Starbuck Sippers!

Starbucks sure has a business going...not only are most adults addicted, they are working on children too.

The other morning Dave was going grocery shopping and I whispered in Austin's ear to ask Daddy if he would get Mommy a coffee. Dave made a comment that I had spent all my spending money, so I couldn't have a coffee. About a half hour later without any more discussion about it (just hoping that Dave would get me a coffee), Austin out of the blue asked if he would get him a hot cocoa too. I didn't put him up to that one...

So, we all got lucky and Dave came home with Starbucks for us all. The boys really enjoyed their hot cocoas and I surely enjoyed my Venti Sugar-Free, Non-Fat, Cinnamon Dolce Latte...

Thanks Dave!

Annual Review

I won't be tardy like my former managers in giving an annual review. This week marks the one year anniversary of me saying good-bye to my corporate career to stay home with our boys full-time. A year ago today I cleaned out my desk and drove away from that village...and haven't been back since. I am sure they are spending a ton of money on wasteful things to "enhance" the property, and I don't have any desire to see any of it.

So, thought I would share with you my personal evaluation as a full-time stay at home Mom. Here we go...

OVERALL SCORE: Good

Responsible to keep boys clean, safe, cute and healthy: Good
The boys have only had a couple of illnesses and are well kept. Only one recent ER visit. Caden is clumsy by nature, but trying to keep him safe.

Responsible to keep house clean, etc.: Excellent
Done a great job cleaning up after the two little tornadoes named Austin and Caden. Doing a great job by keeping the laundry done, dusting, floor vacuumed, etc. Should probably not focus on this area so greatly in the next year.

Preparing meals: For boys: Excellent For family: Needs improvement
Doing a great job at making sure the boys get three meals a day with their bottomless drinks (and clean up after them), however lacks motivation to make dinner for family or prepare meals for the week.

Remain calm and cool in stressful situations: Good
For the most part the neighbors can't hear the screaming that comes from the house. Doing a good job playing referee between the two little crazies.

Entertainment: Excellent
Doing a great job making sure that the family is entertained. Good job planning vacations and frequent visits to the park, malls, play centers, karate and soccer makes for a fun time. Doing a good job making sure that toys have batteries in them, planning play dates for Austin and going outside anytime it is half way nice out. Good job!

Responsible to maintain budget: Needs improvement
Need I say more??

Good long weekend!

The weekend was a good one. Started with lunch and shopping with my best friend of 20 years, Cristi, on Friday afternoon while the boys went to my parent's house. Disney Store was having a 50% off clearance sale and I was able to get a bunch of birthday presents, Easter presents and even shirts for back to school for next to nothing. I was so excited!

Friday evening Dave and I enjoyed dinner out and then went to a movie (can't remember the last time that the two of us went to a movie - I think Austin was around Caden's age). We saw "Pursuit of Happyness", (it is supposed to be misspelled) which was good although sad throughout most the movie.

We woke up Saturday to a beautiful blue sky! Did a few errands and then off to Sandy to get the boys - they were having a great time at Ammy and Papa's house playing outside when we got there. The weather was so nice we went to the "blue park" that afternoon and the boys ran out lots of energy. So nice to be outside.

Sunday was filled with parties - Dave went to his annual Nascar Daytona racing party and Austin and I went to a birthday party at Big Al's (bowling). Caden had his own little play party with Aunt Sissy and his cousins. We all ended back at home later in the day, all tired and happy.

Today was President's Day, so Dave was home. I was able to get out for lunch with a few adidas friends and go to a couple of shops while the boys played with their Daddy. The long weekend ended with clean boys after a bath, who are now asleep. Tomorrow is back to school and work, but that's okay - we all had a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet boys playing!

It was a good Valentine's Day, despite that Dave had work and school all day and isn't home yet (it's almost 9pm). The boys were excellent all day and we had a fun outing to lunch with my Grandma, Mom and Sister to Red Robin. Although the service was a bit slow (for salads, chicken fingers and fries), it was nice.

We then went to Austin's soccer game, where he scored two goals (once it was in the wrong goal, but that's just details). He was very excited and proud of himself (me too!).

Best of all, this evening the boys played together in harmony. They had torn up their freshly cleaned and picked up toy room, but I didn't mind. They were sitting there enjoying each other's company. Usually if they are left in the same room without supervision, within minutes Caden usually run out bleeding (his lip bleeds all the time, without much force!). So, this makes me very happy to see. It took a couple of times for me to get a candid shot without their cheesy photo smiles!

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day too...it's not all about roses, dinner and romance. It's just about a good day with those you love.

Feverless Friday

Look - we're feeling good!

It's been 11 days since the boys have been well and without any fevers. Caden had a 97.9 temp this morning, which was so nice to see! He is back to himself today (after being very cranky and tired of being sick yesterday). They are playing well together this afternoon, which is music to my ears.

As it is Feverless Friday, here are some other F words that have been on my mind these last couple of weeks:

• Fearful of the boys getting sick again
• Flights to a warm vacation soon
• Finding the nearest Starbucks Drive Thru
• February stinks
• Fever that high?
• Football is finally over...this season, anyways.
• Frankly tired of being at home.
• Fond of these little boys, healthy or not.
• Friday Night Lights is a great TV show
• Flexible Spending will be great with this ER visit.
• Fuel is almost still full after 2 weeks (not going anywhere)
• Friday - TGIF...can't wait for a good weekend!

Hope you all have a great weekend too! :)

Good Golly Grey

Good Golly Grey, is right. I have to say that I didn't think that I would have so many grey hair (I prefer to say they are silver, as they are SHINY!) at my age. No, I know that I am not in my twenties anymore, but I am also a mother of two very young boys.

So I parted my hair a little more to the right today and found that it wasn't good and shouldn't have done it (it found many more silver hair there). I've resolved myself to only see my lovely hairdresser four times a year now to save on money and to do a cut and color each time. Well, my appointment isn't until March 21st so I have a box of color on my head now. I think I'll do my blonde again next time, as then it is hard to tell what is blonde and what is grey (or silver).

Ding...time to go rinse. Hope that I like this color for at least the next six week. Good job stability for all those hairdressers out there...that's for sure.

105.2

So yesterday in my sewing post I mentioned that I was up a lot of Sunday night with Caden and a fever. He woke up Monday morning with a fever of 103.8, which I felt was alarming. I spoke to the nice advise nurse and she stated that lots of fevers were going around and to keep an eye on him throughout the day, as a fever could range up to 104. So, when Caden fell asleep on me at 11:45, I thought he would nap for a couple of hours. Dave came home early from work so I could take Austin to soccer (it was our day to take snacks/drinks). After coming home around 3:45 and finding that Caden was still sleeping, I became a little more worried.

Another hour went by before Caden woke up. I found him red and hot and knew that he was in bad shape. I immediately took his temperature and the thermometer flew up quickly to 105.2. I rushed to let Dave know (he was outside with Austin and the neighbors playing). They told me to take it again, just to make sure. Poor little Caden was laying there shaking, hot with his eyes glassy, puffy and hardly alert. The nurse didn't say anything about if the fever was to get over 104 what I should do. I called back and after waiting on hold for almost 20 minutes, the same nice advise nurse said as calmly as she could, "honey, if it is over 105, you must get him to the emergency room now...and sponge him down with a cool rag on the way there". I yelled for Dave and within minutes we were on our way to SW Medical Center. Luckily, we have awesome neighbors that offered to let Austin stay with them to play. This was our first ER visit ever with one of the boys.

Caden was seen almost immediately after getting to the ER. They confirmed he was one sick little boy and gave him more medicine to get his fever down (we didn't know that you could give Tylenol and Motrin at the same time). After his fever started going down, we stayed in a very small room for hours waiting for the doctor. Finally he came in and was able to quickly detect an ear infection in one of Caden's ears. Soon we had a prescription to get filled and to be on our way home to get cleaned up and hope for a better night.

Caden slept all night long without any problems and is feeling a ton better already this morning. Had only a slight fever and nothing alarming. He is mad at things now (me wiping his nose), which makes him want to hit...so much more normal with energy today.

Austin is back to school today too, after missing all of last week. He is going to Rion's house this afternoon to play too, so it should be a great day for him.

Hopefully Caden will be feeling better and better with each day. What a scare though...and hope not to have to visit the emergency room for at least another 4 years.