My Little Punkin

Happy 4th of July!!


You know, I really do have two incredibly sweet boys. Here's a story from this morning that I wanted to write down before I forget.

Actually, the story started last night. We were getting the boys ready for bed and there were some shenanigans happening (mostly revolving around 'booger balls' for those of you who have seen "Everyone's Hero). Anywho, Micah accidently smacked the back of his head into my lip. It hurt enough to put me out of the shenanigan mood (its all fun and games until someone gets hurt, right?) and John got me some ice so I wouldnt be too puffy today. About 10 minutes later the boys were in bed and Micah asked for snuggles, "Mommy, I want your sleep me" Who could resist that? We get in his bed and he wraps his little arms around my neck which feels a bit like a head lock because his arms are still so short and my nose is smushed to his chest as he says, "need hole you." After a few minutes I leave them to go to sleep. Well, I think Micah must have really been concerned about me because this morning when he woke up he yelled, "MOM!!!....MOM!!" I went down and picked him up and he wrapped his arms AND legs around me and with his face in my neck he said, "Your otay, Mommy?" I said, "Yeah, Im okay" but I didnt really know why he was asking that. Obviously realizing I wasnt understanding him he asked, "Your lip otay?" I just smiled and said, "Yeah, my lip is fine. Do you want to see it?" yeah, he said. So I pointed out the spot and he said, "oh. Want my kiss it?" Oh how precious. I wish I could take those moments of unexpected love from my kids and lock it in a box to hold forever. And I guess in a way that's what I'm doing here because now I know I will never forget it. And hopefully I'll be able to remember how awesome I felt this morning with my baby's arms and legs locked around asking me if I want a kiss.

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
--Franklin Jones

Nature, New York and other New Things

First off and before I forget, I think I fixed the problem with the video so give it one more try for me and let me know if it works!

Now, to start off this massive update, we'll have to rewind two weeks. The boys and I went on a hike with Gpa, Shirley, and Karen and crew. Josiah and Micah love being outside and checking out all of the bugs and "stuff" that's out there. We had a great time admiring spider webs, dragonflies, and finding the perfect hiking stick. We all enjoyed a picnic lunch before we crashed at home for a nap. Here's some pics.



After nap, Karen, Bruce, Timothy and McCain came over to play outside and try out their new beach ball sprinkler. It was awesome! Of course, the cousins had a blast playing together and getting soaked, Bruce enjoyed a little shut eye on the couch and Karen and I got to chat about whatever. It was a great afternoon!

And then there was New York. For those of you who missed the spur of the moment, over too quick trip I made last week, I went to New York for 3 days with Candida. All fun for me, but she had classes during the day. I had an AWESOME time. I spent the days roaming the city and hung out with Candida in the evenings. I got to see Times Square, all the places where the film they morning shows (though I never made it out for the true filming), rode the Staten Island Ferry and saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. Went to "A Chorus Line", ate lots of bagels, drank lots of coffee. Went to the top of the Empire State building and watched a storm blowing in. Visited the largest store in the world: the block large Macy's that, yes, has it's own restaurant (we even ate there). I braved the New York subway system and didn't get lost, walked around the Village and looked for a coffee shop that I could call "Central Perk" but had no such luck. And well, I guess that's it! It was a full couple of days but it was so great! I walked more than I've probably walked in the last 3 months (especially with having surgery!) my legs were SORE, but I wouldn't have missed it. Everything there was so BIG! The billboards, the buildings, the traffic! Oh I would not want to drive there! And did I mention that the Toys R Us had a real, working, you-can-ride-it FERRIS WHEEL in it?! It was crazy, it was busy, it was SO LOUD, but it was great. Thanks, Candida, for inviting me and for everyone who made it possible for me to go. The break was great! This is us in Times Square:

PART of the massive "wall of chocolate" in the M&M store...there were 4 sections like this in the store--every color you could think of and you could bag your own. Your choice of milk chocolate or peanut.

And one more picture of us at the top of the Empire State building...well, almost the top. ONLY the 86th floor. But from this height, what's another 16 floors? We didnt want to pay the $25 for us photoshopped in front of the New York sky line, so we'll just have to settle for this!

And that's going to have to do it for now. I've got to get to bed! John's in charge of the boys tomorrow and my sister, mom, cousin and I are painting my grandma's garage. I'll post you pictures later! And as soon as I hear the good news about my video posting abilities I've got another video to share with you.

Micah on slip and slide

I heard there was trouble playing the video, so I'm trying this again. I think you have to double click on the play arrow. Let me know if this works or not.

That's what it says!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted and soon I will post and tell you what all we've been up to, but for now you'll have to settle for this story.

Micah has been sick all day. I mean sick to the point of all he's really done is lay on the couch. So, after naptime Josiah and I went to Blockbuster for a few movies so that I wouldn't be subjected to ANOTHER episode of Dora the Explorer. On the way we decided that we would also go to the grocery and get the fixin's for milkshakes. One of Josiah's pick at Blockbuster was the animated Charlotte's Web and he was so excited about it that he wanted to hold it in the car while we drove to the grocery. So he was looking at the back of it and said, "The DVD says you shouldn't drink a milkshake unless you have a mom or dad to help you drink it." I said, "OH! I get to help you drink your milkshake? EXCELLENT!" Josiah looked at me in the mirror and said, "No, I was just being silly about what words were. I was just pretending. I don't really know what it says." Bummer...guess I'll just have to have a milkshake of my own!

Okay..this one just happened over on the couch. John asked Josiah if he needed a tissue. Josiah said no. So, John asked, "Then what are you digging for?" Josiah said, "I'm digging for gold!" Think he'll find any?

P.S. Has anyone gotten the video to play or do I still need to work on that?

Bug Soup

by: Josiah Mustaleski

Once when I was sick, Fahvey made me soup with bugs in it.
It had beetles and crickets.
When I ate the crickets they made pretty songs
and I could hear them in my tummy.

The End!

(For those of you who havent heard, Fahvey is Josiah's imaginary brother. Last I heard he was 10 yrs old and his pretend sister, Jujah, is sometimes 3, 4, 5 or sometimes an infant. When she cries, Josiah hands her to me and says, "Here, Mommy, Jujah is crying." They live with their mom, Palucy, near a farm far, far away. How's that for imagination?!)

Here's another Josiah story. And just a bit about the inspiration for these, most of his stories are made up in the car while we are driving. He will see something out the window or hear something on the radio and say, "Mommy, do you want to hear my story?" The soup story was told today after hearing someone on the radio say that her dad always made her grilled cheese when she was sick and this next one was inspired by driving past the duck pond.

"Duck Food" by: Josiah

One day I went to the duck pond and I took some duck food and some puppy food. I gave all of the ducks duck food, but one duck I just gave puppy food. All the ducks ate the duck food and liked it but the one duck that I gave puppy food, he spit it out and said, "Yuck! I don't like puppy food." So I gave him some duck food and he ate it all gone! And all the ducks were happy.

The End