Metro Maniacs

This morning we took a spontaneous trip to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival.  I must say I am pleased to have tackled the trip by myself, metro and all, with my two muchkins during one of the busiest times of the year.  I am equally as glad I took everyone's advice and DID NOT drive to the Tidal Basin.  The hoards of pedestrians in the crosswalks alone would have been enough to drive me crazy. Needless to say, as I type this, I am EXHAUSTED....and so are you by the looks of the heavy eyes on the couch across the room.

Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The gift and annual celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan and the continued close relationship between the two countries. Over the years, gifts have been exchanged between the two countries. In 1915, the United States Government reciprocated with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. In 1981, the cycle of giving came full circle

Here are the Cherry Blossoms...minus a few blossoms.  They had estimated the peak of the blossoms to be this weekend, but unfortunately, some not so normal cold days over the past week have pushed that date out.  Being that it was our only free weekend, we had to take what we could get!



Caleb and Sydney April 7, 2013

 

Washington Monument view from the Tidal Basin

So you guys may think that just because you are little, that you can't be a part of history just yet.  But I beg to differ. The following photo proves otherwise.

Caleb and Syd hitting the National Mall

For your history lesson today, you are standing in front of the Washington Monument.  By the time you look back on this blog, you will more than likely have seen it a hundred times, either through trips with me or in school.   If you notice in this picture, it is being repaired.  On August 23rd, 2011, an earthquake in nearby Virginia shook Washington D.C. and we felt it as far up as our hometown in Shippensburg.  This earthquake damaged the monument structurally, and it has been closed to the public ever since.  Hopefully someday you will get a chance to climb to the top!




Jefferson  Memorial



John Paul Jones Memorial





My Favorite Badger



Today, you also participated in a tiny piece of history that will be seen across the world.  Both of my budding artists left their mark on the Children's Mural that will be sent back to Japan in honor of the celebration.

Syd's Yellow Flower



My Mini Picasso's

 One our way back home, I asked you what your favorite part of the day was.  I should have anticipated the response...the METRO.  It's funny since I quite enjoy the metro myself.  As always Caleb analyzed every aspect of the inner workings of the rail system. 




Big guy insisted on standing



Pretty in Metro Pink



So this was a very short trip to your Nation's Capitol, but just the first of many.  This area is full of noteable pride.  Unfortunately, our government is a mess at the moment and it is affecting many Americans.  My only hope is that someday you will look at it with just as much pride as I used to and that it will still stand for what it was founded on.  But it all comes down to the fact that this was just a great day to have with you!  I will leave you with one last photo of the day.


Too Much Fun For One Day!



Changes

It's been quite some time since I have posted to this blog.  2012 was a year of substantial change for our family, so as I write this post, our family looks just a little bit different.  My husband and I chose to divorce this past year so the past 6 months have been a period of transition for our littlest ones.

Explaining divorce to a 4-year old and 6 year old was extremely difficult, and some days it still hasn't completely sunken in for them.  Despite their difficulties in understanding the concept fully, they have made the adjustment very well. Regardless of the obvious, this was a big year for the kids all around.  As they have gotten older, they have become even closer playmates.  As much as they enjoy fighting, they love each other like crazy!  I am so amazed at how much they have grown and how they are morphing in to their own little souls.

This year they made their first full week trip to the beach.  We all joined Aunt Megan, Uncle TJ, Gavin, Nanny and Grandpop in Outer Banks.  The kids had a blast.  There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing them interact with their grandparents. 

This year was also a year of accomplishments and events.  Caleb started karate this year and worked his way up quickly through three belts.  With the physical training, he has also found a crazy knack for break dancing and balancing on his head.  It's amazing to see his efforts pay off in such controlled physical strength.

Caleb also began kindergarten this year and has amazed me with him ability to now read "Green Eggs and Ham" to me in its entirety.  It was so difficult to watch him get on that huge school bus that first morning, but he absolutely loves going to school and is such the big guy on campus, especially with the ladies.  He has started to become more and more like me every day in regards to personality and his intensity.

Sydney continues to participate in gymnastics.  She is quite the little tumbler.  She is also the social butterfly of daycare and amuses me with hours worth of stories each week about the goings on of the day.  She continues to be so full of life and love, and can finally reach the light switches in the house.

Sydney has become my mini fashionista.  Her daily choice of attire leaves me struggling between forcing her to change clothes, and chuckling and encouraging her free spirit. 

Both of my babies have developed an extremely impressive ability to express themselves artistically.  One of my favorite things is to watch their imaginations unfold on paper in any medium they can get their hands on.  They are beautiful both inside and out and have truly been a sign of my blessings during a difficult year. 2013 has many new memories in store for our family.  Ball games, vacations, plays, plane tickets, and just the daily things that bring laughter.

Happy Fifth Birthday to Our Prince

Dear Bubby,
My baby boy turned 5 years old this week!.  As I stare down at that blond haired boy whose head is just grazing my elbow, I am reminded how not so long ago, your entire body fit in my forearm.  As much as I long to steal those days back, I wouldn't trade the 5 years of time I've been blessed to be your mother , nor the experiences of watching your grow.  You changed my life from the first moment I saw you and you have made me grow in ways I could never imagine.  I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.  You are such an exceptionally bright little man, but carry a heart even bigger than that brain of yours.  Because of that, you are also an exceptional challenge every day to us!  Keeping me on my toes is an under statement, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Over the past year, you have developed so quickly.  I am amazed that the little boy who used to despise coloring has now become an incredibly creative artist.  You wow me everyday with your imaginative creations on paper, with so much detail that it becomes a story.  You started the year with writing your name, and are now having me spell words I'm not even sure I can spell.  Watching you start to read and write out math problems just makes me so proud of your determination to learn.

You are a natural born leader. As daycare has told me, when you are out sick, the other kids decide who is going to "play Caleb".  Being the ringleader, you also tend to challenge your teachers with keeping your classmates attention!  Perhaps a future politician or CEO in the making.  I find myself either laughing or rolling my eyes at your endless wit and humor.  You love to make faces, do impressions, and you are quite the movie quoter.  I catch you singing sometimes when you aren't looking, and I see a rock star just waiting to happen.  You are such a boy in every way! I enjoy seeing you spend hours flipping through your train magazines and building amazing tracks an engineer couldn't even construct.  I am exhausted by your ability to ride your bike, shoot rockets, save Lego town with your super heroes, build Play-Doh houses, excavate my dirt pile, and smack a baseball without ever skipping a beat.  We just won't tell anyone that some days, your sister convinces you to wear a pink dress!

 As tough as you play some days, you hold a secret pot of love, and when someone opens that up in you, you will love for life.  You tell me everyday that you will never break my heart, and I hope that I am here everyday to protect yours.  You always sneak up to me for Eskimo kisses and tell me.. "Mommy, this will always be our own special thing...forever and ever".  We have smiled while you packed up lunches for your daycare teachers for lunch dates.  You are a flirt and the girls melt over it all the time.

People always say that you are so me.  You are particular and such a planner.  I find it extremely adorable when you plan your birthday party four months in advance, or when I find your Matchbox cars lined up by size, type, and color.  Last night, you asked me if I wanted you to be a chef when you grew up.  I told you that I wanted you to be anything you wanted to be.  I meant it, because in my mind, you are already everything I wanted you to be.  People are drawn to your energy and your enthusiasm and I know you will do big things no matter where life takes you!  You are the biggest and best part of me. Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever know.

Love,
Mommy

Letter To My Babies

I stumbled upon this post today on the blog Marc and Angel Hack Life....as I read it, I didn't see it directed to me, but could hear myself mouthing the words as if I was saying this to my children.  I'm saving this excerpt here today so that my children can read this no matter time nor place and know that I will always be their biggest fan.  I love you Caleb and Sydney!
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"I know you’re reading this.  And I want you to know I’m writing this for you.  Others will be confused.  They will think I’m writing this for them.  But I’m not.  This one’s for you.

I want you to know that life is not easy.  Every day is an unpredictable challenge.  Some days it can be difficult to simply get out of bed in the morning.  To face reality and put on that smile.  But I want you to know, your smile has kept me going on more days than I can count.  Never forget that, even through the toughest times, you are incredible.  You really are.  So smile more often.  You have so many reasons to.  Time and again, my reason is you.

You won’t always be perfect.  Neither will I.  Because nobody is perfect, and nobody deserves to be perfect.  Nobody has it easy, everybody has issues.  You will never know exactly what I’m going through.  And I will never know exactly what you’re going through.  We are all fighting our own unique war.  But we are fighting through it simultaneously, together.

Whenever somebody discredits you, and tells you that you can’t do something, keep in mind that they are speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations.  Ignore them.  Don’t give in.  In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self.  And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same.

Remember, our courage doesn’t always roar aloud.  Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering, “I will try again tomorrow.”  So stand strong.  Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.
And I am committed to making the best of it along with you."

Happy Third Birthday Princess Sydney Grace!

This weekend my baby girl turned 3.  I made a promise this year to write my children a letter to them every birthday.  It's my way to share the story of their life for years to come and show them the joy they have brought to our lives.

Dear Sydney Grace,

March 18th was your birthday, and it is so hard to believe you are already 3! Daddy and I can still remember the shock and joy we had when we found out that you were coming.  When we found out we were having a girl, Daddy looked a little shaken.  I don't think he quite knew how he would handle a little girl, and he immediately had images of warding off all the boys lined up at the door asking to date his daughter.  Boy, Daddy didn't realize how much you would have him wrapped around your little finger.

You have been preparing for this day for 3 months.  You knew exactly what type of party you wanted and who you wanted to invite.  We made cupcakes for daycare and dressed you up like a little princess.  Mommy curled your hair, and you twirled in front of the mirror like our tiniest little diva.


I can't even begin to tell you what a beautiful spirit you are...so care free and full of love.  You love to give kisses and hugs, and are quite the little caretaker, whether its checking up on everyone's boo-boo's, or tending to your babies.  Your laughter is intoxicating and you know how to work those big puppy dog eyes with everyone. 


Over the past year we have so many memories.  What follows is just a small list of the things that ARE Sydney Grace Roth!


You LOVE condiments. You insist on ketchup with everything...even raspberries! YUCK!


You are a leftie. As much as Daddy denied it, you are a south paw, but already hold your pencil so well.  You color with such concentration, and do very well at drawing faces and bodies which is advanced for your age.


You are petite but love to show us how you are "stronger" and how big you are getting.


When Mommy or Daddy discipline you, you are just heartbroken.  It's like you hate to disappoint us.  You have a heart of gold..the most forgiving eyes I have ever seen.  You love with everything you have!


You've got rhythm.  I am amazed at how you move to music, just a natural!  You've also become quite the little gymnast in only six months of classes.


You only sing when you think no one is listening.  You must get THAT from Mommy, but it's a shame because you have such a pretty voice.


Although you guys love to fight, you look up to your big brother so much.  You've even started to mimic his tantrum tactics!


Your funniest habit is playing with tags.  You play with the tag on the back of your pants to fall asleep.  We have to place your blankets in a way that puts the tag within your reach.  You even play with the tags on your babies' clothes.


You have such a bright and beautiful imagination.  I'm amazed at how you can play alone for hours, and I smile just listen to your little voice creating your own stories in your own world.  Your little world is always filled with such kindness.


Sydney my love, I could type on for hours about all the wonderful things you have brought into our life and how much you have taught me.  I wish some days that I could keep you in this spot forever, but also look forward to watching you grow and evolve into a beautiful woman some day.


Daddy and I love you with all of our hearts!

Bound for the North Pole

Thanks to a great family friend, we were able to provide the kids with a Polar Express adventure that will certainly become a Roth family Christmas tradition.  If you haven't heard of it, click here! http://www.wmsr.com/ This is a great event for anyone with small children!  Hey, it was even enjoyable for a grown adult who still feels like a child when it comes to Christmas spirit!  Thanks to Linda Davis and the Fudali's for a great time!

We told the kids about 3 days ahead of time of our weekend destination.  Anyone who knows Caleb's love of trains can only imagine the excitement this child had to contain.  The train station was about one and a half hours from home, so the kids napped for most of the trip.  Two sets of eyes popped open the second we hit the end of the exit ramp to our destination.  Even our hotel room overlooked a set of four rails that presented a train about every 15 minutes.

The town of Cumberland was such a quaint place with historic appeal.  Even the train station had that authentic feel. When the steam engine rolled up to the station, it even had the bum from the movie riding atop the train. I had never seen children's eyes that wide. The conductor came around with his hole punch and punched the kids tickets. In an hour, we arrived at the North Pole where cookies, hot chocolate, and SANTA awaited! Caleb and Syd, for the first time, sat on Santa's lap without that fearful look in their eyes.

 

Grandpop managed to sneak Caleb out a side door to take an up close look at the steam engine. I managed to snag a precious photo of them in front of the engine. Unfortunately, it was a cell phone photo, so the resolution is not high enough for me to post on here. The photo has found its way into a special frame sitting at Nanny and Grandpop's house. After hanging with Santa, the train bound to the station.  The kids were exhausted, yet mesmerized by what they had seen!

Where did the summer go...or fall for that matter!

So it's been quite a while since I last posted.  It took a sarcastic comment from my best friend Lizzie to bring me back here.  "You know what is neat about blogs? When people update them!".  She has always been my voice of reason.  I do enjoy those rare moments when I can blog.  It's those quiet times that I can reflect back on the beautiful memories we are creating with our children.  As fast as they are flying by, looking back on them makes me laugh.

Fall has brought it's share of its own memories...

My mother had back surgery in late summer.  For years she was plagued with back pain and unable to do the things she wanted to do with her grandchildren.  We were blessed that she had a remarkable recovery and for the first time since I can remember, she is pain free.

Halloween: The kids are finally at an age where they can really enjoy the fall fun. We made our usual trip to Reynold's Pumpkin Farm.  The tractor ride still remains Caleb's favorite part.  Both kids finally tackled the big tube slide.  Caleb came out the other end sqealing with glee. Syd was still a bit undecided as she came out the other end looking like she either swallowed a bug or saw a ghost...Not sure what that look was exactly.  The pumpkins were painted with loving care (we are not quite key on the idea of arming them with pumpkin knives).  Daddy and I carved our pumpkins, and the kids stared disgustingly at the "goo" inside of them.  Four pumpkins lined up for display on the Roth front porch and we shared an evening snack of roasted pumpkin seeds.

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Unfortunately I was out of town on business for Trick or Treat, so Daddy was on costume duty.  It is somewhat evident that I was away due to the fact that there is only one, slightly out of focus photo to post.  Some things are just better left to Mommy I guess!  Caleb was no longer fearful of masks and bravely donned a Spiderman mask for the first time.  Sydney, who transformed into a beautiful Tinkerbell, was not so fond of the mask.  Bless Caleb's little heart.  The poor kid managed to entice the only bee still lingering in the cold weather into his cozy mask.  The shriek of his first bee sting resonated through the neighborhood only 10 minutes in to Trick or Treat.  The evening was still enjoyable, and I was pleased to get a sugar filled call from my babies.  I'm not entirely sure what the conversation was as they excitedly talked over each other to tell me about the night.

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Caleb turned 4 years old in November.  We spent 3 weeks prior to his birthday fielding requests for every toy advertised on TV.  He didn't seem to care if it was a toy for an infant girl, he wanted it!  He had a Spiderman pool party with a few of his closet friends.  I'm so proud of his continued efforts in the water.  We also took the kids to see Disney on Ice, Toy Story for Caleb's birthday.  He is still a little unsure of the "reality" of it all.

The kids continue to grow and develop.  They love to line up at the growth chart on the wall to see who is growing the fastest.  Sydney's vocabulary has tripled since the summer, and she is quite the company to have around the house with her constant chatter.  Their imaginations continue to amaze me.  When I inquire on their day at daycare, they inform me that they skipped daycare and went to the high school for the day.  Caleb runs his own garage as well, and oddly enough has employees with the same name as Chris's employees.  In contrast though, he works on Chevy's AND BMW's.  They love to play together as Mommy and Daddy and we find it hysterical to hear our own words come back to haunt us.  They regurgitate my discipline techniques, and I'm not sure whether to be proud, embarrassed, or to just laugh.  At least in some small capacity, they ARE listening to me...Right?  Both kids sarted gymnastics late summer.  Syd is a natural, and hopefully we will add dance to her resume in the summer.  God love Caleb as is he is not as adept in the "grace and balance" department, but he is very skilled in tumbling.  It is amazing to watch them master new skills and see their excitement in class.

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So alas, we head into the holiday season.  The darkeness comes earlier at night, but is perfect for our traditional Christmas light hunting on the trip home from daycare.  The holidays have started off with a perfectly frigid night at the Christmas Parade!

Summer Lovin', Happened so Fast....

Despite the 92 degree weather outside, the anticipation of colder weather hovers.  Looking back, I feel so blessed for the summer that we shared with our kids.  As much as I feel bad that we aren't able to take more time of with them, I think back to all the fun we've had over the past several months.  The kids made a trek to Massanutten in early spring as the temperatures rose.  We finally made a long promised trip to the beach.  They've had their fair share of birthday parties, holiday picnics, trips to the park, their first experience on a slip and slide, had a visit from Uncle Sean and the Moriarty clan from Kansas, made smores, ate as much sand as they did cool pops, rode their first fair rides by themselves, fed the ducks, watch a bird lay eggs in their birdhouse, set off fireworks, covered their limbs in silly bands, swam at the lake, tackled their first ice cream cone, saw a real live tractor pull, learned how to ride new bikes, washed our cars, and laughed every step of the way.  I am so grateful for every tiny experience we shared with them, and hope the cold weather brings many new adventures!

15 Year Class Reunion

This weekend was my 15th year reunion.  Planning for the event fell very last minute, so we were not able to reach all of our classmates.  Turnout, given the circumstances, was not bad, and actually made for a more comfy gathering.  The neat part of these gatherings is to see how much we have all changed and shifted priorities. The majority of those that attended had children, and it was amazing to see how much those little tiny faces resembled their parents.  It was like staring at our junior high year book.  All of the kids gelled so well together and parents really just provided peripheral supervision while we chatted about memories from school, careers, and raising children.  The one thing I took away was that 15 years after high school, every last remnant of the divisions between us had disappeared, and for our children, those division have yet to exist for many more years...On that playground, there was no cool group, no jocks, no nerds, only old and new friends.  And we wonder why high school seemed so tough! I'm still never sure I still know what group I belonged to.  That is a strange phrase! "belonged too".  A great evening with great people though. 

I snapped a few great candids of the kids tonight.  I just fell in love with this picture of Jack and Caleb.  They are best buds, and almost every day care story retold on the car ride home unravels around Jack.  Caleb has missed him terribly this summer while he wasn't at daycare.  Sydney played hard tonight. She is such an independent little spirit. I counted about 23 continuous loops from the ground, stairs, platform, and slide before she finally took a rest on the ledge.

Caleb and Sydney's First Beach Expedition

I had felt like such a terrible mother when I realized that at 2 and 3 years of age, my children had never seen a REAL ocean or sandy beach.  Caleb talked about it often when he planned his pretend vacations at bedtime, but he was only able to draw on his knowledge of the beach from episodes of Dora.  At the beginning of this summer, I vowed that we were taking a mini beach vacation. 

We left on a Thursday night at 6:00 pm, hoping the kids would fall asleep for at least a portion of the 3 1/2 hour trip.  To our dismay, we made three bathroom pit stops and faced all but the last half hour of the trip with overly tired kids that all of a sudden wanted to go home.  Seeing their little angel faces sleeping as we pulled into our destination, and knowing the excitement on their faces we would see the next morning made the trip worthwhile.

The next morning, we ventured out to a small beach in Lewes, Delaware, which was PERFECT! Not crowded, and being bay side, the waves were just the right size for little people.  Fishing boats bobbed in the waves about 20 ft from shore.  We weren't sure what to expect at the beach since Caleb from time to time still exhibited his fear of water.  The waves were definitely a new concept to them, but certainly not the cold water.  In the 2 hours we spent on the water, the kiddos were shoulder deep, squealing and pulling on our arms to jump above each wave that came at them.  We had to do a brief question and answer period as we stepped around horseshoe crabs (or Hershey crabs as Caleb called them), seashells, driftwood, jellyfish, and the occasional piece of trash.  Sydney left the water ever so often to go play in the "sandbox"..the biggest one she's ever seen.  She was very bold in the water I must say.  "I walk" she informed us, until the next wave toppled her back, then back at it again.

The weekend was low key.  We stayed with Linda, my godmother, and cooked dinners at the house.  The kids loved eating under the screened in patio table, and swimming in the pool before nap time.  Caleb really impressed me.  After some brief hesitation, he was soon motoring all over the pool with his arm floaties on, stopping to float when he got tired.  Syd resorted to lounging in a raft in all her diva-ness. 

The weekend flew by fast, but the most important thing was that my children finally experienced the beach first hand, and hearing their laughter and amazement made it fulfilling.  The pictures I have posted really capture that.  They weren't the portrait opportunities most would aim for, but really show the true personalities of our kids and the joy one 3-day weekend brought them!