Balance..

Balance..something I am NOT good at, and trying to become better at. I am just one of those people who likes to do everything to the best of my ability..i.e - a perfectionist, but am slowlyyyy learning that "somethings gotta give". It feels almost impossible to be a good mom, a good wife, a good housekeeper, a good cook, a good friend, a good blogger, a good coupon-er, a good dresser (heck, it's a  SCORE if I get a shower some days)..SO, I have taken a little break from A LOT of things lately, just trying to decide what is really important, how to get the most out of my day and end it with feeling successful, rather than "I wish I would have..". Obviously, my main focus is my main man. I've learned that making a little time for myself, by either going for a run outside, or to our new gym, makes me a better mom. Taking a 30 minute nap for myself during Jack's naptime, makes me a better mom. I am experimenting, as we are finally getting settled in. It's definitely not easy to move, and just pick your life up and set it down in a place so unfamiliar. It's not so bad when things are just utter chaos, because you adopt the theory, "It is what it is"..it's when things settle down that I start to reflect, which really results in me becoming an emotional disaster. I often wish I was more "go with the flow", but it just wasn't the way that I was wired...so I need to find ways to work through it. You know, who hasn't had a quarter life crisis before? ;) "This too shall pass"...

Enough about me, it's not why you read this blog anywhoodles.

No one ever mentioned that the terrible 2's started at 15 months? We are in full tantrum mode, people. Tonight, I watched (from a distance..trying to use the ignore approach) Jack bang his head off the floor over, and over, and over again..while screaming his cute little face off..all because we had to come inside after spending 3 hours at the beach. Oh. my. Lord.  I know, you don't even believe it..but, it's true. 5 minutes later, my sweet baby was back giving me kisses and holding a conversation with me (in his own language). This deserves another... "this too shall pass" (in about 3 more years). It has totally occurred to me why some of my students were the way that they were, though. I mean, I have an education background, and was taught skills in college to deal with kids and situations that you can't necessarily control.  Most people don't have that, and most people in America do NOT have patience...so, of course kids end up walking disasters. When I do go back to the classroom, I will surely have a new understanding...

In his non-tantrum, happy state..Jack is beginning to like to copy us (or cross dress).  I found him getting in my drawer and putting on my pajamas. It was precious..he didn't get very far without stumbling over ...a little long.

He also finds matching sunglasses for he and Daddy! Cool dudes!

A few weeks ago, Jack's cousins made a stop here while on their way to the OBX. What a fun weekend. They got in on Friday evening and left early Sunday morning. Jess and I were outnumbered by boys by 5-2..7-2 if you count the kitties. We were so busy enjoying the weekend, which we filled with a visit to Yorktown, the first PSU game of the season, and a campfire, that I didn't get many pictures :( Here are a few, though..

#1, 2 and 3...missing Graham, #4

Anthony=happiest baby on the planet!

Happy boys..food and football.

                                    
 We DID try to do a photoshoot with the boys before the Tracy's left..it went a little something like this:

Take 1..

Take 2..

Take 3..

You get the picture...Dominick was a baby holder, and tried his hardest, but was unsuccessful. 

We took advantage of Luke's 4 day weekend and visited the Living Museum..They had a dinosaur exhibit, which was a total hit with our little dino lover.. a little hesitant at first, but warmed up nicely.
                                    

Love this picture- Jack is eying up that fish, and that fish is eying him up back!

Fun w/ his BFF, Da!

Speaking of dinos..I guess it's time to unveil Jack's new big boy room! Lots of love and hard work went into his room! He "roars" every time we walk in! :)

Balance and dinosaurs...strange combo :)

Hotel Wheeler

Well, Luke had to go away for 2 1/2 weeks to do a training exercise in New Jersey, so Jack and I opened up Hotel Wheeler. I would surely rather fill our time with friends and family, rather than sitting here, staying up all night with my tazer in hand ;) The first week, my mom came to visit! It was such a fun week with the three of us. I think picking her up at the airport goes down as one of the sweetest moments. I put Jack down, just because I wanted him to walk over to her when she came through the gate. Rather, he got SUPER excited and screamed out..smiling and laughing. It was heart warming to know that he recognized her...it really started our trip off on the right foot. We kept busy the whole week, as I had a million and a half projects to still do around the house, and having my mom's hands to help was wonderful! She is no longer "Grammy", instead "Nana". I try to teach Jack all of his grandparents names, just by saying them over and over again..and "Grandma" comes out "Na-Na"...much like "no, no!" Here are a few pictures of her trip here:

Enjoying the beach ALL to ourself! We liked to go early, before Jacks nap and before it was too, too hot. So we set out at about 8, and stayed until 10ish. Barely anyone was there, which was glorious!

Love this picture, especially the sky!

Even walking in the sand, which is a lot more effort than the concrete!

"Helping" around the house...not so much.

This picture captures the mischievous side of my little guy...I love it!!

We went for a nice swim!

Taking a break at Colonial Williamsburg..

Jack and I watching the sheep eat their breakfast!

This picture looks like it belongs in a magazine...minus my arm holding Jack on the fence..HA! I might edit that out!

The onlyyyy problem when Grandma comes to town is...well, she lets Jack make MANY messes. I ran into the jeweler to take care of my crushed engagement ring, and came out to find THIS! Needless to say, we picked dirt from under his finger nails for days.

                                                 

The bridge opened one day while we were at the beach. Through it came a Navy Ship..it was so cool!

If you look closely, you can see the Sailors lined up at attention..

Some quality time for Jack and myself with my Mom was special, one of those times you lock up in your heart and treasure forever! 

The following week my friend Melissa and her little guy, Colton, who is 3 months older than Jack, came to visit. Melissa and I met in North Carolina..lets just say..back in our prime! Both vibrant Kindergarten teachers, both taking 1-2 classes a day after school at the gym.. We now meet up, both run down, exhausted Mom's with wet hair and bags under our eyes. So funny! :) We had a great visit- it was so nice to have some "girl time" after the boys went to bed... We spent the week going to the Splash Park, the Bounce House, the beach..and we even squeezed in a trip to TJMaxx..ha, which lasted until the goldfish were all eaten and then we had two screaming boys in the middle of the store and we just looked at each other..I said "abort?"...haha!

..and while of this nonsense was going on..THIS beauty was being slapped up in our backyard as a big birthday surprise for Luke!! 

Luke has been talking about a firepit since we moved in, as we have a large wooded back yard..and it just screamed "BUILD A FIRE PIT HERE".  He loves it, and I was pretty excited with how well it turned out, but am more excited for s'mores whenever I want ;) Don't let the picture fool you, there is a LOT of yard work to be done around it.. The planning of it, and organization of materials was no biggie..it was dealing with the contractor who called me every day, five times a day, and said this " Umm..Miss Melanie, this is _____ I need me some money so I can get some gas" or..." Miss Melanie, let me run out back of my house real quick and see if I have some color for concrete, but I'm in my underwears..hope my neighbors don't mind seeing me in my underwears." Good times!

It worked out nice b/c others were also able to participate and buy Luke bday gifts to enhance "The Pit". The Tracy's sent skewers and moonpie/smore makers- Hallelujah! My parents bought Luke the chairs, and my brother and Jenna sent us a table, the tiki torches and a really cool citronella candle! Luke also came home to a package from his parents and the Campbells which consisted of a personal Beer Maker. No kidding, I think he loved it more than the fire pit! :)

Jack and Daddy both saying "Oh wowww"...Luke "wowing" at the beer, and Jack "wowing" at the box and mess!:)

Happy 30th, yes 30, Luke!

Oh the joys of being 3 years apart...I am such a young whippersnapper...26, and I have this husband who is now in the 30's. ;) I purposely married older, so that when he is 50, I am still in my 40's...duh! Just kidding, hunny...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

We had a mini surprise party for Dadd-a...just the 3 of us! L-O-L. Except, well we were the ones who ended up surprised. I was running around all day, trying to cook a special meal, a cake, grocery shopping...crafting..all with a non napping, clingy babes. Good times. Anyways, I tried to sneak a quick shower in (Jack played in the cupboards, unrolled the entire roll of toilet paper, and attempted to splash in the toilet)..and while showering I was trying to teach Jack to say "SURPRISE", or something of the nature, for when he walked through the door. All of a sudden   I hear "SURPRISE" and Luke jumped through the bathroom door. I screamed and ran around for a minute..Jack thought that was hilarious. SO, we missed the surprise, but it was just as fun! :)

 I made Luke a meatloaf..he is always talking about meatloaf..something I have never made. Something we actually had in common when we first started dating : both hated sloppy joes, and meatloaf (meatloaf was like a nightmare when my mom put it in front of me..she said I  just screamed my lungs off until she removed it from in front of me). Anyways, tastes change and Luke now enjoys sloppy joes, me...not so much, and has wanted to try a meatloaf. Well, I made it..and we BOTH ate it, and BOTH enjoyed it! I also whipped up a Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Frozen Pie. Ready to die? Try this recipe! The crust is crushed up Nutter Butter's. Oh. my. We ate the whole thing in 2 days..and even talked about skipping dinner to just finish it! :)

click me ---> Nutter Butter Heaven

Anyways, we tried to make the big 3-0 special, given certain circumstances, which I'll elaborate on later ;) I can't wait for Luke to see his birthday present...it's "in progress"...I'll post on it when it is all finished. Until then, he was showered with this amazing bouquet. He was in heaven! I saw this idea of Pinterest...very easy. You just put some plant foam in the bottom of a pot and attach the mini liquors to skewers..shove..and you are all set!

He will never be able to deny this baby! :)
Jack is thinking "what shall I give Daddy for his 30th?"

"AH-HA I shall keep him in shape by chasing after me b/c I'm WALKING!"

Yes, little guy started walking this past weekend. He hasn't been interested in it..at all. He would stand up, fall down, give up...maybe try again a few days later. This past weekend he was SO in to getting back up and trying again. It was so sweet to see him so determined. I mean, how could he not be determined..he is a Wheeler/Guinane. He is doing great. He still travels via crawling, as it is faster than his drunken sailor waddle, but he occasionally just gets up and cruises! What a great present. 

three years of bliss (minus two months of a horrific move) :)

Happy 3rd Anniversary to my one and only!

I thought these pictures served as a good analogy of how our lives/idea of a good time have changed in three years... haha

Could we be any dorkier?

For our anniversary this year we decided to take a segway tour of Historic Yorktown. Those circus mobiles above are called segways.. We had such a great time! It was an hour tour and Jack was even able to join us! The segways are a lot harder to get use to than you think. They move by you balancing your weight forward, which makes you feel uneasy at first. I couldn't stop laughing because I practiced my segway first, and caught right on...then, Luke got on his, and I almost fell on the ground laughing. It was so funny to see someone, who is good at EVERYTHING, be uncomfortable. He was so tense, and his helmet didn't help matters.. oh dear. We had a tour guide, whose segway I am actually on in this picture. He had to take Jack because, well Jack being attached to either Luke or I would be a disaster. He loved the ride. They go up to 12mph, but ours were fixed to 8mph, and that was plenty fast enough! The Yorktown area is amazing, it's like a mini Williamsburg, filled with SO much history, and my personal favorite- gorgeous homes.

Um..think we'll pass on Jack's helmet..haha

And..we're off..

This is the bridge that crosses to our house, and part of the beach, which is all on historic land,

Lady Liberty at Yorktown...
You know me, horrible at History..horrible at listening about History, so I don't know why she is there, but I did remember her name!! :)

Today was our first morning that felt REALLY normal! We woke up, and instead of rushing out of the house (we usually run errands, do play dates, go to the pool etc. first thing in the morning), we had a nice breakfast, cleaned a little AND went on a run. It was surprisingly nice. I finally got my staircase steps cleaned. Oh my gosh, I was getting used to the dust bunnies and dirty film.  Luke had to fix the staircase ceiling because we (as in he) painted, tore the tape off, and the paint came with. Double UGH! It's been really humid, as you can imagine, and if the tape stays on the walls longer than an hour it peels everything with it. Big mess, so we bypassed cleaning the stairs until that job was done. 

Jack has been teething the last few weeks...kill me. It's a nightmare, lets just be honest. He is getting his last molar, and now I see two more incisors popping through the top. He's miserable, and nothing has been making him happy..except popsicles. As all moms know, if it's not one thing...it's another. Hoping for some relief for him soon. Today, he was so warn out..I turned around to wipe the countertops and found this -

I had to do a double take because I was A. seeing things or B. he's sick. I mean,  when else has he stopped screaming his head off long enough to fall asleep..none the less while eating? HA!! Now, to keep him asleep...fingers crossed he takes a long one..he needs it..and I need a break!

"Helping" me do the laundry! Though, I have to say, he is getting good at handing me one thing at a time, and then follows with "tan you" (thank you). haha!

Working on independent play for a little while in the morning.
...whatever floats his fancy.

This was at 5pm, we went to the beach later at night just for Jack to play...and it was still hot enough to make his cheeks that red. Welcome to Virginia!

this picture reminds me that my sweet baby is in there.....somewhere! :)