Hayden's Christmas Letters 2012

Hayden wrote two letters for elf to bring to Santa or elf writes...really haven't cleared the details up yet but Hayden loves it either way.

"Dear Santa, will you give me all the presents that I want? Hope you get all the presents up the chimney, Santa. Yes or no"

"Dear Santa, Will you get everything presents that I want for Christmas, Santa. Yes or No I like your message."

Elf in picture appears to have written Mr. Hayden back with a green crayon! I can wait to see their faces tomorrow! 4 more day until Christmas!

Connecticut Tragedy 2012

Yesterday was one if the worst school shootings in US history. A man in his mid-20's was basically at a wall in his life and decided to open fire in an elementary school in Connecticut. 20 children, 6 adults and the shooter are dead. A kindergarten class was taken out and even execution style. They know that his mother (who he killed first at her home) worked at the school but everyone is trying to find reason and sense of this tradegy.
I really haven't appreciated my kids the last week. They are defiant and crazy with the excitement of Christmas. Yesterday when they came home from school, I just held them with tears in my eyes (ok I was crying) and they probably thought I was crazy. In some weird and selfish way, I needed a slap in the face to look at my kids in a different way. I also took this tragedy to have a talk with my children about bad people in this world but there's also many, many great people in this world. The world is fixated on the sadness of this shooting but also there is a nation united to feel support and love for the losses today. With bad, there's good. You have to just figure who is who. I also like a blog that had a great post about this tragedy and how to cope with the hopelessness: http://creativewithkids.com/how-can-we-find-hope-in-a-time-of-tragedy/

Hug your children more, find ways to connect with them everyday, control your temper when your buttons are pushed, and teach them when life happens. We are only human but be a good one, a decent one.

Oh Christmas Tree....

Vivian! Miss Potty Training!!!

I believe in Karma! I believe Vivian is sent from heaven! (Knock on wood!) Let me give a brief background to my enlightenment...my boys (I love them dearly-I do!) were incredibly challenging to potty train! Hayden was 3 1/2 years old and we tried everything! One day he magically HAD to use a toilet due to an upset stomach and realized this potty thing wasn't so bad. In fact, it was night and day after that! Wyatt was not most challenging but impossible to potty train! Wyatt teased me at 16 or so months that he was interested in potty training but he was probably three years before he would continuously go on a potty and another 6 months after that to preform #2 on the potty. Even in the last year Wyatt and I go head to head with peeing issues! Breathe! Haha Even though my boys broke me in, I resect and love them for standing their ground-I guess Haha
Vivian for the last week has been continuously peeing/Staying dry during the day. She's so so proud "momma! Pee pee potty!" She also tells daddy and her brothers! I am still working with her on pooping in the potty but no such luck! Vivian has been interested on and off of potty training since she was 14-15 months old but now, I cross my fingers that this is it!!! I couldn't be more proud! With the challenge of my boys potty training experience! I deserve an easy round! Especially since it may be our last ;-)

One less tooth but a brighter smile :-)

Wyatt has been playing with his tooth all weekend. He was even more determined today to get it out! Wyatt is braver than I am with stuff like that. I am totally grossed out with the breaking of a tooth! However, Wyatt lost his first tooth a couple of months ago and it was dangling enough for me to close my eyes and pull only once-thank God! Wyatt's second tooth came out today with the help of my husband, who DOES NOT get grossed out easily (unless it has to do with house cleaning, but that's another story lol). Wyatt was so proud! I have to admit I am even more thrilled because Wyatt has approached me every five minutes for probably the last week to wiggle his tooth to see if his tooth was looser. He cracks me up...

As a side note, Vivian has been interested in potty training since yesterday! Cross your fingers?! This may be it! (Cross your fingers, knock on wood....)

Christmas Letter 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our family and friends! Last year was definitely our year for change, but this year has been a year of learning and growing. We have met many new people, are embracing new traditions and spending time with our children teaching us something new everyday.
We spent last Christmas (2011) in Minnesota. It was strange to take a trip TO Minnesota for the first time since we moved, but it's always enjoyable! I tackled the 2 hour flight by myself with 3 young children and Ronnie joined us a few days later. Spending time with our family and friends, and the look on my children's faces, is what Christmas is all about.
We really enjoy living in New England! We get together with friends often and have a great network! There is so much history and so much to explore! We love to visit National Parks to go hiking and making trips to Boston. We did most of our traveling this year when my parents came to visit! In May, we went to Ogunquit, Maine to admire the panoramic views and fresh sea food! We also spent the day in Portsmouth, NH. Then the following weekend we went to Rockport, MA with comparable views and delicious food! Memorial Weekend, we drove through the Green Mountains to visit a former co-worker of Ronnie's in Northern Vermont. We spent a day in Burlington and the next day indulged with some Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream at their factory. Yum! During the summer, we enjoyed living less than an hour away from the ocean. Hampton Beach, NH is a fun and beautiful lobst-ah town. The kids enjoyed picnic lunches, playing in the sand and chasing the waves. In September, my parents returned and we drove down to New Haven, Connecticut to visit Yale University-where the kids are convinced that they will go there someday! Ha-ha! My wonderful husband watched the kids for a day so I could take my parents to famous Salem, MA during Halloween (all month of October they celebrate Halloween!) and we all finished the weekend walking around Cambridge, MA (Harvard University!) and a park in Boston! At the end of June, we flew home to MN! The kids and I spent 3 weeks (Ronnie came for about 10 days) in MN and had a blast! We attended Rebecca's (Ronnie's sister) High School Graduation Party, went to Como Zoo, spent the day at MOA and lots more fun with our family and friends!! We are hoping to come to visit again in February!

Ronnie is in the Army recruiting station in Lowell, MA. He now is the Assistant Center Commander. Ronnie is such a great Soldier and we are so proud of his accomplishments! Ronnie will be taking classes at University of Massachusetts Lowell in January. He is very excited! Ronnie has taken an interest in hunting this season and he goes to a "man cabin" with our friend Chris. Ronnie and I seem to bump heads in the kitchen since I enjoy cooking more and more. He is a great cook and I enjoy learning from him!

I enjoy being home with the kids! There is still a lot of running around but it's fun. I know I will look back on these years and will be content and happy that I took this opportunity to be with them. Keeping schedules, cooking wholesome home cooked meals and keeping the house clean (during a constant tornado) is very difficult for me, but I am surprised how I have enjoyed jumping on the stay-at-home mom wagon! I really enjoy going to the Y in Nashua to socialize with other moms and taking care of myself. I have lost 20 pounds in the last year! It may not sound like much in a year but a lifestyle change takes time to show! I love networking on Facebook and finding the next great idea on Pinterest (Yes, I am one of those ha-ha).

Hayden is my BIG 1st grader! In January, he will be a matured age of 7  (ha-ha) and has become such a great person! He is kind and very empathetic. He cares for others, helps out where he can and is a great leader! He enjoys school, especially since he gets to ride a bus and be in school all day! He is a great writer, enjoys to read and is thrilled to crack any math problem! Whenever he gets on a pair of hockey skates his ambition shows, so we are hoping to sign him up for hockey in December.  He enjoys legos, playing with "guys", hiking, music, bikes, and drawing/coloring.

Wyatt is my baby blue eyes! He is 5, but he is convinced that he is the same age as Hayden! Wyatt is very charming and sweet! He is so funny and pulls jokes. He has entered "big boy school" where he gets to sneak a hug from his brother! Wyatt is a kindergartner and enjoys learning! Wyatt loves creating and building anything!He loves to tell you what words start with and the sounds they make! Hayden and Wyatt like to count together and learn math. Wyatt thinks Hayden is a great teacher! Wyatt played soccer and baseball for two seasons and really loves it! He is still interested in hockey and basketball, so there is always something new to try! The boys played soccer and baseball in the spring and the fall. Hayden and Wyatt enjoy playing with their buddies in the neighborhood! They run around outside all the time! They have lots of energy, which can be intense, but also inspiring. They are great big brothers to their sister too!

Vivian is 2 years-old now! She has lots of kisses for us and her babies/ animals! She loves to dress up in anything she finds. She is quite the dancer - you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it and loves music! Vivian is in a 2 year-old program 2 days a week at Chapel School in Nashua. There were many tears with all the toddlers, but now they all beg to go "play." Vivian also has great girlfriends in our neighborhood, but also loves to hang with the boys!
We are so thankful for the family and friends that are with us whereever we are and the new friends we meet everyday! Our life is brighter with you in it! We hope your Christmas is warm and loving. Hopefully, the New Year will bring you and your loved ones even more closer to happiness. God Bless you all!

Love,

Ronnie, Clare, Hayden, Wyatt and Vivian

Easy Oatmeal Wheat Pancakes

I am not an awesome cook and just put all this together. My kids eat a ton of pancakes/waffles and frozen pre made gets really expensive. This recipe has Whole Grain and Oatmeal, so its packed with fiber and lots of it! I added cinnamon with added antioxidants and of course flavor! Pure Vanilla Extract has 12 calories per teaspoon. GREAT TO FREEZE!!!!

Makes 18-22 Pancakes


Ingredients:


-2 cups + Quaker Oats Old Fashioned or 1 minute

-3 cups Hungry Jack Wheat Blends Pancake Batter or make your own Wheat Flour Pancake Batter

-about 5 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

-about 5 tablespoons Cinnamon

-2 1/2 cups Water

Directions:


Soak the oatmeal in the water in a large bowl to first soften the oatmeal for about 5 minutes. Add all other ingredients to the bowl. (I usually add cinnamon by covering the top of batter and vanilla extract just pour for 3 seconds. So its your preference of how much you want to add. I am more generous with the cinnamon) Use the directions on the back of the pancake batter box or the website link. I use a ladle spoon to make the pancakes in a griddle non stick pan or a regular non stick pan. After the batter has been all cooked, I put about 3-5 pancakes in sandwich bags and freeze them. They are delicious reheated in the microwave! Enjoy!