Shout Out!

Just want to throw a shout out to my husband. He is amazing! We were both up at 3am to stand in line on Black Friday. He lets me work crazy hours when work is hectic. He is a phenominal dad - always putting his kids first and I think Pete is going to help coach YMCA basketball for Nicholas. Rachel has him around her little finger (me too!). She is so darn cute.
Pete Sysum is AWESOME! And pretty damn sexy too if I might add!
The picture is of Pete and Rachel and Pete's brother, Jon.

Mexico

So everyone that works a full-time job should get to spend 2 weeks at a resort in Mexico with their nanny (or at least a babysitter for the kids). It was so relaxing and amazing! We should have the pics up soon on the Sysum pics link.
I didn't turn on my Blackberry or even bring my laptop.
Pete and I got to go on a zip line and rappelling adventure, we spent quality time together since Becky (nanny) was there to watch the kids, we went snokeling in the ocean with Uncle Jon (and Uncle Mike and Chewy - long story), AND the resort was a ton better then last time because they had added 2 wave pools and a crazy long and fast slide.
Puerta Vallarta is incredible. The weather was sunny and 90 almost every day. Nobody burned and nobody got sick. Solid trip!
We even saw an eel - and I freaked out just a little since it was right next to Rachel on her boogie board. You can actually see it all on one of the videos on our site.
I read some books for work (Managing Change, Fixing Communication, etc) for some training classes that I will be taking. I'll have to write up another blog about my Meyer's Briggs outcome - hit me right on the head on my skill set.
Gotta run but I needed to post something since it had been so long.

Nick's Tooth

So Nick has had a loose tooth for about 3 weeks now. I get home from work on Monday and Becky and Nick and Rachel are all searching our driveway for a tooth. He had been playing with it and it popped out! sidenote - He thought the blood was very cool.
More good news. I get home from volleyball last night and Pete was home! He came home a day early and both the kids and I were happily surprised! His trip sounded awesome and you guys can check out the pictures on our Sysum Pictures link. We are so glad to have him back - it was a long 9 days.
40 more days until Mexico.

Pete's Trip

Pete is now on his "work" trip. He went to Bulgaria first, now he is in Romania and then ends in Ireland. I am so jealous of his trips abroad. Romania and Ireland both have days that Pete gets to site see in.
Grandma White gets here tonight for a 5 day trip to see the kids. I told them there would be a surprise in the computer room for them in the morning. They are going to freak when the present is Grandma.
Nick is loving school and we have a meeting with his teacher in a couple of weeks. I also joined the PTA. Gotta stay involved!
Mexico trip is less than 2 months away - man I can't wait!
**Don't litter

Pete ROCKS!

So my husband rocks! He sent me flowers to work on Nick's first day of school, bought me a 120 GB (that is a lot of memory for translation, Sandy)Zune that is very cool, and left me a great note and more roses the other morning.
Sometimes I think we take our significant other for granted. Whoever your "other" is, give them a big hug and kiss and tell them how much you love them.
And mom, think of dad and know that he thinks and has always thought that you were the BOMB wife and an AWESOME mom!
Love to everyone!

Nick's first day of school

Yes, I cried.
The bus was late, so Nicholas was nervous that he wouldn't get to ride the bus to school. After he was on the bus and on his way - I started to tear up and couldn't believe that he is in kindergarten. I have never been so proud of him getting on the bus and going to school by himself.
We met his teacher on Tuesday this week and his first day was Wednesday. I have already had homework - what the heck! He will get homework staring next week which is such a great way to start kids on the right track. He loves it so far. Came home the first day and said that he has 32 new friends. Today, he sat with a buddy from his class on the school bus. I can only imagine the conversation they had on the way home.
Rachel is doing ok. She is having a friend over on Friday to spend the day with her. She will be doing yoga at the Y on her own now and I'm going to try to get her in something else in the afternoon while Nick is in school.
The picture is Nick getting off the bus his first day of school.

Rachel caught a fish!

Rachel, with her Dora fishing pole, caught a rainbow trout over Labor Day weekend while camping. It was very exciting. I was trying to catch up on a nap while Pete took the kids fishing. All of a sudden on the walkie talkie Nick was telling me that he caught a dead minnow (funny joke to make sure mom doesn't sleep). However, while he was talking, Rachel felt something pulling her fishing pole around and then the chaos began. Rachel dropped her pole and so Nick picked it up screaming that they caught a fish. He gets it reeled in and wants to know when he can bang it on it's head. Rachel is talking baby talk to the fish. Pete is just laughing at his crazy children!
We had it for dinner that night - and everyone tried it! Finally, a fish was caught in Washington. We can retire our poles until the Spring.
Oh, and in October, the boys are going squid fishing. Hmmmm, we'll see about those. I like mine breaded as appetizers.