Easter

We had a blessed Easter, despite Cooper having 103 fever and possible roseola, with an ear infection along for the ride. Poor thing. He was sent home from daycare on Thursday, and since they were closed on Good Friday, by Saturday I was stir crazy with the kids. We headed to the mall to work off some steam, and I got roped into the above picture, which turned out the be the perfect Easter card for the grandparents.

On Easter sunday, we went to mass with Nonno and Nonna, and Cooper slept through the entire thing (1 1/2 hours). J* fell asleep on me just before communion, so I carried him on my shoulder to receive the eucharist. Saw some wonderful friends at mass and chatted a bit.

Then we headed home for an Easter egg hunt. This is J*'s last year where all the eggs are his, b/c watch out for Cooper next Easter!








We tried to take some family pictures, but mommy looks so tired in all of them (I even deleted the one of mommy in the post below, b/c boy did I look zombie-ish!).

After that, we went to Grandma and Grampy's for Easter dinner. My parents outdid themselves with this meal! We had a crown roast of lamb with sausage stuffing, hand made pasta with sauce, asparagus, sugar snap pea and feta salad, and a chocolate chocolate chip cake for dessert. We lazied around for most of the afternoon, and headed back home about 8pm. Both kids fell asleep on the ride home, and didn't wake up when we moved them from the car to their beds. Gotta love that!

First-time Irish!

Not only did we celebrate our Match Day as a family, but we also got to celebrate Coop's first St. Patrick's Day! He is the only true Irish in the family, but we all pretended anyway, to make sure he had a great first holiday! We headed to Daddy's restaurant where it was a busy night, with party favors, corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and local bagpipers. Here are some pictures . . .

Four short years ago

I was at work, trying not to think about the profile that we finally submitted to our adoption agency 5 days before. I had stalled and stalled sending it, b/c I just didn;t want to be in that limbo "waiting" period of unknown length.

My cell phone rang. It was the agency but I missed the call, and there was no message. I checked the voicemail at home, and the agency said they needed me to call ASAP. I just knew this was it.

I called the agency from the staff lounge at work. There were a few other co-workers there, but only one knew what was happening. I spoke to the agency, and after peeling myself off the floor after hearing we were tentatively matched, I was on the phone with the birthmother in less than 10 minutes in my boss' office. After 15 minutes, the birthmother said she liked me, but the agency wanted her to speak to my hubby too.

Well, it was about 11am on St. Patrick's Day . . . and the manager of an Irish pub on that day is not only crazy busy, but sometimes drinking alcohol somewhat early in the day! I was going to just drive to his restaurant and surprise him with the news, but I knew I had to stop him from imbibing before the phone call to the birthmother later that afternoon. I scrambled to call hubby, and make sure he hadn't had a sip yet (he didn't), and after he peeled himself up off the floor, we made sure he could get coverage for the time of the call. Luckily his aunt lived a mile away, so we went to her house to make the call. By 4pm that day, we were matched with our son, and had corned beef and cabbage to celebrate!

We'll be back there tonight to celebrate again as we do every year. Happy Match Day my son!

March is National Crochet Month!

Who knew?? I better get moving on some projects. Boy, between this and it being National Nutrition Month too, I'm on absolute overload!

I gotta finish this sweater that's been a WIP for 3 years!
Cabled Sweater

Also, I have 3 other things on the hook, too: A teddy bear, another cable sweater, and a cute patchwork cardigan for a girl. Someone help me get motivated!

BTW, I'm now on Ravelry too. Come see me, I'm suzzcq7o there too!

Ultimate Blog Party

Join in the fun!

5 minutes for Mom is hosting the annual blog party that gets everyone buzzing!! Over 1000 blogs and 100 prizes! And look, I am #1001 . . . love that!


I am Suzzcq70, mom to two wonderfully special boys who made us a family by joining us in two very special ways. I also work full-time, while working on a PhD part-time, while crocheting and crafting in 5 minutes bursts between all the other stuff I just mentioned! My husband runs a restaurant, so at least I don't need to cook. Who has time for that! But it does mean I am home alone with the kids most nights. That's why I blog . . . to keep my sanity!

Thanks for coming by and meeting us! I'll be back to post some party pictures and get our own party started over here . . . so come back a bit later!!

Oooh, I am oogling over the prizes at the Party! My top three favorites are these beauties:

#7 Bead Dangle Photo Tile Necklace
#136 Crafty Mom's Knitting Goody Bag/Joann's Gift Card
#78 50 photo cards from PolkadotBumblebee

Also would love #9, 14, 37, 39, 55, 59 as well. Check them out here:Prizes

Party on!

A wonderful poem

Just when you least ecpect it, you come across something to help you heal a little. For me it is this poem I found on a new blog I am reading. It has touched me for some reason.

What Makes a Mother
Written by Jennifer Wasik
In Memory of Zachery Wasik

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today
I asked "What makes a Mother?"
And I know I heard Him say.

"A Mother has a baby"
This we know is true
"But God can you be a Mother,
When your baby's not with you?"

"You, you can," He replied
With Confidence in His voice
"I give many women babies,
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime,
And others for the day.
And some I send to feel your womb,
But there's no need to stay."

"I just don't understand this God
I want my baby to be here."
He took a deep breath and cleared His throat,
And then I saw the tear.

"I wish I could show you,
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child's smile,
With all the other children and say...

'We go to Earth to learn our lessons,
Of love and life and fear.
My Mommy loved me oh so much,
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom,
Who had so much love for me.
I learned my lessons very quickly,
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much,
But I visit her every day.
When she goes to sleep,
On her pillow's where I lay

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek,
And whisper in her ear.
Mommy don't be sad today,
I'm your baby and I'm here.'

"So you see my dear sweet ones,
your children are okay.
Your babies are born here in My home,
And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me,
Until your lesson's through.
And on the day that you come home
they'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother,
It's the feeling in your heart
it's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start.

Though some on earth may not realize, you are a Mother.
Until their time is done.
They'll be up here with Me one day
and know that you are the best one!"

Babies abound!

Our closest friends gave birth to a leap-day son on 2/29/08! She was exactly 36 weeks, but needed to be induced b/c of pre-eclampsia. The little Kermit is 4lbs 14oz and 18 tiny inches, but he will forever be known as Cooper's best friend. You see, Cooper's daddy and Kermit's daddy were best friends at birth too, b/c their parents were friends, and so on, and so on. Their daddies' closeness is still tight . . . so much so that after getting over her surprise that Kermit wasn't a GIRL, his mom exclaimed (literally minutes after birth), "OMG, the trouble that Cooper and Kermit will get in to, just like you guys did!" Romantic, huh?

BTW, he's not really named Kermit. That's my Leap(frog)year nickname for him. I will forever be buying him frog stuff. His real name is Asher, and I can't wait to meet him today!