Fast Forward

It's been awhile. Where do we start? Happy, Healthy, and Loving our life.

Lily is doing wonderfully. She is tooling around in the walker like a speed demond. Look out! She will get your toes if you're in her way. She drives it like a bumper car, she'll ram it forward till she hits something, then she throws it in reverse! Tonight Liam was playing a little game with her of peek-a-boo around her while she was running over him with the walker.

Lucien is still a mastermind. I never knew a 2 year old could give you such a look of shame. His expressions tilt the world on end. He is currenty building a gun out of blocks... eh.

Liam is in big boy underwear today..."No.. I don't want it!" At least he is polite most the time and says, "No, No thank you... I don't want it!" He has just gotten back into watching Finding Nemo again, it's a great movie.

Eliot is 6 going on 16. He doesn't like to practice the violin, but he has a lot of talent and a very good ear. He would rather watch transformers animated, which somedays i would rather do instead of being the mom and doing mom chores.

My fabulous husband is reading like crazy these days. He has a second girlfriend named Sookie, a character in the Dead Until Dark books by Charline Harris. Thanks goodness he is on the second to last book in the series. I miss him. He still gives me smidgins of bits of attention when i do so require them, if i have a pouty enough look.

I... ah, haven't been to inspired. I haven't read in awhile. I got stuck on Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I just can't seem to get the umph to go forward with it, yet i'm only 130 pages into it. I haven't written in a while. I have been cleaning a lot, perhaps my spring fever has come a little early. It was nice and warm this week, up until today that is. It's about 9 degrees right now, yikes!

We have a New baby in the family, Dexter Levi Groth, born December 26th. My brother Chris and his wife Sarah have had their first child. Mama looks fantastic and baby is doing well.

My sister is expecting in July and is full of excitement. She will find out the sex in about 4 weeks.

Not much else going on around here. We are trying to buckle down and coast through the winter months.

The funniest thing is... I'm happier than i think i've ever been. There are many things that could be improved, yet i'm not bothered by it. I am really enjoying my kids and my husband. I like this time of life. I just got tired of not being happy with myself and hating myself, and now I feel so much better. I've been more careful to take better care of myself. I don't want to be old and tired for my kids. I want to play with them. I'm taking vitamins again, sleeping, and excercising. What a combo! Somehow eating is just not as scary anymore, now that i don't hate myself.

Honey is on his way home... Go to go!

Busy Crazy Fun!

It has been an awesome couple of weeks! We are spinning still from all the actives that have abounded around us. Two Sundays ago, we went to the Lincoln Memorial Gardens Indian Summer Festival. It was always a favorite of mine as a child and Josh had never been before. It was an unusually warm day for October, I think around 87 degrees! There was a great Bluegrass band and yummy food. There was a guy who made these awesome puzzles carved out of wood that were hand stained with beautiful colors. The boys picked out a dragon puzzle that is breathing fire! It's so cool. I want to learn how to make them now.

Josh and I finally got our chance to go dancing. We went out to Prarieland Dance Club in Illiopolis Saturday night. It's a country and western dance club, but once a month they feature a ballroom night. There is a huge wooden floor that is in great condition. I was a little nerveous because we haven't danced in so long, but it was a success! We really enjoyed ourselves and got to socialize a bit without the kids. We even treated outself to dinner at Subway and walked around Best Buy to look at computers for a bit. It was Major fun!

It is a busy week at work for me, we have a huge wedding this weekend for 400 people. The cake is a monster. It will be very beautiful. I also have a few smaller weddings and indivdually boxed cakes for 30. It will be a full weekend as well! Business is really picking up and I can feel the Holiday rush coming. It's great! There have been a couple of great articles in the paper lately and it seems to have stirred up some more business. We were once again named the Best Bakery in Springfield by the Illinois Times voters! WOOOO HOOOO!!!

Eliot is ready for Halloween, He will be Bumblebee this year. Lily is going as a Ladybug. The little boys aren't fond of costumes. Liam may put a little color on his mohawk and Lucien might carry a big sword. The boys have been enjoying rocking out to the Ghostbusters song, they are quite the dance troop.

Josh is off tomorrow and we are having a night out at Joe's Pizza. Hands down the best pizza in town! So cheap too! The kids love it and I am sure Lily will like it too. She is trying to eat everything in sight these days. She is by far the earliest eater we have ever had. She cries if you eat in front of her and don't give her a taste. What a women, she arleady knows what she wants!

I'm trying to stay on top of blogging.... We will see! Until next time. Love you all. Melanie

The First Post! WHOO-HOO!!!

So, here i go. Stepping into the... What century is it? Anyway, I'm giving a shot at blogging.

We are the Dineen Machine. Mommy Daddy Eliot Liam Lucien and Lilyana. Newly 30, 30, 6, 4, 2 and 7 months respectively. We are busy. We are crazy. We are happy!!!

Eliot is rocking out in kindergarten this year. He just got an awesome glow in the dark bracelet for good behavior all week at school! His latest obsession is Bakugan. Players battle with these cool balls that pop up and turn into crazy animals. There is an awesome show that we watch online with a great 80's/metal theme song. Eliot, of course, knows the song and sings it by heart with enthusiam. It's almost as great as the animated Transformer theme song. Got to Love it!

Liam is struting a serious mohawk this week. He got new videos for his birthday and has been in full Dora/Diego mode. Today he told me he needed to go potty!!! Major big step here. I was so proud of him. He is really enjoying being the big brother when Eliot is gone to school. He is learning how to muscle his brother Lucien around. That's a lot of muscle!

Lucien has come into the full TWO. There is no getting around that! He has his moments. He is still just about the cutest thing on the planet. All that blonde hair and blue eyes, WATCH OUT! He loves, loves, loves his baby sister. He kisses her toes and tells her he loves her. Sounds more like, "Lub Jew" than, " love you". He makes the best sound effects. He has this, "gttttttttttt" trill sound that he does. It's freakin' awesome!

Lilyana is almost sitting up now. She loves to hit the saucer hard and bounce like there is now tomorrow! I love watching her. This baby girl is definately NO BOY! She is girly, girly, girly. She already has the look down. She smiles and bats her eyelashes and you want to give in to her so badly! She is really a great baby. Only unhappy when she needs something. She has bounced back so well, healthy as can be!

Daddy is still working hard at the Cello. He plays every chance he gets. It sounds beautiful. He is a big help with Eliot and the Violin. He just brought all his Orchids in the house for the winter. That's a lot of Orchids! It's makes the basement look like a tropical paradise, with a little imagination at least. He is busy cooking up an idea for a new dish, something new, but old.

Mommy is looking forward to eating whatever daddy cooks up! I've been baking a lot lately, mostly cupcakes. It must be the season change. Makes me turn on the oven. I just did some very cute cupcakes for Eliot's snack day at school. They looked like little pumpkins and were super fun to make! I am looking forward to Saturday and Dancing with Daddy! It's been too long since we've gone. I'm ready to tighten my T-straps and cruise around the floor! Let's hope i still remember where to put my feet.

That's all for now... Let's see if i can figure out pictures another day!