JACK

SWEET LITTLE JACK

Today marks the day of JACK being a part of our little fam for 4 months. Just physically, though. I just counted and he has been making himself known for 13 months total now! So, you see, 4 months is nothing when you see it in perspective! Those early days of nausea, then my growing belly, then the kicking and poking, the fatigue, leg cramps, swollen fingers (no wedding ring those last 2 months) & the final hours before he was really in our arms! All that wrapped up in this wonderful, precious gift! Sometimes these gifts can seem to overwhelm my day & my "flow" of life. But just when I feel frustration overcoming me, I try to stop and think, "Now what better thing would I be doing if I didn't have these boys to fuss over? So--- I spend my day wiping runny noses & cleaning messy diapers & doing endless loads of laundry & striving to create a haven for a home & cook nutritious meals & put out baked goodies & keep the boys rooms picked up & all the while keeping a smile on my face! So it's tough & lonely sometimes. SO WHAT! There is truly no greater reward than when I get a gummy smile from Jack & a sweet, "I like you sooooo much, mommy" from drew. In case ANY of you out there are wondering, IT IS ALL WORTH IT!!!!!

FAST FACTS:

a Jack weighs appx. 16lbs. (weighed right after a feeding)

a His ticklish spot is under his chin

a He loves to be with the family at the dinner table

a It has been said that he looks like his grandpa quinn's baby pictures. I think he might also have his irish tenor vocal cords; jack was "singing" along with me the other day! (watch out, Wrigley Field!)

This is how I usually find his socks!

(although they are not typically found together!)

He is a little kicker!!!

So far, this seems to be Jack's favorite little toy.

He holds these little "oooohing" converstaions with it & slobbers it to death! It is very cute.

Drew loves to help out, but has learned to keep his distance during bath time. Jack decided to test his "plumbing" during his first bath & it ended up all over Drew. He was a good sport about it & thought is was very funny!

But I really don't want to take my nap!!

OK, maybe I do after all! I LOVE my sleep!

"Hey, Mom, you want ME in this picture?"

And Drew would want me to show off his new little scratch on his arm that has fascinated him all day!

P.S. We finally got our new camera! We bought a Nikon Coolpix L6, for those interested! This is the 1st post using it. I am still learning all the ins & outs...but it has video mode...so watch out! I might be a little video happy once I figure out how to blog it!

BUZZ

Drew is sick again.

Someone was sick & he asked, "Mommy, did they swallow a bug?"

I had to think for a moment.

Ah, he must have heard me say, "There's a bug going around."

Now Drew caught the bug. The bug going around...& the J A C K bug!

A Bit About Myself

I'm IT in the cyberspace game of TAG! The title is Things I've Never Done...like the nap I was going to go catch this afternoon! But now I better finish what I've started! Thanks Loraena! :) Here goes nothing:

1. Which dramatic role have I never had?
a. Rumpelstiltskin, title role, 4th grade skit
b. Amaryllis, piano lesson girl in "The Music Man", 6th grade, community musical
c Fairy in "Dance of the Swan" , 3rd grade ballet
d. Emily in "Our Town," high school play

NONE. The first thing I remember being in was the 2nd grade Thanksgiving play our class did. I was a mother, that's all I really remember. And we sang "We Gather Together." As I got into high school, my "acting career" started, and ended! :) I was in some kind of acting scene every year for competition (A Midsummers Night Dream, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Heiress, Pilgrims Progress). We also had a fabulous english teacher who put on a HS play each year. This was the highlight of our spring! Some of the plays were Esther, Lady Jane Eyre...ok, this is a great brain exercise! I can't think of the others at the moment, but we did one each year! For some reason, I was ALWAYS casted the "evil role." It was either my great acting ability...or it just came so naturally??? Hmmm...??? I wasn't able to do anything in college. Just too busy, I guess, and not really that good at it when in the "big" fish bowl! I did LOVE it and have so many great memories of all the practices and performances! Sidenote: my dad was just in "Our Town" 2 years ago. Not as Emily, though, of course.

2. On which athletic team did I never compete?
a. softball
b. field hockey
c. tennis
d. swimming

C. & D. if you count high school PE where we played A & B. We loved floor hockey...it was pretty brutal among high school girls, as you could imagine! That was where we got down & dirty! :) Although I did compete on our V.Ball team for 7 years (jr. high, hs, 1 yr. of college) and played soccer for 3 years of college. Those 2 sports are by far my FAVORITE!!! Something I definitely miss doing! We did have a tennis court across from our house, but nothing more than summertime fun. And we did visit the local public pool regularly on those hot summer days. Although I NEVER went off the high dive! Something I kind of regret to this day...I even managed to get up to the top one day...but never jumped! Oh well...I am just a big scardy cat when it comes to heights!

3. What kind of lessons have I never taken?
a. piano
b. riding
c. tap dance
d. etiquette

Never taken b, c, or d. I took piano in 3rd grade and practiced at home on a little key board. I think it only had 2 octaves. Then I started up again in high school and took all 4 years. No piano in college. I really do wish I would have stuck with it more as I am weekly reminded of how much practice I need. I love to play but am so rusty in the theory dept. I never competed in High School and I think only played one offertory. There were so many "better" pianists my age, so I never persued it heavily. But even the little bit has payed off as I play 3 times a week for our church! As for the horse riding...um, that has a great story! Never lessons, but the last time I rode a horse was in college on my first date (off campus) with John. We went to a friends farm to go horse back riding. Well, lets just say my horse spooked amd took off across the field back to the barn, while brushing me off its back from a tree it ran under. It left me knocked out, a branch sticking an inch away from my right eye, and 2 broken fingers! (those were my first broken bones!) So...needless to say, that was the last time I have been on a horse. Although I do hope to someday get up on another one! (maybe I should have stuck to the high dive jumping! still scary...but a much softer fall!)


4. Which type of vehicle have I never driven?
a. stick shift car
b. dirt bike
c. pickup truck
d. ATV

I have driven all 4! Although I don't know if you could call it actually driving for all of them! The stick shift...which I still don't know how to drive, was my dear friend Steph's boyfriends (now husband)car. At Northland he tried teaching us...and it ended in many, many laughs! Dirt bike & ATV were driven at friends of ours here. They live on about 30acres with trails and he has all the toys (including snowmobiles!) Again, not knowing how to drive stick, I didn't make it very far on the dirt bike! The ATV's are pretty fun. I like the 2-ups especially! And the pickup truck I used to do deliveries when I worked at the lighting store (b4 kids, john & i worked there together)

5. What is my favorite genre of literature?
a. historical fiction
b. science fiction
c. romantic fiction
d. nonfiction

Ugh...no sci fi here! Although I have seen a couple things that has not made me totally hate it. I just don't think it would ever be worth it for me to invest the time that reading takes. Even though history was one of my least favorite subjects (sorry, dad!) I do really enjoy stories set in war times. No romance flings here...unless it is intertwined with a great solid story! And I would probably say I have read a lot of non-fiction over the course of my days. I did just save my college american lit book because I want to reread some of those great classics! And I have all my side notes in it still!

I TAG STEPHANIE & LEAH

My Little Chocolate's

To put it plainly, we had a pretty bad Valentine's Day! You know how you have all those romantic aspirations of eating chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, making crafts out of construction paper with your kids all day & eating heart shaped jello with dinner. Well, I was reminded today that I don't live in a Martha Stewart world! There were no pancakes, we didn't do a single craft & the jello stuck to the pan and ended up in a dish! Oh yeah, and we got like a foot of snow today! But not the build a snowman kind. It was freezing rain pretty much all day! But the day is over, I still have a wonderful husband, and two darling children tucked away in dreamland. And these pictures remind me what really important when it comes down to it! Guess I couldn't be happier!

Our Pint-Sized Hershey Kiss

Couldn't you just Eat Him Up?

BROTHERLY LOVE

"Hey Jack, I don't think Mommy would mind if you had just a little taste of my Hershey Kiss!"

Our Little Stud-Muffin

"XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO"

So which letter represents the kiss?

MY LOVE

For My Husband:

my best friend,

soul mate,

dearest,

and the one

who I fall in love with

more & more

each & every day!

AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOVE

I do not recall the first time I read this short story, but it has never been far from me. Reading this reminds me of the quality of love & how it sets no limits to give of itself. True love is always a great sacrifice; but always greatly given.

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose.

His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding.

Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel."

So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. A young woman was coming toward him, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. He started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As he moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably he made one step closer to her, and then he saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes.

The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. He felt as though he were being split in two, so keen was he desire to follow the girl, yet so deep was his longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and upheld his own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. He did not hesitate. His fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify him to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which he had been and must ever be grateful. He squared his shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while he spoke he felt choked by the bitterness of his disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"

The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

written by: S.I. Kishor

Tsiology

I have to share this with you. Just last week when I was sick I ran to the grocery store to pick up some meds. I was feeling so dehydrated. I was ready to grab something right off the shelf, crack it open & start gulping it down right then & there. I was focused on the need for something satisfying when I came across this treasure! The green tea looked refreshing & proclaimed health benefits such as "The metabolism-boosting green tea". Excellent health was lacking in my system at the time so it sounded pretty good to me. I then had to pick from the variety of flavors: asian pear, mango, regular. The pear found its way in my hand. So I brought it to the checkout kind of skeptical. Usually when they start messing with things, like green tea, it comes out tasting really artificial. But when I closed the door of my van, ripped off the plastic seal and took my first swig, I didn't stop until the bottle was half way empty. Pure delight. I have been back for more. The only down side, it is a bit pricey. $1.59 to be exact. Thankfully it was on sale 10/$10.00 when I went back to stock up. It was actually enjoyable to have to "push fluids" with this in hand!

And the other cool thing: snapple prints "real facts" on every lid, like "Tsiology is anything written about tea."

My Friend, the Princess

This Post is in honor & tribute to my dear friend, Leah Millan, a.k.a. the tulle queen. She & Alex just celebrated their 3rd anniversary. I recently came across these pictures from her wedding and couldn't help but remember how great of a time I had. I was 7 months pregnant with Drew so it worked out just in time for John & I to fly down to Alabama for the wedding. It had been a couple of years since Leah, Steph & I had seen each other, so it was just like the good old days getting together again! Steph had just told us that they were expecting their first (Canon), so we were very excited! Leah's wedding was so beautiful. The Petit team did all of the music for the ceremony and it was phenomonal. That was our last get-together to date. Now 3 years later, there are 5 kiddos between us! And a personal apology to Alex: I didn't have any pictures with you in it~SORRY!

The Bridesmaids Luncheon

Dinner at The Chimmy-Cheeseburg Place

(or something like that)

This picture is hard to see, but the sign behind us says, "Expectant Mothers Parking"

All I can say is 'Only in the south!'

We even got the hubbies to help out!

Steph helping Leah with her veil

Well, Leah, I hope this makes up a bit for the fact that I totally forgot!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

It Was A Good Year

Well, I have been on a blog-break with everything going on. And I am realizing how very much I'm missing the digital camera! So, since I cannot yet post any current photos, I decided to pull up some pictures throughout this past year and give you a month-by-month overview of 2006 with the Neiner's.

JANUARY


Drew testing the chocolate chip cookie dough


Visiting Carrie & Brion for New Years


Drew's 1st "Piano Lesson"


Our Neighbors' 11 foot snowman



Our very own snowmommy!

FEBRUARY

Drew & his best buddy, Pixel

(who is a penguin, not a duck!)

I took these Valentine shots of Drew. I made the heart by melting 2 all white candy canes together (facing each other in 300f oven until melted). The "X & O" were just wooden letters. This picture gives me hope this is what he'll think of the girls'...at least for awhile! :)

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

MARCH

Memorium: This is a picture of my grandfather's gravestone. I was only in 3rd grade when we were at this gravesight to bury him. This picture, however, was taken on the day we buried my Gramma Quinn in March 2006. It had been 17 years since my grandfather had passed away. Up to this point, my Gramma Quinn was very much a part of our lives. She lived right next door to us all my life and we were always running errands with her or helping her out around the yard or in the house. We also spent every Christmas Eve at her home and she spoiled us every New Years Eve with 13lbs. of shrimp. She kept the pride of our Irish heritage alive, and was the biggest Chicago Cubs' fan through thick & thin. A chapter of my life came to a close with my Gramma's departure. But the memories, her lively spirit & extravagant giving will always remain in my heart.

Drew turns 2: we had a little b.day party with the Quinn's at my brother's house while in Chicago for the funural. Drew blew his candle out all by himself! It was aslo a perfect change of pace to lift our spirits during this sad time.

Granpa Quinn flew out to visit for Drew's actual birthday.

It was a good thing he came to help me out with Drew's party because I was so sick with my pregnancy.

APRIL


Our church's face lift: we have been renting this building for the past 15 years and then the owners' gave it to us! That's right! Since it dates back to the beginning of the century, there were A LOT of updates needed & required. This was the 1st phase: new siding & a steeple. It has been so exciting to see the provision of the Lord through each stage of our New England church.



Drew climbing at Uncle Brian's climbing wall.


Drew's favorite place to eat...E-I-E-I-O (a.k.a. McDonalds).

MAY

Mothers' Day

I was 4 months pregnant with Jack here!

The Ultra Sound says ~It's A Boy~

JUNE

This was one of our summer projects. We added the stone "wall" along the path to our front door.

Drew on Easter Sunday

Dinner at JACK'S GRILL for dad's birthday.

J U L Y


We took the plunge & entered the Van Club!



At the 4th of July Parade


Cooling off with the Miss Spider sprinkler


Drew's 1st Minor League Baseball Game

AUGUST

At Doug & Crystal's wedding, Drew gave his 1st Kiss to the flower girl! (So much for girls' having cooties!)

A visit from our good friend, Pastor Dave Schindel.

He was the assistant pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Williston, VT

when John did his college internship. He is now pastoring in TN. He taught Drew some very life-changing things like, "See ya 'round town, clown!!!"

SEPTEMBER

The Big E


Farewell Party for the Boardman's

OCTOBER

Harvest Party



Painting the Nursery Stripes


All ready for church!


Jack's Arrival

NOVEMBER

Our sweet little bundle

Gramma Quinn visits to see her grandsons

(and daughter, of course)


Our Home-Grown Pumpkin Patch

Mommy & Drew matching

DECEMBER

The best gifts EVER!

"Sleep in Heavenly Peace"

THANK YOU FOR REMINISCING WITH US! IT WAS A GREAT YEAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN EVEN BETTER & EXCITING ONE IN 2007!