THE CYBYK TIMES

Happy 2nd Birthday Dorian!

2009-12-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

It is so hard to believe that the "Little Man" is 2 years old already. He had an awesome "Choo Choo" birthday party.

Just look at that smile.

He was thrilled to finally get his own cell phone.
His favorite person to call is Papa.

He had no problem opening the presents.

All Aboard!

Thomas cake, created by Myron.

(and he says he is not creative)

Surprise!

2009-11-29T14:14:00.006-05:00

5 night stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge - $few
Souvenirs of all shapes, colors & sizes - $couple
Surprising Larissa with a trip to Walt Disneyworld - PRICELESS!

It was so worth the 4 months of keeping my mouth shut to see the shock and excitement on Larissa's face when we told her that we were on our way to the airport to go to WDW. She was so excited that she actually had tears in her eyes. And she loved every second of the trip.

Here we are all decked out in our Mickey and Minnie shirts ready to go!

Larissa even got to sit in the cockpit with the pilot.

Survived the flight -

bus ride to our hotel.

Day 1 we visited Epcot.

Japan was a big hit because Larissa had been learning about it in school.

Day 2 Babcha joined us for a day at Animal Kingdom.

The drums were a big "HIT."

Day 3 and 4 were spent at Magic Kingdom.

The carousel is always popular.

We suprised Larissa yet again with a visit to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

and then lunch at Cinderella's castle. She really looked like a princess!

I know that Dorian does not looked to thrilled to have his picture with Cinderella,

but this was the only character that he would even stand next to.

He loved all of the other characters as long as they stayed far away from him.

Day 4 was spent with our friend Kris at Magic Kingdom.

This trip never would have been possible without everything Kris did for us!

THANK YOU KRIS!

Well lunch with Winnie the Pooh and Friends was supposed to be a big surprise

for Dorian, but he wanted nothing to do with a photo with these big furry guys.

Larissa on the other hand was ready with a big smile.

Day 5 we went to Downtown Disney for some more shopping before we headed

to the airport. Woo Woo! (Dorian talk for dog) This was perfect because this

character didn't move, so we actually got a picture of Dorian.

Happy 6th Birthday Larissa!

2009-10-13T05:33:00.000-04:00

I can hardly believe that Larissa is celebrating her 6th birthday already! She celebrated with her friends with a party at Bear On The Square. Today on her actual birthday she will be going on a field trip to the zoo and the fire station and then this evening she has requested to have dinner at Friendly's. She has never been there but saw a commercial and I think the ice cream is what hooked her. Hopefully she will not be disappointed! On Wednesday she will be bringing in ice cream cone cupcakes to share with her classmates. And then on Sunday she will be celebrating with extended family. And YES daddy will be designing this years cake, a teddy bear. And I have come to the realization that it should not be called a birth"day" but instead a birth"week" because the celebrations never all happen on one day. But guess what my little girl is worth every single celebration and "MORE"!

And guess what there is MORE, but I can't tell you because it's a SECRET. So you will just have to check back in about 2 weeks to find out just what the big SECRET is.

Sleep, Shaving Cream & Toads

2009-10-06T22:08:00.010-04:00

SLEEP - At my house I like to stay on a schedule when it comes to my kids - for their sake and for mine. And this means that when it comes to naptime Dorian rarely misses it and so when he does this is what happens- Uh, Dorian would you like some dinner with that dream?

SHAVING CREAM - When you are mommy to an almost 2 year old and you also care for another child M - F you are always looking for fun things to entertain them and sometimes this is what you end up with-

Dorian can't wait to dig in!

This is fun!

Oh ya!

Doesn't this look like fun!

TOADS - Larissa is absolutely fascinated with them and so when she found one in the flowers by her swingset she decided to make it her pet for a little while. She even named him Toady.

Please don't squish him to death!

How cute!

Toady playing in his habitat.

Toady doing a dance on his rock.

Toady and Larissa had quite a day together. Toady got to swing on the swingset, go for a ride on the remote control car and then he went for a walk to a nearby creek were he was released into his natural habitat. Larissa did want to keep him for a pet, but we reminded her that we have 2 dogs that would be more than happy to make a toy out of him.

Slow and Easy Macaroni and Cheese

2009-09-28T12:08:00.003-04:00

So my friend Amy over at Bailey's Leaf is having a loving on the Crock-pot fest this week and is asking for everyone to post their favorite Crock-pot recipes to share. Since I could not come up with a favorite I just decided to post what I will be making tonight. Hopefully it will be yummy!

Slow and Easy Macaroni and Cheese

1 lb. dry macaroni
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
12 oz. can evaporated milk
10 3/4 oz can cheddar cheese soup
1 cup milk
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/8 tsp. paprika

Cook macaroni al dente. Drain and pour hot macaroni into slow cooker.
Slice butter into chunks and add to macaroni. Stir until melted.
Combine, eggs, evaporated milk, soup, and milk. Add 3 cups cheese. Pour over macaroni and mix well.
Cover. Cook on low 4 hours. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cook 15 minutes until cheese melts.
Sprinkle with paprika before serving.

Well I just realized that I forgot to buy cheddar cheese soup so I will have to get that before I can make anything. Oops!

I will be serving this with baked whitefish (cod) and a green veggie.

Enjoy!

Hodge Podge of Stuff

2009-09-16T20:31:00.003-04:00

9 Years Ago!

Happy Anniversary Myron!

Ya tebe lublu!

Now that big sister Larissa is at school all day I have been keeping Dorian busy with his own activities at home. This week we have been singing "Do you know the Muffin Man?" and I decided to let him dress up as the "Muffin Man." He sure had lots of fun! Can't you tell by the smile.

Larissa had her first soccer game this past Saturday. Her team is called the Black Knights.

She loved being the goalie! And being the proud parent, I will tell you that she was an awesome goalie! She was not afraid to jump on that ball. Good job Larissa!

Today was picture day at school and Larissa got all jazzed up! (Literally!!) All I can say is WOW! Larissa definitely has her own style and I think it is great. I hope that she will always have the confidence to express herself and to be the person that God has created her to be!

I am an Aunt!

2009-09-07T21:04:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we traveled to NY for my brother in laws wedding. Wow, they sure know how to party! We had a great time. So I have a new sister in law as well as a niece. I am so happy to have them as a part of our family.

Larissa, Dorian & new cousin Sasha

Dorian - what a ladies man!

Sasha & Larissa
(They are 2 peas in a pod!)

Natalya, Andrij & Sasha
Such a cute family!

And only one small catastrophe for the entire weekend, Dorian got stepped on by one very pointy high heel and lost his toenail. It was quite tramatic when it happened but now he seems rather proud to show off his poor little boo boo. So what did mommy learn from all of this, not a good idea to let your little one go bare foot on the dance floor when he is surrounded by some very dangerous high heels!

Larissa Starts Kindergarten

2009-09-01T21:18:00.003-04:00

I decided to take Larissa to Miss Molly's in Medina for a special Mommy Daughter day out before she started Kindergarten. We got all dressed up (sorry no hats) and had a great time together!

Mommy & Larissa at Miss Molly's

Larissa all dressed for school

(all the pink stuffed animals had to be in the picture too)

Larissa walking into school

Larissa at her seat

Larissa getting off the bus

Larissa absolutely loves kindergarten. She enjoys learning new things and loves seeing her friends. I look forward to dinner when we have sharing time and I get to hear all about her day at school. Her favorite thing to tell me about is who she played with at recess.

The Pittsburgh Zoo . . . . . . . . .

2009-08-18T21:18:00.006-04:00

IS AWESOME!

Larissa is taller than a newborn elephant!

Not quite Dorian!

This monkey was having a blast!

Pretty starfish!

Just chillin' with the Polar Bear.

Isn't he beautiful?

The underwater walkway was so neat.

This is why I don't swim in the ocean!

Larissa takes a relaxing log ride.

No log ride for Dorian, he would rather have a cookie!

Homegrown

2009-06-30T16:42:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-18T10:34:00.009-04:00

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!

2009-06-07T16:14:00.006-04:00

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..........

2009-06-04T09:16:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-05-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-05-08T07:00:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-03T13:22:00.007-04:00

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!

First Baseball Practice

2009-04-21T16:11:00.007-04:00

Finally, after 3 cancelled practices, Larissa had her first baseball practice. (1st practice - was way windy, 2nd practice - 6" of snow, 3rd practice - way too rainy)

Larissa loves her pink baseball mit!

Larissa finishing her first at bat. She hit 3 balls.

Larissa modeling her new baseball uniform. Go Red Sox!

So this is what happens to banana bread when your oven blows halfway through baking. Yes you end up with one very sunken banana bread!

And when your stove is broken, this is how you make breakfast! Thank God for the sunshine! I will be very thankful when the repair man comes tomorrow to fix my range!!

And there is a reason why they say this toy is not intended for children to ride in. That would be because the wheel might fall off. Do not try this at home.

Easter Weekend

2009-04-14T09:56:00.010-04:00

Thursday - pick up Myron's mom at the airport

Friday - dress kids in Easter outfits for a picture and color Easter eggs

Dorian & Larissa

(thank you Ned & Faith for your backyard!)

Larissa coloring easter eggs

Dorian coloring easter eggs

Want a kiss Babcha?

Saturday - IX Indoor Amusement Park

Dorian & Larissa on a ride

(Larissa loves being a big sister)

Larissa and Babcha on a ride

Dorian playing with the ducks

(there were not many rides for him)

Larissa loved the Petting Zoo

Sunday - Easter baskets and egg hunt at home, church, egg hunt and dinner at Nana and Papa's

Larissa got a princess alarm clock for Easter

Dorian wondering why he can't have some more candy?

Not at all interested in his Easter gift.

How many M&M's can Dorian fit in his mouth?

Larissa excited about her finds!

Dorian hunting for eggs at Nana & Papa's.

Larissa found an egg.

Dorian found one.

Larissa found a basket full!

And of course a family picture.

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter! We sure did. Lots of food, lots of candy and hopefully no new cavities!

What's Dorian Been Up To?

2009-04-02T11:54:00.003-04:00

Dorian got a haircut along with a big bump on the forehead

(yep, another trip to the doctor)

So after the bump we decided we are taking no more chances!

He is so excited about his belly button and everyone else's
(so look out, he might find yours next!)

Giving Heart!

2009-04-02T11:27:00.009-04:00

So Larissa lost her first tooth and of course the tooth fairy made a visit to her that evening. Well she woke up to find a $20 bill under her pillow. That first tooth is made of gold, right? So I asked her what are you going to do with your $20. Larissa's response, "I am going to buy toys for the animals at the animal shelter." So that is exactly what we did. We headed off to Walmart to buy some toys and supplies for the Humane Society.

Larissa beaming at the "Self Check Out"

Larissa counting out her money

The Humane Society gave her a Certificate of Kindness for her donation

Larissa has been earning an allowance for the last 6 months. She has the potential of earning up to $5 per week. And at the end of each week she has to divide her $5 into three envelopes - Savings $2, Donation $1, Larissa $2(money to buy something for herself). So with her donations saved up of $23 and her $20 tooth fairy money she was able to purchase many nice toys and supplies for the animals.

What's Different About Larissa?

2009-03-24T19:52:00.011-04:00

She lost her "first tooth" today!

Larissa says, "We had just got back from lunch and we were talking about not shouting. You know all that usual school stuff and then I just pulled it out. There was just a little bit of blood on the tooth. I took it to the teacher right away. And then she took me to the office so that I could get my tooth holder necklace and we had to put tape on it so I wouldn't lose my tooth."

Larissa has gone to bed for the evening with her tooth safely tucked beneath her pillow. She is anxiously awaiting the first visit from the tooth fairy.

Dinner with Papa!

2009-03-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Papa came to spend some time with us yesterday. We got to play, have dinner, and go for a walk. We made some yummy crab cakes for Papa since Nana is not to crazy about seafood and therefore does not cook it very often. We even sent Papa home with some leftovers for lunch.

Papa helping Dorian with his Mac & Cheese

Papa and Larissa playing "Don't Spill The Beans"

We had a great time with you Papa! We love you!

Garlic Roasted Asparagus Recipe

2009-03-18T10:20:00.002-04:00

I have received a request for this recipe, so here it is. Super simple!

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 T. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Toss together all ingredients; arrange in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for about 8 to 12 minutes, until tender. Makes 4 servings.

This recipe is from the cookbook titled Speedy Suppers from Gooseberry Patch.

Enjoy!

And by the way it is on the menu for this evening if "you" (you knows who they are) would care to dine with us. We will also be having crab cakes and homemade mac & cheese. "You" are more than welcome to join us anytime! Bring Lulu too, the kids would love to see her!

St. Patrick's Day Breakfast

2009-03-18T10:14:00.002-04:00

Well we all know that corned beef and cabbage are the "traditional" St. Patricks Day dinner menu, but what about breakfast?

How about some green scrambled eggs, lucky shamrock toast and some golden banana nuggets. Larissa loved everything. Dorian would not touch the green eggs.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2009-03-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

What's For Dinner?

2009-03-15T11:02:00.004-04:00

WEEK ONE
Sunday - Pizza, salad
Monday - Chicken Fingers (homemade), sweet potato fries, green beans
Tuesday - Topsy Turvy Lasagna, Salad, Bread & Oil
Wednesday - See Tuesday
Thursday - Eggcellent Casserole, Toast, Cantalope
Friday - See Thursday
Saturday - Luigi's (YUM!)

WEEK TWO
Sunday - Chicken & Noodles, Roasted Dill Carrots
Monday - Pizza, Salad, Jello w/ Fruit
Tuesday - Baked Whitefish, Garlic Roasted Asparagus, Noodles
Wednesday - Applesauce Meatloaf, Mashed Red Potatoes, Green Beans
Thursday - See Wednesday
Friday - Mark & Philly's (Supreme Sicilian Pizza, BBQ Wings, Antipasta Salad)
Saturday - One Pot Pork Chop, Biscuits

Most of these recipes have come from the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. I only own one GP cookbook, but I like to check some others out from the library and gather recipes that way. If you would like any of the recipes let me know.

The big shocker on the menu - Larissa loved the Garlic Roasted Asparagus, she even asked for seconds.

Goodbye for now, must get ready for another 2 weeks worth of grocery shopping.

Boys Will Be Boys

2009-03-15T08:49:00.000-04:00

Dorian loves to. . . . . . .

Pick his nose!
And he thinks it is so funny!
(Perhaps that is because we laugh when he does it)
But how could we not, he looks so cute with that grin on his face and his finger jammed up his nose!

A Little Family Fun!

2009-03-14T21:23:00.006-04:00

Spring is definitely in the air! I can feel it, even though we had winter coats and hats on, I know it's on the way!

Larissa's Masterpiece

2009-03-14T08:45:00.000-04:00

created by: Larissa

Attack Of The . . . . . . . .

2009-03-13T20:39:00.002-04:00

SHOWER CURTAIN!!
So I am taking my shower this morning and find that I am yet again getting attacked by the shower curtain. I have no idea why? Some mornings the shower curtain behaves like a good shower curtain and stays where it should but other mornings it is completely attacking me. And no matter which way I turn it is stuck to me. I seem to have this problem whether we have a fabric or plastic shower curtain. Am I the only person that this happens to? Is there some big secret that I am not aware of? Can anybody help me?

Does Size Really Matter?

2009-03-11T20:42:00.005-04:00

First, let me tell you to get your mind out of the gutter. No I am not talking about "that." I am actually talking about televisions. We have 3 televisions in our house - one in the living room, one in the basement and one in our bedroom. The one in our bedroom is a very old 19" GE and it works great. The one in our living room is some kind of LCD thing or something, I am not quite sure of the size, all I know is when we bought it we had to buy a new entertainment center because it would not fit in the old one. Then the TV in our basement is about 9" and for some reason Myron thinks this one is just too small. He would like to buy some giant 50" plasma to hang on the wall. I just don't get it? And then you can't get just any old 50" plasma, it has to be 1080 and not 720 because apparently the 1080 has a better picture. The only difference noticeable to me is the $$$$. And then you need to make sure it has enough ports because you need one for the DVD player, one for the surround sound, one for the XBOX and maybe one for the cable. And then you have to be able to connect to the internet so that you can play games on your XBOX against other people. So how big is yours?

Ceramics Class

2009-03-10T18:59:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night has been Mommy's night out for the last 2 months. Here are my first 3 projects that I have completed.

Green speckled spoon rest

Valentines Basket for Larissa

Snowman with plaid jacket

each session we learn a new technique, this session was plaid

So if there are any others interested in a Mommy's night out on Tuesday I would love to have your company! The second session just started last Tuesday.

And big "THANKS" to Myron for being home on time and allowing me to go to my class. I love you!

Weekend Shopping!

2009-03-09T18:50:00.002-04:00

I did some shopping for Dorian this weekend and here is what I found-

First stop - JCP

Spent a total of $83 for 7 outfits

Second stop - Once Upon A Child

$49.50 for 8 shirts, 5 shorts, 4 rompers, 1 pair swim shorts

And for an additional $13 I found these 2 adorable dresses for Larissa.

Well needless to say this week I will be making a return trip to JCP to return the items that I purchased there. I think that the little time spent was definitely worth the savings and the additional items purchased! It is getting harder to find a good deal for Larissa and when this happens it has really been a good day shopping!

Do you have a brain?

2009-03-05T09:26:00.002-05:00

I was on my way to pick up Larissa at school yesterday and while I was waiting at the traffic light I looked over at the car beside me and what I saw absolutely infuriated me! There was a young child (may be 2 years old) in the back seat of the car and not only was she not in a car seat she did not even have a seat belt on. What are people thinking? Perhaps they don't realize that if they are in an accident their child will bounce around like a ping pong ball. Do people not value their child's life? I just don't get it. I could go on and on about my feelings on this subject but I do need to go take a shower before Dorian wakes up.

Little Man!

2009-03-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

What has Dorian been up to?

Dorian has discovered that "Mr. Potato Head" parts make silly faces. Kiss anyone?

He loves the bead necklace.

Dorian has not been feeling well the last 6 weeks - first croup, then RSV, and then an ear infection. When will all this madness end? I want my baby to be his happy healthy self again! At least he is building one strong immune system. I know that spring will bring great things for him.

Thankful for. . . . . . . . .

2009-03-04T09:49:00.003-05:00

Larissa's wonderful school!

I know it is not Thanksgiving, but I can be thankful any day of the year. And today (and everyday) I am so thankful for the wonderful school that Larissa is able to attend. Larissa is in Pre-K at a Christian school in our community.

This school is full of so many caring teachers and administrators. Mrs. A, the school principal, stands at the main doors every morning to greet the children and parents. And she actually greets each child by name. On the mornings that I walk Larissa into school she is always ready to greet Mrs. A with a big hug.

Most mornings Larissa prefers to be dropped off at the "morning greeters." These are wonderful people who have volunteered their time to help see that our children safely exit the car and enter the school building. They are there rain, sun, sleet or snow.The children are then greeted by Mrs. M, the assistant principal. Larissa loves to greet her with a hug each morning also. (I know this because Larissa told me so.)

Mrs. M and Mrs. H are Larissa's 2 wonderful teachers. They are so full of fun and creative ideas that help the children to learn so many new things. I love it when Larissa shares about her day with me. The other day Larissa asked if she could sing me a song that she learned at school, she started to sing "The wise man built his house upon the rock. . . ." and after awhile I joined in with her. She was so surprised and asked, "How do you know that song?" She thought it was so cool that I used to sing that song when I was a little girl. I thought it was pretty cool myself!

Larissa has many other wonderful teachers at her school - Mrs. K, the librarian - Mrs. M, gym - Senora P., the spanish teacher - Mr. L, art - Miss M, music. Larissa loves the "extra" classes and knows which ones she goes to on each day.

This morning when I dropped Larissa off at the "morning greeters", I watched her go skipping into school shouting "Hi Mrs. M!" She loves her school and is always excited to go. She loves her teachers and friends. I am thankful everyday for the oppurtunity that we have to send her to such a wonderful school were she is surrounded by so many positive people and experiences. Thank you to all of the wonderful teachers and administrators who make this possible.

Dr. Suess Day

2009-03-04T09:15:00.004-05:00

Yesterday Larissa's class had a Dr. Suess celebration. The children were allowed to come dressed as their favorite Dr. Suess character. Larissa went as a Star Bellied Sneetch.

Larissa the "Star Bellied Sneetch"

Larissa with her "Cat in the Hat" hat

Do you have a favorite Dr. Suess story?

Cleveland Auto Show 2009

2009-03-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Since my lease will be up this summer on the Toyota Sienna we decided to head out to the Auto Show this past weekend to check out some possibilities. Well here is what we found-

Mazda CX-9

(this was my favorite) Cute, 3rd row, great experience with my Mazda Tribute

GMC Acadia

like it, but GM is not doing so well financially, worry about warranty

Saturn Outlook
like it, Saturn division may be eliminated, worry about warranty

Honda Odyssey

has everything I am looking for, do I want another minivan

Toyota Sienna

has everything I am looking for, not been good in the snow for me

Public Transportation

not very convenient, too cold in the winter, difficult with kids

Larissa and the cutest clown ever!

Larissa chose this Saab convertible (Myron start saving your pennies now!)

And a perfect ending to the day, a ride on the giant ferris wheel!

(that is not a happy smile for Myron, it is more like OH SH**, get me down!)

On the drive home Larissa fell asleep, so Myron and I had some time to talk about our upcoming new vehicle. So many questions. Do we lease or buy? Do we go with the more spacious van/suv and lease it or do we go with a smaller car and buy it? Or as Myron said we could buy my current van (I am not to keen on this idea because my van is not great in the snow)? I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Thanks Mr. P!

2009-03-01T20:25:00.003-05:00

This morning I was really wondering how on earth we would be able to get everything done that we needed to today-

1. Church

2. Eat lunch

3. Make grocery list

4. Clean 2 fish tanks

5. Grocery shopping

(Schwebel's, Save A Lot, Krieger's, Sam's)

6. Dorian needs a nap

7. Make dinner

8. And all this while Myron is at work

But, while we were at church Mr. P (Myron's boss) calls and says, "Don't worry about coming in today." Well that sure took a load of stress off my back! I am sure that Mr. P has some ulterior motive behind this, but at least I am happy today!

We're Back. . . . .

2009-02-27T10:21:00.004-05:00

I will start with saying I hope that you and your family have been healthy and if you haven't I hope you are feeling better now! Our family has been victim of all the "ick" that has been going around. I will spare you the details and just say that after a sick February I am hoping that March will bring us better health and maybe some warmer weather.

Onto brighter things, just a few pics to show some of the healthy moments:

Larissa's Artwork (guess that the leather couch made a good easel!)

Daddy needed a haircut!

Dorian saying "cheese" for the camera!

Job Perks

2009-02-19T13:58:00.007-05:00

My job has the best perks! I get to be with my children. I get to watch them discover so many new things, we go for hikes or to the pool, we get to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together, I get to give them their bathes at night, watch them ride their bikes, we color and paint together, read together, go to swim lessons, change dirty diapers, take them to school and pick them up, kiss their boo boo's, get messy ravioli kisses, oh I could go on and on, but you know what I have the best job perks in the world and I would not change it for anything (even though the pay is lousy!)

All jobs have different perks, maybe you get a store discount, free food, clothing allowance, company car, corporate retreats, or maybe a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Well my dad has some pretty good job perks and we are fortunate that he shares them with us. He gets free furniture! Now let me tell you that there is usually some sort of flaw with that furniture, a scratch, a crack, a bend, a tear, but dad can usually fix it up to look like new! Some things in our house that dad has refurbished for us, kitchen table and six chairs, leather dual reclining love seat (we purchased the matching sofa), sofa table and the latest video game chair. Well the video game chair has become quite the joke in our house and here is why-

Nice looking chair, it even has some wheels (well my mom thinks it is ugly!)

Larissa sitting in the chair.

But here is what happens when you lean back in the chair. Oops!

I think we know why this was a freebie! That's okay the kids think it is the funniest thing!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-02-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

So how does it feel to be "29" again? Of course I am kidding, but out of respect for my mom I am not going to reveal her age. And besides that is not what is important. So if you see my mom today be sure to wish her a "Happy Birthday!"

We took my mom (and dad) to the Home and Garden Show last weekend as a birthday gift. Here is a picture of "Nana and Papa" with their grandkids.

Dorian loved the pretty flowers. By the time he was finished with this one it was pretty sad and droopy looking. Oops!

Larissa loved all of the pretty flowers and walking through all of the garden displays. Of course we chose to wear the flower dress in celebration of all the flowers.

Mom, don't think about the number of years that you are celebrating this year, instead think of the number of great things that you have done in your years and all of the people and things that you have to be thankful for. You have 3 children who each love you in their own different ways, 2 grandchildren who absolutely adore you, you have good health, and in just a few short months you will be celebrating a big anniversary with your loving husband.

Happy Birthday Mom and Nana! We love you very much!

Food Fun!

2009-02-12T21:23:00.004-05:00

Kids just love it when candy makes their teeth, lips and tongues different colors. Now go brush those teeth (and tongue) Larissa!

Learning to eat on their own can be so entertaining to watch yet so messy to clean up! And of course Dorian refuses to wear a bib!

Goodbye Gloria!

2009-02-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

For the past couple of months I have been driving around with an uninvited passenger in my car. She goes by the name of Gloria. At times she could be extremely rude, interrupting my conversations with Larissa or any other passenger in my car. However, she was always there for me on those lonesome drives home on a dark snowy night, she would always chime in with something uplifting to say. At first she had the tendency to frighten me but after awhile I didn't even realize she was there.

It is funny to think back on the reactions that I have gotten from other passengers in my car. Myron just gave me a look and said, "What the heck was that?" My response, "Oh, that's just Gloria." I still don't think my mom and dad ever realized that she was there. That could just be because there hearing is not up to par. (BTW, Gloria could only be heard never seen.)

So you may be asking, "What exactly would Gloria say to you?" She was a lady of very few words, but they were strong ones. "Alrighty boys!" "Let's go!" "I know that's right!"

Well the day finally came and I had to crawl into the backseat of my too large van to hunt down Gloria. I did eventually find her hiding underneath the front seat looking rather innocent. And I am happy to say that I have once again found that I can have an uninterrupted conversation with Larissa on our way home from school or a quiet lonesome drive home from ceramics class.

I would like to introduce all of you to Gloria-

Gloria

(Madagascar Escape 2 Africa)

Larissa's Valentines

2009-02-11T21:16:00.003-05:00

Larissa and I have been working hard to get her valentine cards ready to hand out to her classmates and here is the finished product-

Each child will also receive a red/pink chocolate heart sucker with their ladybug. So after making 25 of this ridiculously adorable ladybugs, I am so glad it is done. Larissa is so excited to pass them out to her classmates and of course one for the teacher and the school principal.

Where in the World are the Cybyk's?

2009-02-07T19:46:00.018-05:00

Any guesses?

Another clue -

Well that would be the Cleveland Zoo and apparently the hit of the day was the "dance" floor at the Primates building.

Frogs,

frogs,

and more frogs!

Last years theme was Frogs, Hogs and Dogs and that would be the reason for all the differently painted frogs. This is just a sampling, Larissa would have posed with each one if time would have allowed.

Dorian and Larissa waiting for the Fishing Cat to walk past the window.

It sure was nice to have a break from all of the bitter cold and snow with a beautiful 55 degree and sunny day. Perhaps what made it even better is that this has been the first day out of the house for about 2 weeks due to sick children, unless you consider trips to the doctor and pharmacy fun road trips. Myron was quite the trooper, he was still feeling really lousy and still spent the day with us at the zoo. Now, Amy next time I start to "brag" about how healthy my children have been just kick me in the shin or perhaps something a little more gentle!

Snacktime

2009-02-04T20:26:00.004-05:00

I just thought this picture was cute and wanted to share it. . . . . .

Dorian hugging his puppy during snacktime.

He loves to give hugs to puppy and he is also very into chewing on "Puppy's" nose. Larissa likes her stuffed animals and her blankets, but she will take a different one each night. Me I was always and still am a "blankie" girl. (more on that some other day)

Do not try this at home!

2009-02-02T21:24:00.004-05:00

And what do you suppose this "genius" was thinking?

Larissa and I spotted this picture in front of a local bar today. Perhaps they celebrated a little too hard during the Superbowl last night, or maybe they are a Cardinals fan and were a little upset over the huge upset from the STEELERS in the very last seconds!

And Myron thought I was a bad driver.

Happy Birthday Myron!

2009-01-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

39 Years Ago

And now look at you with your 2 babies!

Happy birthday Daddy! We all love you very much!!

Compliments from Myron

2009-01-28T20:01:00.002-05:00

My honey paid me a huge compliment this evening - he told me that I made a good dinner. Considering the way my week and dinner has gone this is a great thing to be told. Sunday I made a Winter Vegetable Chili. Myron's first complaint was "Were is the meat? You can't have chili without meat." Well he ate it. So Monday was leftovers of the "Chili" and even I had a hard time eating it. It didn't age well. So then Tuesday I made Lemon Chicken per Larissa's request (she loves Lemon Chicken at our local chinese restaurant.) It was absolutely disgusting! The lemon sauce was way to lemony and I even tried to rinse the sauce from the chicken but it was still not edible. So cereal and fruit for the kids and rice and egg rolls for Myron and I. So tonight I did not feel like having another evening of a family grossed out by yet another attempt at cooking from me, so I played it safe with a frozen pizza. Yes, a frozen pizza got huge compliments from my husband. So why do I actually try to cook, when a simple frozen pizza will keep him smiling. The big question now is, shall I make an attempt at the salmon recipe that I have?

Our Furry Family Members

2009-01-27T22:09:00.003-05:00

I wanted to introduce everyone to our 4 legged furry family members -

ASHLEY - She is our almost 9 year old Black Lab. We have had Ashley since she was 8 weeks old. You know one day we were in the pet shop and I had this crazy idea that we must have this puppy. I still don't know what I was thinking! Ashley was so hyper as a pup that one of our obedience instructors said we should talk to her vet about medication. Now that Ashley is into her "senior" years she is slowing down a bit. She does have a bad hip, but that never stops her from her early morning walk with daddy. Ashley loves peanut butter, car rides and a good ear rub. She is deathly afraid of any loud beeping noise and the smell of smoke. We say she must have been trapped in a house fire in a previous life. (I don't really believe in previous lives, but it's the only thing that makes sense.)
AZALEA - She is our almost 5 year old Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mutt. Azalea came to us when she was just over a year old. She was underweight and covered in fleas. We got rid of those nasty fleas and put lots of extra meat on her bones. Azalea is extremely afraid of everything! We are pretty sure that she was mistreated at her previous home. However, she has warmed up to our family just fine. She is wonderful with the kids, loves to get pets, and always takes a toy to bed with her at night.

Our dogs drive me absolutely crazy at times with their loud barking, constant shedding, and Azalea's throwing up problem, but they are wonderful companions and a very big part of our family.

Larissa Cleaned Her Room

2009-01-25T21:05:00.004-05:00

Larissa decided to clean her room all by herself the other day and here are the results -

She did a great job (yes, she even made her bed)

But then I asked her were she put everything . . . . . . . . .

And that is when she showed me her special hiding place.

Loads of Fun

2009-01-23T22:40:00.005-05:00

Let's make that 9 loads of fun! Thursday is laundry day at our house and I do laundry from morning till night. I have tried to do a load each day but the laundry never seems to disappear. So recently I decided to have "Laundry Day." I only wash clothes on this day - towels, sheets, etc. are done on other days.

So here is the pile that I started out with. Dorian was a little upset at first that the laundry was on the floor and not in the laundry basket. He actually pulled up an empty basket and began to put the dirty laundry into it, but then he decided it would be more fun to play with Larissa's dirty socks and put them on his hand like a mitten. This went on for a good part of the day. When Larissa came home from school she was happy to see that there was still a pretty good size pile of laundry so she could dive into it. But then she decided she would wear Daddy's Steelers jersey and run around shouting "Go Steelers." So when I say "Loads of Fun" I really mean it, we really have fun on laundry day. And again I will ask, "Why do we buy toys for our children, when we can just give them a pile of dirty laundry to play with?"

Snow Much Fun!

2009-01-21T20:57:00.007-05:00

Well my mom informed me today that it has snowed everyday for the past 11 days. I thought it had been snowing a lot. So I figured it would be appropriate to have a few pictures of all that snow and the kids of course!

Glad to see that the slide still works in the winter. That is unless you get a little snow jammed! After I put the camera away Larissa decided to be a penguin and slide down face first on her belly right into the snow pile. I am sure that made for one cold face!

Dorian playing with the snow inside.

So do you think he liked it?

Larissa's Economic Stimulus Plan

2009-01-20T10:02:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you but I avoid driving behind a snow plow at all costs, especially if it is sprinkling salt on the road. Perhaps I might change my mind if Larissa's version of salt sprinkling were true.

Larissa set this display up on her dresser. The green car is her "snow plow" and all of the change laying behind it is "the salt." Maybe she could send this suggestion to our friends in Washington.

GO STEELERS!

2009-01-18T15:38:00.002-05:00

Sleep

2009-01-15T20:34:00.003-05:00

Are you a fan of co-sleeping? I have always been against it until . . . . . . . . .

Dorian ended up with a cough that lingered for about 6 weeks and for some reason the only way he would sleep was in bed with us. And that is were he has been ever since. I am not sure how many months this has been going on, all I know is it has been too long! I would like our bed to be Myron and Natalie's bed not Myron, Natalie, and Dorian's bed. I love my baby and I would do anything for him but it is time for him to sleep in his crib. It will be best for all of us. So last night I made up my mind that we needed to start working on this. Well we made some progress, he cried in his crib for 1 hour and then I gave in and took him to bed with me. So today for naptime (which used to consist of sleeping on my lap in the glider rocker) I let him cry for an hour and a half and then I had to go get him. Of course he had a messy diaper. I guess I would have been screaming too. I changed him, rocked him to sleep and he slept for about and hour and a half. So tonight, bath, bottle, stories, cry for 45 minutes and we now have a soundly sleeping little boy.

Now the question is how long will he remain sleeping in his crib before he wakes up screaming?

Picnic Time!

2009-01-15T15:50:00.005-05:00

I don't know about you but it is extremely cold in our neck of the woods. But we are not going to let that stop us from having a little bit of fun indoors. Larissa suggested that we take our dinner into the basement and have a picnic by the fireplace.

Larissa and Dorian ready to eat!

Larissa roasting marshmallows by the fire.
(since it is an electrice fireplace she had to roast her marshmallows by the vent instead of the fire)

Keepsakes

2009-01-11T21:08:00.013-05:00

I am not one to hang onto "stuff." I do not like clutter and most of the time if I have not used it or worn it in the last year then I donate it or toss it. If I have saved something then chances are that it is something very sentimental to me. And all in one weekend I have been able to pass on and share with Larissa 2 of the most sentimental things to me!

Here is Larissa with her "new" musical doll. I received this doll as a Christmas gift from my maternal grandparents when I was 4 years old. (and yes that would have been 28 years ago!) I had been keeping this doll in Larissa's bedroom closet, not knowing when I would give it to her, and that moment was decided for itself this weekend. Larissa came to me with the doll and asked me, "Mommy, where did this doll come from?" It was so fun to share with her the story of that doll.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE. . . . . .

(in oh maybe 25 years or more)

So that same evening we are driving home from dinner and Larissa begins to ask me about my wedding dress.

"Mommy, do you have your wedding dress?"

"Yes."

"Mommy, can I see your wedding dress?"

"Of course."

"Mommy, does it have a lot of sparkles?"
"No."

"Mommy, does if have flowers?"

"No."

"Mommy, are you sure it doesn't have any sparkles?"

"Yes honey I'm sure. Mommy's dress was very plain."

I am so glad she wasn't disappointed that it didn't have any sparkles! She has asked if she could keep my wedding dress with her other dress up clothes and I had to explain to her that this will only come out for dress up on "VERY" special occasions. She has had a hard time understanding that!

Myron and I

September 16, 2000

(and happy to report that we are still smiling!)

Exercise

2009-01-07T20:41:00.007-05:00

I do not like to exercise, but I have come to the realization that after 2 kids and for the obvious health benefits this is something I need to do. Not to mention the positive effects that it can also have on my mental health, which is a very troublesome area in my life. So how can I do this if I am not comfortable going to a gym and I make myself believe that I have little to no time to get in a workout. Let me share with you something I have discovered.

Workout Videos - ExerciseTV

They have 108 absolutely free workout videos. The videos range in length from 10 minutes to around 30 minutes. The 10 minute video is about all I have the patience and coordination for right now. I say coordination because I prefer to do the aerobic and cardio workouts and it must be quite a sight to watch me tripping over my own 2 feet for that 10 minutes. But who cares no one else can see me!

I must be going now, Myron is on his way home with a sicilian style pizza from a local pizza shop. I guess it's a good thing I got my workout in tonight. And Julie thanks for introducing us to the sicilian style pizza just about one year ago!

Walking Feet!

2009-01-06T16:46:00.006-05:00

Here comes trouble with a capital "T"!

I do apologize for the sideways viewing, but I could not figure out how to rotate the video. (So if you know how to rotate video would you be so kind to let me in on the secret!)

Back In The Swing!

2009-01-05T20:21:00.002-05:00

Now that the holidays are over and all the fun has been had, we can finally get back on a "schedule." (and of course there is always more fun to be had) I like to live by a schedule or at least make myself believe that I do.

Larissa went back to school today and believe it or not she was so excited last night that she had a hard time sleeping. She woke up at 4 am and wanted to know if it was time to go to school yet. That was answered with an abrupt "NO" and we then kindly asked her to go back to bed.

Larissa also started her gymnastics class at our local Y today. This session she is in Tumblebugs 2 and she is just so thrilled. She has come a long way from her days at The Little Gym when she pretty much refused to do anything but run around in circles. Now she walks on the balance beam, hangs on the high bar, and will even do a forward and backward roll.

Dorian started swimming lessons today, well I don't know if I would actually call it a lesson, maybe just "play time in the pool." He really enjoyed splashing and watching mommy blow bubbles, he hasn't quite got the hang of the bubble blowing he just prefers to drink the water for now.

I love to watch our children grow and experience new things and to discover themselves. To me it is so important to have them involved in different activities and to help them find what it is that they enjoy. I love to see them get excited about what they are accomplishing. I love being mommy to Larissa and Dorian, for me it is the absolutely best job in the world!

What Were They Thinking?

2008-12-29T21:07:00.009-05:00

My children often do things that make me ask what were you thinking! And I am sure that if you have children yours have done the same at one time or another or maybe everyday. Here's what happened today that makes me scratch my head and wonder. . . . . . . . .

"Hi Mommy! Aren't I so cute!"

And remind me again why we buy Christmas presents?

It seems Dorian would have been happy with a pack of Charmin!

(and please no Ultra Soft, we Cybyk's prefer Ultra Strong)

"Uh oh it's all gone. Can I get some more?"

I will say that this was way to much Charmin to just

throw away, so if you need to use the potty make sure you

grab a few squares out of the grocery bag hanging on the door.

I will preface this with saying, "Larissa is okay."

So what does this look like to you?????

Maybe an old milk carton with the top cut off,

take it to the recycle bin.

So what might this look like to a 5 year old??

A hat!

Not such a good hat when it is filled with mineral spirits!

Yes, our dear Larissa attempted to use this old milk jug as

a hat completely unaware of the danger inside.

So when she went to put on her newly discovered hat

she dumped the mineral spirits on top of her head and

into her eyes. Needless to say her eyes were burning a little.

To make a long story short we rinsed those eyes and made

a trip to the eye doctor. Doctor says her eyes are going to be

just fine. Phew! What a scare!!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-27T11:19:00.016-05:00

We had a great Christmas! For Myron and I it is all about the kids and as long as they are happy and have fun then it is a success.

Dorian and Larissa in their Christmas outfits.

Looks like Santa was here.

Mom can we just open the presents!

So what is it I am supposed to do?

So this present thing is kinda cool!

Now this Rock & Roll Trike is totally cool!

Larissa loves her new princess storybook.

(she even took a break from opening presents

to read for a minute)

My Little Pony Amusement Park was a hit.

And the "high style" knee high boots from Dorian

were a huge hit.

We hope that you and your family had a very Merry Christmas.

Off to see how Myron is doing on our weekend project, new built in shelving for the playroom to get all of these toys organized.

Christmas Home Tour

2008-12-17T22:37:00.019-05:00

So have you heard of the 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes????

Well if you have you have probably had the chance to check out some beautifully decorated homes. I know I have. I however did not participate this year and perhaps I can give you a few reasons why. . . . . . .

Oh how I love thee icicle lights

(when they are all lit and not windblown onto the roof)

Oh Christmas Train, you used to shine so brightly

Ashley what are you doing with that Santa Hat?

Poor Pooh Bear, Ashley stole his hat yet AGAIN!

I don't bake therefore I buy.

Fudgie Wudgie compliments of Sam's Club.

Quite yummy!

Our Christmas Tree!

(and it is still standing even though I broke the tree stand)

Aim high! And that is what I intend to do. I plan to participate in the 2009 Christmas Tour of Homes. So if you want to see what happens next year you better check back!