Aye Aye

It all started when Ella was barely walking and barely talking. An attempt at calling my dad "Papa" sounded like "Caca." We all laughed. We thought it was cute and funny. Heck, we encouraged it!

About 4 years later and it is still funny and still cute. But, well, things are changing a bit. Sadly, so many things that are funny from a 1 yr old are no longer funny at 5. And other 5 yr olds think we call our beloved big guy Poop.

And well, it wouldn't be such an issue if Drew didn't talk about HIM so much. Caca this and Caca that. Aside from his own name, it was the first word Drew could write independently. Every picture at school is for Caca and now sports his name. The "Things I am Thankful For" poster in the school lobby now proudly displays "CACA" next to my boys name.

So, we have been talking for days about renaming our grandpapa. Grandpa and Papa were immediately rejected. Boss Man, Big Guy, and Poppy were similarly shunned.

Without further ado I introduce to you our newly renamed.....

Captain.

Overcooked

Not much to say, but feel like I should be saying something.

My brain is a little mushy, as the lack of sleep may be catching up to me.

The logisitics of traveling by plane with my 4 littles has my mushy brain spinning. 6 more days and we are off to sunny Florida.

Im sure the vacation is a sure fire cure for brain mushiness.

Gratitude

We may say it a hundred times a day...Thank You. But once a year we gather together to really celebrate this whole idea of gratitude. Not just a passing "thanks" for holding the door open, but a deep sense of gratitude for the big things, the life affirming things, the ones that really matter.

Health, family, friends, love, laughter...

...and the rest is just gravy.

Sneaking In

Like the crisp winter air, there are a few things sneaking up on me these days, aside from the usual piles of laundry and dishes that appear each time I turn around.

It seems that Thanksgiving happened earlier this year. Last Autumn we made hand print turkeys for weeks, we have yet to make one this time around. I love Thanksgiving crafts and all the opportunities they allow to chat about gratitude, family and tradition. But somehow between Fall and Halloween we are left with only a few days to cram them all in. Luckily we have much to be thankful for all year, thus the conversations will continue.

Colby has suddenly become Mr. Awake. No longer asleep quietly in the corner for an hour or two, he is now awake for hours at a time. And demanding attention no less! I think the newborn honeymoon is almost over. Soon he will even be rolling around - gasp! Can you imagine mobility? My life will change again.

And our birthday season is approaching frighteningly fast. Three childrens birthdays that we had planned to celebrate quietly and simply. However, after attending numerous parties at fancy places with Batman, face painting, and amazing goody bags - the kids have been asking for their own parties, hourly. I am so against kids parties that cost up to hundreds of dollars for two hours. Outlandish. But their little faces when they ask and tell me who they want to invite...well, my resolve is wavering. My mind has been working over time brainstorming ideas that will cost me little to no money. And that I can accomplish between a family trip to Florida and Christmas. Simplicity is a hard concept for an almost 5 yr old to grasp...especially when discussing their own birthday.

The Big 3

I love 3 months. The baby is more solid, not all floppy like a newborn, and you have some sort of routine.
They have more expressions. Especially smiles.
Colby will smile at anyone, anytime. He has started a little giggle. And he kicks his feet like a maniac.
He is my chubbiest baby to date, with little leg rolls and no neck. I love every little roll and crease.
He has a grip! Once he grabs on to something he doesn't let go. Even in his sleep.

He is the true baby of the family. We all dote on him and fight for his attention. I've already become second fiddle to the excitement of his older brothers and sisters - but I don't mind. I still hold him and cuddle him like crazy.

Has anyone invented the baby freeze machine yet? I want him to stay like this just a little longer....

Adventures in Babysitting

At least once a day I look at them in shock.

They are mine.

How did that happen?

Pull

Sometimes it is just a little tug. A little something tucked away at the back of my mind. A little twang in the corner of my heart.

Other times it is a full fledged assault on my senses. With every breath I feel a pull, a yank, an almost tangible force willing me home. Home to my family. To the people who have known me, loved me, supported me every breath of my life.
Sometimes I humor myself and think that they need me. That I need to be there to visit them, care for them, support them.
But that just isn't the case.

I need them.

Happy

Drew:: Mommy, when are we going to Caca's house?

Me:: Tomorrow.

Drew:: Oh, then tomorrow is going to be the best day ever!

What a Girl Wants

She picks baseball hats over tu-tus and action figures over barbies. She snuggles up to stuffed animals, never a doll.

She runs and races, climbs and jumps. I often find her covered in dirt looking for worms.

But just when I think she is all tom-boy (and proud of it)...

...she arrives to dinner with lip gloss and pearls.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack in our house/car is heavy on wild laughter, with an undercurrent of teasing and crying - but we try to sneak in music as much as we can.

One may request a song - Ella loves Eye of the Tiger - and the other will fight it with all their might, yes, usually Tyler, "TURN IT OFF!!" Followed by the equally loud, "TURN IT ON!!" Sometimes I turn the music up loud enough so that I can't hear anybody. That seems to work, but then I feel a little guilty...especially since Colby joined our traveling circus.

Other favorite songs...Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, some Backyardigans tunes, Down by the Bay...Ella seems to like Katy Perry (yikes) and Drew likes a little TuPac (double yikes). We are all dabbling in a little country.

I can remember the soundtrack of my childhood - heavy on the Billy Joel, but really a mix of so many artists and genres. There was always music on, lifting the mood and inspiring random kitchen dancing. There was singing, humming, and whistling. Quite simply, it was good.

Id like to do the same for my children. But, I have to admit, sometimes the music has to go off. There is so much noise, so much of the day, that I often crave whatever silence I can find - even if it is only in the background.

Do you like?

Get a hold of my new banner!! Isn't it awesome?!

Not just another pretty face, Shauna is also so talented and GENEROUS! And I can't thank her enough for making my little blog so super cool.

But apparently I don't take enough pictures of her at family gatherings. This is the only one I can find! (The amazing Shauna is in the middle of my awesome Aunt and Cute Cousin) Shauna, we will have to have our own little photo shoot next time we are all together!

Thank you Shauna :)

xoxo

Disguise

Do you like my moustache?

Happy Friday! We have little planned for the cold weekend ahead. Just how we like it. Relaxing. Family time. Weekending things like reading the paper, watching movies, making pancakes.

Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo

Realization

It came to me this morning. A sudden realization that changed the whole mood of the day.

The soundtrack for the next 18 or so years will include teasing, tormenting and the accompanying whining and crying.

It can't be avoided.

So, I have some choices. Embrace it, join in! Fight it by separating them or punishing them. Or ignore it - tune it out and escape into my own thoughts.

I have a feeling I will employ all 3 choices several times a day.

Until my head explodes. Or college. Whatever comes first.

Fall Fun

We love Fall, but not when the season's first colds hit us. And hit us hard.

We are down and out these days.

Made worse by the departure of our Nonnie. But, she did leave homemade chicken soup.

Hopefully we will be back out enjoying the fleeting fall season before the first flakes appear...

Brotherly Love

Dear Colby,
I promise that the torture love that Tyler smothers you with all day will make you a tougher, better person in the long run.



Love Mom.

Treats and Treats

There were no tricks this Halloween, just lots and lots of treats.

My parents showed up to surprise the kids on Halloween morning. They walked up the block with long iridescent gowns and alien masks to ring the doorbell. My kids answered the door, a little apprehensive. They took one look at the Dunkin Donuts munchkin box in Caca's hand and yelled..."It's Nonnie and Caca!!"

We handed out candy all day. Tyler even emptied out his own treat bucket to give to the kids - he was really into it, although a little confused.


Pumpkins were scooped out and carved.

And of course there was trick or treating up and down the block with a brisk wind and the smell of cigar wafting around. Can you trick or treat without cigars?

We ended the night with a dinner. Gathered around my kids were their parents, their nonnie, their caca, and their grandma. We ate, laughed, and shared.

Perfection.