Last night we were watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and it was way past Lexi's bedtime. Two hours past in fact. Matt sat down on the couch and looked over at his daughter who was sitting on the coffee table eating cereal and said, "I can't believe you're still awake." At that she put down here cereal, looked over at her dad and said, " Yea, me either."

Christmas Party

Fwd:
Originally uploaded by gibj.

The kids Christmas Party at the station was the 11th, Alexis woke up and was very excited about seeing Santa Claus and of also of seeing all the kids. When we got there she watched the magic show and begged for a balloon (which I guess according to state law the magician couldn't give her because she is under three. Actually she found one someone had dropped and claimed it as her own and since no one came looking for it I didn't dispute it.). She went outside and welcomed Santa in but when it was her time to sit on his lap she refused. In fact she wouldn't even go up and get her present. This is exactly what I expected to happen but I do think that it's rather funny since she was so excited to see him and she always has to "hi Santa" when we go to the mall. This is year number two with no Santa pic or no good one at least. Like the Red Sox have always said (except for in 2004 when we won the World Series), "There's always next year".

Here are some new pictures of the kids. Nothing else is new. Life is the same in snowy New england.

Well for those of you that don't know I didn't get the job. I'm really okay with it and am actually not that sad. What I'm really upset about is having to take back all of the beautiful clothes I had bought in anticipation of starting a new career. Well, I didn't actually take all of the clothes back, I keep the pants and a couple of sweaters. I mean you can't take back pants that actually fit and make your butt look smaller now can you. In an effort to give Matt some time off since he so wonderfully works two jobs to keep our finances afloat I will be looking for a waitressing job since I can probably find one quickly and can make the most money in the least amount of hours. I also plan on selling hand knit baby stuff in ebay so keep an eye out.

Life is good here and things are going really well. The kids are getting bigger and ornrier everyday. Riley fussed and fussed the other day until Matt starting getting onto Alexis. Then he laughed and laughed. What an ornry kid at not even three months old. Alexis is getting sassier and sassier everyday. she is so much fun and so trying all at the same time. They are the cutest kids though and I love them more everyday.

I know that God had a hand in showing what I thought was really important through this whole job thing. While the extra money would be great it will never replace this tim with my kids as they grow bigger and do more and more amazing things every second. What a wonderful Father we have who takes care of us through all things. Praise God for his great insight and power.

Random Thought

Pillsbury is advertising cookies with mini Hershey Kisses in them, I always thought that was called a chocolate chip.

Yesterday

To get this out of the way: the interview went well and I should know more in a few weeks.

As a parent you will find that there are times when you should laugh at what your child is doing and times when you shouldn't. The hard part is not figuring out the difference between the two, that's actually really easy. The hard part is to actually not laugh when you shouldn't.

I am not very good at this. In fact I'm terrible at it. It's one thing when your brother is disciplining his kids and you laugh, but when you are disciplining your own and you laugh it's entirely different.

Let us take last night at dinner for example. We were trying to get Alexis to eat her the rest of her green beans. She had actually eaten quite a bit but we wanted her to try and finish what was on her plate. Matt and I went back and forth with her for a few minutes but nothing was coming of the argument. Then, out of the blue, she picks up her plate and dumps what was left of her dinner right into the middle of my empty plate and declared the uneaten green beans as "Mommy's geen beans". It was the funniest thing.

Now I mean, really, what was I supposed to do? Well, I did what any parent would do. I laughed. I laughed really hard and so did Matt. We had no choice. We have no idea where she got the idea to dump her food onto someone else's plate, we have certainly never done that before, but she figured it out. I know as a good parent who is trying my best to teach her good manners I should have looked her sternly in the eyes and told her it was wrong to do but I just couldn't. She was so proud of herself for finding a way to empty her plate and it was very creative for a two year old.

I'm sure next time it won't be so cute when she does it. Yes, I'm sure there will be a next time. I just hope with all hope I won't laugh again because if I do there will be no turning back. To slip up once is okay but to do it twice is an open invitation.

Tomorrow

For those of you that don't know I have an interview tomorrow with MassMutual. The position will be similar to the one I held at PHS in Wichita. Obviously things are different now when I consider taking a job. Before I only had one child and a fantastic child care situation. This time I have two kids and am not completely sure who will watch the kids when Matt is at work.

I feel excitement and guilt with the whole process. I know that many a well adjusted child has gone to day care and survived. I was one of them. I know that Matt will do a great job when he is here. He has already proven that with Alexis. However, I feel sad that I won't be with the kids all the time while I also feel happy that I will get some time away. I feel very conflicted.

Chris, my wonderful mother-in-law, gave me great advice and reminded me that the choice either way is not permanent and I can always change my mind. Those words really eased my mind. They didn't take the feelings away but they did ease my mind.

I know that God is always watching over me and my decisions. I have prayed to Him that He will reveal the answer to me. I know that He will. If are reading this before I go, pray that everything goes well. If you are reading this after, please pray that everything will work for the good of my family. God will take care and I will be okay, which ever decision is made.

Happy Halloween

We had a great night of trick-or-treeating last night with this motley crew of kids from the station. Lexi thought it was fantastics to get treats in her bag whenever she said tic-or-teet. Her favorite thing that she got was a glow stick from one of the other kids. It was a ton of fun and we can't wait till next year.

P.S. - Today is my mom's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!! We love you!

Joy of Joys

There is nothing quite as wonderful as that first smile. After creating and carrying around your child for nine months and then caring for them for almost another two they will finally reward your efforts with that first toothy grin. Adding to the fact that you know it for you and not just because it's gas makes it even more enjoyable. Riley has finally blessed my life with his smile. I can even make him smile now just by touvhing his face or saying sweet things to him. He even kind of laughs now. It is so wonderful and amazing. Through such imperfect beings God allows us to help create such perfect and wonderful things.

Fall in New England

Well it's fall in New England. I used to picture it as beuatiful changing leaves and taking walks while wrapped up in a cazy sweater. Now I picture it as being stuck in my house while I wait for the rainy season to end. Since Saturday the temperature has not gotten out of the 50's in either direction and the sun has only shown itself for maybe five minutes. It really kind of sucks right now. The kids and I have been stuck in the house because it's too raw to go outside. I'm getting cabin fever and I'm sure Alexis is too. Luckily Riley is too little know what's really happening.

We did have some excitment yesterday when Toby got out of the back yard. Of course by the time I got the kids dressed and packed up and around the corner to go get him he had already gotten back into the yard. I can say this though it was too cold and wet to drag two kids around in their pjs to find a lost dog.

Oh well, everyone is back home and no one got hurt so I'll count my blessings. And hey, like Annie said, "The sun'll come out tomorrow." Well actually I think the weatherman said Sunday but whose keeping track.

Two years

It's hard to believe that my little girl is 2 years old. It seems like only yesterday that we were bringing her home for the first time, but now she's two! We had her party on Saturday and it was great. Matt's folks and Grandma came up and also his uncle Dennis and aunt Mary. We had a great time watching the Red Sox play and then watching her open and enjoy her presents. (Well, maybe not a great time watching the Sox since they lost to the Yankees but it was good to have everyone here.) By the way Grandma Pat she loves her new slide or as she calls it her "weeeeeeee!". Life is good with kids and I'm so happy that we have had her in our lives these 2 years and I can't wait for many many more.

She finally did it!

Well after three long weeks of waking up at 6:30 Alexis finally decided to sleep in til 7:30. I know that this may not seem significant or even like sleeping in but for me it was fabulous and it will hopefully start a trend. Getting up so early has been rough on me especially since Riley eats about every 2 -3 hours. Sleep is a major commodity around here and I am most definitely not getting enough.

Having small children is sort of like finals week except it lasts a much longer time.

I'm finally on the web

Well, it's official, I'm finally a blogger. For those that will read this I hope you find it entertaining and informative. Not in a newsworthy sort of way but in a hey, here's what's happening in my life sort of way. Of course since I have two kids at the moment who are both under 2 most of my blogs will hopefully not consist of just potty and daiper stories. I hope you readers enjoy it.