!) Forget McDonald's - he only wanted to go get tacos every time we went out to eat. I was right there with him. My family got a little tired of tacos EVERY day, but who can deny Michael?

When we got home after vacation, I brought the boys to Chic-Fil-A for lunch (my favorite fast food here) and asked Michael what he'd like. He looked up at me and said "Tacos!" I tried to explain to him that we can only get those good tacos in Montana, so he thought for a minute and smiled up at me and said, "Go see Papa and Grandma and get tacos!" If only we could.

Papa helping Michael with his first taco.

He became an expert dipper and loved his chips and salsa!

He also tried fried ice cream for the first time and gave it a thumbs up!

THREE and ONE!!!

2008-09-02T14:34:00.013-04:00

Can you even believe that my babies are three and one? I can't! August was an emotional month for me.

First, Michael turned three on August 5th. What a day for my big boy! This is one day that his doctors could not predict. I have been waiting for the day he would turn three - ever since his specialists told us that he may not make it to his third birthday. There is nothing more heartbreaking to a mother than to hear those words. It was absolutely devastating and yet I have always known that God has really special plans for my little boy. Even when science and medicine would indicate otherwise. He truly is our little miracle! I thank God for him every night when I tuck him in and feel so blessed that God chose me to be his mother.

Michael - 3 weeks old

Michael - 1 year old

Michael - 2 years old

Next, AJ turned one on August 31st. It was another emotional day for me - thinking that my baby was no longer a baby. When he was born, I was so happy. I now had my two sons and our family was complete. Because he was my second, I was no longer nervous and I could truly enjoy him from the very beginning. He's always been such a happy baby. He has a smile on his face whenever anyone looks at him. He has been a true joy for me this last year, but I am so sad to think that each one of his firsts is also one of my lasts.

AJ - 4 weeks old

AJ - one year old

I am so thankful for both of my boys. They have brought us so much joy and we have learned so much from them. I try to enjoy every single minute with them - knowing that time goes by so quickly.

Thirteen Years!

2008-09-02T14:05:00.005-04:00

I can't believe that Frank and I have been married for 13 years now! The time has gone by so fast. We've lived in many different locations (seven to be exact!), made incredible friends along the way, experienced some of the most amazing times and most important of all had two sons together.

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband. He is truly an amazing, Godly man. He is my rock and has always been there for me. We've had some of the most challenging experiences I could ever imagine in the last four years and he has supported me and the boys through every one of them. He is the best father ever and we are all three blessed to have him in our lives.

I love you!

Papa's Trucks

2008-08-31T08:26:00.009-04:00

On the first visit out to my dad's house, he showed Michael some of his old childhood trucks. Michael immediately fell in love with them and couldn't wait for Papa to take them down from the shelf so that he could play with them. He had so much fun. I hadn't seen those trucks in years and I had forgotten how beautifully they were made. My dad had always taken excellent care of them when he was young and I can't believe the perfect condition considering that they are over 50 years old!

AJ could see how much fun Michael and Papa were having playing with the trucks, so he had to join in! He's a big boy now!

What a sweet sight - Papa and his grandsons!

Montana Vacation

2008-08-20T15:48:00.005-04:00

It's been forever since my last blog. We went to Montana for two weeks to visit family and attend my dad's wedding (or actually participate in it I should say!)

We had a great time and the kids were amazing throughout the trip and during the LONG 10-hour travel days, but I don't think we'll be going on any more long trips in the near future.

I will post details and pics of our trip very soon. Unfortunately, I only have one picture at the moment. The rest are on Frank's laptop and we didn't take the time to download them last night when we got home.

Below is a picture of ATVs on the main highway in Great Falls, MT. Some of the locals are starting to drive these in order to save money in gas. What a strange site!

I'll post again as soon as I get our pictures downloaded!

Sharing

2008-07-31T17:07:00.003-04:00

I just don't get it....

My husband is a wonderful man, but ever since I've know him (almost 14 years now), he has always refused to share his food with me. When we were dating, I would ask for a bite of his donut and he would tell me no and that I should I get my own. At first, I thought he was kidding, then I realized that he was totally serious. No matter what he was eating, it was always that same response. Initially, I kept trying to talk him into sharing "just a little bite" with me, in hopes that I would succeed - not because I wanted it, but it was more to make a point. After this many years, I have just resigned myself to the fact that this is the way it will always be...or so I thought.

But then recently, my husband started sharing. No, it's not even with me...it's with our son! Every time one of us is eating something, our three year old comes begging. He loves to be a part of everything we do, including eating what we are eating (even if that means having two dinners!) I can't even believe how it is that I can't get anything out of Frank, but yet Michael can just look up at him, give him a little smile, simply ask for a bite and is immediately given whatever he wants. (Ok, I guess I have to admit - I really can't tell him no either. If you had those big browns looking up at you, you probably couldn't deny him!)

Anyway, it's really not a big deal. I just found it very interesting how kids bring a whole new dynamic to the relationship. I love my hubby and he does so many wonderful things for me that I can easily overlook his lack of sharing! :-)

The Shoes

2008-07-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, a friend and I had gone shopping for shoes for an upcoming wedding that I will be participating in. We came home with two pair. I thought I would try them both on again and make a final decision as to which one I would keep and which one I would return. I had left them in the living room so that I wouldn't forget to make the return right away.

The following day, this is what I found....

I would hope that you would notice those aren't my legs. Mine may be hairy - but not THAT hairy! :-)

I thought I would keep the above individuals' identity a secret for now...I may need some appropriate blackmail material for later!

Sidenote - although I really liked both shoes, we opted for the white ones.

Hold on AJ!!!

2008-07-27T15:48:00.006-04:00

I try to rotate the boys' toys regularly so that they don't get bored. I happened to bring this wagon upstairs a few weeks ago thinking that Michael would love to put stuff in it and push/pull it around. It didn't take long before I realized what the "stuff" would end up being. Sure enough...Michael soon told me that he wanted to put AJ inside and AJ was more than happy to comply. So, I figured that it wouldn't hurt, as long as I was there to supervise.

As you can see from the pics, both boys were thrilled with the new arrangement. That is - until AJ decided that he had enough and wanted to get out. Michael wasn't quite done with him yet! At that point, I had to save AJ (thus no pics).

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-07-27T09:19:00.009-04:00

I know it's been forever since I've posted anything. Time seems to have gotten away from us. Frank has been crazy busy trying to keep up with his TWO full time jobs, especially since he was responsible for two events for the youth and helping out at Kids Camp in his usual capacity (games). He did an amazing job with all of them. Over 200 kids attended Stretch (the junior high event that he organized). It was awesome! Kids Camp Big Top (circus theme) followed Stretch and was also a huge success. We had approx 959 children this year. It was unbelievable! Three days later, Frank headed away to Escape (the high school retreat). He took approximately 50 students this year. Another great event - especially when one of the students was baptized at the end of the retreat! You can see videos of all three events if you go here.

The boys and I have been busy as well. Since Michael will be turning three next week (which I totally can't believe), we are starting the transition from Early Intervention to the Intermediate Unit. This means a bunch of new evals and meetings, but most of all the end of his current therapies. He has seen all of these therapists (physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and a teacher) on a weekly basis for over two years now. I'm getting emotional just typing this. I can't begin to describe how difficult this transition is since we won't be able to continue with this same group of therapists. They have been absolutely amazing. We have developed such a bond with these people. They have been with us and supported us during the most difficult time of our lives. We are all in awe at how far Michael has come, especially considering where he started. He continually amazes us every day.

We were also busy with Kids Camp. Michael had a great time as a member of the Tiny Tumbler team (all fellow 3 year olds). It was here that he saw Ella (his first female admirer). Ella's mother was telling me how she would get a smirk on her face and a twinkle in her eye when she would talk about Michael. How sweet! (Or maybe I shouldn't encourage it!?) Michael is still talking about his favorite memories from Kids Camp - the singing, the clapping, the snacks, the BIG (and I mean REALLY big!) balloon that he got to "hold", the big elephant (50 foot elephant on top of the building), and his friends.

I volunteered to work with the snack team again this year. I love working in this area. We are under a tent (which is a major bonus), working with big tubs of ice (we can easily cool off), out in front of the building (where we can see everything going on outside) and have breaks when the teams are busy with other activities (we can sneak inside and catch some of the drama, music and group time). It's also really nice because I can check on AJ periodically. He was in Babyland this year. He seemed to enjoy his time in there. Every time I peeked in the window, someone was holding him or playing with him. He was very spoiled. I really appreciate the group of volunteers working in there. They did an excellent job!

Anyway, that's a few of the highlights from the last few weeks. There is so much more to share. Hopefully, I'll be able to write more in the next few days.

Below are a few pics from Kids Camp.

Wilson

2008-07-04T16:57:00.005-04:00

I like to call this my "Wilson" shot. For those of you wh0 have ever watched 'Home Improvement' - you'll know what I mean!

Stop Biting!!!

2008-07-01T20:09:00.000-04:00

Michael has recently taken up biting - unfortunately, it's usually AJ's little hand that's on the receiving end. We are trying to correct this behavior, but in the meantime...poor AJ!

This wonderful photo session ended in tragedy for AJ after Michael bit him!

As you can see below, poor little AJ got bit yet AGAIN!!!

Anyone have any great suggestions as to how I can break this naughty, little habit?

Our Day at DuPont

2008-06-25T11:32:00.000-04:00

This last Thursday, the boys and I made another trip to DuPont Children's Hospital in Delaware. At one point in time, we were going there about three times a week, but now that Michael is doing so well, we end up going every few months. This trip was a bit different since Frank wasn't able to go with us. It's the first time that I have taken both kids down there by myself.

I got most of our stuff packed up the night before and then finished with the final packing on Thursday morning. We were in the car and all ready to go by 9:00am, just as I had planned. The drive down was pretty easy considering that I missed most of the morning traffic. I actually took a different route than I normally take, staying more on the major highways and letting GPS lead the way (although it is very easy to get to).

We got there and started to unload the car and noticed that there were no red wagons. For those of you who have never been there - this is a necessity! The kids love to ride in these big red wagons and the parents love to put all of the bags into these big red wagons. I couldn't believe there was not one wagon to be had! This was so not cool! I asked the gentleman who was handling the valet parking (yes - they do have valet parking here and it's awesome!) if he happened to know where we could find one. Unfortunately, he was unable to help so I continued to unload the car and put the baby in his stroller. I carried some of the bags and then strapped some onto the back of the stroller - not very convenient, but it worked. And Michael had to walk.

Since we made such good time on the drive up, I decided to spend a few minutes in search of a wagon before checking into the blue module where the doctor we we were seeing was located. We made our way to ER and asked at the check-in desk if they happened to have a wagon for us. They sent us over to the security guard to check with him. Can I just tell you that he was the nicest and most helpful security guard I have ever met! He immediately jumped up and went in search of a wagon for us. Michael was so excited when he came back with a big red wagon for us. Michael jumped right in, I started loading the rest of our bags into the wagon and off we went in search of the blue module.

Everything at this hospital is so well organized and well labeled that we found the location immediately and were pleased to find that the doctor was waiting for us when we arrived (25 minutes early!) The appointment went great! The developmental pediatrician was thrilled with Michael's progress and was very surprised by some of his skills. What a blessing! She finished her testing, we established a new gameplan for him and set up our next appointment. Wow - we were all done with the appt in a little less than 2 hours!

It was now lunch time, so we headed over to the cafeteria where I fed the boys the lunches that I had packed that morning. As you can see from this picture, they seemed to enjoy each other's company.

When they were both done eating, we packed up and headed out. On our way to the main lobby, we passed by one of Michael's favorite spots - the train! We stopped for a few minutes to check it out.

By this time, it was already 2pm and I still had not eaten. I didn't pack a lunch for myself and nothing in the cafeteria looked appealing enough to spend money on, so I decided that after a long day, I deserved a drive thru! Chic Fil A is my favorite (but since the closest one was about an hour away), I opted for McD's, which was right on the way home. After enjoying a nice fattening lunch - filet of fish and fries, I started the trek home. While leaving the McDonald's parking lot, I noticed that Michael was awful quiet - normally he won't stop begging for food until I give him a few fries (kinda like a puppy). Sure enough....he was out like a light! Well, one down and one to go. It took a few minutes for the baby, but about 15 minutes into the trip, the baby joined Michael in dreamland.

It was a quiet, peaceful ride home. After a long day out and about, we finally arrived home at 3:00pm. I was so exhausted at this point - I guess I failed to mention earlier that Michael had gotten up about 5 times the night before and although Frank got up with him so that I would be alert for the drive, I still woke up each time he started crying. I couldn't wait to get to bed that night!

The Last Time I Cried...

2008-06-20T20:25:00.003-04:00

As some of you know, my amazing hubby is a pastor (Director of Adult Ministries) at CCV. Recently, our youth pastor left and Frank has stepped up to lead this additional ministry until we find a replacement. To help carry the load, the church has brought on 4 wonderful interns to help him out. Sometimes they hang out at our house and last week when we had them over for dinner, Frank led us through an interesting discussion. He calls it 'The Hot Seat'. Basically, the person on the hot seat is asked a question (of any topic) by each person in the group. Nothing is off-limits. I wanted to post about one of the questions that was asked of me - When was the last time you cried and why?

For me, this was an easy question. It just so happened that I had cried the evening before. I had an amazing experience and was so touched by some individuals' generosity that I was overcome with emotion.

Our oldest son, Michael, had a number of challenges during that first year of his life that led to two surgeries and numerous hospitalizations. Since then, he has received some great therapy and almost overcome the delays that resulted from those challenges. Very soon, he will be caught up to his peers. One of the last areas that he is a little behind is core muscle strength. We noticed this when we saw him attempt to ride a tricycle. His physical therapist had recommended an organization called Ambucs that specializes in creating tricycles for individuals with special needs. We met with several representatives from Ambucs last Thursday night. I went to the meeting thinking that they may evaluate him and agree that he qualified for a specialized tricycle and then put him on the waiting list. Instead, we went home with one!!! We were all in tears as we saw my little angel get on the tricycle all by himself and independently ride around the room. He was so proud of himself! Here is a picture below of his first ride around our neighborhood on his new tricycle...with Lightning McQueen, of course!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T20:40:00.003-04:00

Happy Father's Day to the three dads in my life - my hubby, my dad and my father-in-law. I consider myself to be very fortunate to have such wonderful men in my life. I just pray that we can raise our sons to be as amazing as you!

I hope all you guys had a wonderful day!

Lots of Love,

Shelli

New Method for Hair Removal

2008-06-08T18:00:00.000-04:00

All you girls out there will appreciate this! I feel a bit guilty posting this, but it's just so funny that I can't resist! :-)

A few days ago I happened to be working on the computer while Michael was playing with his toys. I noticed that he had picked up a small roll of blank address labels. He absolutely loves stickers, so I tore off about a dozen of them for him to play with. It's always humorous to see where he ends up sticking them. When he gets stickers from his pediatrician's office, his favorite spot to stick them is his pants. Well, now that the warm weather has arrived, I have been dressing him in shorts. Do you see where this is going yet? Anyway, about 20 minutes later, I sat down on the floor to play with him for a little while and noticed that he had lined one leg with all of the stickers.

Most of you know that my little one is a bit on the hairy side (or as Frank says - looks like a rug when he's laying down!) As soon as I saw this, my heart just sank. I knew what had to be done. My first thought was to have him pull them off himself so that I wouldn't be the one inflicting the pain. Brilliant idea, except for the fact that he wouldn't do it. He kept saying 'mama help'. Ugh! I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that fast was the way to go - isn't that what everyone always says? So, I tried to explain to him that I was going to pull it off fast and just as I finished telling him - I yanked the first one off. The poor thing yelped a bit and then looked at me sternly and said "No! Slow!" Great! Not only will he not help me out here, but now he's telling ME how to do it! I finally decided he should have a bit of say, so I tried pulling the next one off slowly. Honestly, I don't think that it really made much of a difference how we pulled them off - it was gonna hurt no matter what we did. Anyway, we finally got them all off and at this point, I highly doubt that he'll be putting stickers on his legs any time soon!

In this picture, you can kinda see the hair that was removed! OUCH!!!

Sleep Your Way Thin!

2008-06-08T16:35:00.003-04:00

This was the title of an article I recently read in the Parenting magazine. A new study at Harvard Medical School has concluded that "moms who slept five hours a day or less were three times more likely to retain extra baby weight by their baby's first birthday than those who slept seven hours a day." They continued to say that catnaps count too!

I think we can all agree that it is nearly impossible for us to get that full seven hours of sleep the first few months after giving birth. But, I do also think that this means that we are to catch up. I can't imagine "having to" take a nap each day with the boys! But, if it's gonna help...... :-)

I should mention that if you try to call me and I don't answer, just leave a voicemail. I'm obviously trying to "force" myself to take a nap. You should do the same!

Little Known Fact

2008-06-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Am I the only one who has never noticed that there is a tab at each end of a box of aluminum foil and saran wrap so that you can "lock" it in place, avoiding the scenario where it "jumps" out at you when trying to unroll it? A friend just sent me an e-mail about this, so I went to the kitchen drawer and pulled it out to see if this was true. Sure enough, the tabs are right there in plain view with instructions. But, do you think that I would have ever noticed this? Noooooo. Just thought that I'd pass on this interesting tidbit.

The Farmer's Market

2008-06-04T20:30:00.001-04:00

The boys and I met some friends at the Phoenixville Farmers Market on Saturday. We had a good time. AJ loved all the activity and Michael was thrilled when he got a green balloon. My highlight was buying bread from Great Harvest Bakery. My favorite is the cinnamon swirl (which is just like a cinnamon roll). Other than buying it from the Farmer's Market, the closest location to us is in Wayne, PA. It's a wonderful chain of stores that originated in my hometown of Great Falls, Montana! Imagine that!

Preschool Party

2008-06-04T15:02:00.001-04:00

Michael's preschool hosted a picnic to celebrate their last day of school. Everyone had a great time. The weather was perfect, there was a lot of good food and they even bought two huge inflatables for the occasion (which the kids loved). Thanks to Miss Beth and Miss Jen for making this first year so wonderful! Below are some pics from the picnic.

Strike a Pose

2008-06-04T12:12:00.001-04:00

I can't help but think of the phrase "Strike a Pose" from Madonna's song "Vogue" every time I see AJ in this position. I'm not a big fan of Madonna, but I just happen to be a girl from the 80's and 90's.

This is one of AJ's favorite new positions. After moving around the living room a bit, he stops, takes this pose, and then surveys the room to see where he will head to next. It's actually quite funny to see.

Not sure about sharing

2008-06-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

Usually when company comes to stay at our house we put AJ in a pack-n-play in our bedroom and put the guests in the guest room (where AJ has taken up residency). Our plan has always been to have the boys share a room, so both the crib and toddler bed have been in Michael's room for quite some time. Well, now that AJ is 9 months old, we decided to try putting them together last night. Unfortunately, at about 3:30am Michael started crying because he got tangled up in his covers. I ran in there as soon as I heard him and tucked him back in. Within about half an hour, AJ started crying, so I nursed him back to sleep and went back to bed myself. About an hour later I heard them again. This time it was both of them. As tired as I was, I have to admit that what I saw when I went in this time was kinda cute . Michael was sitting up in his little fire engine bed giggling at AJ who was propped up on his elbows in his crib facing Michael with a big smile on his face. At that point I realized that it was silly to even think that I was going to get either of them back to sleep. Needless to say, we were up VERY early this morning.

As tired as I was when naptime came this afternoon, I thought I should give it another try. So, Michael was put to bed first. I then put AJ in his crib and decided to try to catch a quick nap myself. All was well for about 45 minutes and then Michael woke up and proceeded to wake up his little brother. After a short night and an even shorter nap, you can imagine that I had a bit of crankiness in the house this evening. Bedtime couldn't come too soon! :-) I have to admit that I am probably a glutton for punishment....but yes, I did put them together again tonight in hopes that as they grow up, they can share a room and develop that special bond between siblings. I guess we'll see what happens. I just hope we all get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow just happens to be one of the mornings each week that I get up at 4:45am to go work out at the gym. Ya, I know - another crazy habit of mine! Anyway...wish us luck!

The Army Crawl

2008-05-29T14:19:00.001-04:00

AJ is now getting around by doing the army crawl. He pulls himself all over using his upper body. I can't believe how efficient this mode of transportation has become for him in just a matter of days. I turn my head for a few seconds and when I turn back, I have to look around the room to find him. I guess this means that we have to step up the baby proofing throughout the house. We really didn't ever have to do much of that with Michael because he was never one to get into things that he wasn't supposed to. I have a feeling that AJ will be quite the opposite and will constantly be keeping us on our toes. I just hope that Frank and I can manage to stay one step ahead of him...at least some of the time! Attached is a picture of our mischievous one moving all about. As you can see, he has taken quite a liking to Michael's cars (much to Michael's dismay!)

Dendrophobia

2008-05-25T16:23:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Dendrophobia is the fear of trees? Ok, so I didn’t know either. That is…until I decided to look up exactly what it is that I think my son has.

We were on our way to a friend’s house last week for Playgroup and Michael decided that he didn’t want to walk by the trees to get to their backyard. At first I didn’t understand what the problem was. Then, I saw the fear in his eyes as he stood watching the branches of the tree swaying in front of him. I would normally have picked him up, but I just so happened to be holding our snacks, the backpack, my keys and 22-pound AJ at the moment so I grabbed his hand and reassured him that the trees were nice. He looked at me, looked back at the trees warily and then said to me, “trees get you” over and over. I realized that I was not going to convince him that those trees were not about to get him, so I tried to put my body between him and the tree as best as I could and gently nudged him down the small pathway to our friend’s backyard. As soon as he got inside their back gate and saw the balloons celebrating one of his friend’s 2nd birthday, he quickly ran in to claim a balloon for himself and forgot all about those scary trees!

I’m not sure what triggered this new behavior – maybe a dream, something he saw on tv (although he only watches cartoons/kids’ programming) or maybe something that we read in a book. Whatever it was, we will start working on showing him how nice trees are!

Time Out

2008-05-15T14:11:00.000-04:00

Michael never ceases to amaze me. This afternoon he was playing with AJ and got a bit rough and tapped AJ lightly on the head with a toy. I think that he did this to get my attention because I was busy cleaning up after lunch. I went over to him , told him that we don't do this and proceeded to take the toy away from him. I then went back to the sink to finish the dishes. About two minutes later, I turned around to check on the boys and found Michael sitting as still and quiet as a statue in the corner of the sunroom facing the wall. He put himself in time out! Can you believe it? He continued to sit there for another minute and then got up and went to play. He is such an easy-going, obedient child.

Although, I should warn you...you never get two of these! I can tell you now...AJ is a spunky one already! :-)

Sweet Dreams

2008-05-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

My favorite time of the day is nighttime, specifically bedtime. I look forward to each of the boy’s bedtime routines. When it’s time for bed, Michael will choose a few books and we cuddle up on the couch and I’ll read to him. Once we’re done reading, we head upstairs to his bedroom and sit in the rocking chair while singing the ABC song together. At that moment I realize that he is such a miracle and sometimes can’t believe how far he has come. After that, we pray and he climbs into his little fire engine bed and I tuck him in with his blue dog and blankie. He’s such a good boy and goes right to sleep.

As soon as Michael is in bed, I start feeding AJ. He is quite the mommy’s boy and loves his last feeding of the day. He gets so comfy that I usually have to wake him up a few times to make sure he is getting a full feeding. Once he’s done eating, he snuggles up and falls right to sleep. That is such a special time – there is nothing like the smell of a baby, the warmth of his tiny body and the sound of his heavy breathing against my neck. I can’t help but just sit there and hold him for a while. Then, I take him upstairs and pray with him. I pray for a peaceful night’s sleep. I thank God for blessing me with two little angels. I also thank God for giving me another beautiful day with my boys and more good health for them.

I appreciate these moments and try to remember each and every detail knowing that they go by so quickly. My boys are growing up a little more each day. Sometimes this makes me sad but I also realize that with each new milestone that they reach, there are so many new and exciting memories that we are creating together.

When you sit with your kids at the end of each day, are you enjoying and appreciating each moment you have with them?

A Special Mother's Day

2008-05-13T21:10:00.000-04:00

A day that started out as a little bit of a bummer turned out to be great. Frank had to work from 7am until 10pm with a two hour break in between – just long enough to catch a nap. Frank made sure to bring me home a card and some flowers to make sure that I felt special, but it was tough knowing that he had to go back to work. I anticipated a quiet day with just me and the boys. We had just gotten home from church when a friend of mine called and asked if we would like to join her and her family for a fun day at the Philly Zoo! I was so excited. I have been wanting to take the boys to the zoo for a long time now and have not had the opportunity!

I gave Michael an early lunch and put both boys down for a nap before our big adventure. By early afternoon, we packed up and headed out. Both of the boys had so much fun. The weather was great, so we did the outside exhibits. We were able to see some elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, rhinos, hippos, lions and tigers – just to name a few!

Our friends were so thoughtful to include us in their special family outing. Again, I am feeling really blessed to have such amazing friends!

This turned out to be an extra special day! We can’t wait to go back again sometime when Frank can join us. Michael will love showing daddy all the animals that he saw!

I hope all of you mothers had a very special day!

Friends

2008-05-10T20:18:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, I was reminded of what a wonderful circle of friends I have and how thankful I am for them. We have become so close and have shared some really awesome experiences together and have been there for each other whenever any of us go through difficult times. They have stuck with me throughout the good and the bad and are always there to support me.

The past few months we started planning girls’ nights where we leave the kids with our amazing husbands and meet up to eat, play games, talk, etc. This past Friday was one of those designated nights. I had been planning on going for weeks, but by Friday wasn’t sure I still wanted to go because I had been having a rough week. Knowing how much fun I usually have, Frank encouraged me to go. I have to admit that he’s usually always right, so I listened to him and dragged myself to my friend’s house to meet up with ‘the gang’. As soon as I got there, I was immediately glad that I had gone. They are always so supportive, loving, caring, fun, not to mention hilarious! I am so thankful for all of them. I had a great time and felt so much better by the time I left. I am so glad that I have a husband who encourages me to get out and have fun and friends who will always be there for me.

So the next time you feel like I did, call on the friends that you trust and get out and have some fun. Friends and laughter are the best medicine on a gloomy day!

Sitting Up

2008-05-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

My big bundle of joy, AJ, has finally decided that sitting up is pretty cool. Maybe he’ll try doing it more often! Yay!!!!

Our Day at the Park

2008-05-08T20:35:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday was such a beautiful day that we decided to take the kids to the park. We had a really great time. It was wonderful to see the boys playing and having fun together. The boys enjoy each other so much. Here are a few pics from our day at the park.

The Week Of Firsts

2008-04-28T23:08:00.000-04:00

This week is quite an interesting week to get started with blogging. I've decided to start blogging so that our friends and family who can't see us often will still feel a part of our daily lives. So here is the first of firsts, my first post. I have thought about doing this for a while but have just now finally gotten to it. I wasn't sure where to start so I am starting with where we are now.

This week AJ's first two teeth broke through. He looks so adorable. Since he is such a happy baby the teeth are easy to see because he is always smiling.

But the week was not all smiles. The other first was Michael's first fat lip. He had just gotten out of the bath tub and was running into the sun room to play when he slipped and bumped his face on the corner of his wooden train table. Can you believe he's two and a half and this is his very first injury!?! We all survived it but I am glad daddy was home at the time since he is always so cool, calm and collect in these types of situations.

After the drama was over, I sat Michael down on my lap and read him some stories from his Children's Bible (his current favorite). He quietly listened while he held a cold wash cloth to his fat lip. That and a little bit of juice made everything all better.

Enough firsts for one week!

About Me

2008-04-19T00:13:00.000-04:00

I am a wife to an awesome husband and a stay at home mom of two amazing boys. I am originally from a small town in Montana and met Frank while rediscovering my faith and looking for a new church to call home.

Shortly after we were married we moved to the Northeast and have been living on this side of the country for 10 years now. Life on the East coast was a big change but after finding Christ's Church of the Valley and connecting with some great people, we felt right at home.

My life now revolves around my three boys (my two sons and Frank), volunteering in our children's ministry at church, hosting a small group in our home, and spending time with my friends. When I do have free time I enjoy reading, watching TV with my hubby, scrapbooking, baking, and going out to eat with my friends.

This blog will keep you up to date on the latest adventures of Shelli and the boys!