let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

While some of my friends are complaining left and right over the snow that has *finally* hit our area, I find myself enjoying it. Except for the lack of boots (since my two pair of boots have bit the bust the last two winters), that part sucks.

Here is Nora when we got home from her preschool this morning. I think you might notice something in the window...anyone?

On closer inspection, oh, yeah, now I see...it's my little daredevil. The boy will climb anything. Here he is on the back of the couch looking at mommy and sister. And yes, I'm fully aware that there is a piece of siding missing, it fell off a few weeks ago in some very strong winds.

Still here....picture at the end.. :)

It's been a bit since I posted last. I just wanted to update. :)

Summer session for school is over. I'm happy to report that I got a 4.0! I breezed through my Basic Algebra and Intro to College class, while really sweating over my Intro to Psych. I really thought Psych was going to be easy, but turns out it was really tough - mainly the professor. I don't think he likes internet classes. Why he teaches them, I have no idea. Anyways, I sweated it out and ended up with a 91.something % - fantastic. I did learn a LOT in that class, lest you think I was just being lazy - it wasn't the homework that bothered me, or the reading. In fact, I probably had more homework in my Basic Algebra and Intro to College class, it was the lack of teaching - we read the book, played with a CD and that was it. My Basic Algebra and Intro to College class both used online videos of the lessons, plus they encouraged (and Intro to College required) class participation. My Psych professor disabled the web forums so that we could not communicate with other class members. I'm still a bit bitter, lol, but I at least made and A, so I should just move on. :P I will - but I won't take my next Psych class with him that I have to take in the spring. ;)

Sean also took classes - an Intro to Web Design and an Operating Systems class. He too got a 4.0 for the semester. :)

We're both signed up for a full load for fall. And, we're each taking a fitness class - which enables (and requires) us to use the college gym. So, maybe I can finally work off some of this baby weight!

Nora is three tomorrow. I can not believe how big my little girl has gotten. She's so ready to start pre-school. She is only having an occasional accident. Unless she gets mad, then she'll purposely go - so not cool. She definitely has her own mind on things. She's a spitfire, and if she doesn't like something, she's not afraid to say so. She's a leader - she even tries to lead older kids around and tell them what to do.

Josh will be one next month. The year has gone by quickly! He's a momma's boy all the way - I love it. He completely lights up when I come into the room. Of course, maybe it's the milkies that come with me? :P I'm enjoying it, that's for sure.

Here's a picture of them both at the zoo last Monday (we went for World Breastfeeding Week). Nora is giving her fake smile and Josh is just giving his usual smiles. :) They're both comfy in the double jogging stroller that we borrowed. I so need to buy our own - stalking Craigslist for one now. :)

I've been a slacking blogger....

Of course, I don't really have a ton of projects to show off either. I think I have another apron and a nursing cover to show off. I need to make a few more nursing covers for about to pop or just popped cousins.

I'm officially a student again - I started my first class the other night. It's the generic college 101 that you might find on any college class. I've taken my first quiz and got an A! :) Go me! My other two courses, Intro to Psych and Basic Algebra start in June. I know those two will be much tougher, but hopefully I can pull out some A's in those classes as well. My fall semester is shaping up to be a busy one - I'll be taking Chem, A & P, Intermediate Algebra and Intro to Soc. Right now, I'm trying to take everything online - so all my summer courses are online. My fall courses are online, except my A&P, A&P lab and Chem lab.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish all my required courses so that I can apply for the nursing program after next summer. Hopefully, I'll only then have to wait a semester - which is what the wait is currently rumored to be.

The kids are great! Nora is looking forward to turning three and going to pre-school in the fall. To that end, she's been doing some potty learning (I am not so into calling it training, since I train dogs, but I teach my kids). Most days we have just one accident and she's getting really good about telling us when she needs to go. She's so proud of herself when she sees how proud we are of her. And who wouldn't be proud? And thrilled - she's been just in disposables for some time as she outgrew the cloth diapers she was in and I didn't want to have to invest in the next size up. News flash: I probably could have outfitted her in the expensive Goodmammas for how long it took to get to this point. Ooops.

Along the way, we have learned that diapers are expensive! We therefore, do not buy name brand. Walmart generic diapers are not good for movers. They're okay for little babies that do not move though. Walmart then had a brand called White Cloud that were good and cheap. Only, they discontinued them. :( One week I noticed Walgreen's had a sale on their diapers - BOGO, which was 2/$9! Holy moly, that was a good price, way under Walmart's cheapies that suck. So, we bought some, and we like them! We now stock up on them whenever they're on sale. :) Which is often - so that's another bonus to them. We also tried Target's new generics in there - they're awful. First, we bought them for Josh (we do have cloth for him but we use disposibles for nighttime, and when we just can't keep up with the laundry). So, we bought him some size 3's. He's a perfect fit in size 3's in every diaper, except Target's. They're HUGE. And they have no elastic in the back, so I'm sure you can imagine how blowouts happen with my mostly BF (we've introduced some solids) little baby? Yeah, not good. Anyways, they're so huge that we noticed that they were as big as Nora's Walgreen's diapers. So, yes, they were both wearing the size 3s (though, admittedly, they were a little snug on Nora). I hate diaper shopping at Target - no matter which kid I'm shopping for, they don't have that size diapers. Seriously, they only had the size 3 in a BOX (I buy the smaller packs as they're usually cheaper). They didn't even have luvs (though, who likes those that smell like baby powder? NOT us.).

As for Josh, he's close to twenty pounds now and has begun to enjoy some fine foods. He's had several mommy approved foods and I'm sure some Nora approved as well. Bananas seem to bother him, so we're holding out on those for now. He's been crawling like a professional for about a month or so now, probably closer to two. He's pulls himself up with ease along anything with an edge and couch cruises. He finally, finally cut his first two teeth - bottoms. He's been drooling and chewing on anything since three months, so we thought he'd cut them early like his sister (she cut her first one around five months). Nope, 8.5 months for him!

Sean has a second interview next week, so wish him luck! :)

The zoo

The kids and I went to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on St Patrick's Day. It was half price (off winter rates!) day if you wore green - so Nora and I only had to pay $6 for our admission and Josh was free. :)

Oh, and it was a beautiful day out - high 60s! 60s, in mid march, in Cleveland. Hello, spring! :D Of course, now that spring is actually here, the temperature dropped, but apparently, it's supposed to go back up. Yay!

So, here are some crappy cell phone pictures from our day at the zoo. I totally forgot my camera, and since it can't hold a charge anyways, it's not like I would have been able to capture a ton of shots anyways.

Nora wasn't all that happy about smiling with the fake monkey on the bench.

Nora called these the pink birds on sticks.

Finally, can you believe how close this is? Remember, this is a cell phone, no zoom. The zebra was right next to us. Very cool. :)

The giraffes were way far away though. Oh, and major bummer is that the elephants are gone. GONE! Until they finish redoing their area, I heard some girl say 2010 or 2011. Boo, we like the elephants. :( We also couldn't see the wolves and bears - the area was closed off due to some construction. Actually, it makes sense that they have winter rates because there are a lot of exhibits that aren't open. Still, it was a fun day and great exercise pushing Nora and carrying Josh in the MT!

Finally, here's my drooling little guy (he's totally teething, but none have popped through yet) and my adorable husband.

Snap pliers and the kids

The week before Sean got laid off, I ordered a pair of snap pliers - lookee the package that I got! Looks like I'll be a snapping fool soon. :)



Josh got his first hair cut this weekend - and, yes, I did it. I took a little off the back and around his ears.

Finally, Nora. LOL, Josh and I were out and about most of the day. When I got home, she was napping. I got her out of bed and this is what she was wearing. Guess this is what happens when you spend the day with Daddy. And, while you might not think this is such an odd look if you live in say, California or Texas, this is quite the outfit today in the Cleveland area since Buckeye Chuck saw his shadow today. ;) Doesn't she look cute, lol, with her wild hair and all. ;) Ignore the fact that the baseboards are missing. They another incomplete, er work in progress out in the garage. I think they've been completely sanded and primed - I should add those to the honeydo list that I have posted on the fridge. All items are things that Sean can do while he's laid off that do not require any materials - since we've already bought the materials for these projects.

Taking pictures of two kids is not as easy as it looks

It starts with this one, and I'm not happy with Nora's smile:

So, we try again. She's going...



gone...


Let's try this again. YES, I did it!


Well, not quite, so let's try one more time. Again, not exactly the smile I was hoping for.


And, she's gone again...


This is getting a little better. If only I did a better job centering the photo.


And, I call this one "enough mom, I'm done".

"Please, Nora, one more?" I ask. And she obliges.




A note about the clothing - yes, my daughter is wearing a holiday sweater. For the record, I find these to only be appropriate for children. And yes, she is not wearing any pants, we're trying to potty learn over here, mmkay?