Introducing...

Meet Cooper Winston King! He's 10 weeks old. Part Lab and part Chesapeke Bay Retriever. He made the journey to us all the way from Tennessee!

I need TWO hands!

Today is Parker's birthday 6th birthday- or your "two hands birthday" as we call it. When the realization hit him that he needed TWO hands to show his age- well, you would have thought he just solved the world's oldest mystery!

Six years ago my little man made his way into the world one day short of being a FULL two weeks late. My doctors were just about to win the battle of me wanting all natural and them wanting to induce me when Parker decided he was ready to make his grand entrance. He is still my "right up to the wire" child. He waits to do just about everything until I'm just about ready to lose my patience ;0).

We started his day with an oh so healthy double-decker donut...

After shool we had his big present waiting in the driveway...the Razor Graffiti scooter. It combines two of his favorite things, a scooter and sidewalk chalk!

Next it was presents from Grandma and Pappy who are visiting from Pittsburgh and also from big brother Nick...

and finally, the PARTY!!!

they made monster masks...

they made monster t-shirts...

they had fun hanging out enjoying burgers, dogs, and mac 'n cheese...

they showed the Monster pinata who was boss...

ate the coolest Robot Cupcake Monster cake made by yours truly...

We had a wonderful time celebrating with our "two hands birthday" boy!

Day One

I'm calling today Day One for several reasons:

It's the first day Bob and I started to discuss finding a new dog. I know a lot of people may think it's too soon but it's what I need. I am pulling for a New Foundland and he's pulling for a Treeing Walker Coon hound. I also suggested a long haired hot dog dog, but he laughed at me. Stay tuned to see who wins...

It's the first day of getting goodies ready for a certain dudes 6th birthday party! We're going with a monster theme. Cool, funky monsters. Not scary. I'm hoping the weather cooperates and we can have it outside. Honestly, as long as it doesn't rain and is at least 50 degrees- we're having it outside.

It's the first bad day Nick has had in almost a month. And let me tell you he must have been saving up! I'm so hoping it's just an off day. A delayed stress reaction to PSSA's and insomnia perhaps. I just don't want it to be the medicine he just started is not working already. Did I mention I'm a wishful thinker?

And finally, it's the first day that I'm calling out the giant pink polka dotted elephant in the room. Why I always envision the elephant as being pink and polka dotted is beyond me. I'm not a pink kinda girl. Fuchsia perhaps. Anyway, the giant elephant is...my giant backside! I went into winter needing to lose that last 10lbs. I came out of winter with that 10lbs plus an extra 15. Might as well be honest about it. No more trying to pretend it's all a bad dream. So here I am, taking ownership for my stress eating binges. I've been waiting for my friends to look at me like "the girls" did at Samantha in the first Sex in the city movie and ask me how could I not notice. I too just simply started to avoid mirrors. Only on an as needed basis. Oh well, what's done is done and it's about to become undone! Please feel free to offer up words of encouragement and please call me out if you catch me falling off the wagon. If only I could have had Kettle One instead of Oreos's. Too bad society frowns upon stay at home Moms drinking during day. I'm joking of course! 

Jumpin' the gun...

O.k. so we're not really thinking rationally yet here at the King house. We still keep thinking we see Beanie where he's not and I know by this third post about our sorrow you've gotten the point. Add to our grief the intoxicating giddiness of a super warm day and we as a family can not be trusted to make clear and responsible choices.

Nick and I had school out on the back deck. We even let the cats (Sherman and Blackberry) come out for recess. Blackberry lost her recess priviledge though because she kept slinking off the deck and through the fence straight into our neighbors pine trees hoping for a mid afternoon birdie snack. We played a little soccer then we decided to hit the lawn chairs, soak up some vitamin D and read our books. Nick is engrossed with this new series of books about kids role in wars. He's reading WWII stories now. They are all true so that makes him love the books even more. I just started reading "Skipping A Beat". As we were soaking in the rays and words, Bob appeared. He works from home on Mondays and has conference call after conference call. I have no idea how he can stand it. I think he has 5 and they each last an hour-ugh! Anyway, my poor husband is so torn up over Beanie and he was so happy to realize how fantastic it was outside that he declared it to be....TAKE OFF THE POOL COVER DAY! Now I must tell you that last year when we took it off and I saw what the water looked like-I didn't care how much stuff was dumped into that thing, I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to get in after seeing it. But to our surprise, the water was clear. Sure the bottom and sides are a mess but the water did not look suspiciously like pond scum! I asked if he thought we were rushing this whole thing but he simply stated, "seeing the water makes whatever weather is still to come so much more bearable". He is so right. I know Parker agrees!

Flower Power

I love flowers. I would love to someday have a yard full of flower gardens. Today Spring decided to make an appearance so I decided it would be a great day to start the flower boxes. I know there is still temperature concerns so I only chose what I know is hardy and will add more in a month or so. Plus I needed to be outside. We all did. The more we're in the house the more we catch ourselves looking for Porter Bean or saying things like, "don't leave that on the counter! you know Beanie will get it!" Then the crying starts all over because reality sets in. I know time will make it better but WOW does it suck right now. A friend of mine sent me this poem:

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

And just when I thought my tears were done for the day...

Like I said though, we got outside today and stuck to the age old truth of keeping your hands busy is good for the soul. So we planted and pruned and brought up outside furniture-even went looking for some new furniture. We curled up with books outside and even ended the day with some salmon and burgers on the grill. Well my family did. I had some very scary looking but very good vegetarian bacon. I will have to take a picture next time...it seriously is down right creepy!

Good bye my Friend

today we had to say good bye to our beloved Porter Linus Bean King. He has been our constant companion for the past 10 years. We picked him up on New Years Day 2001 just outside of Baltimore. We were so giddy. He was our first child. Life was never dull with him. For all the times I yelled and swore I could not deal with him eating the trash or opening the freezer and helping himself to a frozen snack one more time...I'd give anything to be able to yell one more time. He was my buddy and my heart is broken.

Art in the making

Thanks to facebook I was able to connect with an old friend. He happens to be an incredibly talented architect and gifted in the arts. We are so thankful he has been spending his Friday mornings with Nick. First they created pottery, today it was on to acrylics. I think Nick wanted to just use a tube of green paint instead of mixing his own but Ryan was patient and creative with him ;0)