Catch and Release!

Yesterday while playing outside we discovered a vibrantly green little tree frog hiding beside the neighbors fence.

 I don't recall ever finding such a pretty frog in the yard.

 I'm used the big ol' green or brown bull frogs that live in the ponds in VT.  I couldn't resist his mushy little form and so I scooped him up to show the boys.  He was very sticky and clung to my finger with quite the suction cup grip much to my delight!!  The boys were facinated with him, especially Parker,

 who considered holding him but chickened out at the last minute and Colby of couse had NO desire to touch him.  After he pooped on Steven (ha, ha, ha), I decided it was time to set him free back into the neighbors orchard, being a "tree" frog I figured he'd appreciate that and so I passed him through the gate and placed him in the grass. 

Well, I did not realize that poor Mr. Parker thought that the little green guy was our new pet and so upon his release he crumbled into a blubbering mess, begging me to "get him back".

 Well being that the gate I'd passed him through is easily six feet high and locked, and also the last thing I need is one more creature to take care of I had to deny Parker's request.  A little snuggle and the offer to push him on the swing in our backyard was enough of a distraction though to dry up the tears and off we trotted, meltdown avoided!!!  As for the little tree frog, I assume he's keeping watch over us from the safetly of the neighbors yard and perhaps we will hear his serenade throughout the summer!!!!

Baking Memories!

The boys and I spent the evening after dinner last night making shamrock sugar cookies in honor and celebration of St. Patricks day.  As they stood on chairs side by side and excitedly took turns adding the ingredients to the bowl I was whisked back to memories of making cookies with my own mother and sister.  I remember Jeni and I taking turns back and forth as we added each thing mom had measured out for us and then each getting to lick off a beater while Dad ALWAYS got the bowl and spoon even though he hadn't helped at all! I also remembered the first time we attempted making cookies without Mom's help and not quite realizing the difference between tablespoon and teaspoon the cookies came out a bit "salty", ha, ha, ha!!!  Anyway, it got me to thinking that my own children have finally reached an age where they will start remembering things, moments like this.  I felt so much joy but also responsibility in that revelation.  I want my boys to look back on their childhood with memories of a joyful and happy mother, who passed them each addition to add to bowl with a smile and maybe a little description of how it effected the end result "Smell the vanilla! Do you want to taste it? **snicker, snicker**","Baking powder is what makes the cookies puff up","Shortening is just white grease, go ahead you can taste it"...  Ya know, those sort of memories.  I do hope they DON'T remember the yelling "GET YOUR ELBOW OUT OF THE DOUGH!!!" or "STOP LICKING THE SPOON, WE'RE NOT DONE MIXING YET!!!".  I'm just figuring the good with overshadow the bad!!!  Anyway, it was a really nice evening with my boys and I'm really hoping that they were able to store some little gems away in their memory of a wonderful evening spent baking with their mother who .loves them so very much....

Daddy in the making...

Parker has discovered the baby doll we got for Colby years ago to help prepare him for the arrival of his baby brother.  I have on occasion passed by the toy room to witness him (Parker) feeding the baby his bottle or wrapping him up in his blanket.  Whenever asked his relation to the little bundle it is always "the babysitter".  Well today was no exception as he joined me in the kitchen with his swaddled charge.  He came in acting so domestic yet somewhat embarrassed.  I asked him if he was the daddy, the brother or the babysitter and he enthusiastically assured me he was the baby sitter.  Okay, well now that that was settled, I invited him to bring the little rocking chair in to sooth the baby while I baked.  He liked the idea and settled right in.

 We talked about what baby's like and he decided the baby was awake now and needed to change out of his pajama's.  I sat down and helped him to undress and redress the baby.  He giggled and said the baby's butt was gross and quickly helped to get his little arms and legs into a new outfit and then swaddle him back up in the blanket.  This whole time I sat there feeling a warm glow in my heart, imagining him with a little baby of his own someday.  Watching him be so gentle and sensitive, a side to him that is so rarely seen.  I relished in the baby doll play that I had always envisioned I would have with my children (I was thinking daughters but hey, this was working).  So he settles back into the rocker and as I now have the camera out and am hitting him up like the mama paparazzi that I am I shoot for a suggestion with "hey, why don't you give the baby a kiss" and he replies with an embarrassed laugh "Mom, he's NOT real!!!"

 "Okay, okay" I replied not wanting to ruin the moment.  So, he rocked him and he fed the baby his bottle.  We then talked about how to burp the baby.  Well, at this point the testosterone took hold of his little brain and he say's "No Mom, you do it like this... (demonstrating)  You pull the baby's finger and ppphhhrrrat, he burps!!!"  This being the endearing game his own daddy taught him (at the dinner table mind you) just recently.  Awwww, yes I can see that my little Parker is a "Daddy" in the making for sure!

The End of a Decade....

I realized yesterday as my mind wandered through memories of this year past that at the stroke of midnight we would not only be ringing in a new year but a new decade!!!  That, then of course got my mind thinking of all that has happened in my last 10 years!!!  Dec 31, 2000...  That was big one!  I was with my family in a hotel banquet hall all decked out to ring in the new Millennium!!!  In the next few months I graduated college and left VT moving to CT (something I never imagined I would ever do).  Through that move though I met my soul mate,lover and best friend, married him and becoming an AF wife (again something I didn't ever foresee happening).  Together we had the two most sweetest baby boys in whole world, and have now moved across the sea ending this decade having lived in Italy for over a year now!  Whewww!  I can only imagine what the next ten years will bring.  I'll be 42 years old, my student loans will be paid off, Colby will be 16, Parker 13 and we will be facing the end of our military career.  Who knows where we'll be but if I have learned anything in the past 10 years...  as long as we are TOGETHER it doesn't matter....

  This has been a challenging year.  It's hard to get settled in Italy.  The language barrier and extreme difference in culture take a toll.  That heaped on top of a reunion that was stressed due to the move, terrible twos and simply a year spent apart was HARD.  I give thanks and praise to my Lord God almighty that we are here today January 1, 2011 as a family united, because it was through his guidance, love and protection that my family rang in the new year/decade whole.  I feel positive about this new year!  1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is LOVE.  Our love saw us through this year and when I kissed my husband on the stroke of midnight last night I felt a bond that has grown stronger than it ever was before.  Yes, I think 2011 is going to be a good year....  God Bless and Happy New year to All!

He should have come with a "warning" label!!!!!

Those of you who know my sweet, precious, Parker, know that often as innocent his intention was, or how careful he "tried" to be, he is the master of spilling, bumping, tripping, ripping or breaking whatever happens to be within a 20 foot radius of his little 3ft, 35lbs body!!!  Well, this morning as I ran downstairs to grab him a waffle out of the freezer he thought he'd get prepared and grabbed the syrup out of the fridge upstairs and SOME HOW in the 35.2 seconds it took me to bounce downstairs and back up he managed to crack the BOTTOM of the 7/8 full bottle of Aunt Jemima.  So, not having an empty container to transfer the contents into I got a little crafty and pulled out the duct tape.  Amazing the things you can do with that stuff!!!  So, problem solved until the next "accident".  Guess I should probably keep that roll handy.....

flipping the switch

AHHHHH, nothing starts your morning better than your house being plunged into total darkness (scaring the bejesus out of your two small kids) and then a brisk walk in your pajama's out to the breaker box located in the wall out front of our house (because of course it wasn't the switch IN the house that flipped).  These are just one of the little "hitches/glitches" of life in Italy.  Apparently, I can't run the tv, coffee maker and dryer at the same time!!!! 

Our friend Bubba's the Elf

Let me tell you a little tale about our little friend from the North Pole who comes to visit us each winter, arriving shortly after Thanksgiving and staying through until Christmas Eve.  He first appeared the end of Nov 2008 much to Colby's delight.  We read the book about the "elf on the shelf" in which the rules are described.  The elves head out to little boy and girls houses around the start of the holidays (in our house that's 1-2 days after Thanksgiving).  They come into your home and upon their initial appearance you must name them.  Colby creatively named our Elf "Bubba's" as that was my nickname for his baby brother at the time, lol!!!  So Bubba's it was and each night after the boys go to bed the elf flys back to the NP and reports to Santa all the good and bad things he has observed that day!  Each morning he returns to sit in a different spot throughout the house and the boys first thought of the day is to find his new perch!  Colby LOVES this!!!!  There are two rules though.  1.  Do NOT touch the elf.  If you do he might lose his magic and then he cannot return to the NP to tell Santa all that you have done and 2. He can't talk to you BUT you can talk to him and tell him your wishes which he will then relay to the jolly man himself!  Well, this year has been the most fun by far!!!  The boys seem to be at the perfect age to really get caught up in the whole magic of it all and so each morning since the elf's appearance they hop out of bed eager to find the elf's new spot.  His appearance on the 1st of Dec this year came with a new twist.  He brought the boys' candy countdowns with a final gift to be opened on the 25th!!!  The boys were SO excited to discover this!!!

And so we have spent each morning in an excited rush to find the elf in his hiding place!!!  (And I have lost quite a few hours of sleep as I wake in a panic realizing I've forgotten to move him and then hop out of bed and relocate the little guy before the boys wake up)

Well, the other morning, curiosity got the best of Parker and much to Colby's shock and horror, he TOUCHED the elf.  Colby screamed, Parker fumbled and Bubba's toppled to the floor.  Oh the boys were so distraught!!!  "Parker, HOW could you do that" Colby cried.  Parker was beside himself with apologies.  I righted the elf back on the shelf and told Parker not to worry, that I was sure Santa would have mercy on him!  Well, the next morning much to their delight, this is what the boys found....

  Colby was so delighted with this discovery he BEGGED to take the note to school and share it with his classmates which of course I allowed!!!  We have just been having so much fun with this tradition this year.  I know it's one of those things that they will someday (and much sooner than I would like) outgrow but for now, we will enjoy this and them and I hope that this is something they will carry on with their own family someday!  A child's ability to have faith and believe is truly "magical".....