Playing with a pinwheel

Pinwheel, originally uploaded by katirae.

I don't think I really need to elaborate. Just cute.

Sorry, Shakira...

Here is my very repentant sorry-I-don't-update-this-blog-often-enough post.

Christmas break, briefly, in pictures...

Went here

To see

and

We decorated the Christmas trees indoors and out.

Nate got a "bike hat" and a bike.



Austin got an "unscooter" and a "bike hat."

And we tried to take a family portrait.

It was really a great holiday break. We got to hang out for a nice long time and really settle in and spend some quality time with Mom and Dad. Nate was very excited to be at "Ganma house!" and woke up every morning excited to see "Ganma and Ganpa," as well as "Oody" and "Osie."

Since the New Year has started, we've gone to a car show at the convention center,

played together,


and maintained our personal hygiene.


I got a new


And Nate got a cold.

Long overdue, lots of happenings...

Since my last post (too long ago- could keeping this updated be my New Year's Resolution?), we've had Thanksgiving, two birthday celebrations for Nate, Christmas, and the New Year has begun. Whew.

Thanksgiving was celebrated at the lake house with Mom and Dad, and Aunt Marilyn and Uncle John. Lots of good food and good company, and it was a nice, albeit brief, break.

We celebrated Nate's second birthday for the first time while we were there for Thanksgiving, so Grandma and Grandpa could celebrate his birthday with him. Nate's favorite part was the neon blue icing on the cake, and he loved the singing.

Then we came home, and celebrated Nate's birthday again (on his birthday *wink*). Becki, Elijah, and Raymond joined us for a small party here are home- pizza, cake, and a few presents. Once again, the birthday boy was thrilled with the cake and singing, and made a heroic effort to blow out the candles on his cake.

So that covers Thanksgiving and the two birthdays. I'll take care of Christmas... later. ;)

Experimentation

While I was doing some pre-holiday cleaning yesterday, I dusted off and plugged in this neato rollercoaster toy for Nate to check out. Apparently, anything with wheels is supposed to fit on this track...

Furry family

In July, we lost our dear cat, Gambit. He was the fourth member of our family, adopted two days after we moved into our house here in Virginia Beach. We were all heartbroken, but none of us more than our second cat, Oliver. He has been depressed, clingy, and pretty darn pathetic ever since.

Finally, last weekend, we decided it was time to fill the empty space in our hearts and home, and adopted a new furry family member, Betty, from animal control. Her previous owner had turned her in, as he was moving on to a new job where he would be traveling too much to give her the attention she deserves.

Betty has settled into our new home beautifully, and she and Oliver are already buddies. She is a sweet, talkative kitty, patient with Nate. Oliver is a much happier cat, and we are all glad to welcome her into our home.

What Nate got today

Fleecy, footy "nup kuck" (dump truck) jammies and a pine cone. Life is good.

First post

I have finally outgrown my Livejournal (after only seven years- surprised it's taken this long). I'm a different person than I was when I started it; I've gone from a relatively silly college freshman to a mom of two. So, here we are, at the room at the top of the stair.

I picked the title of this blog as a reflection of a favorite song of our family, by folk musician John McCutcheon. I've been listening to Mr. McCutcheon's music since I was in second grade, starting with the fun kids album, Howjadoo. Now that I'm an adult, I've been introduced to his more "grown up" music, including this beautiful song that you're (hopefully/supposed to be) hearing right now that never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Every day I watch our two beautiful boys growing and changing. Though the changes aren't always fun (can everyone say "terrible twos" and "horrific pre-teens"?), the joy that they bring far surpasses any difficulties, and I want to commit every moment to memory (well, almost every moment- that tantrum yesterday wasn't so great).

So, welcome to our room. It's always messy (though I prefer to call it "lived-in"), usually noisy, often cheerful, sometimes wistful, and generally unpredictable, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

There’s a room in our house
At the top of the stair
It was empty at first
But we knew you’d be there
The dog got excited
The day that you came
I guess he thought you smelled weird
And I thought the same
But the cries and the changing
That came every night
Were changing me too
‘Til I thought that I might
Just stand in the doorway
For hours and stare
In that room at the top of the stair

There’s a room in our house
At the top of the stair
It was all yours for years
Then you had to share
Your calm world was burst
By this loud, little kid
Who mimicked and learned
Everything that you did
The games and adventures
The books and the plays
The hours of fantasy
Went on for days
And I watched in amazement
This most unlikely pair
In that room at the top of the stair

There’s a room in our house
At the top of the stair
One night it was empty
We called everywhere
All those demons and dangers
That lurk in your hearts
Slipped in through the door
And tore us apart
‘Til we found you at last
In another boy’s home
Safe and asleep
And forgetting to phone
And I lay awake lost
In a pure, grateful prayer
In that room at the top of the stair

There’s a room in our house
At the top of the stair
Where the door is shut tight
And the stereo blares
Your mother is worried
About your young ears
No one has seen
Your carpet in years
And the hole in the wall
That you made with your fist
When the anger of aging
Was too hard to resist
But the long light of love
Cast its shadow in there
In the room at the top of the stair

There’s a room in our house
At the top of the stair
Now the bed has clean sheets
And the floors are all bare
A presentable place
When folks come to stay
Your brother and you
Boxed and moved you away
To a duplex apartment
Just across town
Now I sit on the bed
As the memories rain down
There’s a hole in my heart
Where you’ll always be there
In that room at the top of the stair