Worms, worms, worms

If you're surprised by the title of this post, then you are unaware that I have two boys under age 4 (and one husband!) living in this house with me!! We do lots of the usual things that parents and kids do and I'll blog about them too. But this is a topic that couldn't be missed!

Today, it rained. And when it rains, the worms come out. So after dinner, here's what the boys did for fun:










Why, you ask?? Why??

Isn't the first sentence above enough reason??! There are 3 males in this house and two of them are under age 4. WORMS ROCK!!!!

But seriously, this is why.....vermicomposting. Otherwise known as worm composting. Fun times!! We are now collecting worms, keeping them in a plastic tub (with a lid!), and feeding them food scraps. Why? Because they will eat it, poop, and that becomes a nice compost! Who knew!!! (who wanted to??!?!). Learn more here.

It's just one more way we're trying to be green. And even if it doesn't result in much compost, the boys will LOVE this science project (who wouldn't want to watch and wait for worms to poop!). Me, I'm just gonna stay away from it, other than making sure the lid is on TIGHT!!!

Busy Times

It's been a while, since I've had time to post, as we've been busy!!! In the last few weeks we've gone to Navy Pier and the children's museum there, a reptile show, and lots of parks as the weather has finally gotten nice!!!

So here are some photo's from the last few adventures!

View from Navy Pier Ferris Wheel:
The Ferris Wheel. The boys loved their first ride!
At the end of the pier:
At the Children's Museum, Trevor in a T-Rex skull!
Trevor 'planting vegetables'

Blake harvesting vegetables to make soup!Blake washing windows, while Trevor drives the bus:


At the reptile show, Trevor holds a Bearded Dragon. Blake will ONLY touch reptiles if they are in Trevor's lap!Trevor pets a red-eyed tree frog.
Trevor touches a snake skin, while friend Colin looks on.
Trevor tries to feed some lizards.

Trevor, with friends Drew and Colin and their mom Erin, watch an alligator The boys were disappointed it wasn't moving enough. Blake decided to try to help out and crawled UNDER the table. Then the gator moved!!! 4 little boys (Colin, Drew, Trevor & Blake) watching alligators roaming around!
The 4 boys had a FABULOUS time at the reptile show. Thanks to Erin for driving! From Trevor's love of everything at the show and desire to touch them ALL, I think some day I will own a few reptiles.....ewww!!!

I am unique....

Just found a link to this website on a friends page:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I am THRILLED to see that answer. Along with this info....

There are 1,519 people in the U.S. with my first name. Statistically the 4019th most popular first name. More than 99.9 percent of people with my first name are female.

That third bullet point is the one that matters to me! That's for all the people, over the years, that have assumed I'm a guy. All the doctors, schools, teachers, and the selective service who tried to make me register for the Army when I turned 18!

Now if only there was a website to teach people how to pronounce it!!!

March of Dimes....March for Babies

With the knowledge that a few friends are doing it too, I've decided to walk the March of Dimes, March for Babies at the end of April, the 27th to be exact.

Since becoming a mom, and entering into the world of mom's, I've realized many things. I have had 2 VERY easy and wonderful pregnancies and deliveries. I appreciate that fact more and more every day, and I only wish that everyone I knew could say that.

I know a number of mom's who have had preemie's, babies who have endured a number of surgeries, issues, ER visits, and many other heart-wrenching experiences. I've also met so many mom's who had a hard time getting pregnant, staying pregnant, and unbelievably complex and life-threatening (for mom and/or baby) delivery stories.

All of these things made me figure I should get up and walk. Heck, I walked 1-3 miles a day during both my pregnancies. I can certainly walk now! And one of my closest friends will be walking the same day in Boston for her son...Ben.

March of Dimes supports all babies, born healthy or with birth defects, born early or on-time. "The March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start." I think my favorite reason, and quote from their site is, "Because every baby deserves someone in their corner."

If you feel the wish or desire to support me support March for Babies, you can go to the website and make your donation. Regardless of how much support I get, I'm still walking, and hoping to make a tiny bit of difference!

Fun with my brother

I could post a bunch of pictures from yesterday's outing to Navy Pier (and I will another day). But for today, this says it all.

It's great to have a brother to have fun with (and it's quick and easy so I can go to bed!)!!!! PS....This usually qualifies as the WORST toy in our house as it's loud and causes fights, but not today!

Welcome Spring!!

It's finally spring here in Chicago, and we enjoyed every moment of this weekend. See for yourself!!

Taking a walk at the park. Both boys walked almost 2.3 miles around a lake!!

Playing at the park:
"Helping" Daddy do yard work!
Having a picnic lunch:
Flying kites in the backyard. Kate, Scary Steve, and Grandma came by and we all flew kites on Sunday. The boys got kites (Spider Man and Elmo respectively) from the Easter Bunny.
This is one of Kate and Scary Steve's newest kites. They have like a million, and keep getting more!

Playing on the swing set:


And now, everyone is sleeping peacefully! More spring fun tomorrow we hope!! Yay for warm weather!

Carpet is here!!!

I can't believe it, I have a finished (okay, nearly) basement!! I just realized the other day, this is a first in life for me! The carpet was installed today and that is the last big hurdle. After this, it's all little stuff that Steve & I will do (as usual!).

So here are the before, during and after photos:

Before:



The fooz-ball table is the only thing that can't be moved....it doesn't fit thru doorways!






The work room becomes a storage area for all the stuff so we can have the carpet installed.


During:
The boys LOVED this part! They were intent on sitting on the stairs watching every little move the installers made. They wanted to see every tool they had, watch everything they did, ask WHY all the time. Thank goodness the installers were pretty patient and didn't mind having an audience. For a while they even made some jokes with the boys!!





Watching the roll of carpet get carried down the stairs:


Peering around the wall and watching. Mommy wouldn't let me get any closer (I was getting in the way she said!).




Watching her finish off carpeting the stairs. If Trevor could sit on her shoulder I think he would have!


Trevor has his own photos, of the event. He was less concerned with the installation, and more concerned with the installers. He has many photos of both of them, candid of course!! I'll have to get my hands on them and post them soon!

After: As soon as the installers were done and gone the boys were ready. They were running circles around the open empty basement. It's a place they haven't been allowed to play often as it was always dusty, dirty, and full of saws and other sharp tools! In addition to a new place to run, Trevor has been anticipating the carpeting of the basement so he could get out his new race car track (a Christmas present that's been waiting 3 months). He brought me the box, and we had to set it up right away. Once it was set up, that's the ONLY toy the boys played with from 4:30 to 8:30 at night ("Do we have to stop for dinner? Aww, MOM!").

The new carpet (oh, and new race track!):






Helping Mommy clean the carpet:


As for Steve and I, now it's on to trim, molding, chair rail, pool table, bar, furniture, and decor (Steve's favorite part-actually this time I'm not lying!). Stay tuned for more updates as progress is made!!!