Christmas was special. Not traditional in any sense, but special. Special because my sons and I were together. All 3 of us were sick this year. Made for some inventive spur-of-the-moment improv, but we managed, and we're on the road to feeling 100% again.

We didn't have any Christmas dinner, so today Mommy is cooking a turkey and all the trimmings, and making party plates for our 3Stooges New Year's Eve.

I am amazed at how fast this year has gone by ... and I am thankful for each and every minute of the past 365 days.

So goodbye 2010, thankyou for all the memories, milestones, and time. We look forward to 2011 and all the NEW it has to offer us 3Stooges..............

Us 3Stooges have done a lot this month....

• Went to Disney On Ice...was UBER fun!!!
• Saw Santa and even got a candy cane
• helped Mommy wrap Grandma and Grandpa's gifts
• drove around and looked at all the pretty lights
• went to MinterGardens and went on the train ride
• went out to lunch to Boston Pizza...boys thought it neat there were super huge tvs there while we ate
• set up our Christmas Tree
• sent Grandma and Grandpa on a date for just the 2 of them. We really love those 2
• went on a field trip to the post office and mailed all our letters.
• went back to the post office to receive a special parcel from our out of town family.
• went to the movie store and rented all the old school Christmas cartoons that Mommy used to watch as a kid. THen we got to go to the store and pick out special movie date treats for our movie date night.
• baked and baked and baked.....and ate lots of it too.

Probably a lot more but those are the highlights CHace and Cole were adament about..........

5 more days!!!!!

Happy You Day

My Dear GRamps....

Happy Birthday.

I miss you so much. Every day I am reminded you're no longer here with us and my heart aches. I know you are at peace and I am thankful you are no longer in pain. But how I long to be able to dial your number and hear your voice, so soothing to my soul.

I love you. My Grandfather. My Hero. My Motivation. My World. My boys' "Papa".

You are, and always will be, my kindred spirit. XOXOXO

Bye Bye Chloe....

Part of being a mother is doing the right thing for your children. Sadly most of the time this means doing the hardest thing.

Today was a really hard day and a lesson in Motherhood. Earlier this week the dr phoned with the results from Chace's medial tests. He's been sick and feeling "off" for a few months now , off and on, and my worst fear was confirmed. Chace is allergic to his furbaby, Chloe :( I cried, and put off telling my son for 2 days.

Thankfully we managed to find a wonderful loving home for Chloe, but it didn't lessen the pain any when I told my 4yr old that we had to give her away in order for him to get better.

My heart broke as I watched Chace bravely cuddle and kiss her for the last time this morning ... he handed her to her new family and whispered "see you later my girl I love you most."

The mom and I exchanged watery smiles and us 3Stooges watched Chloe's new family drive away with our furface.

Chace broke down and sobbed, heartbroken. I sobbed.

Chloe, we love you. We're sorry we couldn't keep you and we wish you a long happy life with your new family. THankyou for being a part of our lives.
XOXO

Let me......

Let me know when I make you proud

And help me to have pride in my accomplishments.

Let me earn your trust. THen trust me.

I won't let you down.

Let me try my wings. If I fail, let me know it's okay.

And encourage me to try again.

Let me know you love me. With a hug. Or a pat on the back.

Or, when I need it,

With a firm but gentle "no".

Let me be. Let me change. Let me grow.

Let me tell you when I'm feeling bad. Or angry. Even at you.

And let me know that even on my worst days, you still like me.

Let me dream. Share my joy when my dreams come true.

Share my tears when they don't.

Let me feel secure in my ho me. Help me realize that love is

always there;

that I can depend on you no matter what.

Let me run ... Let me laugh ... Let me play.

And most of all, let me be a child.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

I am just so thankful for every single giggle, smile, eye crinkle, nose wrinkle, gut laughing moment in our life..........and even more thankful those moments are countless

Fun-ness

Heehee....I just love the pic of Cole....not too sure if he's seriously concentrating or scared LOL!!!

HeartSmiles

"Mommy I'm really glad you work hard for our house and us.. It's nice. And I like having so much food, and toys, and neat warm clothes. You're so nice Mommy. Thankyou. I love you more than I think I know. "

~Chace William, 4yrs old.

Marveling Men!

We had a great time trick or treating and loading our pillowcase - yes PILLOWCASE - full of sugary goodness. The caped crusader couldn't walk fast enough and SPidey's senses were tingling with fear at the scarier houses so WonderWoman (aka Mommy) had to assist the webbed wonder in his candy mission.
Grandma made us hot chocolate afterwards and surprisingly we were all back home and in bed early (yay!)

Boo!

BroBonding

I relish in seeing the way my 2 little troublemakers bond. THey have their own special little world and it is so amazing to watch just how close my sons are. This wonderful little world hosts some fist fights and wrestling sessions that aren't all in good fun, but most days the two are like Mutt and Jeff, giggling laughing and imagining. Together.
I feel so very lucky to be able to see this, and watch my two little men grow and experience life together.

Chace asked me the other day amid a city of mega blocks (I was informed it was their fort because it's going to snow soon). "Mommy can my brother be my friend too? Cause I love him like both."

Cole was waiting, almost anxiously, for my answer...he really wanted big brother, his hero, to be his friend too.

"you can be friends with whomever you choose. I think it's pretty special if you can be brothers and friends too. THat seems pretty lucky to me."

COle beamed, and Chace nodded. He turned to his little brother and said "Ok we're buddies too. That makes me content." "Ya me too Chace. thanks for loving me like both."

My two handsome sons went on playing and building and bonding.

Ifind myself wondering where the heck the time went, especially lately, with both boys printing, spelling, and exploring the "Big boy" world. Definitely bittersweet....and what I wouldn't give for a night in the rocking chair, my baby boys fast asleep, snuggled up close.

I am very proud of how my little men are growing, experiencing, learning. Each of them developing their own viewpoints, interests, and personality.

I look back now and their personalities aren't much different from when they were babies. incredible really.

I love my boys.

Printing Press

Very proud of my little Prince, he's so proud that he can print his name, and decided at 6am this morning that showing off these skills was fun. :)

:)

Clock Watching

Cassy, we love you. For 10 years you and I have been together. Companions. "girlfriends". I promise you, my most loyal friend, I will not let you suffer, and however long we have left here on earth together you will be happy and know you're loved.
Old Girl, you make our house feel like Home. XOXO

CupCake Cuties

Mommy got the brilliant idea to bake cupcakes and have the boys decorate them all by themselves...OHMY!! Who knew icing could hide for days....on walls, under the table, on chairs, on the floor....*sigh*....

ThankfulNess

The boys listed off the things they are thankful for today. It was cute watching them count on their fingers. Chace even asked me if he could count his thumb because it was technically not a finger. Ha Ha!

Chace's top5

1. You Mommy


2. Magic School Bus


3. Nature


4. my friends. they make me laugh


5. Grandma's hugs.

Cole's Top5

1. Diggers


2. Mama


3. Grandpa being silly. He's really funny


4. being your baby Mommy.


5. bananas

I'm thankful for being a Mommy. Their Mommy.

We had a few fun-filled busy days, us 3Stooges....first Mommy got some assistance from Cole while mopping...he has fancy footwork that little boy ;)

Then we proudly hung some Thanksgiving preschool artwork and the boys had a (At times not-so) friendly spelling competition with our fridge magnets.

We scored some wood craft kits at the dollar store and Chace was very content to sit at our art table until the project was done. I see future carpenter, architect, inventor.....hmmmm early retirement for Mommy?!

Our weekly movie date...we get a kick out of going to the movie store and picking a m ovie to watch...Mommy makes sure the cuddle blankie is freshly warmed up in the dryer, snack plates are served, and the clicker is handy.

Goodnight :)

"I'm so sorry....."

The rest I didn't hear as tears blurred my eyes and I stared at the ultrasound screen.

I don't care what others say or offer up for "Comfort". No words can fix the whole in my heart. I am so angry. At the unfairness and loss. I'm so angry at my body for not doing what it's supposed to.
Mostly I'm scared and hurt. What did I do wrong in this life that twice God has given me a beautiful gift, only to take it back again?

On a wing and a 4yr old's Prayer.....

"Dear God thanks for our Mommy.
Everything about her. Thanks too for
telling her we can have french fries
for dinner, I ate all my veggies too!
Thanks for my animals, they make
my family so funny. Thanks for my Cole.
He makes me a proud
brother. Thanks for my Gramma & Grampa. THey love
us lots. And God,
please tell Papa that Mommy needs him tomorrow. We love you
God,
thankyou!!"

I was absolutely stunned, listening to my firstborn's prayer tonight....I bowed my head , said "Amen" and kissed that precious Prince's forehead. He smiled up at me and went to sleep.

Dear Lord, I don't know what I ever did to deserve such a beautiful gift, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart each and every day......Thank you for my beautiful boys. Thank you for the gift of true love. Thank you for the gift of Motherhood.

TeamWork

"Mommy is there any projects that you need our help to do?"

This led to 2 days of housework, baking, and enjoying the Team I'm blessed with.
Chace and Cole helped me in the kitchen, trying out new recipes I've had marked in the cookbook for ages.
Chace helped me move furniture and make room for new furniture.
Cole helped with the sweeping and sorting piles of the treasure inevitably found under the furniture.
Both boys helped me fold laundry and clear out the clothes that no longer fit all 3 of us (depressing all the way around...my babies are growing up, and Mommy seems to be growing out, *sigh*).
I really love my time with my boys.
This morning both were upstairs getting dressed...a recent event that Mommy is not allowed to help with (lol)...both were giggling and came down the stairs in their underwear....holding hands they jumped off the bottom step yelling "here comes the incredible UNDIES BOYS!!!".

hee hee....I love that my boys are warped like me :D

SnapShots.....

If ever I have a moment where I wonder if all the hard, unappreciated, non-stop work of going this road of parenthood alone is worth it....I know I can look back on these moments in time and feel my heart smile

Food For Thought

http://magicalchildhood.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/what-should-a-4-year-old-know/

DECLUTTER

So the past few days have been spent clearing and sorting what I categorize as Clutter. That evil entity that seems to multiply even as I sort it. So far Have managed to get rid of 2 boxes of random things to the local thrift stores and 2 recycling bags of papers that just don't cut it anymore.
Amazing how much "Stuff" one accumulates over time...I managed to condense 14 totes down to 6.....unreal!!
Also made the choice to declutter my (And our) life. I have had closure conversations with those who were negative and toxic to Us. I have set a timeline to achieve my goals. I have chosen to quit avoiding less-than-comfortable tasks and face them all head on.
For the first time in over a month I slept through the night.

After

Hard to see in this pic but MiniMan now has a metal spacer where his molar used to be. Cole is worried he'll stick to the fridge magnets if he gets too close LOL!!

:P