Saying Goodbye to 2009

Happy New Year everyone! May 2010 be filled with wonderful memories, good health and lots of happiness.
We are so thankful for a great 2009! It has been a wonderful year, and we are so grateful to God for all that He has given us!

I love these year in review videos....Enjoy!
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/6523871/16932324

Christmas 2009

The chilren are nestled all snug in their beds....
Santa has been busy....
Looking forward to the morning!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight!!

I Love...

Babies. Baby giggles. Watching t.v. with all three kids laying on top of me. Sunny days. Chocolate Chip cookies. Toothless smiles. Playing on the beach at sunset.  Apple orchards. Good red wine. Flannel sheets. Being with friends and family. Fresh paint. The changing seasons. Sleeping in. Christmas lights. Magazines in the mailbox. Pedicures. Porches. Wrapping presents. A snowy night!!

Santa is Coming to Town!

The boys have all been busy writing their lists for Santa. This year they decided to cut pictures out of toy catalogues and paste them in their letter. Wow, we have had paper, glue, scraps, scissors, etc. all over!! I was glad when we finally mailed those letters! Of course we took them to the BR Fire Station where there is a real Santa Mailbox that goes directly to the North Pole. We are anxiously awaiting our response from Santa!!  We have been having lots of fun with the Elf on the Shelf!! He is always watching and always reporting to Santa!! It is fun to find him in the morning. He's had some pretty awesome hiding spots this year. If you don't have one get one now!! What a great Christmas Tradition he has become! http://www.elfontheshelf.com/ Thank you to my friend, c. that bought him for the kids years ago before he was popular like he is today!!
We made our gingerbread house, we are baking cookies, wrapped lots of presents and did a lot of shopping too! L went shopping at school and came home with a bag of things. He is doing a really good job of keeping it a secret! Last year he practically had all the gifts open by the time he got off the schoolbus! What a difference a year makes.

Last week we got our tree and decorated it! What a perfect day we picked for that! It was snowing all day and we were blarring Christmas carols and decorating! It got us all right in the mood!
Hope you are all having fun preparing for Christmas Day!!

Busy Days

I can't believe I haven't posted in days....
It has been a bit crazy around here, but a good crazy! Lots of fun getting ready for Christmas, watching the kids play hockey, getting bids for our house project and chasing Sean all over the place!
I promise to write more tomorrow!!!

Potty Talk!

So I wasn't sure about writing this, but my proud mommy moment has gotten the best of me...Yesterday, Sean (yes, he is only one year and three weeks old!) pooped and peed on the potty!! I can't contained my happiness!! I'm sure now I am jinxed forever, and he will be wearing diapers to kindergarten!! We shall see ;0)

The Lost Tooth That Got Lost!

Yesterday I sent L off to school with his tooth dangling by a mere thread. He didn't want it to fall out before he got to school! If you lose your tooth in school, you get a special tooth necklace from the nurse! Anyway, he came home overjoyed about losing his tooth in school!! We celebrated, had a snack, did homework and he needed to scoot out to religion school...and he insisted on taking the tooth. I gave him my two cents about bringing it, but there are certain things that are just not worth fighting about with my L.  Of course when I picked him up from religion, his tooth had gone missing...(go figure?!!)  L was hysterical to say the least! Without mentioning "I told you so", which was really hard to restrain, we went back into his classroom to search for the tooth! The floor couldn't be any dirtier by this time of the day, and it didn't help that it was a beige and white speckled color! This was literally like looking for a needle in a haystack. But none the less, we looked, and looked, and looked and looked more! No tooth. At this point, I was covered with dust and dirt from laying on the floor and S had eaten who knows what off the floor (God only knows he may have ingested the TOOTH!). Anyway, we gave up and went home hoping the Tooth Fairy would know where to bring the money once she found the tooth! Luckily, she knew exactly where to go!!

Another FIRST for Baby....

Firsts

These little feet took their first official steps today!!

xoxoxoxo

Be

I just bought this poster framed and hung it right in our family room near our dinner table.  I love it! The boys are very intrigued by the words and it already has us talking! I am looking forward to lots of good discussion centered around this poster. I want to use it as a reminder help my kids be the best people they can BE!

Halloween!

We enjoyed a great night filled with trick or treating, lots of visiting, take out dinner, a haunted house, candy sorting, and candy eating of course! Even S. enjoyed his first lollipop!  The rain tampered off just in time for us to all get out and go trick or treating! That was an extra special "treat"!

ONE

My littlest guy turned ONE today! I can't believe that a year ago I was blessed with another healthy baby boy! What a year it has been! The joy that a baby brings to the home is such a special gift. I have enjoyed every moment of watching him grow! S. you are the biggest love. You smile constantly and you spread happiness to everyone you meet! There is never a day that goes by that someone doesn't say to me, "He is such a happy baby!" and he is!! Happy Birthday little guy!! I love you!!

Seven

My biggest guy is SEVEN!! I can't believe that! SEVEN!! He is getting so grown up and so independent, but will always be my baby!

Saturday!

Great day for catching up on stuff inside...cold, wet and yucky outside! Boys went to ice hockey. I stayed home while Sean napped, and cooked and cleaned. Then we took all the kids to Toys R Us to spend gift cards from their birthdays.  L came home with a variety of toys including a hockey figurine, pokemon cards, and kookie pens. J choose some SpongeBob cars, a football stand to kick a football off of, and a Sonic figure! All were happy! We enjoyed a great dinner at a local Thai food restaurant! Even the kids loved the Pad Thai and Chicken Satay! Yum!

Poop!

What is it with boys and poop??? Enough said.

Breakfast in Bed!

I can't even stand how cute this is!!!

L surprised me this morning and brought me breakfast in bed!! Love the tray and all!

Miracle

Yesterday, I finally met and held my cousin's little baby. Upon meeting her, a rush of emotions overcame me and tears poured from my eyes. I was holding one of God's miracles!! C was born at 24 weeks gestational age. She weighed just over one pound. At her young age she has endured more obstacles then some do in a lifetime. She is just beautiful. A picture of perfection with determination and courage! Every now and then I have a moment when I can feel God's presence and see Him. Looking into this small baby's big, brown eyes, you can see God and all of His greatness!!!

A Normal "Bedtime Routine"

After a very busy day of school, homework, activities, dinner on the go somewhere in between it all, we finally arrived home ready for our "bedtime routine". I was flying solo tonight, so I told the big kids, "Shower and jammies and then we will do dessert and read a book!" Everyone got ready and was enjoying dessert!! I decided it would be a great time to put S to sleep and then come back down for our chapters of "The Magic Tree House"! Of course, just when you think everything is going perfectly, a fight breaks out!! "He stole my sticker....he ripped mine, I wanted it first, etc. (get the idea!)." So I calmly took the stickers away and proceeded back up the stairs with the baby. Just then L. lets out a huge ROAR to me!!! He starts lecturing me (while screaming!) that he should have the stickers and somewhere in there told me I was "THE MEANEST MOTHER EVER!!!" Good thing I have tough skin!! I promptly said, "no book tonight, get to bed now!" and he was beside himself! Now he was upset about not reading (which is part of his homework) and he continues to yell at me (while I am putting S to sleep-poor baby). This crying continues of course because he is so tired and just needs to sleep. Ahhhhh, I'm tired!! Why does bedtime always have to be a struggle? Sometimes I think it would be easier just to let them stay up all night, just so I don't have to go through this nightly routine, which seems so simple, but at times ends up a complete disaster!!!

KikibOnan

How cute is this shirt that my BFF made for S!!! I love it!! She is working on more for the guys for Christmas presents! They are handmade by my friend and her sister with love. You can get lots of designs, letters and numbers too! Great gifts for birthdays or holidays!! Get yours at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6475045&order=&section_id=&page=1

It's Hockey Time!!

Hockey Season is upon us!! The boys have their first game tomorrow at 11 am. They can't wait!! They had practice this morning at 7:30 am and tomorrow at 6:30 am and then their game at 11! Yes, welcome to HOCKEY!! Luckily, Dad is a coach and loves playing just as much as the kids do, so he does most of the hockey practices. The boy love it, and I can't wait to see them play!!

Back to School Night

We went to L class tonight! He is going to have a great year! He has a very sweet teacher. Lots of energy and enthusiam for her job!
This is the letter L wrote to us (it says mom, because he thought C would still be travelling). He left it at his seat for us to find tonight! :

In case you can't read/decipher it:

Welcome to my seat mom,

I like fun games in P.E. I like centers. I have a favorite center it is the game centers. We have class pets they are hermit crabs. We have two. We are learning about science.

We are learning about weather. I like the books. I like tooth tally. I like my job the door holder.

I think this is too cute!!

Out of the Mouth...

L told me the jacket I wanted him to wear to school today looked, "HIDEOUS"!! Seriously, that's what he told me!! Have a great Monday!

Cake Mix Cookies

I needed a quick birthday snack to send into school today for J's birthday celebration with his new class (which he loves!). I wanted to be fast and creative. I came up with these!
Cupcake Cookies...because although delicious, cupcakes are REALLY messy for 5 year olds!
One box of cake mix (I used vanilla)
1/4 c water
1/4 c oil
1 egg
Mix all ingredients together. Stir in an extra treat if you want to (I added colored sprinkles). Drop on greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes in 350 degree oven.
After cookies are cooled, spread vanilla or chocolate frosting on the flat side of the cookie and top with another cookie to make a cupcake cookie sandwich!
Yummy and cute!

Riley

This is our new pup! He is 10 months old and quite adorable! We are having such a great time with Riley. We got him from a breeder when he was 8 months old and he was pretty well trained already (that was a life saver!!). I needed to train him to the electric fence though...sigh! Well, it all worked out fine and he was even leaving the yard on a lease with no problems (something our other Lab would never do, so walks were impossible unless you took him in the car to leave the property! UGG!) Anyway, yesterday I was getting the mail and Riley was walking next to me, usually he stops towards the end of the driveway but he must have forgotten and when he heard the warning beep for the fence, he bolted through it instead of retreating backwards. Then he didn't want to come to me because he was scared (do you blame him?) and after finally getting him (now picture me holding the mail and did I mention I was also carrying the baby?) and dragging him back into the yard he was scared to even be in the yard. He is doing better today, but this week, I have a lot of puppy training ahead of me!

He's 5!!

Yesterday, our guy turned 5!! I think 5 is such a big number! You're a big boy when you're 5! What a great kid! At dinner last night he quietly turns to me and says, "Mommy, thank you for giving me the best birthday ever!" I mean really, how sweet is that??! Today we had his birthday party. It was suppose to be a baseball themed party and all the kids were going to play baseball outdoors. Too bad it was raining all day! We moved the party indoors and we ended up having lots of fun. Imagine 16 BOYS inside!! (and 3 lovely little ladies too!) Lots of fun, cake, games, dancing and giggles!! Happy Birthday!! I wish you could have been outside with your buddies playing ball, but I think we had lots of fun despite the bad weather. I love you!!

We will never forget.

Growing

My littlest man is getting so big...this week he cut his top tooth, started walking with the baby walker and is standing for a bit on his own!! STOP growing!!!

First Grade

Today was L's first day of first grade! I really can't believe that he is in first grade. I feel like I just left teaching first grade to go on Maternity leave to have him!! Isn't is great that L is in first grade at the same school where I taught and the same school that I attended K-5!! Love that! He had a fabulous day!! Couldn't say enough about how much he loved his teacher...I love that too!! We did have a little bus drama, but L was fine through it all. C and I had the issue when the bus stopped at our house and our little guy wasn't on the bus!! Hopefully tomorrow all will be straightened out. I know I am a little bias, but I think first grade is the best grade! I still have great memories of my first grade class and teacher.

RU Football

We ended summer today at The Rutgers Football Game! Perfect weather, fun time tailgating, watching football, and being with great friends. It is was a nice way to transition into the fall season. Too bad Rutgers had a bad loss...

Attic Allergies

Every night after tucking in all the kiddos, J is always down the stairs with a woe, or a need, or a "I just have to tell you...". My favorite is when he says, " Mommy, I just have to tell you that....(long pause)....I love you!" It is sugar sweet (and melts my heart every time!), but he is really saying, "Mommy, I want to see what you are doing down here, what is on TV, what you and daddy are up too, etc!!" Anyway, tonight is was, "Mommy, I figured it out!" I said, "What J? What did you figure out (in a very sarcastic voice-because I mean really, do we really need to do this EVERY night!!)?" "I have allergies!" he says. "Allergies?" I say. "What are you allergic to J?" J says confidently, "I am allergic to my attic and that is why I don't like to look at my attic door at night!" I quickly said back "Just don't look at the door and then you won't have allergies." He liked that and said, "Good idea!" and went off to bed!

Fun!

Isn't this what summer is all about???

What a fun night of swimming, playing, BBQing, roasting marshmellows and being with great friends! Here's to another great summer at Copper!

Summer 2009

It is the start of Labor Day weekend and in many ways I am feeling sad that another fun filled summer has passed. What a great summer it was! Today L. and I were recalling all of the fun we had. He came up with a pretty good list:
1. Bible School
2. Baseball Camp
3. A trip to NH to pick up our New Puppy!!
4. L. lost 3 teeth...his first 3!
5. L. also had his tonsils and adenoids removed and was a rock star patient through the whole thing!
6. A trip to Easton, PA to the Crayola Factory on a VERY rainy day.
7. Lots of HOCKEY...L. played 3 on 3 every Wednesday, L. and J. did Skills and Drills hockey practice on Mondays, and lots of skating with Sam.
8. A great trip to Hilton Head!!
9. A few trips to the town pool...but L. wanted to mention it because he went off the high dive!
10. We watched daddy complete another triathlon.
11. Both boys completed their first triathlon.
12. S learned to crawl, eat real food, and got his first 2 teeth!!
13. Spend lots of lazy days at Copper playing tennis and swimming with our buddies. Some great BBQ's too!
14. Playing lots of baseball and street hockey outside!!
15. Trips to the beach.

I thought this was a pretty awesome list. The reality of routine and structure in right around the corner and although in some ways I crave that, I love summer and will miss being in PJs 'til 10 everyday!

I hope everyone had a great one and enjoys a relaxing Labor Day weekend!!
XOXO

Our Pond

This pond is across the street from our house. We spend lots of time here during all four seasons! This summer has been a summer of catching snails and other pond life. The boys love filling buckets with pond water and then depositing their treasures from the pond inside! Luckily, they are kind enough (to the creatures and to me!) to leave everything at the pond when we leave. We loved taking our dog, Murphy to the pond. He loved to jump right in and fetch tennis balls. Our new pup, Riley, loves the pond too! He hasn't ventured into deep water yet, but enjoys dunking his head under the water. It is funny to watch! We see lots of geese, turtles, and fish at the pond too. Our pond is home to a crane, which walks around on its long legs in the water. Skipping rocks or just throwing rocks is another fun pastime for the guys. I am sure you can imagine how much fun this spot is for little boys!!

Ice Cream Pie

So the kids have been having a ball this summer with our friend, Sam, who has been taking them skating twice a week for ice hockey lessons. Sam will be a senior this fall and is the captain of the high school ice hockey team! To my guys, he is like Wayne Gretzky! They absolutely adore him! Unfortunately, Sam just broke his collar bone in a hockey tournament this weekend. The kids were bummed, but came up with a great idea to cheer Sam up! "Let's make him an ice cream pie!" So we did! It is messy, fun, and yummy too. Of course we had to make one for ourselves! Notice what the kids are eating at 10:30 this morning!! Good thing it is still summer...back to good habits next week!

To make Ice Cream Pie you will need:

An Oreo crumb pie crust (I buy Nabisco)

About 4-5 cups of your favorite flavor of ice cream or 2 favorite flavors.

Hot fudge sauce

Cool Whip

Cherries without stems

Sprinkles

1. Melt the ice cream on the counter until it is soft.

2. Spoon the melted ice cream into the pie crust.

3. Heat the chocolate fudge sauce and then pour on top of the ice cream.

4. Put some cherries on.

5. Spread Cool Whip evenly across the pie.

6. Finish with sprinkles.

7. Freeze until hard in the freezer.

8. Enjoy!!

September Already!

I decided that this school year, I am going to try to write here and there to share what is going on in our house (never a dull moment!) with my family and friends. I hope to be able to share some of the daily activities, stories, good shopping finds, recipes and fun I share with the kids, my husband and our adorable black Lab!
I woke this morning and said to the guys, "Guess what? It's September!!" I needed to say it out loud because looking at it on the calendar still didn't make it seem real. We had a PERFECT September day here! Low 70's and bright sunshine. I took a catnap on the sun filled, screened porch! It felt great! Hoping for a few more hot days before school starts...kids want to swim!!