Springtime in Louisville...sports & sunshine!

Dean just wrapped up his first season on the YMCA 3 year old Purple Panthers basketball team, and loved every Saturday game which started way to early, but was full of fun. Now it is Bella's turn to play soccer, the sport she's been waiting to try out! The first game overwhelmed her a little, but she loves practice and the chance to see her friends on the field :) Now that spring had finally graced us with her presence signs of life are popping up in my garden. Both my children take after mommy in their enthusiasm about all things growing. Just today Dean yelled, "Mom, come see something beautiful"...then he attempted to turn my Hellebores right side up almost ripping them off to show me the flower. He is my little helper, always wanting to lend a hand whether needed or not :) and such a little athlete already.
We have a big trip to Florida planned for spring break to see Granny & Gramps (can't wait), then the celebration of Dean's 4th birthday, then Aunt Shar & Cousin Aiden's visit for Easter to look forward to! As the days get warmer, then chilly again, we have the beauty of spring to look forward to and all it's possibilities! I am so lucky & proud of the adorable, smart and adventurous kids I have. Both are social little happy creatures (for the most part:) who love thier friends (like their mommy) and each other which warms my heart!!! With each new season my love grows for these two little kids. Oh & a shoutout to Dean for FINALLY being done with all things diapers or pullups. About a month ago he decided to be a "BIG BOY" and wear underwear to bed. I just recycled my last Huggies box & gladly say goodbye to that stage of life!!!

Bella's 6th Birthday

Bella celebrated her 6th birthday at home with a "Girls Barbie Party". It was wonderful to see her spend her big day with a few of her friends she's known since she was a baby, some friends from preschool and some news friends from kindergarten at Hawthorne. They drank punch from tea cups, giggled, ate Barbie cake, watched Barbie fashion movie, decorated purses then entertained us with fashion shows in her room. It was priceless to watch how well they all got along & enjoyed the same silly things! She then got to bring a cake to school on the actual day Nov. 30th and celebrate with her class. She loved wearing a crown and the badge they gave her. Although she insists she still feels five, it was as if she matured over night to me. She loved all the gifts, but mostly being with the people so dear to her. She continues to be my social butterfly & doesn't mind being the "Bella of the Ball". As I watch her grow up each year she inspires me with the person she is becoming. Like her singing teacher Jare once said to me, "Everything is so BIG to Bella". It is my wish that she stays exactly as she is now, confident in what she wants,excited about life, learning and every new experience. If her friends at her party were an example of who she surrounds herself in life, she'll grow up one happy girl. I will never forget the 8 little girls holding hands singing ring around the rosy all dressed up like the little princesses they are.

Fall, Halloween & my 2 little monsters

Finally fall is upon us, after one of the hottest summers I've ever encountered since living in Louisville, and no one is taking this beautiful weather for granted. Walking the kids home from school is one of the perks we've found having both schools in our neighborhood! I even enjoyed bagging my first piles of leaves this weekend, just being outdoors with my Bella and Dean who are so excited about Halloween & all the events leading up to Trick-or-Treating. Just this weekend my little Wonderwoman and Spiderman went to 3 events in one day. I suspect I was "over scheduling" on many levels, but they are only this young once & get so excited about the little things...especially when they involve face painting, cookie decorating, costumes, candy, bouncers and slides, firetrucks, goo making, bday parties, cup cake walk, ice cream cake, playground time, more candy, movies with friends, extended bedtimes, trick or treating at the zoo...Oh, did I mention the fact that my kids like sugar? Wow, what a whirlwind weekend. I am exhausted, but I had a blast. Yes, they were cranky moments, potty accidents w/the 3 year old, snarky remarks from the children and mommy, but more smiles & memories than anything else. Tomorrow Dean goes on his first class trip to a farm to see animals & pick a pumpkin. He has been waiting to ride the school bus for as long as he could say it. He, like big sis loves preschool. He is surprising us on a daily basis how much he is learning...all his letters and numbers! He too loves to draw & paint and play with the kids. He will be my little athlete & is doing great at gymnastics on Thursdays which warms mommy's heart. He is now even staying late a few days a week, eating and napping at school like his sister did last year. I am mostly in my glory when I actually have a block of quiet time to focus on work these days when the kids are gone, but a part of me sees it happening too fast. I've welcomed each stage they enter peeling off another layer of who these little people are, saying goodbye to the baby years. There also is that part of me who knows it will be gone in the blink of an eye. Bella is 2 months into Kindergarten now, and has completely found her scene. It is not surprising that my little social butterfly adores her friends and every aspect of elementary school. She was so ready to dive into learning, exploring and growing this year and is doing wonderful. We were so proud at her parent/teacher conference to hear she is doing great at Math, Science and English. She is attending a Spanish immersion school and is picking up the beginnings of a second language like it is second nature. She is enjoying afterschool programs like YoungRembrants (my little artist) and starting Girl Scouts next week. Tomorrow she goes on a field trip also to see "If you give a Mouse a Cookie", Friday is the Fall Harvest at school and Sunday the big event Halloween. October 31st used to be known as my anniversary. In 1998 I dressed up as a bride, was the bell of the ball & had the time of my life. Now, at 40, like this beautiful season of change it is all about my little monsters...well mostly. Like the wind of change that blows beautiful leaves by my office window, I welcome what tomorrow brings during my favorite season. Fall never felt so sweet!

LBI Summer Vacation at the Jersey Shore

It is hard to believe my much anticipated trip to Long Beach Island with the kids is behind me, but not without leaving it's imprint and a week of wonderful memories with my family in the sun & sand. The moment I drive over the bridge there is a certain kind of ahhh that filters in unlike any other place. It truly is a slice of heaven. I am again grateful for my parents making this possible year after year and that all my siblings were able to make the trip!!! Although my kids are not from New Jersey, they now have a certain love of the state I grew up in & the family they get to see summer after summer. Sharlette and I enjoyed residing bayside with the little cousins, spending the days beachside at Granny & Gramps sweet house on the sand. Bella flew her first kite solo with Aunt Kristina & Uncle Sean. She shared special time with Granny every afternoon, while I took Dean back for
a nap. Dean dug in the sand with Gramps his buddy and ran wild with his cousin Aiden. They were fast friends this year, hanging out when Bella was busy. The waves were extreme this year, which made me grateful the Dean gained some fear of the ocean's strength. Rook & I enjoyed surfing on boogie boards one particularly rough day. That was a blast. In the evenings we all gathered for a Yates family meal and Shar & I had sister time to unwind from parenting and embrace a glass or two of red wine delight with our toes in the sand wishing for nothing but to live closer. I could fill pages with details, but for now will leave this post...until next year LBI! It always makes me sad to cross back over that bridge. Thanks for the memories!

Road Trip to Alabama

I never imagined I would be driving almost 20 hours in 4 days with a 5 & 3 year old, but our recent road trip to Alabama showed me anything is possible. I am grateful for my father-n-law Cliff offering to drive his car while I attempted to entertain Bella and Dean with constant entertainment (mostly movies)! I am also appreciative of his similiar appreciation for all things caffeinated (Starbucks) & calm manner in the face of insane outbursts (from me & the children):). Short road trips we take from here on out will seem short & sweet.

Speaking of short & sweet our time in Montgomery & Demopolis was nothing but. We fit in so much and the kids bonded with their cousins both big and small. We arrived Friday in time to see Christopher play a baseball game then spent Saturday swimming in the pool, playing & playing until total exhaustion set in. Bella discovered a new love for mini legos, nerf dart guns and her cousin's company!!! Dean blessed us with a strong nap after waking Mommy up at 5am central!!! He never paused in between splashes & trampoline bounces enjoying all the big kid toys he could get his big little hands on. Mandy, MeMe and Halle headed up for the day so we got to play with our sweet littlest nugget of a cousin Halle! We drove down to her hometown of Demopolis on Sunday and spent a fun day inside between raindrops managing to get a nice afternoon swim in. We finally caught up with Darren that night after the golf tourn and headed back to Annabella's (MeMe's) to meet the animals and crash.

It was sad to leave the cousins. Dean and Bella went through cousin withdrawel on the drive back, but were left with wonderful memories. Dean says his favorite memory of the trip was the donuts :), but I say it was the warm feeling of being surrounded by family. Thanks to my sweet nephews Chris & Josh for taking such great care of your little cousins Bella and Dean. They adore you. Thanks Pam and Mandy for daquiri's and margaritas during Dean's nap time....ahh a few moments of relaxation with libations. Hopefully we'll meet again sooner rather than later in either KY or AL! The four rainbows we saw on the way home were just the perfect ending to a perfect trip. Not to say I recommend 10 hours in the car to the faint of heart, but as Dora The Explorer says, "We Did It"! And we'd do it again.

My Kids Are So Much Cooler

Dean walks around with a strut, hands in pocket, my little ladies man, my blond James Dean. Bella has a confident fashion sense that oozes "her style" in every sense...my little Pippy Longstocking so sure of herself. My son is all boy. My daughter is all girl. They are both beautiful blends of the best of us, but so unique in their own way. Bella at 5 1/2 is already driving my crazy with her "sass", her "tude", her hands on the hips commands. She is in trouble often & in between for her lack of respect for all things other than Bella. She bosses her brother, her friends and her parents from time to time, but she is equally loveable and adored. She is the most creative child I have ever met and can churn out a drawing without hesitation in a minute so sure it will be the best gift a person will have recieved all day...often it is! She is smart as a whip and stubborn as a mule. She is so decisive and sweet offering up her "I Love You's" more than anyone in our family. Deano, my little bee charmer makes me melt. He was born knowing how to flirt and is as kind as a mom could hope for. His words have finally caught up with his physical side and he amuses us on a daily basis as Bella did describing his world. He is also a rough & tummbly little guy, tall & strong. As Dean approaches the terrible 3's as his sister did I know it won't be easy. He too is strong willed & strong all together. God didn't grand me slight children physically or mentally. Although I am constantly in need of a glass of wine at the end of the day, I am glad they are exactly the way they are. I have my daughter who marches to her own drum and my son who is always on the run! They are social little creatures who amaze me by their sense of style and coolness. My kids are so much cooler than I ever was. Give Dean a pair of scissors and he'll snip for hours. Give Bella a crayon or marker and she'll draw for as long if not more. I am constantly amazed and frustrated at them, and in awe of who they are and what they will become. Bella wants to be a mountain climber and already is an artist....one of the best if you ask her or her parents. Dean loves his trains, all things balls and his sister so much. He is her shadow & she knows it. He loves to be where she is, begs for her to wait for him and occasionally...more often every day she reciprocates by letting him be in her company. Sometimes in between fights they play & laugh together, they hold hands and help each other. My kids are great...so certain of who they are, what they love and definately cooler than I ever remember being! I find myself always wishing for a break, but here I am with wine in hand as they slumber thinking about when I will see their smiling (or complaining) faces again.

Self Confident & Sassy

Tonight I was tucking Bella in after reading a chapter of Charlotte's Web and my precious little 5 year old said, "Mom I love you but..." But what? "But I wish you were prettier". "What" I said!!! "That's not a very nice thing to say Bella, in fact it's rude". She then repeated her previous insult adding, "I am not being mean Mom. i just wish you had ribbons in your hair, wore more makeup, had diamond earrings and a diamond dress". A visual of Cinderella popped into my head and probably hers too. I thought maybe had I been in my 20's when I had my kids I could have lived up to her Disney dreams, but as I close in on forty...less than 7 months from now, no chance. I tried not to get my feelings hurt knowing kids tell it like it is, but come on. That sucks to hear even from a five year old. Later I even thought, except for ribbons in my hair I wouldn't mind diamond earrings, a sparkly diamond dress (and a place to wear one), even time to wear more makeup!
Yesterday we went to the YMCA, just Bella and I. After working out I picked her up in the Kid Zone and asked if she found a friend to play with. Usually she has a line of girls following her. Why I am not sure since she often is indifferent about their company, but this time she lowered her head and said "No". "I wanted to play with the most beautiful girl there with a beautiful white ribbon in her hair, but she said I couldn't play with her because I didn't have pink on. I told her obviously the girl didn't know her colors since your buttons on your shirt were pink & not small either. Then led into mom rambling about how just because someone is pretty on the inside doesn't mean they are pretty on the outside. That went in one ear and out the other and she replied, "Mom, she was even more beautiful than me." Seriously? as Shar would say. Bella is both Sassy & Self-confident. She doesn't get the latter from me. As my mom always says, "Tell me a Bella story" and there are so many, and "you are in trouble" and as her mom I am.
She is now wanting to put foam rollers in her hair, wear makeup, purses, and be as beautiful as she can. She is knee deep in princess delight. She loves everyone of those fairytale beginnings, endings & middles. She went to see "Princess & the Frog" on her Daddy/daughter day and immediately focused in on her favorite part being when the Frog kisses the Princess. Scary, normal I know, but scary still the same. She is growing up way to fast. I need to dial it down and get her Little House on the Prairie. A little Laura Ingles would do her some good.
As we look at Kindergartens trying to make that big decision about her future:) I sure am glad there are uniforms in many public schools now, so we can tone down the accessories...limit the Hannah Montana & whoever the next "pop sensation" is... I know the apple didn't fall very far from the tree & in many ways she is like a little me, but I wasn't 5, self confident & sassy. That came years later.

Christmas in Louisville!

Once in a while you get one of those days where you think, "It doesn't get any better than this"! This year's Christmas was just that kind of day, wonderful & magical. With the stresses of the season behind me I was able to sit back and enjoy every aspect of the day through the eyes of my son & daughter. Talk about the perfect ages (2 & 5) to believe in everything Christmas! We made chocolate & gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve setting out the plate for Santa & carrots for each reindeer! Both kids were sick and had spent the day at the doctors, but that didn't put a damper on the anticipation of what was to come. Just before closing her door I heard Bella sobbing. When I asked what was the matter she replied, "I just can't sleep because everyone is talking too much about Christmas". The kids waited together on the top step as I did as a child with my brothers and sister while Mom & Dad checked to tell us if Santa stopped at our house. My heart melted for the first of many times as Dean and Bella held hands giggling & tip toeing down the steps! Santa brought Dean's guitar he asked for & Bella's jewelry set & the fish she quickly named "Fred". Dean got a red remote control car & his first baseball glove (left-handed) from his PPaw! Bella loves her Barbie movies, all the princess accesories, books as usual. I could no longer avoid getting her girly things like hair rollers, nail stickers & perfume! Thanks to a friend's generosity Dean now has a Thomas the Train set which will certainly be treasured for years to come. Although I found myself missing family faraway we enjoyed the lazy day at home taking our time savoring Santa & all things Christmas. Cliff (aka PPaw) spent the day with us & Eric made a fabulous dinner of ham, fresh green beans & roasted acorn squash. I am so thankful for all we are blessed with and wish everyone in the world Peace, Love & Joy in thier hearts. Merry Christmas to All!

August - A month of Firsts

It is hard to believe that September is starting and the summer is coming to a close. The kids are getting so big!!! Dean's vocabulary has just started to explode & his silly nature is evolving on a daily basis. For Bella, August has been a month of Firsts. On our vacation to the beach she had her first sleepovers at Granny & Gramps house without any issues. Little miss independent didn't dissappoint! Shortly after returning from our NJ beach trip she decided one sunny day that she could swim, and she did. Going off the 3' diving board actually listening to mommy give instruction how not to doggy paddle her way to the ladder. She just started Ballet/Tap classes and "lives for Tuesdays" dressing up in her leotard, no longer having to nap like her little brother! She and Dean both started school at the same preschool Strathmoor (for 1 year), and it continues to be the sweetest to see. She shows him the ropes, they both march off with backpacks on shoulders (Thomas & Princess), and he sees her off to transitional Kindergarten (for older 4 year olds) and then heads to his nursery class 3 days a week. When she stays later he pouts saying, "Where's BaBa, I wanna see BaBa". Dean like his sister is very social. He adjusted beautifully to going and jumps right in, even when the majority of 2 year olds cry for their parents! He always talks about playing basketball & loves painting, playdough, the sand trough in their room & cooking at the stove station! A week ago Bella announced she was ready to have training wheels off - that afternoon. She didn't quite master 2 wheels that day, but did great! We put them back on, but moved them up & I imagine at some point this fall, before she turns 5 she'll be riding like a big girl she is. She continues to amaze me with the confidence I never dreamed of having. I love that she is sure of herself every step of the way!!! She rode a horse at our neighborhood picnic and loved it, went to her first tea party birthday celebration decked out like a princess, pearls & all!!! Dean remains your typical boy, all about sports (balls), cars & trains (hoo-hoo). He loves to get a laugh & is already a flirt. Even in the peak of the terrible 2's Dean is kind and always wanting to help mommy & daddy at any task. He is silly and fabulous...did I mention the cutest boy on the planet!
As fall weather delights our days, we won't forget the joys of the summer of 2009 when Bella was four and Dean two. Both still small in a way, but brave & adventurous - loving life & all its possibilities a new neighborhood brings.

LBI New Jersey Shore Summer Vacation 09

As I try to catch up on all things computer, laundry & life in Louisville my mind drifts back to the Jersey shore. What a wonderful week of memories I have watching my kids jump in the waves, dig in the sand, search for shells & play with cousins and grandparents. Every once in a while you get lucky enough to be the recipient of a trip such as this that exceeds all its expectations....relaxing & reconnecting with so many things I love and miss living so far away. I went for a walk on the beach one night and can still picture it in my mind, full moon, waves crashing into the rocks and the glow of Atlantic City in the distance...good stuff. Moments like these are not to be forgotten, nor will they be.

I am so grateful for my parents putting together this opportunity for us to gather at the ocean. I so enjoyed showing my kids the beauty of the state I gr ew up in, seeing the beach through their eyes. Bella made me very proud this year acting like a very big four year old . Making drip castles, crafts & pudding with Granny, ri ding wave s with Uncle Sean & Aunt Kristina & skipping naps might be the highlights of her week. She loved sleeping over at her grandparents house, as did I! She was very upset that she couldn’t take Granny home in her suitcase. Granny read her many “Magic Tree House” books under the umbrella by the ocean. As the oldest cousin on the trip this year it was fun to see the younger boys follow her around like ducks & as always she accepted the role of leader :) She loves her little cousin Aiden & is already missing his company!

Dean owned every inch of the beach, and wore me out being the 100% boy he is. Last year he didn’t like the sand, but this year he found it full of endless possibilities. He enjoyed running into & jumping waves with mommy calling them “Big WaWa” & seemed to adjust easily to the change of scenery & schedule. He is a digger, climber, performer, little bam-bam, runner and wanderer. He definitely kept me on my toes, but I loved every minute of it. At least the sand slows him down a little bit. Dean’s highlights might be stepping on people’s sand castles, driving matchbox cars, painting on the porch, throwing anything, watching people play sand sports and 

wishing he could join in. We had wonderful weather with only 2 partial rainy days. One of these mornings we went to the Barnagot Light house with friends and Bella and Dean climbed up to the top (217 steps each way). It was a great adventure on a drizzly day. We enjoyed a beautiful view from the top & even saw a fisherman catch a herring on a walk after our climb. Bella got to touch it, then watch him throw the fish back. Dean said, “He’s going home now”. On our last night we did the touristy Ice Cream singing show which the 

kids loved, especially the ice cream part.

As a great friend told me there is always this sadness that settles in when you cross over that bridge leaving LBI and this year it seems to linger. You can take the girl out of New Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl...and why would you want to? The week went too fast, but most fun things in life do! 

Here’s to next year at LBI!

A New Chapter

I stepped out of my house this morning to go for a walk and the FOR RENT sign in my yard sent me into a sentimental spiral. It's really happening, we are moving. A nice long walk along Bardstown Rd. gave me time to reflect on this new chapter we are beginning & mostly the one(s) we are leaving behind. In four days we close on our new house. We are finally buying after waiting for the right time in this town we love & call home. Our new house will be on a quieter street in Strathmoor Village called Gladstone Ave, not too far from here, but miles away from the life we've grown to love on Roanoke and our friends who are like family. There are so many things to be excited about, but this morning I am allowing a little melancholy to seep in and appreciating all the conveniences of the last four years. My many walks on Bardstown Rd with tiny babies and toddlers in strollers... to friends houses, playgrounds, Ray's Monkey house or Fed Ex. With two kids weighing well over 75lbs combined stroller rides have become fewer and farther between, and the safety of walking with both is not an option. It was a good ride here, so convenient to all, the perfect spot for us to move to four years ago. My kids have grown up here and come to think of each family on Roanoke as an extention of our own, calling each pet by name. Even those without young kids have loved my children and entertained the attention they demand, all the flower picking, bug searching, screaming & giggling that happens on a daily basis. I've spent many an afternoon hanging out on down the street on someone else's porch while my kids play about with thier friends. I have to wonder as I move to a street without front porches how it will go? My kids will adapt to the change quickly I am sure, but will I? I will miss my friends too. When I asked Bella what she is most excited about this summer with camp & moving to a new house she said with a big grin, without pause, "New Friends". As we gear up for a very busy few weeks ahead, when work couldn't be more demanding I think, "How will I get it all done"? Then I remember my last move 4 1/2 years ago with a colicky one month old in the middle of a snow storm driving separate cars from Georgia to Kentucky...all the stops to nurse & change diapers in cold parking lot and I know we'll get it done. I am seasoned in the job of juggling all things chaotic & am becoming comfortable with the unknown chapters ahead!

Donate a Donut!

We were in the car yesterday when we came up a red light where firemen were holding out thier boots for The Crusade for Children. Eric asked Bella if she wanted to give them some money for a good cause & somehow conversation mentioned the word donation. As usual she needed to know what this new word meant. As we were explaining what donation means Bella interrupted with, "Donate is like Donut". We smiled and said, "Yes, the word donate sounds like donut, but the meaning are different. She lost interest in our explanation and wrapped up the conversation with the statement, "You can donate a donut". We laughed between the two of us and couldn't disagree with that. "Yes Bella" I said, "You can donate a donut"!

My Mother's Day Weekend

My Mother's Day weekend was nothing short of splendid. Mother Nature cooperated giving us sunshine in Louisville and spectacular breezes. I even got to dig in the dirt on Saturday setting up my planters just so with my purple petunias! My family got me a new, much needed, much loved 22" flat screen monitor. I got to say goodbye to my old beast of a monitor that weighed a ton and was almost 2' deep. Eric cooked me fabulous dinners, as he always does and awarded me on Sunday by taking away my children for several peaceful hours. Maybe I should feel guilt not wanting to spend the entire day with my children, but I don't. This is the one day of the year we are allowed to ask for breaks and pampering guilt free. I now understand why my mom saved our homemade cards and pinned them up in the laundry room to look at year round. Both my kids brought home cards from preschool with tiny stamped hands and message wrote by their teachers. It brought tears to my eyes to be so loved and have so much love for these two little people. My children are amazing. I know all moms think that, and we should. I am so grateful to have them in my heart and in my life. Now I know Mom you were right about children being the most important thing you'll ever do in your life.

What Will They Come Up With Next?

Today was one of those days when I had to write about Bella and Dean's doings before I forget as I often do. I walked into Dean's room this morning to find him butt naked smiling with his pacifier in his mouth. His diaper and pj's lay by his feet in his crib and he was repeating the word "off". My response was laughter (probably fuel to the fire), and my first thought was, "Thank goodness it wasn't poop"!
Later in the day I went to get Bella from school. As I was buckling her into her car seat a little boy in her class ran up to say goodbye and ask if she was staying after tomorrow? I won't mention his name since I am posting this online, but let's just say he is the kind of child you dread having in your kid's class, he is a holy terror, mean & rough...toxic. Somehow my daughter has been obsessed with him since they started school together 2 years ago, and I am rejoicing in the fact she misses the cut off and he is moving on to kindergarten in another school district. Anyhow, back to the story. As we pulled out of the parking lot she proceeded to tell me she was going to Marry him when she grows up. Trying to keep cool, I asked her why. Bella then said without pause, "Because he is a handsome man Mom". I almost drove off the rode when she followed with, "He is mean to everyone but me because he loves me". I think I started saying the rosary. I turned up Radio Disney and took a deep breath.
And my blog entry continues. Same day different hour. I was in my room changing my shirt and Bella walked in. She looked up and said Mommy you have really big hips. I said with hesitation, "Those are not hips Bella, they are called breasts". She said, "Well I don't want those mommy. Anyway I already have breasts on my bottom. I told her those weren't breasts they were buttocks. What was I supposed to say? Dear Lord, What will come up with next?

Happy 2nd Birthday Dean!

Today Dean turned 2.
I thought I was past the sentimental pause I use to experience during Bella's first birthdays, but this one has turned me to mush. With Dean it is going so fast. Although he still won't let me out of his sight without calling Mama & seeking me out, gone are the days when he will put his head on my shoulder and rock until I call it quits. He is off & running in this race we call life & loving every minute of it. We had a wonderful party last night with his Uncle Brian, PPaw, GeGe, parents and sister. Per Bella's suggestion we made him a dumptruck cake & he loved it. Unlike his first birthday when he considered icing messy and wanted no part of it, this year he "understood" the beauty of the experience. He appreciated & played with each toy he got, his bike, soccor ball, matchbox cars, books & sock monkey, train & bathtub basketball net from his sister. He doesn't say much, but his smile and simple YEAH is worth a thousand words.

Here is something I noted a month ago that I am including in this entry, just because.
3-9-09
When changing Dean’s diaper today together we were humming twinkle, twinkle little star as we often do. He isn’t a talker like his sister, not yet anyway, so it pleases us both to be in sync sometimes singing the word mama over and over. I couldn’t help but think of the party we went to Saturday night. Our friends Sasha and Abe are moving to Australia and Abe’s mom flew in from Texas for the going away party. At the end of a wonderful night, she and Abe started singing together, in spanish a beautiful tune that brought tears. Tears of joy, of pride, and slight sadness for her son moving so far away with her grandson & one on the way. I couldn’t help but see how quickly the years can go by. One month from today Dean will turn two. These last two years have flown by and brought so much happiness. I can still remember like it was yesterday his birth, like Bella’s. He was so late coming into this world (10 days), but so fast (2 hours). He had a rough start when he was born, but has been a quick learner ever since. Show him something once and he get’s it. He is very silly, neat and a good listener. He is sensitive, independent and creative. He loves to paint & swim like his mom and is fearless like his dad. He is a typical boy rough & tough, into balls and trucks, anything with a motor...so opposite of his girly sister. Dean was a good baby & now is the best sleeper (another recipient of the Yates sleep gene). As he enters the terrible toddler stage (be it 2 or 3) even his tantrums are easier...maybe shorter is the correct word. He doesn’t scream or carry on like his sibling, he just lays down on the floor and pouts. He will throw something to make a point, but then he moves on. He is my little handsome sweet boy, so cute I can’t stand it! I am so blessed to have one of each, so different, but equally special. I don’t know yet what his birthday cake will be, Bella suggested a dumptruck.....why not a dumptruck?

Annual Clifty Falls IN trip

We all have memories as kids of those places we went every so often, not too far from home as a quick va-ca with the family. For me it was summer drives to Baltimore to visit my cousins, family camping trips in the pop-up camper or day trips to Sandy Hook. For my kids the annual Feb weekend trip to Clifty Falls is something to look forward to....unlimited swimming, snacks, hiking, sleeping in a hotel room & kids thier age, or thereabouts. For the adults it is a much needed break during the winter months to get together w/friends our own age, share a pot luck spread, a drink or two over catch-up conversation while our kids run wild, like packs of wolves in a safe place. At less than an hour away, you can't beat it! I know I sound like a sales pitch for the place, but this now annual trip has a warm spot in all our hearts. This year was no different. It was great to see friends we don't see often enough & catch up. I got the kids bathing suits w/floats which really made Bella's weekend. She takes after me, being a fish, loving the water. She really wants to learn to swim this year and showed much improvement during our trip. She reminds me often of how brave she is:) The best part was we didn't have to hold her or worry about her. Dean wasn't sure about the cooler pool temps, but he was sure about how cool a basketball net was over the water. He spent his time chasing balls & asking the other older kids in his way to get them for him! Dean was particularly fond of all the stuffed animals throughout the lodgy lobby. I love this picture of him sharing his lollipop with the big beaver. We didn't make a hike this year due to frigid temps & the age of our kids...too tough or we're too wimpy, but count us in for next year on the trail!

2009 Ice Storm/Snow Days in Louisville

We were lucky to have weathered Kentucky's BIG winter storm with little more that cabin fever (no loss of power from this one or hurricane Ike). I enjoyed the joy of snow through the eyes of two very excited children (and now am ready to send them back to preschool as soon as they will have them)!
Bella really turned a corner this year and was really a delight to take outside for play in the powder & ice. Last year she did nothing but complain about the layers, the cold and the effort it takes to be in the snow. This year she loved every bit of it. Her favorite part of the day was still the hot chocolate (which in our house is more like warm milk with a sprinkle of cocoa) after being outside, working every angle to up the number of marshmallows in her cup. She watched too much television this week and managed to grate on my last nerve more than once, but warmed my heart as often. Dean was a great sport about keeping on his hat & gloves and was fine with snow as long as he didn't have to touch it. We had a rough start getting him outside, but once Dean was moving fast in his sled he warmed up to the idea. He later explored our white street with his sister looking in amazement how everything had changed. I have to admit I can't wait for it all to melt away and for spring to come, but have many great memories of the big snow & ice storm of 2009. I am sure my friends who are still without power and living outside their happy space may not feel the same.