Happy Birthday!

(This is a super prompt post...I even cleaned up after the party AND posted photos to our Mom/Baby page AND I'm updating the blog...Mike will be very proud!)

Odin and my joint birthday party was a huge success! We had lots of moms, dads, babies, friends, family, and fun! First, the babies played in the sand box while everyone had some food and delicious sangria. Then, the babies headed out for a dip in the pool where they did a little nude sun bathing. Then, they all came over to the patio to sing happy birthday and have a cupcake. In the end, they partied so hard that Marielle had to leave for a nap, Sydney passed out, Taryn melted down, Ben never petered out, Mason conked out in his Dad's arms, and Odin went to bed at 6:30PM!!!!!!!

Love at first sight!

Yesterday, our new Mother's Helper came over for the first time! She is the daughter of a friend of mind. We ran into them at the pool a while ago and I could just tell that she and Odin hit it off. When I asked if she would consider being a Mother's Helper. she jumped up and down! She arrived and Odin was immediately smitten! He only looked for me twice in 2 hours and when she went to leave, he WOULD NOT let her go! He had his whole body wrapped around her and when her mom and sister came in, Odin did the "shy tilted head" against her shoulder. He has only ever done that with me! I was right next to her yet he wanted to stay with her! She is SUCH a sweetie and she even cleaned up Odin's toys as they played so she when she left the house was spotless! I got to deal with our laundry problems, clean the kitchen floor, bathroom, and did some dishes! It was SO GREAT! I think our new friend is going to make life better for Odin and Mommy!!!!

The cat came back...

Hi all!
Here are the latest and greatest...
- My new camera is AWESOME!
- Odin got a sandbox!
- The cat (Grasshopper) came back after 3 1/2 months on the prowl...just came home yesterday and moved back in with us! BIZARRE! Our dog, Honey, is SO happy that he's home!
- Our party looks like it's going to be GREAT! SO many people are coming and the backyard is really shaping up!
- My new front door and 4th of July decorations look so good too!

No photos, just love...

Hi everyone!
Sorry about the lack of photos on this post. My camera is DYING and today, at Costco, I forsake the maid- I KNOW!- How could I? Well- I forsake the maid for a new CAMERA! Ryan gave me the option (as I drooled over the NIKON Coolpix 7mpx camera) that I could swap getting a maid for a new camera if I wanted. It was SUCH a tough call...but in the end, I thought of all of you out there that faithfully read the blog and thought..."What would they do if there were NO PHOTOS EVER AGAIN?" "It would CRUSH them!" So.....dear reader, I did the most unselfish thing I could, I swapped a maid for the camera. I know, I know...it was just too much, I shouldn't have, you're so grateful. Yes, yes, yes...I know. You will all have photos from a brand new camera tomorrow now that Odin has gone to bed and I can spend time opening and figuring it out, charging it etc. SO, as I scrub toilets with a toothbrush, wash the floors on my hands and knees, my hands looking oh so *dishpan,* I will be thinking of what a good thing I have done for all of you and maybe, somewhere in heaven, Mother Theresa will smile down upon me.

Ok, on to other topics. I did take some video today of Odin reading a book to himself upside-down, but I don't know how to post video on a blog. I KNOW! I give off such an air of technical genius, it's just appalling that I don't know how to post video. Well, if anyone wants to let me know how to, please do! Although Odin has taken to have a TEMPER TANTRUM every time he wants something that he can't have- mostly in public- I have to say, that when he puts his little arm around my neck and squeezes, or sticks his feet through the rungs of his crib so I'll kiss them, or pushes his body and face up to the rungs so that I hug and kiss him through the side of the crib, it really does make up for all the trials and tribulations of the day. Even now, as the scent of Johnson & Johnson No Tears Shampoo/Body Wash wafts up from my keyboard, I am struck with such love. I am also feeling the love as my husband calls me from the drugstore to tell me how he is SHOCKED at the amount of birthday cards there are to choose from and that Odin got me a really great card and I know that he suffers through this ritual because he knows that I just LOVE getting cards, I feel such love. I am truly a lucky lucky woman.

Birthdays, Birthdays, and more Birthdays!

Since Odin's friends are all the same age, we will be birthday partying until the cows come home! Here are some photos from our latest party...Julie and Gabe turned 1! Julie lives nearby so Odin has been eyeing her for MONTHS! ;) Odin's friend Mason was there and his Daddy took some awesome photos for us. As you can see, Mason and his Mommy are Mason's Daddy's favorite subjects. They certainly are photogenic! As for us, we are having our party next weekend and Daddy offered to hire a cleaning lady as Mommy's birthday present before the party so she doesn't have to clean!!!! YAY for Daddy!!!! Thanks for coming up with a present that really means the WORLD to tired, worn ragged Mommy who has a hard time cleaning with Odin attached to her pantleg! I've never had a cleaning lady...I've been one before but never had the pleasure of being on the receiving end! Can't WAIT! Daddy might be in trouble though when I realize how great it is, I might want one ALL the time!!!!
































Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure...someone said toddlers like to dip their food, so I gave Odin some ketchup to dip his burger in...here's what happened...

We're back!

Hello everyone!
We just got back from our two week trip to the East Coast. Odin and I went to Auntie Rachel's Bridal Shower as surprise guests. It was SO much fun! We stayed on an island in New Hampshire and our hosts were so wonderful! Odin got to see Aunts Robin and Becky for the first time and spent some quality time with his Grandma Colwell. Somehow, we didn't get a photo of Becky or Grandma Colwell! Next time I'll take more photos!!!! Odin also got to spend time with cousins Alexandra and Nicholas and to see Uncle to be, Rick at their new adorable little house! Then, we got to visit Auntie Alana and Uncle Bob and cousins Ashley and Shayna. We visited Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Connor and then went to visit Grammie and Grandpa Connor. We visited Nantucket and then spent a little while in Connecticut. We both had SUCH a good trip. Now it's time to work on the house and garden (we're in a HORRIBLE drought) and Odin and I are having a joint birthday party (30 yrs and 1 yr) on the 30th. Then, it's back to the East Coast again for Auntie Rachel's wedding! This is going to be one CRAZY summer!!!!! The last photo below if a little girl we met at the airport that was just Odin's size but Running! She was just as crazy as Odin and they made quite a couple! Entertained the whole airport!