Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween this year. Nick and I have tons of candy if anyone is in need. Seriously! Wednesday was the truck or treat at church, then we went Saturday night and again tonight. Tonight was the best though, huge rich neighborhood, and tons of people handing out full size candy bars! Nick and I usually get a random sugar craving so we froze those candy bars....our future cravings thank those people who spent extra money to be a crowd pleaser! The boys had a blast, Neacel was great at remembering to say "Trick or Treat" then he also would say "I need one for my brother too!" How stinkin cute is that? I was horrible at remembering pictures though. The ones I have are from my cell. Something is better then nothing right??? The little girl with Neacel is his best friend Halli. He is always asking about her, and wanting her to come over. She is in nursery with him and it's adorable to see them together. We went to the IX center Trick or Street in Cleveland with her family and they kept holding hands and at one point I caught Neacel trying to put his arm around her. Adorable I swear! He is putting moves on girls before his 3rd birthday! We had a wonderful Halloween though, I actually decorated this year too. I'm usually not a fan of Halloween, but kids make things so much more fun. Now Im going to eat candy and be slightly depressed that my baby boy will be 1 in the morning. 8:49am to be exact, and to think a year ago I was packing to go to the hospital. Birthday blog tomorrow, I promise, pinky promise!!!!

In the words of Neacel...

Peace Out Alligator!

Mum Festival from August!

 I love Saturdays when we skip naps and spend the day together, everyone in good moods, fun things to do, and being gone for hours. Today was one of those days. We got a late start but around 1 we headed out to the Mum Festibal (thats how Neacel says festival). It was so much fun. Booths with crafts, sand castles that were amazing, and the many many different color of Mums everywhere. It was all around a lake and the had a water skiing show going on. People making pyramids out on the water, jumps flips and everything neat like that. We walked around and looked at everything the place had to offer. Our money was spent on cotton candy, on the cone fresh, not out of a bag. Neacel ate that thing so quick you'd think we never gave him sugar. Then we walked over to the kids area where there was a bounce house and inflateable slide. Neacel loved both and actually went and staid in the bounce house. He usually gets scared and wants out. After that we headed to Akron were a garden center had a little thing going on. It was lame but walking around was fun, dreaming about the many things that I want in our yard when we have a house. Then Nick bought me dinner there since I hadn't ate anything all day. Of course not even 5 minutes after we sit down and eat, they annouced that the meals where on sale. If only we waited a few more minutes. Broden was passed out the whole time at the second garden. Neacel kept his pull up dry at both places and shared my meal with me. The plan was then to head home but Nick said we could go to the dollar store if I wanted to get some Halloween decorations. Im really into decorating the whole house for holidays/seasons. So we went and bought some stickers for the windows and somethings to hang on the walls. Neacel was thrilled, Broden enjoyed all the attention he got at the register about how cute he was and his hair, which seriously looks like a mop on his head. On the way home Nick and I were talking about fall, and how he likes the apple cider and pumpkin pie. I then of course want pumpkin pie and he said that we had just past the store. Jokingly I said, then turn around. HE DID! At the next exit turned around got back on the highway just to get a pumpkin pie for us. I might be slightly spoiled, it didn't hurt that he wanted it too. Once we got home Neacel spent time playing "guns" with his friends outside. Nick found me a 4 leaf clover, Im slightly angry over it because Ive been looking all summer! Then I left it sitting out too long and it dried up. Luckily, I have found another one since then. Neacel had a blast with his friends, Austin (Neacels 8 y/o friend) came up to me and said that Neacel is that fastest little kid he has ever seen while they were playing tag. Neacel didn't know why his friends were running from him but he had fun chasing them. Broden loved eating the dirt while we were sitting out there. We all came in and decorated our windows and somethings in the house. Neacel reminds us that he loves it all because its halloween time. Nick and Neacel sat and watched Rango together. Neacel looked bored out of his mind! After the movie Nick was walking Neacel up to bed and telling him to go use the potty. Neacel said "and then we can have something to eat, and have apple pie" We had totally forgotten dinner since him and I shared at the garden center and Nick hasn't been hungry because he stuffed himself with lunch. So we got him some chicken nuggets with ranch (eww) and green beans, then we all enjoyed some pumpkin (apple in Neacels head) pie. I love family days, I love that even though the kids didn't nap, they were still good. My house might be a mess, dishes piled in the sink, kids toys and clothing everywhere, nothing in any amount of order...but we had a great day together. No school, no homework, no cleaning, no naps....just an us day with nothing else in mind but to have fun. If only these happened more often.

So far behind.....

Ok, so I think its obvious, Im horrible at keeping up with this blog. I need to update so many thing. SO please hang in there and watch the blog the next week. Im going to be getting the updates on here, pictures and everything. Now that I got the little things fixed on blogger (I wasn't able to post for a while from my account) I can get things done. The boys are growing, one is starting to walk, we have done a ton of fun things lately. We are getting ready to celebrate and first, third and thirtith birthday next month...Im going to be updated! In the mean time, check out our new blog www.raisingdudes.blogspot.com a mommy blog about raising my two boys!

Kids...

Neacel is pretty much potty trained now, except when it comes to poop. He refuses! We have tried everything from bribing to punish....he doesn't care. He has told me he would rather go to time out with no ice cream then go poop on the potty. Stubborn maybe?? Well, use your imagination when it comes to what happens when he does have to go. He will hide, and then when you say to come here (because you can't see him) he tells you not to look at the poop. He will hold it till he has a pull up on at night, but big boy pants have had a recent increase of accidents too. Its a battle, and Nick and I are lost as to what to do.
Well, one day Broden was sleeping and Neacel was into everything, I needed to shower and knew I couldn't keep him walking around the house. So I put him in his room and let him play with toys, I told him if he had to go potty to hit the wall and I would get him as soon as I could. After my shower I walked by his bedroom door and could smell poop. Nothing I haven't smelled before so I just kept getting ready. Then when I went to get him, the pants were missing! I asked him where they were and he shows me that they were under the crib. But I don't see poop, but I can smell it. So I ask "Neacel did you poop?" Neacel says "yeah let me show you" he closes his door and shows it to me. All 3 big streaks across the wall, one on the door and a "pancake" that he was so proud because it stuck. I was so mad. This was the first time he had ever done anything like this. It was gross, I made him clean up most of it, while he was telling me that it was disgusting. I took pictures but Ill spare you the site of poop. Im sure most of you have seen your fair share from your own kids. I wanted to scream. Instead, I sent it to a website that always gives me something to laugh at. (website here) Luckily, since then he hasn't done anything else like that...but he still refuses to poop on the potty!!! Anyone have any ideas on what we could do? We even have offered to go buy the $40 Buzz Lightyear that he really wants...and a potty party but no luck!!!

Catch a Goldfish

Here in town 6 parks have wadding pools for the kids. Lifeguard, 1ft deep, fenced in, and free! Wonderful right? Well, they closed the pools and had an event one night for the kids. The kids could bring something to catch one of the 400 goldfish they put in the pool. We had one fish, why not get him a friend (since he last friend died) Neacel was able to catch a fish, and we then had 2 goldfish named Nemo. (Since then, all the fish died, the first one that died was from Petsmart and I swear it had something because it died, then new cought goldfish died, then our original Nemo died.) Neacel thought it was so cool to catch a goldfish in the same pool he goes swimming in. Im glad that something that simple was so exciting for him. Broden and I enjoyed from the sidelines.

Lake Erie Date Day

Lake Erie, where do I begin? You really shouldn't get in the water, you can see yucky water spilling right into it, but its the closest thing we have to a beach right now. So Nick and I took Neacel one day. Luckily, Neacel wasn't a fan of the water, but loved the sand. It might have helped that we bought some sand toys. By the end of the trip Neacel was

covered from head to toe. Nick and I just relaxed. Broden got to nap and spend time with Nana and Pops. All in all, a nice relaxing day for everyone

Brody's First Haircut

I am really behind on posts. Over the next 2 weeks Im going to be posting a lot, it probably won't all end up in the right order but thats ok, right?

(June 3rd 2011)

Brody was mistaken for a girl a little too much. I guess the sports outfits and boy shoes didn't help. People were constantly saying how cute "she" is and giving Neacel an extra treat for his "sister" (which only confused him). Then one day I was brushing Brody's hair and realized how long it had gotten. I decided that even though he was only 7 months that I had to get his hair cut. We had a coupon and got it done. I'm glad that we did though, it looks so much better!

As of today he needs another cut. 2 months later, his hair is getting longer and might be ready for a trim. We are going with the longer look for him though to help the curl.

Surgery, What Surgery?

Broden is a champ! Friday was his surgery and oh man was I stressed. Who wants their little (fat) baby to get surgery? We got to Akron Children's hospital at 8:30am, and Brody was starving. He hadn't had formula since about 1am and had pedialyte around 7:30am. He wasn't allowed to eat till after surgery which was scheduled for 10:30 and would take about 2 hours (or thats what they had scheduled). But he ended up taking a binki, good thing I thought to bring one, and going to sleep. He didn't cry when they pricked his finger for blood, and didn't wake up during all the pre op stuff. He woke up minutes before they took him, and smiled, such a happy little smile of course. They took him and we were told to go to the waiting room and that we would be paged once he was in the first recovery. Well, Nick was starting to feel yucky and needed to eat. I was fasting but holy cow, I felt like I could eat a cow. So we went and walked around the cafeteria, I opted not to eat till surgery was done, but Nick got himself some yummy things. By the time Nick was done eating it was minutes later that they paged us and Dr. Clark came out to tell us they were done. Thank you Nick for passing time and eating! They did find a hernia which is common and took care of that along with bringing "it" down. Very little bleeding and everything. Our boy is a champ! So we went to the first recovery and all the nurses kept saying is that they just "love love love him" I don't blame them. He woke up groggy but a bottle of apple juice was a welcome. He cuddled with nick and slept. He had an epidural too to help numb things even after so that the pain was easier to handle. We left the hospital around 1pm that day. By 3pm, Broden didn't have any meds and was army crawling across the floor!!! Since surgery Broden has been fine. We have the tylenol with codine that they perscribed for pain but he hasn't taken any. Just a dose of our tylenol later that night because he got really fussy. Come to find out...3rd tooth cut through! Broden did great, and Im so glad its over with. And for the record, he comes out of surgery like his momma! We don't need pain meds, we just keep going!

Broden's Surgery :-(

We went to Broden's urology appointment this morning to find out what we are going to do about his little problem. After the doctor looked at everything he said that either we can wait for surgery, but there is only a slim chance that "it" could drop on its own and some people want to wait or we can go ahead and proceed with surgery. Nick and I both agreed that if it hasn't dropped by now that it probably won't so we agreed on surgery. Broden is scheduled on the 17th to have his surgery :-( I hate that my baby has to have a surgery. Its about an hour long but the worse part right now....no formula 6 hours before surgery! Which means anything after 4am is a no no. Broden usually wakes up between then and 5 for a bottle. I guess we will be crying it out that night. I'm not nervous yet but I know that time will fly and that when I have to hand him over to the doctors that I will loose it. A good friend went through this with her son and said that was the hardest part for her. I pray that everything will go perfect and that the doctor will do his job to the best of his ability and that I don't go insane sitting in the waiting room!

Also we found out a few days ago that Broden weighs 21lbs....bigger then Neacel was at 7 months. Neacel was 22lbs at 10 months, Im scared to see what Broden will be at that point. But he has one mean army crawl, pulling that chubby body across the floor, its too cute!
We had a great time in Utah and I have 300+ pictures to prove it. So once I narrow things down Ill get a post up about all that fun stuff!

Utah Bound

We are heading to Utah for the month of May! How awesome is that? We are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning and will get there later Wednesday night. Im spending the day packing and cleaning...and stressing but thats normal when your me! We are so excited to spend time with Nick's family and let them spend time with the boys. Nicks parents say Broden at 2 weeks old but haven't seen him since then. He is now 6 months old!!!!

Quickly, Broden had his check up this morning. He is 18 lbs 15 oz and 26 inches long. He is growing like a weed and such a happy boy with tons of hair. We have his first urologist appointment June 7th and we will go from there with his little "issue". The dr was impressed with how he is trying to crawl and the fact that he can sit for a few seconds on his own without support. Yay Broden. Well, the clothing needs folded, the house needs cleaned and we need to run a few errands! Ill try to update while in Utah but Ill be honest....it probably won't happen!