Come on people... I need your vote

Yes, I am needing help on the names once again!! Please vote on what you like more...

You can vote for more then one, if you are having trouble deciding too!!

Thanks in advance

ICE CREAM MAN!!

It was the the first time this summer we heard that old familiar music playing around our neighborhood. Kids memories do not fade when it comes to the sound of the Ice Cream Man. Jacob knew instanlty who that was driving around our streets. How could I resist the first trip of the Ice Cream Man this year.

Jacob and Paige stood at the curb, holding onto their dollar and anxiously waited for him to drive by. For me, it is always fun to watch the excitement in the eyes of my kids as they get that special something. My worry now is that they will always think that that familiar music playing means their favorite ice cream treat. This Ice Cream man turn into my summer struggle.

***man, since when did the ice cream man get to be so expensive?

My husband the softball star

For those of you who know my husband well, will know that he is not the most sports oriented person out there. He will watch a game if it is on, but his days are not consumed with it. I have liked this about him actually. I know that come basketball or football season, I still get to have my same old hubby around. Well, his department got a softball team together this year. He decided that it may be fun to stretch his wings a little bit and hang-out with the guys doing the sweaty guy stuff like Softball. The team is not one of the best, but I think he has enjoyed the time he has had to play with some of his co-workers in a different setting. His job is so high stress at times, that is was nice to be able to hit a feel balls around and let off some steam.

Besides, what women does not like to watch her man out there running around the bases and hitting a few balls?

Time out Corner

Yes, this is becoming a daily image at our house!! I have found that "time-out" chairs do not work around here. Paige will just sit there and watch what is going on around her and still feel like she is a part of the activites. So, I have found that I get the best results with the corner. There is always one around...unless you are in a circular room....and they can take their pick of the one they want.

Yes, the time out corner works best around here.

While Mom is away...

I decided i was going to leave the kids home with Neil and do some shopping last night. You mothers will know what I pain it is to take kids shopping when you are trying to find something for yourself. With Katie's upcoming wedding, I am in need of some more maternity clothes. I HATE buying maternity clothes. In many ways, I think they are a complete waste of money. It seems the retailers know they can jack the price higher then "regular" clothes too. Maternity clothes can be so expensive. With only about 6 weeks left, I cringe at the idea of having to pay for something I am only going to wear a handful of times.

Anyway, with that said, I still needed something for Katie's wedding. I warned her I might be coming in a sheet, but I decided to go looking anyway. While I am shopping, I get a text message from Neil saying that Paige went to bed early because she took her clothes off and layered herself with baby power. I thought the whole thing was funny to be honest. It is always nice when the Dad gets to experience just a fraction of what we go through during the day.

Paige is my tornado. I never knew a child that could find trouble in such little time. If I turn my back on her for a minute, she will have found something to destroy or mess up. I literally spend my day following her around keeping her out of trouble or cleaning up the trouble she found. Aren't the supposed to be getting out of that phase around their 3rd birthday? Please do not tell me this is going to be a life long challenge. I am getting to tired for it.

In memory of Toby

Many of you may know of the conflict that has been ongoing on our home centered around our dog Toby. One of us... who will remain nameless... has wanted me for YEARS to find a home for Toby. Not because he was a bad dog, but because this same nameless person found him annoying. I fought and fought for a long time to keep him. I tried to ignore the jabs and comments that were made about him, but I knew that things would not get better.

Now Toby is a great dog. He is never aggressive and is very obedient. Yes, he is a barker and can get a bit excited at times, but he is a great dog. Anyway, with our #3 on the way, I knew that it was time to let him go. I knew that Toby needed so much attention and so I was going to find him a home that could give it to him. I posted an ad on the local listings here and found a lady that was looking for a second Schnauzer. She already had one and loved the breed. She also had two little children and wanted Toby. I just was not prepared for how hard it was going to be on me to have to let him go.

Many may say..."oh, it is just a dog!" or "suck it up" but to me, it was like giving up one of my kids. I have had Toby for 7 years. I got him before we had Jacob. He was MY DOG. I loved that dog. I am not one to cycle through animals even if I find them hard or difficult. I got my love for animals from my Dad. I am the type to stop along side a road and help a lost dog or take them in to care for them. I would run a shelter if I could. I have to close my eyes as I drive past one that has been killed on the side of the road. So, giving up a dog is just NOT ME.

I took Toby over to their house yesterday morning. The whole time, fighting back the tears that were welling up in my eyes. Now, granted I am pregnant and it does not take as much to make me cry, but I knew I had to be strong for the kids. I told Jacob and Paige that Toby was going to play at a new families house. They have a nice backyard and another dog for Toby to play with. I really did not want any long lasting effects on the kids. Jacob clued in rather quickly as to what was happening. He kept asking me why we were selling Toby. I just tried to reinforce the fact that he was going to be happy there and he had new friends. When it was time to leave, I had to put the kids in the car as quickly as I could and would not allow myself to look at the doorway where he was being held in his new owners arms. Man, was that hard. I tried so hard not to cry. I was able to hold it in for the most part until I was in the drivers seat and driving away. Then I could not hold in it anymore. For most of the way home, I tried to cry as silently as possible. I did not want my kids to know who were sitting behind me in their car seats. Jacob could see me and got very concerned. He kept asking me why I was so sad. Why did we leave Toby there. At that point, I could not even bring myself to explain things to him. It has only been about 24 hours since I left him and it is still really tender to me. I feel like I let Toby down. I feel like I did not follow through on the commitment I made to take care of him. I keep having thoughts of him not eating or not being cared for. I worry he will get out of their house somehow and try to find his way home. I feel like I did what was best for Toby at the time, but I wish that our home could have been one that he could have stayed.

Flash into my future

Paige found my wedding veil in my closet yesterday and came to find me wearing it. It hit me just how quickly I might have to see her in one of her own. Can't time just slow down a little bit and allow me to enjoy the little personalities that they have. My Paige is so whitty! The things she comes up with really crack me up. I love to hear how the mind of a two year old works and the thoughts she has and how she sees life. There is so much innocence behind those mischievous eyes. She really loves her mom and we have a great relationship. She loves to be right by me while I am cooking or cleaning. I really love the sweet girl she has become.

** oh, and why did no one clean that face before this picture was taken? Is she ever clean?

Small Rewards

Jacob and I have a new agreement... whenever he wants to earn a new reward, he can do it by working on his letters. He starts Kindergarten in the Fall and I have been working with him to learn all of his letters and their sounds. I told him that each time he gets a letter right from a flash card I hold up, he can put a marshmallow in the jar. He can do it as often as he likes, but a marshmallow is his reward for learning the letter. Once the jar is full, he gets to pick an reward he wants. Needless to say, it only took him two days to fill this container and we were off to buy the latest toy he wanted as a reward.

Proud of you Jacob for the all the letters you are learning.