It's Christmas Time!

OMG it's almost Christmas.  I have NOTHING ready.  I mean, half the gifts haven't even been purchased yet.  For once, I tried to get Adam to learn what his family wants (well, except I asked his sister for her and Amanda), and lo and behold, I only have a gift for Leah and Amanda (and something I picked up a couple of months ago for Adam's mom - from the boys)  The price of photo books has tripled, I've got it made, but am waiting for a coupon code so I am not spending  $360 + shipping on photo books.  Last year I found a buy one get two free, so it only cost me $120+ship.   So if you're reading this, and you got a photo book last year - it's going to be late this year!  I'll be happy with a B1G1 discount, or 50% off. 

Another thing is that I decided to be thrifty and make some of my own gifts this year.  With an infant. Yes, I realize I'm dumb. Thanks, you don't need to remind me.  What in the Hell was I thinking?!?!?!!!   Well, they're about 1/4 of the way done, and, oh yeah, by the way, where can I find some spray adhesive snow?  *sigh*   

Santa came by on a fire truck and brought Ares and Atlas presents. 

A Happy (2nd) Thanksgiving!

It has been a crazy long time since I've typed anything for the blog.   Right after the last post, was supposed to be a post about my in-laws coming to town.   Mom, Dad, Leah and Amanda came up for the weekend.  They got here around 5 on Friday, and left Sunday afternoon.  It was an awesome visit!  We went to Mike's place to eat because Kent was out on Thanksgiving break, so there was NO wait at all, even for 8 people.  Saturday Ares still had swim lessons, so it was a good time for Adam to take his mom, Leah and Amanda to the West Side Market to buy stuff for our 'Thanksgiving' dinner that night.   We took some pictures around Hudson and then a small walk around the square (and to get popcorn!) before we came home and cooked dinner.  We had a bunch of different types of pasta.  Pretty good stuff (although, I'm still swearing at my youngest for making me go dairy free).   Lots of these photos ended up on Facebook, but I thought I'd share them here as well.    We had a great weekend.  Atlas was very needy, but my father in law held him nearly the whole time, which gave me and Adam some time off from holding him. 

Color Makes it ALL Better!

Our foyer is finished - and it looks great! There might be one little spot we need to fix up, but other than that, he did a nice paint job.  The mud job left a lot to be desired, but overall we are very happy.   I decided to paint the toy room as well.  We went orange. I love it   I put up about 3 coats, and Adam did a 4th, because I. was. just. DONE.  He hit the ceiling a couple times, and spilled paint on the carpet (did I mention he hates painting?) but we got it out, and it looks great.  We added the super-hero artwork and WOW!  Fabulous room! 

FULL TIME

We have put the boys into the Montessori full time.  My aunt is too busy, and it's too difficult for her to watch both boys at once (which is extremely frustrating, but completely understandable), and since I won't split them up and drop them off and pick them up from different places, we put them both in full time.  While this is draining our savings account, it's nice having Ares in more often, while he's learning to read.  Montessori = $$$$, in fact, every penny Adam brings home goes to day care each month (which isn't fair, as he has health insurance and the child care subsidy coming out of his paycheck as well - so it's definitely worth having him work still).  I take solace in the fact that the account won't be completely drained by the time Ares is in Kindergarten because tax season is coming, right?  (Can we say REFUND?)  I'm hoping by  having Ares in school one extra day will get him caught up with some of the writing and reading that some of the other kids are doing.   

Castle Noel

My aunt's Christmas Museum/Experience opened up last weekend.  Castle Noel  opened last Friday.  Ares, Atlas, Mom and I all went up to check it out - along with about 3,000 other people.  Maybe.  It was crazy busy.  At least we got there at 5:45 and it didn't open until 8.  So we got to walk around when all of the carpenters, electricians, fire chief, and helpers were still putting stuff together.   It didn't all get done in time for the opening, but it was still amazing, and perfect.  Now, each week it's getting better, with more and more things to see.  The Santa was funny, and had Ares and Atlas with him for about 10 minutes while they were setting up the cameras.  Ares wants Transformers, clothes, cars and super hero stuff (anyone surprised?)  lol

How NOT to Paint a Room

Talk to husband on phone as he leaves Cincinnati and tell him plans of painting the toy room  (We've already OK'd this, paint color was agreed on and purchased.) 
move toys and couch to the middle of the room 
Realize it's after noon and it's a good idea to eat lunch before starting a big project. 
Lunch is completed, time for a nap 
An hour later (oops!) wake up 
Go downstairs to get painting supply box 
Get the paint out, 
Go to the basement to get a screw driver to open said paint 
Go to kitchen to get cheap plastic container to put the paint in (for edging) 
Open the paint 
Go upstairs to change clothes 
pour paint into container, 
Grab drop cloth and lay it out 
get paint poured into smaller container 
go upstairs to grab a step stool 
start edging with brush 
decide you don't like said brush and find another one 
edge the ceiling of all 4 walls 
start edging the base boards, get 3 feet in and realize that the ORANGE color bleeds down a bit, so i'll need to tape 
hunt around house for tape 
No tape found, call Adam to find out he's 10 minutes away. 
Welcome kids home, talk about weekend, give kids showers.   

Surprise Visit!

This past weekend was our annual girl's weekend away.  (Walter's and Kratczer girls).  I think it's the 5th annual, as the first time I went I had just announced that I was pregnant with Ares.
I had a great time, the dinner/theater show was the Roaring 20's.  It was entertaining, not great, but what else do you expect from a small town the size of New Concord putting on a show?   We had wine, and we had 3 different tables, which means we threw food, so awesome times.  
I learned one thing - I can drink two bottles of wine and a few washington apple drinks, and I will not wake up with any sort of hangover - however, my cousins (in their 20's - and who were not pregnant 10 of the last 13 months) cannot.  Awesome socks, I rock!

Adam surprised his parents and drove the boys to Cincinnati.  He's never watched them on his own yet, this was going to be his first weekend.  My first thought was, geeze, you're still not ready to do it on your own (I know he is, he just hasn't), but then, the thought of driving Atlas 4 hours each way, by myself took over.  Adam had it MUCH harder than just keeping them at home.  Unfortunately, it was a rough visit as Atlas decided not to sleep AT ALL Saturday night.

They were down there for less than 24 hours, but Ares had an awesome time, especially playing in the leaves.  He talked about this all evening long.  Of course, look at how he was flying, it looks like awesome fun!

PAINT and Stuff!

The "and Stuff" first.  While Doug and Shawna were over, I made this for our front door.  I love it, except that you can still see the big bump in the door from the street.  Oh well, I think this is cute!

We also have a painter over to paint our foyer.  He's doing an OK job.  I'm not extremely happy with the workmanship, but I LOVE the color we chose.

AND, a silly picture, just because I love my boys.

The Hotts

Doug and Shawna brought their kids up for a nice visit his past weekend.  Ares and Evelyn got to play together all weekend, and camp together in the tent in the dining room.  The kids all behaved very well and the visit was nice and relaxing.  I still went to book club and Ares still went to swim lessons, but beyond that, we didn't do a whole lot. 

Before they came into town (they didn't get in until 1 AM), we went to the new Giant Eagle in Solon.  It was pretty cool, I won't lie.  I actually caught Adam doing this in the confectionery section:

very overwhelming

And then I caught Ares doing this, of course, right next to the baking area, where all of the candy was.

We also went to Michaels to buy some frames for the new super-hero posters I bought for the toy room.  Pretty cool, eh?

Halloween!

We went to a Halloween party at Ben &  Sabine's house and had a GREAT time.  All of the daycare people were there, plus the families we've met while camping with them, plus some book club people, and some neighbors.  The kids were all amazingly good, the drinks and food were fun, and we just had a fantastic night.
Ares dressed as "The Hulk dressed as Superman", Adam was Ash from Army of Darkness, and I was Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus.  I actually made Atlas' costume, he was a baby candy corn.  So cute!

Apparently Adam liked the dirt I made.  

 Halloween was actually post poned due to a LOT of rain and wind - in Streetsboro.  But since Halloween was still a go in twinsburg, and the boys were already there with my mom, Adam and I took Ares around her development.  He had a great time, and said "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You" every.single.time.  He's awesome, that kid.  We made it about 45 minutes before he got cold and tired.  We were soaked to the bone (even with umbrellas) and while the temperature wasn't cold, being wet made it a bit chilly.   In the picture to the right, Ares was a bit confused with his costume.  He was originally the Hulk dressed as Superman, but then he had the option of wearing the Captain America mask.   He did for a few minutes, until mommy brought out the brand new Hulk light up mask she bought on clearance 5 months ago.  She's a rock star.  Ahem, I'm a rock star.

Since our Halloween was rescheduled for Sunday, Ares had Matthew come over to trick or treat with us.  Matthew lives in Hudson, but goes to school with Ares.  they had their trick or treat on Halloween too, so they didn't go very far in their development.  We were very happy to have therm come with us.  Casey also brought Andrew, Matthew's little brother.  It was nice to have someone tag along with us.  We had a great time.

It took about 1/2  hour for the boys to do our entire development.  They RAN and RAN and RAN, haha.  So much fun!

Matthew is Bumblebee, from Transformers, Ares is the Hulk dressed as Superman. 

Atlas stayed home with Grandma, who was SOOO nice to stay back and hand out candy at our house again, for the second year in a row.  We are so grateful for her to do this for us, so we can take Ares around.