Well it has become that time of year...
Clark on the roof creating a landing strip for nearby small aircraft. Carson is infatuated with transportation, this might be the way to get him his own personal ride in a Cessna. It looks great... tonight I will capture some photos and get them posted.
We made our annual trip this morning to Kaleidoscope Tree Farms in Mt. Cory. With three children in tow in search of that perfect Christmas tree. It was a tough decision with many choices available, we shoved it in the Odyssey and headed home. I did have to ride in a crouched position in the small floor space that was left, but hey we got the tree.
The kids have their trees in their rooms all decorated, and we are nearing the countdown to this wonderful holiday. We are looking for ways to teach the kids the true meaning of the season. We are making it a point to volunteer at the city mission so that the kids can see what life is like for unfortunate people. We are very FORTUNATE!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Finally, a post BLACK Friday posting...
Well we have survived the first holiday of the season, Thanksgiving. We have a lot to give thanks for, as we always do... jobs, excellent health, great kids, and peace. It is now the time to have Santa on speed dial, better yet keep tally marks for good behavior.
Just to update myself on the children, since many things have occurred over the last two weeks.
Caitlin -
1st grade parent-teacher conferences went well, thank goodness... I was not concerned, but the anticipation of hearing about the number one red-head in the house was looming over me. She is social, but in a good way. She has confidence, which has just developed in the last two months. It is scary, she does not need me to take her back to the back of church for children's offertory. She can do her own things for her own self.
She still is the best mom assistant with Carly, but would rather me tie Carson up outside to a dog house most days. They have realized how to argue and one-up each other, and this is not what I ordered as a mother. However, she has sympathy cries for Carson when he is getting scolded for negative behavior.
Speaking of emotion, sign me up for therapy, she is only 7.... when is going to end :( ... She even stands in front of the bathroom mirror, so she can whine to herself. Why does everyone say she is just like me?? What have I created. (A beautiful little girl with a lot of FLARE for drama)
We say DQ in this house, not Dairy Queen, not disqualified, but "DRAMA QUEEN."
She has surprised me with past comments over the last week. During the Macy's Parade, they commented on the "pilgrims" that were in the parade; Caitlin's response was," the pilgrims are dead, they cannot be in the Macy's Parade." She has been comparing her fiction books that she has been reading. Better yet, she is crazy over the atlas and the world map she has proudly displayed on the family room wall. Geography will be a strong suit, followed immediately by READING. Her literature love continues and has passed onto her brother and sister.
Carson -
Oh boy, he has a black eye currently from a recent pillow fight. He is currently kicking the wall in his room trying to decide if his nap really is going to involve closing his eyes and dreaming. Dad and I have had a bit of a disagreement, he can go without a nap, he cannot. He has started to skip days. Now that we have him on an asthma regulating medication, he seems to sleep better at night. So, I am starting to think napless days may be in our future. He just seems to be so crabby lately... medication related, or no naps??? Questions for good old Dr. Savage...
He still proves to be the most loving... okay maybe they all do!
Carly -
Personality extraordinaire! She is working on her top teeth, do I say that every blog? No really, I can now see them, maybe a week away.
She has mastered the art of going down the stairs all by herself, she mimics animal sounds and can relate which animal they match. She has become her daddy's little slave by fetching the remote when commanded. How cute?!? Her vocabulary has expanded by huge leaps and bounds and has started combining words. Everything happens in the blink of an eye...
She still remains the tough one, while battling an ear infection, still has the belly laugh and big cheesy grin.
Her hair is NUTS, I am not sure where it all came from... probably her daddy, but what am I to do with it. It is starting to be the business in the front, party in the back look... you know, the mullet, or MIT, mullet in training. It is probably time to get her own time slot at Designer Group.
Just to update myself on the children, since many things have occurred over the last two weeks.
Caitlin -
1st grade parent-teacher conferences went well, thank goodness... I was not concerned, but the anticipation of hearing about the number one red-head in the house was looming over me. She is social, but in a good way. She has confidence, which has just developed in the last two months. It is scary, she does not need me to take her back to the back of church for children's offertory. She can do her own things for her own self.
She still is the best mom assistant with Carly, but would rather me tie Carson up outside to a dog house most days. They have realized how to argue and one-up each other, and this is not what I ordered as a mother. However, she has sympathy cries for Carson when he is getting scolded for negative behavior.
Speaking of emotion, sign me up for therapy, she is only 7.... when is going to end :( ... She even stands in front of the bathroom mirror, so she can whine to herself. Why does everyone say she is just like me?? What have I created. (A beautiful little girl with a lot of FLARE for drama)
We say DQ in this house, not Dairy Queen, not disqualified, but "DRAMA QUEEN."
She has surprised me with past comments over the last week. During the Macy's Parade, they commented on the "pilgrims" that were in the parade; Caitlin's response was," the pilgrims are dead, they cannot be in the Macy's Parade." She has been comparing her fiction books that she has been reading. Better yet, she is crazy over the atlas and the world map she has proudly displayed on the family room wall. Geography will be a strong suit, followed immediately by READING. Her literature love continues and has passed onto her brother and sister.
Carson -
Oh boy, he has a black eye currently from a recent pillow fight. He is currently kicking the wall in his room trying to decide if his nap really is going to involve closing his eyes and dreaming. Dad and I have had a bit of a disagreement, he can go without a nap, he cannot. He has started to skip days. Now that we have him on an asthma regulating medication, he seems to sleep better at night. So, I am starting to think napless days may be in our future. He just seems to be so crabby lately... medication related, or no naps??? Questions for good old Dr. Savage...
He still proves to be the most loving... okay maybe they all do!
Carly -
Personality extraordinaire! She is working on her top teeth, do I say that every blog? No really, I can now see them, maybe a week away.
She has mastered the art of going down the stairs all by herself, she mimics animal sounds and can relate which animal they match. She has become her daddy's little slave by fetching the remote when commanded. How cute?!? Her vocabulary has expanded by huge leaps and bounds and has started combining words. Everything happens in the blink of an eye...
She still remains the tough one, while battling an ear infection, still has the belly laugh and big cheesy grin.
Her hair is NUTS, I am not sure where it all came from... probably her daddy, but what am I to do with it. It is starting to be the business in the front, party in the back look... you know, the mullet, or MIT, mullet in training. It is probably time to get her own time slot at Designer Group.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Mom Hiatus to Florida
Going out to sea to para-sail!
Dining on the "dock of the bay" at Snug Harbor
The plane ride home...
Heading out for the evening...
A mother and her two-week old baby dolphin near Bonita Beach
Getting ready to go out on the jet skis to see the dolphins
Heading up in the air to para-sail for the first time!
Cheese!
Having fun after dinner...
The plane ride to Ft. MyersSurvival Conquers All!
The family survived mom's five day sabbatical to Florida. Events that took place upon my disappearance, Upward Basketball Evaluations, swimming at the YMCA, 10 o'clock Mass, a lost toenail that created a bloody mess by a certain loved canine, and a redecorated room?!?!
These are all activities that took place while I enjoyed shopping, para sailing, jet skiing with the dolphins, and uninterrupted sleep. The phone calls home were short and uninformative since I arrived home multiple surprises.
The kids did well, especially Caitlin since her dad decided it was time for and EXTREME makeover. Her room is a work in progress, so I will send pictures later. It was not in my upcoming house plans, but it has now been shoved into priority mode since we went from nice pastels to BOLD primaries.
Carson did not seem to mind that I was gone, but I did send him picture messages with various creatures that we ran into while in Florida. He loved the snake in the road pictures. He learned an inappropriate word from his dad, who was saddened by Gram Alice's dried rose arrangement had fallen and was demolished. Carson came running and was curious why daddy said, "sh...(censored). I forgave him for that instantly, we all have weak moments. Carson also replaced me with Aunt Lauri while I was away. Aunt Lauri even told me she was sad I was coming home, because Carson was her sidekick while I was away.
Carly did not miss me at all for she was happy to have daddy's attention. She is totally a daddy's girl and my absence was not any trouble for her. I did not come home to teeth, but an enhanced vocabulary. Her favorite word is still "happy" but loves to say "please and pizza." She also loves to say her own name.
So they made it! Dad pulled through again! He is an amazing dad and husband, for which I am eternally grateful. I am so refreshed and relaxed. Now I just need to figure out how to get that giant red paint stain off Caitlin's carpet. Oh, did I forget to mention he dropped the red paint can on the carpet?
These are all activities that took place while I enjoyed shopping, para sailing, jet skiing with the dolphins, and uninterrupted sleep. The phone calls home were short and uninformative since I arrived home multiple surprises.
The kids did well, especially Caitlin since her dad decided it was time for and EXTREME makeover. Her room is a work in progress, so I will send pictures later. It was not in my upcoming house plans, but it has now been shoved into priority mode since we went from nice pastels to BOLD primaries.
Carson did not seem to mind that I was gone, but I did send him picture messages with various creatures that we ran into while in Florida. He loved the snake in the road pictures. He learned an inappropriate word from his dad, who was saddened by Gram Alice's dried rose arrangement had fallen and was demolished. Carson came running and was curious why daddy said, "sh...(censored). I forgave him for that instantly, we all have weak moments. Carson also replaced me with Aunt Lauri while I was away. Aunt Lauri even told me she was sad I was coming home, because Carson was her sidekick while I was away.
Carly did not miss me at all for she was happy to have daddy's attention. She is totally a daddy's girl and my absence was not any trouble for her. I did not come home to teeth, but an enhanced vocabulary. Her favorite word is still "happy" but loves to say "please and pizza." She also loves to say her own name.
So they made it! Dad pulled through again! He is an amazing dad and husband, for which I am eternally grateful. I am so refreshed and relaxed. Now I just need to figure out how to get that giant red paint stain off Caitlin's carpet. Oh, did I forget to mention he dropped the red paint can on the carpet?
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Friends, Fall, and Fun
Had a little to much to drink this evening?
Cassie, Tim, Caitlin, and Carson
Caitlin enjoying Fall
The Koomens pose as Catholic school children...
Carson burying the Gator
The morning after PARTINI!
The girls at 2:00 a.m.
Lisa E. and Chrissy K. at the Harris Halloween Party
The Girls at PF Changs... great friends and great food!Busy times, sad times, good times...
Last weekend I arrived home from a girl's weekend in Columbus, to find that SUPER DAD had done a great job with the kids and the house. It was the small practice round for what is to come his way starting today. I am leaving for Florida with Lisa for five days, and he is in charge. The laundry is done, the meals are cooked, and the bathrooms are cleaned... I have given him a great advantage :). They will be great, he has all kinds of wonderful plans... and some excellent back-up, Aunt Lauri and Uncle Jeff, and the Sallisburys.
It was a hard week this week with attending Gram's memorial. It is a hard thing for the kids to experience after they have gone through this with Gigi and Uncle Hank. Carson did not understand why Gram was not going to get up and leave to go to Heaven. He stood at my side as I spoke of Gram, he held my hand... it was my little angel to guard me during a time of weakness.
The kids were awesome given the circumstances... they missed naps, ate lunch at a different time... but yet they were great.
Carly has added some new vocabulary into her game, " I KNOW." Last evening I called the Library only to report that they had closed for the evening, and her perfect response to that was, "I KNOW." Plain as day... cute as ever...
So now I am off to Florida, not sure what I will have to report when I get home... maybe teeth from the wee one, or just good health and good times while I was away.
It was a hard week this week with attending Gram's memorial. It is a hard thing for the kids to experience after they have gone through this with Gigi and Uncle Hank. Carson did not understand why Gram was not going to get up and leave to go to Heaven. He stood at my side as I spoke of Gram, he held my hand... it was my little angel to guard me during a time of weakness.
The kids were awesome given the circumstances... they missed naps, ate lunch at a different time... but yet they were great.
Carly has added some new vocabulary into her game, " I KNOW." Last evening I called the Library only to report that they had closed for the evening, and her perfect response to that was, "I KNOW." Plain as day... cute as ever...
So now I am off to Florida, not sure what I will have to report when I get home... maybe teeth from the wee one, or just good health and good times while I was away.
Fall Photographs to LOVE!
Lucy the Painter and Caitlin the Witch
Sophia the Spider and Carson the Hot Dog
Trick-or-Treating for toothbrushes at the Sallisbury's house
Our friends, the Partees, getting ready for a big night of Trick-or-Treating
Carly landing her spot for the evening at the Partees, who needs Trick-or-Treating?
Maya, the Wheaton Terrior... the Partees baby girl :)
Nick, Alex, and Caitlin
Carly trying to lay one on Yoda, a.k.a. Griffin
The Swaney six and the Koomens
The whole crew preparing for a fabulous evening!
The Witch, the Hot Dog, and the sweet little Kitten
CHEESE, look ma NO TEETH!
Look ma, NO TEETH...
My favorite snack that does not require teeth!
The proud boy and his pumpkin
Carly assisting with the gut scooping
Caitlin being the greeter at Mass, 1A planned the Mass and Caitlin was a greeter and carried the gifts.
Carly prepping to either be a soccer goalie, or a chef??
Carson proudly leaving Build-A-Bear with Caitlin, Carly, Aunt Lauri and Chelsea
Jason running the Columbus Marathon.... finish time 3:11:37, so proud!
GO KOOMEN!
Carson taking a ride in Grandpa's big rig from South Dakota!
Dani and Carson at Caitlin's soccer game...
Awww... I just want to freeze her at this age!
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