And Life Goes On...

I have sat at my computer so many times in the last month, trying to come up with words or pictures to share...ughh..in a slump.

Oh, we have had pictures galore and tons of fun ! Christmas was an absolute blast and great to watch the kids rip through presents (well, Carver did...Maz tried to hold all of her "opened" presents and then made me "open" the rest of her presents FOR her!)




AND Miss Mazzelyn Tayte turned 2 years old!!! Our friend Aubrey made her a Curious George cake (which she loved!) and we had a few friends over to celebrate!




We visited friends in NY...this means we DROVE 10 hours EACH way...well worth it and the kids were (pretty) good. We stayed in E-ville (Ellicottville, NY) and there was most definitely a good time had by ALL ! And the kids got to snowboard...at 4 yrs old and 2 yrs old I would say they are doing pretty well.



So unfortunately this is going to be a very "mixed" kind of post...on January 5th my Papa (grandfather) passed away. It wasn't a complete shock...he was 84 yrs old...and caring for my grandmother (whom happens to have Alzheimer's). He was the most amazing man I have ever met, to this day I cannot do a very good job describing why...my cousins and I stayed out late at a local bar "writing" his Eulogy (possibly weird to most, but just right for us)...it was wonderfully written...I give most of the credit to my cousin Brad, he did such an awesome job and spoke what the rest of us could not find words for...when I receive my copy I will post it...



My grandfather spent many years of his life as a photographer, small or big, EVERYTHING was photographed, he was gentle, calm, and level headed, he never rushed and always just enjoyed the people around him. I don't think he took anything for granted.
I had the strangest dream a few night before he passed away. I knew something was going to happen soon. In my dream I was at their house and things were not really the same...things weren't in the right spot...just a sense of calm and peace but still...change. I hadn't seen him in a year. I feel guilty, but I know he would have never held it against me...he was the one person that never gave me a guilt trip for not visiting...always just happy to see me when I showed up. (I live 3 hours away) He was always the one solid person in all of life's up and downs...when you walked into their house everything was always familiar and you always got a hug (and usually a joke from him!)

This picture was taken at the request of my grandmother...moments before walking into the church for his service...they were married 64 years and were almost always seen holding hands...I am pretty sure these will be the saddest days of her life. The young men surrounding her are all of the grandsons.


This is one of my Papa's greatest creations and biggest joys...(other than all of our mothers...his 5 girls that he would have done anything for...)


So my post is short and bittersweet...sorry it's been so long but sometimes life gets in the way.

We have been BUSY...

Daddy has been building Carver a "Pirate Ship" bed...it isn't finished yet but getting close!



Carver has discovered how fun it is to run and slide across the kitchen floor in his socks.



Snow, glorious snow!



The kids are soooo happy to finally see snow...this is the first bit that stuck around for at least a day.



I caught Carver "reading" Mazzelyn a story..."Silly Sally", it was so neat! They both LOVE books!!



Mazzelyn is taking VERY good care of her babies.




Annual Christmas Parade in Plymouth.



Is this for real Mom?
Our friends got into the lottery for tickets to the "Polar Express", this is pretty cool and modeled by the book, from the hot cocoa, and chocolate candies on the train, to the train ride to the North Pole, to the elves and "First Present of Christmas Bell" (cut from the reindeer's harness)




We have been keeping busy and having FUN !!



Mazzy thought that she needed to work on her iPad while I finished up some work on my computer.

Christmas Card 2010

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

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Yup, we are still here...

Hmmmm....so where should I start...we had some Halloween fun...Maz was in awe of it all and Carver just wanted CANDY !!!! (Batman and pretty witch)



Our friends Lynn and Dave had a Halloween Party and "Not So Spooky Hayride" sooooo cool for the little ones :-) Not to worry Carver WAS having a great time!!! *as Ironman and Maz no costume...she isn't that into it yet!


And Carver even went Trick or Treating at the dorms at PSU (oh the memories for mommy!)


We ALL helped to stack a cord of wood...


Carver started his ice skating lessons again.


Mommy likes to buy 1/2 off Halloween costumes for dress up later in the year.


Mazzelyn falls asleep almost every night this way...


We had a photographer come and take some pictures of our family and these are a couple of "before" pics !



Mazzelyn and Carver are "helping" mommy make Homemade Mac and Cheese for dinner...don't let them fool you they are only eating ALL the shredded cheese:-)



So that is what we have been doing for the last month...hope everyone else is doing well!!

~Back on the Island~

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina that is...this is my 16th trip down here...it's different but the same all in one. We now have 2 kids, it isn't just a "get away" after ski season anymore. Our kids are starting to love this place...I couldn't ask for anything more. We were just here this past April, Maz has been so much better this time (going to sleep at night and for nap...without any help from her mama! Such a big girl!)Mike has been able to do some kite boarding and kayaking and the kids and I have gotten in some serious beach time!! We are lucky enough to have some friends down here with us that have kids the same ages as ours!

Pictures.Pictures.Pictures. (I have been playing with my camera again..yay!)

CRAZY DAY!!!!

Our day started off with everyone sleeping late...past 7am...and then the toilet overflowed, flooding the bathroom and draining into the basement. Since the kids don't start their new school until tomorrow and I HAD to go to the office today...they went with me. Other than Mazzy telling me she was "all done" with her carseat about 15 min. into a 50 min drive and screaming at the top of her lungs while standing in the middle of a busy office with people WORKING...it went okay (meaning I have had worse days at the office) We then went to Target to pick up some last minute things for their 1st day (lunch foods, thermos, etc)...Carver insisted on a getting a new lunch box (I mean he only has 4 already...)Mazzy had enough shopping and was ready to nap so she thought trying to climb out of the cart and screaming would be appropriate. Carver picked out a Batman cartoon to watch on the way home (helpful in keeping him quiet while Maz napped) I had a nice QUIET drive back North and proceeded to drive around until Maz woke up to avoid driving ALL the way home just to turn around and go back to town for groceries (we live in the woods!!) After a fun filled trip to the local grocery store (I love grocery shopping...that was sarcastic...) with a 4 yr old and 20 month old it's even MORE fun!! Fighting over who could hold the coupons was pleasant...as well as why we couldn't buy donuts because it wasn't on the list (but Mom, dad said he really wanted some...could you just put it on the list?) However, the highlight was getting $178 dollars of groceries in the car in 95 degree heat, just buckled Maz into her seat... when Carver HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM NOW!! Not to worry I left the car running with all the groceries in it and hauled both kids back into the store for a potty break.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE>>>> Best part of the whole day....My 4 yr old running to find me because "Mazzy is poopy and she took her diaper off already..." Me = "Carver go get daddy in the backyard" and the finale, while I am cleaning Maz up, Mike comes in to find the pup VERY interested in the dirty diaper....Ewwwwww

Deep Breaths

Yup, DEEP BREATHS, that is how I plan on getting through the next couple of days...Now to some people what I am going to talk about is really going to seem like "little bumps in the road"...to me it seems like a mountain. I look at my last post and still get a chuckle...kids ARE funny. Any who...this past month has seemed like a non-stop roller coaster...some good and fun and some REALLY- REALLY
S-T-R-E-S-S-F-U-L !!!
Carver's Birthday Party went rather smooth, awesome cake, friends, food (which he ate none of because he is so picky!) And no one outwardly argued (does anyone have a family that gets along...if so could you rent them to me???)





And the weekend AFTER his Birthday his Daddy rode his bike up the Mt. Washington Auto Road in the ?32nd? year of the race...might I add that we packed up on a Friday afternoon and Mike drove the truck and camper an hour and a half up to the town at the base of the mountain, set everything up (with two kids "helping") and then we all got NO sleep...Mazzy was awake like 6 times and maybe it was that or the fact that Mike was unknowingly quite ill.....






And so the day after the bike race ...Mike and I left for 6 days to California for a business trip of mine... we did so after much discussion of WHO would watch the kids...we chose two of their preschool/daycare workers who have cared for them ALMOST since birth...(the business trip= in the last year I had managed to get myself into the TOP 25 Agents in my ENTIRE company - coast to coast not just NH!!!)...

FYI...it doesn't matter WHO you choose it is FULL of emotions...but off we flew... to the West Coast...



In case anyone is wondering...the "illness" I was speaking of before Mike's race...decided to show it's ugly face within 24hours of landing in Cali...I woke up Monday morning about 4am when I rolled over and felt Mike burning up (temp of 102)...within an hour I convinced him of letting me take him to a local hospital. (The Fairmont in San Fran had their driver take us before 6am) After a chest x-ray, EKG, blood and urine tests and 4 hours later...he was given IV fluids and antibiotics and released..infection in the lower abdomen...related to bike racing...oh and 10 days of antibiotics that wreak havoc on your intestinal system..

Upon return we did find two happy kids...

However, now the tough stuff begins...last year, about this time, I put applications into a Montessori school local to our area...only catch...they wanted both of our kids to apply because they have an infant toddler program as well as preschool/kindergarten...in April I found out they were accepted...
Our kids are with wonderful people now, however, I was raised with a strong Montessori upbringing and believe strongly in it...try explaining that to a 4 year old and 20 month old that know no other school.
I feel it is a positive change..I do...deep down I do. Mazzelyn is a challenge that needs to be pushed to potential...she keeps us on our toes. Carver as well... as subdued and comfortable with what he knows... I feel it can only be good for him. And ultimately with his daycare...as with so many programs in our lives...the people that matter most have no real say in the day to day happenings. Oh and did I mention he will be leaving his best friend in the world...and Mazzy will be too...Ughhhh...Call it "mommy is mean" or hopefully "mother knows best" either way I have a deep feeling of guilt and honestly a bit of question...how will they fair in this HUGE UPHEAVAL...

For me to go to work and be productive I have to feel my children are cared for, happy, and learning to their utmost potential...I hope I have made the right decision...I have tried to prepare our 4 yr old for this transition and tonight as I put him to bed he simply rolled over and said "Mom, I am just tired, good night...."

So, I will take DEEP BREATHS, and I will paste a smile on my face, please if you see me this week, DON'T CALL MY BLUFF, sometimes in life -

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires
COURAGE."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson