So I see it's been awhile...

Or Life has continued moving forward...

It's been awhile since I posted last, almost 2 years in fact.  The last time I posted Che was almost 5 and the girls weren't even 1 yet.  Ooops, guess we got busy.




Che just finished his
Kindergarten year, and while we had some struggles, it was overall very well.  He can now read, and writes stories, and does double digit addition.  He's excited to be a 1st Grader next year, and is hoping that there is less homework.  Something about 15 + sheets a week didn't set well with him.  Che also just finished his 2nd season of hockey, and is gearing up for the fall when he gets to start up again!

Che is taking a good interest in his community, history and Science as well.   This Spring he submitted an idea for the Downtown South Bend's Pitch Your Plan contest, and was selected out of 88 applicants as a finalist.  We originally thought he was selected because he was the youngest entrant, but later found out that the selections were made blind, and no submitters information was provided, just the ideas.  We're excited to present our ideas to the public on Tuesday, June 19th!





Lucy is quite the talker and very opinionated.  She knows her letters, and consistently counts to 15 correctly.  Lucy can also write some of her letters and does so on magna doodles, and with sidewalk chalk.  With Lucy, you only have to tell her something one time, and she's got it.  Lucy is the clumsy one, always bumping into something, falling, and getting scraped up knees.   She's going to have a great scar on her chin already!

Zoe is quiet, yet smart and thoughtful, always the one to share when her sister asks, and willing to play whatever game Che wants her too.  Zoe also knows letters and numbers, but good luck getting her to tell you.  She stated just this evening that she too wants to play hockey like Che.  Zoe is much more physically able than Lucy, but she's much more cautious too.







We added a new member to our family earlier this year, a 5 year old Schnauzer, named Thunder.  He's fit in quite well and despite his name is petrified of storms, making sleeping interesting on those nights!

This year has also brought us time to spend on hobbies we have long since forgotten since becoming parents to three, and one of those things for me has been gardening.  I laugh when I think about the vegetable garden I let go back to grass, and the flower beds that we let go to grass when we moved into this house, that I've not brought back.  So far we have lettuce, some tomatoes, peas, cucumbers and pumpkins.  We're hoping to have broccoli and cauliflower as well.

Mike has been able to go back to the pool, and is now swimming for the Master's Team at Notre Dame 2 nights a week.

It's a busy life, but I love it!

And it's over!

Mike has been gone since November 30th. About 6 days. In toddler time, it's a lifetime.
Mike has been here, way up north, where they have even more snow than at home, and colder temperatures too!

Ché did fairly well, better than last time Daddy was gone. We had Daddy cards, a system where we pulled a number off every day counting down the time till Daddy came home, and I tried keeping him busy with crafts, baking, and other projects, but last night, he'd had enough.

I got 2/3 of the way down my mom's driveway when he started begging for his blankie, which he proceeded to cry into most of the way home, until the pitiful "I miss Daddy," came out. All day today he's been obstinate and impatient, and every time I ask him what is wrong, the answer is, "I miss Daddy."

I swear if Daddy ever goes out of town again, Ché's going too. It's a good thing he called and they're coming home a day early. I don't think Ché or I could take another day alone together.

A man, a mustache, a plan. (*Updated with Clean shaveness)

So, Mike is participating in a mustache-a-thon, for lack of better words.

Some people from his work are participating as well, so he's not the only clean-shaven weirdo walking around with the snow flying.

Many of you that know Mike, also know that he always has facial hair. ALWAYS. I have never (in 7 years), seen him totally clean shaven. One time after the slip of a razor, I did see a great reduction in the amount of facial hair, but never clean shaven off. It's really an odd site, and I'd love to have a picture, but don't. The only I have is this:

Pre-shave, but a lot less hair than normal.

And Post Shaven.... hehe.

The money that they raise for growing mustaches is going to be donated to our local Boys and Girls club. Sooo, all you lovely people, how about a 5 spot to help out our Boys and Girls club?

It truly is legitimate, even though it sounds crazy... check it out: http://www.mustachesforkids.org/

Belated, but better than never!

Saturday, October 11, 2008 was Mike and my 5th year anniversary (I can hardly believe that I'm old enough for that...)

But it's true. 5 years. 19% of my life has been lived with Mike, which is 1,852 days!

Amazing.

So we celebrated with a gift card that Mike had received for his birthday (Thank you!) and enjoyed an evening alone.

We dined at Bonefish, where Mike, very predictably had the trout with tomato, lime, garlic sauce and I had the pork tenderloin with the portabella piccatta sauce. It was very yummy. Of course we shared some Bang, Bang, shrimp and a key lime pie piece for dessert.

Since our reservations were at 8:00 we went home after dinner, put on comfy clothes and watched TV. I know, you're jealous of our very active life

But, the best part is that I got to spend time with Mike, alone, without being interrupted. I love Ché and wouldn't do anything to change our family, but it was nice to have a night alone!

I'm happy to be married, I have no regrets, and I'm looking forward to many, many more years! I leave you with this:

We were grinning like fools, so Mike said in his PicasaWeb album. I'm still grinning like a fool though knowing how happy I am, even though we do have some bumps in the road!

Yay us! and Happy Anniversary Momd!

The Great Debate Continued...

The debate was not over whether or not Mike got a tattoo. I like the design he chose, but didn't agree with where he wanted to put it. Mike has another tattoo on his left arm. It's hidden unless he's wearing a cut-off tee. It's of a gulper eel, and was done about 10 years ago. Mike wanted to put both tattoo's on the same arm. I didn't agree, thus the great debate.

Now, in all fairness, Mike has been talking about getting this tattoo for almost a year. He didn't want to do it in the summer due to it being dried out. The same excuse came in the winter of last year. I guess I had had enough of hearing about it, and said just go! I had done some research and called some places in town to see prices, procedures, times, etc. I had planned on getting him a gift certificate for Valentines' Day, but there came some doubt on his part, and so I didn't do that. Anyway, I told him what I had found out and he made decision. He went and talked to the artist last week, and made the appointment for yesterday. Mike chose Marvel Tattoo. He really liked the guy, and was confident in Half-Pint. It just so happened that Half-pint is a Native American, which kind of helped the symbolism of what Mike was getting.

So I bugged Mike all day long yesterday about placement. I didn't agree with putting both on the same arm. I don't think one has anything to do with the other. And, I felt that if he shrunk the new tattoo enough to fit under a t-shirt, that it would be too small to translate, and that as he aged, it would shrink and stretch and be unrecognizable. He finally listened to reason, and realized that I may have a point. In the end he did it on the other arm. It turned out really great, although he says that the shading was the worst part.

Ché and I were on our own, so we went and had dinner, and then Ché kept asking where Daddy was, so I took him to see. Ché had a really great time watching the tattoo being done, and playing peek-a-boo with one half of the lesbian couple that was down at the other end. He didn't want to leave, and thought that the books of all the tattoos are great.

So, here are both tattoos. He now has one on each arm. The new one is significantly larger than the first. I can't wait till his Mom finds out...

Right Arm (New Tattoo)

Left Arm (Old Tattoo)

Gerber Cup

Damn these Gerber Coloring Changing Cups. I mean, yea they're nifty because they change colors, and the valve system is easy, and they are easy to grasp for a 2 year old, but they're heavy when filled with juice.

How do I know? Other than the obvious: I hold them when filling it up for Ché, and I pick it up off the floor when it is deposited and left for clutter, but when they are flung at you, it hurts.

Yes, my perfectly angelic little child throws things. I know, who would have thought that their own child could be capable for throwing something other than a ball which is meant to be thrown.

You see, I was making dinner, everything was great, Ché was on the floor playing, having a juice break. No problems. Then Mike came home, and well those of you that no him, there's a problem right there. (Not really, but it sounded good!) He of course scooped up Ché, because the 2 of them home together means I'm chopped liver, and Mike and he were talking and carrying on.

I was rinsing something off, while they were standing next to me, and Mike asked Ché for a kiss. Not an awful request mind you, but this was met with a definitive "NO!" and then the tossing of the juice cup. Mike swerved, and I, oblivious to the physical part of the conversation was left with the brunt of said juice cup.

I know how a bruised swollen thumb. Yea, I spent the rest of my night left handed because it hurt to bend my thumb and then sat with ice the other part of the night in an attempt to get the throbbing to stop. Fun times.

Ché? Yes, he spent 2 minutes in the corner, while I cried, and after I screamed and bent over in pain, to which I think he was a bit shocked. He came out of the corner, gave me a hug, then burst into tears. I think this was empathy, which is good to know that my 2 year old has some. But by the end of the night he had forgotten, which is pretty typical. ah, well.

So to you: Beware of the full sippy cup.

To me: Pay more attention to the physical conversation between Dad and son.