February snow brings March ... sunshine? Please?

Is is spring yet?


The past few weeks have simultaneously flown by and drug on without end in sight. We've had so much snow, it feels like it might never melt (although forecast says 50s this week!) And yet, we've been incredibly busy. We had a fabulous time at The Avett Brothers concert with friends a few weeks back. Dinner and cocktails with 6 other adults felt like a mini vacation to beautiful South Bend, Indiana.







Kevin and the kids were both sick and let me tell you- I am OVER a runny nose. The next time I see a nose running in this house, I will catch it and kill it. You mark my words. However, lots of snuggles and lots of naps around here. What else is there to do with a cold weather skin advisory, level 1 snow emergency and upper respiratory infections? Here's CeCe on the couch hanging with a sick daddy.


Kiddo update:
CeCe is now 17 months and acts like she's 2. I don't know why, but she seems to act so much older than Preston did at this age. She's just as verbal as he was, but there's something so impish about her personality that makes me both laugh and worry. She's constantly seeking a reaction from her brother by taking a toy, dumping a bowl of his snacks, bopping him on the head, etc... Or, unfortunately, seeking a reaction from me by taking one of Preston's toys, dumping a bowl of snacks, bopping her brother on the head and ... playing in the toilet. yep. We've been giving her a consistent and stern "no" for that for about 6 months now, but what can I say? The girl likes to splash in toilet water. It's maddening. She's got 2 canine teeth poking through and 2 more on their way, chatting up a storm and putting a few words together here and there. She's a great eater - her favorite snack is "pesol and hummy," which translates to "pretzels and hummus." And the number one thing that describes CeCe is: obsessed with her dad. She's the biggest daddy's girl I've ever seen. She's loving all things feminine and squeals "Pretty!" when she sees a dress or new hair accessory. I did get her hair into pig tails the other day which was so cute I couldn't stand it.


Preston is obsessed with this show: http://www.nickjr.com/dino-dan/ And consequently, all things dinosaurs. Thanks to the research performed by the writers at Nick Jr, he'll accurately identify a velocyraptor, T Rex, brachiosaurus, and triceratops. I am on the hunt for a preschool for him in the fall and so far, no luck, but I've only visited one place and continue my search later this week. I really wish I could find all of my wish list in one school, but I am not finding that to be an easy task. I started a family yoga class with the kids at Prana this week and the instructor went around the room, asked the kids to introduce themselves and say whether or not they've done yoga before. Here was his response, word for word: "I'm Preston and I've done yoga before with mama." I have no idea why that one sentence that he said aloud to a room full of people melted my heart so much, but it did. He officially turns 3.5 in two days and I can hardly wrap my head around it. My sweet boy.



We've been spending tons of time in our playroom. If I turn on some music and help the kids get interested in an activity, they sometimes play down there for 30-40 minutes at a time. Not a vacation but long enough for me to start dinner or grab a shower. Thank God for that room. I will admit that I'm a big believer in us leaving the house every day, but with the weather the past few weeks, we've broken that rule and been at home much more than normal. Which means we've had to rotate play spaces from their rooms, our living room, crafts in the breakfast nook, and the basement. Have I mentioned how badly I am longing for warm weather to get them outside?
Anyways, thankful for the basement- here they are hanging with my Grandma down there last week, hanging at the water table at Science Central, and BFFs in Preston's room.





We have a pleasantly slow week or two coming up so I'll try to be good about grabbing the camera and catching up on more pics!

For all my mommy friends...

I absolutely loved this:

http://www.ReflectionsOfMotherhood.com/

Blizzard Blogging: Day 3- life resumes.

My Matilda Jane party was cancelled due to the snow, but the Level 1 and 2 emergency has been lifted, so Daddy is back at work. We had plans to play with a friend this morning, but her little ones were sick and there were school delays, so we are twiddling thumbs and completely out of ideas at home. I have yoga to look forward to, which means we'll all leave the house this afternoon for the first time since Sunday. I'm excited.

In the meantime, we'll continue playing. And playing. and... sigh.

Blizzard Blogging- Day 2.

Had problems uploading pics yesterday, hence the delay in Blizzard Blogging.
So, snowpocalypse 2011 was not as big as they had predicted. Or, rather, as big as the world feared. At least not for Fort Wayne. However, Kevin's car did get stuck- twice, a level 1 snow emergency meant he had the day off and we took the kids sledding down an awesome hill at Taylor. Followed by homemade hot chocolate. I'm not complaining.... :)
Stay tuned for more details, but for now... check out these pics from the past couple days.

Blizzard Blogging- Day 1, Part 2.

Well, the snow started, slowed, and is now just steady flurries, with a lovely "wintry mix" of sleet and heavy wind gusts. burrr. Kevin's car got stuck in the ally, but he was able to make it home for a dinner of teriyaki glazed wings, a heaping salad and some crusty whole grain garlic and cheese bread. There's something about being stuck at home that makes one want to eat comfort food. And wine. We had very little supply, so I had to trek out right when it got heavy this afternoon and Kevin got home. Cap n Cork was packed. Smart thinkin' Fort Wayne.

Blizzard Blogging Day 1:

It's 12:44pm on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, and we're expecting a little snow. If you haven't heard- just turn on the TV, the radio, log onto facebook and twitter, or stop in your local grocery store.

I figured I'd update you on what we do over the next few days during Blizzard '11. Reportedly starting this afternoon, it shall start snowing around 3, we'll get an inch an hour until Wednesday night, then it all turns to ice. I am stocked on groceries and ready to take on being stranded for the week. God help me. Things could get interesting considering I have 2 antsy toddlers, one of which had a slight run-in with a stomach bug yesterday evening. Said toddler seems ok now- she's eating fine, acting fine and no fever.

I do have a Matilda Jane show I'm hosting with Mrs. Henry here on Thursday morning. About 35 women were invited. I figure either we'll get all this snow and no one will show, or by Thursday morning, people will be ready to get out of the house, and bring themselves, their neighbors, and all their kids.

So far this morning, we've done arts and crafts. Valentine hearts, stickers, stamping and coloring. It took us about 30 minutes. This should be fun...

update for Grams!

Last week, my Grandmother emailed me and reminded me that I needed to update the blog. She said in all caps, "I MISS SEEING MY BABIES!" She's looking for some new pics, so this is for you, Grams!

Last week, I signed Preston and I up for a winter dessert making class with our friends the Spitlers at a cake shop and he LOVED it! We are planning to attend every one possible from here on out! He dipped cookies, painted a chocolate snowman, and decorated a cupcake as a snow globe. He was so proud and I think he should have been- Isn't it great?? Thanks for the pics, Sara!







I have desperately been trying to get a side-profile shot of both kids in order to make some DIY silhouettes. Let me tell you- it's not been easy to snap one of CeCe. The girl moves non-stop. Here are the two from a recent bath that I believe will make the cut. And some cute out-takes of CeCe, as well. :)






Speaking of CeCe, she is talking up a storm lately! I truly feel that there are days where I get no more than 30 seconds of silence at a time all day long. She's putting two words together, saying "thank you" unprompted (melt) understands pretty much everything we say to her. She's showing interest in the potty, *obsessed* with Daddy, and loves to read. She still gets into things WAY more than Preston ever did, but part of that has to be that she does not have my full attention like her brother did.

In Preston news, the preschool search has begun and I've narrowed it down to 2. One is a lottery situation, so I'm going to put his name in, and the other is nearby, and I've heard great things. I know he's ready, but I am not sure I am! Tonight, he assembled a 56 piece puzzle by himself in just a few minutes, and it was only his 3rd time seeing this particular puzzle. He's now napping diaper-free, and we're moving to pull-ups at night soon. Lately, I fear he's dropping his nap. Hence my 30 seconds of silence comment above, I really look forward to that glorious 1.5-2 hrs in the afternoon of down time in the afternoon that they are both asleep and I can pick up the house, start dinner, shower, get online, chat with a girlfriend on the phone without a child pulling on my pant leg, or give some much-needed attention to Ruby. He's always been totally dependent on his naps- please send some sleep daytime vibes our way!

I've said it before, but perhaps my favorite thing of having 2 kids is watching their interaction with eachother. It's PRECIOUS. CeCe just adores and idolizes Preston and he thinks she's a blast because he has a constant audience. Here they are snuggling together as Preston showed her how to work the iPod. How sweet is this!?




I need to brag on Kevin for a moment- he was just named one of Fort Wayne's "40 Under 40!" This is a huge recognition that celebrates the top 40 up and coming business people from around the region of NE Indiana and NW Ohio. I am so proud of him. Way to go, honey! Looking forward to the reception in March.

As for me, I am back to an (almost) daily yoga practice and after searching for a good yoga "home" in Fort Wayne for almost 9 years, have fallen in love with a newer studio just downtown. http://pranayogaschool.com/
I'm also keeping busy with managing the social media aspect of one of Kevin's work accounts, obviously running after the kids, enjoying some wonderful girls nights out, the occasional date with my hubby and constantly trying to stay on top of cleaning this house. This weekend, we are heading to South Bend with the Steeles, the Adams, and the Broughs for a dinner out followed by The Avett Brothers concert at Morris. CANT WAIT!

Happy New Year!

Hey, it's 2011, why haven't we all been to the moon, and where's my flying car?

At any rate, happy new year! We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years and I couldn't be more thankful going into the new year. Like the Grinch, my heart grew three sizes larger on Christmas day as I watched the kids experience the holiday. CeCe didn't get it as much as Preston, obviously, but he was excited enough for both of them, and she totally picked up on his overabundance of energy!

But I have to back up- Christmas Eve day was totally perfect again as we continued with some of the same things we did last year. Baking and decorating cut out cookies, making reindeer food, followed by a trip to a new local market, a yummy special dinner at home just the four of us, and then of course, setting out the reindeer food and milk and cookies for Santa. Kevin and I stayed up late wrapping gifts by the fire, having our own little gift exchange, sipping wine and getting ready for what was coming the next morning and following day at the Erbs.








Christmas morning, Preston woke up around 6, but just stayed in his bed talking to himself. He totally remembered it was Christmas, and we can only assume he was a little overwhelmed and/or apprehensive about a man coming into his house the previous night. Finally, we went in to get him at 7 and he said, "But.... I didn't hear a clatter!" Twas the Night Before Christmas obviously had a lasting effect on him. We woke CeCe up, too and headed downstairs to find quite the load of loot!





Breakfast of omlets and fruit, then off to Grandma and Grandpa Erb's house for a full day of food, folly and fun! Check out all 13 grandkids!




We also had special celebrations the following week with the Pryor family, the Roberts family, then the Willig family. All were a blast, but I didn't get many pictures! :( Here are a few from the Roberts gathering and of the Pryors. The kids obviously made out like bandits from all the gift-fests, but I am not complaining- they've been happily occupied with the stuff every since! :)







New Years was a great night, but I was ill earlier in the day, so we didn't get too crazy. Just dinner at Eddie Merlot's with dear friends, then off to a fabulous party nearby. I tell ya, we've been wined and dined enough in the past month to last a lifetime! This week, we're getting back into the swing of things with friends, activities, and getting this house back in order. (What is it about the decorations being up that makes everything so damn dusty?!)

As we enter into a new year, we rejoice for our healthy, happy family and wish you the same!