Cute Giveaway on a New Favorite Blog I Have Found!

I have found this new blog that I am loving right now. She has two adorable girls, sews great stuff for them and posts regularly. You can check her out at Grosgrain and here at The Tumtum Tree. Don't the names just envision greatness!?

Also, she is doing her first giveaway this week. Go check out the adorableness, especially if you have a little princess to adorn!!!! It would go into my "someday-if-I-have-a-girl" stash, although I think Drew would actually love wearing it! Grosgrain: Strawberry Quart Caplet with Simple Sailing Frock FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Their Very Own Person.al.ity

***added notation: this picture completely and perfectly captivates the nature and personalities of our boys:

DREW: the word that best describes our first born is INQUISITIVE. Someone called him that at just a year old and again just last week a man at a tag sale used the same word to describe Drew within one minute of talking with him. Drew knows no stranger and can carry on a conversation with anyone at anytime about practically anything. He was such a good-natured baby and smiled at every camera on cue and flirted with all the "grandmas" and pretty girls out there. He also played so well independently figuring out every little detail of every toy. He knows random terms like filtrum, uvula and esophagus and uses them as if it is as normal as talking about your eyes or nose. He has an engineer mind and creativity which normally wears me out by the end of the day. :) He has a fantastic memory and recently shocked me when he recalled a story of when he burned his fingers on the bottom of the oven, by the pull-out drawer. He was 8 months old when it happened and I had not retold the story to him. One of these days I am going to do a post on the randomness and completely intriguing ingenuity of Drew Neiner, complete with pictures of all the things that I find at the end of his days work. He is, proudly, a momma's boy and I have no shame in admitting that! :) And I am in no rush to grow him out of that stage either! He is very affectionate and very, very sensitive and in tune with how others feel. He plays best with daddy, who is the king of storytelling and the most creative player in the family. Oh, and Drew's favorite color is very much yellow.

JACK: oh, my sweet jack! He is a complete boy and puts his heart into everything he does, especially eating!!! He is such a good eater and eats as much as his older brother does and in half the time! He loves ALL things BALLS and already has a good arm and can kick a soccer ball. He wasn't a talker for awhile (probably due to the chatterbox sibling of his) but I could tell he knew exactly what was going on. He knows lots of sign language and even comes up with his own signs with added sound effects. He loves being outside and LOVES the water. He is very shy with new people and will instantly put his head on my shoulder if he feels uncomfortable. His favorite animal is an owl (complete with "whoo-whoo") but his favorite lovey toy is the green plush elephant that drew gave to him at the hospital when he was born. Jack is a good sleeper, but sleeps best in his crib and when he's up, he's up! Drew is definitely his hero, when he's not grabbing something from him to try to "show him how it works" and makes him laugh the hardest and most often. Though Jack has a very layed-back, easy-going personality, he has got a t.e.m.p.e.r. This, I now know, he gets from his momma. At least, from when his momma was a little girl. My mom brought me my baby book and this, I quote, was one of her journal pages: "Erin had a better day. She is not hitting herself in the head as much when I tell her no." As you can imagine the abrupt hilarity over this one. Although, I can honestly say, that both my kids have done this action when angry. Funny...or not. So, back to Jack, he is either going to be a basketball coach (much like my dad was) or an opera singer because when he uses it, he has got a set of lungs on him!!!!! He does not care one bit about getting muddy, wet or dirty in the name of playing. Like I said, he is all boy!

I am so thankful that God's sovereign hand perfectly hand-picked these boys for us and placed them together for each other. They have enhanced our lives sooooo much and we feel so blessed to have the wonderful and challenging job of parenting and nurturing them. They are better together and make quite the pair. We are having a blast. Sometimes a bit worn out by the time the lights are out and doors are closed for bedtime, but a blast! We HIGHLY recommend it!!!

Through the Woods

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John had a looong meeting after church and out of pure desperation, I decided to take the boys on a stroll through the neighboring woods. It was a perfect evening and we visited "our" apple tree, ran in the open field, neighed at the fenced in horse, scared away a fox, gathered some redwood pinecones, met the neighbors black lab, and crossed over the brook (thanks to the tiny, rustic bridge and 2 very intruiging boys there are no photos of that). I could tell the boys just loved being out exploring in NATURE and it was great to just let them roam while getting some fresh air in the cool evening.

The sweetest thing: I am sooo glad I videoed this. Especially since Jack hardly holds my hand long enough to cross the street these days. But his big brother, well, that's another story.

The Greatest Guys Around

happy fathers day to our favorites:

A Slice of Real Life

It is 11:55pm.

I should be fast asleep.

But I am determined that I am going to have that hot cup of tea that just finished reheating and the apple turnover that I couldn't resist at the store today.

So why am I blogging, you may ask.

Because this is a moment I want to remember. This is real life. Not that the other moments aren't, they are just the happy-my-life-is-like-this moments that you want to share with the whole blogworld. And this, here, is an unedited, what-you-see-is-what-you-get-moment. (i am sparing you a photo) There's nothing real "finer" about this neiner right now!

I just had to give Drew a tepid bath-which did not go over so well-as his spiked fever awoke him.

John is gone till tomorrow and I am in the middle of decluttering what feels like my whole house, seeing that there is only a small corner on my dining-room table for my elbow right now. I am hosting the ladies Bible fellowship at our house this Thursday. Oh. And I've been potty training Jack. One pee in the potty (YAY), one on the floor, one in the Indian Ocean (he was sitting on his toy earth) and many, many in the whitey tidey's.

So life as you like it, good and bad, ups and downs, is still filled with people that you love, decisions that will make an impact, and ordinary days that are molding our little ones into the one he or she will become. I am so thankful that I am not in this alone. That "His faithfulness is new every morning." That I can know that "His grace is sufficient" and I can always move forward. Many have been my failings and much has been His grace. And even though sickness changes the normalcy of life, it always brings with it extra tenderness and sweetness. Something I always welcome. I think Drew summed it up well tonight as the washcloth cooled his forehead: "Mommy, I don't EVER want to give you away!!!"

Whew! Some days, I wonder!

And, if I might add, I really want my husband back. There is just something missing around here in his departure. I am so SO thankful he is part of my team. Oh, and honey, the kitchen sink is backing up reeeally bad. I almost called a plumber.

OK. Enough gabbing. I'm going to enjoy my cuppa english breakfast (after I re-reheat it) and that phylo apple turnover that's calling my name.

As It MAY Go:::

A LENGTHY SUMMARY: We were taking a little family day to a local town that has a GREAT art store that John & I love to hit whenever possible. While going through McD's drive through for their HUMMUNGO sweet tea for $1, my dad called. We chatted while creeping closer to our calorie-laden sweetness and he was chatting on about the high school play/musical Annie that he is(was) directing. After hearing about my family's happening out in the mid-west, we hung up, slurped on our sweet teas and headed home. It was during this time the thought was planted. Boy, would I love to be able to see my dad's play. This is his first one directing; this is a new school he is teaching at; I would love to be there for him. Wait a second...what date did he say it was? Hey, that's the same weekend as mother's day...AND my mom's birthday!!! And you know what, it's been a WHOLE year since they have seen Jack...who has changed SO MUCH. And he would still fly free. And now that John is working from home, maybe, just maybe it would work to leave Drew with him. Hmmmm...this might be a possibility. But it is kind of late to book a ticket. They will probably be through the roof by now. Lord...work it out if it's right. Moments later, I blurt out my thoughts to John who sweetly says, "Well, let's get the ball rolling and see if it will work out!!!" So I check online for tickets to see the outrageous price a ticket rings up to...WOW. For the next 2 days, there is a HUGE SALE. $99/one way!!!! I have to move fast. And so it happened. Jack & I flew out for a week to my hometown and my family.

[Jack's First Flight]

Leading up: I am finding as a mom with 2 kids, that no matter what things ALWAYS take longer than you expect. And packing is certainly NO EXCEPTION for this. I always try to think pack the minimal, but I am afraid I always get hung up with the "what if's" and throw in the extra "this & that" which quickly adds up. But packing up was going pretty smoothly and trying to leave things in order here so John wasn't pulling his hair out was coming together. There were, however, those inevitable bumps in the road.

Bump #1: Jack was really, really sick. All he wanted to do was watch pooh bear or baby einstein and be held with his favorite blanket and elephant. I normally don't ever mind these cuddly times they have (because I know it is gone just around the corner) but I was in a bit of a pinch at this point.



Bump #2: Jack comes into the kitchen in his footed pj's (it's still chilly here in may) with his hands full and catches his foot on the leg of his highchair and down he goes. Face plant into the kitchen floor. I know it's not good because he is crying. And Jack isn't a crier. Picking him up I see blood. Bad thing #2. I check his teeth and they are all in tact. Unfortunately, the tooth went into the lip...pretty deep. But after an orange freeze pop...he's ok.





Bump #3: I get sick. I am just feeling reeeeeeally lousy! My head feels like it's going to explode and I cannot imagine the pressure I will feel high in the sky in an airplane.

Bump #4: We get to the airport and I am pretty much a wreck. I am feeling terrible and can't seem to "pull it together." I am having a really hard time saying goodbye to John and Andrew, feeling like my plane is going to crash and these are my final words to them. I know...weird. I am so not the emotion type. Like I said, I wasn't feeling well AT ALL. But, I go through with it, of course, because I am thrilled to see my family.



Bump #5: We get through security just fine thanks to my extra precaution of not a single speck of metal on my body and slip on shoes and we're off to our gate. Wow. The gate is crazy. People are everywhere. I cannot even see where I need to go and I cannot understand what they are announcing overhead. My head is ringing. I am standing in line to check in my stroller. Jack is being perfect and is flirting with the sweet little girl in a wheelchair in front of us. The old man behind the desk is having a problem and taking a reeeally long time to move us through the line. I look behind me and see they have started boarding. Well, I'm here. I have a ticket. Certainly they won't leave without me! (famous last words). The guy in front of me passes glances of frustration my way. I smile because I don't want to be like "one of those people." Finally, we get through. I stroll over to the gate to be boarded, seeing that everyone else except the family with the girl in a wheelchair is on the plane and I wait. The family moves ahead with their sweet kids and I am impressed with how well they seem to have it together. Their daughter who seemed to be about 8 had major speech delays and could not walk by herself. She was beautiful and seemed like the type who would overcome these difficulties she was handed. The mom was holding a newborn baby. So as they disappear down the hall I smile sheepishly hoping he realizes this is not my fault I am still on THIS side of the airplane. He looks at me surprised that I am indeed holding a boarding pass and checks it's validity. He calls for someone on his walkie-talkie and looks up at me and says "Hang on a minute." Hang on, I think. For what. You and I both know where I need to be and how to get there. And hanging on has nothing to do with that plan!!!! Looking back I hear what the voice on the other end of the W.T. says, but I am sure that at the moment, I was in complete denial. He looks up at me and says, "I'm sorry ma'am. There are no seats left. I don't know what to tell you?".........................[this is exactly how I felt. pause. pause. pause. I just wanted to wish it all away, bypass the whole airplane ride and click my heels and and be in "kansas" already. but alas, the man was still staring at me and I was still NOT on the plane.] So we both turn, without saying a word, and look at the old man who did not help in the process of speeding things up. I, looking for some kind of "HA! HA! JUST KIDDING!!! OF COURSE THERE'S ROOM ON THE PLANE!!! WHO EVER HEARD OF SUCH STUPIDITY." And the gate-man, looking for a way out before this lady (me) loses it. John was long gone, probably almost home by now. I thought, well, I'll just have to go home and try to catch something tomorrow. (It was 5pm) This is where the tears came in. I now realize I am sorry I have not had the capability to freely pull this "prop" out in prior times of my life as some I know can. I am just not a crier. I mean, I cry. Don't get me wrong. And so much more now that I am a mom!!! Oh my. But, there have certainly been times in my life where I reeeeally needed or wanted to cry and I just couldn't. I hate those times. But back to the story: I lost my momentum. I was geared up to get through this flight no matter what knowing that Midway was only a mere 2 hours away and I'd be welcomed at the end of the ramp by my dad. But now...now what????? So I cried. Seemed like a reasonable thing to do, even though I had little decision in the matter. All I could get out was, "Hang on, I just need a minute to think." And walked over to the chairs and stared at the wall. It's actually humorous to me now!!! But then. No. Nothing was humorous about this situation. So I gather myself and wipe my eyes which keep flowing with forbidden tears and try to compose myself enough to ask when the next flight is. OK. An hour and a half. Which means we can go get a bite to eat. That's great. I still have the stroller so at least Jack is contained. The man starts treating me like his daughter and is apologizing over & over. I don't say much because I am afraid the tears will start again. He books me for the next flight, informs me that there will be a 2 hour layover in Baltimore and I will be arriving at Midway at 10:10pm. Oh boy. This is not what I bargained for. I cannot believe it. But what can you do. It has to be done and I have to buck up and get through it. So as he's continuing in his "I'm sorry's" he says that they will be reimbursing the amount of my flight. Of course, to be expected. Ok, so the wound is not completely healed, but that helped the blow. Then he hands me a check which is nearly triple the amount of my missed flight. He explains it reimburses my missed flight, plus an apologetic fee. I am feeling much, much better now.

"HEY, MOM. I think that was our flight!!!"

Consolation Prize

MORAL OF THE STORY: God is in control. I would certainly have not planned my trip to start out like this. But my whole flight was covered plus $100 bucks in pocket, the flights we ended up on were sooooo empty that Jack was able to move around without it stressing me out, the Baltimore airport had a Starbucks, and I even had a little bit of time to read this book.

So. I have learned that crying can be good. And if you plan it just right, you might just get a free flight. Although, I can take no credit for this one. More on the actual visit to come!!!! And I promise it won't be as long-winded!

[Jack finally gave into slumber, the last 10 min. of the final flight]

Happy May Day

::happy may day::

:the promise of warm, spring air.

:celebrating mothers day; and my mother's birthday.

:the lazy days of summer are just around the corner.

:the sweet songs of the birds in the morning.

:the beginning of tag sale season.

:see here how to make your very own may basket.