What A Week

I realized it has been ten days since my last post. I have had several problems with the computer which shut me down. After the virus was removed from the computer, the power cord broke and I had to order a new one. Three days later I was up and running, however that's when we realized Donny had more than a cold. A trip to the doctor on Saturday revealed a double ear infection. The good news for the week was the arrival of my new niece, Riley Madison Grove, born on Wednesday weighing 8lbs and 20 1/2 inches.

Promise I'll Be Good

I let Donny play in his room while I took the fastest shower I have ever. When I returned to his room, I was shocked to see the damage he could do in such a short time. He is my little tornado.

Time to Work Out

Yesterday, Donny put his head on my stomach and I asked why he liked to use my stomach as a pillow. "Because your tummy is so fluffy."

Digging

Filet-O-Fish

Has anyone seen the Filet-O-Fish commercial with the singing fish? I can't stop singing that song, it is driving Big Daddy nuts. I came home today, pulled the shade in the kitchen window and found this:

Work Zone

Since Big Daddy was on the tractor, Little Donny declared the yard a construction zone. He wouldn't go outside until he put on his construction hat. Fearing the strong winds would whisk his hat away, he wouldn't let go of it making playing very difficult. I am amused because there is absolutely no wind today.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Walmart

I took Abigail and Donny to Walmart today and was completely surprised to see they were rearranging the store. I'm almost certain I am not the only person who hates when stores change their layout. I wanted to purchase a project for Donny and I, so we headed toward the crafts section where the fabric is located. We found a large empty space and two Walmart workers, I asked about the fabric and was told the store would no longer carry fabric. I was furious and let those poor men know. Later as we walked through the store, Donny stopped any woman who looked liked Betty White, "Excuse me, Excuse me. I'm very angry! Those mens took the fabric away." To my surprise, all the women he stopped were also angry the fabric had been removed and found it necessary to discuss their feelings with my three year old.

**Update--I'm so mad I sent an e-mail to the Walmart corporate office. I hope they call me, I'll let you know.

What's in a name?

Donny seems to be confused with the names of several movie characters. The name of the horse in Toy Story 2 is Bullseye, but for some reason Donny refers to him as Jose. Today he told me the "Love Mother" would make Cinderella happy. I'm pretty certain he was talking about Cinderella's fairy Godmother.

Family Outing

Donny was climbing the walls this morning, so Big Daddy suggested we take him to the park to play. I had a better idea, Action Wildlife in Goshen, Connecticut. Little Donny and I have been there before and that was an adventure. I mapped the trip on Map Quest, but wanted to check with the GPS to see if there was a better way. I followed the GPS and ended up on a dirt road through the mountain, it was awful. Donny thought we were already at the park. The ride that day was over an hour. I will never trust the GPS again. We had a great time once we got there, so I thought we should try again. However, this time I was not going to take Donny into what I like to call the Den of Death, but in reality is The Action Wildlife Museum. The museum basically consists of a very large barn filled with taxidermy animals.


I didn't want to make the same mistake, so I mapped out the drive making sure to use only paved roads. I went to the web-site to find out what time the park opened. We packed a lunch and loaded the car, 40 minutes later we slowly approached. I said, "There it is. Oh no, it looks closed." Apparently, the wildlife park was not open today. We drove past the park and into the next town. I went into the post office and asked a woman if there was anything in the area that would interest a three year old, to which she replied, "No, sorry it's really dead around here. Dead." Then she just smiled at me, so I go back in the car and we turned around.



By now, Donny figured out something was amiss. I made the mistake of telling him we were going to see a zebra, he wanted to know when we would be there. We headed back and turned into the main gate which was partially open, not a soul around. We drove in, stopped the car and told him to look at the animals, waited a minute and then left. We would have gone further, but the road was too muddy. (Probably why the park was closed) Donny proceeded to talk the entire drive home. So basically, the family drove about two hours to have lunch in the car and listen to Donny ask 1000 questions the entire time. Wonder what we're doing next weekend?

Movie Time

While I was in Ohio, Big Daddy and Little Donny started movie time, renting movies from the video store. Yesterday, Big Daddy went to rent Cinderella, but came home with Snow White. I remembered that it was a bit dark, but thought it would be okay. Big Daddy went to the basement to work and Little Donny and I popped in the movie. Within about ten minutes I realized this was a bad idea. The huntsman was chasing Snow White with a huge knife trying to cut her heart out. When he changed his mind about killing her, he started screaming, telling her to run away and never come back or she would be killed. Things went down hill from there, so I sat on the remote and told Donny that the movie must be broken, before he was scarred for life.

Mr. Sunshine

Although the air is still quite cold, I have noticed that we are all just a bit happier today. I am always amazed how much a little sunshine can do.

Snowman Update

I am sorry I failed to post photos of the over achieving snowmen, but I was unable to take walk the halls before the snowmen were taken down. I unpacked Donny's backpack to find our snowman had returned, but there was a piece of paper stapled to the back. I flipped it over and read the following:

"Most Creative Award"

I'm not sure how the awards system works. Does everyone receive an award or just a few? Miss D?

What's That Smell

After dropping Donny off at preschool yesterday, I was driving down the road and overcome by a familiar smell. What's that smell? I like it, I am reminded of something, but I can't quite put me finger on the memory. Think, think, think. I know, it smells just like the car does after I splurge at Nice Guy's Car Wash and get the Armor All package (interior and tires). Wait a minute, I haven't had the interior of this car clean in quite awhile. I turn around to see a white river of Armor All flowing from the rear of the car along the passenger door. I pull over where the hot dog guy is usually parked and find an empty bottle of Armor All, which I wasn't aware was in the car. I use the only item I have to clean up the mess, diapers, one in each hand, wax on, wax off. I just smile at the man parked next to me as if this is the way I always clean the interior.

Green Eggs, No Ham

We have tried to get Donny to eat eggs for about two years. Today I walked into the kitchen to see a green omelet on Donny's plate and I laughed to myself. Did Big Daddy really think Donny would eat that? Well, the joke was on me...

No More Photos

I think Abigail is giving me the finger. This is one of twenty-two photos during this session and I still didn't get a photo with both of them looking at me.

Boppy

I think Ashley misunderstands how to properly use the Boppy.

Real Estate in Larchmont

I know I said I quit watching Fox News, but they were talking about the flooding in Ohio and then started talking real estate. Apparently, Timothy Geithner has put his house on the market and Fox wants everyone to know the listing price.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/32-Maple-Hill-Dr_Larchmont_NY_10538_1106783466?mp=1

I couldn't wait, so I found the house on my own. Not as much I thought it would be, the anchors made it out to be much more than $1,635,000.

Snow, Snow Go Away

Very large snowflakes are falling right now. When will it end? Yesterday the temperature was in the high 50's. If this keeps up, I'm catching a flight to Florida!

Weather Report

The weather man mentioned a blizzard in his report this morning. Donny said, "What is a blizzard?" "A blizzard has lots of snow, wind and cold." "No mama, it's like an ant with a lot of legs."

A Beary Good Time

We attended our lovely niece's sixth birthday party yesterday. For the Ohio readers who are not aware of the New York style birthday party, think after The Oscars extravagance. I have been to parties for a one year old that had a full open bar. Most parents go out of their way to out do the last party their child attended, but not my sister in law. She and I have had many discussions concerning the insanity of the cost of these birthday parties. Cost is one thing, but when the insanity involves the guest, the planning parents need to stop and think. I know that my niece has traveled to Long Island and New Jersey for birthday parties, she went to school with both children. Why, why, why? I really shouldn't ask too many questions and I know what you are thinking...doesn't she have a fire engine sitting in her driveway? Yes, we are capitalizing on the crazy loony people of party madness.

So anyway, the party yesterday was held at a Build a Bear store in the Westchester Mall. What a great idea, the children each made a bear, played a quick game then off to the food court for pizza and cake. Donny didn't know what to think. We have a rule about inside/outside voice and the "pawsome party leader" continually yelled, "Louder guys, I can't hear you!" Donny asked to leave several times and all he really wanted to do was give his teddy a bath, which each child was permitted to do for only ten seconds. I didn't think Donny was very interested in his new teddy, but on the ride home Donny was in love.

When we returned home, Donny ran to his bed to get Big Teddy and Little Teddy, introductions were made. Donny requested extra plates for dinner because Big Teddy and Teddy would be joining us. A few hours later Donny, Big Teddy, Teddy and Little Teddy were all sound asleep. A beary good day indeed.

Must Share

I received this video in an e-mail today. How sweet is this?

S'not Funny, Okay It Is.

Since the sun is finally out, I decided to bundle everyone and get some fresh air. After an extremely long trip to the mailbox, I thought we should go inside. I was half way across the yard when I heard Donny yell, "I lost my___!" "Excuse me? I can't hear you." "I lost my____!" I start walking back to Donny who was looking at the ground trying to find his___. I asked him what he lost and he looked up at me with huge sad eyes and said, "I lost a boogie in the snow." I told him it was okay and we should go in the house. "Who will take care of my boogie?" "Don't worry honey, your boogie will be fine."

Rollin'

Abigail rolled from her font to back on Saturday and today she rolled from back to front. She will be crawling very soon, it is about time to get out the gated community.

Top 5 Reasons I Need A Vacation.

1. Folding and putting away one load of laundry took 45 minutes with the help of my little buddy.
2. After following a white sticky trail to the living room, I discovered one little boy with his entire hand in a container of Fluff. He then proceeded to clean his hand on the carpet.
3. Overheard in the post office parking lot: "This friggin' door never works!" I hope Big Daddy taught him that word, but I fear it might be me.
4. "Mama I'm gonna need a towel." "Why?" "I got my shirt wet cleaning Abigail's new shoes in Ashley's water bowl."
5. All of the above happened before 12:30 today.

Unpack

I'm sure everyone is aware that a very lucky person in New Jersey won the Mega. I sure hope who ever won is on a plane to a very sunny location. :-)

Coincidence

Yesterday I made soft pretzels for the first time. I usually make quick breads because yeast scares me, but I thought preztels would be fun, it wasn't. They turned out okay and Donny seemed to like them. Big Daddy gave Donny a pretzel with honey for breakfast and he didn't seem impressed and asked for cereal.

Donny's teacher greeted me at the pick-up line to ask about the pancakes the class is making on Thursday, PJ day. She then informed me the class made soft pretzels with cinnamon today. Once on the road, I asked Donny if the pretzels were delicious and he replied, "Yesserooni Positooni!"

We started talking about the car driving without my help. He wanted me to take my hands off the wheel. I explained that if I didn't hold the wheel, the car would go off the road into the trees. Just as I said that, the car in front of me hit a patch of snow that had blown on the road and swerved to the left. The driver tried to correct and then went to the right, just missed the guard rail, and went down into the ditch and through the trees. The Lord was on their side, because the car somehow missed hitting a tree. I flagged down a nice man (forgot my cell again) and let him take over. The woman and her granddaughter were fine just a bit frightened. Since everything was under control and we were stopped on a hill blocking traffic, I decided to get going. The entire ride home my little buddy told me to slow down, be careful and hold onto the wheel, "Don't drive crazy like that lady!"

Mega

The Mega Millions lotto has reached 210 million dollars so make sure to get your ticket for tonight's drawing. I was watching the snow blowing past the windows last night and told Big Daddy if we won the lotto we would be in Florida on Wednesday. He didn't care for that idea too much, "FLORIDA? We could go anywhere." True, but like I told Big Daddy, it doesn't matter how much money you have, a twelve hour flight with a toddler and newborn is still a twelve hour flight. The flight would be a lot of fun because I would bring all of you with us. After much thought I have narrowed the destination down to Cabo or Turks and Caicos, so lets have some fun and put it to a vote. Where do you want to go?
Cabo
Turks