How do you spell...

SLACKER? Because, well, that would be me. Everything's been fine on the Borrelli front, I've just been in big time vacation mode. I just couldn't get back into the regular program until, oh, this week. So, we've been good. Ed was laid off, again, but I had a good postpartum job for about a month, and then a bunch of birth clients, so it's been working out. I attended 3 births last week, and all of the babies were nice enough to have their mamas labor during daylight hours. 2 out of 3 of them arrived in time for me to get home for dinner even! I love those kinds of babies! Keith is in 1st grade now, and just turned 7 on Friday. Where did the time go??? I swear I just had him! Next thing I know he'll be driving! Henry is doing fine. He started preschool and absolutely loves it. He goes in, puts his backpack and lunch box away, then comes over and says "bye mom!" and gives me a kiss goodbye. Once in a while he asks if I'll pick him up, but more in a 'I'm trying to make conversation with you and don't really care' tone. Caroline does pretty well with daycare one day a week. She gets to see Henry, and she's a little social butterfly, so she's got it made. Last week, however, the teacher told us that she stripped down naked TEN times. Hopefully she's just getting this out of her system now. It's cute when you're one... She's been going on the potty when she's home (WHO DOES THAT???? She's 14 months old!!!!!! Henry won't even pee on the potty!!!!), and she says a few words. When the bus comes by in the morning she toddles over to the door saying Bye Keith, Bye Keith. She's growing up too quickly, too! So yeah, we're good. And since I flaked on the vacation post, here's some pictures. My parents are leaving this weekend, since it's been snowing for about a week and the temperature the other morning was -10 degrees. I am so glad I'm not there right now!

Keith's Wyoming Trip

About two weeks ago, Keith left for Wyoming with his grandparents. I've talked to him, oh, twice since then, so I think he's having fun. Fortunately, every once in a while I get a few pictures in my email box.

Keith made breakfast this morning!

See what I woke up to?




Keith made breakfast for me and Henry! He set the table, put out bananas, cherries, grapefruit, and spaghettios. Yes, spaghettios. He said we had to have soup, but I only had cream of mushroom in the house and I'm not a fan of cream of mushroom, especially at 7 in the morning. So he settled for Spaghettios. He opened the can and heated them up on the stove (with a little help from his mother!). Henry was THRILLED. Henry thinks spaghettios are God's gift to Henry, so he was on cloud nine. Unfortunately for me, they needed more so I had to give up my bowl so Keith and Henry could have seconds. Bummer. But, my coffee and grapefruit were good! And it's the thought that counts!!

It is officially summer!

Because there is corn. And fireflies. But this post is about the corn. Last night we had the first corn on the cob of the season. Of course, there were a few glitches in the preparation of the corn, but once it was cooked, it was good.

See that thing floating in the pot of corn water? The thing on the left? I had the water boiling and was just about to stick the corn in when I looked (thank goodness) and said "what the hell is that?" Henry piped up "A cracker." Oh, of course. Crackers. In the corn water. Who WOULDN'T put crackers in the corn water? Anyways, I wouldn't, so I dumped it and started all over. Fortunately there were no crackers in the second batch of corn water. So we cooked the corn, and some steaks and some rice. The kids really enjoyed the corn and the rice - steaks, not so much. Oh well, more for me and Ed!

My little entrepreneur

Did I spell that right? Anyways, Keith has decided (with a little help from his mother) that he has too many toys. So he cleared out his room, put a whole bunch of toys in boxes, and announced that he was going to sell them. And once he sold them, he would be rich and buy the Lego Death Star (retail value $399.95). I said "if you sell $400 worth of toys you can buy whatever you want." I'm wondering if those might just end up being famous last words. So last night, Keith was bugging Ed about wanting to go sell his toys. He wanted to have a yard sale, but impatience was getting the better of him. He finally wore Ed down enough who said "fine, go outside and sell your toys. Just stay in the driveway - I don't want you near the road." Henry went out with Keith, and Keith set up shop out towards the mailbox. Henry hung out on the steps waiting for Keith. Not five minutes later Keith yells "DAD! I got FIVE DOLLARS!!!" Ed goes out, makes sure he didn't sell Henry, and says "What? You sold something?" to which Keith replies "Yeah! Someone was walking buy and bought a toy for FIVE DOLLARS!"
So, apparently, you CAN sell toys out of a box in your driveway at 5pm on a Sunday. Who would have known. Now if he just sells $394.95 more, I'll be buying a Death Star. And I have a feeling he's going to want to spend every waking hour outside selling toys, now.

Caroline and the slide

Yesterday Keith decided that Caroline needed to be introduced to the slide. So he got Henry and Caroline out the front door and carried Caroline back to the swing set. Henry has some kind of magnet in him that just draws him to the swing set, so Keith didn't have to worry about him. They got out there, Henry climbed up to the fort, and then I looked out to see Keith climbing the ladder while he was holding Caroline. After my heart resumed beating, I grabbed the camera. She loved the slide, at least until Henry went down after her and landed on top of her. She wasn't a fan of that. But the slide, and Keith hauling her around the swingset - she loved those!