day 7 of the new year

for the first time this year, in what seems like months, both jack and ellis are at school and i am home alone. i had so many things i was going to do today, and i find myself walking around my QUIET house, accomplishing nothing. oh well, i work hard most days, i deserve a few quiet moments.

for the third time this year, hellis (see ellisisms) had a total meltdown. we were out to eat with ben, iam and jenn and hellis decided that nothing was good enough at lunch. she began by laying on the floor, then throwing trains (thomas trains), then kicking train across the restaurant, then yelling. i tried my best to calm her down but ended up carrying her to the car where it took me a solid 5 minutes to get half of her strapped into the car seat. after gathering jack, i managed to get the other half of ellis strapped in and we set out for home. jack asked me to turn up the music because, "ellis is screaming too loud." when we pulled into the garage i noticed that more than half of her body was out of her car seat. she was still yelling at the top of her lungs, at this point i didn't know what about. i pried her screaming body out of the car and into the house. she kicked me as i carried her to her room and i had to stand at her door to keep her in her room. 30 minutes later i changed her diaper and coaxed her into bed. she napped for about 2 hours and woke up with the best demeanor. we ended our afternoon playing trains and my little pony.

it just goes to show you, what you have one minute can change the next.

Happy New Year

Happy 2009!
It's hard to believe another year has passed and we are faced with a year of enormous possibilities! I am hopeful for the new year. I am looking forward to what is yet to be.

This morning Jack, Ellis and myself took Grandma Joan to the airport. That was the fastest month-and-a-half. She arrived in late November and spent Thanksgiving, my Birthday, Christmas and New Years Eve with us. Mom and I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving for Christmas gifts, we went shopping the day after Christmas for Christmas bargains and too many days in between. We all spent 3 days in Aspen - snowboarding, riding the bus, playing in the snow, looking for inexpensive and kid friendly restaurants (yes, they do exist) and of course, more shopping. We baked cooking, made gifts for the neighbors and watched movies with the kids. For as long as I can remember I have called my Mom everyday, I have also called her every 4th of July as I watched the fireworks and every New Year's Eve, to wish her a Happy New Year. It was special to wish her a Happy New Year face-to-face and kiss her cheek.
Thank you Mom for spending the holidays with us! It was the best Birthday and Christmas gift you could give this family. We were all sad as we left the airport and talked about your next trip West. We love you and miss you when you are not here!

To all our family and friends, we wish you a Happy New Year! We hope this new year heals old pains, brings health and happiness and a more positive new year. Most of all, I wish you all PEACE.

Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year

It has been a while since I have updated this Blog, but I will try to do better in the new year! I would make it a resolution, but I hate to make a resolution that will get broken.

Everyone writes about the perfection and beauty of their lives, here's my version of the truth...

Jack (4) is obsessed with death and dying. Asks all the time if I am going to die and wants to know how he will talk to me when I die - Let's hope he won't find out anytime soon (all fingers, toes and eyes crossed). He is also obsessed with credit card debit and asks often if we have any. He regurgitates most of what he hears on the radio or tv. Scribbles in coloring books when he colors outside of the lines and throws them across the room. He walks and talks in his sleep, and suffers from growing pains almost once a week (who needs sleep). Wants to be stronger and faster than bad guys and superheros, but is still the smallest boy on the block.

Ellis (3) loves to pretend to choke on food to get out of eating dinner, but always wants dessert. Is obsessed with antagonizing her brother and doesn't think she is old enough to use the potty (which means she is STILL in diapers). She crawls around the house on all fours, pretending to be a puppy or a kitty, calling herself, Ellis Puppy/Kitty. Always thinks she has diaper rash or that her tummy hurts. Loves medicine and going to the doctor, even under the threat of a shot. The other day I caught her picking her nose, I won't tell you what she did with it... If Jack jumped off of a bridge, Ellis would watch him fall and go 'splat' and then she would follow him over the side of the bridge. She is the shadow.

Paul (38) would be perfect if he understood that I am sometimes right. He snores, is employed, is sober, has no credit card debit, is faithful and doesn't hit me or the kids. What more can I ask for...

Me (41) REALLY trying to do the best I can. Not an easy task when my life is run by Jack, Ellis and Paul. My resolution for 2009 is MORE patience.

2008 has been a good year to us, I can't wait to see what 2009 will bring.

too much sadness

It is with the most sadness that I have learned, my dear friend Stephen J. Viviani has passed away. He died Wednesday, November 5, 2008. My friend leaves behind a beautiful wife, a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. He was 41. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Viviani family.
Steve, I have known you my whole life - You have overcome so many obstacles and I will forever miss you!
I love you Steve... until we meet again. Erica

Too much Minnesota...

... and not enough Wisconsin. We spent nine days in MN with Paul's family. It is hard for me to be so close to home and not be able to see my Wisconsin Peeps. So here's a shout out to my fellow Badgers!

Actually we had a great time. Jack learned to say,"Yeah sure", thanks to Papa and Ellis... well she's still Ellis. She did show Nana and Papa why our neighbor calls her Yellis. We spent time at the fair, went to Como Park and Zoo and Nickelodeon Land at the Mall of America. As you can tell from the picture, the kids discovered rides. My life may never be the same. Ellis is saving her pennies to buy tickets, so they can go on more rides. We also attended Paul's 20 year class reunion. It was great to see the old friends I knew and even more fun to talk about the people I didn't know - thanks Stephanie and Jeanie for the funny conversations! I did get to spend a great night on a boat, on a lake. There is one difference between "boating" in MN and "boating" in WI, in WI when you go boating you drink beer, while ON the boat, ON the water.

It was great to see our family. We miss and think of them all of the time.
We love you and keep you in our thoughts and prayers!

There's no place like home

It's Wednesday and we have been home for four days and this is the first quiet moment I have had. First quiet moment with out doing laundry, making beds, vacuuming floors, sweeping, mopping, cooking or doing dishes - oh yeah and lets not forget childcare - normal life stuff. We were in Taos last week at Dawn and Bill's special house. We had a great time swimming, fishing, going on hikes, playing on the tire swing, playing games, eating s'mores and all kind of general hanging out. It was a great time had by all. Bill came up with a new nickname for Ellis, 'Yellis'. Her normal voice is two or six octaves above all else, so she just sounds like she is yelling EVERYTHING.

Paul is in Cali and then it's off to Idaho for a Bachelor party - should be fun. Congratulation John and Sarah. We can't wait to see you and everyone else next month! Unless someone comes up with another major life event, I'm not sure when all of us old friends will all be in Boston again at the same time. Kind of sad.

Well, I have to get back to my normal life (see above).
I miss everyone!
Erica

A moment of silence

It's Sunday afternoon and I have a moment of silence and time to myself. Jack and Paul are at the Colorado Rockies game and Ellis is taking a nap. I had a second to pee by myself and add some mulch to a garden bed - it ruined my manicure, but oh well.

We had a great 4th of July. We saw the fireworks in Louisville. I had to keep reminding myself, "We aren't in Boston anymore". It was a good time. Jack kept asking when are they going to start and the moment they did, he wanted to know when it was going to be over. That's a 3 year old for ya. Surprisingly the booms didn't bother either one, once they got the glow in the dark necklaces - you know the ones I swore I wasn't going to buy. The ones that cost $5 each, the ones you can buy at Target for $1.

Tomorrow Paul heads to Washington, DC and Wednesday the kids and I are off to Taos. Everyone's G.I. track seems to be getting back to normal.

What can I complain about? I hope everyone had a great weekend!