Whatcha doing...?

It's Sunday afternoon. What are you doing today?

I kicked the day off with my second homemade latte - and it was amazingly pretty tasty!

I ran out and shopped for the Easter bunny with Sydney. I think she can keep the secret. And it will be hilarious when Sydney's basket is drastically bigger than the boys. But that is all that Target had this year. Things that found their way into my cart: a baseball glove and bike lock for Henry, some new chalk, some mini boxes of cereal, an automatic ball return putter thingy for Charley, new water bottles, a star wars figure, and some other little items.

I baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

I added songs to my playlist that can play, if you want it to, at the bottom of this blog page. Or you can hit play here:

I am on the fourth load of laundry.

I have removed many of our winter items from our closet and mud room.

I have the windows open.

I am happy about the new lamp we bought yesterday!

Downloaded pictures.

Filled out our weekly calendar.

And the list continues to grow. 

So curious what are you wearing this Sunday afternoon...and how are you spending this lovely day...well it is lovely here! 

Where are you from?

This past weekend we drove north to Ed's hometown to visit his parents. When we got far enough north we turned on the radio (because the boys movie was finished - it is a 4 hour drive). And I laughed immediately when I heard the gentleman who was dj-ing the radio station - TOTAL UP NORTH voice...or maybe it is the up north radio station itself. Anyways, I LOVE IT!

Then we passed some bars and outside there were several (like 20) snowmobiles lined up. Only Up North!

As we listened to the radio station we heard them announcing that some bar was going to have a meat raffle - only up north.

And yet the two lane roads that are surrounded by tall pines, small lakes, or the view of Lake Superior tempt me to convince Ed to quit his job and move north...you feel at peace and your shoulders relax.

I have a site meter on my blog that lets me get a hint at who is stopping by my blog (only a hint - it doesn't tell me exactly. For example my mom's visits register as a city 30-40 miles away). Anyways, I have noticed lately that there are people that stop by from Canada...and Europe...and Ohio....and Tennessee and Michigan, and North Carolina....and it amazes me. It reminds me that our world is not all that big.

Anyways, if you stop by give a shout out and tell us from where you are coming from...list a state or a city or a country. I would love to see if my site meter is at all accurate! My comment thingy allows you to respond anonymously so don't be shy.

Happy Monday Evening! My goal is to be sleeping by 9 pm....in hopes of being a little less edgy tomorrow :)

Things that make me clench my teeth these days...

1. The cold - driving the morning carpool run is cold...but heading to Cub Foods at 6 am to pick up the school supplies that I forgot to pick up earlier in the week...is even colder. Clenching your teeth does not make you warmer.

2. We are trying to wean Henry slowly from his nuk. We did it with Charley when he turned two...Henry turns two on January 4th...so that means...dun dun duh dun, the nuk will soon be done!....the pain and suffering are approaching. I think that was the hardest week for me - when we took the nuk away from Charley. I am not looking forward to it with Henry. So I am committing to using it only when he is in bed...or when we are on a car ride that is longer than 4 hours...because in the next two weeks we have a couple of rides like that. There are times ...like this morning during the carpool ride when the kid wanted his nukkie (he can say it now) and boy did I wish I had one in my purse. With teeth clenched we got through.

3. I am starting to visualize the suitcase and the packing job ahead of me. I think I get caught up on laundry and will be ready to pack and then I realize that I want to wear something or I want the boys to wear something that I want pack. Clenching...as I wish I could pack and be ready...without items that are not ready yet.

4. The last two nights Charley has wet his bed in the wee hours of the morning. Amazingly he is able to take off his tee-tee (his special blanket)...or his pillow...or last night the sleeping bag and blanket he was using! CLENCHING! If he has time to think...and to wiggle out of his sleeping bag...and put it on the floor...THEN GOSH DARN IT HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN TO THE BATHROOM! I will say, that we had a babysitter last night and most likely she forgot to have him go potty before bed...but STILL! CLENCHING!
COME ON Kiddo - give the laundry doing mama a rest!

5. Speaking of laundry - our washing machine is still rockin' (literally), rollin', and leaking...occasionally. It leaked last night. So far we are all good today. Clenching...knowing that one of these times we are not going to be so lucky. Yet, waiting for the perfect deal and time is worth it.

6. The kitchen floor is one long hard clench. There are cookie crumbs constantly appearing...the boys are making messes during their three meals a day...and then throw in there some snacks.

7. Last night I wore my fabulous styling heels and clenched my teeth midway through blowdrying my hair (since I decided I better practice walking in them) because they hurt. I NEVER wear heels...so when I do they hurt early on. I also clenched as I tried to look like I could walk in them...instead of hobble...which I am almost 99.5% sure I did all the way to the car in the below zero temperatures at 10:00pm. Will post a picture...promise...later when I get my laptop back (yes, clenching when I type that).

8. Smiling as I watch Henry run around the house dragging my apron around by the strap ...like it is his doggy. However, as he looks back to smile he runs smack into the chair and kitchen table...clenching in pain for him. Poor guy!

I DO realize that all these "teeth clenching moments" are just little things that are occuring in my life. I am clenching my teeth, meeting them head on with a patient voice, and a deep breath. May your Wednesday be -clench free-.

Grace in Small Things #36

1. My boys are brothers. This morning when they saw each other they gave each other a hug. Henry is lost when Charley is at school. And when Henry wakes up from his nap, the first thing he says to me is: "Charley?" At Henry's ECFE class that we had yesterday the parent topic we discussed had to do with nurturing sibling relationships. How do we get them to love and enjoy each other. I know of siblings that don't get along, their personalities clash, parents have pitted them against each other, or maybe other reasons....I am so thankful that our boys have naturally enjoyed each other from day one. I wonder if Charley even remembers a time when Henry wasn't here. When they play together I am in pure heaven.


2. Yesterday we probably went on our last walk for the 2009. It is quite a bit colder today and Ed keeps predicting that the end is near. Winter has arrived. I called a friend and asked if we could make their house the destination and play out in their backyard for a bit. She was up for it...I loved catching up with Heather. The boys played and everyone got fresh air. Bonus - 40 minute walk. This afternoon her son came over to play and the boys wanted to go outside...I predicted 15 minutes and they would come rumbling back inside--nope, an hour and a half has passed and they are still playing strong...all they are doing is running around with light sabers. These boys will sleep hard tonight.

3. This mac and cheese recipe is a family favorite. I have made it too often in the last two months. Charley now prefers homemade over Kraft...might have dug my own hole there. Today I made a double batch and am bringing a pan over for a friend who just had a baby (another Elijah!). We will enjoy the other pan after freezing our bums off getting a Christmas tree.

4. My MacBook computer - it has been about a year since I bought it from my brother. This puppy is now two years old and has changed my life...my husband might kid that it hasn't been for the good but he says it with a smile. I move this baby in the kitchen to play music or follow blog recipes, I sit curled up in bed or in the living room, and I bring it to my mom and dads. My husband has to admit that we don't have to fight over the computer in the evening anymore. I love it.

5. I am asking for this book for Christmas. I put it on a name exchange list for my dad's side of the family. I got to look at my friend Kelly's book. The book displays the recipes like blog recipes...lots of step by step pictures. Love that. Her blog is pretty amazing too. I have started following it.

We've moved...

I will no longer be posting at:
wroblewskifamily.blogspot.com.....but rather, you can find us at:

www.fortheloveofnaps.blogspot.com

We will kick it off with a give away (coming later this week) to see if I can get my friends and family to follow me over at our new home.

www.fortheloveofnaps.blogspot.com

See you there!

Halloween 2009

The first part of our Halloween was devoted to Charley's birthday. After Henry's nap we dove into some Halloween fun. Well, my boys actually won't touch the inside of a pumpkin. Next year we will question whether we even attempt to carve. Uncle Mike and Grandma helped too.


Ed and I did some carving.

For dinner we had homemade mac and cheese. During dinner we discussed trick or treating and Charley informed me he would share one box of DOTS with me (since he knows I like those- I do like them but really I just hate the idea of him eating those chewy sticky ones). Once it was time to get our costumes on and go chaos began. Henry didn't want to put on his costume. Morgan wasn't too thrilled either. We attempted to get a picture but the stress level was high. But heck, this is what holidays are all about.



This is as good as it gets.

Then we took off for our first stop at the neighbors across the street. I was feeling overwhelmed just getting us all out the door. So when our neighbor offered up the bowl of candy to Charley and she said, "You can take as much as you want." Charley replied, "I will just take these two boxes of Dots. One for me and one for my mom." Tears appeared ...I am a blessed mama.



Trick or treating with daddy.


Watching Ed and his brother Mike trick or treat with the boys was fun! Brothers being dads together.



Henry walked almost the whole way! At one house the lady gave him two pieces and he reached in and took three more.



Morgan was a trooper and was a happy rider all evening!


And after the kids were peacefully sleeping the adults poured out the trick or treat sacks (yes, amazingly Charley didn't dump it out ...odd, I know). It is still a thrill to sort the candy and see what was most popular.

This was the second year in a row that we have spent time with Uncle Mike, Aunt Becca, and Grandma Charlie....could we have a tradition on our hands. Ahhh...traditions, the things that make our children realize they are part of family.

Trying it again for mom!

So yesterday when it was time to go put on costumes and go trick or treating it was pure chaos leaving the house. Kids were crying...mama was on the verge...so needless to day, today we put the costumes back on and tried again.






And here is a comparison to 2008!

Baby Girl in OUR frat house for the weekend!

This weekend Uncle Mike, Aunt Becca, and cousin Morgan came to visit. What does this mean....

Crazy tights!
High pitch squeals!
Pink shoes!
A little bit of girl in this frat house!

We hadn't seen Morgan since Fourth of July - too long! Her cheeks are delicious and her serious little look makes you wonder what she is thinking as she takes everything in. She joined us for a chilly night of trick or treating. She wore a ladybug costume...but it was a secret because she was covered in blankets...and slept the whole way...at one point we checked on her and snapped a picture and she was awake...wonder what she thought was going on. We wish they lived closer so that we could see her more often. I sure enjoyed getting my hands on a baby - especially a petite little pink one!

He got his cake!

Charley finally got to have his "birthday cake." Grandma Charlie and Uncle Mike, Aunt Becca, and Morgan came for the weekend. I ordered him a modified Star Wars cake...they love me at Target...when I show up altering their normal cake ideas. He was happy and is already dreaming of birthday number six. Please, let this year take it's old sweet time.

Grace in Small Things #30

Brought to you by Henry:

1. Ritz crackers - not the whole wheat ones. Just the regular old Ritz crackers. "Num!" is his comment after he bites in.

2. Wa-Ter. Henry loves his water!

3. Dora - his beautiful brown eyed goddess these days!

4. The arrival of his big brother home from school. "See Char!" he says as the carpool van pulls up to drop him off.

5. His nuk! He loves it! It soothes him! He appears with it when I think I have captured them all and corralled them in his crib. It makes me nervous thinking about the upcoming months of weaning him from it. ugh!