Yesterday was the first time in 10 years of being a Mommy that I had to deal with a very sick toddler. Sure, I've been around for colds, ear infections etc. and yes, my eldest Joey has had a tummy virus once or twice as a young child, but what my 1 year old Michael had was a terrible tummy bug! It was absolutely horrible to watch him go thru so much discomfort, and at such a young age.......I was secretly freaking out!

He couldn't tell me when he was going to vomit, and he couldn't tell me where it hurt on his body, he just layed on the sofa all day long. Those of you who have toddlers know that something must be wrong if they are lounging around all day and not playing....so not like Michael.

Daddy happened to have the day off on this particular day which is very rare, he works literally 7 days a week so we were happy (especially myself) to have him here to help with Michael this day.

Daddy makes a nice place to rest

Resting on the sofa.... you can see a little smile peeking thru that pacifier.

So, this morning he is so much better.....he even ate some crackers and a few pieces of melon. yeah! Although he seems pretty weak and remains on the couch right now, he is defiantly better than yesterday. He was pretty darn tough and in my opinion....he totally champed it.

Sundays.

Sunday is still my favorite day of the week. There is just something about it and I don't know why, but I look forward to this particular day each week.

The weather has been so nice these last few days, it's hard to stay inside. I keep finding myself trying to do all my indoor stuff outside. Taking the laundry basket outside to fold clothes in the sun, or take my laptop outside to work, and then there is always changing the diapers outside too......just kidding on that one.

Michael is so happy to be outside. He will literally stand at the sliding door, bang on it and babble at me (words I can't quite make out) to let him outside to play. We don't have a yard for the kids to play on per-say, but we have a deck in the back that is completely fenced off....he will play out there until I drag him in for the night. Nicolas, even though he is only 4 months old enjoys it as well. He is content to just look around at the sky and the trees.

All this great weather makes me want to start gardening, to bad we are anticipating some more cold weather in the next few weeks. I've got my seedlings started, but they won't be ready to transplant for at least another month.

Yellow Pear Tomato, Sweet 100 Tomato, Santa Fe Mild Peppers, Carnival Mix Sweet Bells, Banana Peppers,  Rosemary, Basil, Purple Basil & Marigolds.

rough start....wonderful end.

The only problem with messing with a child's regular routine is the aftermath that comes with it the following day. Both the younger boys didn't sleep well last night, and I can only assume it was because of the trip to Modesto. They are pretty much robots when it comes to a nightly routine in this house, so throwing it off even a bit can be a catastrophe! Needless to say, I didn't sleep all that well either.....oh well, it was worth it!

On the brighter side of things, Tucker was able to come home earlier than usual today. He brought me a flower that he picked on the way home....I just love that! So much better than a bunch of flowers from the flower shop in my opinion. Michael loves when Daddy comes home.....he just lights up and goes running to Daddy the moment he hears the front door open.

Tucker made a nice dinner for all of us, and we had a nice night just being a family. I just live for these days!

Life. Is. Good.

a trip to grandmas.

It's been over a year since I have seen my grandmother. The last time was at Thanksgiving in 2009. Michael was just three months old when she saw him for the very first time.

Today was a special day because we had the opportunity to take a day trip to Modesto to visit Grandma. My sister went with me and the kids, which was wonderful because she helped me so much! This was the first time Great-Grandma got to see Nicolas too, ironically at about the same age as Michael was when she first met him.

Here is a picture of Michael and Great-Grandma in 2009

Here is one of Nicolas and Great-Grandma taken today (2011)

There was actually another pic that I deleted (wish I hadn't now) that had Nicolas with his fist in his mouth just like Michael did in his photo with Great-Grandma.

It was so much fun to watch Michael wander around the house.....getting into anything and EVERYTHING. This is where my sister was super helpful, if I was busy with Nicolas, she would take Michael off my hands without me even asking....she was wonderful!

Each Thanksgiving, the family takes a walk thru the Walnut Orchards that my Grandmother lives on to pick up left-over walnuts and enjoy each others company. Today, we tried to take a walk in the orchard, but with the nearly 80 degree weather (which is a huge change from what we are used to these last few days) we decided to stay at the house. Nicolas was getting way to hot in his stroller.

Staying at the house was just as fun, Michael got to play in a bowl of water.....his favorite thing to do since he was little is splash in water.

Michael Splashing in a big bowl of Water

Playing with the hose at Great-Grandmas House

Michael's famous "cheese-face"

After playing for the afternoon, we enjoyed homemade taco soup that Grandma had been cooking that day, and had a quick chat then it was time to get back on the road and head home. We all decided to plan on trying to visit every month or so from now on. I'm looking forward to it. Life is too short not to take advantage of spending time with family.

The drive back is approximately 3 hours between Modesto and our house. The boys did really well with the drive especially on the way back......they were wiped out!

Even though the trip was alot of fun. It's nice to be back home. The boys are now sleeping soundly in their beds, and I am comfy sitting here in my sweat pants, which I tend to always put on the minute I get home.

Anyway, Tucker should be home soon, and I can't wait to show him these cute pics and tell him about our day. But for now, I will kick back and watch a chick-flick and enjoy having the house to myself.

daycare day.

Tuesdays and Thursdays the younger boys are in childcare from 12-6pm. It can be frustrating trying to get everything together and get them there on time.....each child needs different things in their diaper bags, Michael needs a lunch, and I need to pump extra milk for Nicolas. Then it's the changing of diapers and getting dressed part which can be very time consuming. Michael thinks it's funny to make you chase his naked lil' butt around while holding a diaper and saying "get back over her!". Once everything is done, you can start packing the kids into the car....THIS is a whole other task and can also take some time. Then finally, it's time to go.....or is it? I'm still in my jammies? Argh, it happens to me all the time....I get so wrapped up in getting the kids ready, I forget to get myself ready! HA!

All of that is worth it though. The kids love going to Daycare. It's a great expierence for them to socialize and learn new things. And it's great for me because it's my only chance to do things by myself. I usually try to run errands and whatnot that are harder for me to do if I had my arms full of children.

Today, I went to the Gym for about an hour then did some work at my office, followed by a little shopping for the kids and even myself! I got some new shoes for both Michael and I (shape-ups for me and sandals for him) and a couple of other misc. items.

Michael is so funny when I pick him up at daycare. They have this slide-toy thing sitting in the window there, and all the kids climb up and watch out the window for their parents. Every time Michael sees me pulling into the driveway he runs to the door and waits for me to get him. The anticipation must seem like forever to him, because when I finally open the door, he breaks down in tears (happy ones I assume) and won't let me put him down to get Nicolas.

By the time we get home on these days, it's dinner time for the kids and then bedtime soon after that, so it's not alot of time to spend with them. If we are lucky, Daddy will be home in time to see us before bed and today was one of those days.

sunny play day.

What a beautiful day it was today. After nearly a month and a half of crummy, rainy, and cold weather we (the kids and I) couldn't wait to go outside and play.

Here is Michael riding his choo-choo out on the deck. He was having such a blast!