Our Fun Week

Last week was packed full of fun. We celebrated Jolene getting another year younger, Fathers Day, and our first week in Aunt T's house. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and even managed to get on the boat a couple of times. Mattie swam countless times because of our little heatwave and her and the girls took many walks in the choo-choo-wagon (it gets harder and harder to pull each day, they keep on getting heavier!)

Enjoy some pictures from last week!

I am back!

Mattie up at camp...Love this hat...Gift from the Steinbachers
Mattie loves Monkies. She would watch them all day if you let her. "Love your brush and the brush will love you" is what Nani tells her. She loves her lip-a-stick.
Have you seen two cuter kids? I haven't. I love Zayne and Mattie!



I know, I know. I have fallen way behind on my blog duties. I am sorry. Lack of internet access and just no time have led to my backlog of updates and pictures.
Things are changing all the time around here, some things good, somethings bad, but I say.....CHANGE IS GOOD.
Mattie is growing like a weed, and her vocabulary is just blowingme out of the water. She can count up to 10, which I think is great for a 22 month old, but I am her mom, so I am biased. She loves going with me to work even more now because we have another baby to watch. Little Miss Haley has been with us for a little over a month now, and although she is only 8 months old, Mattie loves to play with her. She even helps me feed her when it is time to give her her bottle. I am sure one day she will make a great big sister... but not any day soon. ha ha ha

For those of you who don't know, Scott and I are no longer together. Well, we are still living together in the same house as of right now, but that will change by the end of the week. I don't want to go into lots of details, but both have agreed that it is better to be friends around our daughter than to be miserable. Mattie will know nothing different than her parents being respectful to eachother, and that is the way it should be. I believe all three of us will be happier in the end because of this. Everyone deserves happiness. I make no regrets, things happen for a reason and Mattie is living proof of that!

Mattie and I are going to be moving into Aunt T and Uncle Bill (or as Mattie says, Uncle Bell) house this weekend. We can't wait. Mattie loves the both of them, as do I, and it should be a fun experience. I haven't lived with my sister in...oh... must be atleast 15 years, so it will be interesting. I am so thankful to her for helping us our.

I will write more later, and will post pictures. Be patient, and by this time next week you will have blog dates from me coming out of your ears!

For all of the big girls!!!!!!!1

This website is funny. If you are big... you can relate. Oh crap... what am I talking about, all of my friends and readers are little twigs. You can still laugh about it.
http://manolobig.com/

February Pictures

My new face I make when I smell something bad.

Mattie trying to keep up with the boys outside at Zayne's party.

Mattie in her Valentine's Day dress that Grammy bought her.

Madison in her V-day red! Isn't she cute?

Madison and Mattie out in the snow after the party. It was so cold but they toughed it out for a couple of minutes.

Today Mattie and I went to a Valentine's Day party at the Burnetts. We had a lot of fun playing with lots of children. Mattie and I had our fair share of cookies and pizza.

Yesterday we went to Zayne's birthday party. Its hard to believe on the 15th he will be 10 years old. I remember being in my dorm room, just getting back from a my Valentines weekend, and getting the phone call that I was an aunt. It was one of the best phonecalls I had ever gotten. And when I met Zayne the following weekend, I fell in love instantly. I love him more and more every day. Happy Birthday Pudder!

Enjoy the pictures from our February outings.

Winter Fun

Yesterday it reached 40 in the North Country, so that means HEAT WAVE. Mattie got bundled up along with the other kids, and decided to "Get the stink off" as my father would say. Its always nice to get out and get some fresh air in the winter. It was Mattie's first time on the snow mobile and she loved it. Uncle Bill took the kids up and down the yard and by the looks on their faces, this day was long overdue. They had so much fun. They stayed out the whole day, only to come in for a little pizza and then headed out to the hills. We all agreed that the sledding wasn't as fun as the snow moiling, but all together, it was a great day. Mattie ate so much snow. She is definitely a North Country girl.

So Long Our New Friend

A lot of people have been asking...How's the dog. Unfortunately, we could not keep Bentley. The day after Christmas, he nipped at Mattie's face. My friend Marcey had a very scary experience with her dog biting her daughter and putting stitches in her head, I promised myself I would not have a dog do that to my daughter. I saw how much Marcey had to agonize with having to get rid of their pet, and although we had only had Bentley 3 weeks, it was just as hard. I have always wanted a Saint Bernard, now we had to give him back. It was the best decision, just a hard one.

Christmas Fun Photo's

Bed Head but who cares... its CHRISTMAS!!! Where are the presents?
Come on Aunt T, don't hold me back!

My new favorite toy! Weebles Wobble But They Don't Fall Down!
Cousin Cassie Montana

Mattie Montana
Mattie and Nana at her 50th party
Aunt T and Shanelle in their Hanna Montana Wigs on Christmas
Doesn't my daughter look scared of me?

Who't A Nifty Fifty?

My mom turns 1/2 of a century years old today. Happy Birthday Mom! Here is to another 50 more. (Just remember, Teresa said she would change your diapers in exchange for Great Grams hutch) :)

A New Family Member

No, I am not pregnant! We have a new family member who walks on all fours. His name is Bentley and he is our new Saint Bernard. Thanks to Tracey, she gave me the heads up that her brother Craig is relocating and couldn't take his 2 year old Saint Bernard with him. Scott picked him up on Sunday, and Mattie and I got to meet him on Monday. He is a big, gentle boy. His transition has been good, a little barking, well, a lot of barking. He is very nervous about Mattie and all of her noises that she makes. Mattie loves him, thinks its pretty neat when he gets a toy in his mouth and shakes it side to side. She lets out a big belly laugh when he does it. Or when he gets some hair in his nose and snorts like a pig, she laughs at that too! He has bonded with Scott because he is a male, and because he has known him longer. This morning I gave him lots of mommy time, so I am sure he likes me too. He got a clean bill of health from the Vet, just an ear infection and some vaccinations.
I have a feeling that he will love us in time. He, I am sure, misses Craig. I know Craig misses him too. We will be sure to send him lots of pictures and add some of the tons of dog hair that he sheds.

We have a walker!

Just when I thought that I would never see this day come, yesterday, Mattie took her first steps. Just shy of 17 month old, she took about 5 or 6 steps, thought it was pretty fun and funny and then plopped down. She did it a couple of times before she called it quits for the day. Now, a little detail I did forget to mention is why she walked. Well, it was because she saw that mommy had a handful of M&M's. I wouldn't give her one until she stood up by herself, which she hadn't done until yesterday also. Then after she was standing I decided to up the stakes, give her a whole piece if she took steps towards getting them. HEY, WHATEVER WORKS. Don't knock my parenting skills just yet.

I was dreading the holidays around all of Mattie's cousins that were walking. I am so sick of everyone asking...is she walking? Or knowing kids younger than her that have mastered the skill. It really makes you feel like your parenting skills are sub-par at best when you have a late walker. I know have realized it doesn't matter the age, and you really shouldn't put pressure on parents by harping on them all of the time and asking why their children aren't walking. Like everyone says, they will do it in their own time.

So, my Mattie, I hope mommy didn't put too much pressure on you. I love you walking, crawling or just sitting. But I am sure glad you have joined the walkers club. The is a whole new world for you to explore and lots of mischief for you to get into.

Cookie Recipes Anyone?

I am having about 15 people over on Sunday for a big cookie decorating/childrens christmas craft day. Does anyone have any great cookie cut-out recipes? Please pass them along if you do!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Or is it? Like my friend Doddie pointed out, people aren't into the holiday spirit like they should be. With less than 24 days left until Christmas, why aren't people merry? Please, pass along the good cheer to get others in a good Christmas mood.

My accident with the amish

Yes, that's correct. Today, on my way into work, I went around a curve and Bam, there was an Amish Buggy in the middle of my lane. I tried to turn to the left to get around it, but hit the back wheel, and the horse went crazy. I drove forward about a block and watch in horror as the horse went crazy and bucked up and was weaving all over the road. Down in the ditch it went and then these poor little women got out and tried to control him. I didn't know what I was going to do, I tried to help with the horse, but wasn't much help. I called 911 and the little amish lady didn't want me to because she didn't want to go to the hospital. She ended up going because she had a cut on her head that may or may not have required stitched. It happened in between 2 amish houses so before I knew it, there was like 20 amish around me. They all were worried about me and my wet hair and tried to reassure me that it wasn't my fault and that is happens a lot. I felt so bad. The cops came, I got a ticket for an uninspected car (irony was is that I was going to go get it inspected today at 2:30) and he said it wasn't my fault, they should be off to the side of the road. Doesn't matter, I still feel terrible, and my car is wrecked on the right side. I live in Amish country, now I am nervous to drive everyday.

Website for anyone with a heart

While searching for a dog to help fill our house, someone directed me to this site. www.dogsindanger.com is a site that is geared to getting the dogs who are scheduled to be put down in shelters, and posts how many days they have until it is done. It really put a face to all of the unfortunate euthanasia that are done. How sad. I will keep my eye out for an appropriate dog through this website also. Please go here and do a search for dogs in your area. It is an eye opener.

Saint Bernard Wanted

I know I have a couple of loyal readers, so why not give this a shot? Mattie, Scott and I are looking for a Saint Bernard to help fill our new home. If anyone knows of someone with one or where I could find one, please let me know. I know that there is on in Fairport, and am trying to see if he is still available. I would prefer a puppy so we can train him/her but not a requirement. MUST be good with children. Mattie loves dogs so they must love her. :)
Thanks for your help.

Must See Website

I was just watching the Today show and one of the girls out in the crowd made a plea to viewers to go to www.helpfindkyle.com to help find her friend. Please go to the site, and although we might not be able to help find him ourselves, we can offer prayers to his family and friends and hope for his safe return.

Bread and Milk

The thought of eating bread and milk makes my belly turn. My father has always had it as a late night snack. When I was little, I remember him eating it at night, watching tv and slurping away. YUCK. Now, where my daughter gets it from, well... it must be from him. She loves it. Whenever Papa is slurping on it in his chair, she hightails it over, pulls herself up and jibber-jabbers until my dad shares. Her arms and legs get going to fast, she gets so excited. OVER BREAD AND MILK. Here are some photo's I just had to snap of her and dad sharing this odd treat.

Halloween Time

I tried for a month to get Mattie to say "Boo" so she could tell people that when they opened their doors. Well, she didn't quite get the "Boo" out but she would puff up her cheeks and stick out her lips whenever you would ask her what a ghost said. Hey, close enough. She loved trick-or-treating. What is it with kids and their fascination with free candy. Oh wait...what is my fascination with it.

Mattie gave the people in the neighborhood the biggest smile when they showed her their bowls full of candy. She would pick out a piece of candy and then waive bye-bye. She was very polite and very excited to move onto the next house.

Here are some pictures of her and her little friend Chasity. The Geisha girl is Em McAdoo, I thought her costume was so cute. Her cousin Zayne (who was sooooo over trick-or-treating so he only participated in his school's parade) was a crazy butcher.

Falling For My Mattie

Here are some photo's that I got of Mattie enjoying a nice fall day. She loves the leaves and the pumpkins too.

It's been a long time!

I know it's been a long time since I have posted anything. Pictures will be coming soon. Mattie is getting big and getting ready to make her big move over to her "new" house. We should be moving in in a couple of weeks. The bathroom is under construction, along with her room, and we are working on the bathroom and the living room this weekend. Yuck, I hate this stuff. It will be nice when it is all done and we are in and settled, hopefully before the holidays.