Is anyone left?

If there's anyone still reading this, please accept my semi-sincere apologies for ignoring blogging this summer. I wish my excuses were my extensive jogging regimen, making wildflower art with the kids, or serving my friends exquisite cuisine al fresco. But instead it was work, travel, work, and serving some burnt burgers in the backyard that seemed to fill my days. And lets face it, after a day at work who wants to come home to...more time on a computer?  That's why I have HBO!

So really it the temperature drop that you have to thank for my trimphant return. After a whole week of no air conditioning we are ready for the furnace. And ready for a roofer, thanks to an unfortunate meeting of our decades old roof and record setting rainfall. The one who showed up today viewed the damage to our guest room and...left. Just left. Hard to believe that this is a terrible economy when I can't even keep a guy around long enough to write him a check.

Anyway...onto the zoo that is our house! Gabe turned FOUR in July and has really matured physically (he's tall!), verbally ("that is a really interesting and beautiful sunset, mommy"), and behaviorally (at least on occassion). He also apparently has a shellfish allergy which we discovered after a trip to the ER last week. And our boy has become quite the homebody - his absolute favorite place to be is home, and you have to really bribe him to go anywhere. Except when it rains, because for some reason he equates rain to Chuck E Cheese's opening hours. This could be my fault, as I vaguely recall a promise during the long drought that was our summer that we would to see Chuck when it rained. Damn kid's mind is a steel trap. Anyway, his 2nd year of "big boy school" is going pretty well, with the big news this week being that HE GOT HIS OWN WORKBOOK. Okay, I don't really know what that means (are workbooks normally reserved for AP math?) but how he told me definitely required all caps.

Riley Roo on the other hand is not quite so verbal (everything is Da-Da, except "shoe" and "bye"), but miss thang is eating me out of house and home, with most of that food ending up on her hair. In the summer we'd just hose her off**, but now her yogurt deep conditioning treatment is requiring an average of 2 baths a day. I love being clean, but who has that kind of time? I barely have time to use a hairdyer more than once a week because I'm too busy giving Riley baths. And don't get me started on lipstick. But I digress. Riley is a huge daredevil just like her brother -- she will climb on anything and would put any 3 year old to shame how she can walk up and down the stairs. And she and Gabe really get along because a) he loves to make her laugh, and b) she loves laughing at him. And its so perfectly adorable to watch, except that what sparks her best laughs are lots of splashing in the tub. I'm talking on-the-ceiling and in-the-hallway spashes. Which makes the twice daily bath ritual all the better. Making me wonder if that hairdryer of mine even still works?

So that's my big update - just living life! We're very busy, but very happy. And being busy is no excuse - I updates more often! And no, Megan, this is not just because my birthday's coming up.

** Best quote of the summer was when I hosed her off after she spread cupcake from head to toe, and Gabe said "When you're done watering Riley, can you push me on the swing?"  Love it! My Riley plant!

Touchdown!

Overheard in Crossnore:

Gabe (kicking a soccer ball): I scored a home run!
Jackson (7 year old cousin): Gabe, that's called a goal. A home run is football.

Overheard

Three funny stories to share from this week!

1) Riley and I were playing yesterday with some animal toys. "Which one is the giraffe?", I asked her. She took her time, inspecting each one, then picked up...the giraffe!  SHE IS BRILLIANT!  Next up, "Which one is the elephant?".  She took her time, inspecting each one, then picked up...the giraffe again!  Repeat for the next 4 animals. 

2) Ryan was tearing out the bamboo that keeps growing in our backyard. 
Gabe: "That's sure is a lot of bamboo.  We need some pandas back here!"

3) Gabe was having some trouble staying in bed at night - getting up 4 or 5 times each night. Exhausted, I started bribing him with easter candy: he could have a chocolate bunny for breakfast if he stayed in his room until 6:30. Tried for 4 nights, didn't work. On night 5 I brought out the big guns and promised Chuck E Cheese if he stayed in bed. That's pretty much the worst night out a parent can imagine, so you know how desperate I must have been. But the next morning he stayed in until 7 - wohoo! - so I started talking up our trip right away. "But mommy!" he cried, "what about my chocolate bunny??"

If Only I Cooked...

After 3 years of talking about it, we finally got new countertops and backsplash in our kitchen -- and it looks just awesome!  Oh, and I almost forgot about the copper sink -- which is not featured here as it is filled to the brim with dishes -- that Ryan spent days researching and ordering. Some day you may see that on here as well - but don't hold your breath.

Flower Market 2010

Okay, so it has been over a month since I posted. We're busy people!  But actually the reason is I lost my camera charger. And by "lost" I mean it wasn't right beside my camera. And when something isn't exactly where it should be I use that as a pretty just excuse to procrastinate because finding the charger wasn't on my to-do list -- blogging was!  And this ridiculous rationale is exactly why I never get anything done.

But I digress. Flower Market - now 2 weeks ago - was once again a highlight of the spring. Only this year there wasn't a monsoon the day before so we enjoyed it sans muddy shoes and feet. Ah, the small victories.

Florida pics, round 1

Overheard

Announced to entire US Airways flight to Florida:
"It's a good thing there's a bathroom on this airplane.  Otherwise we'd have to go poo poo on the floor".

Happy Easter!

Gabe is in N.C. this week having a blast with his grandparents and cousins, so Riley Roo had a large and unaccustomed helping of Mama and Dada for Easter!  We had a delicious pancake breakfast at church, and since church we've just enjoyed the sunshine. 

Here's hoping everyone had an equally relaxing weekend!

Kids? What kids?

So I'm in some trouble for having too posts about non-kid parts of my life lately. And I realized I never mention my job (and if you're a dooce.com fan you know why), the new class I'm taking (Photoshop at DCAD...no results to show just yet), the classes I normally take (Toning at the JCC...no results thanks to my post-workout cool down with Ben and Jerry), or most importantly, the TV I watch.  And TV is just really an extrememly important part of my life, so I'm actually quite surprised about that one.  WE ARE SO MARRIED.

Anyway, so to pacify those who are interested in the goings-on of the under-4 set, here you go!

Gabe is really amazing us with all that he can absorb and understand at such a young age.  He knows his letters, numbers to 100, all the planets, continents, and states - and for the latter knows some fun little detail about each one (and is EXTREMELY disappointed when we don't know anyone in a state, so if you have any friends in Kansas please introduce me).  And his so-grown-up vocabulary is simply hilarious. Hearing "Hmmm...I suppose we could go there for dinner", or "Excuse me, Mama, but I really need to talk to you. It's very important.", or "I think I'm just having a bad day" couldn't be funnier coming from someone in dinosaur pajamas and a Pull Up. 

But as much as he wows us with his smarts, we are completely overwhelmed with his ability to talk back, throw tantrums, cause injury and chaos, and generally make you want to head for the hills.  Today for example we went to see "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" at the Dupont Theater and went for lunch with friends afterwards.  In the mere 45 minutes we were in Quiznos, he a) flung 14 oz of apple juice all over himself, me, and about 20 square feet of table and flooring, b) had to potty twice, c) threw a tantrum because the paper towel in the bathroom ripped, d) threw a tantrum because he could only have 1 cookie instead of 2, e) received a spanking, and f) ran away from me despite threats of another (e), fell, and scraped his hands.  I actually had high hopes for this particular outing, but all it did was make me want to head back into the office.  Forever.  It's a good thing he's knows those states.

Riley is developing a mind of her own as well, but luckily can't talk back yet!  She has a few words, namely MAMA!, uh-oh, and dadadada, and is such a happy girl she spends at least a few hours a day clapping. But the weather has put us outside a lot lately where Riley sees all the mulch, rocks, and acorns and thinks: lunch!  It matters not how many times she hears NO or has this stuff fished out of her jowls, she is undettered:  there WILL be a rock in that diaper.  Stay tuned.

Is Applebee Systems Sexist, or Just Stupid?

In this bad economy, it seems that everywhere I turn I read about how small businesses are struggling to keep on workers and stay afloat. And if you look at the numbers the economic downtown has hit Wilmington doubly hard.  But it seems each time I have tried to hire someone for a home improvement the exact opposite has proven true. I mean, it took me six months to find someone to put in a 5 foot long fence!  But yesterday took the cake.  We signed up for a few window replacement estimates at the Delaware Home Show last week (air pours in the windows in our 100+ year old home) and so our phone has been ringing all week with contractors calling to offer estimates or confirming appointment times.  Last night I was scheduling one appointment, and after 10 minutes on the phone during which I confirmed a) that I work, b) that we have 13 windows on the ground floor alone (cha-ching!), and c) we're interested in started work right away, the gentleman from Applebee Systems explained that he looked forward to meeting my husband and I on Friday afternoon - and could I confirm that my husband would be there too?  Actually, I replied, my husband would be out of town on Friday but not to worry, I would be here and I'm the decision maker for these kinds of things.  (Let's face it:  I could replace every window in the house, as well as all the furniture and probably the children and it would take poor Ryan at least a week to notice. Love him, but he's not into the details!) And the man actually said - YES RIGHT HERE IN THE YEAR 2010 - said that he would need to reschedule so that my husband could be there.  And I confirmed, let me make sure I understand you, your company will not come to my house and give me an estimate unless my husband is here.  At which point the gentleman from Applebee Systems, knowing that IT IS 2010 should have explained why on earth that could possibly be their policy, but instead just said "yes, ma'am, that is correct".  And I literally gasped, then calmed myself, and explained that I could not consider doing business with them.  And again, this person had the opportunity to regain his footing on this extremely, dangerously slippery slope, but instead HUNG UP.  Which makes me thing that some small businesses are probably deserving to go the way of the dinosaurs.

Best Friends

This weekend Gabe picked up the phrase "best friends".  I first heard it last night when he very sweetly announced that "Rory is my best friend.  She's my favorite!".  I prompted called his mom and we started wedding planning (ok, not really) but I did email her about this cute little revelation. 

Well, apparently Rory offended her amigo because he came home from school this morning announcing that Tyler and Julian, his buds from school, " are my best friends. They're my favorites!"  This time I held off on the wedding plans to see if this new found affection would last.

My suspicions were spot on.  Tonight Gabe announced to Ryan and I: "I love you guys.  You're the best!"  Sweet! I thought. Mommy is now the best friend!  All the blood, sweat and tears are worth it! But he continued with "But Riley is my best friend.  Well, Riley and Rory.  I sure like the girls!".  He's fickle, but hysterical!

Rooster Roo Turns One!

Pure Bliss

Most wonderful smelling lotion in the world: Bliss Lemon Sage Body Butter.  I discovered it in NYC at the W Hotel, where Bliss Spa is located on the ground level and provides the room toiletries.  For over 3 years I was too cheap to buy it, so whenever friends and collegues would stay there I would con them into turning over their samples.  Sad but true. Finally it occured to me to ask for this for birthday and Christmas gifts and I finally bought my very own bottle with my very own money.  I know, I sound like I'm 12. 

New Obsession

Today I'm going to start a new section of the blog: products.  Here is where I will link to things that are particularly useful, fun, cool, cheap, or just unusual and that my friends and family might like as well.  Your credit card can thank me later!

Today:  GOODNITE LIGHT

This is a clever little contraption that I saw an ad for in a Parenting magazine.  Apparently I wasn't the only one, because it was sold out for a while after that. But eventually I crept through the queue and my beloved light arrived in the mail.  It's essentially a timer/clock for little kids.  when the moon turns blue, it's bedtime.  And when the sun turns yellow, it's time to get out of bed.  Presto!  No more 5am wake up calls!  Goodnite Light: $40.  Sleeping until 7am...shit, you know what I'm getting at.  Stop complaining about your kids waking you up early and GO BUY THIS.

MORE snow

So after the initial dumping of 2 feet on the ill-equipped streets of Wilmington, on Wednesday we got another foot or so. Here are some more pictures - it's been pretty fun but after 10 days of it we're ready for a nice warm rain. No suck luck though - we're instead supposed to get another 3 or 4 inches tomorrow!

Other than snow, ice, and a little too much time inside with the kids (one word: Candyland), there's not much to report. Last night we went to a friend's for Game Night and had too good of a time, meaning a very hungover Valentine's day today. But the day started with red velvet cupcakes and ended in deep dish pizza, so no complaints! Tomorrow I'm off for President's Day and plan to spend much of the day getting ready for Riley's first birthday party. It's hard to believe this time last year I was 38 weeks pregnant!

Bear Royalty

 














Unless you've been under a rock you know Delaware and the rest of the mid-Atlantic got buried in snow this weekend. Our official totals are around 21", but there are some serious drifts so in some places it's up to my waist. And that's the last time 21" and my waist will be in the same sentence.

Anyway Gabe has his first slumber party on Friday when our neighbor's kids spent the night. That plus all the snow day snow play has given me plenty of pictures to post, so I uploaded the slide show to Flickr. Enjoy! Oh, and in case you are wondering, it's not a snow cave, or a fort, or a tunnel that Gabe and Ryan built, but a BEAR CASTLE. Grrrr....

Latin Fusion

We tried this new Mexican place near our house tonight, only to learn it was not "Mexican", but "Latin Fusion", which means "overpriced Mexican" in Spanish. The food was delicious, though, and Riley got to try plantains, avocado, refried beans, some weird cheese, chicken sopa, sea bass, blueberries, and french fries - and of course she loved them all! This girl will seriously eat anything. And tomorrow I'm going to try hot chili peppers just to prove it! Meanwhile Gabe was impressing our teacher-turned-waitress with his "panish", words like pappas fritas, sopa, pollo, and trinkle. Vamanos!

Milestone #2

Riley has tooth #3! Her first two are on the bottom, but #3 is a fang on top. This is seriously NOT a good look. For her sake I hope more come in soon!

Milestone

After showing no interest in stairs for...ever, Riley boldly followed her brother up an entire flight of stairs today. And I fear this is the beginning of the end.

Funnies

Had a few great Gabe-isms so far this weekend that I had to share:

1 - I've been out the past 2 nights with friends, so Gabe asked me at lunch today "Mommy, are you going to eat dinner with your friends tonight?" AHHH, THE GUILT!

2 - Ryan was working on the ceiling fan in our room and told Gabe he needed to figure out how to fix it. He left and then came back with his toolbox, and Gabe asks "Are those tools you use to figure it out with?".

3 - I put him down for a nap this afternoon and we talked about the different things he could dream about: the waterpark we went to yesterday, Dora, big boy school, etc. "No", he said, "I want to dream about my mommy, because you're the best mommy in the whole wide world." Then after big hugs and kisses he casually mentions,"I'm still hungry. Can I have a treat now?" Guilt, innocence, flattery -- this one knows every play in the book!

Goat

Little Riley is 11 months old now - amazingly - and is quite the eater. She loves pasta, vegetable soup, brownies, apples, and pretty much anything else she can get in her mouth. Her absolute favorite thing to eat, though, is paper. Newspaper, junk mail, pages from books and magazines, subscription cards, toilet paper, napkins - you name it and if it's made from wood pulp our little Rooster considers it a delicacy. Which makes our mess of a house the #1 Supreme Buffet!

The big news though is that Riley is walking! If taking 2-8 steps a day is considering "walking", that is. Then again, if my mixing up a box of Kraft mac & cheese is considering "cooking", then Riley is indeed walking! Mazel tov!

In other news, we have a new nanny Rebekah and she is fabulous! I came home to this sign the other day - a great welcome home! And proof that he indeed gifted! At this rate he'll be updating this blog in a few months - so watch out!

Ode to Aunt Megan

Megan, Megan, you are so pretty
Because of you, this blog I cannot quitty
Gabe loves you and Aunt Todd the best
Even though you live so far north and west
An update this is, though fit for peasants
So now my kids can get Valentine presents!

Oh Christmas Tree

Happy New Year! We rang in 2010 all a-snooze (like all the Who's) but we hear there were a lot of good parties for people who can stay up that late!

This year we made our annual trek down to N.C., and then to Florida. The trip was quite interesting to say the least, and perhaps best expressed in a short quiz:

Which of the following happened to the Welshes on their Christmas trip?

a - US Airways lost their luggage
b - An ice storm caused a 3 day power outage, so there was no heat, water, phones, or power at the Garland house for Christmas
c - The power outage made us unable to charge our cell phones, and there was no reception anyway, so we missed the calls from our angry neighbors when Maggie howled all night in our absence
d - Riley woke up 3-5 times each night because she was so excited to be bunking with Mommy and Daddy e - Kerry got a stomach bug in Florida
f - We got into a fender bender on the way to the Fort Myers airport g - All of the Above

"G"ee...I wonder which it was?

But in the spirit of optimism, I won't dwell on any of these but just post a few pics to debunk the myth that one needs electricity for a great Christmas. After all, if Mary and Joseph didn't need running water in the stable, then neither do we!