My Kitty

So, I don't remember if I've posted a picture of my cat or not. Anyway, here he is, my Sal:

We've had him almost a year now, I can't believe it....but it's true. Jonny got him for me for my birthday last year. He's such a good kitty. I'm glad we got him.

Picnik Fun

So, between my sister-in-law's new camera's options and the picnik website, I've been having some fun with pictures. Here's an example:

Jessie's camera has a color pick up option that makes the picture black and white, except for the color chosen. Obviously, in this picture the color was blue and only Liam's overalls were blue. Cool effect, huh? I think so. Then, add "picnik" to the mix and you get this:


One of my favorite effect is "vignette", the shading around the edges of the picture. Such a nice effect. I would have rounded the edges too, only I had to hurry cuz David was fussing. The cool thing about the picnik website is that it is free to a certain extent and easy to use. If you want to pay, you get more features (like you can make your picture into a puzzle, too cool!)
Anyway, I had fun with it.

Mental Picture

I got home from work tonight and it was quiet. Such a relief, David is finally settling into having Jon watch him at night, at least so it seems.

I went to check on them, and this is the sight I see (didn't want to wake them up with a flash, so you'll have to imagine):

Jonny laying in bed (on MY side)...David curled up in his left arm. Liam sleeping next to them.

So peaceful. So beautiful. It doesn't get much better.

We Got Him Good!!!!!

We threw my Father-in-laws 60th birthday party last saturday. A complete surprise.
50-some people invited, a band hired, tons of great food. It was great! And this is how it all started:

no cavities here folks!!!

So, I went to the dentist today. For the first time in about ten years. And much to my surprise, my teeth-despite a tad bit of staining-are healthy and strong! This is way cool. There is some more in depth cleaning they want to do, but nothing drastic. I am so happy!

Feet Friday

I call this the "Hi-Yah!" picture.

so alike, so different

I was about to delete this picture from my camera when I happened to take a good look at it and then couldn't resist uploading it to my page. Look at my boys! Aren't they silly?!?
Having two is so much fun. A challenge...sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into, but fun none-the-less.
It is fun to watch them grow, watch their personalities develope.

Liam is very serious. Liam is my pensive child. Liam didn't sleep much. Liam hated baths. Liam was bald as a baby. Liam never looked or sounded like a newborn, even at first. Liam is very withdrawn when he first wakes up, needs time to "wake up".

David is more phelgmatic. David is my curious child. David sleeps alot. David loves baths. David was born with a full head of hair. David looked and sounded like a newborn at the beginning.
David wakes up with a smile for anyone, and is ready for anything.

Both boys are strong. Hardy. Adventurous. They love each other and they love the people around them. Neither one liked the car in the beginning, but it can put them to sleep. Both boys love the outdoors.

I look forward to the years to come and to the additions I make to these lists.

Weekend At Nana and Papas

We went to my folks house last weekend and had a blast. Here's some photo-proof of our fun:

Liam eating one of the apples from my Dad's trees. They are SO good!

Me trying to take a nice picture while my silly son throws apples at me!!!

Faith, Daniel and David.

Liam finally tangled with some nettles. I think he lost. (the welts were all the way up to his elbow and around his arm! Poor guy!!!)

My Boys Together

It's so precious and priceless to see my boys interacting together. In the morning, when David first sees Liam, his face lights up in the biggest smile. He already adores his big brother. And Liam thinks David's pretty cool too. I love it. Here's just a few pictures of this amazing brotherly love:

Face to face
Sharing David's toy
bath time (notice Liam is washing David's face)

Cloth Diapers---I Cannot...Or Can I?

I thought of a great idea for saving some $$....cloth diapers. We already have them from using for a little while with Liam, all I had to get where a couple packs of the covers that fit David's little tushie (which I was able to get with a gift card I was given). This would save some serious cash, as my dear boy still goes through 8-10 diapers a day.
But, after trying for a few days to get beyond the gross factor of having to rinse out poopy cloth diapers, I have re-discovered what I discovered with Liam: that it's too much for me. I just CANNOT force myself to do it. I can't. It's so gross!

I really esteem those I know who can. You all are amazing.

You may say that it's just breast-milk poo, and I could just toss them in the washer without rinsing them. I have heard that this is true, but here's where my ocd tendancy (we all have SOMETHING we're ocd about) kicks in: the idea of the poo being in my washer is disgusting and I just can't work past that.

I just did the math for how much it actually cost me to diaper my child in disposables. 15 cents a diaper. That's 1.50 a day, if he uses 10 diapers in a day. Times 30 days in a month and I'm spending 45 dollars a month; that ends up being 540 dollars a year. Whoa, now that does seem a bit of a serious expenditure. There's so much five hundred and forty dollars can buy.

Oh, the decisions I have to make.
Maybe if I put aside the money I would be using to buy diapers with and gave myself some sort of incentive, like:
"At the end of the year, I will buy a new couch at IKEA"....maybe, just MAYBE I could be willing to rinse pooy cloth diapers.

Feet Friday

My mom has started "feet friday" as a fun addition to her blog, and I think it is a really cute idea. I keep forgetting, but tonight was reminded, so here is my addition to the fun: the feet of my beloved boys. These were taken at the beginning of August.


This last one is my favorite. I love it.

Reflection Take 2

For those of you who dont frequent facebook or myspace, there is a dealy on there called "my status". On mine, it currently reads:
"Jenn is glad she actually likes her job, cuz otherwise leaving the kids would be beyond bearable."

And honestly, I DO like my job. I hate, hate, hate the fact that I have to work and be away from my family, but I like the job I have and the majority of my co-workers and customers. I like the fact that I've "returned" and get to become reacquainted with everyone, and get to talk about my cutie-kids and all. I like the adult interaction. I like the new espresso machines at our store, talk about snazzy! I like sipping on free smoothies (I get them without the protein powder, SO much better!) or sweet and spicy hazelnut-chai tea lattes. Oh yum.

So, while I'd still rather not have to work, it could be a whole lot worse and I'm grateful that I can enjoy myself doing it.
This is a blessing. A big one.

(Thanks, God!)

milestone!

September 10th 2008:
David can roll over from his back to his belly! Good grief! I figured it out when Liam was having his nap, I think. I had David on his floor mat-toy and had gone into the kitchen for something and when I came back, he was no longer on his back like I had put him, but on his tummy! And then last night, I was changing him for bed and I laid him on my bed and stepped over to the dresser. I turned around and he was on his tummy! It was less than 30 seconds! I am glad I always put him far from the edge on the bed! I put him on his back again and watched him, and he turned over again!

Reflection

What am I doing?
Leaving my kids for 4-6 hours a day, 3-5 days a week and hardly seeing my husband, especially during the week.
Why?
To bring home the one thing I wish we could live without.
But, wishes are just that, wishes.
My husband’s wage doesn’t cover our bills. Period. So, there really isn’t a question of me working or not, is there?
And, yet, there is….because I don’t want to be a working mom. I don’t. I never have, ever. Never ever.
I hate the thought of it. I don’t judge other moms for working; I just don’t want to be one of them.
And yet, I am required to.
Why?
Because of monetary commitments we have made.
Also because we don’t like having to scrimp to the point of not being able to be generous. We prefer generosity, and we want to be generous to our children, our family, our friends and strangers, even ourselves, every one around us; therefore I have to be and do something I hate.
Is it worth it?
I don’t know. I guess only time will tell.
I pray I’m doing the right thing, making the right decision, and oh, dear God, show me if I am not.

Last Child in the Woods

So, my mom gave me this book ages ago: "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv.I just started reading it about a week ago, and it is amazing. I figured it would be based on it's subject: Kids and the Great Outdoors, but have been surprised at just how much it touches my heart.

I grew up outside.

Trees were my friends, Nettles my enemies. Dirt was something to be treasured, not shied away from. The creek was an infinite source of pleasure. I spent many a summer hour just sitting on the roof of one of our sheds, or up in our treefort. I built numerous forts and hide-aways and "houses". I explored the boundaries and imagined and played and learned...

Even now, as an adult, the outside beacons..... the whisper of the trees still excites and surprises me. The smell of sweet summer grass fills me with glee. The woods and creek at my parents house still speak to me of a change-less time where peace and happiness are. I get into nature and I feel myself relax. Unwind. I take a subconscious deep breath. I belong, I am free.

I want this for my children. I want them to feel and experience the outside world the way I was able to. I don't want their experiences to be as limited as they have to be in the place we live, surrounded more by concrete and man-made objects than by trees and grass and dirt. I want them to be able to roam and run and breathe the sweet air that can only be found in the woods, near a creek, in a field. I want them to be able to create, build and yes, even destroy.

I do what I can. I bring the boys to the forest, I bring them to my parents house and watch with quiet pleasure as Liam asks to go outside...as he wanders through the paths and places I once did. I am sure David will join him in the years to come, and together they will find what I found: that nature is one of God's most beautiful gifts to us, a treasure to be most completely and profoundly thankful for.

National Forest

We took a little afternoon trip to the nearby National Forest during our four-day weekend. Here's some pictures from our time in the woods: