Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Best Buds


Aiden and The Flip Flopping Momma's son hangin' out together, watchin' a little wild kingdom on the TV.

Rollin'

Hanging out with her classmate, Marey.
Look at those tiny skates! Who knew they came so small?
Doing the Limbo.


Last week Sarah and I hit the Roller Rink with some kids from school for a Back To School Party. I had promised her that once she turned five we would teach her how to skate. This was to qualm some fears she had about turning five. I think she is afraid that one day she will be too big to have us help her, or hold her, or give her mooches...Little does she know that day will NEVER come.
Sarah had already been ice skating several times, seeing as I was into ice skating as a kid, but this was her first experience on roller skates. Let me tell you, she took off like a natural! I was more scared of her falling then she was (of course). She did hit the ground a couple of times and it never phased her. She was off with the big kids. Telling me the whole time, "I can do it, Mommy" and wriggling her little fingers from my grasp. And by George - she could! She was great - even shaking her little booty to the music and participating in the Limbo competition (shown above).
I know she is supposed to be this independent, I just have a hard time letting go. But she will never be too old for mooches or hugs or raspberries on her belly (ok - I might have to let go of that last one before she is 16...).

Just keep on rollin'


He did it! After much waiting and anxiety - Aiden has rolled over! And over and over and over....

There for a while we thought he was never going to go anywhere on his own. He had shone no interest in moving, and why should he? Everyone waits on him and brings him toys, especially Sissy who never lets him fuss one bit! But, alas, he has progressed. Now we just have to figure out how to keep him from lodging himself against the couch...

Monday, September 29, 2008

FIVE ALREADY!?




I cannot believe how fast the past five years have gone. It seems like just yesterday she was this tiny fussy baby in my arms (and I was a completely insane, crying mother)....Maybe it is good that those times flew by...

But here she is, FIVE. Wow. If I do say so, I think we have done a pretty good job with her too - ok maybe it is just her natural personality that makes her such a great kid, but I will take the credit.
She teaches me everyday how to be a better person, how to love deeper and care more. This makes the past five years truly a blessing. I do get sad thinking about how fast she is growing (even though she still wears a 2T pant!), but everyday she is more and more fun to be with.

Helpin' Out



The other day I promised the Flip Flopping Momma that I would help her out with a painting project. She wanted to paint her son's room this wonderful shade (eh hum) of Khaki - so I was all in for a new project. Well, I got to paint for about one hour before I took back my role

as Mother of Crying Baby and had to stand in the doorway with Aiden in my arms and watch. But doesn't it look like she is doing a great job!?

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Cheer Camp

Cheer Camp Practice

Last week was "Cheer Camp" week at Sarah's school. Let me be the first to tell you that she was more excited about this then any other thing she has done all summer! From the moment I signed her up until the day camp was over, it was all we heard about around the house.

Now, you may need some background info here. Sarah has been a one man cheer-paparazzi for about two years now. She idolizes our local cheerleaders and hounds them down where ever she can find them. To Sarah, they are bigger than Hanna Montanna! She gets her picture taken with them, cheers with them, swoons over them - you name it! When we attend Football and Basket Ball games, we seldom get the pleasure of having Sarah sit with us because she is usually swept up by the random Cheerleader and taken to their niche in the bleachers or on the grass not to be heard from again. That is until the mean Mommy comes to tell her that the game is over and it is time to go home.
So Cheer Camp was just the thing to quench Sarah's thirst to become a Cheer Leader. And let me tell you, she took this stuff seriously! She practiced her cheers repeatedly at home all week and rehearsed her dance moves until she knew them forwards and backwards. The finale was on Friday night when the Cheer Camp participants got to perform at the Fresh/Soph Football game. It was adorable to watch near 100 little girls mimic the older Cheer Leaders in every way. They performed two cheers and a dance number to Grease Lightening. Sarah was in heaven, especially because this all took place on her Birthday. The best part of the night was when the whole cheer camp sang Happy Birthday to her.
We still hear her singing "you give me chilllllllssss - their multiplying" from her room at night. I think we definately have the makings of a future sprit leader in our midst....
I will post more pictures of this fantastic event later!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Visitor in the Yard







Sarah and the Farmer found this handsome feller hanging out in our flower garden. I am told it is a Garden Spider. We would love to know more about him if anyone out there can give up some info!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Fall Festival

Eagerly awaiting candy.
Local High School Marching Band
That is one happy kid.
Of course this was our favorite part - the horses!




A couple of weeks ago we celebrated our town's annual Fall Festival. We kicked off the festivities on Friday night with games and rides uptown. Now that Sarah is old enough, she is able to hit just about every ride they bring to town, and she loves it! It is enough to make me sick though - I have to send the Farmer anymore. There's something about getting older, I am unable to spin at dizzying speeds without becoming ill...

Saturday we went to the parade in the morning and loaded up on all sorts of goodies, the likes of which will still be in our cupboard when next Fall Festival rolls around. And finally Saturday night the Farmer and I wandered uptown for our annual night at the bar. There is a reason we only do this once a year. The crowds are plentiful and the music loud. Again - I am getting too old for all this. All that said, we really had a great time with the Flip Flopping Momma and her Hubby. Stayed out past 10 o'clock - unheard of, I know! (OK - so we were home by 11.)

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Bag Boy


Recently Uncle David broke his arm. The result of which was no longer being an active player on the football team...Poor Uncle Dave...He was even dressing varsity this year! Now all he will be sporting is this lovely bread bag for showering. Somehow I do not think it will have the same impression on the chicks at school.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Visit from New Mexico

Aiden and Ben Hangin' out. I think Aiden is amazed that Ben can get his feet up there. Aid has too much chub to reach his...
Hey, give me that!
Ben. Isn't he a CUTEY!
Awe, Mom!


In all the hustle and bustle around here lately I have not had the time to sit down and tell ya’ll about Uncle Tim and Aunt B’s visit a couple of weeks ago. It was the first time all the Midwesterners out here got to meet the new baby, Ben! And boy, does he have the corner market on adorability! Except for Aiden, of course… Sorry Ben, I have to be bias.
So, as I said, Uncle Tim and Aunt B made the long trek across the country to spend some time with the fam. Not only did they trek across the country, but they did it with a five month old baby! Brave souls. From the sound of it though, Ben was wonderful. What did you expect? He is a Foley.
Our visit with them was short, as always. Even though they were here for 7 days (I think…Let me think….Hummmm – ok, yeah, I am pretty sure it was 7 days.), time flew and by the time they were leaving it had felt like they had just gotten here.
We did not have many outings. A football game here and there is all. Let me be the first to say that too many outings with two babies under 6 months old is too much for my psyche! The boys were great for us though…We had the previously mentioned catastrophic crying day with Aiden one of the days, but we seemed to recover nicely and get the most out of our time together.
It was great to compare mothering notes with B and know that someone else is probably covered with baby vomit right now too. (No really, I am. Aiden spit up down my shirt and into my bra about ten minutes ago. Then I put him to bed. I should smell yummy by the time Matthew comes to bed…Maybe I will change? Naaaa)
So, now they are back home and, from what I hear, dealing with their first baby cold. I wish them luck and remind them that “This too will pass”. I don’t know who said that, but it is my mantra.

Friday, September 19, 2008

More Tongue Pics




You asked for it!

Build A Bear Mania!

For about four months now Sarah has talked about nothing but going to Build A Bear Workshop for her birthday. And now the deed is done (thank Heavens!), I no longer need to hear "Is today the day we go to Build A Bear?" every single morning.
We had a great time picking out her adorable new bunny, Isabell, and dressing her in her fabulous new gown. Hot pink, of course!
She even has a real heartbeat courtesy of a small battery operated pulsating heart we inserted into her chest before she was stuffed.
Isabell has gone everywhere with Sarah since we picked her up that day. I think the trip to Madison was well worth the wait and the endless pestering.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Hard at Work

The Farmer has been helping with a large remodeling project over at his parents house lately. They have recruited professionals for the detail work -our guys just like to tear stuff down anyway. They have not perfected the"putting it back" portion as of yet...
The whole project started because my Mother In Law accidentally backed into their garage door. I have no idea how that could have happened with two noisy boys in the car yapping away in her ear... Anyway - Then the door needed to be replaced. Then it was decided that maybe the door should be bigger, and then why not replace the drywall, and while you are at it, doesn't it make sense to insulate it? And how about some new windows, and a new ceiling...hummm, what have I left out?
Well the whole project took a little over a week and now they have a brand new garage, ready for teenage drivers! Hope no-one hits that door again...



Papaw working on the wiring...should we trust him?



From the picture we can all tell how much the Farmer likes to be followed by a camera. Can you believe it - a man who actually reads the directions!! How I do love him.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Here Come the Chicks




Last Thursday, we had some new additions to our farm. We welcomed home six new nineteen week old pullets. Not that our older hens were lax on their job, but we needed to dramatically increase our egg production around here. Especially since I am embarking on the Fall Baking Season. I seldom let a day go by from October through December that I am not baking something.
The new flock is made up of three Rhode Island Reds and three Leghorns (yes, which is the same breed as Fog Horn Leghorn in the Bugs Bunny cartoons). Previously we have had Ameraucanas, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, and one Silver Bantam. I have never had Leghorns before, but I hear they are an egg layin’ machine! This was proven on Friday when we already had our first white egg laying in the middle of the coop. (Rhode Island Reds lay brown eggs) Hopefully they will figure out what the nesting boxes are all about before long…
Of course we will be shipping eggs off to family and friends as needed also. So be sure to let me know if you are low out there!

While I Was Away...



This past weekend Aiden and I took off with Nana up to the North Woods to be with my Aunt as she embarked on a new chapter in her life. She is moving to upstate New York to live closer to her daughter, Debbie. In order to do so, she had to down size her household belongings considerably, this included the sale of her home for the past 23 years. They held an auction on Sunday to eliminate all unwanted belongings and sell the house.
It was a bit sad to watch her let go of everything she had accumulated over these past decades, but I was also very excited for her. She has a chance to start over in a new town, and while this might be scary at first, I think she will love being so close to her daughter and grandchildren. I love the thought of meeting new people and having new experiences, I just hope she enjoys it too.
So, while I was gone, the Farmer and Sarah were back home here having a ball! They called the Flip Flopping Momma and her hubby and went bowling (Sarah’s first bowling experience and I missed it!); they went out to eat (twice! Even though I left a fridge full of leftovers for them.), and helped Grandma and Grandpa paint their newly remolded garage. When I am home on the weekends, I am lucky to even see the Farmer. Anyway, no hard feelings…Even if he did tell the Flip Flopping Family that he was the “Fun Half” of the family…huh..I will have to remember that.
Oh yeah – and while I was up north, I purchased a 37’ fifth wheel RV! That will teach the Farmer to come with next time!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Tag A Long

Aiden and I with the Moby Sling. I am tellin' ya - I love this thing! Don't get me wrong, I love the other slings that I have too, but each has it's place. This one is wonderful for house cleaning and cleaning horse stalls. It keeps baby nice and close, unlike other slings that allow baby to swing away from your body, so I am able to do a lot of bending over to pick things up. (A constant movement in my daily life.)
I have to thank Aunt B for this one. She shipped it out to me a while ago, otherwise I would have never know it existed! Aiden loves it too, especially now that he is bigger and can sit facing outwards. Just look at those adorable cheeks!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Daddy and Aiden


This is a picture of the Farmer and the mini-farmer watching the Cubs at our friend's house. Check out those rolls! I think we may have a case of baby Man-boobs here...

Book Club


The book club finally met! Yea! I can now change my "What are you reading" section of this blog! Yippee! Ok - that is enough of the !!!
Yes, it is true, our book club had it's first official meeting. I was thrilled to host this fun filled event. We ate desserts and cheese and drank yummy wine (ok, I had a wine glass full of milk - I am still recovering from last weekends shannanigans, uhg.)
We discussed The Other Boleyn Girl in depth. Contemplated the author's motives and direction, made assumptions on what each of us would do in the same situations, and put the topic to modern day terms. Then we got on to juicer subjects - like our husbands, our pasts and a certain almond shaped object that I do not wish to mention here.
It was a blast! I am so excited to have such a great group together! We are all very diverse, yet can truly relate to one another on every level. They are a wonderful group of interesting, humorous, an adventuresome women. I cannot wait until our next meeting! We will be reading "The Heretic's Daughter" and having a bonfire to celebrate. I am sure there will be more wine too. And a certain library bag full of beer...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

A Day in the Life

Holding the screaming baby... I look a little frazzeled - don't you think?
Cupcakes - still no frosting
Applesauce




Nope, no frosting on the cake yet either


So, I had a day. On Friday of last week I was to be getting ready for Aiden’s Christening and Open House, and, of course, nothing was going as planned. From about noon on Aiden suddenly became inconsolable in his crying and I still had a cake to bake, cupcakes to make and BBQ to throw together so that on Saturday we could go for a day trip with Matthew’s visiting Brother, Tim, and his wife, B. And if I did not have enough to do – I decided I finally needed to do something with our quickly ripening apples in the orchard, so I added applesauce to my list.
By 4 o’clock I had had it, by 5, I was miserable and by 6, I was in tears. Aiden had been screaming for 6 hours straight now. Without a break. I could only assume that the sobbing was a result of the four teeth that have begun to make an appearance on his tiny little gums. He had been changed, bathed, medicated, and rocked. I offered for him to nurse several times, each time I was reciprocated with an even louder holler. I was at a loss.
Thank God for good friends, that is all I can say. I called my dear friend, the flip flopping Momma, and she rushed right over, miracle in hand. Her husband took the screaming baby from my arms and turned him to face his wife. She then proceeded to drop three little magic pills into his mouth. Before the tiny white substance could even finish dissolving, Aiden was quiet. Not only quiet, but I believe he was falling in love with my friend! He looked at her with such a look of pleasure that I could not contain my laughter. Teething Tablets – that is what these little pills are called. Of course, around our house they are more commonly known as baby crack.
All I can say is; I love my friends. Where would I be without them? I am one lucky gal!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Among Friends

The girls at my house. Too much food, too much wine.

Ya know, I am usually not surprised by what my friends will bring up in a

conversation. Most of my friends will discuss just about anything, no matter how vulgar. But recently, I have been taken aback, and I love it! A new circle of friends brings many new surprises, and hanging out with these girls always keeps me laughing. Just remember, it is always the quiet ones you have to watch out for - isn't that right, Esther?