Keeping Up With The Jones

Dylan and Allyson's Baptism

2009-08-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

Today Dylan and Allyson were baptised. We have been wanting to have the kids baptised for a while now. It seems like we have waited for a time when family would be in town and yet it never coincided with a time when Kevin was off on the weekend.

All week long I practiced with the kids so they would know what to expect during the baptism. I was nervous Ally would cry when the pastor put water on her head like she does when I give her a bath.

Mimi made Ally a pretty white dress. Dylan had a daddy shirt, a.k.a. a white oxford Ralph Lauren. They both looked so cute all dressed up. Kevin looked great in his suit and of course, I had to go shopping to find a dress. Of course Kevin wasn't surprised when it was black. Obviously, he hasn't been shopping lately to see what is available.

We were so fortunate to have our friends the Slocums come to watch the kids baptised. Ally's teacher came and took pictures for us.

Dylan and Allyson were so precious. They did amazing. No tears. Just smiles. It is tradition at our church for the pastor to walk the kids around the sanctuary. Instead of holding the pastor holding Ally, Dylan offered her his hand and they walked together. Dylan and Ally stole our hearts a long time ago, but they sure won a whole church service over with their love for one another.

It is customary at our church to give the kids a special crochet blanket and a prayer bear to remember the special day. The kids love their bears and blankets. Dylan has already named his bear Olive.

This was truly a special day.

Back to Reality

2009-08-06T20:08:00.001-07:00

Ahhh! It is always with bittersweet feelings that we go home from visiting our family. Our vacations to Texas are almost always about two weeks, so we always are there for plenty of time. It is so nice to be in a familiar place where we know where everything is located. It is also nice to catch up with family and friends that don't make their way up to Maryland. It is also wonderful to catch up on sleep, watching movies, and feel completely pampered the way my mom and William make us feel.

Special highlights of this trip include my AWESOME new Keurig coffee maker from Uncle Chuck, the incredible hospitality of Mimi and Papa, all the special visits with friends and family, and the fact that I didn't end up in the hospital near death with some middle eastern acute gastrintinitis attack. My best memory is the precious time I had with Kevin, Dylan, and Allyson. If I could choose any three people to walk this journey with..I would pick each of you. Thanks for sharing this incredible life with me.

But, it is nice to go home to the routine and familiar way of life that we live on a daily basis. This time, I planned a three day break before I had to go back to work, which was smart. Our flight was very choppy. It was a clear, beautiful day. Strange. Dylan is an expert traveler at his young three years. He has already made 6 trips on the airplane and has been to five states. I know these kids have some big trips ahead of them as they get older. We can't wait to show them the world.

While we were gone, Uncle Bob and Aunt Debrah came and stayed at our house and enjoyed the sites in the area. It was great to have a visit with them before they went home to Canada.

Scot's 37th Birthday

2009-08-04T19:48:00.001-07:00

Day nine: The kids were happy to see us return from our date night. Scot, Aunt Lou Ann, and Uncle Chuck were at the house when we arrived. Ally really enjoyed being held by Aunt Lou Ann and Uncle Chuck. We found a great chocolate cake for Scot's birthday, his favorite!! We enjoyed a great dinner made by William. My mom is so lucky to have a husband who loves to cook and does well with it. Maybe I can hope that will come with time!!!

After cake, Scot wanted to meet my dad at Katy Mills. The kids were thrilled with that idea as they would have another opportunity to ride the Merry Go Round. They loved checking out all of the animals at the Rainforest Cafe. They were most curious with the aquarium, which gives me ideas for our next visit. Last time I had dinner at Rainforest Cafe, I was not impressed, but I guess through the eyes of a child, they would be thrilled to eat there.

It was great to be in town to share Scot's special day!

Date Night in The Woodlands

2009-08-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Day eight: Tonight is date night...a much needed date night. Kevin and I went to the Woodlands to enjoy a kid free 24 hour date. Mimi and Papa watched the kids and we had a great time! Kevin accumulates hotel points through his travels so we stayed at the Hilton. We had a great time.

Our first stop was to Lone Star Supply. WAY TOO MUCH testosterone for me. It was overwhelming and we stayed WAY TOO LONG!!!! Kevin was happy as he was able to purchase several items he needed for work. We decided to have a late lunch at the Olive Garden, Kevin's absolute favorite restaurant, and one that is not where we live. We then checked into our hotel and got ready for the evening.

Once we went out, we shopped at the Woodlands Market Place and the Woodlands Mall. I had a few things I wanted to pick up and a few places that I must go to when we come to Texas. The funny part is that we have the same stores in Maryland, but I really love my familiar shopping spots where I have enjoyed shopping many years in the past. I guess it is just for memories sake. We enjoyed stopping by Barnes and Noble, which was a favorite weekend spot for Kevin and I to enjoy coffee and books before we had kids. We enjoyed strolling during the nighttime breeze by the Woodlands Waterway. We had a fabulous dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and shared a very sweet piece of cheesecake.

Of course our stay would not be complete without sleeping in since we didn't have the familiar cries of mama that usually wake me in the morning. My objective was to be up and in the restaurant by 10:00 because as Diamond Hilton members they had breakfast waiting for us. Boy, it is funny to see them jump when you ask for something as a diamond member. Kevin took a siesta after breakfast and I had to check out the pool. I am not use to having so much free time to myself.

We checked out and made our way back to Mimi's house. First we had to check out HEB and pick up a few things for Scot's birthday. Boy, I miss Texas grocery stores. The store that resembles a Texas grocery store the most is Wegman's and I don't make it to Hunt Valley very often. Hopefully, they will build the one I keep hearing about in Crofton. They are just not the same in Maryland. The kids were thrilled to see us when we got home.

The kids had a great time with Mimi and Papa. I never worry when I leave the kids with Mimi and Papa. The kids are familiar with the house and know the routine and expectations. Mimi had a cooking project for the kids. The time they made sugar cookies with sprinkles, Dylan's favorite!! They played games, read stories, and enjoyed ice cream cones.

Big Grandpa Comes To See Ally

2009-08-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

Day Seven: It seemed strange to not have Dylan with me. I am so use to hear him calling for me in the morning. Kevin would be there early in the afternoon with his Dad and Dylan so I tried to enjoy my slower pace. Three year old boys certainly keep you on your toes. My sweet Ally was looking for him all day. Darryl brought the girls over and I knew Dylan would be thrilled to see them.

Mimi and Ally decided to we needed a fabulous dessert in honor of Big Grandpa coming to see Ally. They decided to cook brownies to have with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. Even though Ally is only nineteen months old, she is so into cooking.

Dylan was so happy to see me, but he let me know how much he enjoyed his boy time. He quickly decided girls were okay when he saw Ally and his cousins, Gabriella and Isabel. The played bubbles and somehow ended up having water play..which is fun on any summer Texas day.

Darryl and William made their incredible Angus steaks that only be found in Texas. There is definitely something different about steak in Texas. It is just not the same in other parts of the country. We all enjoyed a fabulous meal thanks to my mom and William. Thanks for hosting a great dinner. We all enjoyed the company and great food.

Big Grandpa was thrilled to see Allyson. With three sons, he had to wait to have a granddaughter to have that little girl in his life. Unfortunately, we don't get to see him often so this was a fun visit. He enjoyed his time after dinner relaxing on Mimi's property, visiting, and watching the kids play.

We all enjoyed this evening.

Dylan's Big Adventure

2009-08-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Day six: This morning my mom and I went shopping at some of our favorite stores in Cinco Ranch. Black House White Market, Ann Taylor Loft, Brighton, and Gymboree. It was a nice chance for my mom and I to go out on our own and a great chance for Kevin and Papa to hang out with the kids. While we are in Texas, I usually knock out my major shopping trips. We have the same stores in Maryland, but I am really able to find the items I want and I usually have a chance to shop on my own or I have help with the kids. It was a great morning.

Our plans were changed for our trip when we received the news that Kevin's grandmother in Ireland passed away. His mom was already on her way to Northern Ireland when we arrived in Texas. I know Kevin was so disappointed not to see his mom and I know that Nana was so disappointed not to see the kids. Usually, we spend several days in Huntsville visiting Kevin's family and good friends. Kevin decided it was best for him to bring his dad to us instead of going up there. Kevin was going to make a trip to Huntsville to bring his Dad to see Allyson on Sunday. I started to think about it and realized that it would be a great idea for Dylan to go with Kevin. Of course, this was not an easy decision for me. I can count the days Dylan has been away from me on my hands. He was so excited when I asked him if he wanted to go. It was a great bonding trip for my boys.

Since my boys went on an all boy outing, I thought it only appropriate that Ally and I go on a girls night out, with Little Grandpa in tow. We ate dinner at Mission Burrito. I really liked it. She was quite fond of the guacamole, her Little Grandpa, and the college boys she was flirting with in line. After dinner, we went to Toll House and she enjoyed her signature favorite chocolate chip cookie and I enjoyed Mocha Almond Fudge ice cream. Ice cream is something I rarely allow myself to eat unless I am on vacation. Ally and Little Grandpa enjoyed hanging out at the fountains at Cinco Ranch.

It was a quiet and strange night not having Dylan there. I have to say I really missed his spunky, sweet personality. It was on the other hand fun to give all of my attention to my beautiful girl.

Children's Museum Houston

2009-08-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

Day five: Today we went on a great journey to the Children's Museum Houston. There were a few stops along the way. Kevin had to have an MRI done on his knee from injuring it at work last week. If only had I known that it would take so long, I would have taken Mimi and the kids to Town and Country Village to go shopping (one of my favorite shopping spots.)

After waiting what seemed like forever, Kevin was finished and we made our way to James Coney Island for Dylan's favorite...hot dogs. Boy, he was excited!!!!

We made our way to the Children's Museum and boy was it crowded!!! Way to many people for us to have really enjoyed it!! It seemed as if every summer camp had their campers there that day. I know we will make our way back when the kids are in school and we are on vacation and it is not so crowed. The kids LOVED Kidtropolis, a city made for kids, by kids. Dylan even had a chance to be a cashier at HEB. This was a great adventure for the kids and had fun playing with them.

We met Little Grandpa at Barnes and Noble in Town and Country Village. The kids love the books and I love Starbucks, so it met all of our needs for a visit with Little Grandpa. It was a great day!

Cinco Ranch...Jazz Music = Total Relaxation

2009-08-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

Day four: Kevin surprised us with coming in late last night from Huntsville. We definitely had a full house. The kids played with the girls this morning and continued to enjoy the tractor rides. We went to Rocket City Play Station and had a blast. Dylan went bowling and played air hockey with Gabriella. He also liked driving the car games. Lennett came over for a visit and to pick up the girls. It was great to see her.
We met Little Grandpa for Mexican food again. If we continue eating Mexican food at this rate, I will have to change my name to Garcia. Ally is quite fond of it, but Dylan told me he would really just like a hot dog. After dinner, we went to Cinco Ranch and listened to the jazz music. The kids played in the water fountains and had a great time. Despite being a July night, there was a cool, moist breeze. Such a relaxing scene...If only Maryland had anything like this, let alone in your neighborhood. I guess it is true, there really is no place like home.

Cousins, Cousins...Let's Play Play Play

2009-07-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

Day three: There are so many things we love to do when we come to Texas. One of our favorite things is to play with our cousins Gabriella and Isabel. Thank you Darryl and Lennett for having these adorable girls, because no one else has stepped up to the plate in the baby having department other than the two of us. Jacob, we love you too, but you are so much bigger than we are that we don't get to play very often.

This morning started with both Dylan and Ally having a chance to drive the tractor with Papa. They had the time of their lives! We then went to story hour at the library. We went for story hour and had a great time until Dylan decided to meltdown. Being out of town and having all of routines thrown off can be hard, but we survived.

When we got home, Gabriella and Isabel were here with Uncle Darryl, Uncle Billy, and Uncle Scot. These kids love to play together. It is unfortunate that we live so far away because they have a great time together. We had a great lunch and then Mimi had a cooking project for us. Mimi decided that we needed banana pudding for dessert tonight so all four kids put their cooking hands together and made this delicious dish. Next time Mom, I will have to find a low fat recipe for all of us who are watching what we eat.

Papa's Tractor

2009-07-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Day two: If going to Texas is fabulous enough, how about getting to ride in Papa's wagon pulled behind his tractor. This morning I woke up after sleeping in until 9:00 Texas time, or 10:00 Maryland time to see my kids riding behind Papa's tractor in a wagon, with grins ear to ear. I could read both of their minds to see that they both thought, this is the life.

If this wasn't fun enough, we hit on of my favorite shopping spots, Prime Outlets on 290 to meet up with Gayla, Riley, Ryan , and Evan. I wasn't able to power shop like I normally do when my mom is around, but it was a great chance to see the boys and spend some quality time with Gayla doing what I do best..spending money (and getting good deals). It was great to see Gayla and her boys are so adorable. It was also nice to see her happily engaged and her beautiful engagement ring. We are so happy for her.

Next we were off to our next stop..to see Aunt Mary and my dad (a.k.a Little Grandpa as Dylan calls him). We combined our visit with a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant. This is one thing I truly miss about living in Maryland. It is not common to see Mexican restaurants and when you do find them, they are not nearly as good and they charge $10.95 for a large order of guacamole. After dinner we went to Toll House in Cinco Ranch for ice cream. It was so much fun.

Aunt Mary followed us to Mimi's house to visit with Mimi, Papa, Uncle Chuck, and of course, us. Such a fun day. We will have to rest up for our adventures on Wednesday.

St. Michaels, Maryland

2009-07-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we finally made our journey across the Bay Bridge to the eastern shore of Maryland to the quaint little town of St. Michaels. Melissa and the kids invited us to be part of their Friday adventure. Hard to believe we have been here two years and we haven't been to the eastern shore, but we've had an ambitious schedule and we've yet to stop...new jobs, new house, new baby and a husband who navigates the globe as frequently as some CEOs play a game of golf. St. Michaels is a quiet town. The movie Wedding Crashers was filmed there and Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld both own property there (of course, as a republican, I would know that). Not to mention, there is a Prime Outlets on the way. Now, I don't have to wait for our trips to Texas to boost the economy. The town is also known as the town who fooled the British in an important battle when the British were making their way up the Chesapeake Bay and the shipyards were preserved. We went to the Chesapeake Maritime Museum where the kids were able to climb up into one of the oldest lighthouses in Maryland and see various boats. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Ava's Pizzeria and Wine Bar. It was almost perfect, but Allyson gave us a scare as she was scarfing down her lunch. My beautiful girl is an eager eater and began choking on her lunch. Then she proceeded to take a good fall from one level of a replica of a boat to the next on the playground. They also had a great coffee house where I highly recommend the St. Michaels mocha. Dylan and Ally enjoyed hanging out with their buddies Gunnar and Phylicia and I had a great time with Melissa. It is amazing how different the eastern shore of Maryland is compared to Anne Arundel County. I loved seeing the farmland, the bay, and just a different pace of life. On the way home, we stopped and had ice cream at Maggie Moos. Hopefully we will make our way over the bridge soon to see the beaches of Delaware. Thanks Melissa for a great day!

Happy Fourth of July

2009-07-04T20:59:00.001-07:00

Today we went to the Fourth of July parade in Annapolis. Last year we were invited by our friends and we had such a great time we decided to go again this year. We had dinner at Ram's Head tavern and it was yummy! We had great seats on Main Street for the parade. Dylan and Ally were captivated by the parade. They really enjoyed what they saw. Dylan was quite funny as the horses came by. He thought they were stinky big dogs. I know that we seriously need to take Dylan to Kinder Farm to see horses up close. He has seen them before in person and in books. After the parade, we went and ate ice cream at Ben and Jerry's. If I could not find Blue Bell ice cream, Ben and Jerry's would be my favorite. Dylan was funny. I told him that he had done such a great job at the parade, he could have any kind of ice cream he wanted. We went through the flavors and he finally told me he wanted plain ice cream with nothing on it. Not even vanilla, just white ice cream. The poor little one needs to go out for ice cream more often. We did not stay for the fireworks. Kevin was out of town and I thought it was best to get the kids home at a decent time. We really enjoyed our time out with friends. The Fourth of July parade in Annapolis is festive. It was a great night!

Summer Fun With The Slocums

2009-06-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today we had a summer playdate with the Slocums. They have a small swimming pool in the backyard and a great swingset that the kids love playing on. The weather was cloudy and a cool 80 degrees. It was fun to watch Allyson try to hang with the big kids. She thinks that she is able to do anything that anyone else is able to do. Nothing is going to stop this 17 month old. Heck, she even used the potty yesterday. Dylan and Gunnar had a great time playing together. These two miss each other since they don't go to school together anymore. Thank goodness for playdates.

Melissa and I had a chance to visit and catch up with each other. I have a lot of friends, but I don't have many friends that have children that are comparable ages or that live near us. And it probably doesn't help that I am a self proclaimed workaholic that doesn't allow herself much time other than to hit the gym five days a week. It is nice to find friends that have kids that are the same age as your children. I don't know who needed the playdate more...the kids or Melissa and me. Melissa, thanks for always being so hospitable. Thanks for ALWAYS being available ever when I don't accept your help. I am so blessed to have you as a friend.

Time With Mom (Mimi)

2009-06-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

It seems like time flies by so quickly when my mom comes to visit. It is probably because we are having such fun that the time gets away from us. Mimi comes about once a season on a regular year, or more often when there are special occasions like having a new baby. Mimi coming to see us is more exciting than having Santa Claus come to our house. Mimi also bears gifts, but she also shares her time with us and makes all of our lives easier. I can never tell who the most excited person is about her visit, probably me, but I guess it depends on who you ask. I'm sure each of us would have the same answer, me.

This visit was spent shopping, cooking, and having fun. We went to the Chesapeake Children's Museum and the kids had so much fun. Mimi made her fabulous meals and we are set for the next month. Mimi also spent time cooking with the kids. They made special cupcakes for fathers day and yummy oatmeal cookies with raisins and chocolate chips. Mimi also babysat the kids while Kevin and I went out on two dates. Mimi and I took Dylan on a lunch date after he asked me to go on a date with him.

Mimi, We enjoy your visits so much. Thank you for coming for a visit. We can't wait to see you in Texas.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day, Kevin. I am so sad that you are out of town on this very special day. Of course we will have fun celebrating while you are gone and of course we will celebrate again when you are back home. I know I tell you all of the time that you are a great dad, but I don't know if you realize it. I know you often feel sad that your job requires so much travel and I know it is painful for you to think about the times you are missing. I'll never forget the time you came home from training on the way to get Dylan's haircut. I've never seen you cry before. That was really hard to see you so upset. Even tough guys cry. As tough as you are, you are so connected to your feelings and the people that are important to you. I know how much you love your children and the time you are able to spend with them. I truly am in awe hearing your nighttime converstions with Dylan and the learning that takes place. He is learning so many valuable life lessons with the big bear, little bear stories. He is probably the most knowledgable three year old when it comes to geography. Ally adores you, too. It is so fun to see you connect with both of them. I know you love your time outside with them. Dylan and Ally love working in the yard and cleaning the cars. They love playing soccer outside and swinging on the swings.

I feel so fortunate that I found someone who is a great husband and a great dad. I probably don't tell you enough, but you are great. I am lucky and I am glad that after all of this time, I am still married to my best friend. I really enjoy our time together. I'm sad it didn't work out for me to join you on your adventure today. We will be here when you get home.

Note: Your favorite pictures and the pictures of you and Ally will be added. They are on your computer and you have it with you.

Severna Park, Maryland

2009-06-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

It is a rare occasion on the weekend that we are all off and have someone that can take our family picture. Just so happens that Kevin is off and my mom is here to take pictures. Today we decided to take our pictures ate Severna Park United Methodist Church where we have made our church home. While the kids at donuts in the garden, I realized that this was a beautiful sight. Of the areas near us, we love Severna Park. It is where our kids go to preschool and hopefully we will move here so the kids can continue to go through the schools in this area. Most people love this area for the river or golf course, but neither of those are important to us. This area was so out of reach when we first moved here, but now that we are accustomed to the Maryland way of living, we hope to make it our home someday.

Taking family pictures is always an adventure. We came prepared with two cameras and lots of patience. After about 150 pictures, I think we found a few we like. It is just so hard to have two children focus on smiling for the camera. They are precious and we adore them, but they are so full of energy.

What's Cooking, Mimi?

2009-06-11T19:20:00.001-07:00

Our precious Mimi has cooked something up again. Mimi always comes in tow with gifts a plenty, many of which she has made herself. This visit, Mimi made fancy aprons and chef hats for Dylan and Allyson. The kids loved them. They have yet to help Mimi cook one of her famous meals, but they have run around the house playing in their kitchen gear. You are so talented Mimi.

When Mimi comes to visit, she takes care of all of us. She cooks, cleans, and holds down the hacienda while I try to take it easy. Mimi brings recipes and makes some of her favorite dishes that we all love.

Mimi, we are so glad you are here. Thank you for all that you do for us. We are looking forward to the rest of your visit.

Happy 8th Anniversary!!!

2009-06-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today is our anniversary. I'm in Maryland and Kevin is on another continent. He will be home tomorrow and we will go out one night this week. I enjoyed the day with my mom and the kids. I spent a lot of time today reflecting on the last eight years. Two houses, two states, and two kids later...here we are in 2009. We have done so much, but yet there is so much that I still want to do. I decided to come up with a list of eight things I would like to see happen in the next eight years. I am curious to see what the future will bring.
1. Work less and have more fun!

2. Travel.

3. Have another baby.

4. Spend more time with the kids as a family.

5. Spend more time with Kevin.

6. Buy our ideal house.

7. Reach all goals that we set.

8. Make date night a priority.

We celebrated our anniversary on Friday night. We went to Carrabba's and had a great time. I feel fortunate for having my family. I married a great guy and the kids are great. While we went out, the kids and Mimi played bubbles in the backyard, swang on the swingset, and played playdough. Thanks Mom for watching the kids. Thanks Kevin for the last 15 years and sharing this life with me.

I'm Back!!!!

2009-06-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I've blogged about our family. We've sold the house in Texas, Allyson had tubes put in her ears, and I am still trying to get back to normal from my surgery. Hopefully, I will be posting more often now that the kids are out of school. It seems to lighten the load a bit.

2520 Hazel

2009-06-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

2520 Hazel. This was the address of our first house. We spent countless hours remodeling this house. Uncle Bob and Kevin worked so hard to renovate this house. Of course, I endured the drywall, endless shopping trips to Lowes and a bit of drama that goes along with renovating a home. I loved this house. Beautiful custom drapery made by mom, 2700 square feet of wood floors that were refinished, the large closet that was added for all of my clothes, the new kitchen, bathroom, new electrical wiring, garage and garage apartment. I could fill the page with all that was done on this house. So much love went into making this house our home. Dylan, I wish you had a chance to really play on the basketball court with your dad. I'm sad that we have sold this home, but the blood, sweat, and tears that were put into this house will pave an incredible future for our family. Kevin, we did well. I'm proud of all of your efforts. Bob, thank you for all your hard work and we are thankful you recovered from the fall. Someday we will look back and think, wow, we were so ahead of ourselves.

Note: This is a picture from 2003, a few months into our project. I can't locate a recent one.

Hanging Out With Dad!

2009-05-02T19:01:00.001-07:00

My little man loves to be like his daddy. If Daddy has something, Dylan wants it. Daddy hat, Daddy pants, Daddy tape measure, Daddy socks, Daddy underwear, Daddy belt...I think you get the point. Today Dylan and his Daddy were on a mission to put up a new privacy fence with the help of Uncle Bob. Dylan was thrilled at the thought of going to Home Depot with his measuring tape to help select the fencing materials. The thought of another home improvement project leaves little to be desired for me. After the three years of home improvements on our house in Texas, it is enough to make me a little tense. It is great that Dylan enjoys tagging along on these projects. Thanks Daddy for making Dylan's day.

Nana Comes For A Visit

2009-04-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

We are so glad to have Nana come for a visit. We are fortunate to have Nana come twice a year. While Nanawas here, we played and made a trip to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. We had so much fun. Come back soon, Nana.

The Guest Reader

2009-04-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Today I had a chance to spend some time at Dylan and Allyson's school. They are celebrating Children's Week and they were looking for someone to come in and read to the kids. Of course I volunteered...how many books have I read to other children while I have worked in the schools??? I told both of the kids that I was going to be making a guest appearance today and Dylan was so excited. Of course he had to introduce me to all of his friends!!! Not that they don't see me on a regular basis...it was sweet. It is so important to me to be able to spend time with them at their school. I really struggle with my choice to work at times. I guess it would be an easy decision if I had to work, but I choose to be there. I read my favorite children's book to Dylan's class, Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis. It was a great book to read to my three year old friends. They were so interactive. Allyson's storytime was another story. I think she was confused about why I was there. Her little friends were sweet as she cried and tried to climb all over me. The little ones loved the Sandra Boynton story, Snuggle Puppy, that I picked for them. It was the highlight of my day, plus they came home early with me. Dylan has already invited me to read to his class tomorrow. That sweet boy of mine!!!

It is Easter...Not Groudhog Day

2009-04-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I felt like I was on the set of the movie Groundhog Day. Yes, I am aware it is Easter, but they never made a ridiculous movie that started over and over again about Easter. Just as I have done in January, February, and now April, I started my day with Kevin driving me to the hospital. Of course this trip was unplanned. I woke up feeling sick. I got lightheaded and that is hows the story starts. Too many details to list..but I ended up in the ER. After various tests were run, it looks as if my body is fighting an infection and my thyroid levels are off the charts. Finally they released me around noon and I was free to go home and sleep. Kevin took the day off to care for all of us, so it was nice to have him home. Not that I had any energy to go about our day as planned. The Easter bunny made his yearly stop at the Jones' house and I was sad to miss the kids going through their loot. My precious little ones don't realize that most kids get candy and junk food for Easter. Dylan and Allyson think their baskets of toothbrushes, band aids, sunglasses, and educational materials rock. Our trip to church was cancelled, and the adorable outfits I bought for them are still on the hangers. I guess we will pretend that Easter is next week for pictures. Our Easter lunch with the Slocum's was delivered to our house by our great friends. Although, I did manage to take a picture of the kids riding in the wagon still in their pajamas at 6:30. This day has served as another reminder of what is important in life...time with my babies and my husband. I feel blessed that God is giving me another reminder to take care of myself. If he is listening right now, I hear the message....LOUD and CLEAR. I will slow down and take care of myself. I will be content with an uneventful remainder of the year.

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today we met our friends the Slocums for our neighborhood Easter egg hunt. The kids were so excited to get out in the sunshine. It was incredibly windy, but we did get beyond 5o degrees today. Unlike Texas, Maryland has truly four seasons. I love it, but I have to confess, I am ready for warmer weather. The kids were thrilled to be outside. Little did they know what was in the plans for the day. They had easter eggs everywhere. The kids enjoyed hunting for eggs. Neither one found very many, but they thought the few they found were golden. I love that about my kids. They are so content with the small things and are not concerned with the quantity, but truly the quality. After the egg hunt, we went back to the Slocum's house and had a play date. It is amazing to watch how both of the kids have grown, even just in the past few weeks. They both are getting so sophisticated in their play. It is also such a joy to see how much they enjoy each other. There is no greater gift than the joy of watching your children grow. We had so much fun hunting for eggs in the park, we went to Target after our nap and bought more eggs to hide around the house. Our day was complete with Easter stories at bedtime. Tomorrow we plan on dyeing Easter eggs after church. We wish you were home, Daddy.

Held Hostage at Home by the New HVAC Unit

2009-03-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Today we stayed home all day. We had to be home so they could install the new HVAC unit. As a homeowner the last 6 years, I've never had the pleasure in investing in a new HVAC unit. Actually, we had to put in a new heating unit and air conditioning unit in our house in Texas. I guess the combination unit is just a bit jarring. I feel like I want to add it to my list of assets. I actually never mind having to spend the day at home. It gives me a chance to enjoy the simple things in life. Making dinner, playing cars with Dylan, cleaning house, and watching Allyson play in her kitchen. There is actually nothing I would rather do more. Our life is such a fast pace. Life on the east coast is such a rat race. Our big project today was to make chocolate chip cookies. The kids loved putting on their aprons that Mimi made them. Actually, Allyson borrowed Dylan's car apron. Mimi will have to make Ally a girly apron. My kids seem to be ready for pictures until the camera comes out and then they have no interest in complying with my requests. When I pull out my camera, Dylan wants to use his also. He still is learning how to use his camera. He is convinced that he is holding his camera the right way. We had a great time. Of course, their favorite part was sampling the cookies.

More Than Just Lucky

2009-03-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

We love St. Patrick's Day at our house. I guess it is the Irish in all of us. Last year, I tried to impress my husband with corn beef and cabbage. Little did I know, he had never tried it. I guess I assumed that if your mom was raised in Ireland, that you would have tired this classic dish before. To make a long story short, neither one of us like it. For now on, I think we will focus on celebrating by dressing up in our green attire.

When I think of this jolly green holiday, I always think of luck. When I think of my family, I know that I am more than just lucky. To me, luck means that something just occurs by chance...but I believe good things happen with hard work and desire for good things to happen, not just by chance. I do feel blessed that I have my family. We work hard for the things we have and enjoy the time we have together. We are fortunate to have a wonderful extended family. This is not our best picture, but just a few days out of my surgery, we were glad that my mom could take a picture of all of us.

Hey Mom, I Found A New Car

2009-03-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

Each day after my surgery, I am trying to do more around the house. Today, I decided to out away laundry. As I was putting my clothes away, I heard some cheery music from the training potty. Dylan was stading by my side, and helping as he usually does. Allyson snuck into the restroom and was straddling the training potty as if she was riding her toy car. She was dancing to the beat of the music and having the time of her life. Potty training should be a breeze with this one. Ally, you are one funny girl.

A "Beary" Busy Day

2009-03-07T15:04:00.000-08:00

A new school brings new friends. New friends mean more birthday parties. The kids at our new preschool sure know how to party. Dylan was invited to two back to back birthday parties today. Dylan was quite impressed with his new friends choice of venues. First, we started our day at the bowling alley. This was Dylan's first experience with bowling, as it was many of the other kids too. I will say we have a way to go before we need to worry about Dylan becoming competitive. Pizza, popcorn, cupcakes, and of course bowling...such fun! He had a great time celebrating Darren's birthday with him and his new friends. Hopefully, when we go to Texas this summer, we will brush up on our bowling skills with Little Grandpa or Papa.

Then we were off to our fabulous mall to celebrate Sophia's birthday at Build-A Bear Workshop. What fun! We have never been to Build A Bear Workshop before. What a great experience! Dylan selected his bear and after a discussion of names, he came up with one out of the blue...and our precious new friend "Cereal" was born. Ally and Mimi shopped while Dylan and I partied with his friends. I don't know who was more exhausted, my three year old boy or me who is only one week out of surgery. After our bear making experience, we went for ice cream cake at Maggie Moos.

Both birthday parties were a blast. I guess I better start thinking now for Dylan's birthday in the fall. I really enjoyed my time with Dylan today. Ally loves Cereal, too. Someday we will go back to Build a Bear Workshop and make a bear for each of them.

Home From the Hospital, Minus My Thyroid

2009-02-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

It has been a tough week. Thankfully everything came together and my surgery is now over. I am glad to be home. Mimi is the best. She kept the kids while Kevin took care of me at the hospital. Now the recovery can begin. I am hoping to get a lot done this week. Rest..taxes..rest..shopping..fun with the kids and mom..rest..watch movies..and more rest. Hopefully I will take it easy. That is not something I do very well. Right now, I don't feel like doing anything, but taking it easy and enjoying my family.

Ahhhh! Mimi Has Landed!

2009-02-26T17:40:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh! Mimi has landed! Not enough to just title this post, but I truly mean it. This has been a wild week. Department audit, meetings, and my upcoming surgery. Too many things going on. Mimi has flown in to help get us through this busy time. Mimi is awesome. The kids adore her and she is so helpful to us. Dylan has been counting down the days until her arrival. Mimi always bring surprises. Dylan decided to make a present for Mimi. My sweet boy put all of the books in his backpack that he wanted Mimi to read and told me he was going to surprise her. She loved it. Mimi brought all kinds of homemade goodies for the kids...hats, purses, bows. Mimi we love having you come visit. You are the best!

Not Your Normal Holiday

2009-02-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

This weekend was Valentines Day. Today was President's Day. Usually we do something special over the holidays. My definition of special is probably different than other people. Special for some people is an exotic vacation, but special for me is just doing something with my family or by being patriotic and boosting the economy by shopping. This was not your normal holiday. Dylan and Ally were both sick. Ally had a high fever, ear infection, and a reaction to her vaccinations and medication for her ear infection. Dylan didn't want to feel left out so he ran a fever and was exhausted fighting it. We stayed home and spent time together taking care of the kids. We are at the point that we don't need a fancy outing to enjoy our time together. It is just nice to have a quiet moment for the two of us. We did stay up late and watch a movie once the kids were asleep. The kids were thrilled to have a day of with mom and a break from school. Finally on Monday they were feeling better and ready to open their Valentine presents. Dylan is feeling much better. He was definitely stubborn today which is a good sign he is back to normal. Ally no longer has fever and soon her rash and yucky diapers will be gone. Defintely I would have done without the stress of the kids being sick, but other than that, I don't know if I would have changed anything about the weekend.

Fun With Allyson

2009-02-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for ways to find more time with my kids. It is one regret I have in this game called life. I am a self described workaholic...married to a workaholic. It always saddens me when my kids are sick, but it opens an opportunity to have some much needed individual time with them. I enjoy having individual time with each of the kids. Their personalities can be so different when they have time own their own with their parent. Allyson is home sick with a minor reaction from her 12 month vaccinations. I try not to be an overreactive parent, but I still get nervous when they are sick. This morning Kevin had some time with Allyson before he went to work and then I took the afternoon off to be with her. She has discovered how to use her finger to point at things that she wants us to see. It is amazing to see a child's development and how different two children raised in the same house, with the same parents can be. Allyson's moter skills are amazing, whereas Dylan had no interest in walking, but he could hold a conversation with me at 13 months. Allyson still hasn't grasped the gift of much gab. She has the essential mama, dada, and baba down. My sweet girl doesn't feel up to doing much today, but she found a burst of energy when she found her red car and her red purse. The extra time with her tody was precious.

A New School

2009-02-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Three weeks ago, I received notification that Dylan and Allyson's school was closing down. First, I panicked and then I worried. I started the endless phone calls to find a center that would take both of our children. We decided on the first center that I called. If you haven't ever spent time looking at childcare centers, it is eye opening how different and expensive they are. The one we have found is fabulous and ridiculously expensive. I literally should have my head examined for not quitting my job when Allyson was born, let alone now when the tuition has increased. We both know that it is best for me to continue working while we live in Maryland. We are very excited about the curriculum the kids will be learning at their new school. We know our children are priceless and worth every penny. Plus I will be taking advantage of all the perks they offer...breakfast and lunch daily, dinner on Monday, a snack for the mommy on the go. This place has the marketing down pat. I am so nervous for the kids. I can't imagine how nervous I will be on the first day of kindergarten for the kids. I hope they love their new school.

P.S. They love it and so do we!!!!

The Big 34

2009-02-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday. I love birthdays! It doesn't bother me at all to grow a year older. I have the world at my feet and I'm happy with where I am in life. Did I mention I have two adorable kids and a husband I adore? Life could not be better. My day started out great with sleeping a bit later than usual. That was a gift in itself. I had planned a little bit of time for myself. I took myself to one of my favorite places..the mall. I needed a haircut and I did my part to boost the economy. I told the kids that they were invited to my birthday party. Dylan was so excited! The weather was unusual for a February day. It was sunny and 55 degrees. That doesn't sound warm, but we are use to 20 degree temperatures. We took advantage of the unusual warmth. The kids and I played in the yard with our neighbor's granddaughters Caroline and Lauren. We had take out dinner from Carrabba's and double chocolate cupcakes from Starbuck's. Daddy and I are planning a movie tonight. Here's to #34. May it be the best yet!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

2009-01-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

If you live in Maryland, you don't get overly excited when it snows. People enjoy it, but it is not unusual to get some of the white stuff each winter. If you are from Texas, it is a little more exciting. I think we have already crossed over to the Maryland side when it comes to snow. There have been several occasions when it has been snowing that I have asked Dylan if he would like to go outside, and his response, like any native Texan, is that it is too cold. Last winter, our first winter in Maryland, I have to admit, I was not a lot of fun. I was very pregnant or the mother of a very young baby any time it snowed. I had no interest in going outside and playing in the snow. Well, we finally had a good snow, five inches or snow and the kids and I went out and played. They weren't as excited about being out in the snow as I thought they would be for first timers this season. We had fun standing and looking around. Next time, I am buying a little sled. They will love it! Little did I know, that the next day our five inches of snow would be five inches of ice.

My Helpful Husband

2009-01-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

My sweet husband always does nice little things when he is home. I guess I should say when he is not traveling because that sounded really funny. Yesterday, he did the laundry, cleaned the kitchen, made my lunch, put Dylan to bed, and then he decided to wash my car. That would have been a really sweet thought if it had not been twenty degrees. I guess he was tired the day they covered the freezing point in science because he was completely unaware that the water was going to freeze while he was doing this at 10:00 in the evening. As he saw the water on my car freezing, he came up with a plan to remedy the situation. He had a brillant thought that he would melt the ice on the car and the sidewalk with hot water. Then he would put salt on the concrete and everything would be okay. Little did he realize that I would awake to a frozen car, that would not open for me to take the kids to school and go to work. I had to come up with a solution of my own. After feeling frazzled and frustrated, I recognized that his intentions were good. Everyone at work had a good laugh as it caused me to arrive 35 minutes late. He is even a bit embarrased by the mishap. I guess I'm lucky that he wants my car to look good that he will spend the time washing it in 20 degree weather. What a great guy!

Allyson Is Upright and Mobile

2009-01-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

Today Allyson surprised all of us by putting her steps together and started walking. She is so proud of herself and she loved all of the attention she received. Of course she stumbles occasionally, but she gets better with each attempt. Dylan is thrilled that Allyson is now upright and mobile. She has been trying to walk for awhile now, but finally was able to put it all together. Dylan calls his sister, "Our Cutie Girl." He kept saying, "Look at our cutie girl." The best part for me was that Kevin was home to see it. It wasn't a moment I wanted to tell him about over the phone. It was a great day and a big step for Allyson.

Dylan Time

2009-01-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

My sweet little boy experienced throwing up for the first time. He was a bit freaked out by it, but quickly decided that he didn't mind being sick once he realized that he was going to stay home with mommy. Our family life is very busy. Kevin and I both have demanding jobs and we are always on the go. As a friend of mine said, I've been bitten by the mommy bug. I am really wanting more time with my kids. Today was the first day that I didn't feel guilty about calling in sick. It felt great to take care of Dylan. We rested, played, and worked around the house. He loved every minute of it because we spent time together. One of my resolutions this year is to find more fun time with the kids. As for Dylan, he woke up the next morning jumping up and down on his bed trying to convince me that he was still sick. He is feeling great and so am I...we have a day off from school on Monday. We will definitely have fun together.

Happy Belated Birthday, Allyson Elyse

2009-01-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

For months, my mom and I planned Allyson's first birthday. Living out of state, it is unusual that we are home on special occasions. On New Year's Eve, I started feeling sick. I would get better and then I would get really sick again. Finally on January 3rd, Kevin took me to the ER and they admitted me to the hospital, acute gastroentinitis with severe dehydration. I was actually thinking that I was getting better, not realizing that my electrolyte levels were so depleted. I was so looking forward to spending the day with family and friends to celebrate our sweet little girl's birthday. Mimi, Papa, and Daddy brought the kids up to the hospital and I was able to spend the day with Allyson. It actually looked like a small party in my room with all of my visitors. As I was lying in the hospital bed, I thought to myself how ironic it was that just a year ago we were so filled with joy with the arrival of Allyson and there I was so sick. Once I was released from the hospital, we decided to make January 6th Allyson's special day. She will never know the difference, but it was fun having a small party for her. She loved being surrounded by family. Mimi, the outfit was adorable and the cake was great. We were able to spend an extra week in Texas, which was good for all of us.

A New Year, A New Blog

2009-01-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions this year is to start a blog. My friend Misty has the most incredible blog and I have been wanting to start one for awhile. It will be interesting to see if I can keep it updated with our busy schedules once I get back to work. We have traveled to Texas for the holidays and we are all enjoying a break. I have enjoyed spending time with the kids. It is amazing how they grow and change before your eyes. Dylan and Allyson love seeing their grandparents and spending time with friends. On Monday we will head home to Maryland and assume our routine on Tuesday. Here's to 2009 and all that is to come.