Memorializing

Over Memorial Day weekend we celebrated with the aforementioned Beer Dinner, and also decided on a new car (more on that later). We also had some family fun time. Bryan wasn't feeling that great on Sunday so I spent part of the day on a hike through Patpasco with the two ladies in my life - canine and daughter additions. Noelle, Maddie, and I hiked down the trail, picniced by the waterfall, and then headed home while the boys snoozed away. The highlight for Noelle was definitely seeing a snake!

 

On Sunday I also hit the pool with the kids for our first of hopefully many visits this year. We stuck to the baby area, both for ease of watching both kids and because the water was still chilly, and had a good time splashing around. Kellen scared me for a minute by running across the pool from the zero entry point and trying to "swim," aka put his face in and try to float, but a quick scoop up by mom meant he was fine, although slightly unsure of the water for the rest of the day. He tried the same move twice more on Monday so clearly he was not scarred by the experience! Here is my little guy watching his crazy sister!

 

And here is his sister, my favorite little mermaid!

On Monday all four of us went to the pool. We played with friends and enjoyed our hot dog and bag of chips before heading home for late naps. The rest of the day was uneventful as we tried to relax a bit before the crazy week and weekend ahead. 

As we relaxed and had fun I tried to teach Noelle the true reason for Memorial Day. Not sure she gets it really, but the Saxton's certainly are grateful for all those that have served and their families!

Beer Dinner

Saturday night we had the next in our series of themed dinners. This was a couples' night so we decided on something the boys would also enjoy, beer, as our theme! I got sides, which sounded like it would be pretty easy but was actually pretty time consuming. This was probably because I decided risotto should be involved! Here is my beautiful cheddar, bacon, and ale risotto about to be finished after 40 minutes of simmering and stirring!

At 7, Lisa came to sit and we headed down to the Hollywood's immaculate, on the market townhouse in style in the Kaman's minivan. Bryan and I were grateful neither of us had to drive so we could taste all the offerings. We arrived to find Sean slaving at the grill as he finished up the main course!

First up, homemade pretzels and beer cheese dip as an appetizer. Becki used her skills from working at Auntie Anne's in high school to make a great Alton Brown recipe.

After appetizers, we decided to have salad, sides, and our main dish all at once since it was already late and we had sitters at home. On the menu were salad greens with orange slices, craisins, pecans and an orange ale vinegarette, my risotto, a beer braised spinach and tomato dish, and Sean's beer brined grilled chicken. Everything was delicious! We sampled our second beer of the night with the main course, a Blue Moon summer red ale.

 

 

 

Nicole's dessert was also amazing - Chocolate and Peanut Butter Porter Flourless Cake with Cookie Butter Icing!



 

And while it wasn't my favorite tasting beer of the night (a little too rich for me), this was my favorite beer title of the day. Sweet Baby Jesus was the chocolate peanut butter porter involved in the cake. You should try it with dessert sometime!

 



 

We had a great time and beer was definitely a fun ingredient. Who knows what will be up next but we will definitely have another themed dinner with friends soon!

Party Time!

It's that time of year. Party Time! This past weekend we had 4 parties to attend. Since one was a graduation party in NJ (Sorry we missed it, Catherine!), we hit up the other three closer to home. Noelle, Kellen, and I partied in style (and Orioles/baseball theme) at the first bash for our friend who turned one! The kids had a great time and it was nice to play for a bit outside before the rain came down.

Saturday late afternoon all four of us hit a bash for a 2-year old friend. Dinner was served, the kids were all pretty darn good, and John got some great gifts. Somehow I didn't take a single picture.

Sunday Kellen and I flew solo for a baptism and party. K was pretty much on his best behavior despte being the only kid there between the ages of 4 months and 7 or so. He focused on looking cute and trying to eat cookies and cake.

We had a great time but I was partied out by Sunday night! We are so ready for the long weekend coming up!

My Little Gymnast

A few weeks ago Noelle started her first official activity, gymnastics. Since she has been begging to do a special activity for some time now, and there was a certifikid deal for 8-weeks of gymnastics, I caved and we now have another addition to our crazy life. Fridays from 5:30-6:30 Noelle and about 7 other 3-5 year olds pretend to be gymnasts. They do obstacle courses, trampoline and running jumping, play on the bars and balance beams, and do lots of fun stretching to get things started. She loves it and is my dare devil. Last week I turned around and she was standing on the parallel bars without holding on to anything. The other moms were impressed. I pictured a visit to the ER. I am fairly certain she will not have a future in gymnastics as she practically weighs what Olympic gymnasts weigh at age 3 3/4 but she is having a ball. And Kellen gets his routine in too as he climbs up and down his chair for 60 minutes straight during the lessons.

I have been delaying posting in my attempt to get some good pictures. Five weeks in, I have resigned myself to the idea that I will never get good pictures of her in motion through the glass so here are the best of my shots. 3 more weeks and then we take a hiatus for summer and swim lessons. My daughter will be a swimmer by the end of the summer if it kills her pool manager/life guard/swim instructor mommy!

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day 2013 started off well. Noelle had brought home "breakfast in a bag" from school Friday so I could have breakfast in bed. My nutri grain bar was pretty crushed but we split that, she made me a waffle, and also helped me turn my provided bottle of water in to lemonade. It seemed like a lot of crumbs for bed so I ate at the kitchen table! Noelle and Kellen also made me a lovely apron with their names, hand prints, and stamps at Ms. Rose's house. I am sure it will come in handy on my cooking days!

Church was (sadly) the lowlight of the day. Noelle did not act like a princess during her first week back with us in the pew. It could be a long summer as we get her on board with that one. Her misbeahvior did lead to an hour of her playing in her room by herself while Kellen slept, so I enjoyed some quiet reading time which was lovely!

After lunch, we journeyed out to Target and Kohls to get  the kids' some summer shoes and some household goods. Noelle fell asleep on the way home so Kellen, Maddie, and I did a nice stroller power walk through the park. Then we ate a huge dinner of salad, yummy mashed potatoes, meatloaf, and cookies. We definitely ignored our healthy eating and portions plan for the day! After dinner we took the kids out to "ride" bikes (Kellen needs to grow about one more inch to really get pedalling) and to play in the middle of the culdesac.

My little people are obsessed with trees right now and daddy even supported them as they sat on the lowest branch of one. They were overjoyed!

All in all it was a great Mother's Day and I loved spending it with my little family.

CampIn

The forecast wasn't looking great for our first family camp out. I monitored it for several days, and on Friday afternoon I caved and canceled our reservation at the campground for Saturday night. So of course the forecast immediately improved and by Saturday afternoon it was pretty much a glorious, sunny, late spring day. I told my daughter we would camp out on the deck. And then the skies opened. Yes! Thunder! Pouring rain! I was redeemed for my cancellation! So we had over our camping friends for an evening in with lasagna, salad, and rice crispie treats (needed to use all those marshmallows!). The kids played nicely until the final few minutes, dinner was yummy, and the rain continued so it was a perfect evening.

Bryan spouts his wisdom on something or other. Actually I think he was discussing new cars.

 

Who needs a tent and campfire when you can drive or build with legos?

Proof it was pouring. Good decision made!

Hopefully by years end we will go camping for real. Until then, it looks like a night in the tent on the deck over Memorial Day may be in the cards.

Mommy Son Mornings

Kellen and I have been enjoying our Friday mornings together the past few months. During the summer, Noelle will be going to preschool in the afternoons again. This will work well with our summer schedule as I occasionally have to be in the office on Friday mornings, and when I am not I hope we'll be at the pool. A 12:30 start to school will be perfect for a straight from swimming and lunch at the pool drop off and then Kellen will take his nap while she is learning away!

Since the Friday morning weather has been pretty gorgeous of late and I have been trying to get some more exercise in, we have been meeting friends up at the Trolley Trail. Kellen nicely strolls down and about half way up the trail in his stroller and then I let him get out and play with his friends. Snacks are definitely involved, especially when it comes to trying to bribe him to get back in to the stroller!

At the end of our walk we like to stop at the breadery for a treat. What better than a peanut butter chocolate chip scone to undo all the calories you just walked off?

 

Occasionally we hit up a playground (or more likely, run an errand) after our morning out in the fresh air.

I love my happy little guy but am also excited for Friday summer mornings with both my little people!

Dinner

Here are a few minutes of dinner at our house.

Yes, my son only ate about one third of his carrots. And whenever I asked him to stop feeding Maddie he stuffed a carrot in his mouth and said yum with a devious smile on his face. Who knows how I got complimented by the vet last week for keeping my dog's weight under control. But no one was in tears. No one whined. And some vegetables got in each of their mouths. Noelle even took all of hers down. Then there was the chicken that came next. They reversed roles and Kellen ate it all up and Noelle didn't touch a bite. But she didn't throw hers on the floor! With two little people, this dinner was a win!

Plus they are pretty darn cute!

Grandma's Visit

Despite our Mayday situation during Grandma's visit, there were a few high notes. On Thursday I picked Noelle up early from daycare and we took a walk/bike ride to the park. I walked Maddie and strolled Kellen around the Patapsco loop while Noelle and Grandma played for a short bit on the swings, slides, and balance beams. On the way home, Noelle insisted she push Kel. If you look closely you can see me trying to ride her bike down our street.

 

By Saturday afternoon Kellen was no longer contagious and had been on antibiotics 48 hours so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed back to the tire park to play after naps. This time Kellen got to join in on the fun. Noelle was very careful to help her little brother on the tractor and we actually got some smiles from my little guy for the first time in days!

 

After the park we enjoyed our first dinner on the deck on the 2013 grilling season and the kids had a ball enjoying their new super cool building stickers and fishing activity for the bath. On Sunday morning we ate breakfast (or considered eating in Kellen's case) and my princess got ready for her last Sunday school session of the school year. No! You mean I have to keep both my kids on good behavior at church for the next 3.5 months? Hopefully she will act like the princess she likes to dress up as!

 We already miss Grandma but are excited that we'll see both the grandmothers this summer!

May Day!

On Thursday morning I pulled in to my work parking garage to the sound of my cell ringing. Bryan told me Kel woke up with a fever and a crusted shut eye. He had been snotty for days and we had been doing eye drops off and on but it had seemed like allergies. Well turns out allergies can turn in to other things and after I worked a few hours I headed home to relieve Bryan and take my little guy to the doctor. Again. And as I expected, we had another double ear infection on our hands. Bring on the third antibiotic regime in 3.5 months for ears and eyes. Dr Sinai, a new one for us, asked us to come back in to get checked in 3-4 weeks. We are *this*close to an appointment with the ENT (yup, another specialist) and tubes.

Feverish, not feeling well Kellen is like a bipolar Kel. He has short highs where he is his normal, super cheerful self. And long lows of crying hysterically, screaming no about everything, and acting super ornery. Additionally this antibiotic is not agreeing with him so well but we have to keep switching since he has been on them so much lately and we are also trying to avoid the penicillin family when possible because of my allergy. Let's just say there was a diaper situation that made baby blow outs be no big thing. Enter my mom. My hero of the long weekend. We had a lot on our agenda - preschool and gymnastics for Noelle, Bryan's birthday dinner out, a yard sale, and a vet appointment for Maddie. That and assistance with entertaining my very well daughter who wanted to be out and about. Plus help with the aforementioned diaper explosion. My mom was a life saver this weekend. And Kellen is doing much better. I keep hoping good health is in the cards for our family. Maybe June will be the month!