Quinn

I had a whole 'nother post planned but I downloaded 636 pictures off my SLR camera and found some of my niece that I wanted to share.

(Side note 1: I really want a new SLR but the one I want is about $1200 for the base only not including lenses ($400 for the 50mm fixed and $300-500 for the zoom lens) so I have a feeling it will be a few more years before I am able to enjoy that desire

Side note 2: Chris took these pictures, except for the last one, they look quite grainy on the blog but much better in iPhoto)

"Like my glasses?"

Quinn is walking now, you can barely see it but she's up on her tip toes. So very cute.

I love this one, she was going straight for the camera :)

She takes everything in and was refusing to smile for us but later, when the camera was gone, she was all smiles and giggles.

"Hello there"

Here's one of the Family. All 9 of us.

weekend, hormones, and teacher gift

We had a wonderful weekend this past weekend. On Saturday we hung out for most of the day, Chris went to the HART adoptathon with Rocky. Rocky is a very sweet Greyhound/lab mix who loves to be with his people...but when he is not he chews and destroys crates....so he lives at the vet and we take him to adoptathons. :)

On Sunday we went to church, then out to a BBQ place for lunch, after that we headed to the antique store-where the boys were surprisingly good and Aiden used his saved allowance to buy a bike. When we came home we popped popcorn and watched Ghostbusters 1. (On a side note when I watched that movie as a kid I had horrible nightmares but it didn't bother the boys a bit. Was I a wimp or is it just that kids are exposed to so much more now that ghosts and statues coming alive don't bother them?)

Hormones...

Zach's not mine.

Sigh. He is being such a different boy lately, makes me sad. He told his best neighborhood friend to "Leave" and shut the door in her face today, got a C on a test he didn't study for but could use his book for (if we are being completely honest both Chris and I tried to get him to study but he put up such resistance that we decided he should learn the hard way), and he got in trouble for talking in class.

OK. One by one. Why these things bother me.

1. Telling his best friend to "Leave" First of all that isn't how we treat people. Second of all I know he has all these strange feelings and she can be a bit mean and probably deserved to have the door shut in her face but that's not how we treat people. And third that's just not how we treat people.

2. C on a test. First let me say I don't care about the grade, if he had studied and tried his best I would be happy with a C but he didn't try his best and he didn't study so the C bothers me. AND he didn't care-when I was checking over his paper and I asked him how he felt about getting the C he said he didn't care! This is a child who wants to please the adults around him and who would have been devastated to get a C a year ago.

3. Getting in trouble in class. He never gets in trouble. Never. But he was talking when he shouldn't have been. Sigh. (Side note-the other boy who asked Zach a question didn't get in trouble and the Mama bear in me was not happy about that and wanted to e-mail the teacher but the Papa bear in the family gave me "the look" so I kept my mouth shut and will not e-mail the teacher)

So after all of these events Chris and I sat down with Zach and had a talk about respect. Respect for your friends (no shutting doors in faces), teachers (give them your full attention, study) and parents (study when they tell you to). We also shared stories about study disasters we had in our past- ie not studying and then failing, we told him about asking for help if he needs it-both Chris and I had math tutors in college (mine had a fake nose but that's a story for another day the important thing is it made Zach laugh). (Another side note is that Respect is the virtue of the month at church, hmmmmmmm)

And because no post is complete without pictures. Here are the gifts I gave the boy's teachers at Open House. (Both boys have 2 teachers, Zach has one for Math/Science/Social Studies and one for Reading/Language/Spelling. Aiden has his teacher and an aide that helps 4 children in the room, one of whom is Aiden.)

Each teacher got a bundle of sharpened pencils, a Bliss bar with a note "Hope you have a blissful year," 4 (handmade) chalkboard tags, some blank cards that I sewed apples onto, and a huge, shiny Red Delicious apple.

I know these pics probably would have been much more helpful before the school year started but just look at it as they are really early for next year :)

Thursday Thankfuls

This picture has nothing to do with the post.....This is Zach on pick up day at Springhill with his counselor Otis.

*I'm thankful that my husband was able to leave for work a little late today, especially when Zach reported that there was water coming from the kitchen ceiling. (someone came yesterday and supposedly fixed that leak)

*Thankful that when the repair guy was late coming to fix the leak Chris was able to come home so I could get some errands done.

*Thankful that Whole Foods is only 25 minutes away.

*Thankful that it was a nice night for the neighborhood kids to all play outside.

*Thankful for cooler weather.

Doctors Appointments

I know I have been absent for quite awhile. I've had so many blog posts in my head but not the time to put them in writing. Hopefully with the boys in school full time and settling into a routine I can post Monday-Friday...that's my hope we'll see how I do :)

Last week I took both boys to the Doctor, Aiden needed his 6 month med check and Zach was due for his yearly check-up.

I'll start with Aiden.

We went completely prepared to put Aiden on a medicine to increase his appetite due to lack of growth. At his last appointment he went from the 24th percentile in weight to the 13th and I resisted putting him on the meds at the time-we are already pumping enough chemicals into that boy's body I didn't want to add more but I knew at this appointment that if things hadn't changed he would need to go on more meds...and I was ready but....HOORAY! He gained weight! And grew! Yippee!

His official stats are:

Height:46 inches 24th percentile

Weight: 44lbs 19th percentile

His blood pressure is also steady which is always a concern with stimulants. So for right now he's golden.....

But as most moms of multiple children know when one is golden someone else is not.

First, here are Zach's stats:

Height:58 inches 98th or 99th percentile

Weight:89lbs 94th percentile

That's the good part. One thing I wanted to talk to the Doctor about was Zach's emotions, this past summer he took a 180 from the boy he usually is. He withdrew but at the same time became very clingy to Chris and I. Didn't want to go to friends houses, camps, etc. Things that ordinarily didn't bother him brought tears. I was very concerned. His Doctor listened to me, she's good like that, and then told me.....

wait for it.....

wait for it.....

My 9 year old is pre-pubescent! WHAT! Are you kidding me?

And get this, that's not even the craziest thing she said....

The way to tell when a boy is truly going through puberty is when his testicles and penis start growing!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

I wanted to run from the room with my hands over my ears singing la,la,la, la, la. Like you did as a kid when your parents told you something you didn't want to hear.

It's not that I didn't realize that he is growing up. I know that. He's almost as tall as I am. He's in fourth grade. Of course I know that eventually his body will begin to change but come on. He's only 9. Just yesterday we were calling him Mr. Peanut and changing his diaper and now the doctor tells me he's full of hormones and parts of his body are going to start to change. What is this world coming to when Doctors can just say those things about your baby?

It's good and all. I never wanted him to stay a baby forever. But I am SO not ready for this. SO very NOT ready for this.

OK. I need to breathe. Hold on.............

I have a book for him by Usborne that I will give him this weekend. I'm hoping he will read it and come to us Chris with any questions he might have.

But I'm telling you right now he's not allowed to date until he is 30. A mom has to draw the line somewhere.

Sigh.

so close, yet so far

Well, our house was almost bought today. We came out #2......the couple decided to bid on another house that was closer to his workplace.

So sad. Just another bad thing about selling your house is the letdown when it "almost" sells.

It's mean but I'm sort of hoping that the other people don't accept the offer. But that's mean so don't tell anyone I said it.

update

Hi all! It is a beautiful day here in Cinci, I've got the windows open and I'm getting stuff done.

So far I've paid bills, always such a fun job

Made lunch for my boys and the neighbor girls

synched my iPhone

I'm about to eat lunch myself

I've listened to Cha Cha Slide and Party in the USA about 100 times each while the kids had a dance party

Called Delta to change our flights for Tampa

handed out bandaids

pulled weeds

watered one of our gardens

AND now I'm updating the blog...still many more things on my list but this is something I've wanted to accomplish all week so here it goes :)

One of my jobs was to download all the pictures off of our cameras, four of them, five including my phone...sigh. Here is what I found on the iPhone

Having fun with Zilla at the park one day after school. We hit Sonic first for lunch and then went to "blue park" for some fun in the sun :)

One of our first days at the pool, since this we have had many days at the pool. The boys are both old enough to swim without me in the water with them although I usually sit on the edge when Aiden goes into the "deep" end (5ft) just in case he needs me. We pack a bunch of food and drinks and just enjoy the pool and being with friends.

I've been antiquing quite a bit here recently trying to find things for the house since the stagers were leaving. This antique mall is a good one not too far from the house.

I've been drooling over cabinets like this for months and months but I won't buy one until we move and I know if we have room for it or not.

This is from a different, not so good antique mall....a huge stuffed bear valued at $12,000, HA

At that same mall were fighting turkeys?

And suggestive mannequins

And a 1984 Jaguar just sitting in the mall....

Here is our first found geo cache. We have been trying to find them all over and Aiden loves it, Zach enjoys the finding but not the hunting.

Looking for another one that we never found....

My sweet girl Allie isn't too sure about this whole geo caching stuff.

We took the boys to see their first drive in movie. We went to see Marmaduke which wasn't the best movie but the boys did enjoy it and had fun with the novelty of watching a big screen movie in the car.

Zach fell asleep in the car after a sleepover with a friend. He never falls asleep in the car anymore.

This is what happens when you don't shop for 2 weeks. An overflowing cart and a big bill ($167) although I did save $111 thanks to coupons ($27) and sales ($84). We also went to Whole Foods for organic meat and snacks that we can't find at Meijer.

Recap of the other cameras will have to wait a day or so...I have lots more to do today including scrubbing blueberries off the wall and scrubbing the wall by the stairs where there is a mysterious spray that no one knows anything about.....

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Angry

Well.....

My purse was stolen again. This time from INSIDE my house. It was in the laundry room. It makes me sad, and angry. Why do people think they have the right to enter another's home and take things that do not belong to them?

Sigh

I had bought a "kate spade" purse from an antique store for $21. It's possible that it was a fake but I don't care it was perfect. Striped. Pink. Well made. It was just perfect.

I had just gone to the ATM and got out our budget money for the week plus a very generous gift for our babysitter who is off to Notre Dame in the fall.

I had a gift card to Land's End that I was saving to buy a bathing suit. And $ I had been saving for clothes.

A gift card to Outback.....

But--I have my phone, my keys, and no one was hurt.

AND...the police have a picture of him from when he charged $260 at Wal-Mart. We have been showing it around the neighborhood and Chris hopes to talk to the security officer at the high school some time next week.

Sigh.

right now

Just finished dinner, had pineapple upside down cake for dessert-made with fresh pineapple, fresh pineapple juice and an organic cake mix. So yummy. Between the four of us I doubt there will be any left in 24 hours.

Outside with the dogs. Playing ball and watering the lawn.

Two boys are playing tennis together. First time today they have been nice to each other for longer than 5 minutes.

After 4 days of having the windows open I had to turn the air on again, humidity just got to be too much.

Just noticed the sleeve of my shirt was messed up and I have ink on the front of it. Lovely.

Boys have joined the millions of kids that love these "Silly Bands" Silly indeed. $5 for a pack of 24 rubberbands but truthfully I'd rather bribe them with those than candy. And I really need the bribes if I'm going to survive the summer.

Chris and I just decided to lower our house to $225K.

One of the kids in the neighborhood told Aiden today "Get off my property or I'm going to go get my dad" Nice.

Going to go get the boys in bed....maybe they'll sleep in tomorrow......

house hunting

What I don’t like about selling a house:

Having to have my house spotless for showings and open houses (It takes me about 2 hours each time to clean the house top to bottom and sometimes longer if I need to clean windows or reorganize cabinets/closets)

Having to find something to do with 2 kids and 3 dogs that doesn’t incite whining and can include everyone.

We are spending a lot of money finding things to do that doesn’t incite whining and can include everyone.

I’m tired of having someone else’s things in MY house, although Chris constantly reminds me that it is no longer MY house. (Staging ends June 23rd, we decided not to pay the $400/month rent of their things)

I don’t like feeling judged, even though I know they aren’t judging me. I am doing better about letting that go.

I just want to get on with the whole thing. I wish to no longer be where I am but instead move on.....hard to do when you can’t sell your house.

On that note....

This past Saturday we went to Blue Ash to look at houses to see what we could get for our money and just how much we would be able to drop our price in order to get out.

We liked two houses (Chris liked a third one but I did not--so you know what that means-we won’t be buying it :)

The first one we saw was a lot younger than we want. It was only 9 years old, so we would be facing replacing the roof, windows, and carpet-which already needs to be replaced. It was a ranch which I really want. The basement was very nicely done. The size was perfect. It was also only $175K list.

The problems: the neighborhood was the biggest and most worrisome problem-it would probably keep us from buying the house. The house was over a blind hill and Chris talked to a neighbor who said that she doesn’t let her kids ride their bikes in the road because if someone comes over the hill really quickly there isn’t time to get your kids out of the way. Also it is a neighborhood that people have bought lots and bulldozed the old house and built new so it’s new houses with shacks next door-not cute older small homes but literally shacks.

If we could pick up the house and move it to a different neighborhood then we might put in a bid :)

Here is a picture, you can copy the link to see pictures of the inside.

http://www.remax.com/property/80724423-61000265/11060-Centennial-Ave-Cincinnati-OH-45242/

The second house was perfect in every way that truly mattered. The neighborhood was just perfect-delightful houses, big trees, kids, quiet and only 10 minutes from where Chris works and if he moves offices it’s still centrally located to the other offices.

The house itself was two floors with the bedrooms upstairs. The bedrooms were a good size with good closets. Big backyard with a nice deck and swingset.

the downsides: It’s $225K which is out of our price range because of having to pay the realtor so we would have to talk them down or win $ at bingo or something. The yard is mostly side yard but it's big. We would have to fence one side. Laundry is in the basement so we would work on getting that moved. Basement is "finished" but not really well so we would need to work on that as well, the picture makes it look better than it really is. We would also want to knock out the dining room wall and make a HUGE kitchen/eating area. But that's all fun stuff, not like a roof, or siding, even the windows are newer all of which the owner has already replaced.

http://www.remax.com/property/80285132-61000265/4465-Classic-Dr-Blue_Ash-OH-45242/

Now we have to decide what to do....lower and try to come up with the money somehow or sit and hope....sigh

A letter to my niece

Hey there sweet pea! I have missed you and can't wait to see you next month.

I've been busy here-trying to sell a house you know. But for the last week or so I have been spending a lot of time trying to find ruffled bloomers for you. I really wanted to buy some when I had kids but they were both boys and people don't think ruffled bloomers are cute on boys. Sigh. So anyway I've been looking for you and I found some on etsy but those ladies wanted $20 a pair!!!! Now that's just silly, I'm more discerning than that (some people might say cheap or frugal but I prefer discerning). So I have decided to take matters into my own hands and make you some ruffled bloomers. I hope to be able to bring them in July....I'm not so good at mailing things-just ask your mom.

Love you sweetie! See you soon.

Love,

Auntie Kristin