Swimming Lessons continue

We have continued to keep our fishes in swimming lessons. They are now in their third round. Evan our Pisces is thriving. He is doing all that is asked of him and more.



Gregory however is having a harder time. He is the first to run full force to the ocean but does not like to jump in the pool. He loves being out of the water and doing his tickle T touch however doing it in the water is a very sloppy motion. Gregory will not do a bob yet. And his focus there is on playing and not listening to the teacher. But he is having a good time and making progress just slower.



Daddy and I are proud of them. We will keep them in these lessons as long as it takes. Our goal is for them to be safe in the water and if he is a polly wog at 13 so be it.

Where is the baby

Brendan is that you under there?

A new floor in the sun room

A break from Bigantine. Post sit waiting to be completed although it seems so long ago now that we went. But the memories are still fond and I wish I could go away with the family again. But that won't be for a little while yet. My pictures to accompany the post are trapped in a computer that is in piece's all around the house. But it is not in pieces for the usual reason of my husband is updating or adding something to it but because we (he) has been busy installing a new floor.

It took many scattered days and times to pull it all together and truthfully it is not done. A while back I started the project ripping up carpet and moving the light stuff out. Jay finished moving the big things that all had to be disconnected and pulled up the rest of the carpet. With that done we swept the floor and for once in our house we had a good workable floor underneath.




Jay started laying the laminate and that actually went pretty fast. Before long we had a floating floor. We went out and got trim but hired that out. He was not ready for such a hard task. Like I said we have a little left to do but in the meantime the boys are enjoying it as a playroom.




Smiley overseaed.

We got in the water

All around us were weather alerts. Not only one but two nor-easters were undeniably going to hit us. At home in Pennsylvania this means chaos and worry. The slight mention of such a storm sends all the residents of the afflicted counties to the grocery stores, gas stations, and back home to bunker up and prepare for the worst. A nor-easter means no school, no shopping, no work, no leaving the house. In these storms the snow, blizzard never stops it just falls and says. Building feet of snow closing roads and trapping you where you are. But this is very early for a snow storm the beginning of October. And we are to far east for snow. Beach weather is not to conducive to blizzards. But it was cold, but WE WERE AT THE BEACH!



Our first full day we couldn't resist. We put on our sweaters and headed out to play in the ocean. It was cold. The water was in the 60's and the outside temperature was even lower.



Baby did not like it.




The big boys couldn't resist getting in. We first started by just getting our feet wet. Feeling the sand, testing the water but before long we were drenched. People gave us strange glances while they walked along the water in their parkas.




Evan had no fear and went under the waves twice. But then got he got so very cold. We all did and retreated in to warm up.

Brigantine Inn

Finally. Yes we got there. We pulled up to our hotel a little in disbelief that we made it. Finally. Not because it was a long drive but because of all the trials. The hungry kids jumped out of the truck eagerly and I removed baby from his car seat only to find out he had completely drenched it and himself. A feeling of what would have been frustration was eliminated by the fact the hotel was on the beach. And I mean ON THE BEACH. There was a street in front of the hotel, in the middle was the building and when you opened the rooms doors you were on the beach. Not even a sand dune in between. We were at the beach. All is good.



We walked into an old historic hotel, greeted by a doorman welcoming us who then walked us to the desk and checked us in. He pointed us to a room close by on the ground floor. Only for us to find out that we had rented the biggest suite there. It was a nice hotel completed in art deco. Not one that you see every day. I was so glad to be there, out of the truck and at the beach.




The kids quickly ran around the place as I walked to our room looking up at the high ceilings and art on the walls. It was nice I was trying to take it all in as I was overhearing some weather forecasts on the large flat screens across from the cigarette art.




Our room was fine. It would do. All of us ran to the door which we quickly opened to the warm beach air to look out at the ocean. We were here. And we were on the beach!

http://www.celebrityresorts.com/pages/locations/brigantine.php

Getting out the door was a feat in its self

I never thought it would have been so hard to just leave. I expected they delay just because Jay can't get out the door in the mornings. This is a constant frustration each Sunday as the kids and I set in the car waiting to go to church only hear him say okay I am gonna take a quick shower! So I had no illusions that my 7am leaving dream or even 8 am last hope would probably not come true. But I tried. I had to work the night before our trip which put me home after 4 in the morning. That was okay I figured I could sleep in the truck on the way and we could still be out the door pretty early making it to Philadelphia for and a recommended Italian restaurant. I had been calling Jay all night checking up on him. Making sure the kids were bathed, asleep and the truck was packed. Every time I called I got the same answer "Brendan is being fussy and I am walking him around. I will pack the stuff later." That is ABSOLUTLY not what I wanted to hear. Please tell me the truck is packed and I am going to early so I can cheerfully wake up and drive to the beach. And yes Karen the kids finished all their school work for the week, Gregory even learned the next few weeks verses, and both kids are now accomplished swimmer. Wishful thinking.

No my reality was some things were packed, many meals were made a head of time, thank you, but there was a lot to be done in the morning and my family was asleep everywhere. I found bodies in the beds, on the floor, sitting on the couch. I was so tired myself I just put people where they belong and went to bed. I did wake up early. I started getting the kids ready very quickly and throwing stuff in the truck. jay was moving around but not fast enough for, he is never fast enough for me though. I should get used to this but I have just took up lying to him instead. Very often I will tell him we need to be there at this time so we can make it there but the real time. It usually works but not on Sunday when he knows the real time we need to be there and even the later time we can be there because we never are ready for the time we should be there. You can start to see this really bothers me.

Anyways I had thrown the children into the truck for two reasons
1 to motivate Jay
2 to keep them out of the way as we loaded everything up.
We did pack everything up checked the house and checked again. It seemed good we were actually ready! The kids cheered enthusiastically, I smiled from ear to ear. I was so ready for a vacation so ready to go to the beach. Even ready to play a few hands and win big so the rest of our lives would be a permanent vacation. Jay and I both got into the truck put the key into the ignition and...click click. Nothing! Devastated. I knew where this was going and uff da. Not good. We tried again and click click. The battery was dead. How were we going to jump our big monster truck?

The car was there and since I had just got home the battery was charged. But the truck was in a weird spot. Not leaving us any room to pull the car around to jump it. After a bit of frustration we decided to bring the car through the neighbors yard to jump the monster truck with the cutest itty bitty jumper cables you have ever seen. The battery was covered in battery acid but after my husband amazing knowledge of how to clean it, neutralize it, and connect the cables the truck started up with a might roar. Yes we were gonna be able to go! I was apprehensive about this battery so we were going to go get a new one then be on our way. That's okay a set back but we are still going just a little later, a lot later than I wanted.

We went to move the car and tragedy. In driving through the neighbors yard we had high centered the and it was stuck. We could not push it we could not prop the tires, it had to be towed out of there. Jay beyond mad ready to give up. Me upset but very quite, the children curious and not understanding what is going on. We drove to Walmart and it did not have a tire section. Jay even more mad by the minute showing in the escalating speed of the truck drove us the LONG way to another Walmart. They had a tire section we got a battery and through more trials got it replaced in the truck. No time to deal with the car.



We towed it out of the yard. Not thinking twice hopped in the truck and were finally ready to go. And with three quick bathroom visits, each drawling more frustration we left. Glad to be on the road.



We drove, we were happy and on our way to the beach. Relieved, starting to laugh a little about the situation but still a little to soon still a little to sour and now it was 1 o'clock but we were going.



It was an easy drive there. No accidents, no congestion and no rain. We no longer were going to stop for lunch we were just gonna get there.


Philadelphia

And we finally did! We made on vacation to Atlantic City.

This time tommorow

We will be on our way to the beach! Yes we are not counting down days we are counting sown the hours. We are packing up, loading the truck, getting ready for some awesome family fellowship time. It is later in the years so we may not be able to splash in the water and ride the waves. The water might have a cooler tinge right now than we like but at least we are going to the ocean. We will put our feet in we will enjoys ourselves and we will praise the Lord for giving us this time to be at our favorite place with our favorite people. See you in a week!

Halloween is 24 days away

Things are starting to look a little spooky.



Skeletons are everywhere




This self portrait we found on the cammera might be the scariest.



We are having fun decorating!

I love my Evan

My little guy was running around the house the other day "collecting" money. In other words robbing his Dad and I blind. We were getting ready to go out for the day and I figured he was just getting money to buy something there. after a little bit he came running to me with a pocket full of money and said "here Momma here's money for you ticket." What a sweet giving child. I will need to remember this when the tables are turned and he is 19, with his new license, and accumulating the tickets and points!

9 days and counting

We are getting excitied! We are counting down the days. We are soon, next week, going on vacation.






Can you guess where?

I found 3 pennys heads up but where is my good luck?

It has been a tough week. One of those weeks where things just aren't going my way. I have been working a lot. My schedule has been flip flopping which makes me very tired. I did not get to make it to any of the kids swimming lessons or AWANAS.

We did not even make it to church on Sunday. We couldn't find either of our keys to either of our vehicles. We literally were standing all dressed up, bags packed, baby in his bucket at the door of the car realizing we did not have car keys or truck keys. As we searched for them the minutes ticked by and we missed the service. We eventually found one set of keys, unlocked the car to find the other.

I went to work very early on Monday, with almost no sleep. It was a bad day there and the place was falling apart and I was beyond exhausted unable to do anything. Tuesday on my way to work feeling a little more rested I jumped in the car and took off. Apparently a little to fast. I got pulled over. Yes I was speeding and I got a ticket. A salty hit to our budget. I was looking at a weekend trip in New York but decided against it as it was a little to much. I am glad I did not book it because this ticket is MORE! Ugh I am so mad. A ticket! So much for my good driving record and great insurance. In despair I called my husband and he laughed at me. Then said slow down. But what is worse is he told the kids. He told the kids Mommy was driving fast and the policeman gave her a ticket. The kids asked if Mommy was bad and had to go to jail. He was laughing and said yes.

No I was not in jail. When I woke up the next morning and saw the little boys they ran to me, hugged me, and cheered Mom your home from jail! Thanks honey. I can't wait to they tell their bible school teacher this one.

Brendan is 3 months old

I did it! I am now a big three months old!

I have learned so much. How to smile. How to laugh.




That everything goes in my mouth.





How to wrap my family around my fingers, my cute chubby fingers.



How to keep my parents up at night to play with me and then takes naps when I want them.




I am growing big.

The Worst Parents

I have the worst parents!

They are so mean.

I cry and pout and they take pictures.

I want to feed, picked up and held.

But instead they stand above me and laugh.

How did they get their signals so crossed?

When my little lip is out fluttering that does not mean coo at me it means fix it my mean parents.

How can you let your baby here like this?

You are the worst!

How many fridges does a family of 5 need?

I had a dream last night that we had moved. That we had bought and were now living in our BIG house. It was not a mini mansion just a big house with a really big kitchen. When we bought our house we bought it with the intention of moving in 5 years. Stay here fix it up and build equity was the goal. It is a very affordable home and was then close to my husbands work.

But since then my husband does not work at that location anymore and I now work in where I have over an hour commute each way. Last week when I got stuck in traffic it took me 3 hours to get there. Thank God for an empty bladder and a full gas tank!

We are and have been quickly outgrowing this house. Now there are 5 of us here 6 is in the plans for the next year or two, I want 10-10-10, how cool would that be! One of my desperate wishes is a LARGE Humongous kitchen. Modern super high end appliances, lots of counter space tons of seating and large scale restaurant refrigerator and freezers.

We started out with a small hand me down very unenergy efficient fridge that my parents had spare. In fact we had to get it in the house before we could even close as a weird stipulation. We used it for a while till we SAVED up and payed cash for a new side by side stainless steel fridge. It was absolutely as big and wonderful we could get that would fit in the designated space. We were so happy and pleased for the cool look extra space and no more constant running.

As the kids got older we got a freezer. That was a great help. We could now store on sale items, chicken, beef, french fries, and we could store pizza. Frozen pizza does not always fit into a side by side.

But still we were constantly running out of room.

We had talked about getting a second fridge for a while but never really acted on it. With the labor day and back to school sales we finally acted on it.

Today on my husbands shopping list diapers, lunchables, and a new fridge. Yes we are getting the 2nd much needed fridge. It is another stainless steel fridge but is smaller and is an over under fridge/freezer. Freezer on top. What a luxury and convenience. I want to use it for the boys. So we can put there food drinks and ice cream in. Okay my ice cream too. But it will be even more energy efficient because we will now be opening the other one less keeping it cooler and running less.

Franklin County Chili Cook Off

This year the Franklin County Fair thought they would try something new... a chili cook off! Yeah! That is right up our ally. As a native Texan I love chili. My husband who also lived there got to experience what he calls chili like none other. He loves there style of chili. He makes it for me and my Dad, native Texan also, with such enthusiasm.

As a large extended family we love to go to chili cook offs. I have been going since I was a kid and think it is so much fun to take my parents and kids now that I am an adult. Every year at the beginning of winter we look forward to Ice fest. A great celebration that my family starts off with attending their chili cook off. Nothing warms you better than walking up and down the city's streets looking at the amazing ice sculptures after being warmed up by tons of competitors chilies. And each year we seam to take more people as my brother and niece came this year. Here is me and my then 3 year old sampling some of the best. I guess baby is sampling it too as he was still in my belly.




At a local produce barn I grabbed a fair catalog. In it I saw an announcement. 1st annual Franklin County Fair chili cook off. I told my husband about it and immediately it was something he wanted to enter. I was excited he was so excited. He had made a new chili for us the week before and said that is the one I want to enter. That is the best Texas chili ever. With all that excitement I did not want to rain on his parade but his idea off chili is a bit different that the local Pennsylvanians ideas of chili.

As best and gently I tried to explain that to him. He understood SOMEWHAT. I also had to tell him that most people do not like to eat chili as hot as he does. He just can't seem to understand that one though. But in agreement with me he said he would chose to make a different chili.

Still he was excited. He wanted to use a secret ingredient, hard to find peppers we litterly traveled hours to buy and even had some shipped in from Texas (foreshadowing). Along with fresh daily picked peppers form his pepper garden. He thought with the fresh peppers and hard to find peppers and spices he had it in the bag.

Finally the day off the cook off came. In the weeks before his excitement had led to hundreds of dollars of purchases for this event and now not only could he show the county his culinary chili skills he could play with all the "toys" he had got for it. That he swears to me will be useful otherwise, and they do look great filling up the floor space in my house and shed. Utilitarian decorating. We now can whip out a bowl of chili in our shed, living room or kitchen anytime we want!

We got there in the morning, excited and nervous. Two vehicles, tons of gear, a growing number of kids we all unloaded and were eager to help. That was until the children saw the rides and animals. See ya honey! We will be back in time to try it and vote for you! So I along with his little sous chefs took off.



He started cooking. The smells were entrancing. People were counting down the hours until it was time to taste it. At 4 it was that time. He ladled it out to many tasters. Even the kids and I came back.




It was great! But I was surprised. Yup he had made a HOT chili that was very much like Texas chili. It did not have the heartiness of traditional chili. It was a good chili but still not the idea of what you would think of when you thought chili. I became nervous as to what the county would think. They liked it. But in the end they chose a traditional chili as first place.

However Jay won 2nd!!!!! Congratulations to the Jay.



The boys were happy to see their dad up on stage receiving his award and check!



We are all so proud of him. He left the competition happy but said next year I am going to make something that the masses want. Ah hum!?! And we can't wait to try it. Check out that beautiful not doctored up at all, really, Pennsylvanian sky. Beautiful.

We are all smiles here

There is nothing more contagious than Brendan's smile. We call him smiley, for obvious reasons.



Each morning we run down to him coo cuddle and smile at him. Then he smiles back! It never gets old and it is looked forward to everyday.

He smiles when he sees and hears his brothers. He could be fussy and a bit restless but then the touch of 2 adoring big brother turns it all around.




They love to hold Brendan as much as he loves to be held. I smile because they do.

Up goes another

I wasn't sure when this would happen but it has started. The work on the new deck. It is going to be exactly the same but with the stairs moved across from the door. Jay and I wanted a big nice deck but since the house is getting ready to be sold we did a small what was there deck. Either way it is safer and nicer. And the kids had fun chasing each other on it.