Ten for Tuesday

1. It's been a rough week here. We have lots going on and some changes coming up and it's all making me cranky.

2. We have a realtor coming by this Saturday for a market analysis on our home. I don't know how in the world we'll get this house shaped up enough so that I'm not embarrassed of our home.

3. The regional Mom's of Twins Association yard sale is also on Saturday and even though I have a million things to do to get this house shaped up, I am not missing one of my favorite yard sales of the year. I've been anxiously waiting for this since the last one.

4. We attended Sydney's Pool Birthday Party this weekend. It took Nicholas a bit of time and coaxing to get him in the pool, but once he was in he loved it. I think he needs to spend some time swimming in Grnadma and Grandpa's pool. ;)

5. Despite our best efforts in keeping Nicholas from watching TV, he nearly has the entire TV/cable system figured out to watch Blue's Clues or Thomas the Train on Demand as shown here...

6. Alexa is falling in line to be one of the pickiest eaters out there. We're hoping her sudden penchant for crying at the site of, spitting out, and tossing her food is linked to teething and has an end in sight.

7. I completely forgot to blog for Alexa's 10 month birthday. I cannot believe at how fast this year is going by.

8. Plans for Alexa's first birthday party are full steam ahead. I found the most perfect child sized totes at the Christmas Tree Shop this weekend. I had to talk to 4 different employees, two separate trips, and two phone calls to get them but it will be so worth it.

9. Jim and I will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary next week. We are heading to Las Vegas to celebrate.

10. THANK YOU to Mom and Dad for taking care of the kids while Jim and I are gone. While I know they are in great hands and will be fine, this will be the very first time Jim and I will be away from the kids together for longer than the 6 hrs they are in daycare and I am so worried about being away for so long.

Just call me Michelangelina

This past Wednesday I accomplished the following; changed the brake pads on Jim's car, installed crown moulding in our bedroom, and made homemade pizza for dinner. I wish I could accomplish an equal amount every day, or at least every Wednesday.

Nicholas' Dirt Cake Review

I finally got around to making the Dirt cake for Nicholas. Here was Nicholas' review of it.
He was very excited although skeptical especially after I told him that it was called a dirt cake. He liked the presentation, and "ooohed" when he saw the gummy worms.

Nicholas was curious about what the dirt was and very relieved once I told him it was cookies. The astute kid was right on when he said it tasted like chocolate. The first bite got a big "yummy".

Unfortuantely, maybe four bites in said he didn't like it anymore. My guess this dessert was a little too rich for his blood. I guess he doesn't have too much Koza blood in him b/c the Koza clan was big fans of this dessert on Easter. Good, more for us/me, right?

Ten for Tuesday

- I am home yet again with a sick daughter. The amount of fevers this girl has had this winter, you would expect she'd have an unpenetrable immune system for years to come.

- Last night, Nicholas started jumping on the sofa and singing Five Little Monkeys (jumping on the bed). He knows the entire song. I had no idea.

- Alexa is scooting. Backwards mostly but she is trying so hard to figure how to crawl. I am both happy and scared for her to hit this milestone.

- Some days, doing the hokey pokey is the only thing that will convince Nicholas to get dressed.

- Alexa has started to use a sippy. She eagerly grabs it and puts it in her mouth and yet acts completely surprised that liquid comes out of it by her wide eyes and dribble coming out of her mouth.

- Nicholas' newest phrase is "leave me alone". I can already see his teen years ahead.

- Nicholas woke up yesterday with a completely dry diaper. I think he is fully capable of using the potty at all times but is resiting only because he wants control.

- I am going away on a Mom's spa retreat this weekend with Eve and I can NOT wait. I've booked myself a "Journey to the Himalayas"and a "Fijian Milk and Honey Wrap" and I am looking forward to experiencing tham.

- Even though I'm looking forward to 2 blissful uninterupted nights of sleep, I'm terrified of leaving the kids. I'm going to miss them so much.

- I just finished eating Alexa's chocolate bunny from the Easter bunny. Next year I'm getting the kids ( ok me) Godiva chocolate bunnies.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! On Saturyday we decided to bear the wind, rain, and cold and try out the Easter Egg Hunt at Ocean's Edge. Being Nicholas' first official Easter Egg hunt, it took him a minute to understand what exactly was going on. Once we opened one of the eggs, after the hunt, he fully understood the benefit of picking up all those eggs, "Ooooh, candy!"
Here is Nicholas enjoying his decorated cookie.

Yummy, Danish.

Alexa is smiling but she did not like the wind at all!

Nothing like the spread I remember Mom putting out for us kids but Nicholas was impressed nonetheless.

He was especialy excited for his red car.

Alexa playing with her taggie rattle.

What's Easter without bunny ears?

What a ham!

Showing off her outfit.

Opening Day

In celebration of Opening Day at Fenway Park, the kids daycare made today "Red Sox" day. Everyone was wearing Red Sox apparel. I couldn't let my kids miss out. Here they are in their garb.

Notice Nicholas's red socks? hehe. Yes, I'm corny like that.

Geometry and the Boston Red Sox

What does geometry have to do with the Boston Red Sox? Well, it is my knowledge of geometry which got me a chance to attend a Red Sox charity event last night. And while I'm not one to get googly eyes over "celebs", it was a pretty cool event.

My company co-sponsored the Red Sox Welcome Home dinner at the House of Blues to benefit the Red Sox Foundation. In turn my company raffled off 20 pairs of tickets to the event. In order to win the tickets we had to correctly guess the correct number of chocolate balls in a large glass jar. Those who came closest without going over won.

Do you remember your geometry? Do you remember how to calculate the volume of a cylinder? Somehow I pulled out that rusty piece of information and came within 2 chocolate balls of the actual number in my calculations and thankfully subtracted a few more because I could see a few "holes" and wanted to be sure I was under and not over.

Unfortunately we did not find a sitter to take care of the kids so Jim stayed home and I went with Sean. Sorry Jim.

The evening consisted of free food, free drinks, a silent auction of some Red Sox paraphenalia, up close viewing of the two World Series trophies, meeting Wally, and hob-knobbing with some of Boston's "elite" (Mayor Menino and of course the Red Sox players), and hanging out with the other scrubs from work who correctly guess the number of chocolate balls.

The entertainment for the evening was a performance of the seventies hit game show The Match_Game. Actor Mike O'Malley was host and contestents were Red Sox players; Big Papi, Tim Wakefield, Dustin Pedroia, Mark Kotsay, Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Jason Bay, Julio Lugo, Manny Delcarman, and George Kattaras. Other players attending the event were Dice-K, Kevin Youkilis, Brad Penny, and Jason Varitek. The game was just as entertaining as the TV show I remember (gasp, yes apparently I am that old) and fun was had by all.

The night was a nice little bonus to me for paying atention in school. Now if I could only remember my geometry teacher's name. Here are some pics of the event. I'll add some more to my share site as well. Check it out here.

April Fools Day

I wanted to play a couple "harmless" jokes on Jim and Nicholas this year. We all could use some added laughs to our day right?

For Jim, I put a rubber band around our kitchen sprayer, praying that he would use the sink alone before washing Nicholas' hands. Lucky me, it was a Wednesday so I got to be home for the joke and was changing Alexa's diaper at the time. I was waiting patiently while Jim puttered in the kitchen. I asked Alexa to be quiet and to listen when I heard, "Christina?!"

Jim came up to Alexa's room and Jim's shirt was soaking wet. Luckily for him (unlucky for me, right?) he was not dressed for work. Not sure why it was so funny but I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Of course, Jim was not amused.

I had planned to make Nicholas a "dirt cake". Still trying to find to time to make it. :( Maybe I can fit it in for this Wednesday. He won't know the difference.

Adventures in potty training part III

This might be a little "too much information" for some people but I think it's hilarious and I want to write it down so that I can remember it for when my son starts dating.

As you know Nicholas has become interested in using the potty on occaision. He's also a little shy and likes to have company while sitting on the potty. One afternoon I asked if he wanted me to sit on the potty too. He said yes and I did so with my pants on. Here's the rest of the exchange;

Nicholas: "No. Pull your pants down. I want to see your penis."
Me: "Oh, sweetie, mommies do not have penises."
Nicholas: "I want to see. Pull down your pants. Spread your legs."
Me: "Jiiiiiiiim!"