Happenings...

Well, first things first, Mark is another year older since I last wrote. He's 33 and he turned to that age on 9/9/09 which I think is pretty cool...3 * 3 = 9 on 9/9/2009. He's so lucky and yet, did we buy a lotto ticket that day? No. Oops.

We didn't really celebrate too terribly much. We still need to go to a new restaurant we have a gift certificate to and enjoy that. Lately it has been difficult to get out and do things, though, because I have been busying myself with rearranging the file room at the office. I am F-O-U-R boxes of files away from being done, done, done! Then, let the cataloging begin. The new filing structure will be such a blessing when it is time to rid ourselves of one or more years of files as everything will now be filed by the last patient visit or the last contact we had with the patient. We have to keep these puppies for 7 years. That means we have countless files for people that we've never met which we have to keep in storage for quite some time. Wow.

Other than that, I finally was able to "play" with my new candy making equipment and what fun I had! :) Last weekend, I made Chocolate Brownie Bombs. Trust me, you want some....they're yummy and well worth ignoring my wheat allergy for. I have to behave a little right now, though, because I went a bit overboard on ignoring the allergy and so the first part of this last week, I had some pretty nasty arthritis in my hands. Not fun, but the macaroni and cheese and spaghetti dishes (as well as those yummy brownies) were all at least fabulously tasty and so it was tolerable.

Back to Mark's birthday, though, I neglected to mention that I made him some brownies and grabbed some frosting and whipped cream from the store as well as some yummy Rocky Mountain Road and Almond Joy ice creams from Josh and Johns and made him a brownie sundae that evening for his birthday treat...topped with one of those yummy brownie balls! He was quite happy and more so because our friend Jewel made him a second set of cream cheese brownies (after we convinced her that they were yummy...she was a little leary at first - sheltered!). Naturally, because he's a sweetie, he brought them home to share. Unfortunatley, Charlotte ran the bag into a light pole and as a result, we had a batch of cream cheese and glass brownies. I salvaged them best as I could (you just don't waste food made by Jewel!!) and for the most part, I only bit into what I assume was a glass shard twice (two different brownies). Oops. At least they were so tasty I didn't care...and at least it didn't make me bleed.

Well, it is really late here and so I think that is about the only update you're going to get from me here, but you are welcome to go check out my blog for my business: www.coloradochocolatier.blogspot.com and learn about my scouting trip to a favorite chocolate store to see all the neat things I could make with my candy making supplies. You might even find a recipe you'll enjoy there!

Oh, wait, though, before I go, quick Nicholas update. He is a shape sorting king. He has two (soon to be three) different shape sorters and he loves playing with them. His favorite is the wooden one from Pottery Barn he received from his godparents, but he's also fond of the plastic Fisher Price one he has. It is really fun to watch him figure things out. He is also having a blast lately with my scent testers from scentsy. He likes to stack them, knock them over, smell them and take the lid on and off. If only adults could be so easily amused... Finally, his blocks seem to finally be of interest and he seems to have lost his fear of the vacuum which makes cleaning the house a lot easier!! He's still cute as a bug and approaching 3T in clothing so he's quite a tall little boy.

And, I just remembered, he went to his first MOPs meeting with me this week. He didn't attend last year...stayed home with Daddy. This year (at least for a while) he and Daddy are going to the Moppets rooms together. He's enjoying checking out all the new toys he hasn't see. Okay, now my brain is racing about things on Nicholas, but I really truly must go to bed! Night everyone!

No Points for Consistency

Well, so much for my saying I was going to get back into the habit of blogging here for everyone. :) I guess I have improved somewhat...November to June vs. June to August...that's a little shorter time frame, eh? Of course, there are probably very few individuals who actually keep up with this fun little blog now-a-days because I am so utterly aweful at keeping it updated much like Nicholas' totsite...which come to think of it, I probably need to renew or it will go poof very soon. Add that to the to do list!

So what on Earth is keeping us so busy that we can't even find time to tell you?
Well, for me, the short list would be Nicholas, my Dove Chocolate business and Mark's practice in approximately that order. There are lots of fun play dates on my schedule for Nicholas as we try to get him socialized and learning at the right pace. Chocolate tasting parties are falling from the sky and, naturally, are about to multiply due to the impending holiday season. Let's hope it is very merry for us as it would be so nice to have some addiitonal cash flow. I do have some new team members joining me soon as well so that will, of course, provide another focus...I want to be sure those who start their business with me receive the training they need to hit the ground running and rock the chooclate world! As for the practice, I have decreased my involvement dramatically, but the bookkeeping and some other sundry tasks are still on my desk for now. I'm looking to pretty much wrap my involvement there since I've done what I needed to do and, in time, can step away.

For Mark, the practice and Nicholas (not necessarily in that order) seem to keep him hopping. He's been working very hard lately at devising ways to bring more patients to the clinic as well as working on some staffing solutions. Now it is just a matter of getting everyone up to speed and on the same page so that they can regrow the clinic by leaps and bounds. Whenever he's not working, Mark is very helpful at keeping Nicholas occupied so I can tackle some of the things on my plate.

As for that cute little red headed Nicholas boy (aka Mommy's little gingerbread man), he busies himself daily with just being cute and playing. His favorite activities of late have been hanging outside on the deck or down in the yard, venturing over to the park and going next door to play with various little children that come to visit. He is very tall and did I mention that he is just cute as can be? He certainly gets a lot of kisses and hugs from us....thankfully, he likes to give them as well and they've become much less sloppy, but I kind of liked the sloppy kisses, I do have to admit. They're fine as long as they involve my little guy and not a dog.

Speaking of the dog, Charlotte is doing okay. She and Mark are having a few disagreements lately over how she should behave and work, but that is to be expected from an animal that pretty much acts like a teenager and tests her limits every chance she gets. She and I tolerate each other. I have a difficult time having an animal that isn't a bird or a fish inside again (the kitties staying inside was pretty much pushed aside the first time I saw a cat hair in baby Nicholas' mouth).

Speaking of kitties, it looks like we are without. Pixie disappeared a ocuple of months ago. I was really hoping she would resurface, but so far not so. I do hope she is okay and just being loved on by someone else. It makes me very sad as she was such a sweet kitty and I was looking forward to having her back around whenever we are done with the renting stage, but I guess we'll either a) have to get another cat (I vote black or Siaamese!) or b) do without. I think if given the choice, I'd go for a parakeet. I miss the singing from Woodstock...not sure I'd go for a larger bird again. They seem a little dangerous now that I have a little boy running around and truth be told, I just am not in need of noise. I need quiet and parrots are certainly not in that category!

As far as specific events, we did celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary on July 31. That was fun...we began listening to a lecture on fingernail and tongue analysis and ended up at Emergicare where Nicholas experienced his first set of stiches. It took 4 of us to hold the little guy down. The reason for our trip? He ran into a glass table at the lecture venue and cut a spot below his eyebrow open. He is really a rough and tumble little kid. It took a little getting used to seeing all the scars and stuff on him. I guess he couldn't stay perfectly unblemished forever....but I certainly loved it when he didn't have any reminders of all the owies he's experienced.

Well, that is a brief update of where we are. Perhaps as I am working on streamlining my activities, I will continue to improve on my blogging here. Sadly, I think it will be more of the same if I do as I am not nearly as diligent at writing about the cute little thing Nicholas did from day to day. I just try to enjoy them and live life...it's not as good for blogging, but it certainly helps me stay in the present and that is probably worth it all! Blessing to you - have a sweet day!

Yep, We're Still Rockin'

I'll bet you thought we fell off the face of the planet, didn't you? Well, we didn't. Not completely at least. There's been a lot going on behind the scenes around here which we just really aren't at liberty to speak about at this time and as a result I, dear friends and family, have not been able to post even remotely regularly; however, I shall try to get back in the habit.

I have quite a few goals for myself in the next few months - I plan to get back into a regular blogging schedule. Not sure what that means right at this moment, but we'll figure it out. We're experiencing something of a new beginning in our family as a result of some of the stuff I can't talk about having transpired. I'll just apologize profusely now for my "teasing." I really don't mean it to be so, but vagueness at the moment is kind of expected and necessary. Should there ever be a time (which I am inclined to say there will not be) that I feel sharing is appropriate, I will, but don't hold your breath!

So, at any rate, I shall be making an effort to post more regularly. I also am quite determined to get myself back up-to-date (which is no small feat, unfortunately) with Nicholas' totsite. Wow, that is going to take some effort...so I may not get it done until Christmas unless I just happen to have some crazy luck. :)

I am, after all, just one big ball of activity. For those who like to keep up with my craziness, I am still helping with Mark's business though I am, thankfully, no longer playing a major role. Accounting-related tasks are mine...everything else has been passed off to a new office manager who I trust implicitly with the success of the business and keeping everyone else in line. Mark is also in a more prominent role with the departure of the previous owner of the business and we're enjoying watching the business grow into a thriving place of health and healing.

In addition to the clinic which has been renamed Springs Family Chiropractic, I am still doing the Scentsy thing. However, that has been moved, to a great extent, to the secondary business slot because at the beginning of May I began a sweet new business with Dove Chocolate Discoveries (tm). I LOVE my new job! Can there be anything better than getting paid to share chocolate (and more specifically, Dove Chocolate!) with the world? I can't think of many....maybe just getting paid to stay home and love on Nicholas. :)

I am still at home with Nicholas as well. He just turned 2 on May 26 if you can believe it. The little tyke is the size of a 4 year old! He is seriously one very tall little man...and he still has his red hair. He is absolutely adorable (not that I'm a little predjudiced, of course). As I write this, he is running through the hallway giggling with glee....so cute! Earlier this evening, he was practicing saying "hiiiiii" and I just really wanted to go get the video camera, but I didn't want to miss anything so no video. Just gotta live in the moment sometimes. :)

Nicholas had a fun birthday party on May 31 (this past Sunday) and did very well in the gift area. Have to admit that I had to be reminded that some of the toys are his and not mine! A popup "play tent" shaped like a school bus, an Elmo that is like a Mr. Potato Head, a Cool Fire Engine, fun puzzles and a weird tribble-like ball as well as always useful gift cards were some of the spoils. Because Nicholas isn't much for opening gifts yet, I have some thank you notes to write. Of course, my dear little boy has made off with the list of gifts and who gave them to him so I now get to prove that my mind is still sharp and can remember such things on its own! :)

To backtrack a little, the chocolate business is quite amusing for me. I now get to feel like someone on the food network everytime I have a party. I get to demonstrate how to make yummy treats and teach entertaining ideas while making people happy. It is way easier to get someone to book a chocolate tasting party, I've learned, than it is to get them to do a candle party. Way easier! I actually served some of our products at Nicholas' birthday party which I should mention we held at Nancy Lewis park here in C/S. A lot less exciting than the zoo for some, but perfect for Nicholas who ran all over the place, enjoyed the swings and managed to get his first mild sunburn. Oops. Thankfully, it was very mild and cooled down quickly.

He's quite a dare devil lately and is getting lots of scrapes and scratches. Kind of annerving for a Mommy, but I'm surviving. Yesterday afternoon was one of the best, he fell down in the kitchen and cut his chin open. Wow. Took Grandma Nina and I close to 10 minutes to calm him down just a little. Thank goodness for the puppy Grandma and Grandpa Allen gave to him!

Speaking of my parents they were able to attend the birthday celebration and also were able to stay with us for a couple of days. That was really nice. Nicholas and I will get to see them again next week when we go down to Lamar where I've scheduled a few little chocolate tasting parties (really need to get a set of invitations out for the party my mother and I are hosting!). I am looking forward to that.

Nicholas is currently seeing a music therapist to help encourage him to vocalize a little more. He isn't talking as much as a kid his age should be apparently, but he certainly is sharp as a tack. He knows what he wants, he knows what we want and when the two are not in congruence, he's pretty frustrated. :) He really seems to enjoy the music sessions whether they'll help him talk more or not. We tend to think he may just be more focused on physical-related stuff. He is certainly all boy and enjoys running, climbing and rough housing. :)

Well, that little boy needs to go to sleep (we're running a bit late tonight since we treated him to some ice cream) so I shall say good-bye and go tuck him in. Hopefully he will fall asleep before I do! Talk to you soon!