My husband!

It is Christmas Eve! Yeah, now we just need about a foot of snow and all will be good.

Mike needed to run to the store to get supplies for Christmas dinner tomorrow. I suggested that he take Evan so that they could have some bonding time together and mommy could maybe shower by herself. So Mike goes up to shower and get Evan dressed. As he is walking up the stairs, I tell him that Evan has clean jeans in his suitcase from Grammies house. About 15 minutes later Evan comes downstairs all clean and dressed. Check out these jeans he has on. I told Mike that the jeans were in Evan's suitcase. So now lets see, for any of you that know Evan. If there was an Elmo suitcase and a Thomas suitcase which one do you think would be Evan's? Well apparently since my husband just moved in here, he did not know that Evan is Thomas Crazy! So he pulls these jeans out of Nick's suitcase and puts them on Evan. As soon as I saw them I had to take a picture. I don't know what I should be more alarmed about, the fact that my husband did not notice that they look like knickers on him, or the fact that Evan can still fit into size 12 months! As Pooh would say, 'oh bother.'

Today was quite the day ...

Wow, did we get a lot done today. Mike left this morning bright and early, but before he left Nick needed to be in our bed around 3:41 am. Mike left I think around 5 or 6 am, I really don't know, he kissed me goodbye, but I could have been dreaming. Evan woke at 7:14, and since he will STILL not get out of his bed, I woke up at 7:14 also. He yells ma-ma, mommy, mom UNTIL I go in and get him up. Many mornings I just open his door and say 'come and get in mommy's bed.' Anyway that is how our morning started. Let's see I got the boys interested in watching Curious George so that I could take a shower. Nick was fine for about the first 1 minute, then he realized that I was not actually on the bed with him. So he managed to get off the bed, no head wounds thank goodness. We made it down for a very quick breakfast, then over to MC for MOPS. Nick started to cry as soon as I turned onto the road to MOPS. Evan was fine. After MOPS was over and Nick was done crying, I headed out for a fun day of shopping with toddlers. I took some good cookies from MOPS to bribe them with. Evan's cookies lasted until we made it to the first store, Nick's is still in my diaper bag/purse. Anyway, from MOPS we went to Menards, that was fun. Then to Gordans Foods, great place for toddlers. Especially since by this time they both need their diapers changed. Apparently Gordons does not get too many moms shopping, no changing station. So we used the cart, now both boys have a shopping cart grid on their behinds. We made it through, then we went to get ink for my printer. Oh the clerks in this store, I think they had just met on www.meetyourhottieatstapels.com, they were not very interested in talking with a middle aged mom and her sugar driven toddlers. Wow, as I type this, I realize I only went to 3 stores today, I thought for sure that I had gone to EVERY SINGLE store in MC. From there we came home, Nick slept most of the ride home and Evan screamed that he did not want to listen to mommy's news station. Merry Christmas. We arrived home and Evan went RIGHT to bed. Nick was fine as long as he was in mommy's arms. At 3:30 I had to get Evan up from the nap he was not taking so that I could go and get our first babysitter of the day. He of course was hungry because the sugar was long worn off from the cookies I had been feeding him. Quick meal, ha. Then back in the car. More crying, why do we have to go? But after he has managed to get the bottom 6"of his pants completely snow covered, from walking BESIDE the cleared off sidewalk. Why would you want to walk on the sidewalk when you can walk in the snow, right. Anyway, we go and pick up Ra-ra, that is a good thing. We get back here and the boys are very happy to see her and hang out in the blue room and watch 'The Polar Express.' I breezed out. Came back after my meeting and a fast trip to the grocery, Nick is always out of bananas. Ra-ra and I actually get to sit and visit for about 45 minutes, that was so nice. Then my second sitter shows up, Madeline. A wonderful, wonderful young lady, I could never express fully how much she is appreciated here at the Messinger house. Someday Evan and Nicky will understand. This is why I posted this picture of my precious first born, Evan Michael. I was trying to rearrange the freezer so that the meatballs for Mike's office party would fit in, and he comes over to me and says 'mommy, please don't leave,' I swear it was just like that moment in Guatemala when he was 6 months old and I had to give him back to the foster mom, he looked at me like 'don't leave me now'. Oh my God, I knew that I have always loved this little man, but today he was tearing out my heart. It was the second hardest time by far that I have ever left him, I love that little guy so much!!! That's why I love Madeline so much, she gets the boys situated and I kiss them goodbye. I still need to take baby sitter #1 home, so I drive her home. Then on the way back I hear this funny sound, like maybe I ran over a big chunk of ice in the road. Well, then about 2 minutes later, I hear this sound like maybe I have a flat tire. So then the sound gets louder and louder and I know that for sure I have a flat tire. So I manage to drive all the way home, we will see what the damage is when Mike gets home tomorrow. I then walked over to City Hall for my meeting and caught a ride home with a neighbor. Madeline's mom was able to come and pick her up, since I do not have a drivable car now. But I am so Thankful. What if I would have had a flat tire with the boys in the car? It is so cold out. I would have had to carry Nick and convince Evan to keep up with me walking in the snow. Somebody must be looking out for me! With all that said, I had to post a favorite picture of my little Evan. He is the joy of my life and I cannot imagine a minute without him. And I know that when I go up tonight and check on him to make sure he is covered up, he will wake up, and he will want to get in my bed. And I will try and be strong and keep him in his room, but honestly in my heart, I would let him sleep in my arms every single night. I love my boys. I am so blessed. Good night.

Hi, it's Evan

Hi, it's me Evan wishing everyone a MEERY CHRISTMAS!!!

Making a gingerbread house!

Last year when we went to make the gingerbread houses, Evan just basically ran around the room and ate fruit loop cereal. This year he loved it. I asked Ra-ra to come along and help out, so she and Evan had a great time. They were the last ones decorating. Ra-ra has a little Martha Stewart in her! Nicky on the other hand was very interested in eating M&M's, fruit loops, gum drops and any other sugar item he could get in his mouth. Then we went out to lunch and Nick was on a sugar high, he could not sit still in his high chair. They were playing Christmas music and he was going to town!

It was really fun!

Playing in the first snow of the year!

Evan making a snowball. Evan loved the snow, he was trying to throw it in Nicky's face of course! Nicky was not the biggest fan of the snow this year, maybe next year. I had him so bunndled up, he could hardly walk.

Need some Christmas help!

This is what Mike's office looked like yesterday. I played Christmas music all day, trying to get in the mood, but there is so much stuff. And so much stuff for a 16 month old to put in his mouth. I wish I had a penny for every time I said 'No Nicky' yesterday. But I did get a lot done. So I am playing more Christmas music today drinking lots of coffee, so hopefully I will get everything done! And with the snow outside, I have to get the boys outside for pictures, it will be Nick's first snow!! Now I wonder if I have a snowsuit his size, I'm sure the one I used for Evan last year will be too big still. And boots, they will probably need boots, and gloves, where are the gloves? And hats and scarfs .... wow I think I have typed myself out of the mood to go out in the snow!

Counting down to Christmas

Well the Christmas fun has started at the Messingers! Evan received an advent calender from one of the ladies at Sit & Knit in NB. I thought that was really sweet of her. So yesterday after his little melt down at church, I didn't feel like giving him a piece of chocolate, so we waited until today to open the first window. I thought there was just going to be a little picture behind the window, but oh no, there was a little piece of chocolate there. Evan doesn't even know what it is until I tell him that it is candy, then he gets the idea. So I am trying to explain the reason for the calender, he is just asking for more chocolate. I put the calender on the counter and tell him he will get another one tomorrow, but he has to be good for Santa. So the boys are running around and I am emptying the dish washer for the 27th time today. The boys are too quiet. I look over and they are on the floor with the advent calender. Evan immediately gets up and takes off into the new room, Nicky is just standing there looking at me. So I pick up the calender, 3 of the windows have been opened and there are 2 missing pieces of chocolate. I call to Evan, 'what is going on here'? He has his back to me and he says 'I don't remember'. Remember when you were little and you were looking for something that you were not supposed to have and your mom would say 'what are you looking for'? And you would say 'nothing'. And then my mom would always say, 'do you want it in a bag'? So anyway, whenever Evan has done something that he isn't supposed to do, he says 'I don't remember'? And he says it very seriously. So I yell for him to come over beside me, well when he turns around he has chocolate all over his face! I was trying not to laugh. So I say to him, 'who ate these chocolate pieces'? He says, 'Nicky'. I didn't snap a picture, I was laughing to hard! Here we go!!!

Can you find the boys from Guatemala?

I was putting away Thanksgiving stuff tonight when I snapped this photo. Can you find the boys from Guatemala? Look how little Nicky is. When you say to Nicky, how much does Mommy love you? He raises his arms up. I'm sure Mike will be using it for when the Bears play.

I had a dream about KENT LYNCH

Wow, what a night! I had a dream last night about a guy I went to school with. We met at O.J. Neighbors in kindergarten and continued through high school. His name is Kent Lynch. I have not seen him since our 15Th high school reunion, which was in 1994. So whatever prompted this dream I have no idea. But here is how it went. I wanted to 'hook up' or whatever the kids call it these days with Kent. So in my dream he looks exactly like he did our senior year in HS. Very cute, very blond, an all over all American guy. I on the other hand, in my dream look like I do now, a 45ish mother of 2, suburban housewife. So he does not want to go out with me, because I need to lose some serious poundage. So I am going to the gym and working out for Kent, and of course because I am dreaming I lose a bunch of weight. Not like in real life, where you can work out for 6 months and gain 2 pounds. Anyway, now he has started to notice me, but I have decided that I will get him back for not liking me fat, so I will date Angelina Jolie! In my waking hours I can't stand that woman. So how my mind found her, who knows. So anyway, Angelina and I are in the shower, how scary is that, and Kent finally notices me. Ha, I'm sure it had nothing to do with me. But that was my dream, I think I woke up to the alarm clock right about then, to take my suburban mom butt to Curves. Where does a dream like that come from? I tried to google him to find a picture, so that I could post it. Then you could all see how cute he was back in 1979. I wonder where he is now. And the funny thing about it, we never dated, never hooked up once, we were great friends, but just that. So why would my mind pick him, who knows???

I'm a little bit country, and you're a little bit rock and roll

Hi All,
I have been singing that song since last Friday, that's when Donny Osmond was on Oprah! I watched that show with such emotion. I have been talking about him ever since, so much that Mike is dying his hair black and growing it into a shag. Donny Osmond, I had the biggest crush ever on him, I felt like I was right back in my old bedroom singing into my hair brush, One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch, now, give me one more chance, I could go on and on! It was the early 70's, I didn't even have my braces yet, but I'm sure I had a bad haircut and probably a really bad perm! Remember home perms, I got one about every 6 weeks! Oh I had visions of Donny and Donna Osmond, wouldn't that have been cute? I swear if I could post my seventh grade picture I actually looked like him, scary. Well except for my bad teeth. But I loved Donny Osmond, not any of the other brothers, just Donny. How could you not love that smile? He has a birthday coming up, if you didn't have it marked on your calendar. He will be turning 50 on December 9. A girl can dream.

2 to 3 lbs lighter ...

No, not me, I am gaining by the minute. I am talking about this little cutie. This is him this morning around 7 am when we had him in his little hospital gown. He was such a trooper, poor kid. I just changed the first diaper and he is hurting bad. I don't remember Evan hardly crying at all, and for sure the next day he was totally back to normal. But then we have Nicky, he is not built the same as big brother, shall we say. He only wants Mike to hold him, it's like he is telling me 'you don't get it mom'. So I have balanced the check book, paid all the bills, sent e-mails, and now I am blogging. I am kid free today. It is so quiet in this house without Evan here, I do not like that at all. When my mom and dad were taking him yesterday, he is staying at their house until Friday! I was putting him in his car seat and kissing him about a million times, I guess I hovered a bit too much, my precious little boy said to me, 'hit the button that makes the door close'. I was holding back tears and he is ready to be on the road! So I let Nick play with all of his trains last night, I will show him. So add Nicky's penis to your prayers tonight, he has an ooowie.

I was in Kentucy.

First of all, if you are from Kentucky and you have sensitive feelings, quit reading right now. OK, are you gone? I had a wonderful day last week, but it is still on my mind, so I need to blog about it right now, are you ready?

Last week, I had to return something to the most dreaded store in the world, I will only type it's name in here one time, the most dreaded store in the whole world is WalMart. Several months ago when they lost photos from our pick up trip to Guatemala with Evan. I approached the "Service Manager" with my rage with the fact that our priceless photos had been destroyed, she looked at me with this look in her eyes, this far off look, and she said something about not knowing where that restaurant was in Chicago. She didn't even know that Guatemala was another country, she just knew it was something she had never heard off, and that it must be in one of the suburbs of Chicago. My head was out of control that evening, and I was so happy that Evan was home with daddy. When I arrived home, all I could say to Mike was to sit down, I was so upset. He thought that I had wrecked the car, or something horrible had happened, but to me the fact that precious photos had been destroyed by some idiot at that store, I was out of my mind. I swore off that store forever.

Then, we were driving home from Wabash and mom and dad had the boys. It was a perfect time to stop at that store and get some things that we needed. While we were there, we spotted a Thomas the Train Halloween costume. Not knowing what Evan would want to be this year, but thinking maybe it would be Thomas, we purchased it with the thought of bringing it back if it was not needed. Well for a while Evan wanted to be #4, where that came from I don't have a clue, then he changed it to Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, much easier. So last week on November 1, the day after Halloween, I went back to that store to return the not needed Thomas Halloween costume. Let me tell you I hate to go to this store. After parking and getting the boys in a cart, we make our way into the store, past the oxygen dependent greeters. We make it down to the "service area". I still can't believe they have the gall to call this area 'service', it is more like 'out of control area'. So I am standing there and this family group, I assume, comes up and cuts in front of me in line. I don't say anything because I really don't care, I am just returning 2 things and then I am out of this store for the rest of my life. The boys are in the cart, acting wonderfully thank goodness. I cannot help but observe the 'family group' that has cut in front of me. There is one male, 3 female, one young male kid, and one young female child. She was the most unusual. And that is hard to say that more than one stood out in this crowd. She was about 7, 8 or 9, she had stringy blond hair, pajamas that were 2 sizes too small, and no shoes on her feet. She was in a cart, crouched down like an animal that spends most of it's time in a cage. I couldn't help but stare. I was very thankful at this time that Evan could not fully understand what was going on, because for sure, he would have been saying 'what the heck is that thing', 'why is she scratching herself in all the wrong places', 'why hasn't she had a shower this month.' Then as we are standing there trying to get 'service' from the 3 clerks who could totally not see that there was anyone standing in front of them, I was becoming more and more hot. Finally, the clerk says in the most disgruntled voice I have ever heard, 'next in line'. That is all, not 'Next in line please, thank you for shopping at out disgusting rat trap', nothing. So I give her my returns. The first one is a breeze, Mike bought a humidifier by mistake, no biggie. Then I put the Thomas the Train outfit one the counter. The clerk actually comes to life, she says to me, ' we don't take back Halloween costumes anymore.' Well, I say you are taking back this one, because I have the receipt and I don't need it. She calls over the first 'service manager'. This chick is an idiot, she tells me that I cannot return the outfit because it had to be returned by Oct. 31. I explained that I have a valid receipt and that I was not informed that I needed to be here by Oct. 31. She grunts to me that she has to get her manager. She actually talks to the clerk as if I am invisible, she tells her that no matter what the service manager says, we don't take Halloween costumes back, no excuses.
While I am standing there waiting, the village idiots are eating the credit card applications and peeing on the floor. I couldn't wait to get out of this store. Finally the 'store manager' comes up to me. He is all of 22, 23 or 24, hasn't had a shave today, shirt not tucked in and I am sure that Evan and Nick have a higher IQ than him. Anyway, he wants to know what is the problem, I tell him, he huddles with his other idiot 'service managers' and tells me that this time and this time only they will give me a refund on my item. I say 'thank you and don't worry about it, don't worry about it ever again, because I will not ever be shopping here again'! Oh my that store, I will never ever set foot in it again, EVER. Hear me, never ever again. NEVER.

Go Target!!!!

Always trying to help others.

We had some friends over tonight that we are working with to try and make their

surroundings more comfortable. Even if just means something to eat or a cold drink, it normally brings such a smile to their faces. Just look at the smile on her face, we were able to send beef, salads, bread and much love to her home. She has such potential, we will never give up.

I am so ready to blog!

Wow, it is November and this is my first blog, what the heck have I been doing? First of all, I have the best friends ever, Mike and I are so lucky. We are so lucky to just show up at church today and have a party already planned at out house, how could it get better than that?

My parents were here over the weekend and I just discovered that I was a PERFECT child! I knew I had something working, but when my dad told me this morning that my mom was able to take 4 kids to church all AT THE SAME TIME and none of them made any noise, I knew right there that I was an exceptional kid. We didn't take Evan to church today, he tends to be a bit noisy and I enjoy the sermon and I think that the majority of the church comes to hear Pastor Brad and not Evan, so when we had a chance to leave him at home with Grandpa and a Thomas video, I was all over that. It is so nice to sit in church and just sit in church, normally we call it wrestling in church. Someday it will be easier, that is what everyone tells me.

Models!!!

I saw the funniest thing this morning at 4 am. Of course I was up, couldn't sleep again. When I turned on my computer, my Yahoo page always comes up and then are always trying to get you to watch a video. So this one looks interesting, it says 'Model falls'. I always think that would be funny. So I hit this clip, at first this guy is like break dancing or some new kind of hip hop thing, well he does this like flip and I think he lands wrong, so he makes this little hole in the floor. This is the important part, the hole is the size of a dinner plate on the floor. So out walks this 'model', she must have been stoned. She walks right into the hole. Now you think that with a normal size person, that would mean they would get their leg caught, maybe up to their knee. Well, this 'model' went right through the whole thing, because she was so dang skinny! It was unbelievable. She was trying to get herself up out of the hole, which was nearly impossible, because it looked like her arms were made of tooth picks! I need another cookie!

The bench that my dad built.

Here is a picture of the bench my dad made and donated for the Service League Craft show. It was so cute and the lady that won it was so excited! I wonder what she is doing with these cute little boys, they were raffled along with the bench!

The Food Drive

We completed the food drive last week. It was a great success!! Our goal was 540 pounds and I was afraid that we would not get there, but we got there and some! We ended up taking 630 pounds to the Food Pantry last Wednesday, see the boys in the back of mommy's station wagon. Thank you everyone for your wonderful donations, they did a great article about the food drive in the paper, very nicely written. I should of given him my blog address! So after we took the food in, 3 more donations have been brought to the house. A young couple came to the door yesterday with about 50 pounds of food and a check for $100.00!!! WOW!!! I was so excited, the ladies at the food pantry will be so happy! So we are going over there today, to drop things off and give them the check! Now I wonder what our goal will be for next year!!!!

I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A DIVORCE ......

There was a knock at the door, I looked out the front window and saw a New Buffalo police car, oh boy, what did I do now. I went to the door and he has this big 8 x 11 envelope in his hand. I push open the screen door and he says to me, 'are you Donna Messinger?' For a minute I wanted to say 'no'. My mind was racing, why is this cop at my front door and what is he serving me with? The first thing I thought of was D-I-V-O-R-C-E! Just like the Tammy Wynette song. But I quickly thought, why would Mike ever want to divorce a catch like me? So anyway, the cop sees that I am somewhat distressed, he says to me, 'I don't have any idea what is in this envelope'. So I do a quick glance at the return address and recognize that right away, it is from the freaking Zoning Board! I was ready to have a heart attack, too funny. So he gives me the envelope and that is it. I'm a freak. I started this blog on the 17th and just getting back to it on the 23rd, I need to get a life. Well, I guess I have one that is why I am finding it hard to find time to blog.

Evan got ran over by mommy's scissors!

Well here he is, my beautiful little boy with a mommy haircut! My dad gave me these clippers about 2 months ago and I have been dying to try them out, just looking for the right victim. So on Tuesday night while I had both boys in the tub, I was reading the directions on the clippers. Evan noticed what I was looking at and very graciously said "Nicky first mommy". That from the kid who won't share a single toy with his baby brother. Anyway, I didn't do any actual clipping until Wednesday night. Evan was having a mini melt down during the haircut, he kept telling me that it hurt, but trust me there was no blood, so I know he was ok. I thought I had done a pretty good job and I couldn't stand the screaming anymore, and Nick was crawling around in the cut hair and trying to eat the cord to the clipper. So I decided we were done, Mike took both boys upstairs and put them in the shower while I cleaned up the hair. When I got upstairs and Evan's hair was wet, I was high fiving myself for doing such a good job. He went to bed happy and so did mommy. Then the next morning when his hair was dry, oh boy. Thank goodness he is a boy! It was not such a good job! But we had to go to school, so no time to get the clippers out that morning. As soon as we got to school, before the boys even had their coats off, Ms. Margaret their teacher said, "Evan you got a haircut". I couldn't help but laugh. So last night after dinner, we got back to the clipping. Evan was much more relaxed, since he knew that it was not going to hurt. Nick was in his high chair, so he was not eating the clipper cord or Evan's hair. The haircut came out much much better. He looks so different, kinda more big boyish. Which I don't really like, but just a little change. This photo is him going up the stairs last night, he looks like he is telling me to throw the clippers away! Nick is next!!!!!!! hee hee

Will I ever post again?

Oh My, it has been crazy around here! Non-stop everything. Will I ever post again. Evan had the biggest tantrum of his life this morning because I would not let him have a bowl of raisin bran. He has never even had raisin bran, how does he know that he will even like it. I wanted to put something nasty in my bowl and give him a big bite, just to show him. But I couldn't find anything close enough. So I ate my raisin bran and listened to him scream. Then 20 minutes later he asked for a piece of peanut butter toast, like no big deal!! Now we are getting ready to go to the pumpkin patch in the 80 degree weather. We'll need both bug spray and sun tan lotion today! I need to go, I smell the sweet aroma of 2 dirty diapers! Have a good day. I promise I will post later, and I will have good stuff, because I am giving both the boys haircuts tonight. I was reading about the clippers last night while the boys were in the bath tub. Evan sees what I am looking at and he says "Nicky first mommy'. Doesn't want to share a single toy with his brother, but wants to make sure he gets the worst haircut! Sweetie!

Happy Monday

Well lets see, what is going on today. I woke at 1:30 am and went back to sleep for an hour at 7 am. So when I put Evan down today at 2, I thought I would try and catch some shut eye. That is if I could get to sleep with the sound of Dolores snoring! Anyway, I did fall asleep in the chair with Nick on my lap. He is a horrible napper and practically the only way to get him to take a nap is to let him sleep on me. So that is what I did today, I was so tired. So we were snoozing in the chair, Grandma Doe was snoozing on the couch. I was having a dream about a hot day at the beach, I could even feel the warm waves rolling onto my bronzed size 6 body! Then I woke up and Nicholas was peeing on me. I swear with his unit, if you don't have it laying the right way in his diaper, he can pee right out the leg of his diaper.

Ok, it only took me 4 hours to get this posted. Too many interruptions today!

Look at my new sink!

Hi Everyone,

This could be an ad for Kohler. Look at this sink. Isn't it the cutest sink you have ever seen? It's just the best one ever! It looks great with the faucet, the bubbles and the toys. They only thing better would be big brother next to him!!

Too Cute!

Would you like fries with that?

Hello All,

I hear that they are sending out roses from McDonalds now. And I get excited about a free cup of coffee. Does anyone know anything about the roses, do you have to do anything/anyone special to receive them?

hmmmmmmmmm

GOTCHA-DAY!!!! 2 years ago!

I can't believe that it has already been 2 years that this little guy has blessed our hearts. I can remember this day 2 years ago like it was yesterday, and I cannot even remember what I had for lunch today. This picture was taken for our first meal as a FOREVER FAMILY! We of course had to dress him in a Cubs outfit. Mike and I arrived in Guatemala that morning around 6 am, we were so excited and so tired all at the same time. We checked into the hotel and thought maybe we would be able to get some breakfast and then a short little nap before Evan's arrival. He was due to be at the hotel around noon. I ate pancakes, that always makes me tired. Then we went to the room and both just laid on the bed, I don't think either one of us thought we would fall asleep. At 10:45 am the phone rang, I couldn't figure out what that noise was. Finally I grabbed the phone. It was our attorney Heidy, she was in the lobby with Evan and the foster family! Mike and I showered in 2 minutes, we were in the lobby at 11:00. I was so excited, nervous, anxious, ready, but most of all happy to be seeing our little guy again. The foster mom was sitting on a couch with Evan all wrapped up in about 6 blankets, the foster dad was kinda pacing around. Evan was sleeping. Heidy greeted us and re-introduced everyone. The foster mom had big sunglasses on, I think she had been crying. I was trying to hold it together. I had a pen and paper ready for taking notes about our new baby, what did he like, how did he like to be held, what was he eating, did he like to be rocked. I tried to pay attention to Heidy as she told me everything the foster mom said. But all I was thinking was, 'I want that little baby under the blankets'. I was writing all kinds of things down, for the life of me, I don't have a clue what I wrote, or whatever happened to that paper. Finally Evan started to stir. He kinda popped his head up, and he was so cute! He just looked around and watched. Finally after what seemed like 10 hours, I said to the foster mom 'can I hold him', can I hold him like for the rest of his life!!! She slowly unwrapped him, it took her about an hour. Finally he was handed to me! His mom! Oh My God, I thought I was gonna die right there! He just laid his head down on my chest like he totally knew that I was his new mama! In the blur of things, I heard Mike trying to figure out how to turn on the camera, I heard the foster dad snapping photos of Evan and Mommy, I heard the attorney say, 'look, he knows that is his mama'. Then I don't know what happened. I just remember I was holding on to him like I had never held anything before. I know that I thanked the foster mom a million times for taking care of my little boy, for loving him and kissing him until I got there. Then in a blur Mike and I were up in a hotel room with a little person, who we knew liked formula, who needed 2 naps a day and needed our attention. We quickly dressed him in his Cubs outfit and then went to lunch. When I look back at that part, I am still amazed. We show up in Guatemala as husband and wife, now 5 hours later we are a family! I do remember that first time going down to the lobby with Evan, thinking that someone was going to come up to us and take him away. Like we made a mistake, we checked your paperwork, you need to give him back.

Our lives are wonderfully better since we had these babies. Evan is such a sweetheart. I love just to look at him. Even when he is having a fit about something, I still think he is the sweetest thing ever. March 28 we accepted his referral, July 16 we met him for the very first time, September 23 he was placed in our arms forever. I hope this blog is still on line when he gets his first girlfriend, she had better love him like his mama does!

We are so blessed! I think about how long it took to bring him home. We were so lucky with both of our boys to be able to bring them home so soon. So many families have the dreaded waiting game, that last forever. We waited, but we were so lucky. Somebody must be looking out for us.

Evan is napping right now, so when he gets up, we will have cake and balloons and Mike and I bought him a new James engine with bees on it. He loves James. Don't worry it's not a recalled one. Then he will just spend the rest of the day running around the house, tormenting Nick and getting into everything possible.

One Happy Mama.

Something you don't ever think that your mother would say ...

Tonight on the phone with my mom, my mom was talking about the boys, that is normal. Then she says, "have you ever noticed how big Nick's penis is?" Ok, well that is something that I would never think that I would hear from my mother, and I am sober! So I casually respond, "Mike thinks that is why he is so happy, he knows already". She laughs, I laugh and we move on to the next topic! I love my mom!

I love my Nicky's noodle, I mean I love my Nicky noodle!!!

Here is a picture of Nick on the steps that my dad built, so that they can look out the window all day long. This will be the subject of many fights this winter I imagine. When the snow is flying and mommy is snug in the house and the boys are dying to get outside, they will at least be able to look at the snow!

Favorite Friday Foto!

Who is this linebacker? I still love this picture of Evan, what a mug. Look at those cheeks, I thought we would need a full adult ticket when we brought him home. What a porker. He was 5 months old when this picture was taken. I remember getting his up-date from Larissa and then taking each photo all over NB to show them our beautiful boy. I'm sure I was crying the whole time, so I missed the funny expressions that were probably on family and friends faces! We are so lucky to have this little brown eyed boy in our home!

At Wrigley

Go Cubbies!!!!! September 18, 2007. Mike was so happy to take his little guy to a Cubs game, even though they lost.

Kinda excited

They got there for batting practice, Evan got a ball, so that made Mike's evening.

Getting ready for the big game

Daddy and Evan all decked out for the game. Sitting on the front porch reading up about the Cubs.

Check out the Andersons!!!

Attention!!!

Check

out the

Andersons,

good lord!!!!!

NB Hotties

Hi Girls,
I am finally free to be at the computer and post something. That was the longest 8 minutes in history! Look at the girls, do you notice 5 girls and 4 beers, no beer for Donna Sue. I won't talk about what happened at Brewsters. I didn't get to finish my pasta today, I made homemade chicken lasagna for my parents. It was yummy! Mike was home for lunch, then went into the office. I told my mom and dad that I always cook Mike a lunch like this! HA. He had the exact same thing for dinner. I had a wonderful time last night, I am still clicking around the house, just like Anne.

Now, when are we going to the Jodie Foster movie, let's make a plan!

I've only got 8 minutes ...

I better hurry and get this done, I only have 8 minutes! Oh Oh, I better go, I will write more tomorrow when my 8 minutes are done!

xoxo

ALL the way up the stairs

Yesterday on DAY 10, I was too worn out to post, well my heart was just beating too fast. Normally when I have to use the ladies room at home, both of the boys follow me in and are fascinated by most everything in the bathroom. Evan tells me 20 times over and over that I do not have a penis, OK I get that. And Nick opens all the drawers to use them as a stair case so that he can climb onto the vanity, to climb up to the light fixture, to jump over to the shower rod, to use it like he is practicing for the 2016 gymnastics! So I am doing my business with no entertainment for once, I might have sat an extra 2 seconds. So when I come out, Evan is sitting at the kitchen table looking at a book. I ask him where is Nick? He calmly states 'in the living room'. He is not. So I look by the front door, a favorite place of his, because he is always trying to escape. Then on to dad's office, that door is closed, so that is safe. Then down the hallway to the guest room, he is not in there or the guest bathroom. And I have to look everywhere because daddy has started playing hide-n-seek with the boys and Nick loves to hide in very small places. And when he does, he just sits until you find him, Evan on the other hand will repeat over and over, 'find me ma-ma', until you find him. Anyway, back down the hallway I head, back into the kitchen, check under the island, no Nick. Look in the new room, under the dining room, no Nick. I am just about to blame Evan for finally getting rid of his little brother, when I hear, much to my dismay, the pitter patter of little feet running down the hallway UPSTAIRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG, I flew up the stairs in like 3 steps, around the landing and caught up with him as he was headed into our room! I was floored! I pick him up and very loudly, because my heart was beating so hard, tell him that he can not come up the stairs by himself. He just looks at me and grins. Then as I am walking down the stairs with him, he just looks over at me and puckers his lips, meaning he wants to kiss me. He had better kiss me after he almost gave me a heart attack! So I wanted to have a beer then too, but I didn't. I just kinda sat down with both the boys and tried to breath normal again! Nicky is going to be in the ER way before Evan ever is. He is a little dare devil.

Today is DAY 11 ... I think

Today was a hard day. We started off by heading up to Benton Harbor YMCA to check out a class for Evan and then looking into membership for old tub-o (me). Well, we were late for Evan's class, so we just got a look at the place. It it a wonderful place and has great classes, for both Evan and I. But I am afraid the drive would kill me. Especially in the winter, I am not a good snow driver. Although, I might be better, now that I have my mom car. (right at this moment the boys are DUMPING out every toy they have all over the place, and Mike should be home in like 10 minutes!!) Anyway, I think I will look into the YMCA (are you singing yet?) in Michigan City, a bit closer and maybe more do-able. So from there we go to McDonalds for lunch. Evan eats and then I have to bribe him into climbing on the play land stuff. He doesn't want to do any of it, regardless of the fact that Nicholas has climbed to the top and is jumping off like he is Superman! Finally, Evan starts to climb around in this germ infested jungle gym, and I am actually happy about it. Well, then this little 4 year old girl comes in, she starts playing with Evan. She is 4 so she is telling Evan what to do and where to climb and all that kind of stuff. So I am sitting there watching and being so happy. Nick is all over the place! Then my sweet little Evan hits this girl in the face, right if front of me and the other mom! OMG, I was in total shock. Now at home I am used to saying yelling at Evan to not hit Nick, but I was not prepared for this. So I make him take a time-out and he goes crazy!!!! He won't sit up, he is screaming at the top of his lungs, trying to take his shirt off and all the time I am just standing there in amazement. Then he says to me (in front of the other mom) "I hit Nicky at home". Well, yes you do Dameon, but not in public. I was so glad that we were out of town! We quickly ran to the car and came home. Evan went to sleep in about 2 minutes and looked like a little angel, little devil is more like it. By the time I was home, I was fine and one of Nancy's fancy brownies did the trick for me!!!!

Two cutest boys in NB

Look at these guys! In their matching Stray Dog shirts. They only way I could get Evan to smile like that was to tell him that right after mommy took 100 pictures of them, he could watch Thomas! And of course, Hop had to be in the picture. I wonder what Nick will start carrying around 24/7?? These steps go up to our upstairs, I caught Mr. Climber (Nick) on stair # 11 yesterday, don't tell daddy. He climbs out of anything and on everything. We never once had to use the straps in the high chair for Evan, but Nick gets strapped in like he is Britney Spears at the Old Country Buffet!! Today we went to Lowes and McDonalds, see how exciting my life has become! Anyway, he climbed out of the cart at Lowes and the high chair at McDonalds. Then Evan won't play on the big kid stuff, he just kinda stands and watches. But Nick he was right over there, like watch out, here I come.

Speaking of Britney Spears, I read one of the reviews about her performance at the VH1 or MTV or UPS show, which ever one, I don't have a clue. They just ripped her bulging stomach! Well, I am here to say, I would swap in a heart beat with her bulging stomach! Oh my, that poor girl, now I am not saying that she should have been in a bikini in front of millions of critics, but come on, the woman popped out 2 kids in like 1 year! I had 2 kids in 1 1/2 years, and I would never ever be in a bikini, at least on TV!

I need to go finish my Super Sized Double Quater Pounder with Cheese.

The counter top guys are here!!!

I have a giant headache! They were to be here between 10-12, they showed up at 12! They must be associated with the cable company! They are not very friendly either. I have had lots of workers in here and they have been so pleasant. But these guys are just plain cranky! I hope all goes well, I don't want to get in a fight with them. With my charming personality, you probably think that could never happen, right??

Today is DAY 7!!!!! I even survived yesterday. Mike had a hard day at work yesterday, he had a golf outing, poor thing. So he left at 9 am and returned home at 11 pm. Of course since he held Nick ALL DAY SUNDAY, Nick was screaming bloody murder when he left, how nice for mommy. The plumber was here and put in my beautiful sink. How funny is that, I am getting excited about a sink, where have the years gone? The boys and I walked to the beach and caught the rail road tracks being fixed. So all of these different RR vehicles were going by right in front of us, Evan's eyes were as big as saucers. It was kinda like watching Mike watch the Playboy channel. All the guys were honking at us, so Evan loved that. Then when we got to the NB bridge, there was a guy fishing. So we had to stop and watch him. He was just bringing in his catch for the day, only one fish. He asked us if we wanted it? HA HA We made it to the beach and Evan came home covered in sand. Good day.

Well, I wonder if these guys need help carrying in the counter tops? I'm afraid to go into the kitchen, they are making lots of noise!

Yesterday Nick drove the Retro Rocket down into the living room. I was at the island making Evan something to eat and we hear this noise and then crying. Evan runs over to the landing and says 'mama Nicky big crash'. He survived, he is going to be my dare devil. I know have to strap him into his high chair. If I don't he climbs right out, I wonder if he is trying to tell me something about what I am feeding him!

Gotta run and help the workers!!! I have on my Zoning badge today!

Mouth Surfing??

Mouth Surfing, now that is an interesting thought. I learned a new one yesterday from Rah-Rah. So how are the other body parts today girls, just wondering?

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!

HOORAY, HOORAY!!!! The plumber is here! You know what that means, next the counter top guy will be here. Then the tile guy for my back splash. Then the wallpaper lady (my sister). Then the final painters. Then the furniture shopping. Then the big PARTY! I cannot wait. The plumber just asked me when we started this project. I told him back in 1985! I am so ready to have a totally working kitchen and all my junk back in the cabinets and my junk drawers filled to the top!

So who thinks I made it through the weekend without drinking? Well, I guess you all know, because you were all here to see me not drinking. Now I'm on my water binge, because of Nancy the Nurse. So I had to get up 6 times last night to pee. Then every time you flush the toliet, Nicholas cries because he can hear EVERYTHING. So maybe I should go back to beer, because then my body will be dehydrated and I won't need to pee anymore.

I am writing a sympthy letter to the Regis and Kelly show to ask them to take my postcards that came back to me!!! Hopefully someone will have a heart and let me enter my 100 cards! That I hand wrote with 2 boys on my lap, both screaming the whole time! Then I have to walk down to the post office to over night mail my letter, the ladies at the post office probably think I am crazy. Oh well.

Have a great day and I'm sure something will happen to me today that needs to be posted.

OH MY

My wonderful husband is making dinner and I am trying to stay away from his glass of wine. I could use a big swig of that.

Trying to be the good girl that I am, I am sending some more clothes to the orphanage in Guatemala. So I e-mailed the guy that I sent things to before just to make sure that he was still involved. My blog address was at the bottom of my e-mail, great! Nancy thinks that I should hide these entries from Larissa and Sue also. I would do that if I knew how to work a computer! Do you have any idea how long it takes me just to post a blog. Is that what it is called?

Right this moment Evan is lining up his trains on the hearth. And Nick is looking for scraps of crackers! Oh my!

I need to win the van on Regis and Kelly!!!!!

OK, I had 100 of these postcards and I addressed them all, the van should be showing up any day now! How could they not pick those 2 adorable little guys!!

Barney Fife Messinger

Calling all cars, calling all cars. I took the boys to Niles, MI today to a going out of business furniture place. Tons of stuff and I only took the umbrella stroller. So that means one kid in the stroller, one kid on my hip. Well, we started with Evan in the stroller. That didn't last too long, too hard to push the stroller on carpet and Nick is heavy! (Not as heavy as Amy, but that is another story) So Nick is put in the stroller, Evan throws a mini fit, but I just walk away and pretend he is not with me, I think that makes him mad. Then I was ready to shop, I found some incredible sales. But about the exciting part of my day. We were headed home on 12, when I noticed a truck driving over all over the place in front of me. I quickly jumped on my cell phone and called 911. The guy was driving really bad, so I decided to follow him to see if the police really do show up. Well he pulls off the road I told 911, so I was like do I call 911 back and tell them where he is now? Then he goes by a school and I am just holding my breath. So about 30 seconds later, right as I was getting ready to do a citizens arrest, I already had my Zoning Committee badge on, a cop pulls up and zips between me and the truck. He follows very close behind him, and then pulls the guy over. I casually drive by and then I am out in the middle of nowhere and very lost. So I turn around and drive back by the scene of the crime. I'm thinking the cop will probably pull me over and tell me that I am such a good citizen for calling in a drunk driver, and then I can go on and or about how I don't even drink! (Well for 4 days at least) When I pull up by the cop car, the person is out of the truck and kinda weaving around. I say person, because I think it was a woman. Either it was the ugliest woman I have ever seen, or it was the ugliest guy I have ever seen with boobs. So that was my excitement of the day. We were coming home on Route 12 and thank God there was not a cop behind me, because after hearing 'ma-ma I need help' 37 times in a row, I was trying to pick up Henry and fix Evan's shoes and I was probably driving all over the place too!

WEIGHT

I did it tonight, I weighed myself. I was holding both Evan and Nick, so I'm sure it was a little bit more than what I thought it would be, oh brother!

On a much lighter note, when Diane was here she made a comment that she heard Evan say a 4 word sentence. Well tonight he said, "Look Mommy, Nicky is walking down the hallway again". I was really impressed with his vocabulary until I realized what hallway he was walking down! We were upstairs and I was folding laundry in my bedroom, the boys had been playing in Evan's room. By the time I got to Nick, he was standing at the top of the stairs peering over the side. I about had a heart attack! I got him in time and he of course was mad. So I brought him into my room and put him in an empty laundry basket, that lasted about 2 seconds. He is Mr. Speedo! I thought Evan was fast when he was little, oh boy, watch out.

This is DAY 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tired boy

Nicky was out after about the 5th inning. He will have many more games in his future

Cubs 2, Beers 0

Mike and I and the boys at the Cubs game. The other team won that night, but we managed to stay for most of the game and I had ZERO beers!!!

Day 3

What happened to DAY 2, well where do I start. Maybe I missed DAY 2, because that is how long it took me to figure out how to post on my blog!! I swear this blog thing could drive me to drink! I guess Tuesday was my first full day of not drinking, but it was a challenge! The day time part was fine, not having a shower until 2 p.m. was ok, watching Nick try to climb into the shower from the bath tub didn't even throw me over the top. I put him in a DRY tub with lots of toys while I shower, he tries the whole time to climb out of the tub to get to me. It's like watching a turtle try to get out of a fish tank. (Hope Larissa or Sue aren't reading any of this.) We went to Chicago for an evening Cubs game, oh that's any easy night of not drinking! First of course, we go to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner. I figure since I am not drinking I can eat more food! Dinner was fantastic!! Then since I was the D.D., I will drive us to Wrigley. Well after going over 2 curbs and almost hitting a pedestrian, getting yelled at by a very angry Chicagoan, (Thank God for NB) we made it into the park. Well almost, Amy and I had to have our bags searched in case we were carrying in any weapons, the only weapon I could have had was a dirty diaper! Wouldn't that be funny if the guy stuck his hand in my diaper bag and out it came, messy! Just the thought of me taking in a diaper bag to a Cubs game is kinda funny! So Robin has Evum and she gets right in and RUNS to our seats, I still don't know why? So Amy and I are mooing through the crowd of Chicagoans, some of them not so friendly, we were about to find. This guy is pushing a wheelchair and decides that Amy is not walking fast enough, he tries to drive it up her back legs. She squeals out in agony. I of course am right there to help her because Robin has escaped with my first born. I turn and look at this angry man and smack him right in the face, he falls flat on his back, I then proceed to beat up the lady in the wheel chair. Then I scoop up Amy, carry her the mile to the First Aid station. Hold her hand through all the x-rays, cat scan, stitches and pain shots. All the time wondering if my first born is having his first beer! After we get Amy's crutches we are able to finally work our way to our seats. Where we find Robin in glee with Evum! Well, some of that really happened. Robin did escape with Evum and Amy did get hit by a wheel chair. The guy was a real hum dinger, I really did want to hit him with my diaper bag. But I thought if I get kicked out of a Cubs game sober, I would be really mad. Her heel really was scraped up, I didn't really carry her to First Aid, although I could have, just throw her up on my hip like I do Nick. Anyway, the game was great. We managed to stay until the 7th inning stretch. Evum seemed to really enjoy himself and Nick didn't eat any foreign objects! We had a really good evening at the game.

Here is a picture of Nick and I on the weekend before I started my no drinking binge. I will weigh myself later, I will not be posting that though!!

Hello All,
I have decided to start a blog, welcome to 2007! This blog will document my desire to stop drinking for a bit. I don't want to say 30 days or 90 days, or even 3 days, I will just try to stop. And since I am up practically every night anyway, I thought this would be a good outlet for me.

Here are my Top Ten Reasons Why I Need To Stop Drinking.

10. NONE of my clothes fit!
9. I look like a stuffed sausage in a bathing suit.
8. My beer budget far exceeds my mortgage payment.
7. Evan now recognizes beer labels.
6. I need more energy.
5. My body looks like I actually gave birth to my boys.
4. I'm starting to look like a bar fly.
3. I'm still trying to get pregnant.
2. New hobbies are fun to start at any age.

And the number one reason why I want to stop drinking ...

1. I will finally be a DD (designated driver).

So there you have it, I am starting Day 1. Now I know that it is 5 AM and my temptation level is not too high right now, but this is just a start. The true test will be this evening when I go to my first Cubs game tonight with Rah-Rah, Amy, Mike and the boys. Rah-Rah, Amy and Mike will not be any trouble, but the boys will be pushing me to have a cold beer. I can just see Nick now at the game, he is so excited and I know that he will want to sit on my lap the entire time. He will probably not even want to be down on the gross dirty floor where every thing possible has been either poured or spit there.

Ok, now I need to figure out how to use this page and post and make sure that all of you can follow me on this wonderful journey!

Good Night and Good Morning!

xoxo