Playing at Buzzy's

We finally made it back to Buzzy's on Saturday. It is a play area in the mall we take the girls to when we are shopping or when it is to cold to go the outside park. Sophie loves to go around checking everything out and making friends. Chandler usually runs behind her to make sure she is ok.

The girls and I in DC

The girls and I enjoyed a beautiful day in DC Sunday. Roland had to work and Tristan had spent the night at Ryan's house. It was a beautiful day the sun was shining bright, we reached the high 50's and even though the wind was a bit chilly I enjoyed walking around. This weekend we will go back because it is the Cherry Blossom Festival and the trees should be in full bloom. It is a gorgeous sight.

We walked around and saw the Washington Monument, World War Two Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the wall with all the names of service men who lost their lives protecting ours. It doesn't matter how many times I go down there it still brings tears to my eyes. I went a year and a half ago with Mom Linda and Dad Jim and mom knew a soldier on the wall. It meant allot to me that I was there to share that with her.

We went last week to the Smithsonian but I forgot my camera. There was so much to see and Chandler had a blast. Sophie didn't appreciate it just yet but she was a trooper.

The Park

We finally warmed up last weekend. Daddy and I walked Sophie down to the park. She loved it. She went right over to the teeter totter and jumped on. She loves going down the slide but it was kind of a long drop still. Just like Chandler at that age she wanted to hang from the bars. She had fun exploring everything though.

Snow Day or should I say days???

It has been a long 5 days in the Cleveland house. It started Sat at 2:03 with a nice steady snow shower that lasted 24 hours. It didn't start to stick until the sun went down. The winds were about 30 mph sat evening and the snow was piled up on to the front porch.
The kids had fun playing in it, that is the most we have gotten since living here. It was wicked cold though and they were in and out leaving piles of snow behind them. We took Sophie out Tues for a few minutes but the high was only in the 20's, she loves it though. Tristan and Chandler are finally going back to school tomorrow. They are not happy but I am ready! We are supposed to be in the 70's by the end of the weekend. Thank goodness, it will feel like a heat wave compared to the last few nights... with the wind chill we have been 0.

My little Chef

I finally caught Tristan in action today, yes that is him behind all the hair! (he has a hair appt next week) I keep asking him how he sees anything. He says it isn't in his eyes. I beg to differ! I keep telling him he looks like the Jonas Brothers and he goes insane, it is so funny!!

He is such a good little chef. I started making pancakes for him and his friend Cole but he took over. His turned out much better. He loves cooking and is really good at it. He will make a good husband one day. Hopefully not for a very long time though:).

Craziness...

It has been a long week. Tristan and Sophie are starting to feel better.. hopefully I will be soon. Tonight Chandler and I went to see the Jonas Brothers movie, all the girls were singing and screaming, especially when they showed Joe... he seems to be the favorite! People were actually taping it on Blackberry's. It took me back to the late 80's when I was obsessed with The new Kids On the Block. One of the great boy bands.
Chandler had bring a friend night at The Little Gym last night and she brought her BFF Baylor (who is always there for her) LOL , like the child has so much drama in her life... NOT! Baylor has actually been two weeks in a row because I thought last week was bring a friend week, I can't keep track of everything. I try but between girl scouts and gymnastics and Chandler volunteering us for everything it gets confusing... that and I never write anything down anymore. I should probably start again!

Tristan is back to playing after what seems like 3 weeks of hybernating. He has a friend Cole spending the night. He hasn't been up to much lately with being sick.

Sophie on the other hand has the terrible two's creeping up. I have seen a trace of a little monster in her this week. She had three meltdowns today. After she got out of her time out chair today she went to the lazy susan and threw spices all over the floor. I guess she was trying to show me. That only resulted in a nap! She is cutting some teeth and has no problem telling us about it. She is a little manipulator though and when she knows she has been naughty she comes and gives lots of hugs and kisses... to bad we don't fall for it, after all she is the third. She is still to cute to get upset with though.

We are supposed to get bad weather this weekend and Roland has to work so the craziness will probably continue in full force!

Sniffle Sneeze... AAACCCHHOOOO!

These are the sounds coming from The Cleveland house this week. Tristan has been sick for a couple of weeks then Sophie started with a horrible cough that seems to creep up at bed time and last through out the night. ALL night long... cough,cough,cough followed by some other stuff, but I will spare you the details. You moms know what I'm talking about though. Chandler is to busy to catch anything. I swear she must run off batteries, that don't die.

Roland and I came down with it and just can't seem to breathe. I am sniffing vicks out of the jar. I have humidifiers going but basically I am hoping prayer works. That is that spring gets here soon and we can turn the heat off.

I took the kids to the doctor's today and it is ear infections, Tristan left and Sophie right. Hopefully by the end of the week we will be well again!!

Sophie The Dinosaur

Sophie was being a little ham tonight. She was running up and down the couch giving daddy heart failure. I just sit there, guess I am use to it. Then she would look at him and she would grin kinda like she knew she was being bad but saying to herself "oh well what are you going to do about it, dude!" Then laugh out loud.

It made me think of all the hysterical things she does and it brought me to Sophie The Dinosaur, a classic sound. I was in Target one day and she was doing her finest dinosaur impression when a lady looked at me and said "good luck with that sound." I just chuckled and said "yes, it is a cross between a dinosaur and a goat today." Sophie is always good for a laugh.

We've got a Wilson

We've got a Wilson! That is how Roland refers to the kids when they act like me. He doesn't share my love for brussel sprouts but the kids and I love them. Chandler called them Bouncy balls when she was little and it has stuck. Only we know what she is talking about. Sophie had fun dumping them all over the floor today and I must be getting better because I let her play with them. It is hard to get upset with her though.

It's almost spring

I am sitting here looking out the window... the sun is shining today and it is rather windy, I would rather stay inside on days like this. It is about 40. Sophie is napping but will probably be up soon seeing she has been asleep for 4 hours. It sounds like a long time but she didn't sleep last night.

I can't wait for spring when the tulips and daffodils start to sprout up everywhere. That is when I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was pulling in to Mc Donalds last week and saw the start of what looked like a daffodil...what a sight! The grass becomes the beautiful thick green again and we run out and buy our hanging fern baskets to put on the front porch. I don't even care that the birds are going to poop all over the porch and try to ruin the ferns by making nests in them, even though I have a house hanging up for them.

The grill is ready to go and we can't wait to fill it with steaks and chicken and drink some Bud Lite Lime while grilling out. The backyard is usually filled with the neighborhood kids running around and jumping on the trampoline. Sophie stands beside daddy trying to help with the grilling and yelling down to the big kids from the deck. The days will get longer and warmer and mommy gets happier:) Life is good!

My First Born

I can't beleive this August you will be a teenager! Are you serious? I remember finding out I was pregnant with you and freaking out for a split second..lol but what a blessing you are to my life. We really had some adventures when you were a baby, going to Nantucket for the summers, you loved it there. You wanted to play on the beaches all day long. You met Payne Stuart your second summer there.. how awesome. You loved to play golf but that didn't last long now we can't get the skate board out of your hand.

You have turned into such a handsome young man and I am so proud of you. You have always been popular with the girls and I am sure we are going to have our hands full with you over the next few years. These are such akward years and I see you struggling to figure out your place. Things will fall into place and you will look back and laugh and probably tell stories about how mean and strict I was.

You love to draw and I sometimes wonder if you will find a career that has something to do with that or if you will end up joining the marine corps after college. I hope not. I am proud of you for being such a good brother and always helping me when I need you, you are an amazing kid!

My Little Angel

You are a blessing in so many ways. I can't believe you are 19 months already, again.. where is the time going? I remember when daddy and I went to the doctor's for the first time and heard your little heart beat. I don't think you could be more loved. Your brother just adores you and has since the minute he laid eyes on you. Even your sissy who barley has time for anyone wants to play with you. When you were in my tummy Chandler use to lay there and rub my belly and talk to you.

You have daddy and I wrapped it is horrible! We start off with all the different excuses like you are the third, we are busy, but none of them are true. You don't sleep through the night because I have never let you cry for more than 10 minutes. We love when you snuggle in bed with us and stroke our faces. I love waking up to your little face peering at us saying "HI" you are so animated. You are just a ball of energy, so much like your sissy when she was a toddler. You are independent and the center of attention always!

You are always getting into everything, I have to keep every door closed and locks on all the cabinets. Your new thing is unrolling toilet paper and throwing everything in the toilets. You keep me on my toes every second but I love it and look forward to every day with you to see what new things you will learn. Last week you started saying "Dude" I thought it was hysterical and kept it going all day. You repeat everything so momma needs to watch what she says:)

You turned 8...wow!

I woke up this morning thinking to myself, WOW! Where does the time go? I swear we were just making the appointment for my c~section. You had a fabulous day. I baked cupcakes for you to take in to class. You opened Ma Linda's & Pa Jim's present and the present from Aunt Charity and everyone before you went to school.

You rushed through the door after school that day and we chuckled, we had the moped hiding in the truck... you should of seen your face! Priceless. You were so excited to go ride it.

We had your party at the Ice park on Sat , Valentine's Day. It was the first time you had ice skated and you busted your butt a million times! You never give up though. You started off by skating right in to the middle while everyone else held onto the wall for dear life. I thought I was going to have a panic attack and at one time, one of the guys that worked there followed closely behind you. I just laughed to myself. You invited all your friends and ate pizza and your cake was Bolt... whipped frosting and marble cake YUMMY:). I think your favorite present besides the moped was the panda build a bear we went and stuffed last night.

You left there soaking wet and had blisters all over your ankles but I think it was the best birthday ever! I love you baby girl. momma xoxo

Chandler

It seems like just yesterday I was decorating your nursery. I remember walking into the hospital, I was so nervous. We always joke you were my Valentine present, you were so sweet. You had daddy wrapped around your finger right away. You still do! You were such a good baby and as a toddler you had us all running after you, lets just say you are a bit spoiled. Mommy is so proud of you every day. You are smart, funny and beautiful. You have Grandma Nancy's big brown eyes. I wonder sometimes where you get your energy from.... 5 minutes in from school and you are ready to go!! You love gymnastics, ballet, swimming, riding your bike, jumping on the trampoline, and the list goes on and on. You love going to the Little Gym for gymnastics and to Paragon for open gym. You are very competitive. I love watching the different phases you go through, right now it is Pandas. You love Panda bears and want everything to be pandas. You are on a Go Green kick... hopefully that is not a phase. You love to recycle and buy organic things. You love finding clothes about saving the earth. I have noticed lately you are really starting to become your own little person, it is scary how fast the time goes... I wish I could just freeze you. I stare at you when we are laying in bed sometimes and I can't believe how big you are getting.