Couple more beach photos

Beach Photos borrowed from my sister's much more complete and lovely blog...

Gratitude - Lessons from the Beach and Beyond

What do you get when you put 9 related adults and 6 children in a beach house for a week?


Answer: plenty of time in the sand and water, a relentless stomach bug, several fevers, at least 7 temper-tantrums, an empty bottle of Disarrono, an ant invasion, sunburns, smores, cuddle time with a lovely (and well-behaved) baby, and a lot of fun.

...and the decision to wait two years to do it again!

Seriously, we had a great time and I am looking forward to seeing the pictures that Jake took since I did not get around to taking many (my 2-year-old was the least behaved child, and also the most sick, and subsequently taking pics was low on my list).

That said... I did get a few good ones on the ol' camera phone.

 Erin and Sweet Maya and Mr. Cutsie Xander

 My Stud Muffin and my Mini-Me

 McKenzie and Nate hamming it up

 My Big Kid

 Ella making an Ella-face

 Xander - amazingly wonderful 2-year old going on 7...

 My sweet boy

 Half the grandkids + half a Xander

 All the Grandkids in one place for a moment

 Got two pics and then it was over - they move so quick!

 Big Nate and Baby Maya

Hey... let's do this again... in like 25 months!

So here are my lessons from the beach (and beyond)

1) First, you can prepare and prepare, plan and pack (and pack and pack) But when traveling with 15 people, you will need to make at least 1 trip to the Piggly-Wiggly per day.

2) There should be a 2 adult to each 2-year-old rule at all times.

3) No one should be allowed to be sick while on vacation.

4) Massage Therapists should come with the cost of all beach house rentals.

5) Coming home to a clean house, clean sheets, and a house that never weathered Hurricane Hugo is a beautiful thing.

I love my family and I love vacations. I am so fortunate to be able to share these experiences with my sisters and their families; to give my kids these memories and to find a way to make it work. When we asked Nathan what his favorite part of the vacation was, I figured he would talk about the time we snuck away to the ice cream parlor and got dishes of bubble-gum ice cream, or the bike rides with his dad, or the boogie-boarding, or Fort Sumter with Grandma. His answer: getting to see "the whole family together -- except for Uncle Shane who will be there next time."

Yup. See ya next time. Me... I am going to start saving now. $40 a month (25 months) $10 a week. I can do that. I might even save a little more for that massage therapist!

Cute Kid Pics

Do to a minor technological glitch, these pics did not make the last blog entry.  -- Oh well, that gives me credit for 2 in one week!

Here is our 2-year old beating the heat in the kiddie pool with my colander. Classic.

And a little earlier in the month my dad and I took Nathan to a Rochester Red Wings vs. the Charlotte Knights baseball game. Nate's favorite part was the cotton candy.

Good times...

Does Momo Know? and... Countdown to Vacation!

I am on vacation!

Well, technically I am not on vacation for 5 more days. Nathan still has school for 4 days. I have meetings and work that must be done this week. But in my head... I am on vacation already. I have checked out.

yup!

Memorial Day came and went with plenty of swimming and family time and today the temperature is supposed to be 100 degrees of lovely Carolina awesomeness. It is hard to do anything outside because it is so hot and it is too nice outside to do anything inside. Which is perfect because "nothing" is exactly what I want to do.

Nathan's science fair is this afternoon and his project "Does Momo Know" is a study on how humans learn new facts. Also known as: "Will Morgan sit still long enough to have Nathan teach him his colors?" Conclusion: Test subject has a hard time focusing on one thing long enough to absorb information as it is presented. (However, when he says "purple" it is about the cutest thing I have ever heard.) I think Nate will get an "A." He worked very hard and practiced his presentation for a week. The other kids made volcanos -- or rockets -- or poisoned plants. Nathan chose a project where he could play with his baby brother. That makes me super proud.

On Saturday we leave for a much-deserved and anticipated week at the beach with my sisters + families, + parents. We will have 15 people this year  -- and I can't wait. I will take LOTS of pictures.

Note to self: Buy aloe.

Florida for Spring Break!

For Nathan's Spring Break, I took a week off of work and drove the 10+ hours to Tampa to see Jason's family. I was told I was crazy to drive the whole way with 2 kids alone. And I think I would have to agree. I am nuts! Snacks and toys and drinks and blankies.... oh my!

Luckily the drive down (starting at 2:30am!) went rather smoothly with my sleeping angels and my library-borrowed audio book. We arrived safely at 2:45 pm and were warmly welcomed by "PapPap" and Grandma Sue, who generously watched the boys while I took a much-needed nap!

Jason arrived the next day and we had a great time swimming and enjoying the super-hot weather of the sunshine state. I wish we could have spent more time together... maybe next weekend!

 Nathan had lots of homework to do over the break, and actually managed to get most of it done before the trip -- but the one thing he had to do was take "Flat Stanley" on his vacation and then write a story about his adventures. Flat Stanley is pictured above with artist and adventure-sherpa Nathan Wier.

Here is Nathan and Flat Stanley visiting Grandma Kathy and Grandpa.

 Here is Flat Stanley and Nathan at PapPaps and Grandma Sue's house.

 Here is Nathan watching TV with Flat Stanley -- Nathan had a bad stomach bug the whole trip and was resting up here....

 Flat Stanley walking the treadmill...

 Flat Stanley meets the Easter Bunny.

 Flat Stanley goes for a ride on a golf cart!

 Flat Stanley hangs on a park bench near PapPap & Grandma Sue's.

 F.S. climbing a tree...

 Flat Stanley doing laundry.

 F.S. and Nathan throwing horseshoes.

...and Flat Stanley taking time to smell the flowers.

Nate and I had such a fun time doing this little project and made him feel a little better while he was sick on vacation - the poor guy hardly complained, but I knew he was not doing well, and hardly ate. Anyway, Nathan also got to go to a movie with Uncle TJ while he was in Florida and had a great time! TJ is great with the kids and Nate adores him (it may have something to do with the fact that he spoils him... not sure!)

Morgan was a typical just-2-year-old during the trip and I am glad he is so cute--it should keep him out of too much trouble. He was into everything and generally off-schedule, but he too enjoyed lots of swimming and plenty of walks around the block to tire him out and get him out of the house, and most of  all much-needed time with his grandparents.

On Sunday the Easter Bunny got the message about the trip and left plenty (plenty!) of candy and toys for the kids. It was wonderful to see them so joyful and delighted with the eggs and baskets.

Jason headed back on Sunday around 4 and I packed the kids up a little bit later after a lovely neighborhood Easter dinner. We again drove through the night and had no issues. That is at least 'til we got home and Morgan decided that was the time to wake up... but we had a talk and I bribed him with a big cup of milk and cuddling in mommy's bed. That lasted, (thank goodness) until 9 or so when I was able to drag myself out of bed and help Nate finish his Flat Stanley story.

Nate went to school late and Morgan and I enjoyed a nice day on the patio and park, and it would have been a perfect day had Nathan not had a bad spill on his bike late in the day. But he managed not to break anything (thank goodness!) and just has a bruised ego and ribs and case of road rash. Minor really in the end, but a reminder that I have boys and it is almost summer and I better stock up on neosporin and band-aids.

So... my wonderful mom came over, talked me off the ledge, fed the kids and sent me out swimming with the ladies. It has been a rough couple days and certainly no vacation for me, but the boys needed to see their grandparents and it was overdue. Time passes too quickly, and all too soon my kids will be grown. I am so in love with them, and can't imagine life any differently. I do not want to regret not giving them the memories they deserve. So many kids aren't lucky enough to have close families. We are blessed to have both sets of grandparents in the kid's lives.

Tomorrow I get back to work, try to catch up and make some sense of schedules and clients and the house and the kids. Luckily, though, sleep will get to come first.

Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday Morgan!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little boy. Morgan is two today...

We started the day off with doughnuts and a trip to the park. It was a lovely sunny day and so nice to start the day. Morgan loves to climb. And climb. And climb!

Later we packed up and went over to my parent's house to do some Easter-Egg hunting and cup-cake eating with my grandparents--followed by a kid-friendly hot-dog dinner. It was a ton of fun, and I hope that we didn't overwhelm anyone overly much (my boys can do that!)

This week we celebrate Morgan's birthday, potty-training, the stitches coming out, and a new-big-boy-bed. My little one did good - and accomplished a lot in just 7 days... I am so happy. And a new week with Pap-Pap & Grandma Sue is coming!

I have some fun pictures of the day -- and I will add those later

Busy Weekend and A Big Owwie.

The Wier's had a busy weekend! With Jason at his new job, and only home for the weekend, it seems as if we tried to pack a whole week of excitement into the weekend. I am not sure if that really happened, but it sure was busy. 

Mostly it was a Nathan weekend. On Saturday we went with his cub scout pack to see model airplanes (big models!) at the Charlotte Aeromodelers club. Fascinating to see all those fancy airplanes zooming overhead and doing tricks. 

 On Sunday Nathan had his pinewood derby event. His "Lightening McQueen" did very well -- Official results not in yet, but he made a serious showing.

After we had gotten Jason off to the airport and wrapped up the pinewood derby, I went home and got the kids ready for bed. After Mo's bath, he and I went downstairs, and he pulled a chair to the counter and fell off while I was in the bathroom. So the weekend ended with a literal "BANG" as he bit into his lip, chipped his teeth and needed immediate stitches!

After a rather traumatic trip to the ER, an emergency call to Grandma Kathy and 6 stitches (and then three more after he tore 3 out before we had to leave), Mo was back home safe. He slept next to me -- rather fitfully and kept asking for Daddy... poor thing. I wish Daddy had been there too!

But Big Mo woke up in the morning all bright and chipper - ready to play and climb and besides needing some dental work and having a snagily scar under his lip... he will be just fine!

It looks like Morgan's photo album for the year will be a collection of pictures of him climbing, and then the pictures of him suffering the consequences... luckily he is one tough cookie.

So.... busy weekend. I am glad it is Monday, and I am looking forward to next weekend when we get to celebrate Morgan's 2nd Birthday... that is if we make it!