Nicki And Adam's Family Blog

....is called "Bringing up Bebe" by Pamela Druckerman. As a warning of caution, I am a new mother. Parenting stuff interests me, ESPECIALLY the way other cultures parent their children. I realize that many people are not "into" this stuff and would thus not be at all intrigued by this book. Another word of caution. I am not French. I have never been to France. In fact, I am not sure that I have ever met someone who is from France. I don't attest to liking the French or disliking them. My conservative brother Russ dislikes them, which would make me think I would like them, but it is hard to tell. But, I LOVE this book. LOVE LOVE LOVE! A woman from America marries a British man and they live in France. Both are some sort of journalists. In the midst of living in France, she has 3 children. 1 singleton and a set of twins. She is constantly baffled at what she sees when she is at restaurants, children sitting and eating a four course dinner, when she is at the...

We had a small gathering of people for cake for my birthday. I am pretty sure when the candles were lit and the singing had begun, Charlie thought it was his birthday....again! Cute Cute! Here are some pics!

Floating down the Au Train River! Fun! Playing in the river.  Picnic Family Picture! Love our little family! I adore this smile!!! He has candy in that hat! All wet! Setting off fireworks!

I have been wallowing back and forth for months (almost a year) on my commitment to Catholicism. I still do not know where exactly I stand. At times I respect greatly the majesty of the church, the symbolism and such, but then many things make me so angry and I end up with a response of "the church does not seem to be 'getting it.'" My husband, is at the same crossroads as I am. I think a big reason we have stayed, thus far has to do with our families that continue to practice this faith. But what do you do when you no longer believe the values and morals that this faith preaches? I am not referring to Jesus and his good works. That has NOTHING to do with it. In fact, I think Jesus is one of the coolest, non-judgmental people that has ever walked the face of this earth. I think that HE is who we should strive to be daily, realizing that we will never be HIM. Why? Because he hung out with the rejects, the outcasts, the sick, the people NO one wanted to be with. He wa...

Our big vacation with Charlie this year was a 5 hour car ride up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Munising, MI to be exact. Grandma Sayre and Papa Sayre took Charlie a day early so they could spend some quality time on a 5 hour car ride with their grandson. I told them they were crazy, but who am I to argue? Adam and I went out for sushi and cleaned the whole house (romantic, huh?). Once up there, he had a fabulous time throwing rocks in the water, attending the parade and collecting candy (someone learned a new word...candy!!), hiking to a waterfall, swimming in Lake Superior (we did go in, it was abnormally warm), and watching our "fireworks" which he calls "happy cakes"-get it? the song Happy Birthday combined with receiving cake after singing?? Now after dinner he asks for either cookie, candy, or cake! Ha! I think he has the Grandpa Wanta sweet tooth (mommy has this too!). We bought fabulous inflatable bed rails so that Charlie could sleep in a big boy...