mommy-of-three

The One Where Dillon Turns S-E-V-E-N

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Dear Dillon,

Seven years ago, you came kicking and screaming into our lives and forever changed my world.

I always knew I could handle raising girls...afterall, I AM a girl, and who better than someone with 27 years of experience in being a girl to RAISE girls.

But you...you rocked my world. You see, you aren't a girl. And I didn't know a thing about raising boys. Race cars, trains, sports, superheroes, and bugs...these were as foreign to me as quantum physics. I knew nothing about how boys play, how boys dress, and why boys grunt when they talk.

But now, seven years later, I can say with a fair amount of certainty, that I have learned the answers to two of those three questions.

I had no idea what I was headed for. As it turned out, by having a son, I got my "mommy pass" stamped for the fast track course in all things "boy".

It was YOU who taught me what "tender" is (it's a train's cargo, duh!)...

It was YOU who taught me that race cars don't have real headlights (they have stickers, mom!!)

It was YOU who taught me that Nerf darts don't (usually) hurt when shot directly at your mom's butt. However, when shot at her eye...well, that's a different story.

It was YOU who taught me that a swingset climbing fort can be a pirate ship OR an ice cream shop.

It was YOU who taught me that wearing a cape to bed is not unheard of (especially if you're a superhero).

It was YOU who taught me that even big boys get scared during swim lessons (wait...you weren't scared, you were just "not feeling well" for that 30 minutes!)

And it was YOU who taught me that long eyelashes and toothy grins will melt my heart any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

The past seven years have been anything but boring with you in our lives, Dillon. You make every day fun. Your cheerful laugh (that currently sounds like a dolphin's "chatter"), your playful enthusiasm, your willingness to help others...you are some of the best traits of me and your daddy combined into one perfect package.

This year, you are enjoying first grade at Lake Cable Elementary School. You love your teacher Miss Shively, and have many friends. As a matter of fact, you refer to kids you don't know as "friends you haven't met yet". You are outgoing and friendly, and seem to "fit in" in any situation. You're good in school- a smart kid who works hard and learns easily- just like Mommy!

You are very curious. You love to watch "How It's Made" on TV with Daddy and find out how our factories and manufacturers build things we use every day. I can almost see the gears turning in your head...an engineering brain at work. You do take after your Daddy in that regard!!

You played t-ball last spring and soccer in the fall. You have some natural athletic talents that show on the field. You are trying swimming this winter, but are working on getting a little more comfortable without your safety vest. This summer I was so proud of you when you jumped in off the edge of the pool and went underwater while we were on vacation!

This is your first year doing cub scouts. You proudly memorized the cub scout promise, and the oath, handshake, salute and everything else cub scouts need to know. Right now, you are building your Pinewood Derby car, fashioned after Lightning McQueen. Of course, I would expect nothing else from you...your passion for Cars (and Lightning McQueen in particular) crosses all bounds!

You have a good time doing just about anything. You really love playing with friends. You could spend every waking minute playing video games and watching movies...well, except those minutes when you're racing your Cars around, building with your legos, or trading Pokemon cards. You even have a good time going to the dentist! I wish I had your enthusiasm for the "everyday ordinary"!!

This year has been a lot of fun watching you grow and change. I'm sure there's so much to look forward to, but I really enjoy you just the way you are! So have FUN as we celebrate YOU!!!

Thank you so much for choosing us to be your parents, and thank you for blessing our lives with the wonderful gift that is YOU!! We love you, buddy! Happy 7th Birthday!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy
January 25, 2012

The One with the Dog Tongue

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:41:00 +0000

Sometimes...

Instead of getting off the couch...

It's just easier...

To stick your tongue out...

At Mondays...

And stay cuddled up with your kid!!

The One with Baby Ava

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

Is there anything better than seeing your babies with babies?? A few of my favorite pictures from this weekend.

We took a weekend trip to see Jay and Dana and Ava. How precious is this little baby girl?!

No, no...by "baby girl" I mean Ava, not Sydney!!

And this boy? !! Melt my heart.

And (even though I don't have a picture) Jay and Dana are (naturally) proud, beaming parents. And not even terribly sleep deprived. <--- So jealous!! Seeing Mom and Dad doting over their little princess- priceless! What a blessing!

Looking forward to watching this little one grow up. Hopefully she gets good fashion sense from her mommy and good humor and fun from her daddy!

The One with the Night Before Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Parents' Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house

I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.

Instructions were studied and we were inspired,

In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,

While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:

A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!

And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....

Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!

Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;

If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,

But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,

With each part numbered and every slot named,

So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,

All over the carpet they were scattered about.

"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!

Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!

Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."

"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact

That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact

To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night

With "assembly required" till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,

Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.

The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin

Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,

We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.

But I said to my husband just before I passed out,

"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,

And not have to run to the store for a thing!

We did it! We did it! The toys are all set

For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"

Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded...

I'd forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!

- Anonymous

The One with The Christmas Tree v.2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:27:00 +0000

The One with the First Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:35:00 +0000

OK...so I suck at the "posting every day" idea. There is simply too much happening in my life to sit down and type. Yes, I could simplify- maybe share a picture one day, a story the next. But it seems when I do actually sit down to type, I can't stop talking! LOL :)

Cheer season started last weekend with a local competition at the Canton Civic Center. The girls both competed, so it was a two-for-one special for everyone who came to watch!

Our morning was busy. Finding all the different pieces and parts to two uniforms was not a simple task.Hair up in bows, makeup on...soon we were in the car and ready to go.

Game face #1...Grrrr, baby!

Game face #2...Meow!!

The Cubs were the first NEO team to go.

This was the first competition for most of the girls, but they performed like seasoned veterans! Their routine consisted of some tumbling and a cheer, complete with some Cub Claws and a growl at the end!!

These gals love their coaches...T.I. and Sydney!!

Thanks for a great first performance, CUBS!!

After the Cubs, we were in for a special treat. The NEO Wondercats took the floor for their first ever performance. This is the first year NEO has a special needs team, and these kids are AMAZING! I'd be lying if I said I didn't wipe away a tear or two. The entire gym is so supportive and proud of these kids...they have accomplished so much already, and the season is just beginning!

And to round out the first session of the competition, the CHEETAHS were ready to take the floor. All hands in...

Here's where they start their routine...

And here's what the rest of the routine looks like...

(...ordinarily I would post a few pictures here. Truth is though, I didn't take any pictures of the routine this time. I was too busy cheering for my favorite girl! Dillon was in charge of video, so there's a slight chance that there is a video on Jason's phone. I will need to find out...stay tuned!)

Final outcome...2nd place!

Not bad, considering there were 8 teams in their division. Their team got great scores on tumbling, and have a few parts that need "cleaned up"...I'm sure the coaches will use the judges' constructive criticism to direct practice this week, and get these Cheetahs ready for Pittsburgh this weekend!

The rest of the teams from our gym that competed brought home first place banners and a couple grand champion banners for being top scorers in their level. There were also teams that won best pyramid and best choreography. I'm so proud of EVERY athlete that took the floor and represented NEO Allstars. We are so blessed to call all these kids and coaches "family"!!

This week, we travel to Pittsburgh for the Steel City Classic. Cheetahs again have some tough competition, and have 7 teams in their division, which means their routine will have to be spot-on to bring home a banner! Let's go Cheetahs!!

The One Today

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:38:00 +0000

Today.

Today I shopped with my baby girl.

Today we smiled and giggled and laughed like best friends.

Today we got our hair curled and put on some sparkly lotion.

Today we shared some pretzels and cheese.

Today we took the day off from responsibility and instead swung on the swings.

Today we found friends at the park and slid down the slide into a pile of leaves.

Today was a great day.

Today.

The One with the Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:50:00 +0000

Long weekend at work. Monday called for a family night, and Jason planned a surprise trip to Tinseltown to see "Puss in Boots 3D." For the second time in as many trips, we had the theater to ourselves. I'm getting a little spoiled!

I was a little worried, because the Shrek movies are not my favorites- I thought the story was a great idea, but kinda "jumped the shark" when they added in all the nursery rhyme characters. I didn't really get the tie-in, and thought it was a little weak at best. So, going to see a movie about one of those nursery rhyme characters was not high on my list of "Fun Ways to Spend Monday Night". But my long weekend at work called for a night out, so who was I to complain about what that night out entailed?!

Obligatory pictures of me and the kids in 3D glasses. These were taken at a different movie, but you get the idea...kids in 3D glasses make me smile :)

Now, on to the review...

Holy Frijoles! This movie was a pleasant distraction from my long weekend at work. Parts of the movie stood out as very funny, especially the parts that were adult-oriented humor. I love it when I'm watching a kids movie, and still can laugh at jokes that are clearly intended for the "old enough to drive" crowd.

Puss in Boots was far and away the best character in the movie- Antonio Banderas rocked the part as swashbuckling cat/latin lover, and the only thing that would have made this any better is if Banderas actually had some face time in the movie {swoon}. Salma Hayek brought it as Kitty Softpaws- seamless and beautifully emoted throughout the entire movie. Never once did I doubt that the cats were really talking. Even some "cat mannerisms" were played up for the movie- like licking up milk, and cleaning themselves. Humpty Dumpty was lame, but Zach Galifianakis played the part well. The "Oooooh" cat is laugh-out-loud funny, for both kids and adults.

And the 3D was great. Large graphics, in your face action...the viewing experience was worth the price of tickets. The music was capturing...it really added to the "latin legend" feel (and made me want to dance!)

Would I see this movie again? Sure, though not necessarily in the theater. There are few movies that get that esteemed distinction. But I was pleasantly surprised and wouldn't object to bringing this home on video when it is released. My kids enjoyed it- it held their attention and made them laugh. And it was adult enough that I didn't feel like I was on an "adventura" with Dora.

My final rating- 3-1/2 stars. Don't wait for the video. The 3D theater experience is worth it.

The One with Mario

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:11:00 +0000

There are no words...

The One Where Life is Good

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:59:00 +0000

Life. At its finest.

I'm in a really happy place. A satisfying, happy place in my life.

That's not to say everything is rosy and fun. We've had a few storms, but we've found God's beauty and grace at work even when things seem dark and grim.

Work has been incredibly busy, but steady and challenging. I have been working in the NICU as well as my new role as clinical faculty at Case Western Reserve University's School of Nursing. It's my alma mater, and it's certainly neat to work with some of the same professors who taught me as an undergraduate.

Photography has kept me busy with senior sessions and now upcoming holiday pictures. This "job" has been perhaps more challenging than my career work. It's so gratifying to "exercise my creative side" and explore this form of art. Photography can actually be very scientific, but I'm trying not to get too caught up in the "hows and whys" and instead just let my right brain take over and create. This has been difficult since I've functioned in a very "left-brained" job for the past 14 years. (Gosh, has it really be 14 years since I started my nursing career?!?! Wow!!!)

Soccer season has finished up. This was the first (and hopefully last) season where a coach was red carded in a game and officially banned from the league. Thankfully, he was not the coach of either of my kids' teams. Unfortunately, he was coaching against Kennedy's team when the incident occurred, and there was profanity and flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct. I'm sad my kids had to witness that. But they seemed unphased. Both Kennedy and Dillon gained a lot of new soccer skills, and got great compliments from their coaches at the end of the season.

Competition season is starting for cheer. Kennedy seems very excited about her team's hard work and growth this off-season. It's great to see her so dedicated and enthusiastic about something. She has perfected some of her tumbling from last season, and has some new skills that she can't wait to "ring the bell" for at the gym.

we stunt everywhere we go...including dinner at Disney!

And Dillon seems to be showing some interest in taking up hockey as his winter sport. After going to some Penguins games, I love hockey. Well, I should qualify that- I love hockey when I can sit ON the glass and be part of the action. Or when I know one of the players. Yes, I've been spoiled. And hockey on TV or from the upper level is just not as fun. But certainly if Dillon were out pushing the puck around on the ice, I would enjoy every minute of it!!

soon we'll trade hot summer nights for chilly winter mornings...

What's new with Sydney? Well, she's...just Sydney. She's cheering this year too, on the exhibition team called the "Cubs". This is the first team Kennedy cheered for, so Sydney is following in her sister's footsteps. She's really powerful and has very strong legs, so I'm anxious to see what she's gonna unleash on her coaches once she starts working on harder tumbling skills. She's a mighty mite, and her small frame is a little deceiving...she's got some "Boom Boom Pow" in her little body!!

And I'm finally delving into some other issues (dealing with one of my kids and schoolwork) that have been pushed to a back burner for way too long. I'll talk about it more in an upcoming post, but I'm glad we are finally seeking out some answers and getting some advice and help, and being an advocate.

Yes, this fall and winter are shaping up to be very busy here at our house. I wouldn't have it any other way, though. "A rolling stone gathers no moss", right?? I'm glad to have a family that keeps me hopping! And I'm excited to see where these "rolling stones" take me!!

The One Where She Does "Sex In the City" Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:10:00 +0000

Today I am baking something yummy!

photo courtesy of about.com

Click here to read more...

Magnolia Bakery cupcakes are legendary. I mean "Sex and the City" legendary. Cut to scene of Carrie and Miranda sitting outside, enjoying some sweets while talking about their men. Yep. Cupcakes are the cure for whatever ails you.

And Magnolia Bakery has the Best.Cupcakes.Ever. People line up around the block on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village NYC just to get a taste of this yummy goodness. Not only do they have their top notch traditional flavors, but deliver great seasonal favorites too- apple crumb, pumpkin with maple cream cheese, s'mores flavored cupcakes...stop me before I book me a flight to the city and set up camp outside the store!

photo courtesy of NYCgo.com

Lucky for you (and me), I found a recipe online for their Vanilla Cupcakes featured on the Today Show and couldn't wait to give it a try.

I put my apron on and set to work with mixer and spatula. Preheating, whipping, beating, creaming. Fill the cupcake liners. Bake at 350. Check. Bake a little longer. Check again. So much work for these little lovelies.

But Oh My-lanta! The first batch of cupcakes are out of the oven and they are T.D.F....to die for!! Imagine mixing a sugar cookie with a white fluffy cloud, and eating it- that is what these cupcakes taste like. There is no other way to describe it. Buttery goodness. Perfect texture, flavor. Mmmm.Mmmm.Good. And topped with the delicious buttercream frosting...you can't go wrong enjoying one of these any time of day or night.

Of course, no kitchen is complete without a sous-chef, and I must admit I have the cutest one around.

After the cupcakes were frosted, she was in charge of putting on sprinkles.

She did a fine job at quality control as well.

Here's a short video with the baking instructions if you're interested...

Now if I could just perfect that signature "Magnolia swirl" icing technique!

The One with 52 Days Until Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:15:00 +0000

From my front porch...

This fella was in our backyard yesterday, about 10 yards from our back patio. This is the closest we've seen a deer at our house, and we've seen a lot of deer. Some of you might think this is a white-tail deer. However, in our house, especially at this time of year...it's a Reindeer sighting! Christmas is 52 days away, and I think Santa is sending his helpers to check up on my little elves!

The One with Huh? NaBloPoMo??

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:36:00 +0000

(Inspired by Sarah, who (like me) is tackling life with three little ones. Go give Sarah some love over at her blog, Footed Jammies. Not only are her kids adorable and her pictures to die for- She's an amazing momma and Jason's cousin-in-law!)

I'm gonna try (big emphasis on TRY) to write a new post every day this month as a part of NaBloPoMo. Huh?? What's that?? Well, it's short for National Blog Posting Month. And November is the official month for Blogging!

Writing and photography are two skills I am constantly practicing. Practice makes perfect, afterall. I love to write. I love to take pictures. And blogging lets me combine these two loves seamlessly. I love telling my story of life with three silly kids, two crazy dogs, and one loving hubby who puts up with all our antics! I want you to read. I want others to read. I love having an audience of people who like to hear what I have to say.

And (as I've learned with exercise) it's a well-known fact that it takes 21 days of doing something repetitively to make it a habit. So posting daily for an entire month should help me get back into the habit of blogging regularly. I have had so many stories to tell, so many pictures to share over these past few months. At times, I felt practically overwhelmed with new stories to post. So much I want to share with all of you. So much I want to remember myself when I read back through my blog.

So I shall try. Try to post daily. Try to entertain you with my daily drivel. Try to find something new and fun to post about when my mind is blank, and my well is dry. I will try. And that's the best I can do.

So put your seatbelts on, keep your hands and feet inside the ~~car~~ blog at all times...hang on and get ready for a wild ride through the month of November! And don't forget to check back ~~regularly~~ daily to see what's new!!!

The One Where They Trick or Treat

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:27:00 +0000

It was a dark and stormy night....

...OK, ok...it was a dark and not stormy night. The crescent moon hung high in the sky over the fields of unharvested corn. The only light you could see was the faint flicker of candles inside robust jack-o-lanterns standing guard on porch steps, warding off supposed evil spirits and haunts. Some might call it a perfect Halloween night for spooooky ghosts and goblins.

The suspense is killing you, right?!?...RIGHT?!?!? Oh, ok. Ahem. Edgar Allen Poe I'm not. So, I'll just tell you in case you couldn't guess- it was trick-or-treat night in our neighborhood. And ghosts and goblins, indeed, were out roaming our streets! My three "goblins" donned their Halloween finery for "Beggar's Night 2011".

Buckeye even got in on the action! He's dressed like the Caped Crusader, BatDog!

Dillon insisted on being Mario this year. INSISTED being the key word. There was no talking him into any other costume. Well, I shouldn't say that. He nearly changed his mind when we told him Mario was a plumber. But like a true (strong-headed) Italian, he decided that we didn't know what we were talking about. Mario was most certainly a superhero. I mean, don't you play the Wii games, people?!?! He beats Bowser and saves the world from near certain doom. So, duh! Superhero. No one could (or would dare to) tell him otherwise.

Kennedy decided that Cinderella was a perfect costume this year. Actually, we decided that Cinderella would be the perfect costume this year after we shelled out $40+ for the dress in Disneyworld. But she went right along with the plan and dressed in her royal ballgown, and took to the streets looking for her Prince Charming (and candy!)

And Sydney. Sydney, Sydney, Sydney. My sweet little pixie, Tinkerbell. She was very strongheaded while getting ready (as usual). She did not want to wear warm clothes. She was already hot. She did not want to wear a coat. She didn't even want to bring the coat in the wagon. Nope! No Way, Mommy!!! It was not nearly winter, and she would most certainly not freeze. Haha! Five minutes after being outside, she was reaching for her coat, wanting gloves, and whining that her legs and hands were cold. Hence the pouty face in the picture above. Mom was right. Lesson learned.

Well, costumes and winterwear now on, the kids took to the neighborhood to gather some grub.

We gathered treats from all our friends...

...and most of our neighbors.

After the night sky was dark, and porches were eerily lit with the glow of luminaries and jack-o-lanterns, we finished our annual trek around Wyndham Ridge...

And bid "Farewell" to another Not-So-Haunted Halloween!

The One with 147 Noodles

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:27:00 +0000

Kennedy's favorite subject in school lately has been science. She is a hands-on learner, and loves doing experiments. This week, her class made boats out of foil, floated them in water, and carefully added wooden tiles until the boat sank. Kennedy's boat held the most tiles of anyone in her class, a whopping 72!! She came home and proudly recounted the story to her brother and sister, who couldn't wait to try this experiment at home.

So Kennedy became "Mrs. Shimek" (her school teacher) for the afternoon and coached the little ones through building their own boats.

We set them afloat in a container of water. Since we didn't have wooden tiles, we used penne pasta. The kids added pasta noodles to their boats, counting and carefully placing each piece so as not to set the boat off balance or tip it.

65...66...67....

We even had to get a second box of pasta out!! The kids were so excited!!

...145!...146!...147!!! Ahhh! It finally tipped over!

The kids certainly had a good time guessing how much pasta their boats could hold, and then testing their hypotheses. Who knew something as simple as a few squares of aluminum foil and a box of pasta could keep three kids entertained for over an hour!

The One with One Less

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:14:00 +0000

My tooth fell out and left a space

So big my tongue can touch my face...

And every time I smile I show

A space where something used to grow.

I miss my tooth as you can guess,

But now I have to brush one less!!!

Yes, friends, that gappy smile is Dillon's "summer" teeth...as in- "summer (some are) there, and summer (some are) not". I know, I know. Lame joke. But it made Dillon smile!! The newest gap is the bottom left tooth as you're looking at the picture. The others have been missing for a few weeks now. His cute little smile looks like a bona fide hockey grin, and will soon require meals of soup and milkshakes!

Tooth #5 fell victim to an orange today in the lunchroom, amid fanfare and celebration from his classmates and teacher. Leave it to Dillon to create a party atmosphere over his tooth falling out. That wiggly, jiggly loose tooth "pushed right out" when he took a bite of his orange, and everyone was excited about it. And while I'm not one to enjoy creating a scene, the lunch time dental antics are much preferred to nighttime tooth swallowing like a certain someone else in our household did earlier this summer. **cough cough**Kennedy**cough cough**

It took me my entire first grade year to lose my first tooth, so I hope that this isn't some kind of bad sign that his teeth are wiggling out early. I guess we'll make that dentist appointment sooner rather than later!

On a side note, our tooth fairy is in California at a Microsoft conference. Did you know that tooth fairies go to Microsoft conferences?!? I didn't either. But apparently they do. And so does my trash man, gas-tank filler-upper, dishwasher, and personal trainer. All in the same week. Huh...how 'bout that?!?! Well, don't tell Jason that I called him a "fairy" in this post, or I may never get my trash man, gas-tank guy, dishwasher, and personal trainer to come home!! Anyways, here's hoping the substitute tooth fairy (that would be ME) doesn't forget to visit Dillon tonight!!

The One with the Swimmy Flops

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:40:00 +0000

Usually, the start of Autumn means raking and jumping into piles of leaves.

But not in our case!! Our kids kicked off Autumn by jumping into...the POOL!!!

And they were enjoying every minute of it!

It's hard to believe these kids are the same kids from earlier this summer. Kennedy started summer as the most comfortable in the water, but she was still using water wings or an inner tube. Dillon would use his learn-to-swim suit, inner tube, noodle, AND water wings, all at the same time. And Sydney practiced abstinence as her chosen method of drowning prevention. She barely ventured off the stairs of the pool., content to just play with sand and water toys.

Now all three kids are jumping in from the pool wall, getting tossed around, going underwater, and loving every minute of time we spend in the water! It's so rewarding to see my kiddos developing confidence and enthusiasm for swimming!

The One with Hit and Run, and Gone with the Wind

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:06:00 +0000

A ~~little~~ lot more Charleston history is coming your way....read on if you're interested. Or if you just want to see some pretty pictures of our carriage ride through downtown Charleston today.

Our bartender last night at The Lettered Olive suggested we take a carriage tour of Charleston. He said the tour takes about an hour, and is a really neat way to see the city. So, we decided to take his word and try out the carriage ride through downtown.

We checked out of our resort and headed downtown during morning rush. There is not much traffic headed into the city from Isle of Palms. This is not a surprise...who lives in a resort area and actually commutes into the city to work?? No one.

So across the Ravenal Bridge and into downtown we headed.

We met up with Finn, our tour guide at Palmetto Carriage Works, and were introduced to our "drivers" for the day- two work mules named "Hit" and "Run". Finn tells us that although these mules work 6 days a week, they get a 12 week "vacation" every year, 100% medical and dental coverage, free meals, and new shoes every Friday (if they need them). Sounds like a pretty A-OK company to work for...especially if you're a mule!!

The tour guides go through extensive history course to learn all about Charleston, past to present. Finn is a retired school teacher who now works as a tour guide. This guy really enjoys his job, and has a great way of retelling the history of Charleston.

The most striking feature for me about downtown Charleston is how historically preserved, clean, and quaint the city is. The buildings are not large skyscrapers or modern-looking office complexes. The building are brick or stucco, or cypress plank siding. There is an ordinance that buildings 75 years old or older may not be changed on the exterior without the consent of the historic preservation committee's approval. They even go so far as to tell you want color you can paint your house!!

We learned interesting tidbits about the city's history along our route. Much of the city is built on "made land"- land that used to be part of the low country swamp land or bank of the Ashley or Cooper Rivers and was filled in with sand and dirt to "grow" the city outward. This means that some land owners built their home on waterfront lots, and then later had made-land built up in front of their houses and a new waterfront was established with new houses built on the made land.

Charleston is called "The Holy City" because there are so many churches. Steeples and spires can be seen poking up above the skyline in just about any direction you look. Most buildings in the city are 4 stories or shorter, so the churches are a very dominant part of the skyline.

The historic neighborhoods are very quaint. Typically, houses are one room wide and two deep, with the narrow side facing the road. Many homes at the time were built with a kitchen behind the house, in a seperate brick building, called a dependency building, meant to protect the main house in case of fire. Along the south or west side of the houses, a piazza was built, which is like a covered porch along the long side of the house. These piazzas served as a way for the home owners to enjoy the outdoors, get some breeze and shade, and relax in relative privacy. The piazzas have a gate that looks like a door, aptly named a "Privacy Door," that, whether open or closed, would denote to visitors whether the owners were "decently dressed" or accepting social visits.

Many plantation owners lived further out in the country, on a large plantation with lots of land for growing cotton, tobacco, or rice. However, during the "social season" from January to June, they would come to their "city house" to kibitz with friends and attend social events. Life was certainly rough.

The wrought iron work along gates and fences at homes and churches was hand made by a famous blacksmith named Philip Simmons. Molded and pounded into shape with a forge, hammer and anvil, these iron works are decorative and dates back as far as the Revolutionary War.

We rode down along the Ashley River to the Promenade where ladies and gentlemen would stroll with their parasols. The city truly felt like a piece of history...almost like a scene from "Gone with the Wind"- which everyone knows is my favorite, favorite, favorite movie.

Well, enough of the history...on to the important stuff. Here's the plantation I plan to buy someday. Just as soon as I learn how to grow cotton and make sweet tea!

Gosh, I love this city!! We can't wait to come back and visit again, but we have a date with Mickey!! Off to Orlando!

The One with Golf and the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Today we woke up to overcast skies but no rain. This is how our morning started...

Yes, homework. School must go on. We brought our books, notebooks, and pencils to get as much done before we get to Disney.

We had originally planned to golf in the afternoon, but the weather was supposed to be sunnier and warmer in the afternoon, so we moved our tee time up to late morning.

There are actually 2 courses here at the resort where we are staying, named the Harbor Course and the Links Course. We chose to play the Harbor Course. There are beautiful flowers and greenery at every tee box and majestic palm trees sprinkled all along the edges of the fairways. The layout of the course is challenging, and places a strong emphasis on ball placement. The fairways are generally pretty narrow, and the rough is very thick and "grabby".

There were lots of hazards along the course. Sand traps water, hills, trees and alligators. Yes, that's right. I said alligators. We "met" a 7-foot long gator on the first hole during our drive back to the clubhouse. I wasn't brave enough to approach him for a picture. I figured he was a lot faster than me, and I might misjudge his nearness looking through a viewfinder. I was a little braver when it came to this wildlife, so you get a picture of this beast that was sunning on the drain culvert.

While recapping our day on the course with the valet, he told us a story of a family who told him that they loved the course, and they even took some pictures of their kids with the fake alligator. Yeah. Cool course. Only not-so-fake alligator. Glad the gator didn't have some kid cutlets for lunch that day.

Anyways, after we were done golfing, we walked down to the grand pavilion and ate lunch. There are birds who aren't shy about pecking food off your plate if you leave it unattended, and this made Sydney very nervous.

Our view, however, was FABULOUS!! Can you think of a better way to enjoy your lunch?!?! We sat in the shaded pavilion, listening to the ocean, enjoying the fresh air with some cool drinks and not-too-hot sunshine.

My lunch dates were these three fabulous kids and my fabulous hubby...

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach. My little beachcombers enjoyed searching for more shells, and couldn't wait to show me every.single.shell they found unique.

All in all, a beautiful day at the beach...

...and a beautiful day at Isle of Palms!!

The One with the Beach and the Fort

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:36:00 +0000

Destination: Disney...with a little Isle of Palms along the way!!

Kids (and van) are loaded up and ready to go!! We left at night time with tired kids, hopeful that they would sleep on the way...

...and THEY DID!!! About 8 hours of ~~peace and quiet~~ sleeping kids for Jason and I during the trip. Eight hours of good music and podcasts on XM. Jason drove and I took 3 naps (I think) along the way. We arrived in Charleston/Isle of Palms around 10am Saturday.

The kids' top priority was to hit the beach.

Kennedy's top priority was to....do cartwheels. Of course.

Dillon and Sydney enjoyed "jumping waves" and playing in the surf.

Yes, my kids are swimming in their clothes. We only planned on wading, but the kids ventured out to knee-deep water and Kennedy got knocked down by a wave, soaking her clothes. Once the other kids saw her getting wet, they wanted to do the same...so, swimming in their clothes seem perfectly "normal!"

The weather wasn't sunny, but the water was very warm. The beaches are beautiful, and great for shelling. The Charleston-style houses are colorful, and add some beauty to the shoreline. The beaches were being swept today, so that's why there's alot of reeds along the beach. These reeds are chock full of shells. One guy we met at the beach said he even found a few sand dollars, and a horseshoe crab the size of a beachball!! We weren't quite so lucky, but we did gather a bunch of shells for our friends, teachers, and family!

After enjoying the beach for a little while, we headed to downtown Charleston to Liberty Square. Along the way, we cross the Arthur J. Ravenal Bridge- the longest cable stay span bridge in North America.

Jason is a big history buff. His favorite era is the Civil War, so Fort Sumter was on top of our "to-do" list.

Fort Sumter is out on a sandbar in the Harbor. It was built on 70,000 tons of granite shipped in to this spot in the harbor, chosen strategically for it's location between two other forts. The building of the fort was started 30 years before the Civil war started, and was about 90% finished when the war broke out. It was designed to accomodate 650 troops. The walls were 5 feet thick and 50 feet tall at the time of attack.

Here are all the different flags that have flown over this fort.

So cool that the cannons have "battle scars"- pithing and denting from being hit by enemy cannonballs, shrapnel, and falling bricks as the fort was under attack.

The walls are built with brick and mortar made with seashells!! After we saw this, we realized that the roads and sidewalks all around Charleston have seashells in them!

Here is a cannon shell that got lodged in the wall.

We heard the story of the start and finish of the Civil War, and the importance of Fort Sumter in protecting Charleston. Charleston is a "lucky" city because although the Confederate Army controlled the fort and city of Charleston during most of the war, the Northern Army controlled it when Sherman burned many large sourthern cities on his infamous march, thereby saving the city from almost certain destruction if it had been controlled by Confederates.

The ride back to the dock was beautiful. We were accompanied by a couple dolphins...

...and a beautiful view!

I feel like there is so much more we could do here. I'm sure we'll be back soon!!

Visit me at my GIVEAWAY blog!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:39:00 +0000

Posted today at my Giveaways and Review blog...A Betty Crocker giveaway! Now, you can't resist brownies, can you? Better walk...no, RUN...to this post and leave a comment!!

The One with Three Corners

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Jason's best friend, Jay and Jay's wife, Dana, invited the entire "Canton Crew" down to Cincinnati for the second annual Getz Pool Party. It was also the weekend for Audrey and Mallory's birthday party in Pemberville, so we decided to make a long road trip and turn our trip into a "Three Corners of Ohio" road trip.

In "The Great Deck Project of 2008(+'09+'10)" Jay (and Dana...well, mostly Jay) built a 52'x24' deck across the back of their house. The deck project was all-consuming. He toiled and labored night and day. He sweated in the sun and in the rain. He nearly drilled through his finger on one occasion. Yes, he slaved away through blood, sweat and tears. And even when he thought the deck was finished, he decided the deck could be a little better, and built a pergola.

But we're all a bit luckier because of Jay's (and Dana's) hard work because The Deck is an awesome place to entertain and the pool is an awesome place to swim!!

We loaded up the ~~Grisworld Family Truckster~~ Kidmobile and headed to the Queen City for some fun in the sun. The kids were "plugged in" in the car and (should have been) tired on the four hour drive. We were considering this a "practice run" for our family vacation in September, where we will drive for a mini-vacation in Charleston on our way to a big vacation at Disney.

After four hours of ~~pure hell~~ "fun" in the Kidmobile, the kids better hope we do not take this trip into consideration when deciding on future vacation destinations, or we won't be leaving our backyard.

At any rate, we safely arrive at our destination a little after midnight and unloaded the crew directly into sleeping bags. A good night's sleep did everyone wonders (except Jason and Jay, who were awake until 5am..."talking") and the next morning we were all ready to chillax at the pool!

Do these kids look like they are chillaxin'??

Ahhh, yes!! The summer sun shining down, the delicious smell of juicy burgers on the grill, and the sight of kids (big and little) enjoying themselves in the pool!!

Kennedy started the day "just a little unsure" about jumping off the diving board. By mid-day, she was jumping, twisting, stunting, and diving off the board like a pro!!

She even did some synchronized jumps with Jason! LOL.

At the end of the day, the kids were all tuckered out. Those who could found comfy laps to cuddle up on...

...and the rest of the kids camped inside or outside and got a good night's sleep.

The grown-ups played cards, washers, and cornhole until there wasn't enough light to find the quarters and washers in the grass. And then everyone called it a night and found a bed, chair, couch, or floor to sleep in.

Sunday morning, we were up for a little more swimming before we hit the road for Pemberville. Three hour roadtrip north for another party...stay tuned for part 2 of our "Three Corners" tour of Ohio!!

The One with the Reunion, Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:53:00 +0000

Three words to describe this weekend...Family, Family, Family!!!

This weekend was Trescott Family Reunion Weekend. When we (my sister, my cousin Amy, and myself) were "nominated" to plan this year's reunion as a follow-up to last year's festivities, we began planning some fun for everyone.

We planned over the phone.

We planned over Facebook.

We planned over playdates.

We even planned over Grinders and cheesecake.

And the more we planned, the more fun ideas we came up with that we wanted to make part of the weekend.

So, we started the festivities off Saturday with a swim day at Clearwater. Not everyone was able to come out to the park for swimming, but it sure was a hot day with perfect weather for a dip in the pool and some water slide fun.

After we were thoroughly cooled off in the pool, we made plans to camp with cousins. We set-up our "home away from home" and cooked out on the camp stove.

A few games of bocce and kickball ensued, and soon everyone was involved in one way or another.

There was a barrel ride for the little ones...

Cousins played. Cousins giggled. Cousins bonded. It was a great time!

"Is it just me, or is my family a little strange?!?!?"

We even enjoyed a few minutes with another "family" that stopped by our campsite for dinner!

As the sun set, Corey played a few songs on his guitar and we sat around the campfire and sang, talked, and laughed.

Of course, what's a campfire without S'mores??

Pretty soon (well, around 11pm) all the ~~kids~~ grown-ups were tired and ready for bed. The kids tucked us in, and everyone went to sleep pretty easily. During the night, some raccoons visited our campsite and rummaged through our garbage and ate some of our breakfast food. The even left their pawprints on some plates and papers!!

Everyone had a great time, leading up to Sunday...the big reunion!! More stories and pictures to come tomorrow...stay tuned!!!!

The One with the Air Compressor

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:46:00 +0000

Hey Daddy...

Who says little girls...

don't know what to do...

...with your air compressor??

They better not mess with me!! (and my crazy second-day hairstyle!)

The One with My Favorite Firecrackers

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Norch) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 02:58:00 +0000

Happy Birthday to America...

...and to my two favorite firecrackers!! Jason (37) and Kennedy (8)!!