H and G Sandy!

Paintings by RoMo

Homemade Playdough

tabletop racetrack

My shot at pumpkin carving

Hurricane Sandy left town much faster than the several days of hype leading up to it. Thankfully, it really turned out to be an anti-climactic event here in NoVA. Regardless, we camped out in the basement last night just in case of any fallen trees. The camp out seemed like a fun idea - Morgan in the pack-n-play and Rowan in a tent- until the 2 of them had alittle too much fun carrying on and not going to bed until 9:30. I was extremely grateful to awaken to a house that had power and no damage.

Preparation was the key to the storm and that rang true to being prepared as to what to 2 with 2 little kids as well. We really had a fun and busy day yesterday. We baked muffins, made play dough, did some painting, watched a movie, did a few coloring sheets and make a racetrack. I found it alittle bit tricky to have things that both kids would enjoy because of their age gap. Rowan loved the painting and racetrack while Morgan really loved the play dough and coloring.  I also got to a pumpkin this morning since I missed Kara's annual pumpkin carving - the best party of the year!

An added bonus to the day was Morgan peeing in the potty last night out of the blue. She has shown interest as of late and knows where I keep it for her. She did her business and kept returning to it as if it was fun. If anything it's a good starting point. She gave me a hard time this morning when I tried to put a diaper on her though. I teased Sara that she will be an expert in potty training and RescueBots when she leaves here:) I'm not sure how many times Rowan said "RescueBots....Transform and Roll out" yesterday.

Fall photoshoot

A couple weekends ago I took the kids to get some professional pictures taken. I found Beth, the photographer, through a neighborhood friend. They are a Navy family that just relocated from Naples, Italy. The session was in her backyard which was one of the nicest yards I've ever seen.

I planned the session to be after Morgan's nap and lunch so they would be well rested and have full stomachs. Well, sometimes things just don't workout as you'd like them too, especially with kids, and this was one of those things. Morgan was a wreck - literally wrecking havoc on this woman's setup and burning up her yard. Rowan did well - almost too well - because he didn't want to stop getting his picture taken. Gotta love him!

After about an hour and 402 pictures later, Beth did get some great shots of both of them. The above ones show just how unpredictable kids can be and how photos can show their personalities as well. I learned that being a photogher is kinda like being a teacher. It requires lots and lots of patience and hard work. Thank you to Beth Moskal Photography. Hoping our next session will go a little bit better!

An unwelcomed visitor

No it wasn't pumpkins but I'm sure you'll be glad I spared you the photo of the "intruder". Yesterday morning, bright and early, I found a snake in the downstairs playroom. After screaming my lungs out while running to the top of the stairs with Morgan in my arms, I realized I had to go back down and figure out what the hell I was going to do! After trying to compose myself and remembering to breath (heart attacks run in my family), I found a heavy car battery charger and threw it several times on the sucker. My screams intensified with each hit yet it kept squirming away apparently unharmed. Next I called my friend Jen who found a neighbor who could help me. Dan and his wife Pam (angels) arrived with gloves, a towel, and a hammer. You might imagine what happened next. I cried as though I just survived a natural disaster.

Word quickly circulated around the neighborhood. One friend joked that her children would no longer be playing at our house and  - as if I wasn't already creeped out -  another told me that when there's one .....there's always another.

Jason seriously needs to come home! I needed a drink and a throat lozenger by 10am. Please pray that this never happens again or a heart attack may do me in!

Columbus Day weekend

Jason was home for 4 days and we certainly made the most of it! We visited cox farms, the Space and Air Museum, hung out at Rowan's soccer game and painted pumpkins. Rowan was so taken by the Kennedy Space Center this summer that he wanted to go back to the A&S museum to see the new Discovery exhibit. It's such a great place to visit. Next time Mimi and Hank or Darryl and Mary come to visit we have to go so remind us!

Jason was very excited to see Rowan play in his soccer game on Saturday. I'm glad he got to meet some of the other parents and see his son score 5 goals! Rowan hustles the whole time he's on the field and has great ball control. Not sure where he gets it from considering Jason and I no soccer skills whatsoever! We are so proud of him for having fun and listening to his coaches:)

Yesterday we visited the pumpkin patch despite the intermittent rain and 51 degree temperature. The kids had a blast and we found the most perfect pumpkins! Rowan really wanted to paint an angry bird pumpkin so Jason helped him. He is really artistic and they both did a great job!

Jason has also been showing his mad handyman skills around the house as of late. Last time he was home he did some stone work on the back patio which looks so nice. I had a big 'honey do' list this weekend and he got to all of the projects which was awesome. We have some major projects set up for when he comes home for good and I know these little things are giving him great confidence. Darryl told him that he has to be careful to not look too handy or I'll really put him to work!
So true....

Sleeping and Surgery

It's been a bit of a tough transition back for us, especially for Morgan. Her sleep patterns have been all over the place. The first week back she was giving me 5-5:15am wake up calls. Some days she would sleep til 5:30 or 5:45. A friend advised me to do a mid morning nap and keep her up til 8pm hoping that that would make her sleep in. It worked 2 days in a row in which she slept in til 6:15 and 6:30 and then it was back to @5:30. Monday she slept in until 7am and then yesterday was 6am. Today I got an early Christmas gift...she slept in until 7:20am. Does anyone want to take a guess what tomorrow will bring?

I had minor surgery on Monday and am so grateful that Mary and Darryl came down to take care of the kids for a couple days. I was able to sleep and relax while they took Rowan to school and kept Morgan busy. Bonus: Darryl also cleaned our carpet downstairs! I'm feeling ok when I get food in my system but have to be careful about taking my pain meds while watching the kids. I'm so excited that Jason will be home for the long weekend so I can really take it easy. Thanks to all who have checked in on us:)

We are anxiously awaiting for Jason to get his orders back here. Fingers crossed that it will be only another month or so.