The Circus Comes to Town

My old school hosted a circus this week, and we thought the little kids would enjoy going. The tickets were cheap, and for 2 bucks more, we could sit ringside. It was, surprisingly, very entertaining. Isabella even let a man - gasp!- paint her face. We did, however, learn that she does not like clowns. Is there anyone out there that really likes clowns? Nicholas had his first taste of cotton candy and wondered where it had been all his life.

So Cute

Every summer, we hang a basket on our side deck, and for 3 years in a row, we have had a bird take up residence in my plant. I usually find her when I spray the plant with the hose and she flies out in a frenzy to the nearest tree, squawking at me violently like I'm a crazed egg killer. Last year and the year before, I chose to not water the plant and let it die because I was afraid I would drown the eggs. This year, I resolved to not let a dried up dead plant hang on our porch for a month until the eggs hatched and the birds flew away so that I could throw the thing away. Instead, I filled a small pitcher and gingerly watered the plant every other day ever so carefully so as not to disturb the eggs/babies. All the while profusely apologizing to the angry bird screaming at me from the nearby tree.

Taylor and I checked on the nest every day and after about 3 weeks the eggs hatched. Within 2 weeks, the mother was across the yard urging the babies out of the nest to fly to her and eventually leave for good. It was so cool to watch, and I got some really cute pictures of the babies. The last picture was the day before they left the nest.

Catching up with Party #2

After Anthony's party, we headed over to my parents house to celebrate my mom's birthday. We swam, played in the yard, fed the fish in the pond and ate a lot of food. And, of course, we chased Nicholas around and around the pool.

Trying to Catch Up (Party #1)

We just got back from Hilton Head, so I am way behind on my blog. Hilton Head was so much fun, and I will post some pictures soon.

The weekend before we left, we celebrated our nephew, Anthony's 5th birthday, and my mom's birthday on the same day so we split the day and made it to both parties. A very crazy day with naps taken in the car, but well worth it.

Anthony had a huge smile on his face the entire day. He was so proud that it was his day and that he was 5! He reminded me a few times that he was 5 just in case I forgot.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's 65th birthday. Doesn't she look awesome? This little chickie poo-poo is a pretty cool mom. I have run this one through the ringer through the years, and she never shook her head in despair or tisk-tisked me. (At least not to my face) What ever mess I had gotten myself into, she did what she could to get me out of it and never judged. She is a plethora of knowledge that ranges from cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, and photography to any trivia question you ever wanted to know. She is the lady you want to call if you climb into the Cash Cab. (A very fun game show on the Discovery Channel) She loves to use words like "titmouse" (it's a bird you sickos) and "Lake Titicaca." (pronounced just as it's spelled) She says these words with a completely straight, innocent face, and when we all laugh she looks at us blankly and says "what's so funny?" I know inside she is giggling hysterically and thinks no one is on to her. Well I am sister!

When I was divorced 11 years ago, the kids and I moved from Austin, Texas to Cleveland. My mom quit her job in order to stay home with my kids so that I could go to school during the day and work at night. The girls were thrown into a very traumatic situation. Their parents were no longer together, they moved away from their home and their friends, and I was no longer able to stay home all day to take care of them. My mom and dad created a sense of normalcy for all of us that most definitely attributed to the kids sense of well-being and confidence that they have today. Once I graduated from school and had a 40 hour per week job, my mom continued to watch the kids after school everyday, and all day during the summer. She picked them up from school everyday and made sure their homework was always done by the time I came home. She drove them to practices and in the summer had tons of activities planned for them. And many days, in return for this selfless act, she was rewarded with disrespectful and badly behaved kids. She punished them like they were hers and continued on. For that I am ever grateful.

3 years ago, when Isabella was born, I quit my job and have stayed home with the kids since then. I was finally able to relieve her from her "Nanny" responsibilities so that she could go back to being just "Nana". I am sure she likes that much better.

I love my mom - she truly is the greatest. Happy Birthday, Mom - Enjoy your day!

The Botanical Gardens

Yesterday the kids and I spent the day at the Botanical Gardens in University Circle with my parents, my sister and her kids. I have never been there before because I was always at work when my mom and sister would take all the kids. It was so cool! I never knew what was there and I can't believe that such a thing exists so close to Cleveland. The older girls loved trying to "catch" butterflies in the Glass House. There were thousands of beautiful, colorful butterflies flying all over the place. From there we went to the Children's Garden were the kids could fill up their watering cans and water all the flowers. Isabella loved that. There was a wooden playhouse, a tree fort and a fish pond. Nicholas got out of his stroller and ran down every trail as fast as his little body could go. The hazards were plentiful, so I also ran as fast as I could after him.

4th of July Weekend

Taylor and Shea were with their Dad for the week in Massachusetts, and were greatly missed for all the festivities.

We started our weekend off by going to the parade at West Geauga. I thought that both were going to have a heart attack when the fire engines stopped in front of us and honked their horns.

Later that evening, we invited Nick's family over for a cookout. Even Woody the dog was invited. The guys planned a spectacular fireworks display that night. Isabella spent the first half of the show hiding under the kitchen counter and the second half in our bed watching Happy Feet with the volume turned way up. Nicholas watched from the window at the kitchen table while Nick, my father in law and I took turns holding him. NOT a huge success this year.

Sunday we went to my parents house for a cookout and swimming party.

Nicholas does not generally walk anywhere. He runs. By the time Nick and I leave my parents house, we are a ball of nerves because all we do is chase the child around and try to keep him away from the pool and the pond.