Ricky Walking

I am a terrible mother for not documenting this when it happened, but Ricky has been walking since about 10 months. Since end of April, early May. I love watching his little bum waddle around the apartment and out in the field behind our home. So fun. Here is a video of his best efforts. I just love his little monkey smile and determined spirit. He is quite agressive at anything he wants to do. I have no doubt that this kid (much like his brother) can do anything he decides to do!

Getting It Together

Hey there! Yep, another month passed and again, I have to catch up. I have got to get better at keeping up with this. As usual, I have photos, video, etc. Check it out below for a quick catch up of the fun things. So, we are headed into July and just completing our 2nd year in Pittsburgh. What a ride! Some great, some good, some just okay and a few bad things have marked our stay out ease, but we find that we are in tact, still happy, still faith abiding and so we figure....if it didn't kill us, it made us stronger. We have kicked this 3rd year in Pittsburgh off with a bang and actually take a few road trips, a fun flight to the west coast for a little Disney action and who knows where else. I just want to leave Pittsburgh city limits at least once a month for the summer and fall. We are quite pent up after 2 years home with kids, bills, jobs, pregnancy, etc. Cant wait to hit the open road (or skies as it may end up). We are missing family, missing the beach, missing friends, but happy to be where we should be and grateful for our friends here. Miss you guys! I will upload things as they happen from now on......Okay, I will still stink at updates but I will try!

Where The Heck Have We Been?

Well, i have failed my blog!! months without updates = anxiety for me so I am going to catch myself up here. The seasons are back to Spring and the days are beautiful. Today is 75 degrees and I am loving it. Hence, activity resumes for us and the kids. I think I will start with each of us and then go on to fun activities we have been up to.

Ricky: Now 10 & 1/2 months is all over the place. He is walking everywhere now. Crawls are limited to take off and landing now and he loves it. He reminds me of Jakie walking at this age as they are quite similar in their approaches. Ricky loves to squawk at mom, says momma and daddee, bugs Jacob endlessly, and truly loves his momma! Every night I get a sweet snuggle and then he is off to bed where he sleeps like a stink bug (rear in the air on his knees and hands under his fore head). I try to get a pic, but doing something that could wake him after a long day takes guts! I have not yet succeeded. Ricky loves being in his shorts, laying on the grass and watching people when we go to play with friends. Such a great child!

Jacob is winding down his pre-school year and gets to be a clown (Such a stretch huh!) for his pre-school circus performance coming in a few weeks. He has made many friends and especially likes his buddy's Cody and Brody. He gets birthday invites and loves to attend when he can. His teachers love him but keep him in line...just like momma. We went to the science center last week (see pics below) and frequently do the Children's museum when we can. Cant wait to add in the Zoo, water park, and kid amusement parks, county fares, and this summer ...Disney Land and the beach! He will be sick of fun by the time kindergarten rolls around next fall. I think we have waited to do so much until we could that now our list is super long! Jakie is currently reading the small readers and able to sound out a shocking number of words. He spends his days running, playing, skipping, singing, reading books, watching PBS sprout, playing games at pbskids.org and spending time playing with his little brother Ricky to whom his is just wonderful (most of the time). We feel blessed to have a bright, loving, energetic and rewarding little boy! Love you Jakie!

Rick and I are about the same.... Exhausted. Work is busy, life is busy and we get the fun stress of preparing to return to court on the 4th with our old land lord. We both wish this was over but we have not really got any choice in the matter. We are just praying that the Lord is with us and that we don't have any problems. As usual though, Che' sara' sara' (what will be, will be) right?

We are both looking forward to a little R&R or even just fun on our trip out west. Wish you were all there! We try to get out with the kids to the parks, hit the fun spots (Chucky Cheese) and do fun drives to close by stuff often and that aids in the get a way feel. Cant wait to do a real trip though. Aside from that, we are excited to be making plans for the future. We are working hard to close out student debt, save for home, etc. and it feels good to get those things in motion. Guess we are grown ups now huh (30 years and 2 kids later)?

Ahhh, now that we have been updated on the last few months... here is the proof of our fun! love you guys! Wish everyone could visit or join us in our travels. I will update more often now that there is much to take pics of!)

I think the pics say it best so here you go:

Carnegie Science Center: We are going to have to get a pass to this one. Jacob loved the sports facility shown with the bungee, etc. and the water floor was a hit as well. Cant wait to go back!

*Easter was a blast! Candy, hide and go seek, Conference in Jammies... Such a great day.

*Ever been to Canton, OH? Well, we went and met our friends Dan and Sarah there. The guys went in and the ladies went shopping! After, we all got some BBQ. Such a great day!

*Soccer has started again. See Jakie Run....See Jakie Score! He is much better this year and has so much fun!

*Even Ricky wants to play!

*Daddy proudly observes fresh from work! Such a proud pappa.

*Lazy Saturdays in the Parks:

*look at me stand!

*These are for your Grandmas: He is growing up so fast. I can't believe how big he is!

On The War Path

I think of myself as a cool, calm, collected woman that can handle stress with grace and dignity. Of course that would cause everyone else that knows me to ask this question: Have you ever met yourself Sarah?

Recent Case in point:

I must have been on the war path today because when Jacob did not listen to daddy (quickly enough), I set him straight firmly but lovingly. He took it a bit differently than I anticipated though.

His reply? "Oh, momma, don't chop my brains out!"

Really? Chop your brains out?? Well, that gave me pause. I guess I certainly could be kinder, sweeter, nicer, softer, easier, and I am sure more patient! But then, he could listen right? It is the chicken & the egg thing, but I guess I should just do a little better each day right? Maybe a little sweeter & softer but still firm?

I did not know I was chopping brains out bad (Rick agreed after Jacob informed me though), but it certainly gives me a point of reference! Maybe next time I will go for just over reacting.

Starting tomorrow I think tomorrow will have to be a little extra attention and softness to redeem myself.

Ah, it must give my mother great satisfaction to read this. I accused her of "chopping brains out" or the like when she was irritated with us too. SORRY MOM! You were great, irritated, sometimes irrational, but definitely still great. Hopefully Jakie feels that way about me someday too.

Historic Day:(

Well, I just finished watching a day of debate and the big vote this evening over the direction of the health care/country). It has been a year long debate that has captured my attention and stoked my constitutional passions. It is official now thought that the bill is now now over the first hump. I am nervous and trepidations to see where it leads, but time will tell. I sure hope that the benefits promised are even remotely true, or that it does not stand as legal to have been done..
There is much to say on the subject but after much review of my thoughts, I realize that I have nothing nice to say about the proceedings I witnessed so, I think will say nothing!

Nah, that is not like me is it? Okay, maybe just a few words, **1232, ###$#$# and #!@ and @Q@#$# and @#$#. Ah, that felt better!! Cant wait to see the high courts rulings on this one.! (No need to decode my thoughts, just wanted to show solidarity!)

I'm a great gal though so if you disagree, just love me anyway!

See you at a rally folks!

-Sarah

Catching Up With Us... Ever Met An Olympian?

Ever met a Gold Metal Olympian? Well, Rick did. He met a few! UPMC has a benefit night and they had the Pittsburgh Penguins serving meals at a benefit that helped some charity. I could not go so I was not too worried about the charity. Hope they made lots though! Anyway, Ricks table had Max Talbot as their waiter.They got to get autographs and mingle a bit and Rick loved it. Rick had to wait in line, but he also got to meet Sidney Crosby just days after his big upset shot in the Olympics in Vancouver, BC. Crazy huh. You can see from the pictures how excited Rick was! Rick had a great time at the benefit, at well, mingled and once again, realized how fun the perks can be. My PB&J sandwich that night did not compare, but I don't begrudge him! One day I will get to join him or go have a lobster when he goes to other great events! I love where life takes us. Never a dull moment! On that note: we are definitely staying in Pittsburgh for at least another few years as Rick was offered his current position (post fellowship this summer) at a rate we can live with so we are excited to know that our future has a longer term direction. We wish we were near our long time friends though! We miss you guys.

Well, maybe a few dull moments! I have just been up to the same old, same old. Right now my big thing is working out. I was swimming 3-4 x's per week doing 1 mile each day, but then I realized that my body was using my muscle for calories!! ARGH! Exercise science is some crazy stuff. My weight was going down, but my muscle % was going down! How does that happen? Muscle eats fat, but the body uses muscle as an easy source of energy during long cardio work outs. Swimming makes you leaner if you are eating right and using resistance training in addition. Anyway, I switched up my routine to fix the issue and am now working on that. I have mentioned it before, but my basis for the workouts and way I eat (already ate this way, just without a few of the great life long principles I now know) is the ABS Diet for Women. There are a few variations on the Diet, but the one for women is so great. I recommend checking it out if you are stuck in your workout and eating well and working out reasonably (20 min resistance 3x's a week, and cardio 20 minute intervals 0-3 x's a week) sounds like a nice change. The explanations are clear and I have seen things working already. They work so well so I am excited to jump start my workouts and get some real results that can last. I'll post good pics as I reach my goals. Can't wait to hit my goals!

Aside from that, I am just keeping the house running, keeping the kids safe and anxiously monitoring our country's political climate. I am so worried about the direction we are headed in and do what I can to aid in the conservative movement that we were founded on. I monitor it in my spare time, but worry about it frequently. I want my kids to have a great future and to be rewarded according to their efforts. I hope our country backs the principles that lead to freedom, safety and productivity. Not sure if that is going to happen without some huge efforts on the part of the people. Anyway, that is what I am up to.

Jake is doing great as well. He loves pre-school (Show & Tell days in particular), loves PBS Kids.com, loves Rick and loves to play. Jake is doing great in his last year of pre-school and his teachers love him. He is ready for kindergarten in the Fall, but loves where he is at now. After such a long winter, he is so excited for sun (we finally have some) and riding his bike each day. We hope the weather holds out! At home, he has been such a great big brother and helps mom & dad so much. We are taking him to Disney Land in the Summer and cant wait to see his sheer excitement that I know we will see. We are patiently waiting for Summer to come for other reasons: Water park play dates, vacations, Saturday get a ways with Daddy & Mom, visiting extended families, ice cream runs and ice cold sprites. Somehow they all happen more (if not only) in summer!

Ricky is growing at an incredible rate. He is for all markers and measurements the same as Jacob was. Same sitting up 6 months, same crawling 7 months & standing at 9, same teeth in the same place at the same time-we are up to 8 now- 4 top/4 bottom, same hair line -exact, same temperament-feisty/sweet, same smile -big and mischievous, same naughty little suborn streak, same pretty much everything (so far as I can remember). He is a great little baby and great little spirit thought, distinctly Ricky. He will be walking in a few weeks, I am just sure and then we will see what emerges. I love watching him develop and love loving him. He continues to grow tons, love tons and makes us smile daily.

Well, that is pretty much what we are up to. Some fun, some just daily excitement, but we are happy, healthy and love being a little family. We miss everyone and hope you are happy and healthy as well!

Deep Thoughts (Dreams) ****By Jacob...

And Today.. Deep thoughts by Jakie:

Ever had an irrational fear? Ever had a funny/scary dream? Well, 5 year olds are no exception. I remember as a kid having really scary dreams that when said aloud were not quite so scary, but rather funny. I thought I would document this one for Jakie so he could look back one day and laugh. Here is the conversation that was had between Rick and Jake (while Rick got Jake ready for bed) in its entirety:

Jacob: Dad, I had a really scary dream last night.

Rick: Really? What was your dream about

Jacob: No! I don't want to tell about it.

Rick: Jake, you don't have to be afraid. What was your dream about?

Jacob: Oh:( I had a dream that my hair grew really long and a mean person used me as a mop!

Rick: Silence...(letting it register)...belly laugh!

Jacob: It's not funny dad! I don't want to be a mop!

Rick: still chuckling, I think you are okay Jake. No on will use you as a mop.

Jacob: Oh, okay.

Rick tells Sarah later that night to a familiar reaction...

Sarah: Silence...(letting it register)...belly laugh!

Oh, our kids. They are nuts! I love that being used as a mop is the most violent/scary thing he can conjure. I am glad that the world has not gotten in there yet. Wish I could keep that his worst fear ever! We were sad to see that he was scared though. I will have to tread lightly next time I mop the kitchen and bathrooms!