Christmas Pageant

Anya had her Moms Morning Out Christmas Pageant last week. Most of the girls were little angels. When she came out she stopped to look for us. She found us, waved and proceeded to run to the front of the stage and do pirouettes. This resulted in the halo, flying off her head and landing in the stable! It made everyone laugh! That is my Anya!


this picture is right as she found us! It is really dark, sorry!




And this is proof that she is a fallen angel!

Wool longies

We have been cloth diapering pretty much exclusively since Halloween and so far I really like it. For Halloween I dressed up as "supermom". I had a diaper hanging from my belt and a woman in my ward saw it. She commented that she used to make wool covers and sell them. Then she said that if I would buy the wool she would make me some! WOW! She just saved me about $30.00!
She gave them to me a few weeks ago and they are FANTASTIC!!! These pictures do not do them justice!

Dear Santa

Anya has taken it upon herself to believe in Santa. I had never decided if we would or not so we never told her one way or the other. Well she believes in him. I am kinda glad, that is what makes it magic!

This is her first year writing a letter to Santa. I didn't want to do this but my post office sends a letter back with stickers and a pencil in it so we have to. Her letter was just too cute...

Dear Santa,
Could you please bring me a big red mustang with colorful seats and a Cyberchase suit for me and my brother Kevin. Thank you Santa and I love you so much!
Love,
Anya Lonegan

she signed her name down here.



Needless to say she is receiving nothing on her list!!!

My family

This is what we looked like at the beginning of 2008





This is what we look like at the end of 2008

Aren't we much better looking now?!

It's that time of year

I am getting ready to send out our family Christmas card. If you would like on please send me your address.
llonegan@yahoo.com

Thanks
P.S. It is a picture of the family!

Vacation

... for my husband that is. Is it wrong that I am seriously jealous. I need to get over it. I am just feeling a little slighted that he is hanging out with no kids for 2 days. I will never get that opportunity. OK enough of a vent. I'll be over it soon.

Tagged again

8 Favorite Foods
PB and Nutella sandwich
PB choc. chip cookies
Shepherd's pie
Classic hot breakfast, that I never have time to make, pancakes, eggs, bacon, homefries
lobster dipped in butter
burritos
cheddar rice cakes
oatmeal with brown sugar, craisins, and a little syrup, or maybe apples and cinnamon.( of course only in the cold months)

8 Things I Did Today
showered
put away clean dishes
loaded dirty dishes
got dressed
switched out laundry
checked email
kissed Anya
turned on Curious George ( it is only 8:30)

8 Favorite Restaurants
Cheesecake Factory
Femmina
China Gourmet
PF Chang's
Friendly's ( for the whole family of course)
Redstone Grill
Carabba's
Panara ( great for quick yummy food)


8 Favorite Stores (in no particular order)
Wegmans ( seriously it is my favorite)
Aldi ( can you tell I love to grocery shop)
Resale Rack
Cheshire Consignment shop( they really have the cutest clothes for me and the kids)
Aldo
Goodwill especially the one in Southington Ct
I am not a huge shopper that is all I can think of.

8 Things I look forward to
Snack Attack at the library with Anya today
Enjoying my spotlessly clean house until Kevin gets up
Quiet time!!!!!
Thanksgiving with family
Christmas when I get to see my siblings and niece
A call from Rosa saying she had her baby it was quick and pain less. Well not as bad as she thought!
Seeing friends I haven't seen in a while
My kids having a no fighting -fussing day! I think this one is wishing on a star

8 Things on my Wish List
World Peace :)
A blender
Wheat grinder
Having my food storage complete and my savings complete
For my kids to get along at the end of the day
A new wardrobe, but this is really far down!
I can't think of anymore

8 Things I love to do with my family
Read
watch movies
play cars and swimming pool
hike
go for walks and bike rides
play games
go out to eat
go to Wegmans, the kids love the train!

8 People I tag
Jess Mansfield
Cristy Vogel
Ash
Mal
Marlene
Mom
Tanjua Merrow
Kayla Marble

Just a day in the life

I have had a lot of concerns for Anya and her attention span lately. I realized that I had totally forgotten her 4 yr. physical so she had it 2 months late. I spoke to the Dr. about my concerns and she suggested we put her in gymnastics. She said that with her petite stature, 5% weight and 20% height,and energy that she would probably have great success with it. She said if that didn't work to try karate and if that didn't work have her evaluated for ADD. I am so glad that I saw a Dr. who didn't just jump to conclusions and want to medicate her. I feel much better that all she really needs is an outlet for her energy and something to focus on.

Tag

I forgot I was tagged by my friend Jess:
5 things I was doing 10 years ago

1~Taking mid term for my Jr. year of high school
2-Enjoying that all my friends had their licenses. Not me
3~ Having lots of dates
4~Working at Cheshire Convalescent Center
5~ How much do you really do in high school?!

5 Things on my "To Do" list today...

1~ Work out
2~Volunteer at Moms Morning Out (done)
3~ Dishes (done)
4~ Make dinner (done, chicken pot pie)
5~ Get lye for soap making tomorrow

5 Snacks I Enjoy...

1~ Chocolate

2~Fruit
3~ Cookies
4~ Fruit leather
5~Popcorn

5 Things I would do if I were a Millionaire...

1~ Buy a really lovely house
2~ Go on a fun family vacation
3~ Buy Mom a new house
4~ Buy Ed the car he wants( that may take my million right there)
5~ Put some in my retirement fund.

5 Places Iv Lived...

1~ Waterbury, CT

2~ Cheshire, CT
3~ an apartment in Cheshire, CT
4~ Navarre, FL
5~Southern, NJ

5 Jobs I've had....

1~ Teen Babysitting Jobs
2~ Food service at Cheshire Convalescent Center
3~ Receptionist at Cheshire Convalescent Center
4~ Children's Discovery Center
5~ Others but my Fav. it Mom.

5 people I Tag.....

1~Who ever wants to do it.
2~
3~

4~

5~

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you’ve answered the questions on your blog.

Kevin update

Little man is now almost 16 months. I swear he does way more than Anya did at this age. He still says next to nothing. His words include
Papa (apa)
Anya (ada)
Look out below
bye bye
Hi
very occasionally Mom (not Mama, or Mommy just Mom)

He has over 20 signs now so he is communicating wonderfully, although it makes it hard for people other than me to understand him. Ed still has no idea what he is saying. We are doing cloth diapers pretty much 100% of the time and the rashes are almost gone. I am totally loving them so far. And they are not bad to wash either.

He thinks the world is hysterical. EVERYTHING is funny. It is not always a good thing! He loves anything with an engine or wheels and loves musical instruments now to. He also love to dance. Any music; commercials, in stores, the background music for Tim Gunn's guide to style is his personal favorite.
He is such a joy and I love having him. If you ask Ed, Kevin loves having me too.

My new and exciting purchase

Found it on Craigslist for 50.00. And now Anya uses it more than Ed or I. I do run every Tues. while I watch the biggest loser though! Oh and it also motivated me to cancel my gym membership. Next time you see me I may not be as "healthy" as I am now!

Halloween

We had so much fun this year. Grandma Webster came down and we visited for the weekend. We started out the night with a haunting dinner, sloppy joes, fingers(pretzel rods, ham and almonds) and pumpkin rice. The kids wouldn't touch the rice, it was just orange rice pressed into a ball.

We got into costumes and went trick or treating. One teenager said that Kevin's costume was so awesome it made him want to tap dance. I think that was a good thing?! Even Annie got in on the act this year!

Pumpkin picking

We went to Conte farms and the kids had a blast. We did the tractor ride and picked our own pumpkins. Best of all it was under 8.00

1st day of preschool

And this is why I am catching up on my blogging today!

Oops

This is what happens to pumpkin pie when you forget to add the spices.



By the way it is really gross.

4 is fabulous

Happy birthday big girl!

cookies instead of cake

Thanks for making my birthday great!

Family Pictures

Anya drew me a family photo for my birthday, I think it was my favorite part of the day!

Primary 1st

Anya gave her first talk in Primary on Sept. 14th and I wanted to put it somewhere to make sure I would have it for a while.
In the scriptures people have always prayed. Moses prayed in the desert and saw the burning bush. Jonah prayed in a whale and was let out. Daniel prayed in a lions den and was saved. Jesus prayed in a garden to atone for ours sins. Joseph Smith prayed in a forest to find out what church was true and saw Heavenly Father and Joseph Smith. I pray at the table, in my living room, in my bedroom and in my car seat. I pray for all sorts of things but mostly that Heavenly Father will protect me from monsters. I know Heavenly Father hears my prayer no matter where I pry from or what I pray about. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Recent Knowledge

I have recently learned that I am the greatest Mom. If you want to be the greatest Mom this is all you have to do.

1. Stop by McDonald's once in a while to pick up a small fry as a treat
2. Make pancakes for dinner
3. Go to the library for new movies and books twice in one week instead of once
4. Go to the farmers market on Sat. morning
5. Stay up late watching a movie in Mom's bed on Fridays.

It's not that hard, and the payoff is great

Reflections

As I am now officially in my late 20s I have realized that birthday's were much more fun under the age of 21!

Kevin is now 1

He is now 1 and I am writing this after he is already 13 months+. Wow he is my 2nd child, sorry buddy. We spent his birthday in CT. Grandma made him a peas and carrots cake, they were his 2 favorite foods at the time. It was really a carrot cake with peas decorated in icing. It was super hot a sticky and Kevin wouldn't eat his cake, he only ate about 2 bites. I can't believe how much you have grown and how much better you sleep now! Only once a night and I let you cry it out! He now weighs 22 lbs and everyone thinks he is at least 15 months. Just wait until you're walking steady! Look out, he is a typical boy, loves anything with an engine and anything with wheels or tools. He also loves almost all food and is starting to be weaned off the bottle. He is also starting to sign like a champ which is great because he doesn't talk much at all. He has my hair which is super thick and wavy so we do lots of hair cuts which he is really good for. Oh and he has a nickname now, we call him Nator as in the Kevin-nator. (Say it with an Arnold accent, it's so much cooler) Happy belated birthday buddy we love you lots!

Our Summer at a glance

Enjoying new big kid foods and learning to walk



Hiking


Lots of park time

Our first weekend away without the kids, ever!

Catching a little extra shut eye after talking all night with best friends


FAO Schwartz in NY City

Our first family photo with Kevin, it only took 13 months!

Our first family train ride

Having fun with adopted aunts and uncles and their son

Being a Wild Thing at the Please Touch Museum in Philly

Please touch museum

Spending time with Mama's cousins

Enduring and graduating 2 week summer camp

Picking raspberries from a friend's house for 2 hours, and eating so many we got sick

Playing and swimming at Grandpop's house

Teething like men are supposed to

Strawberry picking at Conte farms, on a super hot day!

Kevin discovered cars and engines

Coming home to play with Papa after not seeing him for a week

Mystic seaport

Mmmmmmm cotton candy

Anya's favorite ride was the up down ride," It makes my tummy flop, it's really fun!"

Kevin at Lake Compounce

Lake Compounce