Homegrown

This year we decided to build a raised garden in our backyard. We were originally going to do the community garden thing but after hearing some very nightmarish stories we opted against it. So I decided to plant 2 types of romaine lettuce, 4 types of tomatoes, 3 types of sweet peppers and zucchini. Well it is with great joy that I can tell you that we were able to harvest our first of the romaine lettuce. And it was mighty good!

This is a pic of our romaine, tomato (store bought) and mozzarella salad.

Must go find something for dinner. Happy eating!

New Discoveries

Yesterday was the perfect day to do something indoors. So we decided to visit the Akron Art Museum. Larissa's exact words for describing the museum, "It was awesome!" Never at the age of 5 would I have enjoyed visiting an art museum or any museum for that matter. Dorian was a very well behaved little guy. We all really enjoyed the William Wegman exhibit (very silly pics of Weimaraner dogs in cute poses, some dressed in human clothes and wearing wigs).

The only picture we were allowed to take at the art museum.

After we visited the museum we headed over to check out the Toy and Resource Center at the United Disability Services in downtown Akron. What an excellent resource to have so close to home. Let me explain - For a very minimal membership fee ($50) we are able to check out up to 8 toys for a 4 weeek period. A toy library! I think this is a great idea because so often we buy toys for our children only to have them pushed aside a few weeks later. So now for the price of a few new toys from the toy store we can keep getting new toys for our children to enjoy. Check out their website - http://www.udsakron.org/services/toys/

Here is a picture of the kids dressed in some of the cute dress up clothes that we borrowed.

Fun Times!

We have had a fun family weekend - On Saturday we enjoyed a hike and picnic at Horseshoe Pond.

Daddy and kids looking for signs of life in the pond.

We did see a baby turtle and we also saw and heard lots of frogs.

Just making sure Dorian doesn't fall in!

Larissa showing one of the many wildflowers we found on our hike.

Then we made a stop at "The Frog Park". The park got its name because of the slide with a giant frog head on top. Sorry no picture.

Daddy trying to get Larissa to climb to the top.

Not a chance!

Careful Daddy your hips might just get stuck.

But do you see the smile on Dorian's face!

I love this picture of Larissa screaming as she got spun around!

I didn't realize they even had these hazards on playgrounds anymore!

Sunday brought us warm weather and more sunshine so we decided on a trip to the lake.

Dorian loves to stay in the chair with his shoes on!

He doesn't like the sand to touch him and he doesn't really care for the water.

Hopefully his feelings will change real soon!

Larissa in action, she loves the water and the sand!

Time Flies..........

I can't believe I haven't posted in almost a month, kinda by choice but also by circumstances. Life has been a little hectic here, but I won't bore you with the details. Anyways . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tomorrow is Larissa's last day of PreK. I can hardly believe that she will be going to kindergarten in the fall. She is extremely upset that school will be ending, the other day she was in tears over it. She just wants to go straight to kindergarten and skip summer. I guess it must be to boring at home! And here I thought I was doing good. ha ha

This was Larissa on her first day of PreK. I am so proud of our little girl! And this would be how I made her teacher Mrs. Montgomery cry. I made this plate for her in my ceramics class and it was worth every ounce of stress! Not to brag or anything but I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

Happy Mother's Day!

I can remember my first Mother's Day - I was just 3 months pregnant and I was filled with excitement about this miracle growing inside me. I did receive some cards saying something like "Happy Mother's Day to the Mom To Be!", but more than that I remember giving Myron a card, letting him know how excited I was to be the mommy of our baby. I am sure Myron thought I was being a little silly. Little did I realize that my life would never be the same. No more sleep, no more showers (well maybe once a week), no more S*E*X, no more figure. But even better I now had this little beautiful baby girl who would bring more joy to my life than I could ever imagine possible! Seriously, Larissa was a very easy baby. She ate good, she slept good, and she was a happy baby. Myron and I often joked that if we ever decided to have another baby it would be the complete opposite. And then 4 years later we found out just how different 2 babies could be and just how different life would be as a family of 4. Dorian was a great eater, but that was the problem if he wasn't nursing he was crying. And therefore I spent alot of time feeling like an overmilked cow! Dorian is not and has not been a good sleeper. He screams and screams and screams and sometimes falls asleep just to awaken a few hours later screaming and then I finally give in (because I want to sleep) and I bring him in bed with us. I love snuggling with my little boy! It was extremely hard for me to adjust to having 2 children instead of 1. I was always wondering if I was spending enough time with Larissa because Dorian was so demanding of me. I cried. I thought I was not being a good mom. But now I look back and I think I can blame it on the hormones! I truly enjoy watching my children grow, learn and discover the many things around them. I love being a mommy (most days). And the best Mother's Day gift I could receive, I already have. And that would be my little princess Larissa and my little prince Dorian. I love you Larissa and Dorian! And no matter how big and grown up you get you will always be my little prince and princess!

Mommy with Princess Larissa and Prince Dorian

Happy Graduation & Birthday Little Sis!

Congratulations Class of 2009!!!

Today is a big day for my little sister (only littler than me by 22 months, 25 lbs., and a couple inches). Today she celebrates her 31st birthday and she will also receive her nursing pin. And then on Sunday she will officially graduate from U of A with her bachelor degree in nursing! It has been a long and difficult road for her (and her hubby) but she has persevered! I have enjoyed hearing her many stories about her interesting classmates, her sometimes crazy patients and some very heartbreaking ones about her young patients at the children's hospital. Mandy- I am so proud of you! I truly believe that it takes a very special person to do the work that you will be doing and I know that you will be the best you can be. Congratulations!

13.1

I know you are wondering why I have posted a picture of our "smelly" shoes. Well Myron and I have made a commitment to ourselves and to each other that we are going to train for and run a half marathon in September. And last weekend we went to a specialty shoe shop and got properly fitted for our jogging shoes. And here they are: We have completed "Week 1" of our training program and we are both complaining of sore and achy bodies, but we will plug on! Even though we have not and probably will not be able to train together it is still great to know that we are working at this together and that we have the support and encouragement of our "best friend." We welcome any advice or words of encouragement that you might have. And we will be sure to keep you updated on the training!