A "Messy" Face-Only a Mother Could Love

Eric started spaghetti nights with the boys when I was late getting home from work a few times. He would put a bowl of spaghetti in front of each boy, take off their shirts and let them go to town. Then he would immediately transfer them to the tub. Now it is our tradition to eat spaghetti with no shirts on. Let me put that another way-Mommy and Daddy are the shirts and the little boys are the skins. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. In fact, all we have to do is say the word spaghetti and the boys start taking off their shirts. Now I'm a little afraid to take them to an Italian restaurant, for multiple reasons. This picture is of a particularly messy spaghetti night. Marshall really got into it and he was so proud.

Long Time No Post!

Well, I have been very bad about updating my blog lately. I don't really have any excuses except that I work full time and now have 2 children in the terrible 2s! I am wondering if it's possible to have 2 kids in the terrible 2s and neither of them be 2? Damon will be 3 in 3 weeks and unless he does a complete turnaround during that time, he will not be out of the phase. And Marshall is 18 months old and is already there! Oh well. They are too cute to stay frustrated with them for very long. I have posts planned, so know that there will be videos and photos coming soon. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Testing Signature

How does my new signature look?

Indoor Winter Fun!

This is what the Smileys do when we can't get outside in the winter. I think this is the proudest Damon has ever been of himself. I love how he jumps up and down. I don't know, but we may have a future_________ (insert professional baseball player name, I don't know any) on our hands!

Blast from the Past

Here is an old video of Damon. He was about 13 months old. Eric titled the video, "Look out Below." Just in case you were wondering, no one was harmed, I mean permanently harmed in the filming of this video!

You will surely be missed, Grandma Pat!

One week ago today, we received the sad news that Eric's Grandmother had passed away at age 87. While the news was difficult, we are reassured that her death ended the suffering she had endured as a result of at least 2 strokes over the past 3 years. I only knew Grandma Pat for about 8 years, and really only knew the Grandma Pat that everyone else knew for about 5 years. I now wish I had known her even better. What an amazing lady she was. I just found out last week that she was born in Canada and was part French Canadian. I wish I could go back in time and ask her more about her childhood. But I know from the stories that were told at her funeral that I will be able to learn more about her from her children and grandchildren.

The service was beautiful, just the way she would have wanted it, a beautiful Catholic mass with her favorite psalms and hymns. On the way to the cemetery, the ground was covered with a fresh blanket of snow and the sun was shining, even though the temperature was only in the single digits. During lunch her family members shared stories about her, many showing her sense of humor. I remember Grandma Pat always looking so beautiful and put together, which I think is rare for someone in her eighties.

I know her family will miss her dearly, especially her husband Roger and children.

Thank you, Grandma Pat, for making such a wonderful impression on me!

Happy Birthday Kiley!

I can't believe I forgot to post about our sweet daughter's birthday! Kiley turned the big 11 last Monday the 12th! We will actually celebrate her birthday next weekend when she is with us. But I just wanted to wish her very Happy 11th Birthday and say that I can't believe how fast time flies. When I "officially" met Eric in 2000, Kiley was about the age Damon is now! I feel like I blinked and 8 years have passed! I just want to say, "Slow down, girl, you're growing up too fast!" We all love you very much, Kiley!