A little bit about Roman

I've decided to do a little post about our kids and what they are doing and learning right now. Since I plan to print my blog to book, this year at least, I thought it would bee a good way to remember them at certain times in their life. So here it goes. Here is a little bit about Roman:


Since the introduction of MarioKart to our household Roman is ultra competitive. He wants to race.... and win at everything. So dinner is a race, bath time is a race, he races to be the first one to have his seat belt buckled in the car, etc. This is both good and bad. Good because it gets him going, since he is typically quite laid back and has to be lured and prodded here and there. Bad, because especially when he's sleepy, he can be quite a sore looser.

Another good and bad.... Roman LOVES to watch T.V. and movies. Good because whenever I need a break or just have to have some space, the T.V. is there to rescue me. Bad because it's so easy to just turn on for a few extra minutes of peace and suddenly a few minutes is an hour. Some of his favorites are: Curious George, Super Why, Monster's Inc., Mickey Mouse cartoons, and anything on Qubo (don't ask me why, Qubo cartoon's are LAME!!!) Oh and he also likes Little Mermaid (much to Shane's dismay) I'm not sure why he likes it so much, but he laughs hysterically during the "les poissons" song.


Roman is to the point where he understands a lot more than he knows the words to express. It gets really frustrating for both of us when he tries to explain things to me or ask me about something but he doesn't know the right words.

He is fantastic at bedtime. It makes me proud to think that I've trained him well. He knows the drill and for the most part, he doesn't fight it. Every once in a while he tries to stall, but he doesn't get away with it, so he doesn't push his luck.

Roman is SUPER social. He will talk to anyone! except when we want him to talk, then suddenly he has nothing to say. He tells everyone in the stores that he has a Mariokart game, that he is 4 years old, he doesn't get to go to Kindergarten till he's 5, and sometimes what he had for breakfast that day etc. His favorite people to talk to are the ladies at JoAnns and the Walmart fabric cutting counter. They have all worked there forever and have watched him grow up. And they sometime give him candy and random toys that some other kid lost. :) He also likes to talk to the people who check out the books at the library.

Some of his favorite places to go are, Toys R us (he calls it "the James store" because they have a Thomas train set out to play with), McDonalds, any playground with swings, the library, Reams (because I'm weak and we can't pass the doughnuts without getting one), and his friend Caden's house. He also likes to go on "special" trips with just daddy, even better if they go in grandpas truck.

Roman loves to read books, and really loves it when they are silly books. He has learned what all the letters say, but still has a hard time connecting the sounds to make a word.

I think Roman prefers walking or running over riding his bike. Sometimes I think it's a chore to him when I make him ride his bike. He probably doesn't like that I get frustrated with how slow he likes to go much either. But holy cow! your supposed to ride a bike because you can go FASTER! not slower. :)

Usually with the changes in seasons Roman kind of flips out about the changes in his wardrobe. I put a short sleeved shirt on him after a long winter and he tugs on the sleeves thinking they are wrong. Well, this summer he would not let go of the sock thing. He HAD to wear socks every day this summer and yes, he would wear the dreaded socks with sandals. AKKK!!!! I just could not convince him to not wear socks! It wasn't worth fighting over and since he dresses himself, I couldn't just refuse to put socks on him. SIGH.... I don't know how many times I said "your not supposed to wear socks with sandals!" this summer.

Roman is still pretty easy going. I can almost always find a way to get him to do what I want him to. There are a few things that he has recently taken a stand on. Like eating fruit. He won't do it. But as far as convincing him to help me out, or go somewhere he doesn't really want to go, I can always put a spin on it so he will change his mind.


He is an excellent big brother. He already gets a kick out of teasing Marisa (what is that makes brothers like making their sisters squeal so much?), but for the most part, he has her back. If she cries, he tries to make her happy. If she needs something, he will usually get it for her. But he is only 4 so he does occasionally get grabby if it looks like she is having fun with a toy, he will suddenly really want to play with it. But that's normal. He's always been great with her from the beginning.

Oh there is so much more, but that is what comes to my mind tonight. He's such a good kid. I love him so much.

I'm trying not to, but I've gotta....

COMPLAIN!!!!!

Ok, so this spring I was complaining because it just wouldn't get warm, but now that I'm 20+ lbs over my normal weight and everything hurts I just wish it would cool down!!!!

I know I really shouldn't complain because it has seriously been one of the mildest summers that I can remember. We only went in the 100's one week this summer and I can remember MONTHS of 100 degree temperatures in the past. It's only mid 90's but it makes me so grouchy.

And...

My legs could fall off they hurt so bad, don't even mention my hips.

my feet are so dry and cracked that they hurt to walk on,

I can't get enough sleep and that sweet little Marisa ain't helping me much in that department either Miss 5 am!!!

My pants won't stay up

My shirts won't stay down

My belly has reached it's full stretching capacity and there is two months of stretching to go

The old (and not so old) ladies and their well intended pregnancy comments at church are enough to make me go inactive for a while. (there IS a reason I never told any of them I was having a baby) I know a lot of people like the attention that comes with pregnancy but I hate it, especially when I don't know the person very well.

I hated watching the Olympics and all those fit people doing amazing things with their bodies and I can't even get up off the couch without a struggle.

For some odd reason the laundry keeps getting dirty and so do the dishes.... how does it happen SO FAST!

Food just doesn't cut it anymore. Nothing sounds good yet... I'm always hungry.

alright, It's out of my system. I will go back to being my normal cheerful self (HA HA)

Daddy's little girl

Least you think that Marisa looks so much like her mommy..... look again. This girl is her daddy's girl.

Marisa at 16 months

Shane at 16 months

A lot of people say she looks like me, but I think that is just because she has blond hair. She really does look a lot like her daddy. She has my face shape, but that is about where it ends. Roman looks like my dad. I will see if I can find some look alike pictures of those two.

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

OK so my kids or at least Roman have never been known for their climbing abilities or acrobatic skills but I think the olympics are making them think they can do things they can't.

Yesterday I was in the kitchen and the kids were in the living rooms reading books. Suddenly Marisa starts screaming her "I'm gonna die" scream so I go see what's going on. This is what I found.


I wish the picture had turned out a little better but she already didn't appreciate that I came and saw her in distress only to turn around and go get the camera. She really would have had it in for me if I had taken time to close the blinds and adjust the camera settings.

She can't quite get on the couches by herself but she discovered that she can get on the coffee table then get on the couches from there so I've had to rescue her from this crevice a few times this week, but this was by far the funniest position I've found her in.

Then, today I was in the basement sewing a little while Marisa slept and Roman watched Monsters Inc. in the guest room. We have a queen size bed in there and he loves to jump on it. Every time he does I ask him not to because he could fall off and get hurt but I haven't been terribly strict on enforcing that request figuring that he would..... well, learn one way or another. (I know, not very smart). So I'm in a different room and suddenly I hear *thump*.... WAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Yep, the moneky fell off the bed and boy did he learn his lesson. He bumped his head and face on the dresser (how he managed to hit both places is a mystery to me) so he has a huge goose egg on his noggin and a shiner on his cheek. I didn't discover the bump on his head until I tried to put his bike helmet on him later and he screamed like I was cutting of his arm.
He's OK though and says that he's going to "try" to not jump on the bed anymore.


Silly kids.

Swimming Lessons

Well the last two weeks we spent 1/2 hour a day m-th at the pool while Roman learned some swimming skills. He did pretty good. He wouldn't try floating or paddling without someone holding him, but that is pretty much his way so I'm not surprised. I think I had to threaten him pretty harshly to get him to even try to peddle a bike without help last summer. Other than that, he was great at jumping in the pool and dunking his head under and blowing bubbles etc. He got really good at just getting around in the water without falling :)

Anyway, it was really fun for him and relatively cheap entertainment if nothing else so I'm glad we did it. So here are some pictures.

The last day they got to go down the water slide for fun.

Sigh..... Summer is quickly coming to and end.. Only two more weeks until preshcool!

Kristy Get's the gold medal!

Ok, so Kristy totally smoked you. Even if you didn't play, I bet none of you did as well as she did :) Way to go Kristy! She got 7 of the quotes right with each of the characters right as well. Email me your address and I will send of your prize just as soon as I figure out what it is :)

So for the answers:

1. Ratatouille: This is when Emile (Peter Sohn) and Remy (Patton Oswalt) are looking for Saffron in the kitchen.

for some reason I love this line. And, I really like the whole movie. I say I bought it for Roman but it's always me who ends up begging to watch it, not him.

2. While you were sleeping: (of course) The first quote is when Elsie (Glynis Johns) is sitting in mass and the whole family is having one of their extreemly funny conversations. Another favorite is when they are all sitting to dinner and talking.

The second quote is when Lucy (Sandra Bullock) is talking to Jack Callaghan about "hugging" and Jo Jr. (Michael Rispoli ) comes up to them and they all pull off a very funny situation.


I've seen this movie hundreds of times I'm sure (not even exaggerating) , and I still laugh out loud every time.

3. Return to me: This is a quote by Megan (Bonnie Hunt) when she is talking to Grace (Minnie Driver) .

For some reason I will never say that I "love" this movie. But I watch it over and over again because there is some great writing and some very funny lines. I'm just not much of a fan of Minnie Driver or David Duchovney.

4. Overboard: A quote by Joanna Stayton aka. Annie Proffitt (Goldie Hawn) talking to Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell)

What a classic!

5. You've got Mail: A quote by Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) talking to his friend Kevin (Dave Chappelle)

I like you've got mail because it's such a "feel good" movie. I've watched it lots!

6. Never Been Kissed: A quote by Gibby Zerefski (Jordan Ladd)

Another movie with a lot of great lines

7. One Fine Day: A quote by Jack Taylor (George Clooney) talking to his little girl Magie (Mae Whitman).

Another feel good movie that I love to watch now and then.

8. Johnny Lingo: This is a quote by Mahana (Naomi Kahoilua) talking about how Johnny Lingo will not come to claim his 8 cow wife.

I thought I would throw in a curve ball. No, I don't watch this one all the time but I've seen it enough times in seminary that I could just about repeat every word, and yes, we do own it.

9. The Incredibles: A quote by Honey Best (Kimberly Adair Clark) which is a great quote I think. :)

I thought this would be a harder one, but no one knew her name which I believe is only spoken once in the whole movie and it's when Helen Par aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) says to Lucius Best aka Frozone ( Samuel L. Jackson) "Say Hi to Honey for me!" way at the beginning of the movie.

10. Better of Dead: A quote by Lane Meyer (John Cusack) talking about the Japaneese guys who bug him and make him drag race with.

Ahhhh better of dead. Another classic. It has some funny scenes.

11. Cars: A quote by Mater (Larry The Cable Guy ) when he's talking to Flo (Jenifer Lewis) and trying to be like Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson).

How could I leave out cars. I've seen it a million times, however not by choice.


So Congratulations Kristy! and thanks to anyone who played.

Fun and Games

Ok so I've been trying to think of something fun to put on my blog and I've come up with a little game. Go ahead and play... the winner(s) will get a treat from me :)

If you know what movies I watch over and over and over... this will be easy for you. And no cheating and doing internet searches.

Name the movie that each line(s) comes from and for bonus points, name the person(s) (either the actor or the stage name) in the movie who says that line. If there are two different colors it means there are two different people talking.

Get it? Ok then let's play:

1.
"you read?"

"well, not excessively"

"Oh man, does dad know?"

"You could fill a book - a lot of books - with things Dad doesn't know. And they have. Which is why I read."

2.
"I like Mass better in Latin. It's nicer when you don't know what they're saying."

Bonus: Same movie different people:

"It was a lot different from hugging. Hugging's very different. Hugging that involves arms and hands; and leaning is whole bodies moving in like this. Leaning involves *wanting*... and *accepting*. *Leaning*... "

Hey Luce! Is this guy bothering you?

[Laughs] No, no.

Are you sure? Because it looks like he's *leaning.*

3.
"Yeah, well, I married a first date, missy, and you know how it is. You're out with a guy, you find him attractive, and suddenly everything he says sounds brilliant. Hairy legs are your only link to reality."

4.
"I don't belong here, I feel it, don't you think I feel it. I can't do any of these vile things and I wouldn't WANT to. Oh, my life is like death. My children are the spawn of hell, and you're the devil."

"but baby, we like you."

5.

"Kevin, this is possibly the most adorable creature I've ever been in contact with, and if she turns out to be as good looking as a mailbox... I would be crazy enough to turn my life upside down and marry her. "

6.

"I don't think you're supposed to wear white jeans after 1983."

7. (edited slightly to keep it clean and family friendly)

"Maggie, when you grow up and are incredibly beautiful and intelligent and possess a certain sweetness that's... that's like a distant promise to the brave, to the worthy, could you please not beat to a pulp every miserable man that comes your way simply because you can? Could you not do that?"

8.

"Did you hear them? They laughed. They mock me. He mocks me. You will see, he will not" come.

9.

" 'Greater good?' I am your wife! I'm the greatest *good* you are ever gonna get! "

10.

"Two brothers... One speaks no English, the other learned English from watching "The Wide World of Sports." So you tell me... Which is better, speaking no English at all, or speaking Howard Cosell? "

11.

"I'm on one of them there special diets. I am a precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics."



Ok... thats just a taste of movies that I have seen so much that I know every word. :) If it helps me look less pathetic, I do sew while I watch most of them.

I will post the answers in a few days

What would YOU do?

Ok, at the moment my life is FULL of dilemmas... ok not really, but I've got few. I've got several little issues that are staring me down and I just keep putting off making any decisions because I really just don't want to.

#1: The plug: Marisa LOVES her pacifier. To be honest with you, so do I. It is a lifesaver at church and in the car and even at home, especially at and around naptime. I have been really good though and don't give it to her at bedtime so she CAN put herself to sleep at night without it. But, we are approaching the age where I know I personally think "this child is too old for a pacifier". I think anything up to age 18 months to 2 is ok, after that...I think it's more of an addiction or bad habit rather than a soother.
The problem is... when Marisa is 18 months, there will be another little pacifier addict in the house and that will make it all the harder for her to break her little habit. We might get lucky and have another Roman who really never liked the thing and was over it by 6 months. But it's hard to say.
And, honestly I may wish Marisa still had the pacifier more than ever when the little guy comes along. Man she can cry. Shane wants it gone ASAP, but I just don't know if I can handle all her crying. Most of the time she isn't crying because she wants her pacifier, it's because she wants me to hold her or pay attention to her and the pacifier comes out to satisfy her a little during dinner etc.
So... what would you do?

#2: Where to put the new little one? I always start out with the babies in our room with us, but Roman was in there 4 months, which I felt was WAY too long and Marisa was kicked out after only one month. I'm a light sleeper and all their little noises just keep me awake all night. So, do I have Marisa and Roman share a room and give the new guy his own room? Who is the lucky kid who gets to share? Ultimately Roman and the baby will share once he learns how night time is supposed to go or maybe once he's out of a crib and we can do the bunk bed thing or something.... I dont know!!! Maybe just the entryway closet. LOL. Thoughts... ?experiences....?

#3: What to do about my sewing business. If you want to call it that. I can attempt to keep sewing now and then, or I can just shut down completely and start back up when there is a little more free time because 1 or 2 kids are in school or something. It really doesn't cost much to keep my webstore open. About $8 a month really. But, I feel like I need to be selling stuff to justify that expense. And if I don't just say that "I'm closed" then I feel like I need to be sewing more, keeping up with my email etc. But.... it's nice to have something that I do besides the mommy stuff. Ya know... my outlet. I just don't know if there is going to be enough time. Plus, I've got plenty of other things I can "do" that is just for me. ie. running, gardening (which is surprisingly difficult with the kids around), actually sew something for myself or my family for a change, or clean the house... oh yeah, it's supposed to be something I enjoy. So.... what would you do?

Any advice is welcome. I'm sure I've got more dilemmas to tackle, but I think they have gone way back in the vault to be dealt with on another day.

A little overdue but...

We bought a crib yesterday. Yes... we are approaching baby #3 and we have never bought a crib. Before Roman was born a co-worker gave us his old crib, which he received as a hand-me-down probably 14+ years ago, so this crib of ours has probably gone through as many as 10 kids. It's ancient! We thought that we would take the crib and just see how it was and probably buy a crib anyway. But until now.... that we need two cribs, we just never got around to it. The free crib was good enough. It is....well.... not sturdy but Roman was sleeping on a mattress on the floor at 18 months because he didn't move much in his sleep and was so big so there really wasn't a need for anything better until now.


I have been searching for months for a good sturdy used crib but only to find that people want a fortune for them. I guess that is because they paid $500+ for them so they want to get $400-$300 back, but I just wasn't prepared for that kind of price for a used piece of furniture, but I didn't want another cheepo that feels like it could fall apart if your kid jumps on the bed besides the fact that they have these drop down sides that I've never found useful even a little bit.

So, along comes this add for a warehouse liquidation sale. Woo Hoo!!! Now, I'm not a sucker and I know when they say it's 75% off that it's 75% off the suggested (overinflated) retail price. So I know that I didn't get the best deal on the planet but I do think I got a pretty good deal on a sturdy, good looking crib. We paid $220 for this one, which I found for sale online for $800 and I couldn't be happier. Plus, it matches our dresser and rocker surprisingly well. And it's nice enough that I think it's a piece of furniture that I will store and keep for a long time. The free-bee on the other hand might just become firewood, even though I think it might be approaching antique status. :)



Now I'm not sure who will get the new crib and who will get the old one, and I'm not sure who is going to have to share a room (yikes). Roman is the best sleeper at the moment and Marisa wakes up super early. I was thinking of just having the baby in Romans room but then I worry that it will disrupt his sleep too much. But if the baby is with Marisa she might have a harder time getting herself back to sleep if the baby wakes her up. All I need is two screaming babies. So maybe have Marisa and Roman together but then he will probably end up waking up when she does which is FAR too early (sometimes 5:30am). There just isn't a perfect solution. We have three perfectly good rooms in the basement, but Roman is just too young to be down there by himself right now.

Oh and by the way... getting that crib home was almost enough to cause a total emotional breakdown. There sure are some times when trucks and SUV's are SO handy. I should just be glad that I don't have to pay over $100 every time I fill up my car but gosh! Thank you to Shane's co-worker who ended up lending Shane his truck. I sure appreciated it.