Harnessing the energy of a 21 month-old

Everytime we start to do housework Layn is right there wanting to "help" but very often his kind of help translates out to scattering the pile that was just swept up or dumping out the box of toys on the carpet that I want to vacuum.

He likes to push the swiffer around so Matthew decided to make his efforts productive by putting a sweeping pad on the head of the swiffer.  Bingo, he's actually helping!!!!! Okay, so the theory is somewhat flawed since someone has to go back and get all the places that he missed (translation, the whole floor) but at least he's not undoing what I am trying to get done.

Then there is the job of dusting. I don't know of a soul who actually enjoys that chore, except Layn.  Alright, he doesn't do that one very well either but you have to start somewhere. Oh, and don't tell me about child labor laws either.  He gets fed, diapers changed, and fresh laundry I think that's a good deal for doing a crummy job of helping with the housework.

A fun visit.

 The weekend of Caiti's visit we drove over to the Casino to see their gingerbread house display.  They have apparantly done this a couple of years now. (See how much I know and I am a native!) Anyway, I read about it in the paper and thought that my niece who is a terrific cook and baker would enjoy it.

This display was not only fun because of the sheer size and thought of the work that went into it and the cleverness of it all but Layn had a ball.

He and the two Nutcrackers that guarded the display became fast friends.  They had no hesitation about letting him in.

I am no photographer but there was actually "snow" in the form or soap bubbles falling while we were walking through courtesy of a gentleman who enjoyed Layn's reactions as much as we did.

These buildings were all edible except for the wooden frames that supported them. They were large enough so that a child of Layn's size could have played inside of them.

Each one sported a different snowman with a different style cap and scarf.  There were bridges and a huge waterwheel over the stream that ran alongside of the barn.  The silo was my favorite part. It was covered all in chocolate bars.

This church had "stained glass" windows that were lit from within.

I think that this will become an annual event for us.  I know that this kid enjoyed it as much as Layn did.

Scenes from MK's birthday

or, how to have a good time with family and friends.

Take one stinking cute kid,

add two rather goofy big ones (who don't mind acting like kids)

stir in a birthday girl and a rather large helping of cake!

Gently fold in the family treasure. (treat with care this one is fragile)

Top with baby smiles and lots of giggles.

and a family treasure who is game to learn anything (even how to bowl with the Wii)

Keep the smiles and giggles coming, they only make the day better.

And you have a birthday party that was enjoyed by all and one that will never be forgotten.

Making our own fun.

We don't have any problem with the kids going outside in all kinds of weather, after all we live in the North and that is the only way that we know to grow strong hearty kids.  But lets be reasonable here, the temps the past couple of days have been downright frigid and Layn is only 20 months old.

So his Auntie Cake thought she would give him the pleasure of playing in the snow without the sub-zero temps and the risk of illness.

No way a guy should miss his first real winter experience just because the thermometer isn't cooperating.

How many people do you know who can play in the snow while wearing their Tigger pajamas?

But unfortunately just as with anything else, all good things must come to an end and Layn's snow melted and the winter fun was all over.

Making acquaintances.

Ryan came home for Christmas leave and of course everyone greeted him with great excitement.  In spite of his large size and deceptively grown-up appearance he is just a large, cuddly teddy bear and all the kids seem to recognize that as soon as they come into contact with him. 

This trip home also gave him a chance to meet his new niece, Savannah and get reacquainted with Layn.

I think it was love at first sight.  He and Layn got along famously and Savannah loves her uncle as long as he has a bottle somewhere nearby.

Playing doctor?

 Matthew doesn't feel well today. You know the drill; achy, fever, tummy ache. So I asked his brother the

Special Forces Medic to take a look in his ears and throat just in case there is a need to take him up to the Dr. before they close for the day.  Watching him in action didn't instill a lot of confidence in his mother's heart.

Of course it is his brother that he was examining and Matthew is not really seriously ill so....

I guess that leaves a lot of room for some brotherly horsing around.

Does that mean that Matthew can't feel too bad or that his big brother has the magic touch?

Santa's work may never be done but....

This elf is done with this particular assignment.  Below are the dresses that I created for a little girl's American Girl doll.  I hope that she has fun with these outfits and that her doll looks stunning in them.

Did you think you were going to take a nap, dad?

Not when Layn is around!

Ater lunch, when the men have been working hard, they like to take a short nap before going back outside to work.  Layn doesn't like that idea, not one bit.  His daddy is there and available to play with him so forget about this whole sleep business. Besides, how can you resist such cuteness?

There really are no words...

no words to describe the rightness of having small children in the house

Who cares about the messes, the joy on their faces....

and the squealing of their voices is enough to cover all the messes.

Too soon they are all grown and gone and these opportunities vanish.

Decking them halls.

Today Matthew and Brett went outside to hang the Christmas lights on the front of the house for me.  While they were out there I couldn't resist going out to see how things were going.  They both have a unique way of doing things.

Matthew chose to forego the ladder and simply hung from the rafter by one hand and manipulated the lights with the other.  I could visualize the headlines: Boy Knocked Unconscious While Decking the Halls!!

Brett is the "Discretion is the better part of valour" type.  He stayed on terra firma and "critiqued" Matthew's work.

Me and Santa!

I was recently hired to play Santa and make some American Girl style outfits for a doll that a little girl is getting for Christmas.  The doll is the character Kitt whose story is from the 1930's.  I checked out the website and selected some of the fashions pictured there. 

Pictured here is the nightgown for Kitt and my attempt to copy it.  Not too bad since I was using only a picture and adapting a pattern.

This is one of the dresses pictured for Kitt and my attempt to copy it.  Again I was going by the picture and adapting a pattern.

That's two down and three more outfits to go.  Santa and I have been spending a lot of together and it doesn't look like we are going to part company any time soon.

Safely home and profoundly thankful.

I returned from South Carolina Saturday evening.  The funeral for my father was not only extremely devout, the way that he would have wanted it to be, but also the vast majority of his family was there.  After the funeral two of my sons and his eldest son formed an honor guard and presented my mother with the American flag in honor of my father's service in the Air Force.  Another of my brothers played Taps on his trumpet.  My dad would have warred with his humble self and the justified pride he felt at seeing his progeny thus displayed.

After that bit of ceremony was over a good time was had by all celebrating the life of a man who started out as an orphan, carried a desire for a large family, and managed to attain not only his dream but to accomplish all that and pass on his deep and abiding faith in God.
And so we all return to our lives saddened because we personally miss the man who raised us and set us on the courses that we follow today and yet so much more because he was the man that he was.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.  AMEN.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord.

Theodore Pelicano, 74, of Liberty, SC, died Saturday, November 26, 2011 after a lengthy illness.


Born in Blairsville, PA on May 27, 1937, he served in the US Air Force and retired from General Electric, where he worked as a Components Engineer until 1992. He was a long-time member of Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Verona, NY and, most recently, of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenville, SC.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Mrs. Theodore (Carol) Pelicano of Liberty; 8 children; 42 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

The funeral Mass will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenville, SC on Friday December 2, 2011 at 12 noon. Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Upstate in Memory of Theodore Pelicano by calling (864) 224-3358.

Yes! I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

     I am thankful that I can cook.  I am thankful that God has once again, in his wisdom and mercy seen fit to provide this family with, in the immortal words of Charles Dickens, "Meat and drink and a bit of warmth this holiday season." 
     I am immensely thankful that there will be many members of my family physically around the table and the missing few will be there in spirit. 
     I thank God daily for the guiding wisdom that he gives to my husband and the prayerful and godly children that we have raised. 
     My prayer for the coming year is one of continued awareness of the blessings that surround me and that I respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the grace that God is giving to be a blessing to those that I serve.

This moment

A moment to truly be caught, saved and savored. My son the newly minted green beret and my father, the patriarch of this family, waiting patiently to meet his Lord and Savior.

His first Jack o' Lantern

We don't do Halloween here. It is just too much of a paganization of a beautiful Catholic feast.  We do celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  However there is nothing wrong with carving a few pumpkins and putting them out to decorate the landscape.  Yesterday Ian and Melissa helped Layn carve his first Jack O'Lantern.  He was not only truly into it but he enjoyed eating the roasted seeds after and seeing it lit up.

He wanted to clean that thing out all by himself, thank you very much!

I am glad that Ian didn't let him wield the knife though.