The Big top

Can anyone tell me what would be the perfect thing to do on memorial day? Most of you said: visit a grave site, go to Gettysburg, sign up for the Army... All good choices.
What did the Poulson's do?
We went to the circus. In memorandum of my Grandma Hair who passed away 6 months before my mom and sister, due to pancreatic cancer.
Every year that I can remember, my Grandma Hair would take all the grandchildren to the circus. I was even able to be in it one year as a Ghost buster.



So some friends of ours decided they'd come too since both our hubbies had the day off. (Yes people Nate got a day off during the week. It happens. Rarely. But it happens.) So we took advantage of it and made it a day of fun. (These pics are at thepre-event activities. I love the photo of Liam covering his eyes when the lady asked him to smile. Classic.)









As a child I remember they always had these spinning light toys that I soooo wanted every year. But we could only chose between the $6 cotton candy or the $6 souvenir snow cone cup. mine was always the latter. (which by the way are now $10 for the cotton candy and $12 for the snow cone. Sorry to say this tradition didn't continue for Liam.
However I ran down to the Disney store that morning and found some Nemo spinners that were in the clearance bucket cause they'd been opened and no longer had working batteries. I bought two for $3. Put in some new batteries. Good as new. Score! That saved me $20. I figured he'd never know the difference. That worked great until, he saw the ones with elephants and as many of you know, elephants are Liam's favorite. But he forgot about them and was happy with his while the show was going.
All in all a fun family activity. We LOVE days with dada.
(am I really that much shorter than Nate??? I always envision myself as being much taller than that?)

Liam Laughs

So Sunday was a funny Liam day. As are most days, but Sunday he really made me laugh.
To start:
At about 2 am, I hear the pitter patter of his little feet flying across the carpet from his room, to mine. Without saying anything, he jumps into our bed. Crawls in between us. Pulls Nate's arm around him and goes back to sleep.
I think we've started the "bad dreams" era. A few nights ago he was screaming in his sleep: "It's right there, no. Mama help."
I think he might have had a bad dream but instead of calling out for one of us to get in bed with him (which is what usually happens.) He must have decided to cut out the middleman and just hop in bed with us this time.
I took this a few nights ago at 2 am after I'd finished feeding Owen and went to check on my boys. Looks comfy huh.
Next:
He was sitting on the potty. Going "stinkies" and I asked if he needed me to wipe his bum.
Liam: No Mama (this usually means he's not finished yet.)
Me: OK let me know when you're done and I'll come help you.
Background noise 2 minutes later is him washing his hands. I stop what I'm doing to see if he needs my help and when I walk into the bathroom, he is standing on his step washing his hands with his pants down and a piece of toilet paper cascading down his back side. You can't blame him for not trying. I finish the wipe job, and he gives me a heartfelt. "thanks you mama. thanks!" (sorry no picture. There are some things a mom just doesn't have the heart to post.)
Then:
We got ready for church and we're heading out the door. I told Liam to put his shoes on, and when I got down to the bottom of the stairs, this is what I found.
Hey he did get them on the right feet. You gotta give him that.
Then:
we got to church and he had to go to the bathroom five times during the service and YEP he went all five times. I swear that kid pees more than a pregnant woman.
Then:
During sacrament Liam started to get a runny nose. BAD. and Owen followed suit and started his barking croup cough, so we decided to keep them away from anyone in case they were getting sick and it wasn't allergies. So when we walked in the opposite direction of nursery, he starts crying. "I want to play with the kids..." funny thing until a few weeks ago, he'd start to cry as soon as we started to sing the closing song cause he knew that meant it was time to go to nursery and he hated it???
Then:
We went on a walk later that night to get some fresh air and while on our walk saw some friends who are building a house by us and where there to see it's progress. They invited us in to see it as well. It's not close to being finished and won't be until August, but we still wanted to see it.
We went upstairs to look, and all the while Liam and their son are running around in toddler heaven because there is nothing they can break. Not so true.
So there was a hole in the floor where an air vent will go. Most of these had been covered with something but Liam found the one that hadn't and Nate had the intuition on this one. He is holding Owen and says, "Liam watch out. Jen grab him. Liam noooo."
All while I'm saying: "honey he's fine, he's not going to step in that he knows it's dangerous."
WRONG!!! Liam proceeds to step into the second story hole and falls, luckily he didn't slip all the way through an extra inch and he would have and really could have broken something.
I'll take the blame for this one! Here he is showing me his "hurt"
So now you see what it is like to be the parent of Liam. It's never dull. I'll tell you that much.

You get what you pay for

So I have been on the hunt for a bike or scooter for Liam. We'd promised him once he was potty trained he could have a bike. Well he's going on 3 months now and still NO bike. Our neighbors let us borrow one for awhile until they moved, but that was 2 months ago.
They have HUGE neighborhood garage sales here. It's amazing you wouldn't believe how packed the streets get at 7 am just to look at other peoples junk.
I have gone to a few in hopes to find him a bike or scooter but haven't had any luck. They are ALWAYS girl themed. And Nate said his son was not learning to ride a bike with a basket and Princesses in tow.
So Saturday, once the kids were up we hoped in the car to play the yard sale game. (So I thought).
I drove through to see if I could see anything from the car. (Nate was working so I had both kids.)
Finally I parked the car and got the kids out. Immediately Liam figured out where we were. (he has the best sense of direction.) We were in the neighborhood of his new friends Zach and Tanner. Immediately he starts screaming Zach and Tanners house, Zach and Tanners house mama....Eassse???
Me: Liam don't you want to walk around and find a bike or scooter? Maybe a new toy or some books?
Liam: Hmmm. No, I want Zach and Tanner.
Me: K. we'll go in a few minutes. Lets look around first though.
Liam: No Mama NO NO NO!!
(People are starting to stare now.)
Mom: C'mon Liam it'll be fun
Liam: Mama, potty potty potty.
Me: Dang it Liam I took you before we left.
Liam: Mama Potty at Zach and Tanners house
Me: FINE
Owen: glahalhslhshsla
So we show up at our friends house. Liam totally forgets he has to go potty and is so excited to play with Zach and Tanner. We hang out there for awhile. I tell Liam it's time to go. Get the kids out the door, and it starts to rain. (of course)
I try to get out of the neighborhood, but the other billion people are trying to do the same thing. I can't turn the way I want to and have to follow the flow of traffic, to where? I'm not sure.
But in the midst of being stuck in this traffic jam, there it is.... A blue toddler scooter. Complete with 3 wheels so he doesn't have to balance it on his own.
I hope out of the car, into the pouring rain, duck into the garage, notice another little boy eying my possession. Casually pick up my priced item, Ha it pays to be an adult. Check the price $5. Not bad. But I only have 3 ones, (which I traded our friend for $3 worth of quarters. Yes I have that many quarters lying around my car. Who doesn't??)
Or a $20 bill which I don't want to have to break cause I never have cash and once it's broken, IT'S GONE!
So I ask the lady will you sell this for $3?
Sure she says, and
I run out smiling from ear to ear. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
Liam sees this new item and starts screaming when I put it in the back of the car cause he wants to hold it. Duh MOM.
So I put it on the floor in front of him and he holds his new treasure with a two handed death grip. The words go through my mind "my precious..."
We get home and I go to get Liam out of the car.
Me: That's strange. Why are his hands all blue??? And his legs?
Wait a minute, why is there PINK paint on his new scooter? Wait a minute those handle bars are shedding blue paint everywhere.
I look at the scooter more carefully.
I've been DUPED!
This is NO boy scooter. It was a princess scooter that's been painted blue. AHHHHHH
So I spend the night with goo gone trying to get the paint off the handle bar grips cause the blue spray paint never dried on the plastic grips, and after getting wet, are a sticky mess.
So now Liam has a Blue scooter with pink grips and flashes of pink.
Hey what can I say??? I tried. But he's going to ride it anyways. Pink grips and all.

HELLO

So we were talking the other night with some friends about that starburst commercial that they had on awhile ago. You can view it here.



I never understood this commercial and just thought, what was Starburst thinking??? Weirdos.
Then Nate showed me this old Lionel Richie music video clip, and I've been laughing ever since.

Lionel Richie - Hello via Noolmusic.com


Change that from Starburst Weirdos, to Starburst Geniuses!
Run blind girl run! Or maybe it should be him that's running??? And who is this Tony Billy boy? He sounds dangerous. HELLO???
Is it just me, or does Lionel Richie have a lisp?

My Kings for a day

Owen was much more willing to pose than Liam was for these pictures. Maybe not so happy about the fact he's wearing necklaces or a sparkly crown, but since he doesn't have any control of his limbs he has to do what I want him to. I take full advantage of this stage since I know it won't last long. (He got his fist in my yogurt cup the other morning. You forget about the grabby stage.)
Anyways. I know it's May and Mardi Gras isn't for another 9 months, but when you catch your first set of beads, you catch the Mardi Gras bug, and you can't get rid of it until you do all the rituals. Beads, food, friends and King cake. Maybe that's why they call Craw fish Mud Bugs?? Or maybe it's cause they live in mud?

A Southern Celebration

So one of the things we do in PIM (partners in medicine) is Gourmet club. Nate and I decided to host the southern themed one. We really wanted to have a craw fish boil, but it was a little too pricey for fresh mud bugs and frozen just wouldn't cut it so we ordered a king cake from my favorite place in New Orleans (Manny Randazzo's.)
I'm still not sure what happened to the baby??? No one is fessing up to getting it???
I also made some Cafe Du Monde Beignets, and some Raspberry mint Lemonade.
We had the beads, the crowns and just a plain ole good time.
Everyone brought something southern to share and it was all so delicious.
We'd planned to have it outside at our neighborhood park but it POURED and we moved it inside.
All in all, we had rootin tootin good time. Thanks Y'all

6 years

Today, May 24th marks the 6th year anniversary of the deaths of my Mom (Val), Sister (Ali) and a friend of my sisters, (Jera).
They were traveling to Lake Powell for the memorial weekend. My dad, brother and I had left earlier that day so we could get to the lake that night and wake up early to get the houseboat and a good campsite.
They had to leave after my sister's choir performance and were only going to drive as far as St. George. (about 4 hours) They were going to stay with some other friends and then all leave early the next morning to meet us at the lake.
Around 2 am my sister was driving (she was seventeen) and they are not sure if she fell asleep or what happened, but she drifted off the highway at an exit and over corrected causing the car to go into the median and tip on its side. It continued up the other side of the median into the oncoming lanes.
There just happened to be a truck going 80 mph, he swerved to miss them but hit them head on.
My Mom and Sister were wearing seat belts, however the impact killed them both instantly. Her friend was not wearing hers, and was ejected from the car, but was also killed on impact. The driver of the truck received minor injuries and the passenger was cleared as just shaken up.
To condense this story, we found out at about 5 am that the girls had never arrived in St. George and then shortly after were notified of the accident and their deaths.
This was the hardest day of my whole life. There are NO words that can explain the agony I felt, and still do each day. It is something no one can EVER prepare you for. The hardest part was getting back into the car and drive the 8 hours back home to plan the funerals, all during "memorial weekend." (good timing huh??) We had to drive past the spot where the accident had happened only a few hours before.
My whole life was changed in a matter of minutes.
However, I want everyone to know that although the pain is still there. I think about the accident everyday, but mostly I think about them and what they miss out on everyday. I know the hole it's left in my heart will never truly close. But, I was able to have my Mom for 22 years and Ali 17. I cherish those years and am so happy to have learned how to be a wonderful Mom to my own boys because of her example.
Those of you who knew my mom and sister know what amazing women they were.
I had the worlds BEST MOM. Even if you told me I could have a different Mom who would die of old age, or have the one I had but lose her when I was 22, I would still have chosen her. She was truly my best friend. We always had the best relationship. She knew the perfect balance of being a parent and a friend. I could tell her anything. Even about the current boy I was kissing in high school, or the neighbors home we were going to toilet paper that night.
She loved her kids more than anything in the world, and made you think you were her favorite!
She had the quirkiest laugh you ever heard. A scratchy voice you'd swear belonged to a smoker, even though she never smoked a day in her life. And An amazing ability to be friends with everyone she ever met.
Ali, she was the youngest of the five of us siblings. You'd never guess she was only 16 in these pictures. That's right, 16. Most people when they see these pictures think she's a least 25, and my older sister. But no she is younger and by 5 years. I blame it on the fact that she was so beautiful.
Ali was the social butterfly. She had more friends than any person I know. But friends of all different genres. She was very soft hearted and hated when anyone argued. She sucked her thumb till she was 10 (sorry Ali but when you go off and die, I get to share things like that.)
She was a straight A student. She had a talent for doing hair and turned our bathroom into a salon for every dance. (she did my hair for these pictures! Talent I tell you, talent)
Unfortunately I feel that our relationship had just changed from the , "you are my annoying little sister who always wants to butt in with my friends. " Stage. To the "lets go out on a double date. Sure I'm married, but you are so fun to hang out with. Nate won't care." Stage.
We shared a room/bed until I was 12. When we finally got our own rooms, if she woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, she'd crawl back into my bed. I don't think she did this cause she was confused, but because she missed me and knew she could get away with it if she pretended she was disoriented. We even had a sleep over the week before she died so Nate could study for a final.
She was a great friend and sister and I'm sorry she didn't get to enjoy some of the best parts of life.
This day is always a hard one for me, and I want to thank those friends who always call me to say they are thinking about me, take me to get pedicures, (thanks to Nate for watching the boys so I can do this every year.) send me cards, or even pennies. (that's another story for another day.)
You make this day a little more tolerable.
So now you fully understand the reason I HATE the month of May, but I guess in a way, it's nice to get so many painful days over with. (Mother's day, my moms Birthday, the anniversary, and memorial day.) I can't believe it's been six years . It's hard to believe that in the last 6 years you haven't talked, seen or heard from two people that you think about everyday.
To Mom and Ali: I miss you everyday and can't wait to see you again. When that day comes, I'll punch you both for abandoning me, then hug and kiss you and you'll have to pry me away cause it will be so good to know that I finally have you back. I love you!
(sorry, most the pictures I have are from my wedding which was a little less than a year before they died. But enjoy. It's a fun day to remember.)

Stages

So there are the times during each of my boys stages that I have loved, and then some that I've hated.
Here are the hates for Owen:
1-That he pulls off while nursing and my milk is in full stream. At this point, it continues to shoot him in the eye and face, then runs down to form a pool of milk on my bra, which soaks through to my shirt. Making this a very awkward moment when we are in public.
2- The drool the drool the drool
3-His gas. The poor kid. I'm not sure what I eat that makes him so gassy. (sorry bud)
4-He kicks his legs so much that he's always kicking off his socks, and I lose them all the time, so if you see him with two different socks on that's why.
5-That he is off the charts for height and so all his clothes are too short. (If the weather would decide it's the end of May here and act accordingly, not act like it's October and be freezing, he could wear shorts and NO one would notice he clothes are too short.)

Now it's only fair that I do the LOVES of this stage

LOVES:
1-His Big smiles and semi laughs when I make funny faces at him (which I am currently doing to make him happy:)
2-His squeals of delight, But mostly when he squeals and it's so loud it scares himself.
3- Mmmm his cuddles. This kid LOVES to be held, so every night I lay on the couch with him in the crook of my arm while he burrys his face in my chest and falls asleep.
4-That he can almost fit his entire fist in his mouth.
5-That my once burnette child is now multi colored and is starting to get blonde hair. But no it won't be as white as Liams. Ever!

Liam hates:
1-That for some reason he can pull down his pants to go potty, but there is no way he could pull them up that takes effort.
2-That he has to go potty every place we walk into. And only half the time does he really need to go.
3-That he is such a picky eater.
4- That he needs my help every time I sit down to feed Owen.
5-He needs a drink every time we get in the car, but I don't have one.

Loves:
1- When I ask him to help me do something, his response is, "sure."
2-That his favorite song is slippery fish and he sings it all day long!
3-He took his first shower by himself. (I still had to was him but he sat in there with the curtain closed.)
4-He'll put Owens stinky diapers in the garbage for me!
5-He no longer fights me when I spike his faux and after I am finished, tells me it's awesome.

Let the Summer begin

So, Hershey Park finally opened and we took advantage of it last week!
I think this might be one of my favorite things about living here.
A bunch of us get together and bring our kids for a morning of rides, kettle corn and mother interaction! Fun for all!
Liam is now a Hershey kiss on the height markers. He's graduated from being a Hershey's miniature and now the options are almost endless!
I took him one night when Nate was on call (but didn't get any pictures.) It had rained most the day but had turned into a beautiful night. There was almost no one at the park and hardly any lines for the kiddie rides.
He was able to ride on the hot air balloon ride and decided that was what he wanted to the whole night. I'm talking five times in a row.
There wasn't another kid waiting for the ride, but the attendant made him get off each time and go back through the line each time. I guess it was a good lesson that he has to get off each time, but seriously???
These are pictures of some of his friends out here. Mostly girls, but he does have "Craigers." (he's the one who fell asleep with the popcorn in his mouth! Click on the box so you can see their faces on the pirate ship ride. It's my favorite!)

Itsy Bitsy Spider

So this is Owen's favorite toy. I don't have to explain why. Just watch!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Bold look of Kohler

So when Liam was about 3 months he started to drool uncontrollably. I thought wow he's teething so early, but NO he didn't get his first tooth till he was 11 months old.
He drooled so much that he had to wear bibs constantly and he'd even soak through those.
My brother nick named him Moen, after the faucet brand.

(this is Liam. You'll have to click on the picture to see the drool trail.)




Well Owen is continuing in his big brothers steps and has started to drool as well. We decided that he will be Kohler.
I keep asking Nate if there is some kind of drug we can give him to stop the salivating. But he didn't think that was a good idea.
I guess that means it's bibs or wet shirts for the next two years. Yippee.

Open WIDE

Owen, LOVES his fists if you can't tell. He is not as big a fan of the Paci as Liam was. He does however love to put everything in his mouth that he can get his hands on. Including his hands.
Sometimes I worry he might actually get it all to fit one day!

The Big O

So Owen is getting so big, and so fast. He is already 16 Lbs. and Mom's back is feeling it! But what a sweet little guy. I just love that face!

Forever 36

So the month of May has become my least favorite month for obvious reasons. However today I wanted to Wish my Mom a Happy Birthday. (and YES buddy, I know she's dead!)
For as long as I can remember when it was my Mom's birthday and I'd ask her how old she was, she'd reply, "36."
And I'd say, "but Mom you were 36 last year?" and to that she'd reply,

"Really? Hmmm that's funny, well I guess they forgot to change it, so I'll just have to be 36 again. Lucky me."

I completely believed her! Sneaky Mama.

I didn't realize then, that women have this fear of getting old. Anything past the age of 30, meant you were quickly on your way to joining the AARP and eating dinner at 4 O'clock so you could get the early bird special.
I guess she figured 36 would be a reasonable age to a 12 year old! Not too old, but old enough to be my Mom.
This continued every year. To tell you the truth, I didn't really know how old my Mom was until after she died and they put her WHOLE Birth date on the headstone. ( and since we're being honest here, I don't know what her REAL hair color was either. I doubt she even knew. That is a trait I am beginning to inherit. Moms are tricky like that.)
I guess I could have figured it out sooner, but if she wanted to be 36, then so be it!


So Mom, Happy 36th, again and again!

Potty Talk

So tonight I got Liam ready for bed and the last thing we do is go potty. I asked him if he needed to go and he said yes.
He sat down on the potty and sat and sat and sat.
Finally he looks up at me and says: "Oh no Mama. My pee pee's broken."
I laughed and laughed and then he laughed, but I don't think he knew why he was laughing.

Hot Like Me?

Don't you wish your 3 year old was hot like this??
Watch it Ladies. I'm the only girl in his life for the next 13 years, and even then I'm not sure if you can have him!
Bryn gave Liam a Faux Hawk. The brother to the moe hawk.
It turned out so cute, but added at least six months to his age. I told him to stop growing so fast, but gave him the permission to stop throwing tantrums instead.

The Poulson Parlor

So a few months ago a dear friend of mine and I were talking one day, you know just the regular chit chat. We said how much we missed each other and how we weren't sure when we'd be seeing each other again anytime soon.
This lead to,

Me: "you should come out for a visit." (Like I tell everyone. Who doesn't want to visit the sweetest place on earth??)

Bryn: "I'd love to, but I can't afford to come out there." (The same answer the rest of you give me!)

Me: " but I checked ticket prices already and you'll never believe it, but you can fly from New Orleans to Harrisburg (our tiny airport, but only 20 mins away) for only $220 with taxes."

Bryn: "that's a really good price, but I'm not sure if I could miss a week of work."

Side note: Bryn is a brilliant hair stylist

Me: "You know I've lived here for a year and have only gotten my hair done once and that was cause my dear sis-in-law gave me a gift certificate for Christmas to a salon out here. I still ended up paying $100 bones when it was all said and done, and that was without the gift certificate. (don't tell Nate, he still doesn't know.)
I'm sure there are a bunch of girls out here who would jump at the opportunity to get their hair done at a price that is reasonable."

Bryn: "OK, lets see if anyone is interested."

I sent out an email to the girls I go to church with. 15 minutes later I had enough people to pay for her ticket out here. And the next day, had enough people to book two days worth so she didn't really miss any work. I actually had to put people on a waiting list. (we couldn't make her work the whole time she was here!)

So a month later I picked her up at MDT airport, and the next morning we started what I called the Poulson Parlor.
She ended up doing 10 cut/highlights and 6 haircuts.

We had so much fun, we've talked about it becoming a regular thing if tickets stayed that cheap.

Thanks Bryn!

(We also had a few fun days of touring around the valley. She got to see her first Amish horse/buggy driving down the street, and we ate the worlds most delicious fudge. Only 120 calories and 4g of fat for a 1 inch square. That's right one inch. But so worth it!)

Who wants to come out next. We can get creative and think of a way to get you out here! New York is only a 3 hour train ride. People are always traveling to New York. There is no reason why you can't stop here on your way in or out!

"Swim Yessons"

I decided to put Liam into swimming lessons before our pool opens. I took him the first week and had to keep him from jumping in before the teacher got in.
He was just as excited the following week.
The third,fourth,fifth & sixth lessons he cried and cried and sat on the steps into the pool?
You might ask, what happened? Did the teacher make him go under? Did another kid in his class splash him? Did he let go of the platform and fall into the deep abyss....
To all theses questions the answer is NO!
He just decided he wanted nothing to do with swimming lessons anymore.
Lucky for him, I don't give up that easily. I made him sit on those steps screaming, "no no no. Out mama, out mama... all while I waved from the side acting like "who is that kid? I'm encouraging the other little boy who is blowing bubbles and floating on his back. Not that screaming one that keeps calling me mama."
I thought, great. Now he's going to be freaked about the water and my summer plans are ruined.
Then lessons seven and eight he had a new teacher. (his was on vacation.)
This guy was one of those tough love guys. He didn't make Liam do anything he didn't want to, however he put out some voodoo and whatever he asked Liam to do he did?
He let the kids dump a bucket of water on his head and had all sorts of water toys to entice them to play. Liam only cried half the time, and by the second lesson he was laughing again and having fun.
He had two lessons left and did great. I wouldn't trust him near water anymore than I did the month before but he ended on a good note and now asks me everyday if he can go to swim lessons. KIDS???

Ee am

So I just have to add this little blurb.
Last week my girlfriend came to town. (That'll be a whole other post.) We went to church on Sunday and Liam had had a runny nose so to be safe we had him come to class with us.
They asked if there were any visitors and I introduced my friend.
Me: "This is my friend Bryn. She's visiting us from New Orleans."
Teacher: " We're happy to have you. Are there any other visitors?"
Liam: "Me. And I'm iam (Pronounced ee am)
I couldn't stop laughing. He doesn't miss a beat that kid!

Good byes...

So it happened. The, "what i hoped would never happen," happened. My neighbors moved. I am so sad about it. Their little guy Sam was Liam's best friend. They played almost everyday.
His mom (Lisa) and I had baby boy's 5 weeks apart. We were just getting ready to attack the baby fat. We'd started taking walks to the "far playground" and letting the boys play while we got in some chatting time.
They were great neighbors. They had us over for dinner all the time. Had me over when Nate was on call. Watched Liam so I could run errands. And the two older boys were some of the cutest, well mannered teenagers I know.



They have been gone for two weeks now and just recently Liam has stopped asking to play with him EVERYDAY. He still says "it's Sam's house" anytime we go outside.
Here are the last pictures I caught of them before they left.
Thanks Dahls! You guys rocked as neighbors.