Our not so Little Lyv

Where did the time go? How did she all of a sudden get so big? It seems to me that in the past two weeks Lyv has suddenly transformed from a baby into a not-so-baby-girl! I love seeing her learn new things and start to respond more to people around her, but it also makes me sad. She is not my little babe. Recently she has been accomplishing a lot of little wonders. She shakes her head no... she is rolling and scooting like mad (mostly on her bum because I never lay her down on the wood floors, which pretty much cover our entire house)... she is clapping.... she sticks out her tongue and makes fun noises like babababa and ma! She has a cute toothy smile that I can't get enough of. She rotates her ankles and spins her little feet when she is sitting. She is wearing 12 month clothes and they fit great! I think she might learn to walk before she crawls since she is always in her exersaucer and loves jumping around in that. She is still chubby all over, especially in that big bootie of hers. She chews on everything - toys, her entire fist in her mouth, books, etc. She is finally like food, mostly fruit and crackers, not a big veggie fan. She loves to drink water from a cup, and she LOVES her bath and makes huge splashes with her monster thighs. She is the boy's little sweetie and they shower her with kisses and hugs. She loves her daddy and gives him kisses, usually very slobbery; and she is a big fan of me too. Shawn calls me her HERO, but very sarcastically because when she is sad she looks for me. This is why I have babies, because for the first year of life, they are my number one fans!) This is Lyv shaking her head "no" (below)

The following three are her clapping her hands...

The Dirty Thirties

Shawn's birthday was a wonderful day. Thanks to a lot of you, he really felt so much love! We started off the festivities on Saturday, where I surprised him by taking him to dinner at the Mohonk Moutain House - a 140 year old resort on the Mohonk Preserve. Shawn sending out the 30's vibe... you're feeling it!

It is an incredible place and dinner was excellent. The only unfortunate thing was that since it get dark here so early we didn't get to see a lot. I gave Shawn a book that I put together about him, as well as all the birthday wishes and memories that you all submitted. Thank you all so much, he loved reading the memories and we laughed throughout the entire meal. The next day, on his actual birthday we celebrated by eating of course! We made Shawn the meal of his choice: steak, peas and new potatoes, kabobbed vegetables, and potato rolls. He was in heaven... then he had his own little dish of paradise!





I made him a giant chocolate cookie ice cream sandwich with PB Panic Ice cream!

He thought it was to die for, and he added his own chocoalte fudge and whip cream to his own. Happy Birthday to our Shawnee Boy, we love you so much!

Tradition

Tradition: An inherited pattern or action - it comes from the Latin word traditionem which means "handing over or passing on." I grew up in a family rich in tradition. We've grown up doing annual celebrations or events that are now so ingrained in me that I can't properly celebrate an event without having certain things present. Christmas is one of those holidays chuck full of tradition -

#1) A REAL Christmas Tree: My family always got a real Christmas tree. At times I feel like the Griswalds in search of the perfect tree (forgetting the ax), but there is no substitute.

#2) Granny Jeanne's Candy: We know from CandyLand that there is a King Candy, and reason would say if there is a king, there is also a queen. That would be Grandma Jeanne. This wonderful package of delicious delights arrived only five days ago and it is gone. English toffee and carmels are my favorites. I attempted this year to make her recipe of both the toffee and carmel. Let just say after burning the first batch, not fully cooking the second, and having rather sticky results.... Grandma reigns Queen supreme. I'm going to keep at it, because I feel like this is an art that I would love to master so that this particular tradition will live on. When Great Granny's candy arrived Jack devoured it with pure delight, repeatedly requesting more of "Gwreat Ganny's Canndy". Then I tried to feed him mine... he wasn't as convinced!

#3) Christmas Carols: No Christmas music is allowed until after Thanksgiving, but as soon as the turkey is gone, the carols come out. My Grandma and Grandpa Hill had an annual Christmas party that we always sang carols at. This is one of my most treasured memories of them. The kids and I rock out to the music all month long - my favorite song being White Christmas.

#4) Christmas Cards: Some people hate them, I LOVE them! I love getting new updates, pictures, and feeling the warmth of friends near and far. I look forward to this part of Christmas every year!

#5)Ham Dinner: This one gets some opposition on the part of Shawn because he grew up having a prime rib for Christmas dinner. Now the kind hearted part of me would compromise and have it every other year right? Wrong, I just can't do it.... also because the tight-wad part of me knows how many other meals I can get out of the leftover ham. I can only think of one additional meal coming from the prime rib. Until Shawn takes over cooking Christmas Eve dinner, ham will be the star!

#6) Watching Christmas Movies: Shawn and I started this our first Christmas together. I made him watch White Christmas (I Know, I'm so mean), but now we watch all kinds of Christmas movies all month long: our favorites - A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Polar Express, and Home Alone!

#7) The reading of the Christmas Story: We would gather as a family around the Christmas tree, and my dad would read the Christmas Story found in Luke 2. I loved listening to his voice, and as I grew older I appreciated more the significance of this act. It always helped remind me, as I went to bed that the true meaning of the celebrations and gifts was the most important gift of all - A Savior, even Jesus Christ. Now as a parent, I appreciate this act, as I try to help my own children understand the reason for the season.

Old Man Summers....

Shawn turned the by 3-0! That's right he is no longer a young man. As I've thought about Shawn's birthday and what he means to me and kids - I've been overwhelmed with a deep gratitude for him. A Carrie Underwood, song came on the radio the other day that was a little cheesy but none the less really hit home this feeling, the chorus goes "He is good, so good..." and if I could sum up Shawn it is that. He is Good! He is the best father, the best husband, the friend, the best brother, son, grandson... you get it. Shawn I love you so much! Thank you for all the wonderful memories that we've experienced together. I can't wait for the next 30 years. Pics of the fun birthday celebrations to come....

Chocolate Melts where?

Chocolate melts in your mouth and Your Nose! What? Yes, to avoid any questions about this fact, Jack took it upon himself to prove that chocolate does indeed melt in your nose as well as your mouth. How did I come across such an experiment? I'm doing a project, I hear screaming and "Ow", so I run in thinking Jack has fallen and hit his head - what I find is a chocolate covered face. I'm thinking how did this happen (he's eating chocolate chips). So I wipe off his face, but he still says it hurts. I ask what hurts and he says, "Nose" I then wipe his nose, only to get more and more chocolate each time. I'm not sure how many chocolate chips he shoved up his nose, but he was sneezing chocolate snot for about two hours after. He is something else!

Christmas Magic

The kids are SO excited for Christmas this year. We broke out the Christmas decorations the Saturday after Thanksgiving, found a tree a few days later, and whalaa..... Christmas Magic has hit the Summers' house.

I have to say Thank You to the genius who came up with Elf on a Shelf (notice our elf on the garland above the stockings).. it is a major life saver this month as far as a good behavior incentive. I just have to remind them that Marty is watching (kind of creepy if you think about it) and they shape up. I know this beautiful Christmas Magic won't last forever, but for now I'm taking full advantage of it.

Here are the kids in their Christmas best. I have to say that I've got three beautiful babies - not by Christmas Magic but by Summers' magic, hahaha (okay I'm getting a little carried away)!

Finally Sam took a picture of me and Jack by the Christmas tree... Christmas magic, the tree is invisible.....

Just one of those weeks...and a half

It's been a mad house around here the past 10 days. I don't know if after having all of our visitors, all forces for good turned against us, but for whatever reason, we've been struggling to get back into the groove! Reason #1:First Shawn was on call all last week, and he was very busy. You really wouldn't imagine that a podiatrist would get called in for emergency situations alot, but he does. So that left me (and three kiddos) to shop for a Christmas tree, get groceries, do laundry at the laundro mat, etc. Hence .....I've begun to let myself go... let my house go... let my kids go....Welcome to movie night, with your hosts Sam and Jack.... love the ties.

Is that what I think it is? Yep, just keeping it sanitary. Napking anyone? HahahahahaLyv is finally starting to grasp the beauty of food. Too bad it still ends up everywhere but in her mouth.Jack playing Mickey Mouse, and trying to dress himself; he came out with an undershirt on backwards, pants on backwards and a tie.... I think he's on to something.

Reason #2: I've been without a washer for 3 weeks! I will never, ever, take my washer in the scary basement for granted again. Our washer broke one week before Thanksgiving, our service took longer than usual, then they found out that they couldn't fix it, so we had to get a new one.... long story short I had a MOUNTAIN of dirty clothes to do. Isn't it funny that when the washer decides to give up the ghost, Sam wets the bed about three times in a row, Lyv poops out of her clothes about five times, and Jack, well Jack usually goes through 2-3 outfits a day for various "Jack" reasons.... Here's the end result, and this is with two loads already in the washer and dryer!

Reason #3: The kids have a little cabin fever - at least that is what I'm attributing the madness to. I've been breaking up fights, putting Sam in time out for teasing, cleaning up mess, after mess (Jack dumped an entire box of baby rice cereal and ground clove spice bottle out on the floor at 8:00 am); and trying to calm a teething baby - Lyv's tooth count is up to four. I couldn't help but post these pics of Lyv in her new clothes... she makes everything look so cute.
Sam enjoying his daily work out. He is really, really bored.....
Reason #4: We've got SNOT! Lots and lots of it, all three kids have come down with a nasty cold. We've been using a lot more Kleenex lately and having a lot more melt downs due to not feeling good. Now that I've posted the pictures things don't look that bad, but trust me.... we've been pjs until noon for a week, a broom in one hand or the vaccum in the other and still not making much progress. Please good forces, come back, this mom needs them before she has a MAJOR meltdown.