August 2012 Superlatives

Its that time again, and by 'that time again,' I mean when I randomly assign awards to various moments of our month by a way of encapsulating our lives that are seeming to move by entirely too quickly.  Is it just me and my mid-life crisis - or is time passing by quicker now than ever before?

August was a whirlwind - as most months are these days.  It was a great month - and my birthday month!  We completed big tasks, introduced two new members to our family, and made our backyard a water park.  Here's looking at you, August 2012:

Most appetizing pet:  (that was kind of inappropriate, but seriously..).  We introduced two new pets to our family this month - go ahead, please feel free to call Animal Planet's Animal Hoarders show immediately and nominate us - we've now got two shrimps!  With the purchase of a much needed bigger fish tank for our ever-growing (and never dying) fish, we decided to go ahead and toss in two shrimps too.  Greyson named them Mustard and Custard and they are big hits at our house.

Best pinterest project completion:  we created a children's art gallery in the playroom to display the kids' masterpieces.  It was super easy and we didn't pay a penny for it since we had everything we needed already (using two scrap pieces of wood, wood glue, and clothespins).  Thanks to this pinspiration - we wow'ed up our playroom and made it easy to rotate in new pieces.

Best Pinterest Recipe Success:  grilled pizza.  just so good.

Most obnoxious Daddy-is-a-big-kid proof:  Brandon couldn't help himself when this GIANT blow up waterslide got marked down at his store.  So we were able to have a mini-waterpark in our backyard for Grey and our cousins (Ariel and Gracie).  It was well received with screams, giggles, and enthusiasm.  And then Brandon went down it.  And this is why he is my best friend. (please forgive the awful quality of my video proof of Brandon's acrobatic skills).

Sweetest duo:  Gemma & Lila; baby BFFs.  We had a visit and dinner with the Stahls and the cuteness of our girls together was almost too much to bear.  Add in the fact that Lila and Gemmi were wearing matching outfits - it was just about as darling as it gets.  Grey tried to get in on the fun by making the girls laugh, but it was really just about adorable faces, hair envy, and babbling.

Most firm division of our house:  boys v. girls in the great backyard campout.  All the boys (Dadda, Grey, and Bullet) slept outside in the tent, while all the girls (Mumma, Gem, and Trixie) held down the fort in the house while they completed one of our summer to do tasks.  It was short lived though, as we all joined forces again in the morning when we had breakfast around the campfire.

Worst face plant:  Gemma toppled over while sitting on Grey's toddler bed and knocked the bridge of her nose off of the safety rail.  The bruise was visible almost immediately and lasted about five days.

Mr & Mrs Fancy Pants:  Brand and I while attending our friends', Jayann & Jim's, wedding in Pittsburgh.  We got dressed up in clothes that didn't have our children's bodily fluids on them - which is honestly quite a rarity.  (Congrats to Mr & Mrs Christiana!)

Best brunch:  hanging out with some of the w&j crew during brunch having a mini reunion.  We got to chat and catch up over eggs sandwiches and coffee - what's better?  We are always glad when we get a chance to introduce our kids to examples of what good friends are.

Best out-of-town visitor:  speaking of reunions!  Sara "Momma" Weaver was having a family reunion in Western PA and made a short trip over to our neck of the woods to visit with the kids and I.  We played volleyball together in college (co-captains!) and its been four years since we last saw each other.  We appropriately spent the morning laughing and drinking mimosas.  kind of the best morning ever.

Best workout gear:  Gemma's leg warmers while she does her frog hops in the jumperoo.

Sometimes good intentions just ain't enough moment:  When I found out I couldn't donate blood for another few months since we traveled to Thailand.  Luckily, Tash still went ahead and donated :)

Happiest pups:  our dogs after we took them for a long walk and swim with my dad.  

Best Efficiency Upgrade:  Being able to put both kids in the car driving seat in the grocery cart.  Gem is big enough to sit up now which leaves much more room in the cart without having to haul her baby car seat around in the basket.

Cutest little sweetheart honey face:  My sister's new kitty, Miles!  Kayla and Ryan adopted the sweet little guy from Fur Kid Rescue and he is just a little lump of sweetness.

The 'go on with ya bad self" award:  me!  when I ran, jogged ,jog-motion'ed the entire 5k Color Me Rad run the day before my 29th birthday.

Best feel-good day...like ever:  My 29 acts of Kindness birthday day long celebration.

Best signature pose:  Gemma's one hand up to her head move.  I don't know why or exactly when she started doing this...but she's been doing it when she smiles and is feeling confident.  This girl is already up to no good.

The 'takin' care of business' award:  Greyson when he sets up his 'work desk' near mine on his day care day offs and does his own form of 'work.'  Like using kid scissors to cut pieces of paper into a million shreds.  Or using a glue stick as chapstick.  He's a really hardworking, productive toddler.

Best 'I love being a mom to these babies' moment:  When I spied Greyson making Gemma laugh in their little turtle tent that morning.  As far as I can remember, this was the first time Gem laughed about  something she thought was funny (versus being furiously tickled).  I love these kids sometimes.



Ah, another month zooms by.  I hope you enjoy my monthly recaps because its therapeutic for me to get down all the little random parts of our days that get jumbled up in the big moments.  It helps make me feel like I can take a quick snapshot of what our lives are like right now and maybe hold a piece of it forever:)

July 2012 wrap up

We were awfully busy in July, but I didn't even write nearly as much as I should have to capture all the great things that we did last month.  Capturing most of our little events in my monthly superlative list has really been a pleasure for me to comb through the trillion phone pics and digital photos to reminisce (hah, can you be nostalgic about a month ago?) about how busy and lucky we are.

Most helpful Pin:  our sparkler safety cup we used for the fourth of July.

worst wipe out:  Grey on the slip&slide when he head butted himself into the ground and got his first (surely won't be his last) bloody nose!

Best out of towner visit:  our visit with the Plummer girls after the fourth of July.  Jessica and I went to high school together and have stayed close friends.  Samantha, Jess's first daughter, was Greyson's first date!  They were in town, visiting from ERie, and we got to spend the afternoon together - grabbing lunch, corralling children, and enjoying serious girl time chats.  (hi, JP!)

Samantha, Greyson, Katelyn, and Gemma

Best surprise ending:  my sister's friends threw a fantastic surprise treasure hunt-style belated birthday party for Kayla.  They led her all around town and had her complete hilarious tasks.  Little did she know, it was all going to end at a local bar where we (her family and more of her friends) were waiting for her.  She was so surprised and adorable.  Kayla is lucky to have such great close girlfriends - (hi, girls!) the 4 of them co-write a blog over at Gals & Wine.  

Most fun you can have while wearing knee-highs:  the 'handicap' for the beer bong races at our 4th annual beer olympics.  it was just ridiculous.

Best award acceptance:  Grey accepting his 'snake body' award at the beer olympics.  he was real proud.

Best action shot:  the slip & sliders at the Beer Olympics (thanks to my mum and rapid-fire shooting function on my camera)

Best drive-by photo bomber:  CJ who accidentally photobombed both of our family pictures from the beer olympics!  (hahhha, hi Cee!)

Hardest snooze:  Grey and Dadda the day after the beer olympics.  i love this picture.

Best Zoolander Magnum look:  Gemma Rose who throws her model looks around like it ain't no thang.

honestly, even while she sleeps.

even when she's filthy dirty

The Should-be-on-the-cover-of-BA-magazine (if there was one):  The picture of Grey and his hockey stance in his new roller skates.

Sweetest hugging pair:  Gemma and Trixie.  Gemmi has made a big leap into full on dog obsession these days.  If they are near her, she is trying to touch and hug them, especially Trixie.

this is why we have pitbulls - they are happy to take tough love from babies.

Best make-shift smores:  the smores we made together after dinner one night when it was raining around a candle.  we used chopsticks for our sticks.  Greyson almost burnt the house down and the marshmallows tasted a little like tangerine mist...eh, they were good still.

Squirmiest kid photo:  the Burgh and Studer kids huddled on the couch at Mallory & Hunter's birthday party.  We don't have one picture of them all looking at the camera...ah well, someday.

worst party theme (almost):  The Baby Boy Barbecue!  Which is what I almost called our facebook event for Kate's baby boy sprinkle.  Oops- dont' worry we didn't barbecue any baby boys.

Best date:  Greyson Rudy!  Grey and I spent a Saturday afternoon at the Westwood Theatre (you get to watch a movie and eat lunch at the same time!) while watching Madagascar 2.  It was a good chance to spend some time alone together now that we've got Gemonade.  And since Grey is 2 and terrible - I've been feeling like we need some time together where I'm not telling him, "please be more quiet," "or stop climbing on that," or "no hitting in the face," or "you need to poop in the potty." 

Best Daddy's happy moment:  the moment the giant scissors cut the ribbon for his new district store.  B worked so hard on the grand opening that the ribbon cutting was finally his chance to take a deep breath and realize his hard work had paid off.  We're really proud of him. 

Best 'Daddy's happy" moment runner-up:  the purchase of our new big green tractor.  It cuts down our lawn mowing by about 2 hours, has a scoop (slash we can use it to plow this winter) AND is big enough for me and two kids to run at once.  this should be also categorized as 'best efficiency-makes-mumma happy' award.

Best efficiency-makes-mumma happy runner-up:  our new storm door that I was lucky enough to have Brandon, my dad, and Kevin install for me.  And then moments later, we got a serious storm.

Best Mom ever/Worst Mom ever moment (you be the judge):  Mudpies with the kids went from super fun and messy to in their mouth/itchy belly and messy.  It was a nice activity to blow time until B got home from work that day, but also turned into double baths and clean up.  Jury's still out about this activity.

Best time to get started on our family tree:  at our annual family reunion.  We attended our Uzelac family reunion this year (unfortunately fell on the same day as our Plunkett family reunion - we miss you guys!)  Good food, even better company, a parade, a home run derby, AND talent show?  It's always the best kind of fun. 

Doppleganger award:  My sweet little cousin Landon and I who have the same haircut and color (his natural, obviously) at our family reunion.

Most comfortable nap spot:  our laps, apparently, when both kids fell asleep on us while eating lunch at the family reunion.  can you say, loving cuddle time - even if it is in a crowded lunchroom :)

Best WTF moment:  when it took us a few minutes to realize what was missing in our yard when we came home after a big storm.  Apparently, it was not immediately obvious to us that our trampoline was missing.  Have no fear, we found it.  It had blown over the front hillside into the weeds.  We've since dragged it out and re-assembled it -and its not broken!

Most exciting local find:  Greenhouse Park's swimming hole in the Stonycreek!  The kids and I met my parents and sisters at one of our favorite local parks only to discover that folks have been gathering there this summer to swim in the river.  My parents, sisters, and Kevin were there to participate in Coal Tubin', but it was our first introduction to just plain creek-swimming at Greenhouse Park.  Who knew?

we may be busy - but I like to think that we are more lucky rather than busy.