Biltmore Getaway

We just spent a wonderful couple of days at the Biltmore Estate. We stayed at the Inn at the Biltmore. They provide a shuttle to take you anywhere over the 8,000 acre estate. It was great! We drove over to the Grove Park Inn one night and ate dinner at their fabulous Terrace restaurant. The weather was beautiful and all the food was divine. Now I want to go back at Christmas when the entire estate is decorated for the holidays.

Special thanks to Nonnie and BB for keeping our boys!

Dinner at the Bistro at the Winery
The Estate
Sunset from the Terrace at the Grove Park Inn
The Gatehouse

Top Dog

Look at that face! Last week Uno won the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. He is the only beagle in history to ever hold that title. I watched it briefly last week while I was sick. (Not much on TV during the day.) I do love watching dog shows because I love seeing all the different breeds. But, who doesn't love a beagle? They are kind of the all-American dog. I am so proud of Uno and what he will mean for the beagle breed.

While on the dog topic, I must include this picture of Greta and the boys. She hopped up there while they were "camping out." Greta is such an angel. So fiercely loyal and protective of the boys. She doesn't even like it when the kids next door come in our yard. We couldn't have asked for a better dog. I don't think I will ever be able to live without a schnauzer again. If it weren't for JW, I would have 10 (or more) dogs and end up being one of those crazy old dog ladies. Thankfully I will have JW to keep me grounded!

Belated Valentine Wishes

I had planned on posting these pictures much earlier in the week, but my week did not go as planned. The horrible stomach virus hit our family and we are just now all recovered. I may not go anywhere again until Spring!

I had the boys picture taken at Portrait Innovations a couple of weeks ago. I thought they turned out pretty cute. Well, I hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day. Stay well!

Our Day at Sprout

I took the boys to the Sprout Studio yesterday.http://www.playatsprout.com/ It is a huge indoor play center. They had a blast. I think I might have Ryan a birthday party there (even though I said I wasn't having him a party because I am in severe denial that my baby is turning 2.) It is just too cute of a place to pass up having a party!

Fireman Ryan

Pirate Will

Ryan attempting to climb the rock wall

Will successfully climbing the rock wall

Ryan at the huge train table

Happy Groundhog Day!

Will's class made groundhog hats at school. Of course, Ryan had to wear it too.

Ryanhog

This is how I found them yesterday afternoon. Will giving Ryan a ride on his back through the house. They both thought it was the best thing ever. They play so well together now it makes my heart just overflow. And, of course, sometimes they fight. But, I remind myself that is normal.

The most famous groundhog in the world, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning. So that means 6 more weeks of winter. I didn't need a groundhog to tell me that this morning when I went out to run and the temperature was 30 degrees. He does look like a rather intelligent groundhog, doesn't he? Stay Warm!

Motherhood

I recently finished reading the book, "I was a Really Good Mom before I had Kids. Reinventing Modern Motherhood." It will have you laughing out loud! It is a hysterical look at motherhood. The authors are two moms who say all the things you think, but never want to express out loud.

One of the quotes from the book that has really stayed with me and had me thinking is this one: "So many of my friends are having three and four kids, and I'm like, 'why is three the new two?' It is hard to realize that two is our limit." This is exactly how I feel. When I was growing up most families just had 2 kids. Only a few of my friends had more than one sibling. Now it seems everyone wants more than two. Many of my friends have three or are currently working on number three. Being a female only child, having two little boys still rocks my world. Sometimes I pinch myself to make sure this really is, in fact, my life.

Then I think about my dear grandfather (father of 2) who said in his 80's that he wished they had had more children. My own in-laws have expressed the feelings that they wish they had had more than 2 children. I think about the Quiverfull movement, http://www.quiverfull.com/, the biblically based group that holds the belief that children are a gift from God and asks the question, who are we to refuse a gift from God? So many people desparately just wish they could have one baby.

Then I think about the fact that if I did have another baby it would be another boy. This, of course, reminds me of my dear aunt Emily (mother of 3 boys) who is famous for her quote "the only thing worse than 2 boys is 3." She is kidding, obviously. But I would end up with another boy. The selfish part of me wants a little girl so I can dress her in all the divine, beautiful little girl clothes. So I will get to pick out a girl name and take her to ballet. So I will have a daughter to share the mother-daughter relationship like my mother and I have. Who will call me with cooking questions? Who will call me with questions when their own child is a baby? I will never get to be "chief meme." I currently pray for wonderful daughters-in-law, but they will probably call their own mothers with these questions.

Then I think I of all the stupid specifics of how my 2 children fit nicely in the back of my cute little Outback. I don't want to drive a minivan or a huge SUV with a 3rd row. I just want to keep driving my Outback. Currently we have 1-on-1 parenting. If we added a 3rd we would have to be split up on roller coasters and ski lifts. 4 in a family is just such a nice even number.

I think of how blessed I am to have 2 perfectly beautiful and healthy boys. This is all that really matters. I don't have good pregnancies and each of my deliveries have had their own scary moments. We are so blessed that everyone is safe and healthy. I will be 35 in 3 years. I am no spring chicken. I am resolved that we are not going to have another baby. But, these are the things that go through my crowded mind. Many of my friends want 3 children. Sometimes I just wonder why I don't want any more? Who am I to refuse a gift from God?

What do you all think?

Bike Riding and other events

Will got a new red bike for Christmas. He is old pro riding it now. He was especially excited to get a matching red helmet. We have a really great park very close to our house with a paved, level path that is great for riding. It goes by the lake and has 2 play areas along with soccer fields. They boys love that park.

We took the tricycle and tried to get Ryan to ride it. As you can see, he was not all that into it. He just kinda sat there on it.
This is Ryan showing off his latest injury. He got a gash under his eye from the corner of the bathroom counter. The day after that he fell on the sidewalk and scraped up his chin. He is much more accident-prone than Will. He is such a tough-guy, though. Just picks himself and keeps on going!

Well, you are probably all sick of me raving about Deceptively Delicious. Have you gotten the book yet? I'm waiting for some of you to start cooking out of it so we can discuss. Sara? Gini? Stace? I have made the Applesauce Muffins twice now because we love them. Ryan ate 3 in a row one day. I love them hot with butter. Will says they have "bumps" in them. (He is having a texture issue lately.) I think JW liked them. I have all the ingredients to make the banana bread, so that is next on my list to make.

Let me leave you with an article to read.

http://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/quiet_place.html

Peggy O'Mara is the editor and publisher of Mothering Magazine. Her articles are always wonderful and insightful. The title of this one is "Trust Yourself." It is a long article but is worth reading. It is so hard knowing all the right decisions to make for our children, isn't it??

Am I doing enough? Am I doing too much? Does my child watch too much TV? Is my child too commercialized? What about schooling? Is my child on track? The questions are endless and we can drive ourselves insane searching books, talking to teachers, doctors, "experts." We can also drive ourselves insane comparing them to others. We must stop. We must listen to our children and trust ourselves as mothers. Peggy says- so what if the decision you make for your child is not "popular." Each child is an individual. Children by nature are non-conformists. Your child might not be doing the same thing as your friends child. But, the common thread here is that we all want what is best for our children. This article was very timely for me and I need to read it again. I think you will find it interesting as well.