A Long Time Coming

Last weekend I traveled ***alone*** for the first time to Connecticut, for a very special occasion.

My Uncle Stephen and adopted Uncle Clayton got married after being together for 30 years!!  Yes, 30 years!!!

It's hard to imagine just how much adversity they have faced over the years.  But after all they've been through, they were finally able to be legally married.  (Unfortunately, when they return back to their home state, the marriage will not be recognized, but who cares.  Their marriage isn't about that.)
I have been married twice in the time they have been together, (as freaky as that sounds).   They met when I was 15 years old.  Someone please tell me why they had to wait so long???

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.....

It was a small but very love filled event.  The people who witnessed their day, me included, were absolutely thrilled for them.  When the wedding was over, there was not a dry eye in the place, and the guests weren't just applauding, they were outright cheering!!    It was an incredible day!!

I love these two very much.  It was such an honor to witness their special day.

The other thing that was a long time coming was a chance to see my friend Joye and her family, after about a year and a half.  She also lives in CT, so it was the perfect timing for a visit with her.  We only took a couple pictures, but here's me with her brood!

I hope to bring Jocelyn for another trip up to CT to see Joye and her family in August.  It was way too long between visits this time!   And I think Jocelyn would have a blast with all the kids.... and chickens and ducks and swimming pool and 5 acres of land to play on!!!  I can't wait!!!

Still the ones...

In case there is any doubt in your mind,
the Loveys are still as loved as ever. 

Today they were used to decorate the livingroom.

As Jocelyn's mini blankets....  all 33 of them.

And as fuel for the OCD personality.  She must have folded and organized them for a half hour.

But always, at the end of the day, when bedtime comes,

they are still her Loveys for snuggling.  

Good Night Jocelyn!

4 Year Photos

We went for photos for Jocelyn's 4 year birthday a couple weeks ago.  I think they came out pretty good!

4 Years Old and So Sweet!

With our friend Gus

What does she know
that we don't?

With Mommy

With Daddy

And just so we're clear that she is not ALL sugar....   Here's the spice!

How?! When?! What?! 4!!!!

Here it is....

Jocelyn's 4th Birthday. 

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Sweet Girl!

But how, when, where did the time go???  How is it possible that 4 years have passed since my little baby was born???

This has been such a year of great accomplishments and firsts for Jocelyn:
In May, Jocelyn went to her first independent class.
In June, she spent her first night away from Mommy and Daddy.
In September she finally decided to escape from the crib and in October we removed the railing and turned it into a big girl bed.
And in November Jocelyn succeeded at potty training. 

Jocelyn has also discovered how to challenge Mommy and Daddy's patience.  Obviously, every kids goes through the stage of testing boundaries, but some days.....!

Jocelyn has her first imaginary friend Froggy.   She loves to pretend she's a doggy.  She collects "Stuff" and keeps it all around the house in various containers, bags and boxes...   She has some of her first friends, and loves to play tag and hide-n-seek. 

Jocelyn is still an observer.  She wants to see what everyone else is doing before she checks it out herself.  Just like her parents, she is hesitant in new situations with new people, but she's very curious and ultimately can't resist trying new things.  There's very little she's actually afraid of.

She's a great hugger but doesn't hesitate to tease before giving them over!  She's learning to use her manners and comes out with them at the best times.   Jocelyn is a sweet, loving girl.

It is truly hard to believe that it has been 4 years since she was born.  But every night, when I say "Good Night" and kiss her on the cheek, I feel so lucky that she is mine. 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Ballet

Jocelyn has regularly participated in classes offered through our Parks and Rec programs.  She has really loved them all.  In the fall, my baby will be starting preschool, so I decided to let Jocelyn try out some classes that are completely new to her.  One of them is a Science Class.  Last week was the first class and she learned about the different forms of water -- liquid, ice, steam.   When I went to pick her up, the kids were "ice skating" around the floor with paper plates under their shoes!  How fun!

The other class that Jocelyn is taking is her first Ballet class.  The first day, she was a little nervous and not sure what to expect, but I reassured her that she would have fun and I would be watching from the window.  (Every once in a while, she looked up to check and make sure I was still there :-)   So she went in a little nervous, but she had a great time!  She particularly likes the outfit.  I would have to agree!

 
















As of the second class, she has started to learn some of the ballet positions, and steps, but the class is about having fun, and the girls don't even realize they are learning in the process, so I won't tell her!     :-)

The pictures aren't great because they're taken through the window, but she's pretty cute anyway!
Since her sisters are already talking about summer camps, Jocelyn is asking about them too.  We might have to look into Ballet camp!

Holiday Mish Mosh

I have fallen way behind in blogs, so here is just a sampling of the crazy, loads of fun, Christmas at our house.

Making mini Gingerbread houses.

Night before Christmas preparations for the special arrival.

Leaving the key for Santa

And cookies and milk

Guess he liked his cookies!

Opening presents was a lot of fun.  We started with the stockings, where once again, Santa remembered the red present and the green present.  Then we moved on to the pile!!  Jocelyn literally took all day to open her presents, but it took that long because she took time to play with each thing she opened before she moved on.  She took a couple breaks in between and then was pleasantly surprised to find she still had more to open later.  It was a really nice way to spend the day.  No rushing and not much insanity.  I'm not sure that we'll always have the leisurely approach, but it was nice this year.

You may not be familiar with the show Phineas and Ferb, but around here, they are BIG, and I mean BIG hits.  Loving Perry most of all.  So our Christmas was full of Phineas and Ferb and Perry stuff - blankets, slippers, t-shirts, books, and more.

After Christmas the sickies invaded our house.  It was miserable for days and we are just now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (as long as Pat and I have escaped it, that is).  But in between everyone's germs, we piled into the car to visit the Symphony of Lights.  Here is just a sampling.

Now that everyone is mostly healthy again, I have finally been able to start taking down the decorations, but Jocelyn is just not ready to let go of the Christmas season.  Every day she reminds us that Santa is coming
"to-my-yo".  No Honey, he's not, I'm sorry...
But she is determined to keep the spirit going.  She has decorated and undecorated these two 8 inch trees at least 10 times in the last two days.   Gotta give her credit for enthusiasm!

Here's hoping that the new year

finds you Happy,

and Healthy, and Enthusiastic too!

Up Close and Say HoHoHo!

I took Jocelyn to see Santa today.  This morning she was all excited about dressing up in her pretty red Christmas dress, tights and fancy shoes.   She couldn't wait to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas...  until he was sitting in front of her that is.   Then she clung to me like a monkey.  I thought this year's Santa pictures were doomed.

And then Santa saved the day.  He got her talking about her wish list (my Christmas shopping is no longer considered done), then he asked for a "high-five" and a fist bump (I don't remember Santa doing those when I was a kid!), and then Santa dared to ask her for a hug! 
Next thing I knew, she was in his lap chatting and smiling and this is what I got!!!

I'm pretty sure these are the best Santa photos she's ever taken! 

Yeah for Santa!!!

After our visit with the big guy,

we went to have lunch with our favorite guy.

Daddy's even more fun than Santa!

Correspondence from the Big Guy

Santa has written to Jocelyn again this year. 

How does he find the time??!!

Along with his letter, he sent a photo,

and Dasher sent some bells from his sleigh harness!

We love Santa, and can't wait for his visit ----- 24 days and counting!

FINALLY!! But I couldn't be more proud

This is one of those posts that will have Jocelyn hiding her head many years from now, but I am bursting with pride for my sweet girl, so I just had to write about it!

It has taken over a year, but Jocelyn is finally using the potty.   I decided, again, last Tuesday, to start putting her in underwear, and having her sit on the potty.   And the light bulb went off!  She is far from totally potty trained, but she's only having one or two accidents a day, and she's starting to ask to use the potty on her own.  And today, she pooped on the potty for the first time!! 

This is where we were a year ago.   And then, after a month (no joke) of bribing, begging and eventually fighting, I gave up.  She was just not ready.   I've tried to start it up a few times since then, but got a very loud and clear "NO!!"

But a year later, she has made amazing progress in just 6 days!   We still do pull-ups when we leave the house, and diapers at night.  We still have a ways to go for total control.   But when I started this less than a week ago, I was prepared to be disappointed once again, so what she has accomplished, in such a short time, is wonderful!

She asked me today why I am so proud of her.  I've lost count how many times I've told her that this week!   It almost made me cry when she asked the question with that shy smile on her face.   Well, my Sweet Jocelyn, here is why.  From preemie baby to potty training, my girl has always made me proud.  Every achievement has been slow in coming, but so exciting when it came.   But finally seeing my big girl use the potty, makes me jump up and cheer!!!   Yes, I am the proudest Mommy in the world!

Fall 2011

Treasures! Treasures! Everywhere!!!

.....  and I do mean EVERYWHERE!

Many years ago, my good friend Joye told me about her daughter's Treasure box.   (She was about Jocelyn's age at the time)   Abbie carried around her favorite little toys in this Treasure box.   How cute!

Well the Treasure box has now invaded our house, but it is not limited to a "box".  We have Treasure bags, Treasure pumpkins, Treasure backpacks, Treasure bowls, Treasure purses, and on and on and on.   This was the collection as of this morning.  (And this is only the living room stash!)

Here is the queen reigning over her treasures.

Not really!  :-)  I just thought it was a funny picture of her watching TV.

And I'm sure you are asking, what could she possibly have in all those Treasure bags, etc.?   Well her "Special" items of course - her "Special" toothbrushes from the dentist, her "Special" pine needles, her "Special" water gun, her "Special" ping pong ball (I have no idea where that came from!), and 1001 other "Special" items.

Anyway, while she was in My First School this morning, I transported most of the pile to the basement or Halloween storage, or dare-I-say the trash can!  I just wanted to reclaim the living room and I knew I couldn't do it under her watchful eye. 

Jocelyn's been home for an hour and she hasn't even noticed.  Hmmmm.....  what does that tell me???