In our house we are...

And the back blogging begins...

I'm behind. Really behind. If it was any other time, I'd just move on. However, it happens to be birthdays, family visits, and holidays, so therefore the back blogging must commence. I apologize for the confusion it might cause my three readers!

We finally meet...

Mom came and spent a few days with us over her spring break. She brought with her a new friend. This friend was of the soft furry verity. We have heard lots about this little girl. We had seen pictures of her since the day she was born. I had gotten to meet her mama and grandmama, I even got a glimpse of her as a tiny puppy, before knowing she would become a member of our family. This was the first time she had met the grandkids.

I must say, Elly Joy, was a delight! There was no growling, no nipping, no attitude. She is totally a big dog stuck in that little body. She loved the boys, even with the torment. She handled being carried, squeezed, kissed, hugged, fallen on, and over, and lord knows what else we didn't catch! She just kept coming back for more!

Do you think she is begging for mercy?

We hear she was a little bored when she went home. I guess Mom just can't keep up with all the excitement she found here! Sophie and she become BFFs and I'm sure can't wait for the next visit!


Welcome to the family, Elly!

A Mrs. Robinson of our own...

I love the little love story blooming over at the Sullivan Sitcom with Dax's buddy, Max. Although it may be almost all one sided, it is super cute. I was a bit relieved that Dax stuck to girls his own age. He tends to prefer blonds. He first set his eyes (at a very young age) on his good friend Claire. I was excited by this. Who could ask for better in laws? After Claire and her family moved to Indiana, Dax quickly set his eyes on another cute little bow topped blond, Tess. This was another great choice on his part. I think the boy has been blessed with great taste! Although we pray for sweet Tess daily, since her family changed churches and Dax stopped seeing her weekly she seemed to lose her top spot in his heart. It seems since preschool has started his heart belongs to a sweet little girl named Bethany, whom I have not really had the chance to get to know! He occasionally switches to our cute little neighbor, Eme, and I figure once summer comes Eme will be heard about more and more, but for now, it's Bethany. Seems though, that no matter what woman comes along Claire has marked him, as he insists when he gets married his wife will be named Claire, as is his Webkinz Jaguar, and several Happy Meal type stuffed animals. Even with this bit of oddness, at least this guy stays in his own ball park.

My sweet sweet baby son is another story. He has a crush. A big big crush on a woman in her 20's! A woman, it seems will in the future be his aunt.

On how many levels is this weird? Oh, it's sweet, don't get me wrong! Listening to him swoon, "Jessssssyyyyy, Jesssssssyyyyy" all weekend while we were in Indy was too stinking cute! It was even better at the top of his lungs through a parking garage. The way his little eyes lit up when she walked in. The way he responded with a crooked smile and "lub Jessy" when Lily asked him if he loved Jessy. It was just precious. But Buddy, she's gonna be your aunt! Well, at least he and Dax both have great taste, because we totally love Jessy. Watch out Uncle Dosh, this boy might just be sending some irresistible pictures of himself doing a monkey dance while you're deployed! Come home soon!

Finny Minny is 2...

I guess that means I should probably change my answering machine message to say something other than "Mike, Marci, Lily, Dax, and Baby Finn. "

Finn celebrated in Indianapolis with the whole Page clan the weekend before his big day.

He celebrated a little on his real 2nd birthday which happened to be a busy Thursday. (or maybe we just told him it was his birthday and took some picture to document the actual day.)

And then again on a wonderful calm Friday evening with party decorations, presents, cake (yes, the same one from Indy, we ate my cake and saved Finn's). We had pizza, watched the Yo Gabba Gabba with Jack Black, danced a bit, then snuggled up and fell asleep. A perfect birthday celebration!

So my baby is two! Seems like time has flown! Finn "the mighty helper" is so funny, incredibly bright., and his smile could melt your heart. I can say these things all I want, they are true and I am his momma, so I'm not biased even a tad!! I love watching him with his siblings, well, when he is not hurling things at their heads. Did I mention he has a killer arm? Mike has mentioned many time a hope that his left arm will be our retirement fund! He and Dax are the best of friends or opposing wrestling foes, at any given moment these could switch. Most of the time he is Dax's back up, reiteration any complaint Dax feels like voicing. Dax, "I want Candy!!" Finn, "CANDY!" Makes life fun! He is sweet with Lily. She is like a second mom to him a I love watching her take care of him. We have been so blessed by the unexpected bonus Finn Patrick Callihan has brought into our world, so much laughter, so much joy! Thank God for this beautiful boy!

No Matter How We Say It....

With harmonies from far out...



With Melodies from days past...

*wasn't Jordan your fav? I thought so! remember when you used to sing their songs? Oh those were the days! hehehe*

With animated animals that your sons enjoyed watching and amazing dub jobs...



With a little building that has been done here, and could be done here, but wasn't done here, thus saving us the added time of building forever...



With deep abiding love and devotion from your adoring sons...



Happy Birthday to the guy who takes out the trash, changes diapers, cooks great meals, and does it all with a smile! We love you!

Walking in the past, join me if you'd like...

We gathered in Indianapolis this weekend to be together. To laugh, to love, to remember. Saturday was my birthday but Sunday was the anniversary. Last year at this time I blogged such sweet blessings. Knowing that my Dad is part of us, every day is a blessing. When we are together there is no uncomfortable silence about him or unfounded reverence, or sadness when his name is mentioned. He is. He is with us. He is part of us. It is so strong that we still hear his laughter, or his frustration. We knew he would not have made it through the Children's Museum trip! He would have loved dinner at Weber's. He seemed to put together the soundtrack at the restaurant. I guess he's still sending us "musical notes". Dan Page was one of a kind. One year, or many years later he'll still be here, in us, in the little grandson who climbs into Nana's bed with the remote his hand, looking remarkably like his grandfather. Yes, that dad of mine, he left a mark. Most of the time it makes me laugh, even when I feel like crying.

A Great Day to be Older...

Today I turned another year older.
Today I spent the day fighting crowds at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.
Today I had a really icky cold type thing, still.
Today it rained, hard.
Today we had to park and run in the rain and the puddles.
Today at least one of my children threw a great tantrum.

Today I got to see the beginning of a whole new year.
Today I got to celebrate another year of life with people I love dearly.
Today I got to watch my children play and learn.
Today I was feeling much better than yesterday!
Today I got to take some pretty cool pictures of a city in the rain.
Today I got to run through the rain laughing with my husband, who still offers me his jacket and holds my arm 20 years later...
Today two of my children were happy and one had the opportunity to declare his love for cotton candy in such a way that many could share in the love.
Today I laughed.
Today I cried.
Today I felt truly blessed to be living this life God has given me.

On Bacation!

We have made it to Indianapolis, in the middle of downtown's basketball mania! We are loving being in a hotel next to the stadium. There is an excitment in the air! We aren't here for the gam, we're here for a family weekend of fun, birthdays, and remembereance. Mom, (my brother and sister in law) Ryan, and Carly made it in from Ohio and (My brother and sister in law to be) Dosh and Jessy made it in from Virginia Beach at noon and had been hanging out downtown waiting for the rest of us to show up. It's such a blessing to have this weekend together!

Tomorrow we head to the Children's museum. Dax is very confused that we are not in Florida because according to him that is where you go on "bacation". He is loving the big Hotel and all the cool cars he can see from "up high". Finny has already started opening his birthday gifts and Aunt Carly hooked us up with some super cute birthday cakes!

Speaking of birthdays, Happy Birthday, Hayley!! Wish I could give you a birthday hug! Have a great night!

A Little "Home" Music

Sometime recently BooMama asked "So what about you? What music reminds you of home? What music takes you straight to your happy place? "

Three things crossed my mind. Jack Johnson. He makes me think of late nights in Mom and Dad's kitchen playing games, laughing, and just being happy. He takes me back to hotel rooms in Chicago before Dad was sick when Dosh was just at the beginning of his military career and he ate all Dax's baby munchies while we all hung out and watched Jack and Ben Harper on Austin City Limits. He also makes me smile at car rides where popping in a Jack CD would make one now almost 4 year old boy mellow into a peaceful laid back state. He just is. Listening to him makes me smile.




I began to laugh when I thought of th third type of "Home" music.(yes I said third, I'll get to the first in a moment). I'm not sure you could call this is a genre, "funny songs". You know, like Weird Al type stuff. Now Dad liked Weird Al, but he loved ones that were much more obscure than old Al. I've blogged about a couple of favorites like this performed by one of Dad's favs, Ray Stevens (if you're bored and have nothing better do do, look for his stuff on YouTube, it'll make you giggle). There are others, far less appropriate for this blog. I'm going to post this only if Mike thinks it's not so horribly inappropriate that I'll get asked to stop leading youth. Well, ok I might post it anyway just in memory of my dad. He'd get a kick out of my posting it. I'll leave the rest of his favorite Monty Python songs alone.



Back to my first taste of home. Motown. How fitting that tonight would be Motown night on American Idol. I had no doubt it would be, I prepared myself as soon as I read BooMama's blog. It seemed a warning somehow to be prepared. My dad loved to dance. He was actually on one of those local dance tv shows in Cleveland. The only good image I can conger up is one from the movie Hairspray. He was good, contest winning good and Motown was his flavor. Disco came and backed it up, our house, it was filled with Motown & Disco.

Smokey Robinson brings memories flooding back as he steps onto the AI stage tonight. I can't help but be excited, I can't help but pray that Mom and I will both make it throuugh this show in different states without breaking down. Tonight the contestants weren't all great, but there were moments.

My favorite of the night was a shock. I have admitted his signing ability, but have not enjoyed him, not at all. This song. I cried. This was a favorite of my parents. Let's just say anything by Smokey would be on that list. So here it is, my favorite of the night...



My dad would love this guy's dancing and the rest of us just love him!



Others worth mentioning ~
I do wish the videos were easier to come by this year! American Idol is cracking down!