Today is ?

I am realizing that I no longer know what the date is. This can really be a problem, one because well, I might miss birthdays, things I plan on doing, etc because I have no idea. I do know what day of the week it is, but the day of the month, no clue! Fortunately the holiday this month is on a Thursday, so it isn't like I am going to miss that! Since we have a house this year, more importantly a 1 story house, it is likely we will be doing a lot of decorating for Christmas, well that and Mom keeps sending us lights from Dad's "collection". Not that we are complaining, don't think that. With the weather being so temperate here, I think it is likely we will do a lot of decorating, with all of us outside "helping". But, I don't really know when to start decorating the outside of the house. We tend to decorate mid-Dec, we leave our decorations up until the first week or so of Jan, so I don't like to put them up too early. Maybe we will start the outside of the house decorating earlier and wait until closer to the end of the month for the tree. We don't actually have space for a tree, but we will have to figure out something, I suspect Nate is going to spend a lot of time trying to climb the tree so we are going to have to figure out some kind of arrangement that discourages taking off the decorations/climbing the tree!
We are debating about going to a parade tomorrow. Eric and I went to the Rose bowl parade when we lived in SoCal and haven't been to one since, we haven't even been able to watch the Macy's day parade since. But, I guess it would be fun for the kids, although Gwen has informed us that she does not want to attend the parade, even though she doesn't know what one is and doesn't care to know. But, maybe we will try anyways! Alright, guess I don't have anything else for now. Ciao!

Choices

We are having a relatively good day around here, despite the congestion that has appeared. We don't have any other symptoms but congestion, I got mine first, I think and then Nate and lastly Gwen. I have to say Nate is super cute, every time I blow my nose or Gwen's he also has to "blow" (his nose). I am sure that is not very hygienic, but whatever, we all have the same thing anyways. Nate's vocabulary is really improving. Some words can confuse, but he probably has close to 50 words now, and he'll try to say anything, I have been working on different fruit with him because he likes to call everything in the fruit bowl "apple" which is really annoying to me, because pears are not apples, but I guess he gets confused because we have green and red apples in our bowl. We also have a new fruit addition to our family, the pomegranate. Approved by 3 of the 4 members of our family (only disliked by Gwen). So if you are keeping track at home, Nate eats-salmon, pomegranate, CHEESE, bread, cereal, grapes, rice. He will occasionally eat corn, apples, pear, and banana-he is rather picky about bananas, the ripeness affects his decision there! I have faith that this is a phase and he will eventually eat more food, Gwen is slowly starting to eat dinner with us-I am hoping by the time they are 20 I won't be having these problems, of course by then I hopefully won't be making them dinner because they've gone away to college!
I think we are finally settling into the lifestyle of our choosing. We knew going into this there were going to be cutbacks and I think we are doing well. We are sticking to our budget and despite some random things we didn't account for we are not at a high level of stress about money (or lack thereof); if we were, I would be looking for a job. We have found we don't really miss the things we cut out and we are wondering where our money went to before.
Gwen is, well getting to be a big girl. She completely dresses herself in the morning. I think she would also like to brush her teeth, but I still brush after her, she is cute trying to brush. She can talk your ear off and she has started talking to random people, strangers really. She'll tell them anything. We were at the play area in the mall and this guy walks up to his wife (who was a friend of the person I was with) and said this little girl (Gwen) just told him "Nate is my brother, he's a boy, he doesn't wear dresses, only shirts, I wear dresses." He didn't know I was her mother! I don't know where she gets this stuff! We have good days and bad days with her; days she can listen and days she can't. I would like her to understand that I am not kidding, when I tell her to help me clean her room, it is not up for debate. But, she gets to the super tired point and starts to cling and hang on me and WHINES instantly! And, she can be bossy, telling us what to do. I think she is going to start to become more helpful and sweet, as her brother becomes more challenging and sweet.

Park

Today I went with my exercise buddy to a woman's only event at a running store. Had some yummy wine and apps and learned what shoes I should be wearing, and why my knees hurt. Informative! Too bad I just bought the wrong shoes. But, I guess this isn't why you come to this website (hi "Ant"!)
Like I said yesterday we went to the park after the run, we had fun. The kids didn't want to leave, so I guess that is a good sign. Here are the pictures I took.

It is not the best park in the world, but since it is not the best park in the world not many people go there, which makes it fun for the kids, not super busy. That day we were the only ones there. The kids love to run around, with 2 that can be a challenge, I tend to let Gwen do whatever and check on her, but follow Nate around like a hawk. (If you notice his face, you will see where he decided to try out a skateboard and landed on his nose, I was standing right there and it looked rather innocuous, he was just sitting on it, how did I know he was going to face plant off it? Will he ever learn?) Nate is learning to climb up and down and "sit, sit, sit" when you go down the slide. We had to go through the same process with Gwen, so at least for this "developmental step" I am prepared, now if he would follow any of her other tendencies I would be prepared. It is funny how different children of the same parentage can be completely different from the getgo. I keep praying that Nate is going through a phase that will one day allow for him to be curious which includes climbing without peril. I mean, if he could just learn that some things are dangerous and wouldn't be so pigheaded I could have less stress.

Deadlines

Don't have much time for a post today. I've been busy. I am trying to get some stuff done for Christmas and I have a 24 hour deadline, which means I have 2 more hours to get the stuff done or I don't get my special deals. The weather is colder here today than yesterday, which made my run today not so great. We had a nice time at the park today, I took some pictures, but haven't had a chance to upload them. Sorry. Since I won't be under a deadline tomorrow, I think, I should be able to do a real post!

Helping

Over the last couple years I have met quite a few mothers, each with their own different style of mothering. I don't really know what my style of Mothering is, but I fully believe that the kids need to know how to fend for themselves...

Gwen now knows how to make her own jelly sandwiches.

She likes to help around the kitchen.

Of course, she still requires some help, but it is nice to have her "help".

Last Sunday

Last weekend Jess and I were FINALLY able to get our families together and hang out. Jess drove here, dropped some stuff of for the kids (THANKS!) and then we headed to Raleigh for the rest of the day. We drove through NC State, and then headed to our favorite museum...we took lots of pictures so I made a slideshow...

The kids had fun, I think, Nate was super exhausted and so was Gwen, but they made it through and that is all we can hope for, Jess says they were well behaved! I am not so sure, but that could be because I was also exhausted! But we had a good time and some good company, glad to be so near friends.

70 degrees?

The hubby and I are beginning to wonder about this fall thing...moving farther south, we are not quite sure that we are going to have winter at all. Seriously, 70 today, mid November! We are finally done with the Ida "remnants", no rain today and I got the rake up all the leaves. I am a bit obsessive about the leaves, I guess since didn't have any in Florida, I don't have any experience with the leaves and the raking! Despite my obsessive problem with the leaves; we had a good day today, the kids spent a lot of time outside. We cleaned up the garage, put more stuff in the attic, so yay, we can walk through the garage again! The hubby did a few odds and ends. We of course have more to do, but I suspect we will always have more to do! :(

Yesterday we received news that my great Uncle died. We are sad to hear it and send our love, thought and prayers to my great Aunt and family.

We don't have much else going on today. So, I'll leave you with some pictures of Gwen and Nate coloring, oh from September, you can tell, Nate must have just gotten a hair cut, he looks scruffy now! (that does not mean I am looking for him to get a haircut!)

Can you see the marker on his face?

Here you can see it better...