Twi-hard

Ok, so last night I'm talking with my long lost college roomie Steffy (Happy Birthday!) and she tells me that she checks my blog every morning to see if I've updated. So now the pressure is on! Just kidding, but I need to get better about updating. Life has been crazy, as most of you know. I bought a new house a few weeks ago and I have been busy lining up a painter, picking out flooring and carpet and new kitchen cabinets. Because this is the THIRD time I'm doing this, I'm pretty decisive about my choices. It's been much easier this time around!

So the painting starts next week and then I'll get the flooring installed. I'm hoping to use the last two weeks in December to get most everything moved from the Lancaster house to the new house. And, no, the Lancaster house hasn't sold yet. So everyone say a little prayer for me on that one!

And because I didn't think my life was crazy enough, I got a new job. I will be clerking for Judge Elect Ness, starting January 4. I love clerking and need to go back to work full time, so this is a good fit for me right now. I'm actually really excited about it!!

So, about that Twi-hard reference. I was sitting in Georgia's bed earler this week reading her a book and she points to her wall and says, "look!" And I see that she has a picture of Edward and Jacob TAPED TO THE WALL. She says, "they are SOOOOOO cute Mommy!" I ask, "which one do you like better?" "Both!" she replies. Oh Georgia/Bella, it's a tough decision, but I'm on team Jacob. THIS CHILD IS FIVE YEARS OLD AND ALREADY BOY CRAZY. I am so in for it.

Hughie is the same sweet, goofy clown he's always been. He asked me if he could drive his race car bed to the new house! I think if I loved my kids any more my heart would burst.

And note to my dear friend Paige. When you invite me over to your house, make me a fabulous gourmet meal, share your wine and sweet loving self, you do NOT write ME a thank you note. I know I'm fabulous and all, but seriously? You are just the sweetest person alive and I love you. I love all you girls out there, you know who you are (and Bil)!!!!!

U.S. Navy Seal Museum

We just got back from the U.S. Navy Seal Museum which is about 1/2 a mile from our place in Florida. They had a special Navy Seal demonstration today, complete with Blackhawks and firearms. We got to meet Admiral Olson, Commander of ALL U.S. Special Forces and we got to hear a great speech by Captain Phillips, the Captain whose ship was boarded by Somalian pirates and was ultimately rescued by Navy Seals. He was an absolute riot, with a wicked Boston accent and a great sense of humor; a hero in the truest sense of the word. Hughie loved the action and Mommy loved the Navy Seals. ;)

Halloween

I cannot believe it's November. October seems to have passed in the blink of an eye!!! And I'm so sad because it's my favorite month of the year. Screw you Mother Nature and all of your RAIN!!

We had lots of fun attending different Halloween events. The kids were with Daddy for trick-or-treating, so I didn't get to do that this year, but I did buy a new house!! I'd been looking casually for a few months just to get a feel for some different neighborhoods, etc. And then a few weeks ago the perfect house went up for sale. It's a rancher that's about 2 minutes from my parents, in a great neighborhood and right around the corner from a really nice park. We're closing in a few weeks and then I'm going to spruce up the kitchen, paint and put in some new carpet. I'm hoping we're moved in by the new year. Now if I could just sell my house in Lancaster . . .

We've had a bit of a rough weekend. Mimi fell while taking Hughie down some steps. She sacrificed herself for Hughie and went down hard on her face. She smashed up her glasses and cracked her head. She's fine now, just sore and looks a lot like Rocky at the end of Rocky IV. Just in time for our trip to Florida!! And Dale is in surgery as I write. He's getting a new knee, so a prayer for him will be appreciated as well.

And just so everyone can be REALLY jealous, I'm heading to Maui when we get back from Florida. I've never been there, but I've heard it is GORGEOUS and I'm excited to have some down time and to see Keoni. And this will be the first time I get to show off the new girls in a bathing suit! ;)

An Ugly Fall Weekend

It's always a bummer this time of year when it rains all weekend. There are so many fun things to do outside! Georgia had a really cool Girl Scout field trip planned, complete with hayride and spple cider, but it was cancelled. However, we managed to have a really nice, relaxing weekend despite the yucky weather. We carved pumkins to make jack-o-lanterns(I will post photos eventually), roasted the seeds, made Halloween cupcakes, made chicken veggie soup and we roasted marshmallows. And living in a house with an indoor pool makes life much easier, as well! We've gone swimming at least every other day the past couple of weeks. And when I say "swimming," I mean that then kids are in the pool burning theior manic enegery and Mommy is relaxing in the hot tub. I'm finally at a place after 5 years where both of my kids can swim without me holding on to them. Hughie's in a swim vest, but he gets around really well. He's a strong little swimmer!

We're heading down to Florida in a few weeks to greet Josh's beautiful new Brazilian bride as she enters the States. The kids are very excited to see Uncle Josh. They ask about him constantly! And I have a feeling they will love Patricia too, as long as they're not too jealous. ;)

And I'm finally going to post some pics that Emily took when she was here visiting me a few weeks ago. We had such an amazing time and she is such an amazing talent behind a camera. Enjoy!

Friends and Laughter

I spent a lot of time over the past two weeks connecting with close girlfriends. My best friend from high school, Emily, came in with her daughter, Kennady, for a 10 day trip. We had a blast just hanging out, swimming in the pool, eating Maple Donuts and taking lots of pictures. Emily has recently become a professional photographer (self taught) and has an amazing ability to take beautiful photographs. Georgia was a particularly willing model and did quite well with her photoshoots. She's a total ham, not sure where that comes from!!

While Em was here we spent time with our friends Lauren, Angie, Jodi, Paige and Ashley. We had some amazing lasagna at Lauren's house thanks to her fabulous husband Larry (for whom Hughie developed a particular affinity). We had some tasty Mexican food with Angie and Jodi, sans children, while my beloved Keoni graciously babysat Hughie, Georgia and Kennady. And, of course, Paige did not disappoint with her scrumptious gourmet brunch on Sunday. Throughout the week I was constantly reminded why Emily is so special to me and will always be able to make me laugh.

After Emily left, I immediately headed to Philly to meet up wtih Kara. We drove up to Hoboken, NJ to meet Betsy, Bree and Susan for a girls' weekend (aka, Susan's bachelorette party take two). We had so much fun and laughed until we all cried. I think my sides are still sore. Laughter really is the best medicine!!!!

And I pretty much blew off Bogie's birthday. She turned 34 last week and then went off to Ohio to visit Beth without me. I promise to make it up to her with lots of love and tortilla soup!!!!!!!!


Each of the women mentioned in this post have made a considerable effort in supporting me through the past year. They've held me hand, dried my tears, listened and advised without judgment. I am so amazingly blessed to have these people in my life. However, I have to take a lot of credit for surrounding myself with such fabulousness. Love you all more than words.

Daisies

Last night was Georgia's first Girl Scout meeting. I'd been trying to think of a good activity for Georgia that wasn't ballet (she hated dance lessons) or a sport (she's not very competitive yet) and thought that she would love Girl Scouts. She is now officially a Daisy! I need to go out and get the official vest for her patches and then she'll be ready. Her troop has 10 girls and last night they did an art project and then had brownies and punch. Georgia was in heaven. So when it comes time to buy Girl Scout cookies, you know who to call!!

Don't Harassle Me

Georgia's invented my new favorite word. Recently I asked her to stop harassing Hughie. Her reponse? "I harassle Hughie because he harassles ME!!"

My fabulous friend Emily is visiting this week from Idaho with her daughter Kennady, who is Georgia's age. We are going to have so much fun. Emily is a wonderful photographer and I hope she can get some great shots of the kids for our Christmas cards this year!

Basketball Belly

I am so sad that the York Revolution baseball season is over. Baseball has been such a part of our lives this summer! And the end of the season also means that Keoni will be going home and he will be sorely missed. I've been trying to talk him into sticking around York, but I don't think he's biting.

On Tuesday we were at a game and Hughie was sitting on my lap beside Papa. He looked over at Papa, pointed to his belly and said, "basketball under there?" Oh Hughie, you jokester. Go easy on Big Papa!!

Yes, but Jason is cuter!

So Georgia has a crush on this York Revoultion player named Jason Aspito. She's never met him, so I have no idea why she's singled this guy out for her affection. Last week we were at a Revolution game in which Keoni received the team MVP award. When we got home my Mom said, "I am just so proud of Keoni! Everyone voted him as their favorite player on the team." Georgia's response? "Yeah, I'm proud of Keoni, but Jason's cuter." I'm not even kidding. I almost peed my pants. The girl is FIVE YEARS OLD!! When we told Keoni at breakfast the next morning he thought it was hilarious and Georgia blushed like crazy. I've never seen her blush before! So now we really tease her every time we're at a game and Jason is up to bat.

Hughie's Vocab

The last few weeks of Hughie's growing vocabulary have been amazing! All of a sudden it seems he's fully verbal. He's been saying things like "imagination" "emergency" and "delicious." He's also got such a sweet temperament. When I picked him up from daycare one day last week he said, "I MISSED you Mommy!!" It made my heart melt. This morning he said, "Papa's tractor is BROKEN. He needs to fix it!"

And Georgia is still adjusting to our new routine. Right now she's super-jealous of Hughie. I make a conscious effort to show affection equally, but Georgia will still say that I love Hughie more. I know she's really insecure right now, so it makes me especially sad. And this morning she was insisting that she didn't want to go to school. She screamed and bawled the whole way to school. Not sure what's going on with that. I asked her is she likes her teacher. Yes. I asked her if the other kids are nice to her. Yes. I ask her if she's afraid to ride the bus? No. So I'm not sure what the issue is other than she doesn't want to be separated from me.

We are all excited for the York Fair which starts this weekend. I think Hughie will really like it this year, especially the tractors and animals. Personally, I am looking forward to the food!

Kindergarten Orientation and First Day of School

This was a big week for Georgia and Hugh. Georgia had her kindergarten orientation on Monday and then her first real day of school on Tuesday. And they both started at a new daycare on Tuesday. Talk about a whirlwind of change for us!!

So kindergarten orientation was easy. Georgia got to ride a bus for the first time (with Mommy) and meet her teacher. She's wearing a flowered dress in the kindergarten orientation pics. But for her first day of school (bright pink outfit)when she realized that I was NOT getting on the bus this time and/or going with her to school, she was terrified. Luckily there were 3 other kids from her daycare who were going to the same class as she was. She sat with a sweet little girl named Jada on the bus. She would not smile for me (she put her head down), but she didn't cry either. Not only did I cry, but I kept crying on and off for most of the day thinking about my little baby off in her new world without me standing guard. It's so scary to let go!! But she loved kindergarten and didn't even hesitate to get on the bus this morning. Hughie wanted to get on the bus too, and threw a royal fit when I wouldn't let him. Georgia's favorite part about her first day was having her own change purse with her own money so that she could pay for her milk!

Hughie's first day of daycare was easy. We went to his room (with his new spiderman backpack on) and he just waltzed right in and said to me, "these are my friends?" Dropped his backpack and sat down at the table for a bowl of fruit loops. I was surprised because he's been having a lot of separation anxiety from me lately, but he did wonderfully! Then the second day when he realized that we weren't just there to play and that I would be leaving him like I had the day before, they had to pry his screaming body out of my arms. Not fun for Mommy.

Hopefully tomorrow will be easier and by Friday this should be a breeze! Tonight we saw a school bus and Hughie said, "There's Georgia's bus! When I big boy I ride bus and go to kindergarn!" His language has exploded.

Photos from Brazil

So Josh is now "officially" married! His bride's name is Patricia (Pah-TREE-see-ah)and she will hopefully be joining Josh in the states when her marriage visa is approved in October. He traveled to Brazil earlier this month marry Patricia and to spend some time with her family. Welcome to OUR family, Patricia. I can't wait to meet you!!

Então, Josh é agora "oficialmente" casados! Sua noiva se chama Patricia (Pah-TREE-see-ah) e que ela será, espero, juntando Josh nos estados quando seu casamento visto é aprovado em outubro. Ele viajou para o Brasil no início deste mês casar Patricia e para passar algum tempo com a família dela. Bem-vindo à nossa família, Patricia. Eu não posso esperar para conhecê-lo!

Big Boy Bed

Hughie was ecstatic when he saw his "new" (love Craigslist!!)bed yesterday! He didn't even want to eat dinner, he just wanted to go straight to bed. When it came down to it at bedtime, however, he did ask to sleep in his crib, but then changed his mind. He needed a little coaxing and a lullabye, but then he finally fell asleep in the big boy bed and didn't get out of it until 7! I thought for sure I'd have a few visits during the night, but all went well.

Summer in Pictures

Well, we've had a crazy summer with lots of major changes and adjustments. However, we've also had lots of fun at the beach, Revolution games and with friends. I've been taking a lot of pictures with my new iphone, so I wanted to post them here. I'm better about getting them on Facebook because I can upload them so easily from the phone.

Also, tonight is Hughie's first night in his big boy bed. I am putting Hugh and Georgia in the same bedroom and I spent the weekend cleaning out Jason's old room (aka the "workout room"). I hauled at least 10 leads of crap up the steps and then Mimi took it the rest of the way to the curb via golf cart.

I got Hughie a race car bed with Lightning McQueen sheets. He spent the weekend with Grandma, so he hasn't seen it yet. I can't wait for him to see it! I know tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. when he comes to wake me for the day I will regret my decision to upgrade to the big boy bed from the crib, but eventually he will adjust. Georgia seems to be really excited about sharing a room with Hughie. She's had a tough time sleeping by herself this summer, so hopefully this will help. We shall see . . .

Smashing Crabs

Last night we went out for crabs and Hughie discovered a new love - smashing crabs with a large, wooden mallet. As soon as we sat down he said, "SMASH CRABS!" and picked up the cracker. He then waited patiently for me to get the claw ready for smashing and then would smash the crap out of it. And while he was smashing it, he would be looking around the table like, "am I really allowed to do this? FREAKING AWESOME!" I also gave him his frist taste of crab (while watching for signs that his throat was swelling shut, epi pen in hand) and he loved it. Georgia still refuses to even try it.

Georgia's First Tooth and Other Stuff

I just got back from a mini-vacation to Tampa. It was my first time flying childless in FIVE YEARS. You people with no kids have it so freaking easy!!! It was so easy I found myself seeking out women traveling alone with children to help.

While I was gone, Georgia lost her first tooth. It was really loose before I left, but I was hoping it would hold out until I returned. This was my first "first" of Georgia's that I missed and it was very sad for me. However, I know there will be more teeth. Apparently Georgia was eating celery at Grandma's and then went to show off her VERY loose tooth and it had vanished. She was told that the tooth fairy must have come and gotten it (rather than explaining that it was probably floating in her stomach next to some partially chewed celery). And even though the tooth fairy had already come to get the tooth, Georgia had to wait until she was alseep to get money under her pillow for the tooth.

Here are some more pics from our visit with Aunt Beth and her sweet boys.

Three Musketeers

Many moons ago when I was in law school I was inseparable from my two best friends. Now we're all married (sort of ;)) with kids and living in different cites/states. We had a chance to get together on Sunday and I don't think there's a place in the world I would have rather been. If only I could transplant Jen and Beth to be my neighbors on both sides so we could bar-b-q every weekend with our kids, some squirt guns, a bouncy house and some glow sticks. It doesn't get any better than that! Love you girls so much.

Raystown Lake

Last week we were invited to join my brother and his family to camp on Raystown Lake. the kids had an absolute blast. We went boating, jet skiing, hiking, fishing and s'more making. Hughie had a bit of a mishap with a falling fishing rod and a hook that essentially pierced his earlobe, but he bounced right back with a little TLC and neosporin and caught his first fish. I got to spend a lot of time bonding with my nieces Maya and Ava and am so grateful to Jason and Andrea for letting us tag along. The wide open spaces and fresh air did wonders for clearing my mind.

Baseball

Hughie is obsessed with all sports, but right now he is particularly enamored with baseball. Since we've moved back to York with Mimi we go to watch our local team, the York Revolution, frequently. My parents have housed one of the Revs, Keoni, for 3 years now and Hughie LOVES Keoni. Recently Hughie acquired a Revs jersey and baseball cap. He wore them to a game and kept asking me for a baseball. He knew that if he had the hat and jersey, he should have a ball. I guess Keoni is a mindreader because he summoned us to the dugout to give Hugh his first real game ball, with dirt fresh off the infield. I thought Hughie's head was going to explode with excitement! He actually slept with the ball in the his crib for several nights after that. Last week, Hughie decided that he would pair his jersey and cap with one of my black stilettos and came clomping into the kitchen with it on. It was quite amusing. (Look closely at the picture below with Keoni, Hugh and my shoe.)

Friends

Ava Louise

A Dark Time

The past few months have been some rough ones for me, but I know that in time the sun will shine for me again. My children are still healthy and beautiful and I am still the most blessed person that I know. I'll tell you one thing, these past few months have shown me how amazing and caring my family and friends are. Love and support is raining down in buckets and I cannot express in words how thankful I am to have so many special souls in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have a ton of pictures to download from the past few months so that I can catch up on my blogging. I don't want to forget to record anything important. I can barely remember my name from day to day, so I need to write things down!!!

I know, I know, I've been a blogging slacker!

Now that the sun is shining a bit more and the days are getting warmer, I find that it's harder to get to the computer! Lame excuse, I know, but it's true. We recently celebrated Georgia's fifth birthday (can you believe that my BABY will be in kindergarten in the fall?). She wanted a princess theme again (shocker), but wanted to include the boys, so we decided on a princess pirate theme. We had a blast between all of the princess costumes (we did have a few pirates in costume as well), face painting, swimming, pinata and treasure hunt. Georgia relished her day as Queen! And Hughie looks pretty cute as a pirate.