Bennett's Thanksgiving Miracle!

I cannot let this holiday pass by without giving thanks for a miracle that has occurred in our home this week. Our newborn Bennett has single handedly potty trained my Grant!! Miraculous, is it not?! Bennett is already pitching in around here. Literally, from the moment Bennett arrived on the scene, Grant has been so curious about his little brothers 'diaper happenings'. Once Grant realized that a baby wears diapers it was like a light went off in his little mind! He immediately began going potty around the clock, and he hasn't looked back! It hasn't been great timing to have another child yelling he has to go potty when I am in the middle of Target or Costco, but I am just counting my blessings that we are on the road to investing less in diapers each month!! And to top it all off, Grant spent his first night in his 'big boy bed' last night in Nate's room! Lots of changes for the Grant man...Thank you Baby Bennett!!

How to catch a turducken...

We had a lovely, quiet Thanksgiving this year. Our good friends the Gatlins from Charlotte and Scott's brother, Burke, joined us. A few days before Thanksgiving my father had a Cajun Turducken delivered with all kinds of southern trimmings. He must have known I wasn't going to do alot of cooking this year! My wonderful husband baked up my favorite apple pie and some other Thanksgiving staples and we had quite a spread. As we all sat around the table, enjoying our meal, we heard from the childrens table in the kitchen my sweet Nate asking 'Dad! How did you kill this turkey??' So like any good parent that doesn't want to ruin their childs innocence with any morbid details, I replied, 'Grandpa caught our turkey in the big city and sent it in the mail! You can ask him all about it when he arrives tomorrow!' That seemed to satisfy him.... and as soon as Grandpa arrived for a visit the next day he was sure to get the whole story! Grandpa played along with a great tale of chasing the turkey through Central Park, across avenues, bridges and tunnels! We are so thankful for our 3 delightful, inquisitive, and happy little boys this holiday! We are truly blessed!

It takes a village....

Today we bid a sad farewell to Grandma BG and Fely! Oh how we will miss them! The past week and a half we haven't thirsted, hungered, or needed for anything! They have kept my house running, my children happy, and allowed me to rest and recuperate. We were 4 adults against 3 children... life was good! Now back to reality! Two parents, 3 children... we're officially outnumbered. Tune in later to see if we survive the night....

I love this man...

In the midst of all the craziness that comes with welcoming a new baby, Scott has been my superman. From the second I went into labor, he kicked into high gear... helping me through a crazy labor, running back and forth between home and hospital, taking children to and from preschool, coordinating playdates, grocery shopping, assembling baby gear, delivering kids to birthday parties, filling our house with flowers, cleaning house, potty training, rocking baby, soothing hormonal ME and so much more! Seriously... I could not be more in love with this man... I love you hon. Thank you for all you do for us!! I am the luckiest girl in the world...

Introducing.....

Bennett Morgan Snow

Baby Boy Snow #3, now better known as Bennett Morgan Snow, has arrived! He weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz and measured 21". Mom and baby are both doing very well, which is good given that the devil inside Alexis did appear for about an hour and a half while she waited (more patiently than I ever could have) for her delinquent epidural prior to delivery. The blessed anesthesiologist did eventually make his appearance, which was not a second too soon, the devil was placated (or at least numbed into submission by the epidural), and our little Bennett made his entrance into this world at about12:30am early on November 7th. Bennett's birthday is a special one, as he shares it with both his Great Grandy Morgan and his uncle Cameron.

So far he has proven to be a good eater and rather peaceful. As you can see in the pictures, he has a nice head of dark hair, and in our opinion looks quite a bit like Nate when he was born. He is looking forwardto meeting all of you soon. We are blessed to have little Bennett as part of our family, and Nate and Grant are enjoying their roles as big brother.

CRAZY for Halloween...

On the way home from a great night of trick-or-treating, Nate asked me... 'Mom, can it be Halloween again tomorrow??'. I explained to Nate that Halloween is a special day that only comes once a year. As I did this, I couldn't help but reflect on my own confusion as a 5 year old child when I came up with the fantastic idea to go door to door in February, with a group of friends I roped into the plan, and ask for candy. My Mom tells me that I told neighbors if they didn't have any candy, then money would be just fine!! Oh the humiliation my mother must have felt! So you can be sure I set Nate very straight on his details tonight... Sorry buddy...this holiday is just ONCE a year!!

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

He shoots... he scores!

My camera was not on the right setting, so these photos are really blurry and dark, but here is a glimpse of Nate at his first basketball practice! He is loving his 'little dribblers' team- he especially likes his new jersey and basketball that he received at the first practice. It is a great program where 4 year olds learn the skills of basketball and attend practice with a parent. Scott and Nate do it together and I think it's going to be a great fall activity for the two of them, especially when things get crazy with a new baby and Nate needs to have a little 'one-on-one' time. Though I caught a glimpse of my future as a 'boy mom' as I sat at his practice... with boys there is a sport for every season isn't there????

The Halloween Trees

Okay- for those of you who have asked... here are my halloween trees that I made for the church 'Trunk-or-Treat' centerpieces. These photos don't show them all the way finished... I filled the cauldrons with tons of candy at the actual event which looked great. Now before you go thinking I am getting all 'crafty' on you...I got this cute idea from my friend Julianne Smoot (who is the craftiest person I know), but i had NO idea how much work they would actually be until I was in too deep!! But, I have to admit, I felt a bit 'Martha Stewarty' as I was collecting branches in the woods with my children (they were just excited that I was actually letting them pick up and play with sticks at the park!!), spray painting them, anchoring them in plaster of paris (ya- I know, this is so not me at all!), and then cutting and cutting shapes and ribbon to string on them. But unlike Martha Stewart, I won't be doing anything like this again for a while. Being 'crafty' is completely exhausting!!!

My little 'punkins

The boys enjoyed a trip to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. They had a grand time choosing their pumpkins, riding ponies(hence Nate's selection of cowboy boots and hat for the event), and having some fall fun! My only issue was that it was so warm that it felt really strange to be pumpkin picking in shorts and t-shirts!! I am officially sick of our summer wardrobes! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm ready for fall temps! The cute fall clothes are collecting dust in the closet! The shorts and t-shirts just have to go! I'm sure I will take back these remarks come December!

L-O-V-E don't cost a thing here....

Our sweet little Grant has found love.... well, the meaning of the word. For 2 weeks straight he has been very generous with his 'love'. Every time he sees one of us he starts yelling 'Mommy I love you!' or 'Nate I REALLY love you'! He will continue doing it until you say 'I love you too' back to him. All throughout the day he will chat with me about how much he 'loves' Daddy and how Daddy loves all of us. This 'love' talk has taken over our conversations! When his best friend Charles from down the street arrived at the door a few days ago for a playdate Grant couldn't contain himself, he ran right towards him, embraced him, and screamed 'Charles I LOVE you so much'!!! I think it caught him and his mother a little off guard! It is the cutest, most wonderful display of unconditional love we have ever seen. We LOVE you too Grant!

'lovin his brother Nate

Gentleman... start your engines!!!

My sister Whitney hooked Scott and I up with great tickets to the 'big race', the Bank of America 500 Nascar race, in Charlotte last night. I figured before we welcome a new baby and I hold my husband hostage on most weekends burping, changing, entertaining our older children, etc... I should take him out for a 'last hurrah'. So, Nascar it was, and we had a blast! But I will tell you, Nascar is a cultural experience.... I have never seen so many interesting (and inebriated) people in one place! And being 9 months pregnant made for very little personal space, a huge amount of second hand smoke, and the loudest rumbling car noise this baby has probably ever heard! I'm surprised I didn't go into labor. He was doing summersaults the entire race! We didn't get home until 2 a.m. and had to laugh at how we haven't been out that late since college... we are such old boring people now! But, it was a great night out with my husband, and hopefully it will tie him over for when the new baby comes and the only reason he is out at midnight is to pick up diapers :)

Halloween is coming...

How would I prepare for any holiday if it weren't for Grandma's? Thank you Grandma Albrecht for the adorable new aprons! The boys have loved wearing them for all our kitchen projects like pizza night! Next up, halloween sugar cookies and we'll be sure to wash them down with cocoa in our new halloween mugs! Thanks BG (Grandma Morgan) for the halloween jammies- the boys love 'creeping' around in their spiders and hiding in dark closets to watch the webs glow in the dark!!!

Not a single noise...

Grant woke up from his nap today and was calling for me. I was downstairs so Nate went in to his room and from the monitor downstairs I got to hear their cute conversation. Nate told him to not make a 'single noise' and that he would be right back with Mommy to get him out of his crib. So, for the next two minutes all we heard Grant screaming was 'A single noise!!!!! A single noise!!!! A single noooiiiiisssse'. What a smart child....

I need a honeymoon too...

We just returned from a wonderful wedding week in CT packed with fun family events, trips to the 'big city', wedding celebrations and of course the wedding itself! Nancy was a beautiful bride and the entire event went off without a hitch. Even the weather was warm and summerlike which is unusual for late September in CT. Now that we are back, I wish I was on a honeymoon vacation too! I could use a little R&R after last week's non-stop action! Congratulations Nancy and Clint!!

The happy couple at the Manhattan Temple

The blushing bride or 'princess' as Grant liked to call her

I had to laugh at this photo of my mother trying to get all three of the grandkids to smile for a picture! It is near impossible! But they were all so darling in their little tuxedos!

Waiting for the train at the New Canaan train station... on our way to the 'big city'

The boys loved the dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Natural History and we have added 'excavator' helmets to our dress up bin. Other highlights of our day in the city were the ride in the 'yellow police car' (taxi cab), underground train (subway), and seeing all the tall buildings!

Wedding Bells are ringing!

I cannot believe it is the end of September already! We are off to help marry off our sweet Aunt Nancy in Connecticut! The boys are so excited for the wedding and ran around all last night in their bowties for their tuxedos. My doctor told me last week that I am showing signs of preterm labor, so Scott is not too thrilled that I am driving up the coast all by myself with my boys! I decided I just couldn't fly again, after being delayed 5 hours in NY airports last time with two very hungry and tired children all by myself!!! And, after having two children, it doesn't seem so scary to me anymore to just pull over to a hospital and give birth should the need arise! But really, nothing to be worried about, none of my children have ever come early, in fact, they have to be convinced to come, so I am certain that there is no need for alarm! Wish me luck!!

Life in the flat lane....

Sometimes I have a day that reminds me to just slow down. Yesterday was one of those days. I was up early, showered, dressed, Nate was ready for preschool, everyone was fed, you know the drill. Scott was out of town and I was tired from a strange sleepless night with Grant who claimed his 'legs were hurting'(diagnosis anyone??) and was up several times. I had to drop Nate at school, head to an early morning appt, attend a playdate with Grant, run a million little errands after that etc... Well, as soon as I pulled out of the garage, I knew something was wrong. I felt like I was dragging something under my car. I jumped out thinking maybe the UPS guy had left a package in front of my garage bay again (it has happened before). But instead, I saw a deflated, flat tire staring me in the face. Uggghhh... I couldn't help thinking 'Why?'! Why couldn't this have happened on a day when I was still in my pj's and had put forth no effort to get ready, nothing on the calendar, and my husband in town! But, in the end, it all worked out. AAA actually came through for me this time and was at my house in record time. A kind neighbor whose daughter attends the same preschool as Nate came all the way back to our house to deliver him to school, and Grant and I had an education in all things 'tires' as we watched the AAA 'fireman'(Grant's name for the tire man) put on our spare tire. Then we headed to the tire store where they pulled out the nail in our tire, patched it and sent us on our way. I got nothing accomplished but I have to say it was a great reminder to me that sometimes it's okay to just take it slow.... and my children still haven't stopped talking about our flat tire!! That was more exciting to them than anything else we could have done!

Back to School!

Today is the day! First day back to pre-school. The boys were so excited and I was too! The return to routine is nice. They have the most wonderful teachers and some fun familiar faces in their classes from last year.

Nate is in pre-k! How time flies!

Grant will be in the 2's class two mornings a week and with me the other mornings! I'm looking forward to our one-on-one time together before the new baby comes. We always say Grant really should have been born first.... he is a high maintenance little personality. So time alone with Mom will be great for him!

Off they go!

Goodbye Summer

We bid a fond farewell to summer with our final visit to the neighborhood pool on Labor Day. It has been our hangout for the past few months (when we weren't at the beach or travelling). We will miss it! Both the boys really took off in the water this year and love to swim and dive. Goodbye lazy days of summer and 'Camp Alexis', hello routine!!! It's time!

For my 29th I got naked ...

...at Qdoba! For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a Qdoba addict. In fact, we have family Qdoba night every Tuesday and a Naked Chicken Burrito is my biggest craving while I am pregnant. So, for my first of many 29th birthdays, Scott and the boys catered a Qdoba Naked Burrito bar here at the house for me and several close friends. I could not have asked for anything more!!! And if you haven't gotten Naked at Qdoba... you really should try it! Here is the lovely cake my darling boys made for me on the big day- the frosting was spread with love and a few licks! It made my day!