Maniacs

Tonight as I reflected on the crazy day I've had...work, mall, preschool, 4 different grocery stores, 2 dance classes for Bri, made dinner (which is a big deal for me),made strawberry freezer jam etc......I thought of this post by my cousin Mindy -- to make a long story short she was snuggled up to her 4 year old at church, sharing this affectionate moment and then he whispered in her ear "Mom, You're a Maniac." Mindy blogs about how she realized after her son's not so subtle hint...that she is a maniac...her post made me start thinking about my life and I feel like a maniac too...maybe that is why I feel like life is going so fast I cannot keep up, nor can I remember anything...I'm starting to wonder if I have Alzheimer's or something! I guess as long as you are a happy maniac it is ok...right? Notice the clock behind Dean--it says 1:00--you might assume this was Dean's lunch...but no, this was his 1am snack! I was at a play with Brielle and Chris supposedly fed him dinner...but some how he woke up at midnight screaming like crazy and when I finally let him out of his crib he begged to get in his seat! He ate anything and everything I gave him, however he still would not settle down and go to sleep...at 2am Chris got up with him -- I heard the fridge open and shut several times and then I heard the microwave turn on...I could not help but go see what he was doing. I found Chris about to eat 2 slices of leftover pizza and Dean eating more pasta, Chris told me "If he's eating, I might as well eat too!" Luckily, this late night snack was a one time thing and both boys are back to sleeping through the night!

"Danielle, Thank you for my darling alligator shirt...even though I keep calling it a dress because it has a ruffle!" Love, Brielle

My favorite Dean pose! Anytime I put him on my bed and turn on Barney (so I can make dinner or go to the bathroom in privacy or just get 5 minutes of peace) I always come back to find him with his arm's behind his head and a blanket pulled up over his legs. He knows how to get comfy!

Every time we come or go from my parents house (which is at least once a day) Dean is frantic to get in his car...he jumps in, turns on the radio and starts his "vroom, vroom" noise! He loves cars & motorcycles! He's not crazy about Brielle's driving skills, so he decided he'd push her around the driveway...luckily she did not push the pedal and drive over the top of him!

We've had a couple of beautiful spring teasers this week...there is nothing like a 55 degree day in February to give you hope for life without snow! It was nice for the kids to finally drive their car without snow on the driveway!

"Cheese!"

I snapped this picture tonight before bedtime and I thought you might enjoy these two little cheeseballs as much as I do! Dean can only say a few words...one of which is "Cheese" and he's got the biggest grin to go along with it! As soon as he sees me get the camera, he starts saying "Cheese!"
P.S. He found this masculine hat on Brielle's bed and put it on himself...then wore it around the house for awhile...Chris' Mormor (Swedish grandmother) made it.

Phrase of the week: "You have got to be kidding me!"

Dean the Mennis has been on the prowl again this week...his #1 mission--throw everything in the toilet! I can't count the number of times I've said "You've got to be kidding me"...which of course he is not! This is a picture of him with all of the things I have had to fish out of the TOILET (including his hands) this week! Beyond disgusting...I know! The absolute worst was when he threw my car keys in a public toilet before we flushed Brielle's #2 (I was making sure she'd wiped well enough...in case you are wondering where I was...and he just moves so quick)! Gosh...it was so disgusting! I'm getting sick just thinking about it! If he was not so darn cute sometimes! I took these during some of this weeks cuter moments! Brielle got this shower cap out and he thought it was the best toy ever!

Big shoes to fill...Dean is always trying to get on everyone else' shoes...Chris' are his favorite! He has matching shoes (just like these) and every day he grabs them off the shelf and hands them to me saying 'pees, pees' so I will put them on him. Once they are on his feet he jumps around so tickled with himself! It is the funniest thing I've ever seen! One night I checked on Brielle and found her 'snuggling' with her 'Big Minnie'! It looks like she's about to get smothered!

"Little old 'house' from Pasadena"

I love the Beach Boys...but not as much as I love Pasadena! My sister was in Pasadena the other day and took these pictures of our old house! My heart is literally aching right now...I cannot even put into words how much I love Pasadena! We moved to this house/4 plex (on the top floor right side) 1 month before Brielle was born...it was built in the early 1900's--amazing craftsman style house! It was beautiful! Eight months pregnant we were driving around Pasadena because I really wanted to move there, (but we could not afford the 2 bedroom apartments because they were all over $2000 a month) and we spotted a sign in front of the house...we called, went in and fell in love! My mom thought we were nuts (I already had the nursery completely set up at our apartment in another city) when she came back from Utah with us after the 4th of July to house crammed full of boxes...but with lots of hard work (by Chris & my mom) we got everything unpacked and she too fell in love with our house!

It was not without its quirks...no A/C, couldn't open bathroom door if someone was on the toilet, my closet was in hall b/c the bedroom closet was tiny, our bedroom had double sliding doors that opened into the family room, Brielle's room was an enclosed porch (see picture-windows in front) that was HOT in the summer and COLD in the winter (which is why she slept with us forever), scary steep stairs down to the backyard (that I slipped down)...On the flip side--it also had the most amazing wood floors, HUGE dining room, built in window seat, beautiful wood details everywhere, beautiful yard! It was great! Did I mention it was the only 4 plex in the area...the houses on both sides were multi-million dollar homes and tons of movies were filmed on the next street over. One last thing...I could walk 3 different directions and be shopping (along the street) at Potterybarn, Tiffany's, Anthropologie etc. within 10 minutes! I miss Pasadena...it was so charming! Thanks for taking this little stroll down memory lane with me!

Colorado Blvd.

South Lake Ave.

Amazing Musicians!

Tonight I went to my cousin Mindy's benefit concert for 'Nie Nie' and it was AMAZING! Mindy is so talented! I wish you all could have been there! Go here to see pictures. If you don't already have your Mindy Gledhill CD you need to get one!!! Mindy is not actually my cousin by blood (she married my cousin) but they started dating when she was still in high school (I went on one of their first dates with them) and our family all fell in love with her instantly! The family joke is that if we had to pick one to keep--we'd pick Mindy! She is a genuine sweetheart! Ryan is a smart guy...he knew he wanted to marry her instantly!

Mindy sings Brielle to sleep every night with her lullaby CD, she sang on our wedding video, at our wedding luncheon, at our Christmas eve programs...I've heard her a million times...but tonight watching her up on stage in front of hundreds of people it hit me that she is not just my cousin...she is a star!

Mindy had one of my other favorite people in her band tonight...Kendra Lowe. I've known her since I was 5 or 6 and she is such a talented musician and beauty! She and Mindy are a powerful pair! There were a couple of guest appearances tonight that were also great! Ryan Shupe did an amazing 'Devil went down to Georgia', American Idol hopeful David Osmond sang and The Thrillionaires (an musical improv group) were a crack up. However, the best guests were 'Nie's' two little girls who sang Golden Slumbers on stage with Mindy--there was not a dry eye in the room.

Lot's of money was raised...we tried to bid on several things at the silent auction but we kept getting out bid...Chris was right I should have gone higher! I'm so disappointed! On the bright side... Chris' Mormor (grandmother) knitted a hat (which my sister in law Tiffany donated) and it sold for at least $80...that was the last bid I saw! It was touching to see all of these people join together for a good cause...I felt privileged that The Italian Place could be a sponsor and I'm so grateful I could be there! Thanks Mindy!

Daddy's little helpers!

Brielle & Dean love helping Chris with the shoveling....which we've had lots of this year! Every time we get in or out of the car--Dean scrambles to get his shovel and run out to the driveway.
A week or so ago it snowed so much that Dean could barely walk in our backyard! He kept falling over and Brielle would try to help him up but instead she would pull off his gloves!

My Guy!

My little guy is such a pill when it comes to eating! He NEVER ate baby food or cereal--he would not part his lips--so I gave up and figured eventually he would be in to eating...he is a Rueckert boy after all! Brielle has always been a champion eater...she ate at least a full jar of baby food at every meal, ate nasty 'gerber graduates' meals and now when I ask her what she wants to eat she says "what do you want me to have mommy?" Dean on the other hand has not really gotten any better! He still purses his lips when I try to give him a spoonful of something, hands food back to me that he does not want (which is an improvement from when he just threw it on the floor) and shakes his head 'no' constantly! Half of the time he does not even put new foods to his mouth to taste it, he just gives it back or drops it off his tray! The kid eats chicken nuggets (NOT baked or grilled chicken...drop, drop), pasta, pizza, edamame and fruit (especially berries & melons)! And he often refuses this stuff too...it is ridiculous! Oh yeah, I left off pretzels and cookies/sweets...and SALTY LICORICE!

He loves the fridge and 'rushes' to get in every time it is opened. I keep these grapes at his level because it keeps him from pulling out all the other stuff. One day I decided to take a picture of him inside the fridge grabbing his grapes but while I went to put the camera away he decided to make things a little more interesting...

He took the bowl over to the table and climbed up on a chair to enjoy his grapes....I thought it was cute that he wanted to sit at the table and enjoy them, so I let him. A couple of minutes later I noticed he and the grapes had disappeared...

I found them in the playroom... It reminds me of Goldilocks "this chair is just right"!
At this point he realized I was taking pictures and decided to pose (I can already hear my sister saying "he is SO your child").
A week or two later...I made Brielle a sandwich before preschool, she ate a few bites and then got distracted. Dean had been watching her and trying to climb up on the chair with her, when she left he decided to help himself!The amazing thing is that this is the first sandwich he has ever eaten! I had to take a picture because it was such a major event...I am not joking...the kid won't eat anything! But he wanted to be just like his sissy!
I love this little guy and I love that he loves to say 'ma ma, ma ma' all day long unless Chris or my dad are around and then I'm chopped liver!