Feed the Birds

We found this GREAT place to go and feed the birds. They eat right out of your hands you just have to stand there long enough and quietly enough and they hop on to your hand, grab a seed and hop right off. Colin and Mia were out there the longest and after a bit the birds were more comfortable. Both Jack and Mia had the birds hop on their hand. I went out with Mia and I had my gloves on and they came to me right away. I was certainly surprised. Maybe the gloves are less intimidating for the birds. It was a fun day, the kids had a great time. The folks that work there said it is better if you come on a cold day, the birds are looking for more food. They only do it January and February and only on Saturday's from 10-12. I can't wait to do it next year! Hint: Click on the pictures to really see the birds.

Quick and Easy!

For a quick and super yummy dinner idea go to http://thesistersdish.blogspot.com/ and scroll down to Bean and Cheese Burritos with Red Sauce. We had them tonight and even Mia liked them. I just used store tortillas but my MIL suggested the ones you cook up from Costco. I am going to try those!! Also, she didn't say how long to bake them but I did 30 minutes and thought that was great!!! Hope you like them!!!

Our newest additions

I have to say I am pretty excited about these babies! We were using a washer and dryer that were here when we bought our house. I have been doing about 10 loads of laundry a week. The old washer had a 2.4 cu ft capacity and was actually less than that because of the space the agitator took up. This one is a 3.4 cu ft. Imagine the loads I will be able to do! Imagine the water and energy we are saving. I know, it's a wordly posession but hey, we are going to be having more kids eventually and now I will have more time to spend with my family right? If only they could fold and put the clothes away for me! If only my laundry room looked like this instead of a dark basement.

Six months old now.

Our sweet baby is now six months old and I just can't believe it. He is such a happy guy who is a morning person. He's been sleeping longer and rolling and rolling. He loves the jumper and his exersaucer. Drool is his best friend. He still loves to be swaddled but hates his car seat. Anyone can get him to smile. He is such a joy to our family!!!

Keep scrolling, there are more new posts to see.....

Sledding Fun

Colin, being the GREAT dad he is, built the kids a sledding track off the deck and into the yard. It was so much fun for the kids and safe. I think we had it for two or three days before it warmed up so much it has melted away. Not that I am complaining in the least bit. The warm weather makes me hopeful that spring is around the corner. I am itching to plant some flowers. I suppose I should keep that itch at bay however. The weather is very unpredictable here.

gooey eyeball fun

Yes, I have no shame when it comes to entertaining my kids. We were very bored this day, it was a long day without Colin so I think I had gone insane for a few minutes. When we put the eyeballs in Jack's ears he said he had earings. Mia had hers pierced a few weeks ago, I think he was feeling left out. I can't believe I only took one of Mia. Jack is such a ham. My favorite one is with his hands. His hands are so big and chuggy. I just want to bite them, just like his cheeks.

You know you're a Clevelander when.....

You know you're a Clevelander when you watch the weather forecast and see it's going to be 25 degrees tomorrow and say to yourself, "oh nice, it's going to be warm tomorrow."Actually it was in the 50s today so I can't really complain, except I was indoors working all day.
Here's a couple rants now:
1) Does anyone know Al Gore's phone number? I need to call him and tell him to bring his Nobel Prize for Global Warming research to Cleveland and help me shovel the 4 feet of snow off my driveway with it so I can go to work. It makes me want to drive home the long way home and use more fossil fuel just to spite him. (I shoveled the snow 3 times the other day, the last time being at 2:00 am when I got home from work, I had to shovel because the plow blocked me so I couldn't get to my garage).
2) Seriously, do you have to report 9 year olds getting shot on the news? Every night the news kicks off with reports of people getting killed. Why does that have to be the most noteworthy news for the day. I miss Idaho with their "boring" news that's not about innocent people getting shot.
The End

9 years down, eternity to go

Happy Anniversary Colin!! I have been thinking of what I could write these past few days and I don't think I will do my love and appreciation for you any justice but I will try. You are such a wonderful husband and father!! You have and continue to work so hard for our family, to give us the things that we need and want. I know you would often rather be home with us but you are a great example to your family of hard work and dedication. I am grateful for your passion to be a doctor and the road to get there has been a great adventure with you.

I am happier than I ever thought I could be because of you! You never complain about the cluttered house or that I am still in my pj pants and it is 3pm. You let me be my own person, do my own thing and go along with all my crazy ideas. You tell me I am beautiful no matter the time of day or night, sick or healthy, size 10 or 14.

I am so grateful for the support you give me to be a SAHM. I know you always get an earful of our day when you get home. Thank you for always listening to me. I love that you want to be home and want to spend time with the kids. I know when you get home I can give you Cole and you will love on him, change him. Or I can get you to play with Jack and Mia and get them out of my hair. I am blessed to have a husband as involved as you are.

I know I don't appreciate you as much as you deserve and I don't fix you dinner as often as I should but I love you so much. I feel the same way that I did the day we married. I knew when I looked in your eyes and held your hand that I was marrying my best friend, the man I wanted to spend forver with. Thank you for a great 9 years and 3 beautiful children!! I love you!

Thank you my babies!

Jack, Mia and Cole were good kids today. Of course I didn't have Jack and Mia for 4 hours and I got to go to lunch with Colin and Cole for our anniversary. Cole didn't poo at all today and there were no messes to clean up that were out of the ordinary. It was very nice to have Colin home all day too. He helps keep the kids distracted.

My lilttle naughty kids!

Oh little naughty kids when we have to stay home together ALL day and then Daddy goes to work I want to lock myself in the closet and not come out! For two days in a row now you have done the EXACT opposite of what I told you to do. Yesterday I went to go change Cole's blow-out diaper, again, and you were playing and Mia wanted some cups of water. Against my better judgement I filled up 4 cups of water with specific instructions to NOT MAKE A MESS. I was upstairs for about 10 minutes and came back down to water spilled on the table, carpet and kitchen floor. It was also on Jack. I got a little upset but I didn't yell and we cleaned it up. Later on I was making my bed and I heard lots of giggling. I do love giggling but you were supposed to be eating dinner so I knew that there was trouble going on. I came down to milk cups with big bubbles in them from bubbles being blown in them, milk on the table and milk on Jack. Come on, two times in the same day. Jack was on clothes change #4. Today you were better, a bit. I left to put Cole down for a nap and you were coloring at the table. I specifically said, as I walked up the stairs, "What do we color on?" You both said, "Paper." I said, "NOT the table, not our hands, not the walls, JUST PAPER." After I put Cole down and went to my room to hang out, making sure Cole would not cry, Mia came up and showed me her orange hands. She assured me she didn't color on them but that the marker just somehow got there while coloring. At least she made the effort to wash it off. She also told me Jack had drawn on the table. AHHHHHHH, I must have put the idea in his head. I went down to see marker all over the table and all over Jack's hands. I reminded him, without yelling, that I told him not to do that and now I had to take the markers away. I also had him wipe the table, thank you Crayola for your wonderful washable markers that ALWAYS wash away for me, then wash his hands. And Cole, you sweet angel, I really, really wish you would STOP BLOWING OUT YOUR DIAPER! For about a week straight, literally, he has pooped out, in a serious way. However, thank you for always doing it at home!!! I am going to buy stock in Clorox - I love their bleach pen. Maybe tomorrow will be less naughty. I love you naughty kids!!