Is it a stay at home day?

I took my first vacation since I started my job a little over four years ago. This, of course is not counting a day or two off here and there... but I haven't had the time to take off because when I started I was pregnant and had to save my time up (and use all of my time off) for maternity leave, then it was the kids being sick and sick and sick their first year of germ exposure at daycare, then it was Aidan's surgery. We get 26 days off a year, which, in American terms is pretty good, it is also easy to eat away at it with appointments here and there. So, anyway, I had some time saved up, so I took the week of the 4th off! Sigh... I'm still basking in the loveliness of it!

David, of course, had it off too. He still worked from home a lot... the man never stops (and it is his busy time of year due to year end and audit stuff), but at least his job is flexible enough a lot of the so that if he has his phone and laptop he can get stuff done away from the job.

So, where did I go, you ask? Here's the wonderful part... we stayed home and people came to us! We had Grandma Melodie/Grandpa Martin from Florida here, Grandma S from downstate, and my cousin Nikki and her family from Colorado throughout the week. It was fun, fun, fun. And around here is the place to be during the fourth, the parade, fireworks over the lake, the lake itself, cookouts, playgrounds, walks in the park etc. Fun times. I think I'm going to do more of this "vacationing" thing!

first day back to day care in two weeks and...

Just couldn't make it through dinner... soooo worn out! (Notice the food choice he missed... got the applesauce and chicken nuggets in!)

Missing Grandpa...

David's family has experienced a great deal of loss this year. Last week, David's grandpa Bill passed away. Grandpa left for out of state to stay with Uncle Jim/Aunt Kathy (whom he and grandma have always visited annually) the day after grandma Louise's funeral in October. He has not been healthy enough to return home.
Louise and Bill were such a faithful/loving couple. I remember the first time I met grandma and grandpa. I was so nervous... it was the first... maybe second time we met and David had spoken highly of his grandparents and I knew already they meant a lot to him. That was the night he announced our engagement to them! I was secretly hoping he would wait to tell them. David popped the question three short months after we started dating. I worried they would be critical and tell us we should take things more slowly. Instead, they advised us (I can't remember the exact words) to keep things fun and be nice and keep the love alive. I remember as we were leaving that night, grandpa said "come here Weegie" and pulled grandma down on his lap as she giggled. They were grandparents, and still really in love. :) I like to think of them re-joined now, healthy and happy.
I remember games with grandma and grandpa and David (pre-kids)... skip-bo/Rumikub. They were so funny- listening to their finely tuned and gentle banter between them. They are really a fine example of keeping love alive between them as well as sharing that love with their church and their family.
Here are a couple of pictures of grandpa Bill.

"And a cherry on top for my mommy, please!"

Kids say such adorable/funny/insightful things. There are so many things that I wish I had jotted down because when I go to tell the story knowing something hysterical/cute/scary happened, it completely slips from my mind. So, I am hoping to capture more of those quotes and note them here to help jog my pregnancy brain (no- I'm not pregnant- but I just never lost the lack of brain part of the pregnancy, or the belly- sigh...) but the kids are worth it- and here is why---

Here's a quick story from last night. My mom and I decided to take Aidan out for a date last night. David had Owen out of town to pick David's mom up from the airport as she is in to see her mom who is very ill. They were getting home very late at night so I wanted to take advantage of my alone time with Aidan.

We went to a local restaurant/ice cream place. Aidan ordered his own dessert from the waitress... and this is what he said:

"I would like white ice cream with chocolate syrup and a cherry on top for my mommy, please."

What I found especially endearing is that this was not prompted at all... he just knew he didn't want the cherry, but figured I might (I'm guessing he figured this because he also doesn't like whip cream, and I am usually more than happy to help him out with that).

I just love those little guys!

May???

How did that happen?? Here are some pictures from Easter day... the last time I got my camera out. Yikes- I'm slipping!
Typical Owen... falling over, getting bumps... sigh...

I added this because Aidan just looks so grown up to me... pushing the stool over to wash his hands after going potty! Poor kids, do I really have to document EVERYTHING? (Don't mind the snowman soap dispenser... It still had soap, so I wanted to use it up rather then trying to pour it into a different dispenser- aka- laziness!)

Instead of surgery...

We went to bed early last night... about 9:30, and the boys were already in bed, in preparation for our 3:30 wake up to get to the hospital in time for the 6:30 check in. Just as I was about to go to sleep, I heard Owen whining and went to check on him. Just as I did, he threw up all over his bed, himself, and kept on going.... poor little guy. So, we weren't really sure what to do... check in at 6:30, kind of late to cancel the surgery. David called the doctor and he suggested we reschedule because we don't know if Owen is sick. So, for the second time, we have cancelled the boys surgery due to illness at the VERY LAST MINUTE... I'm sure they love us. Ugh.

Owen woke up this morning feeling pretty okay. Very runny nose, more then he has had- so for that reason too, I'm glad we rescheduled. Aidan is also very runny- and worse then yesterday too. He is also complaining of a stomach ache on and off.

Among all of the yuckies, we did have some fun today! We listened to music (the first picture is of the boys picking out their music on the kitchen stereo), and went outside- played in the sand box, tried climbing trees, we looked for flowers blooming and rode bikes.

Owen is now going on 2 1/2 hours of a nap, and not stirring, I think he is worn out. Aidan said he is tired, but stated, "It is not dark, it is not night night time!" so he will not nap. I even offered to nap with him (wasn't that generous?) he didn't think that was as good an idea as I did... so he is playing a game, and I am writing on the blog.

I'm going to go keep him company- here are some pictures from today:

Boys to men??

It's been a while since I have posted... boys are still growing like weeds, time is still flying by. We've battled a few illnesses, one that post-poned their surgery to this week Thursday (it was originally scheduled for February). They are getting their boy surgery- didn't get it done when they were born: Aidan because we would have had to go back for it because he was in NICU when he was born, then he had his hip surgery at 3 months- so we just opted not to. Owen, because Aidan didn't have it and it's an "unnecessary" surgery. However, now, it appears necessary because they both have had a little trouble. So, we go Thursday, arrival time 6:30am and it's 1 1/2 hour drive. THAT's an early morning. Especially considering daylight savings SPRING AHEAD was today. But, I like the early morningness of it too because they can't eat/drink etc before hand. It will be Owen's first surgery, so I'm a bit freaked out about that. Aidan's a pro (poor little guy) so a little less worried- still worried though (it's in my nature- thanks mom!)

So, here we are, heading into spring of 2010... doing some re-modling of the house (does it ever end?) and spring cleaning. I love this time of year for that purpose. Purging of the winter blahs mentally and physically! Ahhh.... spring is in the air!!

Here are a few recent pictures of the boys!