Princess night at Chick-Fil-A

The Rain Coat Ceremony

So Aaron had his White Coat Ceremony this weekend. Not really sure how to describe it. It was really nice.Really it was one of the best type of things like that I've ever been to. It started exactly on time. The speakers were interesting, and concise. Then they called each student by name and robed them in their white lab coats. I got teary eyed a few times thinking of how proud I am of Aaron. It was not an easy road to get here. For a while it was hard for him to even think about going back to school. And then once he did, it was crazy. He worked 40 hours a week, did all his premed stuff in a record semester, and then took the PCAT only a few months into his science classes. (Oh and he kicked its trash by the way). And then he got into each school he applied to. And then he moved us across the country because I wanted to. (Okay and maybe some divine inspiration there too...) But still... I am very proud.


The students had to be there a half hour before the ceremony started. Which meant I had almost 2 hours of trying to entertain my kids in a place not quite meant for kids, all by myself. Fun, right? So before it started we walked around. I wanted to take a cute picture of my girls on this fancy little couch. This is what I got.



And then when I told her to get her feet off the couch, this was her solution....

Classic Olivia.

*also the title of this post is another Olivia quote. We made Aaron a cake, and I pathetically drew a "white coat" on it. Olivia kept calling it a rain coat. I'm pretty sure she thinks we did all this fanfare for a rain coat. Makes sense in her world.

booooooooooooring

Every day we wake up eat breakfast, watch some PBS Kids, occasionally we have to drive Aaron to school and we go to dance class or Jazzercise. We play some games in the playroom. We eat lunch. We take naps. Well the kids take naps and/or have mandatory "quiet time". I clean or watch Monk on Netflix. And then we try to pass the time until dinner time. Then we watch another show, give kids baths and put them to bed. Then Aaron studies while I waste hours on the computer or watching TV.

I feel like life could not be more boring lately! I am trying to be grateful for the boringness. It is calm. Days keep passing quietly. My kids keep growing. I mean, obviously, right? But last night Olivia had a bad dream and I went into her room to comfort her. I rocked her in the same chair I rocked her in almost three years ago. I laid her in her "big girl bed" and covered her with her comforter. And I remembered all the nights I would stay in her room until she was asleep. Patting her back over her crib, counting in my head, waiting until she was asleep enough for me to sneak away. Literally I spent hours putting her to bed each night. Pat/shushing until my back was killing me. I thoughts those nights would never end. And now they're gone. And as I thought about that I cried. She's growing up. I know everyone, literally everyone, says they grow up so fast. But when you're in the middle of it - when the days are dragging like they are now - it doesn't seem to go fast at all. But when you look at your baby and she's this entire little person and not so much of a baby anymore, you really wonder where the time goes.

nothing new

So seriously nothing new is going on around here. I feel like I have nothing to blog about. So to keep things interesting here are some things from forever ago that never made it to the blog.

A few visits to NJ ago, my Aunt Kathy took us to the Staten Island Zoo. It was seriously the cutest little zoo ever. Olivia was too afraid to do a pony ride. I bet if we go back this year she'll be all about it.

The other picture is of Abigail in the hotel with Aaron and I when we were first checking out apartments in Erie. I just thought she looked hilariously cute with her hair in the hand towel like that.

....and yeah random posts lately. I'm sure something exciting is bound to happen around here sooner or later. Today is laundry day, that's always exciting.

Adoption.

No, not us. Our friends Drew and Amy Stewart in Arizona are looking for a sibling for their sweet little boy. They are the most incredible couple. I think any child would be incredibly blessed to have them as parents. Anyway, I know this is an unusual post, but Amy seriously is the sweetest girl. I wish I could have a baby to just give to them - but it doesn't really work like that, does it? So if anyone knows anyone in a situation where they are looking or considering putting their baby up for adoption please send them to the Stewart's adoption blog. Or contact me and I can put them in contact with Amy. Feel free to repost this and help this awesome couple!

http://adoptionwishes.blogspot.com/

I remember a time when I was about 7 or 8 or so. Poppy came and picked me up from my house and took me to his. I don't remember why it was just him and I in the car. I know I was going to spend the weekend up at Nanny and Poppy's. Or something like that. I really don't remember anything about why this car ride was taking place. But I remember the car ride. I have always loved to talk. And that car ride, with Poppy's undivided attention - I was in hog heaven! I talked his ear off, the entire 1 hour car ride. I talked about school, about friends, who knows what other deep thoughts I had as an 8 year old. And he just listened. I don't think I let him get a word in edgewise. I heard him talking to Nanny that night. "Oh boy - that girl can talk and talk." But he wasn't complaining. I really felt like he enjoyed listening to me as much I enjoyed talking. 

Today would have been Poppy's 83rd birthday. My heart is so heavy. I miss him so much lately. My heart breaks for my Nanny. She's doing amazingly well, and she shocks me with how independent she can be. She showed me all that she did by herself - moving furniture, painting basement stairs, hanging curtains. And she's surrounded by her 3 daughters who take great care of her. But still. I can't imagine the emptiness that must come when someone who has been by your side for 55 years is no longer there.

Today for Poppy's birthday we are having clams for dinner. And listening to some patriotic music. Maybe I'll put on some Rush Limbaugh while I'm at it. 

Things That Weren't a Luxury Until I Had Kids....

So this is a little list that has been growing in my head for a while.

Things That Were NOT a Luxury Until I Had Kids....

1 - An uninterrupted shower.
2 - Eating dinner without someone on my lap.
3 - Sleeping past 7:00am
4 - Having sick days.
5 - Any time I am alone with my husband
6 - Silence
7 - A clean house
8 - Grocery shopping by myself
9 - Privacy in the bathroom
10 - Heck, privacy anywhere!

I'm sure there's plenty more. What are yours?