Back to Normal

Hellloooo everyone! Wow it's nice to be back!

It's been one week since we returned from Hawaii and we're just now starting to re-adjust to mainland time. I do have to say that letting the kids sleep until 9 in the mornings has been heaven, but getting them to bed hasn't been much fun.

Anyway, we had a pretty good time even though we had to deal with some not-so-nice bumps in the road (stomach flu, a couple of trips to the doctor, allergies, and super hot weather) before the fun could really begin. But overall, the boys had a great time and the poor Captain cried all the way from Grampa's house to the airport because he didn't want to leave.

I think I mentioned in my last post that we visit Hawaii often - like every year or so because my husband's entire family lives there. And during every visit we toy with the idea of moving over there because we really want to be closer to family. So we look around at homes for sale and try to figure out how in the world we could possibly afford a $600,000.00 mortgage AND still feed and cloth ourselves.

But this visit was definitely different. For once we looked at the situation without the rose-colored vacation glasses we were wearing on previous visits and really thought about what it would be like to actually live there - and we decided that we're pretty happy right where we are.

Yes, Hawaii is beautiful, but the island my husband's family lives on is also very crowded too. He's grown accustomed to having his space, his "room to roam" I guess you could call it. He likes having a big back yard and he likes to go places without feeling like the entire universe is there too. And like I already mentioned, we both like to idea of being able to feed and cloth our family - things we're seriously afraid would be hard to do and own a home at the same time because it's just so damn expensive there.

It's a real bummer that we're not closer to our families, but it does feel good to finally have made a decision. I feel like we can finally start letting our roots run down deep. I guess there's really something to that saying "Bloom where you are planted"

And I know I promised pictures and I will deliver - once I figure out why my office computer (where my pictures are stored) isn't connecting to the Internet. Like I said, everything is back to normal.

Kickin' It

Last night I was in the kitchen fretting over what to make for dinner when I heard this weird buzzing sound coming from the living room. My first thought was that the boys discovered my recent Pure Romance purchase, but then I remembered that the device still needed batteries.

So, with my curiousity peaked I walked into the living room where I found Little D. He was kicking back in his stuffed Thomas the Train chair with his binkie in his mouth and his little tootsies on my foot massager. I had to laugh it was so cute! And then I thought, 'dang, this kid's only 2 and he already knows how to relax like a pro!'



Speaking of kicking back, I probably won't be doing much in the way of blogging for the next couple of weeks because we're leaving tonight for 2 weeks in Hawaii. Yes, two weeks. My hubby is from Hawaii so we visit every other year and stay for at least a couple of weeks each time.

This particular trip is going to be crazy though as his little sister is getting married. I am afraid I'm going to be so stressed out by the end of this trip that I may need a little vacation from my vacation, but we'll see.

I will at least try to keep up with all of my favorite blogs in the meantime. Oh, and also try not to worry about all of my plants dying, or the cat barfing on our bed or all over the couch or the house burning down while we're away. Sigh.

Now off to the airport!

Love Speak

I love to say "I love you". I really, really do. I tell my kids and my hubby I love them several times a day. I tell my cat I love her. I tell the chocolate I eat almost daily that I love it. I tell my closest girlfriends I love them. I tell my closest girlfriends' kids I love them too. I just believe that a person can't hear "I love you" enough!

I know my penchant for the "L" word has something to do with how I was raised. My parents told me they loved me all the time and encouraged me to be open with my feelings. I was also a very affectionate kid. I remember draping myself like a blanket across my dad's lap and making him scratch my back for hours while he watched t.v. I remember him telling my mom that they would be in some serious trouble if I ever found a boy who knew my weaknesses.

Well, fast forward 20 - something odd years. I didn't find that boy who will scratch my back for hours on end. In fact, he's quite the opposite -he's not a very good snuggler, he doesn't say "I love you" very often, and he scoffs at sappy, romantic movies and commercials. We both joke about how he doesn't have a romantic bone in his body.

Yet, despite all of this, he's the best boy a girl could ever wish for. He's thoughtful and respectful, he's faithful to the core, he cooks, cleans, does the laundry, takes care of the yard, and does anything else that's he's asked to do. He's a hard worker and he's responsible with money. He would rather hang out with his family then go out with his friends. And he buys amazing birthday gifts. He's an incredible father who always has time for his boys. He's gentle and kind and believes that actions speak louder than words.

I will be honest, when we first began dating, I had some trouble getting used to his reserved nature. I, of course, told him I loved him first -which completely freaked him out. It took him something like 6 or 7 loooong months to tell me he loved me. By then, I knew him well enough to know that he meant it with all his heart.

Today I'm a lot easier on him. We joke about how he has passed on his "snuggling duties" to The Captain (I swear that kid would snuggle with a cactus if he could) and I don't freak out if he doesn't say "I love you" for several weeks. All I have to do is stop and watch him be him and I hear it loud and clear.

Head on over to Sprite's Keeper for a whole bunch 'o lovin and some really great Spins.

Whatever Mom!

My husband took this picture of The Captain the other day while they were out "snake hunting".

Pretty cute isn't it?

That's what I thought - until I realized that The Captain is actually talking to me on that cell phone he's holding. I was probably telling him to be careful and to listen to his daddy and to wash his hands before he eats his snack and to make sure he put more sunscreen on.

I think his face says it all. I can only imagine what he'll be like when he's 16.

Short and Sweet

One of my favorite bloggers, Linda of All & Sundry, wrote about her holiday weekend in 46 words or less which I thought was just brilliant. So brilliant in fact that I just might start writing all of my posts this way....starting with this one.

My Memorial Day weekend in 46 words or less....

Two cookouts, watermelon covered kids, homemade Marionberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream, delicious cheeseburgers, time spent with great friends, farmers market, swimming lessons, sunshine, gardening, riding bikes, trips to the park, one really great nap, popsicles, laughter, fun, two exhausted little boys on Monday night.

And you?

Toy Envy

When I was a kid growing up some thirty odd years ago, I played with sticks and rocks and made mud pies in my back yard. I wore checkered and striped polyester, and I didn't even ride in a car seat - hell, I didn't even wear a seat belt.

Times sure have changed. My boys ride in car seats and wear helmets and blah, blah, blah, and they have way cooler clothes than I do and their toys - well, let's just say that just might have a slight case of toy envy.

There are soooo many cool toys on the market now - things that I would have never imagined when I was a kid. But all of that selection and the overwhelming coolness of everything can honestly be a little overwhelming sometimes. But that's where ebeanstalk can help because they have already done the work for me. Visit ebeanstalk.com and see for yourself. And since times are tight but birthdays still roll around anyway, all of my readers will get 15% off their first purchase - just enter the code TGS345 at the shopping cart. Happy shopping!

Ebeanstalk is dedicated to a baby's development. And we select the best baby toys matched to a baby's development. To see great information on how a baby grows up, check out the info on our baby toys page.

Picking toys for a baby is not as simple as it sounds. Here are some quick baby facts:

• Toys for a newborn baby: A newborn baby is briefly looking at objects and attempting to imitate facial expressions. They can follow objects with their eyes and usually quiet down, when they are picked up.


• Toys for a three month old: They will enjoy ‘frolic play', reaching for objects and will repeat enjoyable activities. Believe it or not, they will respond to ‘no' (about half the time) and will start babbling.


• Toys for a six month old: They'll search for hidden objects (object permanence). They'll reach for themselves in the mirror, play peekaboo, crumple paper, roll from their stomach to their back and even respond to their name.


• Toys for a nine month old: They are pushing toy cars, playing pat-a-cake and looking for hidden sounds. The baby toys they are playing with are also getting more fun.

Only One Complaint

I have to say that this was one of the best Mother's Day weekends I have had so far. My only complaint is that that it went by too quickly. We spent the weekend on the coast in a quaint little beach house tucked away in what is easily a little slice of heaven on earth. My husband's second cousin owns the place and they rent it out to family and friends. This was our first time staying there, but I can guarantee we will be back...often. Here's some pictures from the weekend.

This is the front of the beach house.

This is the view from the deck. Not too shabby!

We enjoyed lunch with a view from the kitchen window

We flew kites

We played peek-a-boo

We climbed rocks

We discovered fantastical creatures on the beach

And we played with wet, sandy beach dogs

It was truly a wonderful weekend