Before and After photos of Fireplace

Uncle Kenny built, upholstered and trimmed the window treatments by our fireplace! He finished the project yesterday and I'm so tickled!

Here's the before and after photos:

Update on the job front

A while back, I wrote in a post about how both Chris and I were seeking our next job assignements but did not know where we'd land. Well we both landed on our feet in mid-January and are happy with our new assignments so far. (In today's economy, that's a blessing not to be taken for granted!)

I am a bit jeolous that Chris has a shorter commute than I do... by about 20 minutes each way. Plus, I miss my part-time schedule and how it allowed me to spend more time with the kids. But I'm happy to continue to be gainfully employed and know that the bills will be paid on time!

We're also no longer participating in the au pair program. So CJ's preschool is a full day set-up and we found before and after school care for Bria. Both kids are very tired at the end of the day (just like Mom and Dad) but they like all of the new activities that they get to participate in.

So, all in all I suppose it's going well. At least we're determined to make the mose of it while it lasts.

CJ's First Day of Preschool

CJ started preschool after he turned 3 in mid-January.

I can't believe it's been 8 weeks already! Wow!

He's such a big boy now. He's got 2 or 3 "best" friends. He's fully potty trained. He's already had 3 birthday party invitations. And he has a ton of things to tell me, usually competing with Bria and fussing at her saying "Bria! Let me tell MY story now!" Ha ha Anyway, here are a few pics of his first day of school.

This last pic reminds me of Bria's first day of preschool back in Sept 2005!

CJ's Birthday (Movie Clip)

We had a low key birthday celebration for CJ in January.

Unfortunately, there was just too much going on at the time to throw yet another kiddie party. Plus, we were all still exhausted and recooperating from a busy, holiday and the double stomach flu month of December.


But we did go to Chuck E Cheese per his request and had a doughnut birthday cake to celebrate. Here are some belated pictures...

CJ and Daddy in a roller coaster simulator!

Here he is with doughnut birthday cake and his new Batcopter!

And below is Bria taking his birthday cake to him. He was all smiles :-)

Bria asks "Why?"... CJ asks "Why Not?"

I've noticed a core difference between my two kids... which I suppose shouldn't be so surprising but it surprised me all the same.

Bria is rules driven; typical first born girl; she wants to know why we are and aren't supposed to do things and she wants to know what the reason for each thing in her world is... before she sticks her neck out and takes a risk. Thus she asks "Why?" alot! I remember she stumped me one day as I was driving her to preschool when she asked "Why do people have insurance?" and "What is insurance Mommy?"

CJ, on the other hand, is a typical boy: active; curious; always taking things into his own hands... literally! When he is on a mission, he really doesn't want you to stop his discovery. And thus, he asks "Why not?" alot! It also tells ya something about how often we have to tell him "No" and "Don't do that". "CJ don't stick your fingers in your drink" "Why not, Mommy?"... "CJ don't throw your toys down the steps" "Why not?" "CJ don't jump on the couch" "Why not?" "No, you can't have lollypops for dinner." "Why not?" and so on.

CJ also wants to know what everything is. When he isn't responding to our corrections with "Why not?", he's asking about what everything he sees or hears is. "What's that called?" What's that mean?" etc.

This morning on the way to daycare I was playing kids songs on the CD Player. CJ started asking "Mommy, what does 'taste your ware' mean?" It took me a minute to realize the song version of Simple Simon was playing on the CD. haha

Simple Simon met a pie man
going to the fair
said Simple Simon to the pie man
let me taste your ware!
:

Christmas Photos

CJ is very seriously telling Santa, "I want a remote controlled Hellicopter!" Santa wisely replied "That's a bit advanced for you this year..."

Santa also told Bria that he remembered me when I was her age and that I've grown up to be a very pretty mommy! :-) Later, Bria says to me "Sometimes people say things to make other people feel good. That wasn't the real Santa, Mommy. The REAL Santa is too busy at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas!"

See the coordinated outfits the kids have on this year? Aren't they cute? I love CJ's little hat and Bria's little boots. :-) You wouldn't BELIEVE the number of pictures we took trying to get a good photo for display this year. Double chins, sleepy eyes, goofy grins and pouty faces aside... these were the top five.

Happy New Year!

Well, HELLO Everybody! As usual it's been too long since I posted any news on this site. Not that we haven't had news to post... on the contrary, we've had a bit too much news and I couldn't keep up with it.

Sooo, the quick rundown is as follows:

Mid-November we welcomed a new au pair into our home -- and Emelie and I promptly came down with the stomach flu the same weekend she arrived. I'm sure THAT made a good impression. Ugh.

Next, we said goodbye to Emelie as she flew home to start the next chapter in her lifelong adventures. Emelie, we miss you! And we wish you the BEST of EVERYTHING! :-)

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with the entire family! I made two pumpkin pies and enough of our favorite sausage stuffing to freeze some for Christmas dinner too!

On the work front, the contract for both Chris and I ended on Nov 30th and so we jumped into the not-so-pleasant deep end of the OH pool and are actively seeking our next job assignments.. either within our current company or without! I did get a good lead through the chairman of the board of directors of our local homeless shelter... but that's another story! haha Don't worry. We're NOT even close to being homeless as a result of this.

Mid-December we got hit with another round of the stomach flu. Ugh! This time both kids, our new au pair Andrea, and then Chris. So now we've all been "vaccinated" I hope.

In between, I've continued to host our little Daisy Girl Scout troop meetings. We had our investiture ceremony and went caroling on Dec 5th and wrapped the evening up with a cookies and cocoa party! I'm REALLY enjoying being a troop leader. The girls are sooo cute! :-)

Dec 6th, we hosted a girls only birthday party for Bria! I followed the mock slumber party theme and showed the Tinkerbell Movie. A good time was had by all. :-)

Dec 20th, I took the kids to see Santa at our local golf resort where they also hosted a wonderful lunch buffet. It was very nice and both kids tried every type of food on their plates! (I guess they knew Santa was watching ;-)

Christmas came and went too fast. But, it was wonderful for all of us and we are very blessed to have such a great family and such good friends.

Andrea braved the cold and a long bus ride with friends to ring in the New Year at Times Square in NYC! Chris and I watched it on TV in front of a warm fire! :-) We played games with the kids and enjoyed a cozy evening.

Now it's back to work and time to get busy with 2009! May you all enjoy good health, good friends and good fortune this coming year!
Happy New Year! :-)

BTW.. I love this song and the webpage is a nice Christmas Card!
http://www.andiesisle.com/didsheknow.html