he turns 2!

last Thursday we celebrated Carter's 2nd birthday!... I was just reading somewhere how birthdays really are for women... they remember them better than men... women are usually better at buying gifts and wrapping them... we have to bake a cake or make a treat to celebrate... and women cherish each of their child's birthday as a special day in their own life... this I am finding especially true in my life... his birthday is such a significant moment in my life since it was a milestone for me... I became a Momma to someone in this world... their very own... and oh how I hope I learn and live up to that... 2 years down many more to come!

Sox game

On Thursday we took carter to a Red Sox game... it was a lot of fun!... he sat still really well and only with a little bit of distraction (a bag of M&Ms we all split)... The ride in I think was his favorite... riding the "choo- choo" (the T) was so much fun... Do I think he realized a baseball game was being played?... no... but someday he will!

furballs

so I finally talked Steve and Che into having kitties!... I got them from my friend at work who has lots of kitties from her neighbor... they are soooooooo cute and cuddly!... little love bugs!... the all gray one meows a lot and purrs a lot too!... the gray and white one is the explorer but cuddles as well... Carter thinks they're funny but didn't want to touch them at first... he is now learning to be gentle with them and touch them softly... I am so happy they have such a wonderful home now... if only I could get better pictures!

Linda's cabin...

we had a wonder ful little trip to our friend Linda's cabin... it is so wonderful!... tucked onto Sunapee Lake, NH... it was a quick (too quick) overnight... Tuesday to Wednesday... Christina came with us to celebrate new jobs and the warm air (it could have been a little warmer)... we had a wonderful grilled chicken dinner... played Settlers of Catan (Kevin is addicted to that game and he finally won- twice!!)... Scrabble(I won)... watched season seven of Seinfeild... pancakes for breakfast... time outside and Kevin big splash on the rope swing... clean up and ice cream at Kimball's on the way home!... loved it all!... here's to a wonderful weekend even though I feel like we just had one!

he's got a job...

yes my wonderful husband has found himself a new job!!!... after about two long months of unemployment he has found a job at Mathworks in Natick that is exactly what he wanted... he is going to be compensated well... and the company seems wonderful!... he is very excited about it and now we are on vacation this week!... we went out on a date last night and we are taking a trip tonight to a friend's cabin with my sister Tina... he starts next week... the only issue is my resident babysitter will be gone =(... he really has stepped up to the plate helping me out with laundry, cleaning, kids, finances, watering my grass and tomato plants, and everything else... now it is my turn... life is all about balance... give and take

visitors...

Last week we had some special visitors at our home... thanks to my sister Christina graduating (Yeah Tina!) we all had a reason to celebrate as a family... Dave and Jayme and the kids came to visit and stay with us... we had so much fun (although it was a tight squeeze with 8 people in our mini-home)... mornings waking up to Carter and Giuliana running around and watching Curious George... a warm evening spent out on our deck with Dave and Jayme listening to a Red Sox game...

my Grandma Gedeon also came and stayed with my parents... it was nice to see her since we haven't seen her since July... she is doing well... almost 80!... and very healthy... we heard her stories about her new dog Roxy and how busy Grandma is with the garden as usual... we plan to go visit her in August... just in time for home grown corn!... Yum!!!... can't wait!

camping in Greenfield, NH

sorry I have been MIA... just to busy having fun to blog!... camping was great over Memorial Day weekend... the kids were good but got really dirty of course...Carter ended up liking the lake after freaking out when we made him put his toes in the water... he ended up having lots of fun and Daisy was so good too! They both slept well at night and took their naps... I was relieved about that!... Kevin's relatives were so good with Carter and Daisy... I was nice to just hang out and enjoy the awesome weather! Kevin really loves this place from his childhood and oh does it remind me of high school and being head over heels in love... funny to see us standing on that beach with two kids in our arms!... God is amazing!... And now it is fun to see how the family grows each couple of years... Alyson (hi girl!- I know your reading this and don't tell Keith how I have been a bad blogger recently =( ) was here this year and last and soon she with be an official part of the McRell clan!... I am really getting excited for their wedding!... just need a dress!

Bumbo, Bumbo do you want to Bumbo, Bumbo?

thanks to my friend JennyD at work Daisy has a new Bumbo seat...I came up with the jingle (to the Fanta, Fanta commercial) sometime around 0300 last night at work... my poor brain is mush by that point... so when I got home and Daisy got up it was the first thing we did... about five minutes of Bumbo time... even Carter had his turn at it... however we are trying not to make it a habit... off to "Bumbo, Bumbo..."

rainy weekend...

I didn't even take my camera out this weekend... I was too busy... first of all I didn't work at all this weekend! Yeah!... I spent Friday night out scrapbooking at Times to Treasure (Kev stayed home with the kiddos)... Saturday I went to the mother daughter breakfast at church with my Daisy of course!... left early to head to lunch with the Trautermans... Marissa made Kevin's (and Will's too!) favorite meal and dessert... ahhh Chocolate Trifle!... then Marissa and I headed to Kathy McFarland's for a Creative Memories party... kinda cheesy scrapbook stuff but I love their tape runners!!!!! I order the refills two at a time!...And I had run out Friday at the crop I went to... so after the CM party Marissa dropped me off at home and then the whole family headed to Boston to meet my family for dinner and celebrate my Mom's birthday!... we got home late and Carter was up till 11:00!... yikes! then Sunday we were up early to get the house ready for lunch guest!... We had Ben and Jenny Roberts and their daughter Annalisa over... I made Kevin's favorite Beef Stroganof ... we had a wonderful time with them and then nap time... which Carter desperately needed... then Uncle Keith and future Aunt Alyson came over and visited... then we went to Moes for dinner with them... then we crashed after we finally got the kids in bed last night... dispite all the rain we had a fun weekend and did a lot of things I had wanted to do... but today is a day of rest and a day to get caught up! sorry no pics... next time!

"mama all natural"

today I did something I said I would never do... I carried my baby in an earthy crunchy piece of fabric wrapped around my body... when I had Carter I thought that was a stupid idea and would spoil a baby but honestly my heart has changed a little (I am so judging of others sometimes and then I'm quick to do the exact same thing)... I just don't have time to sit and play with Daisy like I did with Carter... she is fairly content to lay on the farm (her playmat) but I think she needs more interaction than doing that all day long... as long as she still naps on time I think she will not be spoiled... a little kangaroo action never hurt any one right?

one little word challenge...

taking part in this fun little challenge to grow my creativity... had lots of fun with this title I made for the page... an interesting way to journal my thoughts about Carter these days as he is showing his independent side... I am having issues with him growing up so fast... it breaks my heart but I know I have to get used to it... he'll just keep growing!

self portrait...

me... part of a challenge on Elsie's blog
lot's of fun!!!

beautiful morning moments...

just a beautiful picture from the other morning... Daisy is propped up on the bobby and Carter wanted her to play with his blocks... he was shaking the noisy ones for her and she seemed to like it... so beautiful!

National Scrapbook Day and Pink Tea...

(text added late) so here is my late celebration of Ntnl' Scrapbooking Day which happened on Saturday... I didn't have time to actually scrap but went shopping for a few goodies at Times


this is a recent layout I made of our family portrait in 2005 taken by Rebekah and Brian Traylor in their living room... love these pictures...



but then !I was off to the Pink Tea... so much fun... let me explain... Kevin's Aunt Wendy has beautiful home in Bolton and her (and my mother in-laws) cousin Kathleen came up from PA and hosted a "Pink Tea" at Wendy's... it was all of us women from their side of the family... some of whom I had never met... Daisy came and was decked out in a pink Polly Flinders dress (that was mine when I was a baby) and a crocheted hat, booties and cardigan Nanny had made for her... girls are so fun to dress... any who Wendy's house looked beautiful and we all enjoyed goodies, fruity teas, and the company of each other...
Kathy is so inventive and started these teas at home with her girlfriends and wanted to share it with us... she is thinking about writing a book about the pink tea and invited each of us to brain storm about hosting our own... hummmmm?... maybe when I am not so busy in like 20 years... just kidding... man look at that amazing table!... ahh the petit fours!

new project...

I am starting a new project this spring with this beautiful fabric I have on hand from making pocketbooks for presents... it is all Amy Butler fabric (which I love! and now she has scrapbook paper!!!! just about died when I found this out)... I am making a crazy quilt inspired by my Aunt Barb... I am sure it will never live up to her creations but I have dreamed about, thought about and envisioned doing this for more than two years... way before Carter was born.. wow how time flies!

spring fever..

loving all the green... fresh air... sun shining through the windows.. and dirty little toes from flip flops and sandals... we spent the weekend down at Dave and Jayme's... celebrating Giuliana's 3rd birthday and Dawson's dedication... we had a wonderful visit... Giuliana and Carter are such good buddies and just played together so much... Carter loved her kitchen and cooked all weekend... the babies (Daisy and Dawson) were loved on a ton and very well behaved... we returned with me having to return to work on Monday and my week has been busy ever since...
Dawson is so much bigger than Daisy but it is nice since I think she is so big for her age... she is smiling up a storm and watching everything in her world... I am so overwhelmed with the house and all I have not done this week because I went back to work... I just want to be outside and enjoy the fresh air but I have lots to do... maybe a walk in the morning... ahh! that fresh air

mean mommy...

I was cutting Carter's fingernails and he moved causing me to get a little to close... he ended up bleeding a little bit... I cuddled him... gave the boo-boo tons of kisses and put on his first band-aid... he was fine until I ran to get the camera and came back to him trying to get the band-aid off... I felt so bad but also had to laugh because you would have thought that band-aid was poison or something... he wanted nothing to do with it!... hence the picture...

P.S. I am not normally so mean... I promise!

Easter at our house...

this photo was taken on Friday when the Easter preparations began with me and Carter making "birds nest" for an after dinner treat...he had fun putting the eggs in each nest... and sneaking bites to eat too!...








this is a picture of Carter finding his Easter basket in the kitchen corner right before breakfast...

















Daisy didn't care for he basket much but she sure looks cute in her first Easter dress

















this is everyone at our house... Kevin's parents, my Mom and Dad and the Aunties and Auntie Tina's friend, Joanna... seems like a crowd but I call it cozy!







This last picture is of Carter eating a chocolate egg Grandma got for him... he made an absolute mess but loved it...isn't that what holidays are all about?

daddy lovin'

we are all giving Kevin extra love today because yesterday his employer let him go... this was quite a shock... well more for me than Kevin... he had felt like maybe this wasn't the job for him and they felt the same way I guess... this has been hard to swallow because Kevin is very confident and I still just don't get it and I am trying to just rest in God's arms and have him carry me through... found this today for Kev 1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."... he seems to be very driven to get advice from professors, previous colleges and friends to see the appropriate way to go about this... I am just praying that God provides something close to home and something he enjoys... in the mean time we love having him home with us during the day!... especially Carter (really loving Daddy right now)

a hard week...

this picture pretty much describes our week... ear infections for both the kids... sleepless hours at night... a messy house... a cranky almost two year old... random appointments that are keeping me busy... but we survived and Kevin had Saturday off! Wo-hoo!