Catching up with 2014

January gone and I've written nothing. How can I when there is always so much going on? Even as I sit down to write this I'm interrupted by a little person begging for food as if dinner wasn't an hour ago . . .

Where was I? Oh yeah, picking up where I left off. This is a pretty good representation of how things go most days.

Christmas was a lot of fun. Although we missed the family in NY, we were really glad to have stayed home. The traffic reports were awful on the roads and staying put allowed us a lot of time to just be together without running around the whole time, as NY visits tend to be. It felt like three long weeks of relaxing and being together. We had Tim and Jen around for a visit, as well as G'pa Truck. A few days of a lull then Matt and Joey were here. It was nice to have the both of them around for a couple nights, including new years. We planned on staying in but after some guitar hero and a dance party to start us off we went to neighbor Kate's for the rest of the night. The kids made it until 10:30p! Matt & Joe hung out there. I was opened one eye for half a second at midnight. Otherwise I was done! Joey stayed for a week and submersed himself into our craziness. We don't get to spend that time together so to have so much was a treat. To see all the brothers within a short period was definitely MY Christmas gift!

After the break we were ready to dive into work and school (well, I was!). We've been going non-stop since. I went away for another Nature's Pearl weekend in Advance, NC and have been sharing it with so many people. I love having this thing that is growing. That is fun and helpful and has so much potential. There are another few weekends of training coming in the next few months.

Nathan is registered for Kindergarten. He will start in July, but we aren't sure when exactly yet. They have tracks down here for the year round schools. It's a weird option but people say they really love it and our base school is the best around so we'll take it. It will be weird to have Nathan in school from 8a - 3p. But I think he will enjoy it when we get into the groove of it. Benny will begin Preschool late August for two days a week. I still can't imagine my little buddy going so young. But it will help him with his talking and socializing, and me with my sanity!

Benny has been quite the little talked though. He suddenly blossomed and has barely shut up since! We will go about our day, all of us talking about whatever, and Benny will copy every word. More like the syllables and some sounds, always leaving off the first consonant. So poop and soup sound the same. You can imagine how this can be confusing. He communicates better but there is often lots of guessing going on still. But we work with him to get it right. He's making progress.

Also, Nathan and Benny play together a lot. Benny goes where Nathan goes. If Nathan wants to do the bouncy house, Benny wants to do the "ouncy ouse." If Nathan jumps across the couch cushions, Benny follows. If it's playtime under the blankets in the bedroom, book reading, flash lights, music, etc - Benny wants in too. Nathan even seems to miss him during nap time. I can't imagine how it will be when school starts. They will have so much less time together. That actually makes me sad. I'm often thinking about how nice it will be for me to have a break or for each of them to have something new. But when it comes to their relationship with each other . . . I wonder if they will be closer because they will miss each other, or further apart because they will be into different things.

Leo is the same, working away upstairs. He's had some good luck playing around in the stock market. I don't understand it all. But he seems to have fun following it and making some extra money here and there. He and I recently went to the movies and then another night out for dinner and a stop at a beer/wine store where they have weekly tastings. We swap babysitting with friends, each of us getting one date night a month. Sometimes, we don't know what to do with our night out- we see each other so often as it is! But it's good to force us to do it, to spend time kid-free.

Benny turned two this past week. TWO! He such a happy, talkative, loving little guy. He is still big into snuggles and makes his way into our bed every so often. I don't sleep much those nights, but I lay there thinking about how I'm happy to have his warm little body next to me. We went to Red Robin for dinner to celebrate, Gigi and Grandpa bringing cake pops for the occasion. Tomorrow is the Super Bowl and we decided to do a joint Super Bowl/ Benny's Birthday party. We said we would keep it small. Apparently we don't know how to do that. We are expecting somewhere close to 40 people. We cleared the playroom for playing and bouncing and we will have enough food for all. I'm looking forward to being surrounded by friends and their families. We are so lucky to have such a big group of close friends we simply couldn't celebrate without.

Twas a few days before Christmas

Just a few days until Christmas. But I feel like I have been in the midst of it for a while. Leo, on the other hand, hasn't had that feeling. But I have been submersed in decorating, shopping, wrapping, (and partying!) for a while. I feel lucky I get to enjoy it so thoroughly. Or rather glad that I have let myself enjoy it so much. It's easy to get lost in doing without stopping to look around at what and why. 

Today is a beautiful day in NC. We are in Greensboro at a children's museum I heard great things about. It is a whole world made for little ones and the boys have enjoyed it. A mini hospital, post office, market, camp site, news station and even a real life truck, plane, race car, police car and firetruck. This place has it all. We stopped for lunch and sat outside in the 70 degree sun. Heaven. Benny couldn't wait to fall asleep so Nathan and Leo are back inside for round two. Quiet time for mommy to blog in the car. Technology is simply amazing isn't it?

This past week I took Benny to get assessed since he hasn't been talking much. They tested him in several areas and he scored well above average in every area except for expressive language. This isn't news of course but it's nice to know he's ok with every other area. Benny didn't say anything the whole time we were there of course. Until we left. When he was clearly ready to leave he said "bye!". He had only said bye a time or two so to hear him say it loud and clear like that made me laugh and shake me head at the same time. He hears everything we talk about so maybe he just didn't want to be sent to a speach therapist! Anyway, he's been saying hi and bye and tons of other words more and more. He had been showing progress in only the last few weeks. It's nice to hear his little voice say mommy and up and even no (which will get old but I'll take it right now!). 

Nathan has the next few weeks off school. They have a little thing they put on for the parents, singing songs for us, and each class has a different part. Some are angels, some are animals, some are wise men. Nathan got to be Joseph! The teachers were all very excited. Nathan barely mentioned it to me. I understood why later when I saw him on the stage. He didn't have to say a thing, just sit next to Mary and Baby Jesus in an outfit he didn't like. Still, it was cute. And he did a good job for a kid who rarely sits still.

The last few weeks have been so hectic. Like I said, I have been deep into holiday prep. But there have been so many other things. A couple weeks ago the family came with me to the Natures Pearl plant. They got to meet some of the people I have met in the last year and see the machines where they process all those wonderful grapes! We also had Holiday dinner with friends, MOPS events, Leo's work dinner, an NP event at home, and on and on. So to be on the other side, enjoying the season is lovely.

I have taken this last week and tackled a project I didn't even know was in me (I guess this isn't strange. When an idea strikes I usually attack it full force). I wanted to redo my office so I went for it. Rearranging, buying a new bookcase here and there. It feels so nice in there now. Peaceful and open. I don't want to think about where to put stuff. There is simply a place for it all now. 

Next up is visitor time. Uncle Matt hung out with us yesterday then took off early for NY. Today G'pa Truck drove down and he will be over with Logan and Patrick tomorrow. Tim and Jen are driving down tomorrow and I expect to see them a bunch this week. Christmas Eve we will be with my side, and we will fit in our us usual secret Santa exchange via Skype. Christmas Day we will all be together, both sides of our family. Then next week when Matt comes back he will be bringing Joey back too. We look forward to having him for a week or so. Nathan will love having a Lego building partner! 

I am personally excited to see those little faces on Christmas Day. Obviously Nathan "gets it". Almost too much at least in terms of the gimmes. It's tough to teach a kid what it's all about when all it seems to be about is gifts. Benny though has no idea. And really, before you can explain it, it really is all about spoiling them with gifts. It will be fun to see his face for the first time. In the coming years though, I do hope to make it more about sharing and giving. For now they can enjoy the toys.

Pajama Holiday

We are coming off a long holiday weekend and it's been one of the best. I often feel like everyday slides right into another. But the last four or five have been especially . . . special!

Wednesday I feel like we officially unplugged from the world and hung around the house. Well, Daddy was still working. But we played. Day one of Pajama Jam. We had a dance party in the morning and the boys were generally good while I was busy cleaning and cooking on preparation for Thanksgiving. When mommy and daddy are busy, the two usually find things to do. Playing upstairs, in the bedrooms, in laundry baskets, with swords, legos, trains . . . they are getting more awesome as the weeks pass as far as playing together and keeping busy. (It's super cute when Nathan calls, "Come on Ben.")

The house tidied up and most of my dishes made, Thursday was a breeze. Not only because of the prep though. Mom and Ed always do a wonderful job of bringing the turkey and making sure the bird and all the trimmings are perfect. This year was no exception. The rest of the family was around as well. Nathan and Benny were running around with Logan and Patrick. They keep each other entertained and it's fun that Patrick can (kinda) join in too.

Friday gave way to another Pajama Day. I've decided this is my favorite day of the year. Not because of Black Friday (although I did my fair share of cyber shopping all weekend). But because Thanksgiving is over and the next holiday can be prepared for next. I do love my autumn decorations (they looked fabulous on the new shelf in the living room!). But having the tree out is a treat. We switched seasons in a few hours and by the time Nonni, Poppi and the boys came back for another afternoon visit, we were Christma-fied! We played and enjoyed another lazy afternoon. I let myself relax too. This is the difference. Having time to get it all done including ME time. I have to allow for it. And I did.

Saturday we had a nice breakfast and actually left the house for a few hours of errand running together, as well as a quick visit to a nearby playground. This didn't last long. The chill has set in for good I think.

Sunday, another pajama day. We slept in (yes, all of us! This was a trend all weekend that will be hard to break tomorrow) and had a slow morning. I finished my book for book club and managed to finish laundry. We put up some lights outside, blew some leaves out back. All the little things the season calls for. Now, at 6ish, I feel like it's nine! But in a good way. We did so much. The best part was just hanging around, not having to be anywhere. Just together. We have a couple busy weekends and weekends ahead. This was a nice calm before the storm.

A diamond in the rough (morning)

Like all kids should, they really love their mama. But my kids REALLY love me. The stages where they can't seem to breathe if I'm not in their presence are especially surprising and frustrating. They both did it. (They probably all do it.) But I feel like we may be turning a corner. 

Two Tuesdays a month we have our MOPS meeting. Yesterday was a MOPS day and I knew we had to get up early and to set up for the meeting.This meant getting everyone up, dressed and fed by 7:45a to go. This is done daily by those that work everyday, and often much earlier. I know this and I feel for you. Not having to do this regularly, it was not easy. Oh yeah, did I mention I had to do this in the dark? 

Just outside our development, a car crashed into a pole which took down the power to around 300 homes. It happened around 1a but I woke around 2a to the sound of beeping and pitch black. You never realize how much electronics light up your life until you don't have the blue and green lights to show the way through a dark house. I stumbled around to find my phone (for time since I had to get up. So much for setting an alarm). The beeping was from a smoke alarm upstairs (I guess we need some 9 Volts around here). And with the hall light off, I knew Nathan would wake up and freak out since he always likes the light on. An hour later he joined me in bed after a minor pitch-dark-freak-out. 

When morning finally came,the lights were still out (as was the heat) it was still kind of dark outside but we had to go. Guess what you can't do in a black out? I may have found my way around the shower, but the hair dryer wasn't going to work! Guess what you can't make on your way out the door with no power? Crap. At least there would be hot coffee at the meeting! Guess what doesn't open without electricity? D'oh! Leo is tall enough to release the latch on the garage door to open it. But we both still have no clue how to lock it once it's closed! 

I was able to get everyone up and dressed. The food came later when I was setting up the room. I put the boys at one of the big tables and set out their cereal and some juice. This was actually a genius idea I may use again - they were so busy eating that I was able to do stuff without them underfoot like usual. 

After set up it was time to drop off the boys in their child care rooms. Leo was saying the other day that Nathan goes fine when he is with Gigi or at school, but sometimes there is a sad look of hesitation. But he marches forward. Then I become even more proud of him as I am reminded of how far he has come. He was just like Benny. Which is to scream, cry, limp-body-no-don't-hand-me-over-to-these-strange-people dance. Ugh. This is typical so I'm getting used to it. But it still sucks. Thank goodness there are women who say just the right thing at the right time which was, "You're doing the right thing." (If you are a mommy reading this, please repeat that to another mommy sometime in the appropriate situation. We like to know there are other soldiers out there!)

Finally I was able to relax. And relax I did. With friends and some socializing. Despite the wacky circumstances we woke up to and pushed through, it was good. And here's the icing. When it was time to get Benny, he had a big smile on his face. He was laughing and having FUN! He reached for me as a happy boy. So happy I almost cried. Just like the first time Nathan turned a corner. Hopefully each visit will get noticeably better instead of incrementally.

So that's the diamond - Benny's smiling face. Not to mention Nathan's excitement when I went to get him too. He made a drawing of our house with a ninja turtle outside. (Obsessed with ninjas!) Maybe they were the ones who fixed our lights. They were on when we came home. 

Birthday Surprise

I wish I could write more than once a month but that seems to be the norm. Sometimes I wonder where the month has gone! This month has been a good one though.

We celebrated moms birthday last weekend (wow, this week flew by). While Mom and Ed were finishing up their two weeks in Florida, Greg and family were driving down from NJ. It was all a surprise, planned for months and carried out perfectly. My mother is a busy lady but the weekend was perfect as they had no plans so were free to enjoy the family.

Friday, before mom and Ed got home, we showed them Pullen Park and the Farmers Market. All the kids did really well while we ate. It helped that they were super hungry and the food came out fast. And hush puppies to munch on while waiting didn't hurt either. That night Uncle Matt came up and we let the kids stay up late for a dance party. I loved that they stayed at our place for lots of time to just be together. We don't always get that on our visits to NY and it's hard to plan when there are kids of various ages involved. (Seriously, getting us all out the door was quite a feat.)

Saturday we had to wait until 12:30 for the guest of honor to arrive. We had Lily open the door for mom where, as mentioned, she stood there in shock and then crumbled into tear of utter joyfulness as she took us all in and realized Ed was in on it too. Just the day before, Mom was sad and missing her grandbabies. Then there was was surrounded by them. (We were so missing Tim and Jen!) We spent the day just hanging out and letting everyone just be. I'm very happy to have the cozy space to be the hostess!

After a taco dinner we watched some videos that the boys and I worked on all year. One was a montage of pictures from moms life. Tim picked a good song and made the room weapy at the first note. The 2nd video was a collection of birthday messages I have been collecting for months. That was really fun and funny - we have some creative people in the family. (I'm creative but I was not one of them. Me and video cameras have a weird relationship.)

Sunday Greg, Danielle, Lily and Julia went to mom and Ed's place for a visit before we met out at Maggiano's for dinner. While Leo and I have been there many times, it was the first time we were all there together since our rehearsal dinner in '07. The kids were pretty good (even though there was little food actually eaten by my boys). We don't go out to eat much because so often we can't enjoy the meal when they are being crazy. But it gets better as they get older. Anyway, we returned to our place for cake and presents. It seemed that the surprises finally came to an end. Mom was thrilled to pieces over the whole weekend. A success!

I hated to see those Keplers leave. I bonded with Julia a little. She is such a cute, content little thing. I was able to feed her a bottle and she fell asleep on me more than once. I'm so happy we got to snuggle. Lily is a pleasure to have around too. Her personality shines through and she and Nathan can really play together now. I made up her own little "bedroom" between the guest room going into the play room. We sectioned off the area with a curtain, put Nathan's old toddler bed in there, hung some things on the wall and end laid down a piece of leftover carpet from the living room. It was the prefect little nook for a perfect little girl.

This week was somewhat quiet compared to the weekend, and a little less fun since we didn't have something so big to look forward to. But it was still good. We watched some friends' kids one night (5 kids running around all at once!). They are good kids and we plan to do a little babysitting swap so Leo and I can get a date night in too. Nathan had asked me "on a date" last week and we finally had the chance to go this week. We went to Brixx for pizza. (He asked for Domino first. Uh, no thank you.) We had a nice time but I'm sure the specialness was somewhat lost on him. Yes, he must have known how cute it was for him to even ask.

Friday is upon us and we have a few things going on here and there. Thanksgiving is upon us and then that Christmas rush. We're looking forward to staying put and enjoying being at home.

Happy Halloween

Leo doesn't leave the house much. But I'm glad for him when he does. He should have time away from this nut house too! I was thinking about how nice it would be to have a quiet evening once I got the boys to bed. I could catch up on blogging, pictures, you know - stuff. Well Nathan is finally asleep but Benny is screaming his head off. Most nights he does well. And really, once both of them are asleep they stay that way. But getting there is tough. They don't want to let go of the day. Benny has a little bit of a lingering cold too. But still, of all the nights . . .

Ah, I hear quiet. And of course Leo just got home.

Anyway, tomorrow is Halloween. Nathan is a pirate this year and Benny...well, we dressed him in his grey Adidas track suit from Christmas last year (that was always said had a gangster look about it), put a "gold chain" around his neck, unzipped the top and drew a curly hair on his chest. He was the cutest mobster ever. That was for some parties over the weekend (Leo went as Bat Dad - look it up, it's funny - and I put on my shiny clothes and devil horns. Sexy Devil of course.) I don't like the dress up part of Halloween. Or Halloween at all really. I just see myself arguing over how much candy the kids should get. Ugh. But we were all able to play the part at least a little to get into the spirit. For me it's about the colors, the leaves, the crisp air . . . the desserts! We are having various people over to trick or treat with of course but I afterwards we'll have some cider and pie. I was thinking warm cider but I hear it's going to be a very mild 78. Better than rain I suppose but hot is not Halloween weather. Oh well. You can have pie in any temperature.

We went to Pullen Park this week. Nathan has been begging to go. Tomorrow maybe we will hit the museum in Durham. It gets hard to fill the days sometimes. I don't mind down days at home but the boys get bored. They have been playing better together lately. Nathan makes his "spaceship" of blankets and pillows and Benny tries to climb under it all too. More and more Nathan will sit in the playroom with his legos and build things. I can hear him from the kitchen, him digging around the giant bins looking for the perfect pieces. And Benny is loving the trains. He makes sounds, pulls tracks apart and then together again, making one long train and trying to keep it together as he pulls it along, not quite understanding why the little magnets aren't quite strong enough. It's fun to watch them both play and figure things out. For a while I thought they would never go off and do things on their own. But they are getting there.

Benny is not yet saying much. I sometimes worry, thinking he should be saying more. He has this way of saying something perfectly once. You turn around to encourage him to say it again and he won't do it. But you know he just said it perfectly! Stinker. But looking back at most motherhood worries, there wasn't much need to worry after all. So we will just keep talking to him like we always do, because he does understand it all, and hopefully her's taking it all in and will spit it all back out at us soon. God knows Nathan doesn't hush most of the time; I'm sure it will be the same with Benny. It's funny to imagine the two of them talking to each other someday. I can't wait to hear those conversations.

The Sweet Mundane Life

So MOPS started for us last month. I may have mentioned that this year I took on kind of a big role. It's working out now but for a while it bummed me out. Our group is growing in numbers again, but the girls that are joining are in a much different place than I am. I'm thinking this is my senior year and I will graduate at the end of it.

Nathan is doing great in preschool. He claims to not want to go but then always has a good time. He comes home with projects, singing new songs and an stamp or fake tattoo on his arm and always lots of sand in his shoes from the sand box where they dig for "treasures". I'd say he's doing just fine there.

This week Nathan had his first Little Kickers Soccer practice. It's only once a week for four weeks but it's good for him to participate, learn to respect other adults and have time just for Daddy and Nathan. And Benny and I get some time together too.

Pop was here last week. They had plenty of time to bond as we went to the beer fest on Saturday (where Leo forgot his ID and Pop had to take a picture of it for him to get in!) and then to see Beauty & The Beast the following Tuesday. Pop watched the boys both nights (or rather, the boys watched Pop sleep that Saturday night. He was a bit tired from the drive down!). Pop helped with some yard work, hung out with me and Benny on my birthday while Nathan was at school, then left to make his way down to Florida for the week. Being retired seems to agree with him.

Did I mention our new living room? The new carpet is still a thrill for me and the long shelf Uncle Matt helped me make is the icing on the cake for me. My autumn decorations look amazing in there. I love it - I finally feel like an adult!

Halloween is fast approaching and as usual Leo and I are dragging our feet on what to dress up as. We were invited to four parties next weekend and costumes are pretty much required. Being that we have kids, we will only go to the two that are kid friendly (boo - the other two sounded really fun!). But if we could go to the adult ones and had to dress up, we decided we would have done with the Dexter theme. Leo in his "kill outfit" of his special shirt, black gloves, rubber apron and long needle. I guess I would have had to be victim #375, wrapped in cellophane, covered in blood. Ew. That doesn't sound fun actually. But it would have been a good idea.

Today is Friday and it feels like a Dance Party kind of night. Margarita's anyone?