Loving the Scriba Pool

 A few years ago, when it was just me and Adam, Bethany suggested we go to the Scriba Town Pool, some place I had never been.  Her kids have always loved it.  Adam did, too.  We've gone back each year (except last year, it was thunder storming the day we planned on it!.  This year, the kiddie pool was finally just right for Adam and Abbey.  They LOVED it.  Bethany's nephews Trevor (7) and Derek (1) also joined us.  I only took out the camera for a few minutes because it was hard keeping up with them and Adam asked me to Come Play with him, so how could I refuse?  Love this picture of Mama Brianna with Derek.  Here's Adam contemplating jumping under the mushroom with big boys Devin and Trevor.  He ran in quick a few times, getting up the courage.  I love that Adam has an adventurous soul and works hard on his fears.

 Abbey walked right in with NO hesitation and was sitting and crawling and jumping.

 Sitting Adam in the bottom corner?  He had just run under the mushroom.

 Pretty Bri.

 Bethany, Bri and Derk.  This kid is 22 months and was quiet and liked to be held.  What the heck is it like to have a kid like that??

 Adam doing the crab walk.

 Abbey kept getting up and jumping in.  She was having SO much fun.  Later in the day, I had to "punish" her by keeping her in the pool because she was running around the whole thing, down the ramp and throwing herself like a slide :)

 Here she is, about to jump.

 Adam went up and hugged Bri.  So cute.

 Abbey catching the water from the mushroom.  She didn't run under it as much as I thought she would...

 Abbey running down the ramp.

 And jumping! Love the look on her face.  After a while, they wanted to try the big pool and Abbey went in with Bethany and Adam wanted me.  When Adam realized that he couldn't touch, he was cautious, hanging onto me and then Bethany and then Bri.  Abbey wanted to swim off.  Seriously, she resented that she couldn't touch the bottom and was trying to swim away from us.  She got jealous and and pushed Adam out of Bri's arms and she wanted her!  I had to go move my car and Abbey flipped out that I was gone, which surprised me, she seemed fine.  She just hugged me when I came back, looking so pathetic.  She cheered up when a performer started his music and I was dancing her around.

Scriba has a huge day camp and I guess this was a part of it.  This guy played music and sang himself,  and was very entertaining.  The kids loved it.  Adam would go up to the front, dance for a second and then get shy.  We danced around the kiddie pool. When it was time to go, Adam was not happy to be leaving the music or the pool.  I thought Abbey would be harder to get out of there, but Adam was the upset one!

They had a blast and we need to go back.  And it's so nice because Bethany and her kids are so helpful and they aren't scared away by my moody toddlers!  Adam looks forward to seeing them and Abbey feels comfortable with them.  It's been fun to watch her kids grow up.  Both polite, thoughtful and kind.  Like their Mom.

Took me back for a second to all the summers Bethany and I spent swimming in my backyard.  Diving in, swimming at night and going through a TINY phase where we acted out dirty dancing which involved me holding her up in the air.  Seems like yesterday and seems like a million years ago.  How is it like that?

Family Day Sunday

We spent today together without a real plan.  This morning I asked Todd if we could drive somewhere. I felt like getting in the car and going.  Yesterday had been spent by me writing stories for OswegoCountyToday.com, which is  full-on project with the A-team around (one of those "what used to take me 45 minutes now takes me four hours deals) and I think I just wanted the change of scenery.

We all got in the car and went to three pharmacies to pick different things up.  Todd ran into the Cutting Crew while I got the kids Happy Meals (Sorry Adam, no more Ice Age toys.  Chicky Mom? Yes, Adam, Happy Meals still have Chicky) and he ran into the Shoe Department to get sneakers.  Ride by Butlerville.  Count the trucks Mommy!  He loves to count those trucks.

We've have been talking about getting Adam a fun little kid bed.  Toys 'R Us has four online we like...a Buzz, a Thomas, a Lightning McQueen and a fire truck.  We printed them out for Adam, but he hasn't chosen so we thought if he could see them, he'd have an easier time picking.  We decided to drive up there.

First, we drove to Dewitt.  Because that's what we do lately.  We drove around the neighborhood we most like and by a house we plan on looking at.  We hoped Abbey would take a nap in the car.

She didn't.  They were too busy encouraging each other to scream and laughing evilly about their plan.  We pulled over.

Then a drive-by the new yard on James Street.  Only 6 minutes from that neighborhood.  Adam counts those trucks.

We went back to Clay and to Toys 'R Us.  Turned out they only had one of those beds, the McQueen, and it was up high.  We tried to show Adam and he seemed to like it but wasn't excited.  The other beds they had there were cheap looking.  We deiced against it.

Abbey doesn't have a tone of toys.  The stuff she got for her birthday, especially her dress up stuff which she loves and a few other things, so Todd wanted to take her around and see if she liked anything.  Oh, she did.

Gone was the girl we took through the store in the fall who had no interest in anything.  She Loved the girl aisles.  You know the ones I mean.  She got so excited and overwhelmed, she got frustrated and I had to take her out of those aisles.  She saw the Minnie Mouse stuff and wanted to hold it and then put it back.  She nearly broke down in the Rapunzel section.

We told Adam he could have one thing.  He struggled with that for a few minutes, then was pretty good about it.

Abbey clutched her little purse Rapunzel hair set like it was dying.

We got in the car with a very tired Abbey and decided to skip the trip to dinner and go home.  Abbey fall asleep clutching that purple bag handle right away.

Would I choose roaming two counties looking at houses and a noisy, chaotic trip to Toys 'R Us over the dinner I had been looking forward to?  Yes.  Nothing we do with two toddlers EVER goes exactly as planned.  And something as simple as running in to look at beds NEVER goes as planned.

Keeps us on our feet :)

And the the minutes I sat in the car lounging with Abbey sleeping in the driveway while reading a magazine?  Just a bonus!

Upstairs Renovation

 In May, we had some renovations done to make the upstairs apartment more tenant ready.  Above is a photo of the completed shower.  I think it worked out well.  Kevin did a decent job.  He even re-installed the same flooring, so we didn't have that expense and we kept the tub in, so that didn't cost any money.  And from what I can tell, that tub has been there for 75-80 years at least, so it's nice it didn't have to go.  Below is a shot of the bathroom from the door.  The front side of the tub and the toilet area.  Look closely and you can see the ventilation fan that the rental inspector has kind of been insisting on.  Kevin was hanging from the side of the house to get that in.  He said he had to cut through several layers of beams and some oddly placed insulation.  Love the old houses.

 And here's the sink area to the right of the door.  The water flow was low and we anticipated some repair work.  Until Kevin cleaned out the faucet screen in two seconds.  Yeah, it works now.

 He had to go through the wall into the kitchen to create an updated grounded electrical system for the ventilation.  So there's the fancy outlet he put in.

 This is the back room off the kitchen.  This sucker was unfinished when Todd moved in years ago and he insulated it and put up walls.  He did a good job because it doesn't get as hot or cold as the rest of the upstairs.  For the kids, this was their "blocks room" in the winter.  It's a third bedroom for tenants.  Kevin replaced an exposed light bulb and electrical box with a light fixture and also covered the whole area around the door which was exposed.  He did a decent job.

 As a rental for decades, the house is a mismatch of years and styles with cool details here and there.  This crystal doorknob was on the door to this room and I always loved it.  Kevin replaced it with a new one so I could have this one.  He had to replace the plate and the knob, so it was defnetely unnecessary, but I really wanted to take this with me to where ever we move and use it.

 This is the ceiling in the living room that he had to replace.  I can't stand these ceiling tiles, but they are in half the upstairs and in Adam's room.  They were water damaged.  You can see the old chimney pipe  there that has since been removed and plastered over.  And see the wallpaper border on the one side?  It had started to fall off when I took this photo.  We ended up taking it down.  I never loved it, but it was still weird to see it go.  When Kevin was up there, a bunch of old bricks fell on him and I saved one...from the original chimney.

 And here's a porcelain knob, which I think is older than the crystal one.   Love them both.  He took that one out for me, too. So where ever we live, I'll have a piece of this first home with my family, only the second place I've ever really felt at home.  I wasn't really ready before now to leave.  I am ready now...as we really decide which road to take in this fork, I can leave this house and start the next chapter.  I will miss the high ceilings, tin ceilings, the work my father did in our bedroom and the rooms we created for our kids.  And my bathrooms, of course.  But a home with a yard and a kitchen that my kids will love and grow in their whole lives.

Abbey Phone Photo Roll

Miss Abbey has such a big personality.  Adorable, fun and cute ...I love her joy for life.  Yet at the same time, don't get in her way she will get you out....with a scream!  I know she's going to give me grey hair for the rest of my life....but she's worth it.  Last night, she kept getting up.  She sat with me for an hour, not falling asleep but wanted hugs.  She was upset about something, but doesn't have the words yet to share (something that frustrates her A LOT).  She just wanted Mama.  She is pretty attached to me right now.  But I don't mind.  It will end by next year and will be long gone by the time she's ten and wants me to drop her off at the corner.

Here she is a couple of months ago, setting up her first tea party.  I erased the better picture by accident, but this one gives you the idea.  She wanted me at the table with her...but NO Adam!

In April, we went to Driver's Village and waited in the kid's room while they changed my oil.  Abbey actually met a wall she couldn't climb and wanted my help.  She was so angry at it.  She figured it out by the time we left.  See Adam in the background excited about the train table with dinosaurs?

She was too short to climb to the top of this (though Adam wasn't and had a blast) and she kept trying and trying new ways.  I respect that about her.  She couldn't conquer it, but it motivated her to come back and conquer the little one.

Here she is with the slide she dragged into the living room in May.  She just was having a blast.  She dragged it all over the house.  Abbey is exhausting because she is always on the go.  More than any toddler I've ever seen. She's a runner. She takes off outside.  She is getting a better, but boy, she makes us feel old when we have to chase her!

And pretty girl posing with the dress my Mom sent her.  As wild and athletic as she can be, she loves all things girly, including dresses.  Last night before bed, she crawled into my lap with her Hello Kitty, her two mermaid dolls and her Rapunzel baby.  Which she calls "Be-Be" in her little cute voice.  :)  It just melts my heart.

A rainy day in May watching music videos on my computer.  She couldn't help but watch the rain, too. She loves the outdoors in every weather.  And this is the first day I put her hair up.  So grown up!  She hates her hair being done but loves it when it's out of her face.  She loves that pink dress in this photo.  Abbey has strong opinions and I'm glad.  No one will walk all over her!  I dreamed of having a daughter for years.  She's everything and more.  Lucky to have Miss Abigail.

Bobby is 31

Bobby is 31.
I remember the day he was born.  My parents were at my Uncle Dave and Aunt Jill's wedding and had to leave.  There are photos of me holding him in the hospital, though honestly I don't remember that exact moment.  I wasn't thrilled he was here.  He was taking our room.  We had been shuttled to the basement while my Mom painted our room yellow and put an old crib in there.  For months it ticked me off because he had our room....but wasn't sleeping in it!  He slept in a white bassinet in my parent's room.

Eventually, I recovered :)  Today, Bobby is one of my closet friends.  He listens to me, sees me for who I am and respects me.  He put his life on hold to babysit so I could student teach, working nights cooking.  And he loves our kids so much, he'd do anything for them.  When Adam and I were spelling Mom and Dad, he added Uncle Bobby :) to the "family".

It's not just what he does for us that makes me respect him.  When my Dad was dying, Bobby spent every minute being there....day and night.  He took care of his needs at the end, without a second thought.  When I saw that, I knew my little brother had grown up into a man I could really admire.

He works for Todd now, so the kids and I don't see him as much.  We went to breakfast and Walmart together on Saturday, nice to spend time together.

He wanted to go to Delmonico's for his birthday, so we took him.  Holly came, too.  They are getting closer as they work together ALL day.

Bobby loves Calamari and here he is sharing it with Todd.  Holly doesn't look thrilled!  Love this picture.

Miss Abigail being silly.  BOTH my kids have a sense of humor...I pity any kid we might have that doesn't!

Adam kiss Uncle Bobby.  Adam let Mommy take your picture!  He tried to ignore me, but I love this shot of them.

Bobby getting sung to.  He said the waitress was cute.  He always finds a cute waitress to wink at.

Here, Adam is doing something from "Puss in Boots" where the cat puts his hand to his mouth and says "Oooooo".  It's pretty darn cute.

OK, this is mine.  I got tiramisu.  YUM!  Bobby got some, too and then Holly regretted that she didn't and got some to go.

And Todd got a cannoli.  And Abbey immediately started helping him eat it.  Love her little chubby hand carefully peeling off the chocolate chips. :)

Oak Hill Again

The kids liked Oak Hill so much, a few days after we went with Tammy, I took them back.  Alternating between keeping an eye on Adam and pushing Abbey is a little challenging and eventually Abbey came and played on the playground area.  She did take off once towards the street, but I caught her just in time.  It might be time to head back there...they do have a sprinkler there that's on now that Erin loves to take her kids to, but my kids have been busy with the urban water park and the  house :).

I love how much they love playgrounds.

Oak Hill Park with Tammy

In June, Tammy came over for lunch.  We took the kids to Ruby Tuesday and afterwards, it was so nice we decided to head to a park.  I had never taken the kids to Oak Hill, so decided to give it a try.  Abbey RAN to the swings...and had Aunt Tammy there to push her.  Look how much fun she is having :)  I really like this first photo...both Abbey and Tammy look like they are having a good time.

Adam preferred the play area (actually, I can hardly ever get him into swings anymore.  I don't think he likes being tied down).  "Driving Mom!".  He ran around a lot...it's hard to keep up with him.

Still swinging!

Little slide :)

Finally, Abbey decided she wanted to try out the slides.  She loved it, of course.  And loved having Tammy be her playmate!

Smiley girl.

Time to climb!

And Abbey wants to climb ALL the big kid stuff.

The kids love playgrounds.  We have some nice ones in town.  We all really liked this one.  There was a fair amount to do and it isn't on a busy street.  It has a really pretty shady side, too, and some interesting neighborhood war monuments.  Oak Hill is still a bit of a "neighborhood", with some of the nicer blocks.

The A-Team

They are like salt and pepper.  They always like to be together.  This is a out of focus phone photo, but it says a lot to me.  They love to do things together.  It defines their bond.

If one is in bed, the other wants them out.  "I want Abbey now Mommy" Adam told me a couple of weeks ago when she was sleeping.  Abbey will try to sneak into Adam's room if he's sleeping and has been known to cry if I don't let her get to him.  Yes, they fight over toys and push each other and all the other things.  But if Abbey is up first, she runs into Adam's room in the morning now and kisses him right away and Adam says "Abbey so happy to see you!".

There are many challenges to them being so close in age.  Worse than twins, because they are toddlers at two slightly different stages.  But they are really close and I love it.  The couple of times I've left and taken Adam with me, Abbey has seemed lost...that's her other half!  And he's the only other one who doesn't care if she yells...he kind of rolls his eyes and ignores her.  And remember how protective she was of him at the doctor's? She got mad at me the other day when I was cutting his nails because she hates it so much.  And if Abbey is sad, Adam will tell me "Abbey tired" or "Abbey head hurt" and give her one of her toys, especially one he covets.

And they have started to team up on me on purpose...they will encourage the other to misbehave when they get in the right mood, especially in the car. Sigh.  The slide spent a few weeks inside before it became the water park...here they are pushing each other down it.  Which they love to do.  When Adam's friend Daniel was over the other day, I had to explain to him that not everyone plays like him and Abbey!

 A few weeks ago, I grabbed this shot of them post-bath in their towels watching the garbage truck get our trash.  They love it.  And if one spots it before the other, they grab him/her.  Love this little A-team.

Yard Water Park Version 2012

A few weeks ago, I opened up Butler Water Park version 2012!  This time, with a hose!  Abbey just LOVING that water spray!  Adam would act like he didn't like it then run off for me to chase him with it.  This first time happened unexpectedly and they were in their clothes....having a blast!

Just look how Abbey wants that spray right on her :)

So a couple of weeks ago, I had Todd blow up a pool I had tucked away but could never do myself.  Why not create the ultimate waterpark with TWO pools?  One with a slide and one to swim in?  Adam loved it.  He was at work right away with his imagination.  The hose was still Abbey's favorite... he's busy acting out Ice Age here.

Then he starts playing with the cups and buckets I put out.  And getting a kick out of it.

I'm going to toss this water as far as I can.

Wait...I have a better idea...

SURPRISE!!   Love this picture.  And Abbey loves getting splashed!

Abbey kept getting out to play in the puddles on the driveway.  As usual, I have to work hard to keep her where she needs to be.   I have found if I only wet down part of the hot driveway, I can keep her closer.  They have so much fun in our little yard.  They get so excited...they are both water kids, in their own way.  Abbey, of course, is fearless about it.

 When I was a kid living in apartments, we loved the hose.  Dad would get it out and spray us.  I was like Adam, running off because I didn't want to get wet but then I would turn into Abbey and run into hog wild.  Sometimes, we'd open up a black garbage bag and Dad or Carolyn would wet it down and BAM our own Slip 'n Slide!  And when we lived at a townhouse once, we had a three foot pool.  It had stiff plastic slides and was the highlight of our life.  That summer at Oneida Village was awesome, spending hours in that thing.

When we moved to Calkins Rd. where there was a pool (in our very first HOUSE), Carolyn and I spent every minute we could in it for years, jumping in our clothes or the middle of the night.  Dad would dare us to see who went in first each year, a dare I often took him up on as early as April.  Us four kids spent our summer in suits, even showering sometimes under the hose.

After we left, Dad often lamented how Bobby and Sarah rarely used it.  Maybe because they had it most of their lives?  Or maybe just a personality thing.  Or the fact that my parents got air conditioning.  I always thought they were crazy when I'd stop by and the pool yard was empty and they were inside.

Anyhow, these things are the basis of my most of my good childhood memories....whether the hose on a garbage bag in front of our subsidized housing or the actual pool as a teenager.  My kids seem to be following in my footsteps!