From All of Us to All of You...A Very Merry

The twelve favorite songs of Costal Christmas...all songs on the list appear on the mix posted in the sidebar! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

On the 12th Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....

12. Jingle Bells (Bing Crosby) Sure there are plenty of versions of Jingle Bells out there, but this is the only one that makes you want to get up and jingle those bells on the dance floor. Crosby orginally recorded this during one of his legendary USO, WWII shows with the peppy and GI-friendly perky Andrew Sisters of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy fame. The sisters drive the track with their "Ji-Ji-Jingle Bells" refrain. The quartet sounds like they're having fun recording it, and it's equally fun to listen to, especially when the tempo quickens toward the end.

11. Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus? (Augie Rios) See #3.

10. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Dean Martin) Not really a Christmas song, but it's cold and festive, so I think it qualifies. This classic boy/girl refrain is fun for sing-a-longs, and singing along is what Christmas is all about. Dino's coolness helps dissipate the date rapey vibe that really shines through the new Rod Stewart/Dolly Parton version...yuck. Geriatric sexiness, anyone? It's not THAT cold outside.

9. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams) The first of two from the Godfather of Christmas music. This is the song that best beckons the season. Track one for setting the holiday mood. Shanie drapes that big Cogan girl grin over her face when I finally let her add the Christmas genre onto our IPOD, some time after Halloween.

8. Fairytale of NY (The Pogues) You pretty much get everything you need to know about a Christmas song from the opening line, "It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank..." This classic from the finest Irish punk rokers transports me back to a time before Shannon turned me into a Christmas dork. Before 2000, I might have told you this was the ONLY carol worth listening to. Slushy rain fell over Glassboro when I played this as the last song on a mid-December episode of my beloved modern rock show at WGLS (The Cantina for those of you playing the home game). It made smile then. It made me smile when I used to play it on it's original vinyl in my West New York bedroom on quiet Christmas Eves. It makes me smile today when I dramatically slow dance to it with one my little boys perched on my arm. Though it contains many lines that are seldom found in Christmas carols, like "you're an old slut on junk" and "Happy Christmas your arse/I pray to God it's our last," it is still a beautiful song. When Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl's voices come together on the line "the boys of the NYPD choir were singing 'Galway Bay' and the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day..." it's holiday magic of a supreme sort. The kind that exists as the antithesis of "It's a Wonderful Life." Something more like it's a "Crappy Life, you maggot, but it's still Christmas." Either way, for me, Christmas just ain't Christmas without it....on a sad note, the female singer on this track was recently killed. Check out the Pogues site for more.

7. What Christmas Means to Me (Stevie Wonder) Screw Old Navy! This one's been putting a little funk in my stockings since the days of underoos! Now it does the same for my little underroo wearers. Charlie rocks this one with a booty shake of filthy funk. He also loves "Christmas in Hollis", but Shane's hatred kept it off the countdown. He calls it "the dough was for meeeeeeeh!" I tear with pride.

6. Winter Wonderland (Johnny Mathis) To Shane, Christmas is Johnny Mathis' "Merry Christmas" album. When she listens, she says she can still hear the scratches on the record that Pop Pop used to play. The best track from one of the best Christmas albums ever recorded.

5. Christmas, Baby Please Come Home (Darlene Love) The Godmother of Christmas Soul. This song was the biggest hit off of the best Christmas album ever: Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift to You. The juiced up "wall of sound" brings a universal poppiness and smoothness to the classics. The Ronettes, the Crystals and Ms. Love all exude the horn heavy, vocal heights and big sound that made "Da Do Run Run" and "Be My Baby" irrestible mega hits. The formula works for Christmas. Look for the Ronettes later on.

4. Christmas is A'Comin (Bing Crosby) When Charlie was just a tiny baby, Shane and I would sing this to him. An obscure one from the Grand Pumba of Christmas songs. What's Christmas without the "egg in the nog" or "cider in the keg." It harkens to a time when Christmas was about wassailin', and at our house we love that old fashioned feeling around the holidays.

3. Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano) Though I grew up in a Hispanic enclave, living under one roof with my Cuban grandparents, eating malanga and watching American movies dubbed over for Univision...the only Hispanics my kids know are Dora and Diego. Yet, almost instinctively, the first time Charlie heard this one, he said, I love "Belize Gah-be-dah" and then, again, as if by instinct, said, "Daddy, this is YOUR favorite Christmas song!" Indeed. At my high school, this song was the grand finale of the annual Christmas Assembly, leading to a frenzied, all-high-school sing-a-long/dance-a-long that I never realized was so unique, until I went to Rowan and learned about the strict gringo rules against public dancing. The icing on the ethnic cake came from Augie Rios "Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus?" The Costal boys took to it like white on rice, or, ahem, blanco en aroz. Finny does his doughnuts whenever it comes on, and Charlie sings at the top of his lungs. I sometimes refer to Shane as mamacita to the boys, which they love and use, so it was a natural fit. Also, Charlie thinks the line, "so out of the window I'm peeping" is actually, "so out of the window I pee pee." Which sends him into maniacal, Grinch-like Christmas fits. He giggles and often adds the phrase "all over myself" for added fun. Everytime the boys cut the rug for one of these Spanglish gems (cause no, Chuck, "I wanga weesh jew a merri chreema" is not ACTUAL Spanish)...I can't help but think that Abuela is smiling down on us all.

2. Happy Holidays (Andy Williams) Just the cutest little Christmas song you can find, and a true holiday harbinger. This is Shanie's favorite carol. She loves the line, "hickory dock and don't forget to hang up your sock." How could anyone not?

1. Sleigh Ride (The Ronettes) Or as it's called in our house, "the horsey song." This is the only Christmas song played all year round, as per Charlie's request. He loves the horse sounds at the beginning, and when, the horns kick in, he takes off atop "Colt Fingeys," his imaginary stallion. His frantic "sleigh ride" doesn't end until the song stops, and the end of it usually promts immediate request for an encore.

More sap than the Christmas tree...

We all get a little sentimental around Christmas. Maybe it's the cheesy Christmas specials. Maybe it's the extra sappy stories on the Today show. Or maybe, just maybe, it's God's way of forcing us to look around at our lives and be thankful for what we have. Now, we all know, that I am certainly not one to keep my mouth shut. And sometimes that gets me in trouble. But sometimes, I hope it makes people feel good. I tell my kids and my husband I love them at least 100 times a day. I try to thank my parents at the very least every time they walk out the door. And once in a while, for extra measure, I write them a card and thank them for just being them. I buy "Just How I feel" cards for Joe. I say I love you before I hang up the phone. Suzie recently went through her attic and found a lifetime's worth of letters from me (real doozies I'm sure!) Maybe in some ways I am just a big sap, but I just don't want people walking around not knowing how grateful I am for them and how much they are loved. People are all we have. True friends are few, and I do have some and am thankful for them, but love and human connections are what matters most.

It seems everyone is talking about scaling back Christmas this year. In our house, we've been trying to trying to keep Christmas lean for years. We've been trying to teach the kids that it's not all about the presents. We don't want them being obsessed with all the "stuff!" We just don't want them taking things for granted. In doing that, I realized it's them I shouldn't be taking for granted...

I was looking for quotes online, and I found a few I wanted to pass on.

"Your children need your presence more than your presents." ~Jesse Jackson

"You will always be your child's favorite toy." ~Vicki Lansky

"In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time." ~Unknown

"The greatest things in life aren't things"

And last, a little poem I found:

To My Grown-Up Son
by Alice E. Chase
My hands were busy through the day
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to.
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook,
But when you’d bring your picture book
And ask me please to share your fun,
I’d say: “A little later son.”
I’d tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tiptoe softly to the door…
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play,
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear…
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.

Are you bawling? Because I was the first 3 times I read it! And then I look at Charlie who lately has been performing "marriage" ceremonies for me and him. And I think "he's not always going to want to marry me!"

We all need to take a little time and take a snapshot of our lives and realize how blessed we are. The things we think matter probably don't. But if we've made a difference in the eyes of our kids and our family, that makes all the difference.

I stay home with my boys, and it is the hardest (and best) job I have ever had. I love them more than words can say, and they truly are my greatest achievement, but some days I really think I am going to lose my mind! I think it's good to take a step back and realize that they are only this age once and they won't still be having temper tantrums in high school, so I need to just let them be!!

I feel like I've babbled and with my new "co-author" the pressure is on to be eloquent, but what I'm trying to say is be thankful for your life because you only live it once, and I am truly happy that you are in mine!!

Top Christmas Jams Around the Costal House Part 1 of 3: Christmas Music 101

Christmas music is an institution at the Costal house. We are shamelessly the kind of family that starts playing it after Halloween. I know, I know...I saw the Peanuts Christmas special, too, but we don't decorate early or start our shopping until after Thanksgiving...it's just the music. It's a tradition that pretty much started because Shannon hates winter...a lot. So, we use the holiday spirit to soften the blow. As uncool and unpopular as it is to admit...we just simply love Christmas music. We're simply ha-ving a wonderful Christmas time. Yes, we're those people.

In our defense, we love music in general. Most nights, some time after dinner dishes are cleaned, but before bath time, is Costal Dance Party Half Hour. This usually consists of our I-Pod blasting...Daddy and Charlie chasing each other around the island in our kitchen while Finn crawls doughnuts into the linoleum and giggles uncontrollably. Charlie and I have developed "moves" that we often do to impress Mommy, who is usually standing nearby. The favorite is "Stop and shake your booty." Charlie is awesome at it. Some of our Non-Holiday Dance Party favorites include:

Catch My Disease Ben Lee

Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose Teddy Pendergrass

Confetti The Lemonheads

Concrete & Clay Unit 4 + 2 (we tango)

The weekend after Halloween, the holiday hits start rolling like egg nog from the candy mountains. As is the case with most things, I am a Christmas music snob and purist. There are very few contemporary songs that get played in our house. It's mostly the classics. I have an IPOD genre that contains a carefully crafted list of 150 Christmas songs, classical to rock, choral to oldies, R&B to the crooners. To me, it's definitiveness is as much about restraint and research as it is about inclusion. Let me explain:

The key to a classic Christmas mix is avoiding repetition. Repetition is what makes people want to shove "holly" and "jolly" up someone's Heinken before December 20th. To avoid this, focus on the definitive recordings. There is a definitive version (or two) of each and every Christmas carol, one that stands above the rest. It needn't be the original recording, but often is. It should be the version of the song that evokes the essence of the song's theme. It should come from a time when Christmas albums weren't just a quick way for a pop star to capitalize on shirt-lived success cheaply. Sorry, Miley Cyrus. It's the version most often associated with the carol itself. It is rarely recorded after 1979, though there are some exceptions.

Some definitive recordings are easy, but others...well, not so much. While everbody knows that the definitive White Christmas is Bing's and the definitive A Christmas Song is Nat's, a truly great Christmas mix must reach much deeper.

Take Rudolph for instance. How do you pick among the thousands of recordings of this song. Well, a great collection need only spin three versions:

1. Gene Autrey's (the original and definitive) the "singin' cowboy's" version is actually the first print of what is now a perennial part of the season. His is THE version.

2. Dean Martin's is a good addition, because you can't have only one, right...it's Rudolph for crying out loud (See my film institute blog for more on Rudolph as Communist manifesto gone hideously astray) Dino plays with it enough to make it worth it, but not too much! He stops way short of the "Like Monopoly!" additions (ugh, I just got a shiver), but calls the reindeer "Rudy" in a gin-soaked, charming kind of way. He also gives Santa an Italian accent...which the Italians love, because they always suspected Santa was a paisano, anyway. The whole recording contains a juiced-up tempo and upbeat background vocal that harkens a time when Christmas songs belonged to the Rat Pack (for those who care...the definitive Let It Snow is Dino's definitive, as for Frank, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong, but the two must-haves are Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Christmas Waltz. Together, look for awesome versions of Marshmellow World and We Wish You the Merriest).

3. Now, you got the two biggies, so get creative with one more entry that represents your own style. Throw some cinnamin into the cocoa with the poppy, infectious harmonies of The Crystals version or the Motown vibe of the Cadillacs (don't miss their White Christmas...awesome) version, which has a cute little intro. Alvin Stoller does a fun mambo version. The nostalgic pick could be from Burl Ives since his is the one from the Rankin & Bass TV hit. You could do the Chipmunks or the Ramones, just keep it to one, so as not to Rudolph yourself to death. Don't worry, Rudy will shine his nose on other parts of your Christmas mix...in the form of Chuck Berry's Run Rudolph Run or We're a Couple of Misfits from the Rudolph soundtrack.

I could go on and on, but since most of you stopped reading lines ago...stay tuned to Casa Costal for more.

COMING SOON in PART 2: The top 5 Costal Christmas Jams & Christmas Albums

PART 3: A Digital Christmas Mix Tape featuring songs mentioned in the first 2 blogs.

Hang those stockings!

Introducing....Daddy!

It's with great pleasure that I welcome Daddy to the "Casa Costal" blog. Daddy is the creator of the "Oakcrest Film Institute Blog" (plug, plug) and the author of several award-winning made-up stories about pogeets and guggies. To offer this new addition the fanfare he deserves, we at Casa Costal Blog caught up with Daddy last night in the living room:

Casa Costal (CC): Hello, Daddy, and welcome aboard!

Daddy (D): Thank you, Daddy...it is so nice to be here (fixing his ascot and taking a long, slow drag from his corn cob pipe)

CC: May we be so bold as to begin by saying, you look amazing. Wow!

D: Me? No, no, no....you. You are a handsome devil (flashes a quick, but profoundly moving boyish grin)

CC: Indeed. And your breath...I have been really enjoying it...delightful...peppermint, with a hint of...is that nutmeg?

D: Tapioca.

CC: Naughty...but nice....(they giggle with the delight for several minutes) It is a pleasure to have you join the Casa Costal blog. You are a star of big studio projects, why go indie to join this rag-tag, grassroots blog that focuses on such topics as "poop," "viruses," and "incoherent moaning?" What motivated this move?

D: Well, first of all, I have always been a big fan of the blog, and the other day, on the red eye from Vienna, where I winter, I was reading the blog and thinking...yes. Good. The trying story of a young, blue-eyed mother, two adorable, but virally susseptible young boys...funny anecdotes...darling puns...double entendres...toilet humor...this is the project I have been looking for. Plus, frankly, I want to crush the Gallagher blog.

CC: of course...you know what they say about Pennsylvanians: "you got a friend...with a blog...in Pennsylvania"

D: Beautifully said, Daddy.

CC: Thank you, Daddy.

D: To this blog I will bring a certain joie de vivre...saivor fair...and other French words...

CC: Like croissant?

D: Exactly like croissant! This blog lacks nonsense! Where are the ramblings? Where are the long-winded sports references and obscure historical allusions? I shall bring them....like a wide receiver, I shall rise up and cradle the ball into my bosom, while also dragging my toes in-bounds. I shall rip through domestication anecdotes like Grant ripped through Richmond.

CC: (crying) You, sir...are a true American hero...and by American, I mean Cuban.

D: (silence. a very poignant silence)

Don't let Horizon steamroll our kids! Fire up your pens!

Usually my blogs are fun little quips about my kids' hysterical happenings. Today I am writing on a much more serious note. Recently, Horizon BCBS informed us they were terminating contracts with CHOP and University of Pennsylvania Health System. I thought they were playing chicken as a part of their ongoing contract negotiations. Then we got a letter from CHOP confirming this news. As of March 2009 , Horizon will no longer pay CHOP or UPHS claims.

I am utterly outraged. My children both see CHOP doctors and I have always felt secure knowing that we had the NATION'S NUMBER ONE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL at our disposal. Now where will we go for this level of care?

The reason this incenses me is that my family, along with over 200,000 other New Jersey teachers, has Horizon insurance because that is who New Jersey has a contract with. We don't have a choice to change providers and now we are being told that our level of health care is being compromised.

I can't seem to make heads or tails if it is really a contract dispute or if it's a political thing. Are NJ lawmakers being pressured to force the insurance companies to keep their business in-state? I'm not sure, but let's write our congressmen and find out! Visit https://writerep.house.gov and find out who your representative is and send him this letter: (there is also an email version that doesn't mention being a teacher at the bottom)

Dear Congressman ________,
I am writing to implore you to get involved with the contract negotiations between Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. As I am sure you are aware, Horizon announced that as of March 2009 they will no longer pay CHOP claims.

My family utilizes CHOP’s services both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We have always felt secure knowing that CHOP, the number one pediatric hospital in the nation was at our disposal. We have always received superior care from them and have now come to expect it. I will not send my children to inferior health care facilities all because two money making conglomerates cannot settle a contract dispute.

Horizon justifies CHOP’s recent dismissal by saying it “wants to get New Jersey residents to use New Jersey-based hospitals,” and there is pressure among New Jersey lawmakers to enforce such a thing.

CHOP’s Philadelphia hospital is the single largest provider of inpatient care to sick children in New Jersey. Their total economic impact across New Jersey was $593 million last year, supporting 3,434 New Jersey jobs. Their Kids First primary care practices see 122,000 children a year. Where will these children get medical care? They will be forced to seek it from the already overcrowded New Jersey practices and hospitals. Yet, these facilities are also beginning to drop certain insurance plans.

Horizon is currently seeking state approval to allow it to convert to a for-profit company. I urge you to oppose this. How can we feel safe that our insurance company is making decisions that are best for its patients when it must also answer to shareholders?

I am a New Jersey teacher and I receive benefits from my employer. I am not in a position to change my health care provider. Being an educator does not pay particularly well, but the health care, pension and job stability have always surpassed the lack of monetary compensation. I feel proud to be contributing the education system in New Jersey. I am looking out for the future of our children’s education. I am asking you to please look out for their health.

Please contact:
Mr. William J. Marino
Horizon BCBS of NJ
Three Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07012
973-466-4000

Ms. Meg Jones
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, CHOP
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-6900

There are thousands of children’s lives hanging in the balance. Please help us continue to receive the superior care New Jersey families deserve.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
YOUR NAME HERE
YOUR ADDRESS HERE
YOUR PHONE NUMBER HERE
_____________________________________________________________
Or you can email the congressman. Here is a condensed version of the above letter:

Dear Congressman _________,
I am writing to implore you to get involved with the contract negotiations between Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. As I am sure you are aware, Horizon announced that as of March 2009 they will no longer pay CHOP claims.

Horizon justifies CHOP’s recent dismissal by saying it “wants to get New Jersey residents to use New Jersey-based hospitals,” and there is pressure among New Jersey lawmakers to enforce such a thing.

CHOP’s Philadelphia hospital is the single largest provider of inpatient care to sick children in New Jersey. Their total economic impact across New Jersey was $593 million last year, supporting 3,434 New Jersey jobs. Their Kids First primary care practices see 122,000 children a year. Where will these children get medical care? They will be forced to seek it from the already overcrowded New Jersey practices and hospitals.

Horizon is currently seeking state approval to allow it to convert to a for-profit company. I urge you to oppose this. How can we feel safe that our insurance company is making decisions that are best for its patients when it must also answer to shareholders?

Please contact:
Mr. William J. Marino Horizon BCBS of NJ
Three Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07012
973-466-4000

Ms. Meg Jones
Executive VP and Chief Administrative Officer, CHOP
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-6900

There are thousands of children’s lives hanging in the balance. Please help us continue to receive the superior care New Jersey families deserve.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
YOUR NAME HERE

Brand Loyalty

Joe says I haven't been keeping up with my rival blogger: the Gallaghers!

We've had some funny goings-on in our house. Charlie continues to tell me I smell like poop just because it got a laugh out of me before, so that's always fun. We trick-or-treated about 5 times including Halloween. We certainly got our $20 worth from Old Navy! Charlie was a pirate and Finny was a "wild monkey" as Charlie said. As per Charlie, Joe was a pirate and I was a princess (which meant I wore my wedding tiara on my head. There was no way I was wearing a princess dress... I would've been like Underdog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Muldowney) prancing around our neighborhood! Luckily donning the tiara got me off the hook.) Charlie got to wear his costume to Pre-k the other day for their Halloween party and they paraded around the block. I didn't have my camera for any of these events b/c it's at Best Buy getting fixed. Yay. Perfect timing!

Charlie said the funniest thing today. As perhaps you've noticed, Commerce changed over to TD Bank. It literally happened overnight. One day the lobby was red and said Commerce and the next it was painted green with a big green sign outside. We were driving by and Joe and I commented that they changed over and Joe said "I wonder if they're still our bank." To which Charlie said "I wonder if they're still gonna give out lollipops." Ah, the concerns of a 3 1/2 year old! I hope he remains obliviously innocent for a long, long time because the adult world is no fun!!

Which also reminds me... don't forget to vote on Tuesday! Let's get some liberal thinking back in the White House (my Dad officially wants to disown me and move to Australia.)

I love that picture of the boys. It was taken with MoMo's rockin' new camera on Sunset Beach in Cape May after the Halloween parade. Finny's face is so genuine. It's priceless!

Like Bill Cosby Says: "Kids Say the Darndest Things"

Much like his mother, Charlie tends to call it as he sees it. Most of the time it involves saying something completely awkward and socially unacceptable (aka "You have a hairy hiney.") The other day, Charlie says to Uncle Dan... "Heh, Heh, you're funny Uncle Dan... Funnier than I thought." We got a kick out of that b/c it was like he had already assessed how funny Uncle Dan was and was then surprised by him. But today was the kicker...

This morning, we were laying in bed like we do most mornings and both boys were laying on me, Finny on top and Charlie off to the side. Here's how the conversation went...

C: [sniff, sniff] What's that smell, Mommy?

S: What smell, Charlie?
C: It smells like poop.
[After the hairy hiney incident, I had a pretty good idea where he was going with this]

[sniff, sniff]
C: It's coming from your mouth Mommy! Your mouth smells like poop Mommy! Pee-U!

Well I couldn't breathe. I was laughing so hard. Charlie knew he said something funny b/c he started laughing too. I almost fell out of the bed.

Side note, later when I brushed my teeth, Charlie lovingly told me that my mouth didn't smell like poop any more! Thank goodness. Incidentally, it was morning breath folks, my breath doesn't normally smell like poop... at least I don't think it does!

You wonder why Finny learned how to say "Poop" yesterday! You have to hear him. It's clear as day! He says "PuP." I'm so proud!

On another note. We went on the 11th annual base tour this past weekend. 18 of us piled in 4 cars and drove down to Southern Maryland in search of the illusive government bargain. As "W" will admit, no bargains to be had in government, but fun was had by all. We visited the Caissons (the horses who carry dead presidents at their funerals). Finny loved the "Gugs," but Charlie was scared. Finny couldn't get enough of them. I had to stand there the whole time while Finny giggled and squealed "Gug! Gug! Guggy!" Then our friend the Gug tried to whisper sweet nothings in my ear and we were out of there!

And last, but not least, on October 7 my sister-in-law Jodi delivered a happy, healthy baby girl named Avery Jo-Ann Cogan. We were all ecstatic! She was 6 pounds and 18 inches long. Jodi and Chuck are doing great and are enjoying every minute of her! The rest of the Cogan clan is excited to have another baby girl in the family. We were beginning to wonder if anyone but Kelli could whip one up! For those of you playing the at home game, my parents now have 10 grandchildren; 7 boys and 3 girls! I'm hoping to get up to the Poconos tomorrow to see the little lass. I gotta see what a 6 pound baby looks like for myself!

As Paula Abdul says: "One step forward, two steps back"

This was supposed to be my triumphant blog about Charlie's pooping on the potty. Before you read on I must warn you, it's gross, it's graphic and if I had smell-o-vision it would be stinky!

Let me start at the beginning. I called into the Today show this morning b/c they had a live call-in to a pediatrician about baby and toddler questions. So, I called in about my "3 1/2 year old un-potty trained son." Well, needless to say our burning issue didn't make it on the air of the Today show. But, a few hours later low and behold, Charlie poopies on the potty. He was just lounging around without his diaper on (which I do a lot in the a.m. to try to encourage him to go on the potty. Sometimes it works and sometimes he pees on the playroom floor!) So I said "Charlie do you want to go on the potty?" And he says "yes." He sits down and proceeds to poop! I was so excited I danced and sang and took pictures of him and the poop and the potty and everything (I won't post the poop pictures, don't worry!) I asked if he wanted to wipe himself and he gave me his hand. I looked at his hand and there was poop on it. Ugh. (Warning: this isn't the graphic part!) I wiped it off and still rejoiced in this wonderful milestone! All Charlie wanted was to play with his "sound effects Pirate sword" that Daddy bought him for his Halloween costume. We just got it yesterday, but Joe told him he had to poop to get the sword. I guess he really wanted the sword. I was so excited! I called everyone, I texted, I was ready to rent an airplane and skywrite it!

I put him in his Diego underwear and put a pull-up over top of it just in case. Which normally he just wears diapers b/c pull-ups have failed me before, but I decided to chance fate. Can anyone say foreshadowing?...

Then, we went to McDonald's to get him a milkshake and play on Playland as a reward, in addition to the sword. While I was sitting there, he was quiet for a little too long up in the Playland. If I didn't know any better I'd think he were pooping. He came down the slide and I smelled the "oh-too-familiar smell" of Charlie's pungent poop. I looked in his underwear/pull-up combo and saw a mound of it. Ugh. So we made our way back to the car, but on the way I stopped in a thrift shop that I like to look at children's books. I figured he had the pull-up on what's the harm? (Oh, Gods how you forsake me!) So, we picked out some books and checked out. While in line, this woman turns around and says "someone's got a stinky diaper." I didn't even acknowledge her. I mean who says that? It's embarrassing enough to have a stinker, you don't have to call me out!

So we go out to the car and I say "Chal, let's change your pooper so you don't have to sit in it on the ride home." I lay him down in the back of the car and go to take his shoes off and IT'S IN HIS SHOES! No wonder he was so stinky! It squeaked out his underwear, overloaded the pull-up (I hate those things. Who do they think they are? I mean nothing says Big Boy like an embarrassing poop situation. I'd rather put him in a diaper. At least it keeps the poop in!) Then it ran down his pants and was coming out the holes of his Mickey Mouse Crocs! (I will never look at Mickey the same again!) His feet were covered in poop! It was insane! There was no way I could clean him up in the car, so I drove him home and showered him and his Crocs off! I won't get into the graphics of just how hard it was to get Charlie's particular brand of poop off of him. I'll just leave that to your imagination.

What a nightmare! So we're back to square one with the pooping! And I thought sifting through a little pile of poop in a diaper was my grossest job yet! Leave it to our kids to make liars out of us! Stay tuned!!

PS- For those of you with girls, potty trained or not, thank your husbands for his X chromosome sneaking through before those obstinate little Y's.

Charlie's 1st day of school

Ok, so it was only preschool, but it was the longest he's been out of my care for his entire 3 1/2 year life. I couldn't believe that he was actually doing something that I didn't know about for 2 1/2 hours. It was very strange.

Luckily, Joe was off work, so he came to drop him off. Prior to leaving, Joe had a conversation with him about how to be a good student (see the video, it's cute.) Daddy asked him: "you are going to try to be a good..." and Charlie said "Pirate." At the end, Joe asks Charlie if he has his handsome with him and Charlie pats his head and says "Yup." We've been talking to him for days about being a good friend and student. He should be a good friend to get a friend and he should not talk when the teacher is talking (and please, please don't poop at school!! They don't know he's not potty trained!!)

I'm glad Joe was there because I would've been a little overwhelmed trying to get both boys out of the house, especially when Charlie spilled my glass of cranberry juice all over the cream living room carpet 15 minutes before we were supposed to leave! It was also nice having him to make fun of me for being sentimental about Charlie leaving my little nest... and to be photographer for me! Charlie, of course just like his Daddy, didn't want to pose for pictures long because he said he was going to be late!

When he got in there he ran right over to the doll house and started playing with another boy and a girl. They were both painfully shy. Charlie asked me to join them and I said "Charlie you have to play with your new friends now." And I thought I would be the liason to the friendship, so I asked the kids their names. They both looked at me with doe-eyed stares and didn't say a word. I said "Charlie, they don't seem to want to talk." He said "Don't worry, Mommy, I'll get them to talk." Then this little girl came up to me bawling and whimpering "Mommy." I didn't know what to do, so I told Charlie to be a friend to the sad kids. He said "ok Mommy." He turned and walked off and didn't look back. And so it goes. Our little boy is all grown up. He's been waiting for this day since he first learned to talk. His audience has been waiting. His monologue is prepared. This was his day to shine!

We picked him up promptly at 11:30. Joe was going to get him after he ran to the library, but of course I didn't trust him to do it right (ha ha), so I walked the 7 blocks from my parents' house with Finny in my arms. When I got there, Joe had already picked him up and I almost missed my ride home! That's what I get for being a control freak!

Here was a rundown of the day according to Charlie:

He was a friend to the sad girl, but he didn't get her name. He's going to ask her on Thursday.

They all went potty at the same time, but he told the teacher he didn't have to go. Hmm... wonder why? Maybe cause he could just go in his pants!!

He didn't eat his snack b/c I packed him too much (what? Who is this child? He eats me out of house and home, but now some apples, a container of trail mix and a drinkable yogurt is too much?)

The teacher said he can't look at his picture at school (I put a picture of the 4 of us in his lunchbox). I don't know if this one is true or not. Maybe she didn't want him getting upset? I don't know.

He got a stamp on his hand for being a "good listener."

That was all he said and he didn't mention it again. And if we asked him again he said "I already told you!" I'll get all the scoop when I go in to volunteer. I signed up for every possible thing. I figure "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." I'm gonna pinpoint the bullies and keep an eye on 'em. And by bullies, I mean the girls! Charlie will do anything to get the ladies to like him. Once they figure it out, he'll be their little pet. Hopefully that won't be until like Junior year! I'll keep you posted!

In other exciting Costal milestones, Finny said "Wa Wa" today. We were passing Wa Wa and Charlie said "Mommy, you're not going to stop at WaWa?" And Finny said "WaWa!" We were so excited, we said, "Finny did you say WaWa?" And he said "YeaYea." It should've been a WaWa commercial. It was so funny!! Ah, I couldn't have been prouder of my two boys today!

Welcome Home Finny James!

Finny woke up this morning with a rash from head to toe!! Yeah! Sounds weird to be so happy about a rash, but that explains the high fevers and the low white blood count so YEAH!!!!

His white blood count is still extremely low, so he is highly susceptible to new infections. But there was nothing further they could do for him at the hospital, so they released us this afternoon and instructed us to keep him (and Charlie for the most part) in isolation at home for a little while. Good thing it's going to be a rainy weekend anyway!!

As I was going to sleep on my pull out chair last night, I was thinking how truly blessed we are to have two healthy boys. All the colds and allergies and GI visits and mounds of poop sifting and physical therapy and neurologist visits don't mean a thing because at the end of the day I get to tuck in two healthy, sweet little boys. I get to go to bed at night and not have to pray for them to get better in the morning. Lots of other mothers have to do that and I don't know how they do it. This experience was enough for me to scare the pants off me! God gave us a get out of jail free pass today and boy are we thankful!

Speaking of God, every night when we pray with Charlie he usually says something like, "And God, thank you for not letting Finny fall down today" and tonight he said "thank you for watching Finny so he doesn't put anything in his mouth. And thanks for bringing Finny home." He is just too sweet. He was so happy to be home today. He said "I can't tell you how glad I am to be home." He sounds like his mother!

So we are home and I am on a rampage to disinfect everything the kids could possibly touch! So I'll be busy for a while!! But I wanted to say thanks for the extra prayers! They really helped! And if anyone wants to buy some stock, I think Lysol's is about to go up!!

PS- In typical Shannon fashion... as soon as we walked in the door I took off my shoes, walked into the kitchen and slid across the floor on my ankle on a puddle of Bailey puke. Once again, I landed on my knees with Finny in my arms unharmed. My ankle's a little sore (thanks for asking), but we are both fine. I just scared him a little with all my writhing about.

PSS- Not to be a freak, but if you're coming to my house any time in the future PLEASE take off your shoes at the door and wash your hands when you come in! And no nose pickers please (ha ha, made ya laugh). If this thing has taught me anything it's we have to practice better hygiene everywhere we go, not just at my house! Everybody always says "Oh with the second kid you won't even wash off the binkie when it falls on the floor." But that's just dumb. And it's asking for trouble. Had we not gone to the hospital we never would've known how "at risk" Finny is right now and he could've caught something even worse! Not to ramble, but FYI expect me to be a germ freak from now on!! You know you love me!! XOXO Germgirl

Greetings from [the] SHORE Memorial

Hello to all from room 318 in the lovely Shore Memorial Hospital. Our little Finny has been fighting a nasty virus for about 5 days and on Sunday his fever spiked and had us really worried. Our pediatrician saw him on Monday and he just wasn't himself, so by dinner time when he hadn't said "Gug" once all day, we took him to the ER. They gave him a bag of IV to get his fluids up and ran some blood work. The doctors didn't like his white blood count or his hemoglobin, so they admitted him overnight.

Boy what a difference from the ER to the Pediatric wing! It's like the Taj Mahal up here! We have our own nurse, there's a playroom, there's cookies and juice! Oh, and there's some stuff for the kiddies too! I slept about 2 hours last night on the luxurious pull-out chair (now I know how Joe felt in the maternity ward!) Joe came down first thing with Charlie because he just had to see this place! The halls are painted like the Boardwalk... there's Johnson's Popcorn, Mack and Manco's, Kohr Brothers and everything! There's even a light house and fish tanks! He didn't care about all that, he just wanted to play in the play room! Before long, he was ordering the nurses around to play their parts in "Cars."

They repeated Finny's blood work this afternoon, but the "nutrafills" (the white blood cells that fight off infection) are still low, so they are keeping him again tonight. I don't really mind b/c it's like a little vacation in here! He is looking a little better and has been chugging the Pedialyte like his Mommy used to do Keg stands!

The nurses put a little newborn diaper over his IV catheter so he won't monkey with it and it looks like he's wearing a little boxing glove! Overall, he's been a little angel. He screams when the stick him with needles and whatnot, but for the most part he is calm as can be. Mom Mom got him a stuffed "gug" and he is using that as a pillow.

I will post again when we are released. Don't worry about him. He's healthy and happy. The doctors are just being precautious. I am certain we will be out of here tomorrow and it will be a nice little story to tell him when he's older how he stayed over in the pediatric ward (and believe me, I have the pictures to prove it!)

Charlie had his "meet and greet" his preschool teachers tonight. Joe took him. His friend Caeli was there (she's in the 4 year old class... an older woman... just like his father!), and he had fun "listening to the teachers." I just wanted Joe to scope out the ruffians, so we could make sure Charlie avoids them, but Joe said that Charlie is bigger than every single kid in that class by a mile, so nobody's gonna mess with him. Although he is a sucker for the ladies, so we'll see who does the bullying!! He starts on September 30 and he's not potty trained whatsoever! It should be fun!!

My little dancing craic baby

We went to the Irish Festival in Wildwood today. Charlie loves live music no matter what it is, and Finny seems to be getting on the bandwagon too. Check out this hysterical video of the boys listening to "No Neigh Never." It's not that long... watch it until the end so you can see Finny's hand motions. Ya think Mommy waves "no no no" to him too much?

The picture is of the boys watching Joe and I play pool. Charlie wanted his turn too! We were at a Mexican restaurant (we had to balance out the Irish evening with a little Spanish heritage too), and Charlie asked me if I was drinking a "Dye of Coke" aka a Diet Coke! It's so funny what he hears!!

If the video doesn't appear below, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z0LH3tdFdY

My nose is getting big like a shark!

Well, there is never a dull moment in Casa Costal! We had a rough night last night... Charlie woke up yelling / crying around 10pm, and when I went in there to see what was the matter he said "my nothe ith getting big like a thark." In Charlie-world, that means he's getting a stuffed up nose. So we tried to get him to go back to sleep, but it was a rough night. I think all told we both got about 3 hours each.

This morning, he did in fact have a shark nose. I gave him some Benadryl. We're gonna wait this one out.

Then poor Joe had "Back to school night" tonight, so it's another late night for him. We decided to meet him at the mall so the kids could see him for a little bit. As we sat at the food court, I realized that Finny had pooped up his back. Super. I ran to Children's Place to get him a new shirt and after Joe left I went to the bathroom to begin cleanup detail. Picture me standing in this gross, disgusting mall bathroom trying to get a POOP FILLED onsie over Finny's head. It was a disaster. I finally had to sit this naked, poopy child on the counter on top of the Children's Place bag to hose him off. While I'm doing this, I hear the splat of liquid hit the floor. I look over and there's Charlie standing over top his throw up. I couldn't believe it. I had to ask another mother in the bathroom if he in fact did throw up. She looked at me incredulously and said "Yes, maam, he did." Ugh. She either felt really bad for me or thought I had brought the E-bola virus right there to the Hamilton Mall! The worst part, though, was that poor little Charlie thought I was mad at him for throwing up. He said "Mommy, you're not mad at me, right? It was an accident." He is just the sweetest child. And of course I told him "No."

Just another day in paradise over here at Casa Costal!

You have a hairy hiney!

One of the main reasons I started this was to share the funny things that come out of Charlie's mouth on a daily basis... I think today was the pinnacle!

We went to the Philadelphia Zoo this morning with Aunt Suzie and the boys. It was sooo fun! The zoo is gorgeous and the boys loved tormenting the animals by banging on the glass or yelling for them to "come over." Well, I had to pee so I left my kids with Suz and started off for the bathroom when all 3 of the big boys (Charlie, Jack and Luke) decide they want to come with me. I was like, "ok, no biggie, we'll all go in the handicapped bathroom." We get in the bathroom and I tell all the boys to stand against the wall and DON'T touch anything! As I'm standing there hovering over the toilet, as not to sit on anything disgusting (I didn't have the time or the inclination to "build a nest" as Joe says), Charlie says "Mommy, you have a hairy hiney." Um, for the record, I don't have a hairy hiney. But if I weren't already peeing I would have peed myself. And then Jack looks over and says "You have a big penis Aunt Sanny." Again, for the record I do not have a penis. I think he was looking at my pee coming out. I don't know. But I was hysterical laughing. I could barely maintain my hover as I was snorting with laughter. Thank goodness no one else was in the bathroom. I can't imagine what they would have thought was going on in that stall. But leave it to kids to call it as they see it, albeit not really the truth!!

I wish I could put captions under those pictures, but since I can't here they are:

That first pic of Charlie just typifies the face that he would make after saying something like, "you have a hairy hiney Mommy" and realizing that it was funny.

All of the monkeys in the zoo with Aunt Sanny.

And the three monkeys driving the bear. Typical... Luke in the front steering. Jack playing along and Charlie holding on for dear life!!

Momma's first gray hair!

I always knew that I would some day have to face a harrowing medical situation as a parent. I also always knew that I would not handle that day with any semblance of grace under pressure... this was that day.

My little Finny has always been a rashy child. His eyes get red. He breaks out in eczema often. He's a little fair skinned Irishman. But on Wednesday night, this little Irishman looked like a little drunken leprechaun! After dinner, his eyes looked really droopy, so I put him in the bath at my parents' house to get him ready for bed. While in the bath I noticed red marks all up his back. I thought it was his eczema. When I got him out of the bath his "eczema" had turned to welts. Then the welts began to spread all over his body. In a matter of minutes, the welts were all over his back and belly and spreading up his hairline. His ears got red as fire engines and were puffed out like balloons. At this point, I gave him some Benadryl and proceeded to dress him and think about where I was going to take him to be looked at. I left Charlie with my Dad (thank God!) and raced out the door.

I wasted some time trying to find an Urgent Care center that was open. I raced across the island back to Marmora to go to the UC by my house. At this point, Finn's eyes were nearly swollen shut and the welts were creeping up the side of his face. I knew he could still breath b/c every once in a while I would hear from the back seat: "GUG!" (His favorite word. It means dog, but he says it for every animal he sees and it has really come to be an exclamatory word for him). As I was racing across the island I was formulating my plan in case a cop pulled me over... I was going to roll down the window and wave him on as a police escort b/c I surely was not stopping to explain!

When I walked into Urgent Care, the normally desolate waiting room had a couple patients, but when I walked up to the window with my swollen puffball, the nurse took him right back! The doctor saw him immediately and as I undressed him to show the full extent of the swelling the doctor exclaimed, "he is just one big welt, huh?" She looked down his throat and ordered the nurse to draw 3 shots. They were calm as could be. I was rambling on like a lunatic about how I didn't know what he could've eaten and I don't even know what else was coming out of my mouth. They gave him Epinephrine, Benadryl and something else. Whatever it all was, it worked like a charm! The swelling subsided practically immediately. He cried his little heart out for a while, but eventually fell asleep. The doctor turned out the lights and let us both calm down. They came in to check on us several times before releasing us. The dr said that his throat was swollen too, but she didn't want to tell me that at the time b/c she didn't want me to freak... hmm... she didn't just fall off the radish cart! I guess they thought if I got any more excited they would've had to give me a shot too!

Before leaving the dr and 2 nurses checked on us and asked if I was ok to go. I'm surprised they didn't call for a police escort home! The doctor told us to sleep with him to make sure he was breathing ok and prescribed oral steroids for a couple days. I held that little Finny so tight that night. He slept like a little angel on me. I don't even want to think about what could've happened. I'm glad my intuition made me race out the door. As a mother, sometimes you think you are overreacting and maybe sometimes you are, but to me I would always rather pay the co-pay and be wrong than do nothing and worry!

My mom has taught me a lot about being a good mother. I always try to think of what she would do in certain situations. She never let us see her sweat. We could be bleeding from the head and she would whip up a tourniquet and drive to the ER while whistling Dixie. I, on the other hand, freak out. It's my job. That's what I do. If I feel like I'm gonna cry, I cry, and if my kids are hurt I rant and rave like a looney tune! I would love to be more stoic like my mom, but I have to accept who I am and hope that the rest of the good that I do outweighs my slightly overdramatic ways!!

Sorting through the poop!

No, that was not a flashy title just to get your attention! That is literally what I've been doing! Not to be gross, but you did choose to continue reading even though you saw the title, Chal has had some "interesting" poop for the past few months. I mentioned it to the dr and long story short we had to visit the GI doctor. Chal had to get some "pinchy tests," which everyone in the whole office heard about, and we've had to submit several stool samples. Since Charlie isn't potty trained yet (whatever, judge me if you must. Yes, I have a 3 year old who is not potty trained. You try and potty train a boy! Go ahead. Try it! They are stubborn little buggers!) Anyway, since he isn't potty trained, I had to put Saran Wrap in his diaper to catch the poop b/c it couldn't touch the diaper fibers! The poor kid had to walk around all day with a sweaty bum b/c he was encased in Saran Wrap! OH! AND he's on a high fat, high fiber, low sugar, low liquid diet, so finding things for him to eat has been really fun! And needless to say, his poop does not smell like roses! I am not one of those mothers who thinks her kid's poop doesn't stink! It stinks and I'm living proof!

Finny is crawling all around and loving it! Except when brother purposely steps on his little hands! But don't worry Finny cries loud enough that he gets saved!

We've had lots of fun the past couple days. Our friends the Murdzas are in town from Indiana and we went on lots of rides with them on Sunday. Charlie just loves Savannah and tries to hold her hand every chance he gets. She's an older woman... kindergarten! And we met up with an old high school friend of mine who recently found me on facebook. I tell you what, I am all over the internet these days!! Ha ha! We had fun with her and her twins on the beach. Charlie and her kids played pretty nicely together. I barely had to entertain Chal at all! Usually I am digging holes, getting water, making sandcastles... oops, did I say "I?" I meant Joe is usually digging holes... I generally don't venture to the beach with the two monkeys by myself!

Oh well, that's all for now. Joe just walked in the door! I'll keep you posted on the poop situation! I know you're just dying to know how it turns out! Oh, and the picture of Finny is what he does every day in the tub. He puts those little foam letters in his mouth like a "gug" and sits there and plays the entire bath with a letter in his mouth. I have to leave the letter there until after I get him dressed and then I have to rip it out of his clenched jaw and there it lays on the floor of his room until I gather them all up every once in a while. I hear that some mothers are able to keep their houses clean... I think they're only on TV.

No Animals Were Harmed in the Making of this Summer

It's my inaugural blog! I've been putting off sitting down and writing because I have so much to say! I want to recap our summer, but am feeling very overwhelmed by the task! Joe has been back to work for 3 days now and so far Charlie has woken up both days and scoured the house looking for him. When he finally gives up, he comes to my room and asks, "Where's Daddy?" It's so sad!

On a lighter note, today he said, "Mommy I like you best. But I like Daddy even better!" He is so sweet! He's always saying the most random things. I'm not sure who he gets it from (yes, Dad that is a dangling participle... it's a blog, I'm allowed!) He was in the bathroom with Joe the other day and he said "Daddy, you have hair down there?" And Joe said "Yes, Charlie." And Charlie said "Is it attached?" And Joe said "Yes, Charlie it's attached." And of course, the next question, as is most questions in our house these days was "WHY?" As Joe stood there a bit befuddled, Charlie answered is own question and said "It's there to protect you so dinosaurs don't eat your KeeKee!" And that answer was as good as any!

We had such an amazing summer! We left no stone unturned!! We started off the summer with an amazing trip to Disney! The kids had a blast! Charlie loved the jumping fountains everywhere we went. Finny loved the carousel and just looked at everything in awe! The drive down there was a little hairy... at one point at around 3 a.m. I woke up and looked over and saw Joe taking off his pants while driving and I said, "What are you doing?" In his delirium, he said "I can't wear those things anymore they're driving me crazy!" I closed my eyes again and said "Whatever, as long as we get there safe and no Red Neck cops pull us over!!"

It took us about a week to detox from Disney, but we settled back in nicely and really enjoyed summer at the shore! My sisters and brother all took their weeks at my parents' Ocean City house, so it was fun getting to see everyone. We managed to squeak out a summer with nary a broken bone, scrape or bruise. Except of course the wicked stomach bug that landed Joe in the hospital for a couple bags of IV! Other than that it's nothing short of a miracle!

We went to Dutch Wonderland (or as Joe calls it, "Your body is a Dutch Wonderland") with the Gallaghers and Aunt MoMo. The boys had a ball on all the small kid friendly rides. And then we took them to the water park side and they must've gone down the big waterslide about 5 times each! It was tons of fun and finally proof that the Dutch do much more than just pretzels! They even had a plaster cow there that you could pretend to milk! I mean talk about your good, clean fun! More on milking cows later...

We celebrated Finny's 1st birthday in Disney style! We decked everything out in Mickey Mouse! We had Mickey PB&J's, Mickey burgers, you name it! But Joe's crazy stomach thing happened 2 days before Finn's party so we had to reschedule. We still had fun, but without all the people! It was mainly family and those hardy enough to brave the potential for illness! Finny had a ball and didn't miss a thing! He ate his first piece of cake (dairy free, of course) so gingerly; it was adorable! Then he devoured his ice cream cone cupcake like a pitbull! We paraded him around on his new bicycle with his trusty steed "Gug" at his side.

We toured the tri-state area in daytrips. Joe had a day job at Stockton 4 days a week, so we tried to make Fridays family fun day! We went to New York City or as Charlie calls it "You Nork." We walked around and saw the Statue of Liberty or as Charlie calls it "the Magic of Liberty" from Battery Park. We ate, saw Ground Zero, rode in a taxi and went home. Charlie enjoyed the trip, but I think his comment pretty much sums up his Mommy's feelings on the city when he said, "I want to go someplace that's not so stinky" (said as we were standing over a subway grate!) Classic!

We took an overnight trip to Baltimore, but Charlie thought we were saying we were going to "Balt tomorrow," so he called the city "Balt." We had the best crabcakes in the entire world at Lexington Market, which for all intents was a little dingier than Reading Terminal Market, but man were the crabcakes worth it! Joe complimented me on my "hardiness." He said "No other Cogan girl would've walked that far or ate in such 'ethnically diverse' surroundings." Yay me!... I think! We visited Edgar Allan Poe's grave. Joe got sick of me saying "Nevermore" around every corner. And we toured Camden Yards for a bit of baseball nostalgia. Then Joe threw out his back and we went home early. We think we picked up some bad karma at the old Poe grave!

I suspended my protest of Atlantic City and went to a beach concert and the airshow this summer! Charlie ran around like a wild man at the concert and Finny giggled his thing! The airshow was fun, although loud! Charlie didn't get too in to the planes. He just wanted to play with his cousins! We drove by our old house in Ventnor on the way home. The new owners are selling it! It breaks my heart! But they are taking a loss on it, so that's a bummer. I checked it out on realtor.com of course! They repainted it and chopped down the tree we planted when we bought the house. There's also a bunch of new stores on Dorset Avenue. Ventnor Heights is on the up and up! Too bad the house was too small for us... and something about my kids growing up playing stickball in the street just didn't do it for me!! Now we're in the 'burbs where everyone's friendly, but no one's your friend! Or maybe it's us?... Nah! We're charming and delightful!

Then of course there is our tour of the Fairs (notice the capital letter in Fair... it is worthy of a capital!) First we went to the Hunterdon County 4-H fair for a little warm-up. We saw lots of animals, had our fill of Wild Bill's famous sarsaparilla and Charlie had his first taste of Cheez Whiz... ya think he liked it? He literally licked the container! Yuck! And then it was on to the mother of all fairs. We trained all year. We practiced our dutchie lingo. We were ready to adorn our tractor shirts. Joe took his Tums and was ready for his London Broil sandwich. We were goin' to the West End Fair in Gilbert, Pa! Ah, the sights and smells of my childhood! We were like Templeton the rat at the Fair! We ate everything from corn on the cob and funnel cakes to popcorn and meat-filled sandwiches! Charlie even won a goldfish! As the Backyardigans would say, "It was a yummy dutchie adventure" (or at least that's what I think they would say if they had gone to the West End Fair!) Charlie named his fish "Waddddday and Finny" (with his d's rolled like the little Cuban that he is... I'll try to upload video of him saying it! It's a riot!) Too bad Wadddday died a couple days later. Suzie sent him to the big septic tank in the sky while Charlie was napping.

We rounded out our summer with one final trip. We stayed at a bed and breakfast on a dairy farm in Lancaster. I wanted the kids to see a real farm and this place just fell into our laps. We stayed with two really interesting families, one from Korea and the other from England. The family was Mennonite, so we had to sing some songs after breakfast. And aside from all the religious paraphernalia and the Conservative reading material on the bookshelves, these folks were fully modern! After the singing, we went to the farm to milk the cows! They were stinky and covered in flies, but Charlie tried it anyway. And by try I mean Daddy tried it while Charlie stood there paralyzed in fear of the large, wrinkly cow teet! After Daddy milked the cow Chal said he wanted to "Milk a cow that wasn't dirty." Good luck son! I think he was expecting the nice, clean cow we pretend milked at Dutch Wonderland! Nevertheless, he liked feeding the baby calf a bottle and he especially loved the kittens! I couldn't believe how he would walk over and pick them up! My sister Suzanne never would've been able to hack staying at this joint. There were kittens everywhere!

So, that's our summer in a nutshell. If you're still reading, I promise all my blogs won't be this long, but I felt the need to chronicle our summer and catch you up on our doings. Like I said in the beginning, no animals were harmed in the making of this summer, unless you count a goldfish, but he was a marked fish from the start if you ask me! Don't call the SPCA!