Random stuff

TGIF!!! Here is just some random stuff going on in life....

1) Our poor dog, Chopper. Boxers tend to have this issue where his gums get inflamed, swell, and the tissue grows out of control. His bottom teeth are completely buried in his gums. They are also overgrown all over his mouth. He has bad breath and it's just not good for him. See below...that is all gum sticking out on the bottom and no teeth in site. He has a massive under bite, which I think is cute, but all you see is gums. So, we were referred to a dental vet down the street. I guess he is one of the best around and people come from all over to see him. When we took him in, the doctor was pretty shocked at what he saw. He said he sees "a parade of boxers with this issue". He recommended that we actually extract all 6 lower teeth that are buried b/c it can cause infection and give him major health issue. I agreed to it, so they removed all 6 teeth, stitched him up, cleaned his teeth, and cut away a lot of excess gum all over his mouth. The poor dog was in a sad state when I picked him up. The vet assured me he was high as a kite on morphine. I took him home and tried to take care of him. He was drooling blood all day yesterday....on his paws, my carpet, my bed, etc. Nasty! Not to mention, I have to give him like 6 pills a day for a week and then three a day for a month--pain, infection, swelling and soreness. I feel SO sorry for him!! The worst part is 1) this treatment may only last a couple of years and we'll have to do it again and 2) it was $800. Only the best for our doggy. I would not be doing it if it was cosmetic, but it's for his overall health, so we want to take care of him. 

2) My mom is pretty awesome. She came over yesterday from 9am-11pm. She helped me a massive amount around my house. We cleaned out and organized every cupboard in my kitchen (a lot I might add), organized toys (threw out, donate, put some in basement), closets, kids clothes, pantry, laundry room, dining room, etc. My house is clean and looks just fine. Open a closet or cupboard and that's another story. I used to be a major neat freak, but after kids, I've loosened up. However, the last six months, I've felt suffocated in my own house. I need to purge things, get organized, and just get rid of "Stuff". I felt better this morning when I woke up! I have worked on my bathroom drawers, closet, and linen closets. I think I threw away 6 garbage bags of stuff, I've made two trips to Salvation Army, and have about 20 outfits to donate to Dress for Success which has an event 5 minutes from my house next week! Yay! Mom---thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Btw, she did "give" me as part of my Christmas gift last year a note to help me organize and promised by March 30th 2012. It's all good though! 

3) I have noticed a difference in Hunter since he's turned 5. For the better. God may be finally answering my prayers. He's been better behaved, playing better with Jack, and it just makes me breath easier. I'm happy about that!

4) A 16 year old girl moved in across the street. She seems super sweet and wants to babysit. I just need a few more options. She watched the kids for 2 hours last night and things went well. Thankfully she is willing to come back, so they must have been halfway decent! This is very exciting for me. 

I think that is it for now. I still have pictures from Hunter's party to put on here, so hopefully this weekend! 

Hunter is 5 (a little late)

Just a quick update about yesterday's post. I think the title should have been "Nick's new love". He told me he likes Siri more than me b/c she does what he says, doesn't boss him around, and doesn't talk back. Too funny. I find it amazing how Apple walks the line of Siri having a sense of humor. For example, I said "Thank you" to her just to see what she would say and she said "I live to serve". How funny is that? At least she knows her place. She can be sarcastic at times too which cracks me up.

More importantly, Hunter turned 5 last Thursday!! He was SO cute Thursday morning he came in and said "Mommy! I'm 5!!!" I said yes, you are, Happy Birthday! Then he looked himself up and down and said "But I think I still look like I'm 4!". Too cute. Hunter had a good day. I made him blueberry muffins for breakfast, per his request. Nick went to school for snack time and their celebration ceremony. Montessori doesn't allow for cupcakes/treats, so you get to bring snack for the day (fruit/veggies). We did grapes and 1/2 of a Gogurt thing for each kid, which was a big hit. After school Julie took him to the toy store to pick out some things while I took Jack to speech therapy. My parents, Emily, her friend, Connie, Gigi, and Aunt Aileen came for dinner. We had pizza, salad, cake, ice cream, etc. and opened some presents. It was a good day! I had to wake him for school the next morning b/c he was so tired :)

Sunday we had a birthday party at Three Cedars Farm. I didn't do the class thing this year b/c quite honestly I just didn't have my act together and have been SO stressed. I'd like to get away from that anyway. We were allowed to have 30 people at Three Cedars and I got it down to 35, so that was pretty good for me! A few people didn't show up...we barely fit on the wagon for the hayride---they packed us on there though. We had a great time and it was a nice fall day, but a bit chilly.

I have tons of great pictures on my camera from his actual birthday and Sunday, but haven't had time to upload them. Here are the ones my mother-in-law took. Thanks Dori!!!! 

On the way to his party! 

 I think Jack is excited for the party too!! I am so lucky to have such handsome boys!!! Jack is getting more photogenic now that he smiles on request--a big cheezy smile I might add. 

 I'm glad my mom and mother-in-law were there to help chase kids around. It was pretty crowded and the kids were all over the place. 

 Our group waiting to get on the hayride...

 Hunter and Alex (he lives three doors down). They play really well together and both have a lot of energy! 

 The wagon dropped us at a pumpkin patch and we let all the kids pick out pumpkins as "favors". I love this picture :)

 Jack feeding the goats. 

 Jack with Uncle Mark and Aunt Brandie--thanks for driving so far to come see Hunter!! 

 Love the smile!! 

 Hunter's special giant cupcake

Per Hunter's request we had banana cake too! 

I'll have to do another post this week about what Hunter is up to these days. 

Nick's new BFF

My husband LOVES technology. He HAD to have the I Phone 5 asap. He was online at 6am the day you could order them placing our orders. He got the black one and I got the white one, which I might add, I like more than the black one now that I have it. He was obsessively tracking the package until it arrived on our doorstep Friday morning. He actually left work and drove home to get them. He could not stand the thought of them on the porch when he could be using it. I'm happy to have a new phone, but the thought of transferring the information, learning how to use it, etc. is more of a stressor for me than anything. 

Either way, my point is that Siri is his new BFF. I am willing to bet that he has talked to her more over the course of this past weekend than he has to me. He talks to her about EVERYTHING (the weather, sports scores, random questions, etc.). He even gave himself a stupid nickname which is not "blog appropriate". I'm waiting for a client to hear it and embarrass him into changing it. I gave myself a nickname too...I knew Nick was up to something sneaky and sure enough he gave me a new nickname (also not blog appropriate), but I am smarter than he thinks b/c I changed it back already! 

Would you believe we fight about buying the kids Gatorade out of the machine after soccer practice and how much to give as a donation for donuts and juice after church, yet he has NO problem with dropping money for a new phone?!?!? What is wrong with him??? Honestly, we were flat out arguing about $2 at soccer and $3 at church!!!! I am fine with a "treat" Gatorade after soccer (plus I can use it to bribe Jack to stop crying and play soccer) and what is wrong with $5 instead of $2 when we have to get both kids a donut, we share one, and two orange juices?? I know it doesn't cost $5, but it's a "donation" to the church for goodness sake. He is really messed up in his ways of thinking. 

Super Dad!

I made this for Nick today at work--I think it will make him laugh. I hope he doesn't see it on here before I get home at 8:30 pm tonight. 

 He took both kids to school today (first time ever) so I could go to pilates at 7:30am and get to work for an 8:45 am appt. Although OF COURSE since I wasn't there they both slept in super well! And he's on his own tonight since I have a meeting...poor guy. I'm on my own tomorrow though since he has a meeting. He is going to Hunter's school for his birthday celebration (since I can't), he is coming to A2 tomorrow for an appt with me, and going to a meeting at school Friday afternoon. Asking him to be away from work so much is a big deal to him, but he can get a taste of how it feels for me every other day since I am crazy busy with stuff this week. 

Exhausted...

I don't really mean to be a complainer but I feel like I can't breathe right now. Things are SO crazy. Jack is in speech therapy two evenings per week, Hunter plays t-ball, I either have mom's group, church or women's business group on Tuesdays (that's 3 of 4 Tuesdays per month), and Nick has stuff too. The weekends are also nuts--school events, Jack soccer, Hunter basketball, church school, etc. Hunter's birthday is Thursday and we are having a little party on Sunday. My great-aunt is in town, family is coming for Thursday pizza party at our house, and it just doesn't stop. Not to mention, since Jack has started school his sleeping has been way nuts--this is the worst b/c I need my sleep and he's been great for SO long. He wakes up at all hours of the night, wakes up early, and it's a nightmare. Last night he was up at 2am, brought him to our room b/c he was hysterical, laid with him for a bit, back to bed for an hour, and back up again crying! Back into our room by 3am and for the rest of the night. The kid wants to snuggle and lay right on me--I love it, but not when I'm trying to get my sleep. Saturday and Sunday he was up at like 4 am crying. You'd think with starting this toddler program he'd be exhausted...maybe it's b/c he has a little cold. All I know is I can barely stay awake. I had a pilates lesson at 7:30am, meetings at work at 8:45am and 10:30am, business group from 6-8:30pm tonight. Do I try to run home early from work, see kids for 45 minutes only to turn around back across town for my meeting? Seriously!?!? It's all a little much! I know a lot of families have MORE kids, MORE activities, etc. but I am wondering how in the heck they do it. Especially if they work outside the home. If I had "normal" hours with no flexibility I'd have quit or been fired a long time ago. I am thankful my partner at work "gets it" as he had three young kids and lots of things going on too. I just can't stop yawning. Maybe I can sneak a nap in under my desk??? haha.

Random catch up...pirates, soccer and more

 Hunter wants to be a pirate for Halloween. We did this cool thing at Disneyworld last year where they dressed him up and painted his face to make him a pirate, so we have all the stuff (patch, sword, earring, sash, bandanna thing, etc). 

 Practicing his moves...

He also has a Star Wars sword, so we had a sword fight after Jack went to bed. The swords have been on the top of the fridge for at least 6 months b/c when they are not using toys properly they go up there. I cleaned it off the other night to give them another chance. 

 The FUNNIEST part of this whole pirate phase is yesterday Hunter looked at me and said, "Mommy, if I'm going to be a pirate you have to cut my leg off and put a stick there instead!". I said I wasn't sure that was a good idea. He said "Just do it! You can use scissors to cut it off!". I was cracking up. 

 Jack started soccer this past Saturday. So Nick watches Hunter play bball and I participate in Jack's soccer class with him. He did really well for the most part, but I think he was tired and then he just decided to lay down and be done.

 Doing good for a little bit!! He really did well at the beginning :)

 Everyone else was running around doing their thing and he just sat in the middle and would not get up. 

I went to Grand Traverse Pie Company yesterday to get a gift for someone and bought a brownie. The kids loved it last night...but Jack did not want his picture taken!

Cravings?

TGIF. It's been a LONG week, but we made it. We were super busy, kids had a tough time with sleep schedules this week, and adjusting to school. Jack fell asleep on a teacher yesterday so when I picked him up yesterday he woke up and never took a nap back at home (besides the 10 min at school after lunch). Nick was out of town yesterday and today. Jack woke up hysterical at 4am, so I had to bring him to our bed. He tossed and turned a lot keeping me up. Not to mention they are doing major construction on roads around our house and I could hear loud trucks re-paving roads ALL night last night. Hunter woke up at 6:30 am and I had to go shower in his room so I could keep him in there and let Jack sleep. Ahhhh. Then I was rushed this morning b/c kids were not cooperating and wore my flip flops out the door instead of my work shoes. I didn't realize it till I got to the kids school. I said forget it, I'm wearing flip flops today, not going back home! Ha! The are bright blue with a long skirt, so not sure how obvious, but no client meetings. Oh, and my poor nanny, Julie. Her dad had a stroke on Tuesday...please pray. He is in the hospital...hoping for a full recovery!! Lots of stress!!!

My point this this post was that Hunter would not eat breakfast. I told him he could have anything "healthy" that he wanted. He said he was craving pickles (the stuff this kid says at times is hilarious). Ok,whatever. He had four little ones and then had a tummy ache on the way to school and said he was still hungry. I dug out a package of fruit snacks and a cookie from the bottom of my purse just to try to get some more food in him so his teachers didn't think I starved the kid. I told him next time he should take my suggestion of granola, waffle, cheerios, bagel, or english muffin. But no. He. wanted. pickles. You don't even want to know what else is in my purse (clean diapers, dirty socks, kids toys, and so much other random stuff)--it's bad. 

Happy Friday!!  

ps. Don't mind the awful haircut. OMG. Never letting Nick take him to Great Clips again!!!! I may even try to fix it myself this weekend?!?!

Random catch up post and pictures

Hoppy's birthday (Nick's dad) was just a week or so ago, so we went to Lake Lansing to visit...

Hunter driving the boat with Grandpa Hoppy

Uncle Mark and Aunt Brandie :)

Trying to get a picture with Jack who didn't want to cooperate

 Labor Day we went to the lake with my parents, sister, and Gigi. My parents bought a new tube and Hunter had a lot of fun standing up and doing tricks on it :)

 Being silly and passing out Doritos to everyone...

Nick went to Texas for the U of M game, so I was alone with the kids Friday-Sunday. I took them to the pool and out for ice cream Friday night

I love this cheezy smile...we were texting daddy pictures!