Catching Up with the Dial fam...School Days

Our summer vacation ended in August.  Sad as it is to watch pool days dwindle down the Dial fam was ready.  New school excitement had set in! Back to school haircuts were done, new shoes were purchased, and we had even practiced a new wakeup time once or twice. 

For Jack the excitement of his big boy school and big boy backpack was undending. 

He walked into that school and out of his summer life like he was King of St. Pats.  He is, of course.

Mae, on the otherhand, had no clue what school was (other than Jack's new school).  Our adventurous little girl was more concerned with her "pack pack" than school.

She smiled and we snuck out.  It took 2 weeks, but we are tantrum and tear free at drop off. 

Time has flown.  I was just texting with a good friend today and mentioned that our babies were about to turn 2.  I can almost *almost* remember anxiously awaiting Jack's arrival. 

My very FIRST Spotlight Saturday!

I've been really really good about my bodily output. I run, chase children, wrestle said children, do workout classes, etc. But what I put in? That's a whole different story. One that I'm not really good at...so here goes.

You are what you eat...in that case I'm one really big carbohydrate. No seriously I can smell a carb a million miles away. A vegetable? Forget it. I only put green food on the table because my husband loves it.

So naturally when my friend, Ashley, first told me about "Greens" I was a skeptic. An almost 8 month skeptic. And today? I want to break down the powder that makes me no longer a skeptic and suddenly superwoman.

Truth #1: The American diet is full of fats and sugars
Truth #2: These fats and sugars contribute to our blood being way too acidic.

Enter Greens. Greens are full of natural nutrients that help to bring our bodies from an acidic state to a more alkaline state.

How? 2 scoops of Greens (or 1 packet of Greens on the Go) are full of:

- 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables: I mean who doesn't want/need those? The best part? 8 ounces later you don't have to feel bad about pushing the broccoli around on your plate. And you won't have the bloat if you actually eat it.

- 38 herbs and nutrient rich superfoods: Giving a HUGE boost to your diet. How? With vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (according to WebMD this is a natural substance found in certain plants that helps promote health and rpevent various diseases), and enzymes that are easily absorbed by your body. Greens are a supplement...not a replacement. But even if I skip the beans or asparagus I still feel like superwoman.

-Probiotics: Really crazy, but it is actually good for your digestive health to add a little healthy bacteria. Helps to keep your body regular (God knows how my husband could be anymore regular) and helps to remove toxins so your body can naturally absorb more healthy nutrients. Not to mention gets rid of killer diaper rash.

-Magnesium and Potassium: These help to alkalinize the body. Did you know an acidic body is low on potassium AND usually low on magnesium? Because magnesium helps to regulate your potassium levels. In a nutshell you can't absorb potassium without proper levels of magnesium. FUN FACT: When your body is OVERLY acidic it naturally releases calcium and magnesium from the bones to promote an alkaline pH...naturally leading to a magnesium deficency.

- Antioxidants: No come on, who doesn't want those?

ItWorks Greens are natural, organic, non-GMO, AND super affordable. I like the berry the best. My kids call it green juice. I call it my liquid drug of choice.

www.laurensdial.myitworks.com
Click "SHOP"
Cruise the products
Sign up as a loyal customer (3 month commitment with the lower prices)
Thank me later when your hangover is gone, your superman (or woman) cape starts growing, and suddenly you just drank a million berry salads in one tasty 8 ounce glass.

Hit me up with any questions!

Lauren
laurenschuette@gmail.com

Hiatus

Merriam-Webster refers to it as a period of time when something (such as an activity or program) is stopped. I call it a "we got home, peed on a stick, had a baby (and a toddler), closed a store, started school full time, work full time" time. And no, I haven't missed this blog much. But let's be honest here...neither has anyone else. We've generally been living in a totally sleep deprived world. Blindly finding our way through parenthood. Learning little about ourselves and a lot about our kids. Plural. As in 2. We now have two kids. Last time I wrote I was amazing you with our exciting trip to Antigua. Or as I love to call it therapy with alcohol. Maybe our recent trip to Cali (sans kids) has sparked me to write again. Maybe it's guilt that Mae doesn't have a play by play to her first year of life. Who knows...but here I am. Blogging. And here you are...reading. About nothing. So here's something... Meet Mae... She's the reason we haven't slept in just about a year. Our little, round, walking at 9 months bundle of joy.

Lessons Learned...in Antigua

1.  Do not pay for in-flight DirectTV unless you love The Hangover 2, Sherlock Holmes, or Yogi Bear on repeat.  CDitty and I are suckers.

2.  5 days in a tropical paradise sans your child is better than any therapy session in the world.

3.  You should go to tropical island therapy once in a while.

4.  Europeans love Antigua.

5.  Europeans love speedos.

6.  SPF 30 is not strong enough for ghostly white bodies.

7.  Bring Aloe.

8.  Overweight Europeans wearing speedos tend to look naked.

9.  Somehow mosquito nets, bungalows, and sea views are extremely romantic.

10.  I am easily amused by speedos.  CDitty is not.  (Although photo credit below goes to him!)

11.  This was the most relaxed I've been in 2 years, 2 months, and 8 days.

12.  There is nothing better than the love and help of really good family.

13.  Drink fruity drinks.  Heavily.

14.  Always travel with 1 of your child's toys.  It was almost as entertaining as the Europeans.

15.  Europeans wear shorts style speedos and briefs.  It cracks me up.

16.  My obsession with the speedo proves that I am too immature for Europe.  Yet somehow I'm mature enough to be a mommy?

17.  Coming home was awesome.  "I love you mommy" and "I missed you" never sounded so sweet.

18.  Vaca was awesome.

**I have so many more pictures of Antigua!  I'll photo dump when I get them on my computer.  Including like 20 of Mr. White Hat **

Awareness...and tears

From one self-diagnosed, self-proclaimed blog addict to another:

http://averycan.blogspot.com/

A high school friend posted this blog on her facebook page.  I clicked (as any blog addict would do), grabbed a box of tissues, and added the link to my favorites.  Talk about a wonderful family, faced with unimaginable heartbreak.  When I think I have problems, remind me of Avery's family.  Please.

two

Two is tough. Temper tantrum tough.  Forgot how to sleep through the night tough.  "I can do it myself" tough. 

But moments like these make me remember that two is fun.

The "Mommy come play" kind of fun.

And "I eat like daddy" fun.

"Look at somping cool"  fun.

Pretend and puddles fun.

You get it...fun.

Jack is 2 + Pinterest = Train Party!

Jack has discovered his love for trains and I discovered my love to Pinterest.  A super fab birthday party emerged!  I'll let my picture do the talking.  BUT if anyone has the following pictures please PLEASE get them to me:
1) Pic of the diesel fuel (vodka punch)
2) Pic of the Water Tower (water pitcher)
3) Carriage Treats car (Popcorn with white chocolate and rice krispies treats)
4) Pic of Jack, CDitty, and myself (I will never ever throw a party without a photographer again)
5) A Picture of us singing Happy Birthday to Jack
6) A Picture of the "train tracks".  CDitty braved the rain and put black duct tape down in the shape of a train track up the sidewalk!  Total hit.

**This is a sampling of pictures!  I know there are thousands everywhere!


Guess who's party it was?

Thank you Pinterest

Sandwich Station was PB& J's cut into trains

blueberries and grapes





Delish!  Big THANK YOU to Mere for helping me with EVERYTHING!

Trains Whistles, Bandanas, and Name Tags

Cookies & Cream (Coal Dusted Cupcakes)



We iced sugar cooked cut out into Train Shapes

Yay for friends!

The Birthday Boy wore his conductor suit!

Thank god for the "masement"

Everyone Had fun...



...Even the grown ups



I'm begging you...

Some of you may know that I've recently been bitten by the running bug and now have a bad case of total addiction.  My friend, Stefanie, and I run every other morning at 5:30AM (YAWN)!  We have decided to runt he Anthem 1/2 Marathon in March!  This 1/2 is part of the Shamrock weekend of events here in Virginia Beach.

I've decided to run the 1/2 for charity.  The Shamrock has selected 2 charities to donate to.  The first one, Operation Smile, is an international charity located right here in Hampton Roads.  OpSmile (as it is called locally) has provided over 200,000 free surgeries repairing cleft palates, cleft lips, and facial deformities on children and young adults around the world (60 countries to be exact).  OpSmile believes that a 45 minute surgery can change the life of a child forever...so do I.  Check out the website, www.operationsmile.org.  Grab your tissues, the pictures are heartbreaking.

The second charity, Preston's March for Energy, is one I had never heard of.  After looking into it I am convinced the Shamrock Race Coordinators really know how to pick 'em.  Preston, 12, has Mitochondrial Disease. Leaving him completely exhausted and off balance 100% of the time.  He's not able to participate in PE, recess, or any physical activity.  Although mentally healthy, he is at a huge risk for childhood obesity because of his physical inabilities.  he was give a bike to adapt to his physical limitations.  This bike, a cool $2,200, allows him to play with his older brother, exercise, and be "normal" without the physical setbacks.  Preston's parents started his non-profit to raise money for other kids just like Preston.  Because with this disease the biggest roadblock is the cost of SAFE exercise.


Are you still reading? I hope so because this is where I need you. Please, click the link below, donate a few bucks. Any amount will do. I cannot tell you how grateful I am, Preston will be, and any number of children in underprivileged countries will be. Thanks to us we can give a little (or a lot) and make a difference...

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=E4JAQAK292BQ6&lc=US&item_name=Anthem%20Half%20Fundraising&currency_code=USD&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donateCC_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted

Thank you so much for your generosity.  I cannot wait to run and to know I'm doing it for such a great cause really makes it that much better.  I'll keep ya'll posted...The big day is March 18th!

PS I did the paypal link on my own.  I stink at technology.  Please let me know if it doesn't work.  I'm so clueless.

23 Months

1. You talk in complete sentences.
2. I understand 90% of them.
3. Your teachers at school are Mrs. Linda and Mrs. Susan.  You call them "Sue Sue and Inda".  They love you almost as much as I do.
4. According to you Santa (who lives at the mall) visited Deebus (Jesus) at the First Christmas.
5. You have become a "master staller"
6. Especially at bedtime.  You always say "I'm missing something" and frantically search through your 9 stuffed animals and 3 blankets that you insist on keeping in your crib.
7. I think you got the hoarding gene from your father.
8. You love your bapi, wear size 5 diapers, and tell everyone that you pee pee on the potty.  You don't even try.
9. The only time our house is quiet is at naptime and bedtime.  We wouldn't have it any other way.
10. You love to sing.  Jingle Bells, Twinkle Twinkle, and ABC's are your current top hits.
11. Your version of the ABC's is "a, c, k, m, n, p Yay!!"
12. You are stubborn; so am I.
13. We butt heads.
14. You bite, hit, and punch when we butt heads.
15. Time out, hugs, kisses, and sorrys always follow.
16. Obsessed with trains doesn't even begin to do your love for the toy justice.
17. In turn, we know just about every name to every Thomas character.
18. Your love for sports doesn't surprise me.  You scream "Touchdown Tebow", "GO TIGERS", "2 Points", and "FORE!" when playing football, basketball, and golf.
19. You think you are hilarious.
20. I think you are a genius.
21. Since cleaning up our basement you want to spend all of your time in the"masement".
22. Suddenly you don't want to eat anything but Popsicles.  I blame it on your Grumps.
23. Your daddy and I love you more than you can ever dream.  I cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for you!

Quitting

I've been doing a lot of internal debating, quite a bit of internet reading, and listening to friends' stories about quitting the paci.  Or as it's known in our house, the bapi.  Jack seems to be growing more and more addicted as the days go on..  I've been wondering when is the time?  How do we do it?  I can't wait for the bapi free days.  The ease of not wondering where they are.  Knowing you have about 30 in the house, but cannot find a single one.  I look forward to not "cleaning" them off after falling on the ground in the mall, the parking lot, the yard.  I also dream about the future when we are bapi free and don't have to do a bapi hand off similar to a play action fake. 

Today I was putting Jack in the car around his nap time and he was frantically requesting a bapi.  I obliged, pulled it out of my back pocket, sucked the lint off, and placed it into my little boy's mouth.  He promptly took it out and dropped it.  Somewhere in the back of my car.  Now if you have seen the floorboards in the backseat of my car (or any mother's car) you would understand the panic that ensued.  Where the hell did it go?  Jack is asking yelling screaming "BAPI", I'm sweating and frantically moving the diaper bag, Brobee, the cart cover, 5 books, 2 toys, baby hiking boots (more on that later), and resort to getting in the backseat, cllimbing over jack, and hanging out of the car.  All in front of school.  Jack's school.  His new school.  Yup, I'm sure they flagged our file as questionable parenting.  The 2 years

ago me totally would have too.  5 minutes, 1 pinched kid, and what feels like a small workout later I found the bapi.  Thank god.

Lesson learned:  Pack 2 bapis at all times.  And no, we are not quitting this month.  I'm not ready yet.

18 Months

I'm going to attempt to unpack my bacgs here and stay awhile.

Now that you are officially 19 months here I thought we should post about the past 18 months.

18 About 18 Months

1.  You re 32" tall and 25 lbs of pure fun.
2.  Excitement and energy run through every ounce of you.
3.  With the excitement comes exhaustion.  Mine.  Again, I don't know how people with 2 kids do it.

4.  You have 16 teeth.  You know how to use them.  On us.  It hurts.

5.  B/c of your new found love for biting, you have learned about "me time".  TIME OUT.  Generally you handle me time ok and we end with a hug, kiss, and a "sahrry' (sorry).

6. Sahrry (sorry), doggie, mommy, daddy, shoot, guys, gosh, peease, sank sue, yesssss, and bubbles are just a tiny sampling of your ever growing vocabulary.  And short sentences are your newest skill!

7.  Speaking of skills you have mad baseball, basketball, and golf skills.  Keep it up!  Mommy and daddy want to cash in your college fund for a really really fun trip in a few years!  Any kind of scholarship works for us!
8.  "Side" is your favorite place.  Unfortunately for you the mosquitoes love having you "side" too!  They see you as an all you can eat buffet.  After a few hours on your swingset, a lady asked me if you were healing from a bad case of the measles!  Nope!  Just mosquitoes, and a lesson learned, only go "side" with a can of OFF
9.  After all your sleep issues you have turned into a wonderful sleeper.  3.5-4 hour naps in the afternoon and 11 hours at night time.  I really cannot complain.
10.  You cough on command.
11.  You sneeze on command too.
12.  In true boy form, burping makes you laugh hysterically.  Thankfully, Grandma taught you "scues me"
13.  Yo Gabba Gabba and WonderPets are your favorite tv shows.
14.  According to you, DJ Lance Rock is "AWESOME"
15.  After another trip to MO, you are quite the traveling pro!  16 different planes, 8 connections, and countless flight attendants all crammed into 18 months.  (I think that's more trips than dad took in his first 18 years of life)
16.  You are obsessed with trucks, trains, buses, and planes.
17.  We are decking out your new room with all of the above items.  But not quite yet.  You still love your crib.
18.  Your newest trick is telling us about your poop, boogers, and pee pee.  YOU.ARE.ALL.BOY.

Thank you, Jack, for making the past 18 months the very best months of our lives.  Without you what exactly would we be doing with our time?

Love,
Mom and Dad

LA--The Land of Actors, Producers, Kobe Bryant, and The Esarey's

The last day in April I left the house at o'dark thirty (THANKS GMA) to board a flight straight to LA.  With a quick pit stop in Cincinnati.

As I left Norfolk I could hardly contain my excitement!  5 days of no poopy diapers, no middle of the night missing paci hunts, and 5 solid days with one of my best friends. 

POLL QUESTION:  I almost used bestie in that last sentence.  Who likes/uses the word bestie?  Besides you, Waddie.

The moment we touched down I was stoked beyond belief (See I even sound like I belong in LA)!  In 5 short travelling hours I had read a book (not of the cardboard variety), took a nap, and told everyone within earshot that I already missed my boys. 

On the ground in LAX I was immediately on the hunt for celebrities.  I've been so unlucky in my life that I have never, NEVER, seen a celebrity in real life.  Except Whitney Port pre The City and Jarrell from Project Runway, but do they really count?  Celebrity spotting in LAX.  Not one.  Not a single solitary celebrity...that I could tell anyway.  I mean, really every single person in LAX was beautiful...or wearing a tourist t-shirt and a fanny pack...Plus, I realized I don't really know who any celebs are unless they are painfully obvious. ie Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, etc...but do they really fly commercially anyway?

Ah!  Seriously more than 3 paragraphs in and I'm still at LAX?  BORING! If you are still reading...
I'm now in the car with Mere and her hubby of almost 2 years, Bear.  Mere is my soul sister, sister from another mister, 5'5" clone with brown hair that likes numbers.  Remember? 

In true Mere fashion she had a color coded schedule for me starting with... Malibu Wines!  The girl really knows the way to my heart!  So no celebrity spottings YET, but on to tackle another first.  Wine tastings.  And let me tell you...this.was.awesome.

The people watching in LA is much like window shopping.  I found myself thinking, oh I'll take that top and I want that dress, and oh gosh those shoes are fab!  Think about watching the reveal of What Not to Wear 99% of the time.

We were 2 bottles in and feeling no pain when we decided to drink rooftop and watch the sunset.  It was beautiful.  From what I remember (I'm kidding...sort of).  Oh! and my drink was smoking.  Literally.  Here's proof.

It was delish.  It was devoured.  It was $1,000.  Best $1000. spent. ever.  That's the other thing about LA.  EXPENSIVE!

Sushi for dinner.  Drinks afterward.  And I passed out fell asleep in the car.

The next AM we took our hungover groggy selves to church.  Now this church was beautifully placed in Beverly Hills (I think), up on a mountain, with breathtaking views.  Lunch with mimosas and shopping on Rodeo Drive was next!  What better way to cure a hangover right?  Sadly, no celebrities.

Ok I won't play by play the entire 5 day trip, but it was awesome.  Well actually...I just might play by play for you...just a little.

Monday.  Day 3.  My birthday.  Mere and Bear surprised me with a massage in the morning (amazing), my boys surprised me with flowers and a love letter (special), and Mere + me decided a fab lunch in dresses and shopping was on the agenda (stellar).  We shoved gourmet pizza in our mouths, valeted for $8 and went shopping at a BCBG outlet...my idea of greatness!  We took pictures with the stars and got thisclose to seeing the premiere of Thor.  If only we didn't have reservations (amazing reservations).  That night we ate at Red O .  It was every bit of fabulous.  And...celebrity spotting #1!!!  David Spade was in the back corner laughing and carrying on with a gorgeous blonde about 5 feet taller than him (who isn't taller than him?) and some other guy (I'm going to say his agent).  My first celebrity spotting.  in LA.  at dinner.  my birthday dinner.  This was deserving of a bathroom break!  Just like in college, Mere and I grabbed our purses and casually walked past him so I could get a better look.  AWESOME!  Wish I could have gotten a pic...I mean it was my birthday!

Tuesday.  If you ever go to visit Mere and Bear, diet for approximately a month beforehand.  The food in LA is fabulous, the restaurants are beautiful, and the company isn't too bad either.  We decided to do lunch at Fig + Olive (incredible).  EVERYTHING had olive oil in it.  I think this restaurant was built just for me.  I totally felt like "ladies that lunch" Then off to The Getty!  Fab day!  Food trucks for dinner...when hold the phone, we had a spotting!  The Ladies Man.  Enough said.

We totally look the part of "ladies that lunch"

The Getty

At Foodtrucks

Wednesday.  LA is just beautiful.  I think I said it 100,000 times, but I would have seriously packed up the UHaul if I had been discovered.  I continuously called Chris to tell him to grab Jack and let's move!  So needless to say, I was sad to leave MereBear!  But super excited to get home to my boys!  I knew they were falling apart behind the scenes!  I was always scared to ask Chris what he had made for dinner (pizza, mac & cheese, hot dogs) and was totally worried we had run Grandma into the ground (She was a saint and watched Jack EVERY DAY while I was away...many thanks and more GMA). 

Until Next time LA!  And I promise you...there will be a next time!

DISCLAIMER:  The drink wasn't really $1000, but you get my drift.  Expensive.