So embarrassing....

The kids and I were at Target (sooo happy to live close to a Target again! And WEGMANS!! Oh how I've missed Wegmans!!! sorry - off on a tangent) and were in the medicine isle near the pharmacy. I ended up running into a former co-worker of mine and hadn't seen him in probably a few years.

He and his wife were together for as long as I can remember - they were a few years younger than Matt and I, and adorable together. Both really good-looking people, too. Well, he told me they had just recently divorced, which was a shock! I'm so sad to hear that - it seems like people left and right are splitting up lately.

Well, here's the funny part...

We made it!

We've been back in Buffalo for a little over a month now and we just fell right into place. We LOVE our home, and our neighborhood rocks! There are so many kids on our street/block, the park is close, and one of my very best friends only lives three houses away! After being in isolated hell for so long, being back is such a huge relief, and the kids and I are THRILLED to be back among our lifelong friends and family, and are already making lots of new friends.

It was a bit of a rough start...

Strange....

Today is four years since my friend Jeff died. It happened four months after Matt died. I didn't realize today was the day until I saw his sister's post on Facebook, and his brother's post on his blog. But what's really weird is how "off" I've felt today. Like, crazy off. And what's even more strange is how much Jeff has been on my mind lately. My heart is with his family and friends right now, and sending them all a whole bunch of love. Grief SUCKS.

Mommy brags... with pictures!!

My kids are doing awesome in school, and I'm so proud of them!

Jacob got on the honor roll for the second marking period in a row (apparently they start honor roll in third grade - I didn't know this, since it was a loooong time before I ever made it as far as I remember). His behavior in class (for years) has been a challenge because he is so high energy and has a tendency to distract his classmates or do things he shouldn't while the teacher is addressing the class (like read, draw, etc.). We had major issues with this last year, but this year despite a brief slip, he has been able to keep himself mostly in check.

As a reward for his hard work with school, behavior, etc., we went shopping and he picked out a Kinex toy - the one that you create a roller coaster with (for ages 9+). That kid worked non-stop on it for two straight days until he put it together according to the instructions, and it turned out amazing! He LOVES it. It was beyond the price limit I put on the reward, but was so worth it!

Sydney is learning to read in kindergarten and is doing phenomenally well! She knows all her sight words without missing a beat, and words she doesn't know, she does an awesome job sounding them out. Because her report card was also excellent, she picked out a toy as well - a little horse drawn carriage for her barbies.

She has her very first loose tooth (that I thought was going to fall out any minute but it's hanging in there), and also learned how to blow bubbles with gum! Her sweet little face was so full of joy with those first bubbles!!

They both have been completely deprived of playing with other kids outside of school (aside from our sweet little neighbor Jessica), so I'm hoping that once we move back to our hometown where we'll have TONS of kids their age to play with, they will feel more fulfilled.

Jacob and Sydney still get along exceptionally well for brother and sister - especially being three years apart, but he's getting to the age and stage where his little sister is starting to annoy him. He needs to be around more boys his age. Same thing with Sydney - she is craving other little girls to play with who enjoy dolls, dressing up, and a break from her big brother who tends to criticize.

We're moving in three weeks, and we are all looking SO forward to it!

Kinex roller coaster to the left, and Jacob's latest train track creation front and center:

One of Sydney's first bubbles! 

Dance party!! 

They don't make anything like they used to.

I'm gonna sound really old here, but I've been researching washing machines for our new place (the sellers are taking theirs with them). In all the research I've been doing so far, I've come to one major conclusion (ok, maybe a few):

One more time.

Did I say we're not moving again? I may have mentioned that here...

I'm sick of even typing the words "move" and "moving" at this point, let alone doing it. But there's one more left in us.

50 Months.

Strange little side note...

When I was on the plane heading to Florida, the flight attendant made an announcement over the loudpseaker that one of the couples on board was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. My first thought after hearing that was, "This is my 50 month anniversary as a widow."

Now, I haven't been counting. Honestly. Not in terms of months, anyway. But after that thought entered my mind, I counted just how many months it's been, and lo and behold, it IS 50.

I guess there is a part of me that still gets twinges of jealousy at those couples who've been able to be together for so long.