October 31, 2012

Trick-or-Treat

Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something .... thank God we talked Jill out of reciting those fresh words tonight.  I don't know where she learned that but I'm guessing Colton!  hahaha What do you think, Tyla? 

Anyways, Tony and I commuted back together and were home in time to get Jill to Gram Furze's house a little after 5pm.  My Mom met us there.

 Here's Jill posing in her "fairy princess" gear.
Jill was SO excited when Guy arrived that it distracted her for a second and I threw on the wings she did not want to wear.
 It made for a few cute pictures with her cousin.
 This one is my favorite.
 Then Guy escaped.
 We grabbed a Canning family picture, barely.
And headed back to our neighborhood where we met Scott, Jess and Guy again.  Down the street we walked, Guy and cooler resting comfortably in the wagon, until we reached Jenny's house.  Jenny's house was a ZOO.
We tackled the neighborhood with 10 kids and maybe 20 adults.  Liz called it a "gang."  It was so much fun I almost cried.  Literally, I wanted to cry because I was so happy that we moved back "home" and had family and friends nearby.  What a great group of people!
The Seuss-Gooch Gang

October 30, 2012

Potty Training Update

About 5 weeks shy of her third birthday, Miss Jill is finally (fingers crossed!) potty trained.  She went to school this morning in Tinkerbell big girl undies and I couldn't have been a prouder Mom!  Good job, sweetie!!

October 29, 2012

The Calm Before Sandy

Saturday was a gorgeous day! The new-to-us (used) lawnmower was delivered and as we prepped the yard for the storm, we all ended up in shorts and short-sleeve shirts.

Tony and I dropped Jill off at Scott and Jess's house and she spent the afternoon playing with Guy and Granna.  We went to the boatyard to prep the boat, the same plan as Jess and Scott.  A last minute offer text later and the Barbozas joined us.  We weren't planning a ride but were so happy we went out!







Hayrides & Pumpkin Strolls





















I can't believe we did all of this on Friday! 

October 23, 2012

An October Update

Do you know what happens when you forget to charge your wireless aircard? You get to blog, in Word, from your laptop. I’m sitting on the commuter rail train right now waiting to depart South Station. I powered on my aircard only to be advised to plug in. Well we’re not riding the Amtrak home, folks. We’re on the no-thrills purple line. I think there’s dried spit across the back of the seat facing me. Some lowlife was just harassing us inside the station for $9 (he already had a whole dollar) to take the train to Worcester so he could get a jacket. He has a clothing voucher for the Salvation Army and needs to pick clothes up there. He lifted his fleece to show the lack of a shirt and the rope holding up his pants. And apparently there are no Salvation Army stores in the Boston area. OK buddy.

But back to parenting because that’s what Jill’s blog is all about. The blog’s been a picture repository lately because I normally charge the aircard and work on the way in and on the way home, and take Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest breaks in between.

Jill’s been so much fun lately. She’s also in the midst of trading up her terrible two-ness for a worse than terrible three-ness. She’s testing us. Last night after my soccer game, Jill hung out on the bed reading a book with Tony. What she really wanted to do was play. As she started to sneak off the side of the bed, Tony told her no. She told him yes. Tony said, “If you get off the bed, you’re going straight to your bed and Mommy won’t be able to read you any books.” The testing continued and Jill ended up in her bed. Dad: 1. Jill: 0.

Potty training continues. Every other day or so Jill insists on wearing big girl undies. She does a great job peeing on the potty but would rather poop in her diaper, ask to see it, then dump it in the toilet, flush and ask for a candy corn (her reward for actually using the potty). Yesterday, while playing at my Mom’s, Jill had an accident. No big deal. She was wearing a Tinkerbell-themed hand-me-down dress from my friend Sarah’s older sister, Karen, and so my Mom let her “air out.” A few minutes later there was poop. On the grass. Like a dog. “Ummmm she pooped on the grass?” I texted back to my Mom. I was laughing at my desk, sitting there in disbelief. I had to tell my cube neighbor and friend, Shelley. She laughed too. I didn’t get the reaction I expected out of Tony. He must’ve pooped in weird places as a toddler like my brother. I digress …

Since my Mom’s 60th birthday party (the remaining decorations and balloons don’t help, I’m sure), Jill’s been talking about her upcoming 3rd birthday party. A princess-themed party? Perhaps. But then she brings up the idea of a pasta-themed party. How original. She’ll probably change her mind 1,000 times before early December but I like the idea of a princess- and pasta-themed birthday party. The other morning I asked Jill what she was looking forward to the most about her party. She jumped with both feet, threw her arm in the air with three fingers extended and yelled, “THREE CANDLES! YEAH!” It was really cute.

Although Jill’s been rough housing (that term dates me) with Tony lately, she’s also been showing a sensitive and caring side. On Sunday at Scott and Jess’s house, Jill showed me a purple inflatable octopus and told me to follow her. “Where are we going,” I asked. “We’re going to the ocean to put the octopus back so he can swim. The octopus needs the water.”

A short time later a bee stung the inside of my pinky finger on my left hand. I yelled in pain and ran inside with Jill to grab Windex and ice. Jill looked even more upset than I did – like she was going to cry because her Mom had a boo-boo. “Mumma, are you ok? Let me see your boo-boo so I can kiss it better.” The combination of Windex, ice, some baking soda slime Jess recommended and Jill’s thoughtful words definitely eased the pain. She’s a sweet kid and we’re really proud of her. And she’s not even 3 yet.

 Saturday morning smiles from Julian - That's what Auntie Kathleen & Andrea call Jill in her Thomas the Train jammies, rather mind the Patriots blanket.
 Sunday afternoon yardwork at Scott & Jess's
 leave the tree cutting to the professionals
 We watched in awe,
 seriously.
 "Mumma, I make pile of acorns for the squirrels' beckfest."
a sweet soul


October 22, 2012

Homecoming Weekend

It was so nice to visit Westfield State on Saturday.  We also celebrated our 10 year reunion at the Westwood Pub before heading out with a smaller group to two other bars.  I swear it was closing time before we headed to Jen's house but apparently not.  I was in bed at 11:30!  Isn't that when we used to head out to City Limits?



















© 2012 Westfield State University
 © 2012 Westfield State University
© 2012 Westfield State University