Sarah's Kids

No, not that Sarah.  This Sarah.  We reconnected a few years ago and have mostly an email relationship.  I see her a few times a year.  I try to get photos of her kids for her as she likes what I do.  Natalie is 6 and Jack is 8.  How time flies!  Natalie looks just like Sarah and Jack is a combination of both his parents.   She's very social and did well in school.  Jack struggles with anxiety and his peers and is avid reader and already wants to be a writer.  His dream vacation is recreating the Lewis and Clark expedition.  We met at a park last Saturday for the kids to play and they did fine together.  But Ellie was NOT happy so the family portrait did not happen.  Love this photo though.

Chaumont

A few weeks ago on August 1, I took the kids to Chaumont to see Pam.  We all know I love it there so much we got our own place...but I also love the tradition.  Love Pam's family cottage more than I have a right to.  They updated the dining room from the 1940s cupboards blue paint and grey paneling and yes, it looked good, but hey, it CHANGED!  The nerve!! :). Besides last year, Adam has seen it every year.  He seemed to remember it, heading right for the rocks.  It had been a torrential downpour before we got there... Pam said the rain was coming in sideways into the porch.  It was raining here,too but not awful.  Fortunately, it had stopped when we got there.  The kids ran all over te dock, playing with the dog.  They kept throwing rocks poor dog he was trying to give them a ball.

It was a bit chilly...didn't stop my kids.  Ellie was pretty fussy though.  She didnt want a bottle and she was over tired as she did not sleep in the car.  I tried to feed her a little, but it it didn't help much.  She was so tired.  I knew she needed motion to get to sleep....we stayed for a couple of hours, with the kids eating snacks and playing play dough with Mrs. Rusho.

Doug brought his daughters home and I took them back our so Abbey's screams wouldn't keep them up (they were tired and crying.  It struck me how my kids aren't like normal kids. They not just regular cry!

Katie and her friends were there...SO grown-up!  Sophomores!! What??

Adam looks like the rock guy Pam's brother built:) I love this picture.

When we did leave, it was discovered I ad parked right where the neighbors had just dug a new pipe.  Sigh. Doug had to push me out.  And I made a mess.  And Adam freaked because he wasn't inthe car with us and thought we were leaving.  Yeah, one of those moments.

We went to the gas station and got gas while Pam got us subs to take to my place.

Ellie watching from Pam's porch.

The kids decided they were 'fishing' :)

Mrs. Rusho tried comforting Ellie...but she was happier in the wind.

Trying to climb a tree...

Abbey was halfway there...

Adam liked the toys inside...many of which were from Pam's childhood.  It was fun to show Pam our place.  Ellie fell asleep as I predicted and the kids were a bit stir cray especially since the DVD wouldn't work.  And it rained again.  And Pam had to back to her place to get  Abbey's boots and coat while I drove around because I knew she'd flip if we went back down that road.  It was still a nice day, nice tradition.  We plan on lots of lakefront sangria in our retirement!

Beth, Bri & the Kids

 While Todd and I were on our night out, Bethany, knowing me, sent me pictures to reassure me all was well.  My favorite is the one below...Abbey doing Brianna's hair.  Abbey is so getting into girly stuff!

 And so that Adam was left out, I got a shot of him, too :)  Todd scolded me for checking my phone, but once I got these, I was able to stop.  I knew they were fine, but it was nice to see Abbey especially enjoying herself since she was upset when I left.

Renaissance Fair

 A couple weekends ago, we went to the Renaissance Fair,  Todd does a lot of trash removal for the owners and they told Todd he had free tickets.  The last time we went, Abbey was an infant...three summers ago.  There wasn't a ton for their age.  But we felt that especially Adam would enjoy some of the shows.  Right in the entrance is this little well with a statue in it...here is Abbey pointing out the dragon in it :)  We then headed to the first performance, a comedy act that involved sword fighting and play fighting.  I was surprised that Abbey was really into it.  She went right to the front and sat down and I went with her.  She actually sat still for a bit...she was so into the acting!  She wanted to join them!  I snapped this photo right before she took off.  We both look goofy, but I don't have many pictures of me with my kids.  She took off for the stage.  We moved to the side and she even ran behind it.  She was entranced....I may have passed my Drama Club gene down after all!!

 On our way to the next performance, we stopped at a "museum" of torture.  Yeah, my pre-schoolers were DYING to go in.  Thankfully, they were young enough where they didn't really get it, though I kept Adam moving along because I didn't want it to have too much of an impression.  Next up, the joust.  Todd stayed up in the shade with Ellie and I took the kids close by.  They lasted quite a bit.  Adam had NO patience with it until the jousting started then he was jumping up and down saying FIGHT!  Abbey was captured when a "princess" came out.

 After awhile, when Abbey was sitting and playing in the dirt, we moved on and headed to get some lunch.  That area was packed.  Ellie was crying the kids were hungry, so Todd sat with Ellie and I took the kids to the fish and chips shop.  Now, with the three kids, I don't think too much like I used to.  I didn't hit my favorite food shops.  The steak on a stake had a wait and I knew that wouldn't fly.  The food was better than I thought it would be, but poor Ellie was upset.  I ended up taking her to the car to feed her and I left strict instructions with Todd to find Abbey a princess crown.  He did well :)  She was sporting it when I came back while they were waiting in line to ride the pirate ship.  Her patience was thin for the wait, but they were glad we did.  They LOVED it!  A guy dressed like a pirate pushes it up and down and Adam just break into laughter every time he said something.  Abbey looked a little panicky at first, but loved it soon!  Ugh, I rode it with them, but it wasn't too bad!!

Earlier in the day, Abbey had seen a fair goer dressed as Rapunzel and was entranced.  I didn't even realize it until someone else pointed it out.  We saw her again near the maze and Abbey was smitten.  She just looked at her with awe and the girl was nice enough to talk with her and Abbey was just so awestruck!  She even hugged her.  It made her whole day.  I had a fun preview of how much she will love Disney :)

 

We ended the day with the maze, my favorite part.  Todd pushed Ellie as I tried to keep sight of the other two.  They were really into solving it...I was impressed.  They solved it fairly quickly, actually.  We had a nice day and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a really good time for Abbey ( I knew Adam would love it!)  Upon asking, Adam said his favorite part was indeed the pirate ship!

Chiropractor Save Me

Ever since I had Adam, I've had back problems.  It really affects my hands, giving me something akin to carpal tunnel.  I actually had a neurologist tell me I had carpal tunnel right after I had Adam, but it didn't sit right with me that I would suddenly develop it in both hands equally all of the sudden.  Todd convinced me to try a chiropractor.  I went to Dr. Falanga's partner once and with my second appointment, I was sent to Dr. Falanga himself.  And I really liked him.

He's well into his 70's and has two themed rooms...this one is above is the Miss Piggy room, chock full of trinkets from my young childhood.  Since I've had Ellie, it's been the worst it's ever been, where sometimes I even wake up in pain because they are so numb.  I've gone 4-5 times this summer and the last time I had to bring Miss Ellie.  She took it pretty well.  Brought me back to when I used to bring Adam...  I went a lot after I had Adam.  It wasn't so bad after Abbey.  Even typing right now, my fingers are tingling.  It sucks.  Below are two photos of a document he has framed on the wall of his Outhouse themed room.   It's the signed 1956 contract for his first table.  Which he still uses.  It's a hand crank table.  I am usually in that room.  I like that he's been doing this for so long and he doesn't use any of the new equipment.  He is half instinct and a wealth of knowledge.  Todd sees the partner sometimes and she works for him.  She uses what he calls a belt sander to try and get him to crack.  Dr. Falanga's goal isn't really about "cracking" my back.  He does weird things to push things back into place.

Going has helped in the past.  After Adam, when it was the worst before this, it did take some time.  Basically my neck vertebrae are crooked and puts pressure on my circulation.  I hope it kicks in soon.  It can make mornings hard when it's the worst...sometimes I can't even open the milk.

 

Night Out

Last Friday, on August 2, Todd and I went to a wedding alone at Vernon Downs.  After much back and forth about what to o, inkling whether or not to get a room and bring Ellie, we decided against it.  We had never been there and basically didn't know what expect.  So Bethany and Brianna came over.  Ellie has basically stopped wanting a bottle, but I knew Bethany could handle it...she ended up feeding her with a syringe..!  So we got all gussied up and drove the hour and ten minutes to Verona.  It started at 6pm, but knew we wouldn't arrive until about 6:15pm.  I texted the grooms brother Travis and told him not to start without us...no worries he said, they were still doing pictures!

It was the wedding of Cory Bliss, the younger brother of Travis, who owns Bliss Environmental in Camden.  One of the few guys I'd say Todd actually considers a friend.  And they just love him, for some crazy reason!

There's Travis below, talking to his ex-wife.  His girlfriend was sitting at our table, way in the back.  He swung by to visit.  Ex-wife, did, too.  Lots of drama I'd say and Travis, who usually loves teasing, was NOT in the mood to joke about why his girlfriend was sitting with US and not him....

I looked half decent, so I snapped a Tammy type photo in the bathroom.  On the Bliss side of the room, I kid you not, there wasn't another woman who looked like me.  All VERY over blonde and over tan and LOTS of cleavage.  Jeff Bliss is the patriarch and he had something like four ex's in the room...and they all seem kind of friends...!  Every Bliss has a different Mama, by the way.  Jeff likes the ladies.  As it seems Travis does.  But I think Cory may actually be into this marriage thing.

Me and my love.  We both hate our picture taken.  I should, I'm fat.  Todd takes a decent photo.  I like the look on my face in this one...it's almost personal...but it's real.  This is how he makes me feel.  In love.  And loved.  We had only had six hours together.  It was nice.  Not enough, but nice.  We agreed to not talk about the kids and I mostly stuck to it.  The place wasn't as fancy as I thought it'd be...and we didn't even see the casino which was in another building and way smaller than I pictured.  The food was pretty good and I saw my first horse race from the patio behind the hotel.  Chatted with our neighbors, of which most of the table was drunk.  Convinced Todd to take photos in the booth, which we both then did with Travis, too.  Had two drinks and stopped as I drove us home.  I came home to a cranky baby who just wanted Mommy time.  Todd passed out in bed and Ellie and I stayed awake half the night.  More than worth it.

Thank you Bethany and Brianna for giving us a "date night"!  Means so much to me that there is someone who I can leave my kids with and know you would look out for them as I would :)

Abbey's Big Girl Bed

 We knew it was well past due.  Abbey has been climbing out of her crib since the day she turned 15 months. But she liked it.  We just wasn't sure if we were going to use the nursery for Ellie or anything and it just never happened.  But Abbey needed a big girl bed.  Since she doesn't do well with change, who knew how it would go.  After debate, I got the pink race car bed.  It was clear that she'd destroy the fake wood of the castle bed and a pink race care seems to fit her personality.  We ordered from Toys'r Us and then had to pick it up as we were not paying $90 for shipping.  Daddy came home and started putting it together.  As you can see above, Adam put on his hat and said that "Bob the Builder needed to help".

 Abbey ready to help!

 She knew right where the tires go!

 They were happy to try and lift it up and...drive Daddy crazy.  I ended up having to take them upstairs for a bit so Daddy could get some work done.

 And Abbey couldn't wait to load up her bed.  And, of course, Adam wanted to sit in it, too.  He actually did pretty good with her getting something so new and big.

 Adam was excited.

 But irritated quickly with my picture taking.

 Good-bye crib!  It went in the trash...it was destroyed...the dresser part is still in her room.  A little trip down memory lane...we put so much thought into picking that out when I was pregnant with Adam at Babies R Us!  We drove to three different Targets for the matching chair and dresser.  I can remember like it was yesterday Todd swearing away as he put it together, but at the same time it seems so long ago.  I can remember that excitement really well...I can almost touch it.  That was five years ago.

 Abbey couldn't wait for bed time.  I flipped on the light for a photo and she yelled at me.  She wanted to sleep in that car!!  Not a single problem adjusting.... She's so darn grown-up lately!

Eleanor's FIrst Photos

I don't know why the first one is distorted, but I know I never posted these.  Todd took them with his phone while I was in recovery.  I saw her sweet face and dark hair and she was gone.  Todd sent these to everyone for us to announce her arrival.  Seems like yesterday and it seems like she has always been here.  Having a c section is different though in that youbspendvatleastvan hour not seeing the kid you cooked for nine months!  By the way, don't you love baby Eleanor holding her Daddy's finger?  And she wasn't Eleanor yet :). Just baby Butler.

Today

Today Ellie is eleven weeks old.  She holds her head up, rolls over really well and generally sleeps six hours at night.  When she smiles, it lights up her whole face.  Her Daddy gets her to smile with a funny voice he does.  She just suddenly looks so grown up!  

There's the smile!  She is sticking her tongue out, too.  She's a good baby...pretty constable.  Still love snuggling her.  She's grown out of her newborn clothes :(

As usual, the kids were bouncing off the walls.  I loaded them in the car, dropped off a paint can at Sherwin Williams (wrong color for the porch...the right color is actually called Butler green isn't that awesome?:) and headed to Clay.  As I left the city, I changed my mind.  I got it in my head to take them to the Fulton Library.  When I was in junior high school, I went there every Tuesday for an hour and a half while mom took Bobby to physical therapy.  I loved it.  When I was younger, I read through the Namcy Drews...I loved the children's room...the walls were painted like a fairy tale.  

The painting is gone and there are more shelves.  And an elevator that is scary slow (took the stairs back up), but it was still the same.  It brought me back a little.  I encouraged the kids to get some books...Adam spied one on the top he had have...and we did some reading.

My A-team!  Ellie woke up, so we couldn't stay too long.  Adam had me read him a flap Halloween book four times (he just adores Halloween).   Then off to find a park.

Drove towards Volney, hoping to catch Tammy,  it wasn't to be, so stopped at Volney Elementary...where I spent third and sixth grades.. Playground is bigger.  There were kids there from a day program...Adam junped right in ti play...but Mss Abbey got distracted by a butterfly.  She ran across the field chasing it.  Which both infuriated and enchanted me.  

And the 'shark!' As Abbey says...This is what's left from when I was a kid...used to be full of these animals.  They had fun.  And they burned some energy. Miss Ellie watched them...she wanted to join in I think!  Didnt expect a Fulton adventure when I started today since I really don't like it there, but why not?  Still love that library...

Adam's School Picnic

Adam's last day of school was a picnic in East Park, aka the park next to the courthouse, which is only  a few blocks from here.  I had thought about bringing Ellie as everyone wanted to see her (she was three weeks old). but I ended up brining her when I dropped Adam off at the school and Bobby watched the girls.  Above is Nicholas, Adam's favorite friend all year.  Nicholas had a big heart towards Adam at the beginning of the year when he wasn't talking and couldn't converse well.  I think because with his severe peanut allergy, he knows what it's like to be different.  AND they both have the trouble making twinkle in their eye...I noticed that after October, they were NOT seated together again.  ha.  Below is Adam ducking into a game.  There is nothing he seems to leave more than tag or any running around game.

They were playing prisoner and guard on top.  Adam just loves this game.  Doesn't he look like a big boy?

That's Issac...another one of his buddies.  The playground time was a far cry from the beginning of the year when Adam just couldn't figure things out.  He still struggles with some social cues, but he was having fun...

With his teachers!  Love this photo.  He can't wait to go back to school this year...