whatever this is...I don't like it!

We have a beautiful, albeit, interesting front yard. We have A LOT of shade cover with trees, which I loved when we chose this house, because of the sense of privacy, etc. Because Broadripple has such wonderful, older homes with so much character, these trees are very old. One side of our yard is basically completely roots covered in ivy from one of the trees. So, basically, not a whole lot of grass...but some interesting ground cover in the ivy, and some kind of something that looks green on the other side, but isn't grass (how you like that sentence for an English teacher :)
Anyway...on the other side of the house in the front yard is this AWFUL tree. I admittedly hate it. Why you ask? Because in the fall and spring THIS is what it drops, instead of leaves (see below). They are tiny little spiky balls.....of weirdness. They don't hurt, which is good for the kids...but they are annoying and one night I had simply had enough...so we took advantage of the good weather teaser in March, and I took the kids outside to help Mommy with some yard work. I gave each of the kids a Marsh paper bag and told them to fill it up, just like Mommy. Katie was awesome...she wanted to pick up EVERY SINGLE ONE in the WHOLE yard. Carter really just wanted to play in the dirt.... :) Overall, we made a huge dent. Thanks, kiddos.

Aren't they ugly? I will defeat you spiky little things!

Katie listening very carefully to the instructions (notice the lack of Carter) :)

KJ stopping from her hard work to give me a kiss...I love this girl.

my sweet boy...even with muddy hands.

KJ filling up her bag with Mommy's help for about the fifth time

Carter finally decided if he could treat the "spiky balls" like basketballs, and slam dunk them in the trash-can, he would help out. So cute. He will definitely be my little ball player.

Overall, I think we did a pretty job...filled up this whole 50-gallon trash can with the yukky spiky things and some sticks around the yard. I still have a long way to go...next time I think a rake might be necessary :)

Happy Grandparents Day!

My Katie got to celebrate "Grandparent's Day" for the first time at her preschool this year. We choose her outfit very carefully...an adorable plaid pleated skirt and matching plaid bow on the turtleneck she got from mama deb for Christmas...and she actually even smiled nicely for her mama (which NEVER happens).

Grandma Jodi, Grandpa Rick and Grandma Ginny all got to visit Katie at school, share in the weekly Friday Shabbat service, have lunch with her and get to meet her teacher and see her classroom. She was of course loved on like a princess and praised for her cute little artwork and neat cubby. I know that when Katie gets older she will look back and appreciate all that her grandparents have done for her. I know how grateful I am.

(p.s. I think she may just be the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen ;)

in my dreams...i still hear your heartbeat

You step through me
And the screen door hits the wood
And you're packing all your things
You say you're moving out to there to Hollywood
And I can't do a thing

You say there's nothing for you
In this cardboard town
And every bridge you cross
You're gonna burn it to the ground

You won't listen to a word that I'm telling ya

So who's running through the halls
In the houses of pain
That are staring back at me
Like the ocean from a plane

I swear I've seen your eyes in the ghosts of Philadelphia

I think about you late at night sometimes
When I can't sleep
Cause I can hear the train

It's always there
You just don't know it
Till a quarter to three
You just can't hear it in the day

When everybody's got your number
In this plexiglass town
Where the birds ain't got wings
But no one makes a sound
Cause they all know how to fly

Just I wouldn't buy what they're selling ya

So who's running through the halls
In the houses of pain
That are staring back at me
Like the ocean from a plane

I swear I've seen your eyes in the ghosts of Philadelphia

I run into your memory every once and again
Mostly in the spring
Reminds me of our younger and more genuine days when
You weren't so out of reach

Still for all your running
You just can't change a mile
Of the things you carry around
In the closet of your mind
And the days keep coming man
They never fail ya

You're never gonna run away
From what you're hanging round your head
You're never gonna run away
From what you're hanging round your head
You're never gonna run away
From what you're hanging round your head
You're never gonna run away
From what you're hanging round your head

And I'm never gonna run away
From what you said

(john mark mcmillan)
philadelphia

my treasures

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when

our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

(Thornton Wilder)

for those of you wondering...

I have suddenly been faced with the severity of the sheer fact that I am going to have a four year old in a month. 3 was okay...still felt very toddler-ish....4?? This is starting to feel like she's growing up just a little fast for me. And my Bubby? 2 1/2 already?? When did all of this happen? I still remember clearly what it was like to have an infant and a baby at the same time (hence...tube tying...) but truly, and I know this sounds sappy each day of their lives have been rich to me...and have been a part of this crazy thing we call life. Wanna know how I have the patience to deal with a 2 and 3 year old at their worst worst behavior? Just ask me what Carter was like as a baby :) (Don't worry...I still love you...but there were days I wanted to put you outside...)

Anyway, I'm getting off track. I have no idea who reads this blog, but I'm sure many of you have noticed pictures of my lovies with bottles...even my Katie, who is almost 4. Now, to set the record straight, I am not one of those moms that just lets whatever the child wants happen. If I had my way, Carter wouldn't have touched a bottle after he was 2. But....here is where my valid reason comes in....to any of you who wondered...

Katie and Carter were both born prematurely. Katie weighed 2 pounds, 3 ounces, Carter weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces. Despite his higher weight at birth, Carter has been consistently smaller on the growth chart than my little peanut. Though I'm well aware of the risks posed by still having a bottle at this age, the pediatrician says that we have to put calories first....so, basically KJ and Carter drink a protein shake for kids with flax oil for extra fat (the good kind, not saturated fat) and rice milk, because they are both allergic to milk. The calories essentially work out to the equivalent of what Katie had in breastmilk and Carter had in formula (he couldn't nurse)....As they both continue to go through growth spurts...their weight is still a concern to their doctor (they are only in the 5th percentile, and at the last well child, KJ wasn't even on the chart...) so we continue bottles until told it's in their best interest to stop. I'm not all about completely trusting doctors, I have had a lot of really stupid doctor decisions in my life, but their pediatrician was also MY pediatrician, knows our entire family history, and even came to the NICU to see Katie and Carter when they were discharged. So, this time I guess I won't try to play supermom, and I'm doing what the doctor says...no matter how many weird glares I get :)

is it possible to have this kind of love?

"Suddenly I realize this is what Ive been waiting for-a man who depends entirely on me...I dreamed for years of a man who couldn't live without me, a man who pictured my face when he closed his eyes, who loved me when I was a mess in the morning and when dinner was late and even when I overloaded the washing machine and burned out the motor. My son stares up at me as if I can do no wrong. I have always wanted somebody to treat me the way that he does....I just didn't realize I would have to give birth to him."
(jodi-piccout harvesting the heart)

.love.

(a portion of)
Sonnet XVI

William Shakespeare

Let me not to the true minds of marriage impediment,
Admit inpendiments, love is not love
which alters when it alteration finds
or bends with the remover to remove
O, no, it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken