Meg-a-muffin!

Who's cuter than this? Don't you just want to squish those legs?

Punkin' Pickin' (Warning...lots of pictures!)

We were lucky and picked a gorgeous day to pick our pumpkins! It was all Ryan talked about all day!

These are just some of the pictures we took - they really don't need any explanation. :)

Family Day at the DMV

If you are ever planning to change the plates on a car, renew your driver's license, or register a new car in Rhode Island, make sure you pack a lunch!

Since we bought the new (used) van, we needed to transfer the plates from the Neon. It's the law in RI that you do it within 14 days, BUT I can't tell you how many people I know who don't bother because its such a hassle!

Originally, the Neon was in my name, but the sale of the van was in Ric's name, so BOTH of us had to be there (or risk being told we had to come back again.) So, we really did pack a lunch, we brought the camera, hoped that the kids would sleep through part of it and camped out at the DMV!

Just how to you keep a 2 year old entertained? You take pictures of his "gol-pish" crackers!






(After number 626 was displayed for what seemed like an ETERNITY, I started taking pictures. Finally, our number - 631 - popped up and we were on our way! Luckily, we had everything we needed and didn't have to go back!)

We Win! Red Sox Nation Rules Again!

I just can't help it and had to post some bragging about our 2007 Boston Red Sox winning the World Series this weekend. Ryan, Marnell and I have spent quite a few nights this year watching our team win and loose some great games while working their way toward the championship.
If you live in Southern New England you can't help but become even a casual fan for the Sox and Ryan has taken an inherited interest in his legacy team as well. Anytime he sees their logo anywhere we go he tells us the name of his team. My mom and our late uncle Bud would be proud of him and our champs.

Answers...

Many of you may know this already, but this week has been a very difficult one for us.

Wednesday afternoon, about 3:00 pm, I received a phone call from the coroner/funeral person in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania (just outside of Pittsburgh) saying that Ric's dad has been found dead in his apartment. All indications were that he died in his sleep.

It's been quite a shock to say the least. We last saw him in July, when he came out to see Megan. Other family members saw him in the middle of September at a funeral for his brother-in-law. And we spoke to him a few days after that.

We don't know exactly when he died, and we may never know. We also don't know at this point anything about his status (i.e. a will, insurance, banking, etc.) when he died. It wasn't something he shared with us, or anyone. So now, putting the grief aside, Ric is trying to piece everything together so that we can at least respectfully tie up all the loose ends.

He's planning to go to PA on Thursday for a couple of days and (hopefully) wrap most everything up that he can.

(Marni gets on her soapbox)

For anyone who is reading this...no matter where you are in life. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put SOMETHING together for those you may leave behind. It doesn't even have to be a formal will, or power of attorney, or anything like that. A simple list of bank accounts, insurance, pension information, or other things like that.

It's a nightmare right now as we feel like we're blindfolded trying to put a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle together. It's unfortunate, but in addition to the grief that we're feeling, there's also anger because of the "mess" that was left behind that the surviving relatives (his 3 kids and their families) have to clean up somehow.

What did you do all day honey?

Well...in addition to taking care of 2 kids under the age of two (one of which has to be attached to me at regular intervals throughout the day,) I managed to rake ALL the leaves in the back yard, bag them up (all 7 bags), get them to the street, just just as the trash guys drove up to pick them up! YIPPEEE!!

I was determined to at least get the back yard done since they only stop by every 2 weeks now to pick them up. I didn't want the extra bags hanging around! Yes, I know I'll have to do it again...BUT, because of the storm and winds we had last night, a TON of the leaves are already down! Whew! That felt good!

Now...it's 1:15, both kids are sleeping (RARE!), so I'm going to take my shower, and then tackle the kitchen afterwards if they're still asleep after I'm dressed!

That's what I did today! Pfffft! (Is that how you spell a "raspberry?")

Cookies for Breakfast??

Some battles just aren't worth fighting...am I right?

Ryan "helped" me make a bunch of chocolate chip cookies last night. This morning...that's all he talked about - and since he's usually grumpy in the morning, he started throwing a fit when I told him he at least had to have milk first.

I wasn't in the mood to fight this fight, so Ryan had cookies for breakfast.

All I could think about while he was stuffing his face was Bill Cosby..."Dad is great. Gives us the chocolate cake." I remember listening to that album (YES, I said ALBUM!) when I was a kid!

It's a classic! Enjoy!

Never thought I'd say....

"...please don't dump the dirt on your sister's head..."

But I did today!

FREE to a Good Home!

23-Month Old Boy
(AKA Our toddler, who is in the middle of his "TERRIFIC" TWO's)

Name: Ryan

Hair: Blonde (VERY blonde)

Eyes: Blue

Height: about 36"

Weight: 27 pounds

Features: Incredible vocabulary (when he wants to use his words), smarter than his own good, REALLY cute (if we do say so ourselves), he even says "please" and "thank you" some of the time on his own (but mostly when prompted)

Other "Features": great at whining, screeching, tantrums, going from "angelic" to "monster" in less than a second, pushing mom and dad's buttons

Likes: Baseball (especially Red Sox Base Ball), being outside, his little sister (she's not for sale... give us a year or so), dancing, jumping, running, throwing (pitching) any ball, some TV shows (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jack's Big Music Show, This Old House "Norm")

Can't Be Without: his "B" (his binky at naptime and bedtime)

Interested? All inquiries will be SERIOUSLY considered! :)

Red Sox Baseball Ice Cream

Since the Red Sox were still in the running, I bought some official Red Sox Ice Cream the other day. (It was on sale!)

I brought it home, and told Ryan that we had special ice cream for the baseball game. Now all we hear...

"Red Sox Baseball Ice Cream" over and over and over.

(OK, so it's not that clear, he can't say "red" yet, but the rest of it is pretty good!)

Personally, I like the Green Monster Mint flavor - mint ice cream with mint chocolate "sox" chocolate swirls. :)

Four Months Old!

Time is flying by WAY too fast! I can't believe that Megan is already 4 months old!

(By this time, Ryan had been on a cruise and to the Temple with us! It seemed that time was going much slower then.)

Megan had her 4 month appointment this week. Her official weight was 15 pounds even and she's 25 inches long.

She's "Miss Smiley" all the time now. (Unless something is getting in the way of eating - i.e. mom not getting undressed fast enough!)

She's sitting up in her Bumbo now and is kind of "roley poley" when we put her on the floor, but hasn't turned over yet.

She ADORES her big brother! Whenever he is close, she studies everything he does (Hmmm...that might not be a good thing!)

The first picture is the funniest! She's pulling her lips in, and I caught it just right!

Can We Build It?

Just a quick preview of Ryan's Halloween costume.

Cute, huh? The only problem is that the hat is WAY too big for him. Maybe we'll get lucky and find a smaller one before Halloween!

(Whenever I get the camera lately, Ryan either covers his eyes or turns away. I guess he thinks that if he can't see the camera, it can't see him!)

Laundry Helper

This is the kind of help I get with the laundry. Ryan usually climbs into the basket and throws things around.

In case you can't figure it out, that is my bra on his head. Luckily, it's blurred, so you can't see the details! hehe

Playing Catch Up!

While the Boston Red Sox are playing catch up tonight, I thought I'd put a few posts together and catch up myself.

By the way...GO SOX!

Word on the (nursery) street...

Sounds like some sort of "bug" was going around, I've heard from 4 other moms from Church that their kids were sick Monday night too! Somehow, someone brought the bug in to Nursery and the kids all shared it around!

Lucky US! :)

A LONG night

Right now, it's 6:10 am.

Unfortunately, I haven't slept more than an hour.

Around 10:30 last night, Ryan started crying in his room. I was finishing up some work on the computer when Ric called to me. Ryan had just thrown up everything he had eaten all over his crib. (It was definitely not a pretty sight!) He was covered head to toe, shaking, and pretty scared - this is the first time he's been really sick like this.

We both got him cleaned up and calmed down and he went back to a clean bed at about 11:30 only to be woken up for a repeat performance at about 1:00 am. At this point, we're running through everything he ate, trying to figure out what might have made him sick!

We clean him up again, put a 3rd pair of PJ's on him, and I'm holding him while Ric changes the sheets again. We gave Ryan a sip of water, which just comes back up again (and then some) a few minutes later!

New jammies, a new location (our bed, protected with towels), and we all try to get some sleep.

Nope.

A half hour later, same thing.

Somehow, we get Ryan back to sleep. Not me though! Now I'm listening for every little sound he makes! I'm worried that he'll be sick again! (Of course Megan needed to be fed around 3:00 am)

At about 4:30, he sits up and asks for juice. We give him some, hoping that it's a good sign. So far so good, he's been asleep ever since. Megan woke up again to eat, and now I'm going to get in the shower because I have 2 classes to teach today!

*sigh* Here's hoping that Ryan is feeling better for Mr. Mom today! (Megan also has her 4 month checkup...it's all good, right?)

The new arrival, our 2nd mini-van

After some procrastination and research, I finally got off my butt and got us a second car. The Neon that I drive received a "DNR" (Do Not Repair) from our mechanic, besides it was very uncomfortable to drive and turning into an unsafe vehicle. So, after some thought, budget review and a lot of dragging my feet, I went out last Monday a found a great buy for us, a second mini-van.

I just knew from the moment I discovered the ad on craigslist.com that the owner took good care of it, and took the time to really describe the van and it's features in great detail. After meeting him and taking the van for a ride on the streets and the highway, it became more evident that this was "the car" we should buy. I told the owner he could expect to hear from me the next day and that our decision was most likely going to be a "yes". We slept on it overnight and I called him Tuesday (in between playing Mr Mom for the day) to let him know we would take it, pay cash and pick it up on Thursday night after work.

The van is a 1996 Chrysler Town and Country, 98,000 miles, and has a lot of options such as a 2-ton tow package with a small hitch, rear A/C, 2 removable bucket seats along with a removable bench seat and a new Sony 32X4 CD/stereo with detachable face plate, rook rack and new tires. As you can see by the photos, the rear cargo area of the van is currently modified (by the previous owner who is a carpenter) to act as a mobile workshop and tool transport . I'll be taking this wood out sometime next week, but I want a few people to see how cool this is right now. We'll have to get it registered soon and then we'll have our mechanic Jim look it over to give us a list of what we need to repair as time goes by. The van's inspection runs out next month, so we'll get that done too. The carpenter was a really nice guy, very informative and open about the van and it's history. He's the 2nd owner and his friend was the first owner of the van and took great care of the vehicle. I gave it a very thorough inspection from top to bottom and underneath to best of my experience but all along you could tell that this van was cared for and maintained by both owners. So, now we're officially a 2-van family and soon to be minus a Neon.

That's what I get for "trusting" Ryan

Early this afternoon around lunchtime, Ryan and I were outside for a little time in the front yard. He wanted to play with bubbles and I wanted to do a little light work on the new van and secure something inside from moving around while I drive. I had a cup of soda that left near Ryan and would retrieve on the way back into the house when it was time to go in and get him some lunch.

He was keeping himself occupied with his toys and bubbles while I worked on the new van, then I finished and gathered him up to go inside; at the same time I also took my soda cup with me.
Just as I picked it up and took a sip from it, I noticed that it tasted a lot like dish soap and water (which I made the bubble mixture for Ryan with). Yep! He did pour his bubble liquid into my soda, rendered it useless and not very tasty either. I poured out the remainder as he kept saying "bubbles?". That's what I get for trusting my son near my soda. :-(

Ric

Five years already?

Happy Anniversary my Love!

(Where does the time go?)

Happy 5th Anniversary!

To my wife, best friend and eternal companion whom I love so much, Happy 5th Anniversary! Five years has gone by so fast and with so many changes and blessings in our marriage. You're the greatest gift I have ever been given and want to make sure that everyone knows it too. Happy 5th Anniversary!

Love,

Ric

Little Miss Spider

Just a quick Halloween preview! No, I'm not going to make my daughter trick-or-treat naked!

Picture a purple shirt with a little black spider on it that was handed down from some adorable girls at Church. (Thanks dimonty! Meg is going to be so well dressed!) She'll also be wearing black tights.

I found this tulle with purple sprinkles at JoAnn's, so I sewed it up with some elastic to make a "tu-tu" of sorts. (Gramma Sharon would be proud!) I also took a $1 headband that I found at Job Lot (spider already attached), took it apart, added more tulle, and then sewed the spider back on. Pretty good for less than $10!

You'll have to wait for the official picture at Halloween! (Still working on Ryan's costume...more details later!)

Zen Sarcasm...

Ric's sister Sue sent this over today - too funny - too true! :)


1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, For I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It is always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's' newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted .

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments. (No kidding!)

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11 If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put It back in your pocket .

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is some thing you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and laxative on the same night.


"When you argue with a fool... Be sure he isn't similarly engaged."

Muffin Man?

Overheard at Breakfast...

Dad: (while grilling muffins in the kitchen) Ryan, the muffins are almost ready.

Mom: (in the living room - singing) Do you know the muffin man?

Ryan: (pauses) no

Updated: After baking your muffins and letting them cool (or taking them out of the package from Sam's club), cut them in half and grill them in a pan with a little butter (Yummmmyyyy!)

Big Truck!

"Big Truck" is all that Ryan has been saying for the past few days. So what does he do when we get to take a picture on the big truck?

He was pretty much freaked out.

Many thanks for Richard, the guy operating the Excavator! :)

Sewer Installation...a Pictorial II

October 5th - Happy 17th Anniversary Matt & Andrea!

Bright and early...WAY too early!









Pulling out the dirt and sand.

























Our streets are pretty narrow, so usually one truck at a time can get down. I thought this was pretty cool how the front end loader would pour the rocks into the bucket of the excavator, then the excavator would gently put the rocks on the pipes.




Hmmm....













Of course, Ryan had to do a little excavating of his own!












Look! It's our manhole!

Sewer Installation...a Pictorial

Yesterday - October 4th

I'm completely amazed at how precise the operator of this HUGE excavator is! I could watch it all day!

Ryan likes to watch it too...for a little while anyway. Every time it makes a big noise, he says "Ba Boom!" :)
















After the dirt and sand is taken out of the ground, a huge metal "thingy" is put inside to make sure that the walls don't cave in while the guys are putting the pipes together, etc.





Check out how much the back end of this machine goes up when it's lowering the metal "thingy" into the ground!





This big CAT and the metal thingy stayed the night in front of our neighbor's house last night.

7am, rise + shine + move your car

We were awakened this morning by the mechanical roar of the road crew and trucks in front of our house promptly at 7am, followed by a ring of our door bell. It was the job foreman (I think) asking us to move our cars even further down the road from where we left them last night. I thought did a good job last night to leave them down the street since we're all leaving by 8:30 am anyway. They guys and police (on detail) are very nice to accommodate us and our neighbors so I obliged them right away. I expect that they'll probably be past our house by today and done with our street by the end of next week. That's the foot of our driveway in the lower left corner.

Getting closer!

Look at the BIG "kitty" at the end of our street! Actually, it's about 75-100 yards away! My guess is that they'll be in front of our house in a few days! (Forget about nap time when that happens! Maybe we'll have to take road trips!)

Ummmm....no

Overheard at lunch today...

Mom: What would you like for lunch?

Ryan: (blank stare)

Mom: Would you like cottage cheese?

Ryan: Ummmm...no

Mom: Would you like peanut butter?

Ryan: Ummmm...no

Mom: Would you like goldfish crackers?

Ryan: Ummmm...no

And so it goes...

Funny how quickly they pick up our "ummmm's"

Pretty Girl!

Isn't she GORGEOUS?

Yes, I know, I'm biased...but I can't help it! I love her chubby thighs - it makes me so happy to just squish them! I love how she crinkles her nose when she smiles. I also love that her hair is red!









I took these pictures yesterday. She was sitting in the bumbo on Ric's chair.















When Ryan was about the same age, I took similar pictures.
What do you think? They're definitely related! :)

Progress in the kitchen

This past week, progress in the kitchen was slow, but last Tuesday I got the biggest part of our project done (and yes, it works!). I managed to move two light switches from two separate walls and relocate them into one location as well as add another two receptacles. Since the house is about 50 years old, each trip to the attic and the breaker-box is another opened can of worms and questions as to what these guys were thinking when they built and wired this house.

However, this also created another extension of the kitchen project in the garage. The kitchen and garage are wired on the same breaker and use a 3-way switch to control the lights in the garage. In order for me to run a new and improved wire from the new switch to the existing switch in the garage, I had to break through some old sheet rock wallboard. That's OK, it was going to be replaced eventually when we update the garage in few years. I'll patch it with some leftover sheet rock when I get some. At least the new wiring is grounded, unlike the old braided wire that is in the house from 50 years ago. I'll be finalizing the garage switch today. Here's the garage photo: