Just Because

So, I was walking through Target today and I saw something the boys HAD to have: foam pirate swords. They were perfect. Nothing hard all foam and soft. So when I got home I gave them their new toys and sent them to the basement to beat the snot out of each other. Worked like a charm!

Our Anniversary (Renamed Valliversary)

Today Chris and I have been married for 8 years, and I have been trying to remember what the gift should be for this year. This is what we have so far.....

Year 1: Joey was 6 months old so.... new baby.
Year 2: Chris's coat got stuck on the turn signal arm of the Civic and it broke off = $240 repair.
Year 3: I took Chris to dinner and was pregnant with Deaglan
Year 4: I think I got a well written card.
Year 5: Same as year 4.
Year 6: Same as year 5.
Year 7: Chris and the boys sent me a dozen purple roses. It was very sweet.
Year 8: Friday the 6th the garage door decided to jump the track and buckle, so it needs to be replaced. ($500 if we do it ourselves). When I told Chris that he was buying me a gift this year he said "I am a new garage door". I said "no, this isn't a repair gift year". I told him I wanted a mother's ring and he said OK. Last night the Civic finally drew what we think to be it's last breath. So guess what I'm getting for Valentine's day/our anniversary? Yep another vehicle repair.

So for year 9 I take him to dinner again, years 10,11,&12 I get a nice card, year 13 I get roses and another repair for year 14. I'm starting to dread our anniversary it's way to expensive every sixth year.

Edit: OK, so he's the best husband in the world. The boys made me breakfast in bed, and went to the bakery and bought me a cake.

They have made a new holiday just for me, Valliversary. We went to a play last night and then out to dinner. When we were leaving the boys just kept saying "Happy Valliversary Mommy!" He showed me the cake when we got home and I wanted to cry. As expensive as the repairs are that seem to haunt our "Valliversary", I wouldn't trade him for the richest man in the world.

Grass Angels

Deaglan walked out the front door and was thrilled to see that the grass wasn't gone, it was back. On the way home from work this evening Deg stated that he can't wait for summer so he can make grass angels. After dinner he demonstrated how to make them.

Enjoy the Deaglanisms that keep us rolling for hours!

(WARNING: Knitting Content) K.A.

Hi, my name is Jennifer and I have a problem. They say that admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. I am an addict. I can't live with out it. I have to have it all the time. It makes me happy. It relaxes my nerves. It soothes my soul. If you are seriously concerned, don't be. If you know me then you are giggling, maybe even laughing. I am addicted to my knitting. There I've said it. It feels good to get that off my chest. I knew that I enjoyed it, but I didn't realize I had a problem until this past Friday.

It started out as any other Friday. I got up and left to go to work. I had all my stuff with me, my purse, my gym bag, my phone, and my pattern book. I realized when I got to work I realized that I had my pattern but not my project. I had nothing to knit while I sat and watched the door and buzzed people dropping their children off for 2 hours. 2 whole hours I had nothing to do! OK. Breathe. I found a catalog to peruse to pass the time. Crisis averted.

Nap time! Yay! My time to catch up on my...... knitting. Damn! I left it at home. What to do with myself for 2 and a half hours? I found a skein of yarn that I had at one point wondered how it would knit up and 2 crayola water color brushes (because they"re the same size). I then proceeded to knit. I was surprised at how even the stitches were seeing as how the brush handles were tapered., but it worked.

The Great Escape!

For those of you who don't know, we have 2 corn snakes as pets. Their names are Chocolate and Viper. I've had Chocolate pretty much since he hatched and I got Viper as an afterthought. They're brothers (yes I've had them checked and I'm positive there will be no babies). They were my mom's snakes' babies. She had gotten 2 corn snakes herself and thought they were both the same sex. She had no intention of breeding snakes.


Viper was given to a friend of my sisters. He was very hand shy and skittish. One of her roommates left the tank open and he got out. (so he's kind of experienced with escape) He was only a few months old. She gave him back to my mom. Mom didn't really want him so she offered him and a bigger tank to me, saying that Joe and Deg each needed a pet. Whatever.


Fast forward to our trip to Wisconsin Dells. The snakes turned a year old back in August (or somewhere around there) so they are now both about 3 feet long and an inch around. Ed was snake sitting while we were gone (which was hysterical because he hates them and keeps asking when they'll be big enough to be belts). Monday evening when we got home I checked the tank and they were both there. I went to visit my Grampa in the hospital on Tuesday and when I got home Viper was gone.


So, I had to make time to clean the office (it's a train wreck) because that's the warmest room in the house and I figured he'd be there because that's also where the tank is. So I moved an empty shoe box that I use to separate them when feeding and there he was. He was cold but alive. Joe was so happy. He told me last night that he missed Viper.


This is Viper.

This is Chocolate.

This is where I found Viper.

This is where I found Viper in relation to the tank.

Reunited.

Wisconsin Dells

The Sullivans went on their second annual trip to the Wilderness Resort at fabulous Wisconsin Dells. The boys had a blast! There isn't too much to tell just some great pictures of the kids.


Ricky went down his first water slide and LOVED it!

Joe and Deaglan getting ready to wreak havoc on the water park.

Mommy and Ricky... Awwwww

The most effective way to move luggage and kids.

Lunch at the Moosejaw.

Whew..... It's over.

The Holidays have come and gone. So much has happened and in Bear's (Deaglan) case so much has been said. Let's start with the Sunday before Christmas. We were lucky enough for Chris's brother Manuel and his family to be with us from Italy for Christmas. We had dinner at my brother-in-law's house with his family that evening. As we were getting ready to leave, I put Bear's hat on his head. He looked at me, kind of rolled his eyes and yelled "You'll never catch me alive!" and ran away from me.

Christmas Eve is all mine. About 2 weeks ago (when we had that bad snow) I got the van stuck in the alley to the garage. Our alley makes a T. There's an alley that goes past our garage door and another one that intersects the first almost in front of our garage door. I got stuck in the trunk of the T right at the bottom. A kind man walking his dog and a neighbor helped get me out. Well, Christmas Eve, we went to Grandma's for dinner and presents. Ricky started running a temperature and wasn't feeling well, so I called Ed and asked if he would watch him. I left Joe and Bear at Gram's and took Ricky home. I took his temperature, gave him some Motrin, and a nebulizer treatment. I kissed his head and left. I pulled out of the garage and decided to go down the trunk of the T. Big mistake. I got stuck a quarter of the way down the alley. Chris was supposed to meet us at Gram's after work. So I called him and he and Ed unstuck the van. Chris looked at me and told me that I was lucky I'm cute because he'd have left me to the wolves years ago.

Bear learned that music gets the girls. He found this guitar and wouldn't stop "playing" it.

Christmas Day we bounced all over. We opened presents from Santa at home. The family got a Wii. Let me tell you, there is nothing funnier than watching Bear play any driving game! Then we went to my parent's house to open presents. Then we went to Chris's brother's house for dinner.

Ricky was finally kicked out of the crib a few weeks ago. He loves sleeping in his bed, well sort of. He likes the freedom of being able to choose what bed to sleep in. His favorite is Bear's. Unfortunately, when he moved into the big boy bed, he decided he's not a baby anymore and is spurning his blankie, he's kept his pacifier and puppy but blankie is a no go. (sorry Auntie Mia). Here's his empty bed.


And the blankets he had to take with him to Bear's bed. Don't they look sooooo cute?! He does occasionally sleep in his own bed too.