ORNAMENT

I never had a chance to post about 'THE ORNAMENT'

Nothing real exciting happened today, so I figured it was the perfect day to post an old idea.

Rewind to our visit to Santa... remember we stood in line for over an hour waiting to see the big guy? Who in their right mind would have a set up of ornaments right next to the Santa line where little ones can see, pick up, and play with? Ok, so I understand. People will buy these ornaments if it is convenient. But couldn't the display be at parent eye levels instead of a 2 year old's eye level?! RJ is intruged by anything he can see and touch! He was looking at the display and attempting to touch each ornament. Daddy redirected him away, he went back, I redirected him away, he went back, you get the idea... then we get a tap on the shoulder from a man who has a thick accident. He is holding a broken ornament in his hand. "That little boy broke this," is what I think he said looking at RJ. We apologize and say sorry, saying that we will not let him touch the display again. "You pay now" the man says. I say it was an accident, apologize again and kind of turn my back. He again says to Bob, "You need buy this." The man goes into some kind of explanation about how he needs to make sure he has money for every ornament, broken or not...blah blah blah. Bob rolled his eyes and asked how much. "Fifteen dollar" says the man. Bob (and I) almost jump out of our skin... FIFTEEN BUCKS, FOR THIS? A BROKEN ORNAMENT? I put up a stink... trying not to make too big a scene. The man then says, "Ok, give me nine." Where are we? I can bargain down the price now?! Finally I give in, give him the nine bucks and he takes a brand new one off the display, wraps it 'so gently' in tissue paper, puts it in a bag and gives it to me. Um... problem here? I thought throughout his whole stint that he is accountable for each ornament on his display. HELLO? We don't get the broken one, we get a new one. I don't get it, and I was a tad angry, ok I was furious!!

Gorgeous ornament huh, NOT!
(Couldn't RJ have least broken one that I liked more?)
...AND don't forget, if you drop it, IT.WILL.BREAK!

Ice

Nickel's face says it all!

Look at those icicles on our front porch gutter! Yikes!

Bring on the sun!

Sunday Fun

Today at church we celebrated St. Blase. This Saint's honor is blessings of the throat. I don't remember this as a child, so I am thinking maybe it is not incorporated into mass at every Catholic Church. Aunt Melanie and the kiddos said they didn't want to have their throats blessed, but I figured the more blessings I can get the better!! The blessing is just as it looks above, it is two candles crossed and your throat goes in the middle as the priest/Eucharistic Minister says a brief blessing. I went up to the priest and waited my turn. As my back was turned apparently RJ went out the other side of the pew and went to a Eucharistic Minister that was also administering the blessing. (The older gentleman has become fond of the kiddos and I, and always says hello to us every Sunday at church. I kindly refer to him as my boyfriend because I have never been formally introduced to him, therefore I do not know his name!) As I am finishing up my blessing, I see my 'boyfriend' trying to give RJ the blessing; however RJ is trying his darned-ist to get the wick of the candles into his mouth! He sees me go up and receive the Eucharist every week, so maybe he just assumed he was supposed to get something in his mouth! Such a cute moment (and thanks Aunt Melanie for filling me in on how it all evolved), where was my video camera? Probably inappropriate, but still... mouth open attempting to insert candle wick *giggle*.

God knew I needed a laugh after Morgan had a rough mass. I'm not sure why, but she was not acting like herself during mass; crying, begging not to go with the children for their gathering which she usually jumps to go do, and just overall being unhappy and refusing to pay attention to mass... thanks RJ (and God) for the chuckle at the end of mass.

When we got home Morgan begged to go out and play in the snow. We, no, they got bundled up and out they went... they lasted quite a long time... I was impressed. I just shot pictures, I really didn't want to get snow-proofed!

Happy Sunday!

Love this picture!!!

First preschool show EVER!

Morgan had a preschool musical tonight. We were very excited to see how she would do on stage without us and in front of an audience. She did an awesome job! She waved at all of us and was a little bit smiley with her 'best' friend in school Delaney. She would look at Delaney and Delaney would look at her and they would smile and giggle. They sang four songs. Did I mention Morgan wore her princess dress from Halloween. There was no convincing her of not wearing it... SHE.WAS.WEARING.IT!

So proud of you peanut! You weren't shy at all... my beautiful princess!

Scene One--Take Three

Today was a crazy day!! After the snow day yesterday I had to take a half day from work to take the kiddos to the ENT at the CHOP satellite campus in Chalfont/New Britain. I raced home up 309, and raced back down 309 with Morgan and RJ to make our 12:30 appointment. We got there just in time and after checking in were almost taken immediately. First we saw the nurse practitioner who looked in both the kids ears. Morgan sat nice and still...RJ was a bit squirmy.

Waiting patiently for the doctor

Waiting... intrigued by the the trash can
(push a foot pedal, the lid raises)

Still waiting...
playing with the spinning stool

and waiting...
Wrestling on the floor (ewww!)
**Insert Momma cringing here...
can't even imagine what might be on the floor**

AND.WAITING!
Upset because Momma said no more playing around!

FINALLY the doctor came in. He looked a little bit like a mouse to me. Morgan sat nice and still while he looked in her ears, used a tweezers like tool to take out the tube that was 'hanging out' in the ear canal, and blew air into her ear to see if there was any fluid. Morgan said it all tickled. She was excited because the doctor wrapped up her tube and put it in her pocket to take home. Now she has a souvenir! When it was time for RJ all heck broke loose! The doctor came towards me (with RJ on my lap) and said... just listen to my hold and we'll work together to keep RJ still. I literally had his legs locked between my legs, one of his arms wrapped around my back and pinned to the chair between my back the the chair, and my hands were on his shoulder to keep him down. The doctor literally used one hand and firmly held RJ's head against my bosom. Even with all of that RJ still found a way to move around. Morgan so kindly asked, "Momma, are you sweating?" By the end, I was sweating, the doctor was perspiring, and RJ was dripping with tears and sweat, and was beat red from screaming so much! In the end, RJ has lost one tube and the other is in his ear, but the doctor wasn't sure if it was still functioning, because it appeared both ears had some fluid in them. Recommendation: tubes. February 18th is the date. That is only two weeks... that was sooner than I thought!

**side note: The audiologist in December said RJ's worst ear was his left, today the ENT said RJ's right ear was the worst. Hm... who is right here?**

Here is how I passed the time... with a photo shoot! Morgan wanted to make different faces, have fun baby girl!

Yet another...

Snow day! This time it was ice and cold rain. We couldn't really go out and play that much because of the yuck. We stayed inside nice and toasty... We had a stay-in-your-jamas type of day!

Another day

Today was nothing exciting for RJ and I, but very exciting for Morgan! She got to go to Princesses On Ice today! Aunt Melanie spoiled her! Lucky duck!! All the princesses were there! Even Mickey and Minnie made an appearance! From the pictures the show looked really neat!! Aunt Melanie said Morgan had a hard time sitting in her seat because she was so excited to see the show! Aunt Melanie bought Morgan a souvenir book that outlined the show they watched. Aunt Melanie, Morgan says thank you and I love you lots!

Birthday fun!

Today the kids and I attended a birthday party for Nathan in Berwyn (a hike for us!). His mom and he were in the playgroup that I joined when Morgan was a tiny little peanut.

I thought I held crazy parties, but Laura (his Mom) had 30 kids plus adults scheduled to attend! Wow!! It was craziness but the kids seemed to all have a great time! There was a small moon bounce set up and lots of everyday toys to play with. I felt bad when everyone left... the clean-up was going to be insane! Came home and the kids both took naps while I did laundry...blah.

Tonight Aunt Melanie is taking Morgan for her first overnight away from me or MeMom/Pop Pop. I'm a little sad... mostly because she is growing up! She packed her bag, her sleeping bag, and her pillow pet. Have fun Morgan!

Mixed snow day feelings!

I LOVE snow!! I love playing in it, watching it fall, drinking hot cocoa by the fire, and even shoveling!!

I can even handle the fact that our snow day from school means another day added to the end of the year...

But I H.A.T.E. the fact that the CHOP ENT appointments for Morgan and RJ were cancelled. Urgh. Bob called yesterday to see what the facts were for today and he was told point blank that they never close and try very hard to stay open...

Got my "school's closed" call at ten after five this morning, then got my "we need to reschedule" appointment around 6:30 this morning. Now we need to wait ANOTHER week. They rescheduled for next Thursday at noon. Great... noon... Bob is working, Morgan has school in the morning and I have to work. I guess I will attempt to take a half day, and leave a bit earlier (if I get into school a bit earlier) to race back home to pick up the kids and race back to New Britain for our appointment. I better REALLY like this new doctor or the fangs may come out!!

We did have a nice day together! Morgan helped me make scones in the morning for breakfast, chocolate chip, yum! We stayed in our PJ's all day!! Perfect snow day! We had grilled cheese for lunch and then suited up to go out and play in the snow! (Did I mention Daddy was out 'plowing' from 7:30 until NOON...guess he was having fun!) RJ wasn't really happy, but wasn't really upset to be out in the snow... he just let us know his mitten came off every five seconds! He also got a little stuck in the snow which did not make him happy!

Morgan and I built a snowman together.

(One face facing our window, one face facing the street)

After we came in we had warm milk and naps for the kids. I worked on more wash and Daddy cleaned up the kitchen. For supper we had a crock pot beef stew that had been stewing all day and ended the day with some American Idol.

Nice day off! I could REALLY get used to having a day off a week!