Down Time with Daddy

It is no secret the boys LOVE their Daddy! So in between work, and class last night, we got a good 3 hours of quality time, which the boys had a blast.

Ben was having a blast.

William and his carbon copy.

The picture would have been much cuter if Ben didn't look like he was being strangled. LOL

Watching TV. Don't mind all the pillows, that was from Camden & I's "fort" earlier in the day.

Mr. Cheesey

What's Goin On?

Lots of things coming up in The Elwood House!

Now that Will is wrapping up Fire Fighter I, on comes the Hazmat class! Once this is all done (end of June) no more classes anytime soon! Then he only has the state practical in July.

I wish I could say I have less going on than he does!
I am currently working on my Birth Services website, while it isn't finished, it certainly is starting to come together. Talk about a work in progress.

In the next few weeks I will also be starting to write for Lamaze! Yes, Lamaze the big, giant, popular birth organization. They are working on a new project for mothers, and the idea I pitched for a writing concept was picked up hook, line, and sinker!

Then the famous Griffin Hospital Baby Fair on May 15th. This will be my third year running a booth for ICAN of Connecticut. I an super excited as I always am because this really marks the start of nice weather. If anyone remembers, last year at the Griffin Hospital Baby Fair, I went into labor with Benjamin!

That brings me to Ben's First Birthday Party! May 22nd, at 2pm at my parents house, like always. I will be sending invited out, hopefully tonight if I remember.

Lots going on!

Update on our Plants!

They certainly are growing!
This weekend I am going to have Will build a box raised garden for the backyard so I can buy some fruits and veggie plants to put into the ground.

The Cosmo plant in the blue pot seems to be growing the best out of all of them!

You can see the growth better in this picture.

The other pots

The plants inside.

Sickness in the House... Again!!

It seems like every time Camden is around other kids, he ends up picking something up. Sunday we had the birthday party filled with kids, by Tuesday night he was throwing up all over our new couch, and running a fever.
Yesterday he bummed around the house all day, and slept a good 70% of the day, and it seems like he is going for a repeat today. It is 10:30 and he is still in bed but I am not going to disturb him.
Poor little guy.

I am thankful Ben is feeling ok, minus the two teeth that he has coming in.

Hopefully come tomorrow Camden will be feeling better, as he normally bounces right back.

The Carnival Came to Town!

Last week the Carnival set up in town like they normally do on Spring Vacation for the local schools. Sunday was the last day they were set to be here, and after Camden went Wednesday night for a couple rides with Will, he continued to ask about it all week long.
Finally Sunday afternoon after Jake's birthday party the weather was not only warm enough but the sun was out!

Camden's favorite ride was the cars, and it was also one of the only things he could go on!

Camden in line with Daddy to go on the Ferris Wheel! That is all he could talk about, of course it gave me a freaking heart attack!

Camden & I went on the carousel and had a blast!

Of course, I tried to win a goldfish, which I do at the carnival every year. One year (when I was younger) I came home with nearly 30 of them. Needless to say my parents were slightly pissed.

A great picture that Will got of Camden & I on the carousel.

He was SO happy driving the cars! We got tons of great pictures of him in them, but I could only put so many up. Haha!

Needless to say, Camden is probably going to talk about it all year until the Carnival comes back, which should be sometime early summer.

Happy Birthday Jake

Sunday afternoon we celebrated the 2nd birthday of my nephew Jacob. We had a nice afternoon get together at my sisters house in the next town over. Before the party got a little to crazy, we sat down and took some pictures.

Jacob, the Birthday Boy

Camden in the midst of all the toys

Jake opening some of his presents

My sister Dawn sitting and playing with Benjamin

Camden hanging out with Grandpa Momo

It was a good time, we weren't able to stay for cake because after being there for nearly 3 hours, half the guests had not arrived yet and our children were suffering because it was their nap time. But other then the lack of cake, it was a good time. It was nice to get the kids together and we really discussed starting to get together more often.

Finally at Peace

When we got our tax return this year, Will and I had discussed finally purchasing a headstone for his brother who died nearly 3 years ago, Christopher.After pricing them out, and doing our taxes, we put in a deposit and ordered his stone.

This past week, one afternoon on his way home from work Will stopped into the cemetery, as he does about twice a week since his route home from work brings him right by, and he was pleasantly surprised to see Chris's stone set in the ground.

Yesterday before we went to my nephew Jake's Birthday Party we went to the cemetery as a family with the children and cleaned the stone off and placed some flowers. Camden is getting to the age now where he slightly understands what is going on, though he did keep asking "Where is Uncle Chris?" (his new thing is asking where people are)

Camden getting ready to put flowers on Chris's grave.

Putting the flowers down

Giving Uncle Chris a kiss.

Rest in Peace Chris, finally.

Never a Dull Moment

Last night Will & I got together with some friends of ours who visit from NY state every year and made a trip to downtown New Haven for an Irish Dinner at Anna Liffey's followed by a "pub crawl" will full on bagpipes, drums, and lots of pictures!

I must say, for me, seeing this and experiencing it, although the majority of the bagpipers were Scottish, and not Irish, it was so neat!

When I say they were dressed and ready to go, this is what I mean!

Irish Flag in front of Anna Liffey's as they were warming up the bagpipes.

One thing I learned last night is about "warming" the bagpipes up. In order to really play bagpipes properly, you need to play them or warm them up for a good 10 minutes.

Walking down Church Street in New Haven by the Green.

And they walked directly into the next pub.

It was such a neat time, and I was so tickled pink to not only be a part of it, but also to have a night away from the kids, even if it was only for 2 or 3 hours. Much needed time to ourselves! I do think that Camden would have been in his glory! Sorry kiddo! Just a little too young for pubs!

Our Seedlings

Just thought I would post a couple pictures of our seedlings as they are continuing to grow nicely in our pots!Our first one that sprouted!

Two in this pot!!
5 in this pot!

Softball Practice with Daddy

Now that the Fire Fighter 1 class that Will has been taking is coming to an end, the Fire Department got a local sponsor, and they formed a Echo Hose Softball Team. Of course with Will's love for sports, and talent, he had to join. For the next month or so we are going to have work, class, and softball practice overlapping, but I think I have got the hang of all the time he is away lately. Thinking about it, and talking it over, we know it is better off because if/when Will does get a job on a paid department, I am going to be solo Monday - Friday while he goes through the Academy, then hectic hours.
Anyways, yesterday the kids and I joined Will and a couple of the other firemen for softball practice, and of course, my camera came along for the fun.

Ben enjoying the grass, but the sun, no so much. LOL

Camden getting into the game with DaddySome of the other firemen throwing the ball around
Right around the time Camden started getting bored...

Yes, I am a completely corny mother who had both of my children in matching shirts. Sue me, I think it is adorable. LOL!
So look forward to some pictures from more softball practices, games, and other activities that will be coming this summer. I can't wait for the weather to start to get warmer and all the other activities we can get into.

In the next few weeks, a couple of my activity goals consist of the beach, the zoo, and a trip to New Haven to the Cupcake truck with the whole family.

Why I Love Will

Yesterday on Will's way home from work, I asked him to stop and pick up some potatoes for dinner, and some teething tablets for Ben as he has his two top teeth coming in at the same time right now.

I got more than I bargained for when he walked in the door!
He walked in with the requested items, along with my flowers (pictured above) and my favorite Starbucks creation a Shaken Passion Tea Lemonade.

I love the special moments like this :)

Both were followed by a well needed back rub!

My Family Tree

Yesterday afternoon we went to my parents for our normal Sunday dinner, and our weekly visit so my parents could spend time with the boys.
The afternoon before, my aunt Maryann stopped by with a DVD of pictures (over an hour long) of my fathers family members. Both sides, the Michaud side, and the Soloman side of the family starting from his Grand parents, and going down to him and his siblings in pictures.

Along with the DVD of pictures was a full print out of our family tree. Something I have wanted to do since I was about 10 years old. I was FLOORED! I could not believe all the information I had wanted for over a decade was in front of me!Family is so important and knowing your heritage, and where you come from, and how you were shaped.

I never knew my Grandfather had 12 siblings!
I never knew my father was named after his Uncle Lou who was also his Godfather.
I never knew my Grandfathers middle name was Emile as my father's middle name is Emil and they left the e off. (Which is also Benjamin's middle name)I never thought Benjamin looked like anyone in our family, until I saw my fathers Aunt Marge.
I stand by the fact that Camden has some SERIOUS Michaud gene's in him!
So many neat pictures and just education on my fathers side of the family.
Just a couple pictures...

Play Date Thursday!

Yesterday me and the boys headed over to my friend Amy's house to hang out with her, and her son Dexter. He is 3 and Camden LOVES him! LOL

I grabbed a couple pictures, but Dexter hijacked the camera to take some pictures too.

Camden decided to sit in the Cozy Coupe which was filled with water....

I tried to get Dexter to stay in one place for a picture... that didn't happen. LOL

The picture Dexter took of Amy

Then we got home, took a nap, and when Camden & I went outside to check on our flowers we planted just last week.... LOOK what we discovered!!!


The seeds we planted last week, after much of my husbands insisting we would not keep up with them, or nothing would come of it.... SPROUTED! We have one little tiny plant growing great so far. I am beyond excited because this is the first time I have planted something that has actually grown, and we only planted them last week!!!!

We are going to go to Lowes this weekend, and get some sod potters and plant the rest of our seeds. We are also going to plant some Cherry Tomato's that Camden got is his Elmo Gardening Bag that LaLa got for him. They had a blast at Lowes last weekend.
We are going to plant them indoors until it is warmer. We may have had 90 degree weather this week, but it only lasted one day!

A Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Bara ANNNNN

So about 2 months ago, I purchased a CD of all 1960's ish music from old doo wop song's to The Beach Boys.

The Beach Boys being most important on the CD now. Camden has decided Barbara Ann by the beach boys is his favorite song. When we get into the car, he must listen to it, then he sings as we go along "Ba ba baba tran"

Easter Day!

I must start my post today off by expressing how happy I was to have so many of our family members come together for dinner and to spend the holiday together.We had so much fun, and it was great for the kids to get to spend more time with extended family members they haven't been able to see in a while.

Camden on his Easter egg hunt at Grandma's house

Benjamin outside with Grandma and Dylan

Camden collecting his eggs with his big cousin Dylan
Benjamin outside with Grandma. He wants to just start walking away!

Camden with his Great Aunt Sharon putting his shoe back on.Mom, Camden, Dylan, and Aunt Sharon hanging out on the back steps.

Frank, Dad, Uncle Steve and Uncle Ray.

Myself, and my cousin Courtney. Of course my father felt the need to have us look directly into the sun to take the picture.
Mom's Bunny CakeHanging out with BenAunt CindyUncle Steve & Aunt Sharon

A great picture of Aunt Sharon & Ray.
Look what the Easter bunny brought me!Brotherly love!

Sorry for the million pictures, but I took the best out of the 155 pictures that were taken yesterday!! It is great having the family all together in one place for Holidays!