Norber Family Update

As the new school year approaches and my oldest prepares for preschool, it's got me thinking, "where did all the time go?"

Outside of venturing a drive to North Carolina, it's been a quiet summer. Maybe that's because we've had a rough summer filled with colds, earaches, and virus infections. Today I knock on wood because the only thing we are faced with is runny noses!

Chava is growing into quite the conversationalist. Ok....the girl can talk your ear off! But, she will tell you who her family is...she will talk to you about books and places she's been and likes to go. She knows whether or not we are driving by Pine Lake or Orchard Lake and she can still vividly tell you about her trip to Apple Island that occured months ago. She loves to go to Shul and wear dresses, she can say her Alef Bet, she's good at puzzels, and her favorite show is still Dora!

Ariana is our little whirlwind. She just got her 5th tooth a few weeks ago. It seems like she's been teething forever! (Chava was late to get her teeth too.) Ari loves to sit in her rocking chair and read books. She prefers to read the books herself, but sometimes (if I read fast and silly enough) I can make it through a whole book. Ari is quite the eater! In the morning she will typically eat 2 bowls of cereal as well as fruit and a half piece of toast or waffle. Then, on the way to school she will eat a fruit snack! She currently holds the title of family food compactor.

Josh and I are busier than ever. I'm currently servicing 5 buyers which results in 5-10 showings per week. On top of that, we are processing approximately 75 short sale files.

Please keep in touch. We would love to hear from you! Take a look at our picture gallery to see what we've been up to! Norber Family Photo Gallery

xoxoxoxo

Kelly, Josh, Chava & Ari

Looking Glass Falls

David took us to Looking Glass Falls...G-G-GORGEOUS! Matt immediately braved the icy cold water swimming right up to the waterfall. The Norbers, on the otherhand, were much more timid. We could barely walk across the shallow, rocky water! I remember going there as a kid and I've always enjoyed it, but it's funny how the enjoyment now comes from sharing it with my family.

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Vacation Day 6: Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

Brett & Libby came over today. I made spinach lasagna and we chatted about real estate, the economy, and cars. Brett may even be able to help us get a van! Sonia and Brett didn't give me too much trouble when I asked for a picture of the three of us. So here we are...each one as different as the next...but forever connected as family.

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Who needs Big Mikes?!

Me, Josh, and the girls went out to Big Mikes yesterday for dinner. Josh was in the mood for a burger. It took over 45 minutes for our food to arrive. Now, that wouldn't be such a big deal if WE DIDN'T HAVE A 1 AND 2 YEAR OLD! To top it all off, by the time the food came Josh's hamburger was dry and burnt! Sonia and David heard all about our dining experience when we got home...

Early this morning David went out to the grocery store...he wanted to surprise us by grilling hamburgers for dinner tonight! How sweet! And, they were delicious! If it weren't for these endless acts of kindness by the whole Shelton Family I think I would've had a break-down by now.

Love you guys! Thanks for everything!

Vacation Days 4 & 5: A dream vacation exists only in your mind....

As you plan your family vacation you imagine a carefree getaway. A time that your kids will miraculously behave; a time that you can stay up late to have fun, but sleep in in the morning feeling rested to take on another day of adventure. Before you even leave you imagine your suitcase neatly packed; each piece of clothing perfectly folded. Then...the bubble bursts!

This past few days have been ROUGH, to put it lightly. I've never felt closer to being a crazy person as I do now. Both girls are very sick with ear and viral infections. We've had very little sleep, or very little time without a sick girl in our arms. Everyone is bending over backwards to help us and make us feel comfortable, but I'm afraid there's not much anyone can do.

We were able to get the girls in to the same pediatrician Breezy, Matt, and Payton go to. The whole practice was amazing from the reception to the doctor. Chava and Ari were both thoroughly examined and blood work was taken. Chava was diagnosed with a viral infection in which no antibiotic will help. It didn't take long for the Motrin to work it's magic and help her feel better. Ari on the otherhand is continuing to suffer from an ear infection. She has been on two different antibiotics since last Thrusday. Today they adminstered her antibiotic via a shot in hopes of it kicking in quicker. Considering her history of ear infections and responsiveness (or lack there of) at this point to antibiotics I feel much stronger about getting tubes. Of course, this is something Josh and I will discuss upon our return home, but it's evident Ari is suffering. I'm not sure if we can wait for her to grow out of this.

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Helloooo Brevard, NC

We made it to our final destination on day 3 around 5:30. The girls were great, but we ended up taking the long way due to a major traffic backup on I-40. So, instead of 2 hours and 45 minutes (as determined by Google Maps) it took us about 4 hours. No matter, because there's nothing like family. When we arrived it felt like we were home. I haven't seen my sister since Chava was 4 months old (over two years ago), but it was like we see each other all the time!

I just love this family...Breezy and Matt are so sincere; so candid. They have great manners and respect...so refreshing! Sonia and David are beaming grandparents. They enjoy kids, know how to talk and play with kids (no matter the age), and freely love kids! It feels so good to see them love my girls the way they do - considering they barely know them. But, as I said before it feels like we see them all the time.

Josh and I are so happy to be here.

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Welcome to North Carolina!

We made a stretching stop at the NC Welcome Center. There was a slight drizzle, but we were able to snag a few photos and peek over a fence to see a beautiful mountain view! Chava and Ari were dancing, and then Chava told us that "there are a lot of animals in the forest". She is just like her daddy...all about the facts! giggle

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Vacation Day 3: On our way to North Carolina!

Here we come Sonna! We are far from rested and Ari's ear infection is taking a toll on her, but that does not take away from our excitement. We can't wait to see our southern family! ;-)

This should be a quick and easy trip. We are only a few hours away and the girls are napping. This would be a good time for a mommy nap too!

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Vacation Day 2: Meet the Hatchers

We made it to Mary's around 2:30 PM. What a wonderful day. Chava acted as if she knew them her whole life. We hung out with the kids and caught up with each other as much as the kids would allow. I could have sat silently in a room with her and been happy. She is the same beautiful, unjaded Mary. Just sweet, sincere Mary. For dinner we went to Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Fabulous...well...market square with restaurants and shops. In the center was a splash park where the kids hung out before dinner. We had dinner on the outdoor patio of Tomato Head. Great food and the girls were well behaved. That was definitely one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences I've had in awhile. Ari was sleeping by 9 and Chava by 10:15. Not too shabby. They are going with the flow and our vacation has finally taken a refreshing turn.

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This is the way to Mary's house...

Leaving Lexington and our way to Knoxville to stay with the Hatcher Family. It's been so long since I've seen Mary. Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I've seen her. We have chatted on and off over the years, and thanks to Facebook we have been able glimpse into each other's world. I really had no idea what the future held for "crazy" and "little one" back in the day...I'm just so thankful we are happy and healthy...with families!! So...with all these happy thoughts the next 3 hours should be smooth sailing. And, we are off to a good start because Chava fell asleep within 15 minutes. Yay! Here we come Mary, Richie, Sam, and Charlie!

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Vacation Day 1: Coming to an end

We made it to Lexington today! It took about 8 hours for something that would take travelers without children 6 or so. But, considering both of the girls were diagnosed with ear infections yesterday, and it's a heck of a long time to be in the car....we did great! I'm very proud of the girls. Chava didn't have any accidents or breakdowns. Really...she just got bored at times. Ari, on the other hand, had diarrhea and a hard time sitting in her seat for about the last two hours (ok, maybe 3). And, Josh handled the chaos and my kvetching like a pro! ;-) Goooo team Norber! Good night!!!

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Gold Star Chili: Kentucky

We stopped for dinner a little after 7pm in Florence, KY. It was a small restaurant with only one other party eating, and the server was super kid friendly! I may be covered in spaghetti, but overall it was a good dining experience. Great choice daddy! Now...on our way to Lexington!

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Dayton to Cincinnati; Not fun!

I will remember this stretch of our trip as: a crying, whining, stressful, stinky set of miles. Calgon take me away!

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Lima, Ohio

Our first pitstop. We didn't get away with gas and bathroom only... Chava picked out Doritos and Ari picked out Bugles. Oy! The junk food! :-( That's ok...we're all still smiling!

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Family vacation: Ready or not!

Our family vacation has begun! Packing for the girls and I was challenging to say the least. Actually, the hard part was doing it while taking care of the two of them. But, as always, we survived. The trip started off with a bang because we left around noon and the girls quickly fell asleep. Ahhhh...a moment to regain my sanity. We are almost to Lima, Ohio and preparing for our first stop!

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Tubes or no tubes, that is the question...

My last post was a disclaimer and commitment to blog more. Then.....my 10 1/2 month old started walking! On top of that both Chava and Ari ended up with ear infections. Both of the girls, Chava especially, has had what seems like a more than average number of ear infections. According to the doctor, tubes aren't necessary. But, according to fellow parents, tubes are recommended.

So, what do I do when I need more information to make a decision? I Google it of course!

Here's what I found:

Ear tubes don't always prevent ear infections
Persistent fluid in the ear can lead to repeated ear infections and possibly hearing loss
Children with ear infections that linger on or are back-to-back are good candidates for ear tubes
This surgical procedure, called myringotomoy, is performed on 700,000 children per year (in U.S)

My Disclaimer

There have been things I wanted to blog about, but figuring out how to do that when my two year old and 10-month old are running around, asking me 100 questions, and constantly demanding things of me, are making it quite difficult. Like now...Chava is upstairs running around while her Daddy and Sister are sleeping! Ugh! I'll be right back!

I'm back. Chava woke up her sister because she wanted someone to play with. LOL

As I was saying...It's difficult. The easy answer is to blog when the kids are sleeping. But, when they're finally sleeping I'd like to have a few "adult" words with Josh, unwind with a little boob tube and go to sleep myself. So, I may just have to spit it out - and quickly!

Here's my disclaimer:

The people and/or stories in this blog are not fictional. The stories may be slightly exaggerated or the people may be named using their nicknames, but it's all real. Spelling and grammatical errors are to be expected due to the high volume of chaos with two young girls.

What's for dinner tonight?

Pasta with Zucchini and Chickpeas
Serves 4
Adapted from Real Simple.



3/4 lb. pasta like linguine or spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 small or 2 medium zucchinis, chopped into ¼-inch half-moons
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1) Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, making sure to keep 1/2 cup of pasta water for later.

2) While pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add zucchini. Add 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Saute 4 or 5 minutes. Add garlic, chickpeas, and red pepper. Saute an additional 2 or 3 minutes. Kill heat.

3) Add pasta, your reserved pasta water, and 1/4 cup parmesan to skillet. Stir to combine. Serve with remaining parm sprinkled on top, take care to evenly distribute the chickpeas.

A Jewish Girl Lights Shabbos Candles

When you ask Chava what we do on Shabbot she says: light the candles, do kiddush, challah, motzi, wash, hummus, and salad! She already knows that we are doing something special when it's Shabbot.




When it's time to light the candles, Chava will run to the drawer where they are kept and grab 4 candles. She will line them up on the table, get the matches, and together we light the candles. "Baruch Atah Adonai Elokainu Melech Haolam," she says.... "AAA-Men". "Ok, it's time for Kiddush! Come on Daddy! Come on Mommy!

Every week we are so proud of her. It's so amazing to teach and share with her a very special mitzvot.

Parallel Play

Chava and I went over to Eee-sah's house yesterday. I pointed out how Ruby and Chava were in the play room, and they were playing, but they weren't saying a word and they weren't playing together. They were each doing their, own thing. Nurse, Psychologist, and Supermom Eee-sah explained that what they were doing was completely normal; it was called parallel play.

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Most websites explain parallel play as perfectly normal healthy behavior where children play next to each other without seeming to interact. Although the children appear to be ignoring each other, they are actually very aware of the other. Often you can see them imitating the actions of the other child, and glancing over to observe what the other child is doing.

Occasionally one child will even grab a toy away from the other child. This action, although it should be corrected, should not be seen as naughtiness. A toddler has no concept of the needs of others, and grabbing the toy is his way of interacting with the other child.

Children develop socially as well as physically and mentally. Parallel play is just one of the steps in the ongoing social development.
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But, this visit wasn't a learning experience only...we also made delicious challah! Ruby and Chava made snakes, balls, and flowers out of their dough balls. And, Eee-sah made a gorgeous braided round challah! Check it out!



Here's my favorite eggless Challah recipe:

• 8 cups flour (whole wheat, white, or combination)
• 3/4 cups of sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tablespoons yeast
• 3/4 cups of oil
• 3 cups of warm water

Mix all the dry ingredients together and then mix in the oil and water. Knead until dough is smooth, and let it rise for 30-45 minutes. Place challahs on a greased baking sheet and let rise for another 10 minutes. Glaze it with one of the following:

• 1 egg & 1 tbsp. vanilla sugar
• 1 egg & a little sea salt
• 1 egg & seat salt and chopped onions

Bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes

Potty Training is a piece of cake

I may be eating those words before all is said and done, but as of this moment I couldn't be more impressed and proud of Chava. We introduced the potty to her on her 1st birthday. We kept a small potty in the leaving room and encouraged her to use it whenever she felt like it, but never pushing the topic. We bought seats to put on top of the toilets - of course with her favorite - none other than, DORA! Next, we introduced underwear and we let her play with them here and there; putting them on, taking the off, and mostly adoring the pictures of Dora on them.

Then, we heard from her school that she's doing very well on the potty and we should start focusing on potty training her. That night we put underwear on her and let her play. We put a pull-up on for nite time, but when she woke up the next morning we put her underwear back on and off to school she went! On the first day, we made it to school and she went potty. Afterward, we put on a pull-up and she went about her day. When she got home from school we put the underwear back on and she used her potty when she had to go.

The next day she went to school in underwear and wore them the whole day! It is not the fourth night of underwear and she is doing amazing!!!!! She's had a few accidents, but she's handled it well. She likes to wear underwear and she's going potty by herself (of course I can't resist asking her every 20-30 minutes if she has to go).

Bravo! This is the easiest thing I've ever done! Thank G-d!!!! Go Chava! You're a big girl!!!

*Chava is 2 years and 1 month old.

What's the title of your family book?

When I think about what it means to be a part of our family, here are some book titles that come to mind:

Sorry Ari
Gimmie DAT!
Are you mommy's cupcake?
I see Dora
Where's the paci?

Now the real work begins

Well, I pulled it off...I am officially a licensed Realtor. I'm not exactly sure how I passed the exam, but that's not what matters. No need to dwell on the past, right?

Anyway, I'm so thankful that I resigned from Invescor! I forgot how fulfilling it is to work with Josh. We are great partners! We have completely different strengths and weaknesses; which is very complimentary. Not to mention, I have a flexible schedule! If the girls are sick, or I want to participate in something at their school...I can do that. On top of that, I have been working out in the morning after taking the girls to school. I feel like I'm doing things for ME for the first time in a long time. It feels great and I am very thankful.

Self-employment is not all rainbows and sunshine. You really have to be disciplined and self-motivated. So, now....the real work begins.

There's a flaw in my decision making.

I'm taking my state real estate exam today at 1pm. You'd think that I would be studying, but nooooooo......I'm overwhelmed by the fact that I've been thinking about creating a blog for years, and now (now that I'm supposed to be doing something else very important) is the time.

So, here it is - entry # uno. What do I hope to accomplish with this blog? I hope to capture the mundane, the special, the out of the ordinary. I hope to express my feelings good and bad (which I tend to focus on the good only - so expressing some of the not-so-good feelings will be a challenge).

This blog will not only be about me; but about my family. We are in this together and without them I would not be what I am today.

Ok ok ok....I gotta study now! Wish me luck!