Times are changing!

What did you get for your 3rd birthday?? Anyone remember?? I imagine it was along the lines of a bike, toys, books possibly. Well, you know that times are changing because for my son's 3rd birthday he got an Ipod!! And a game for the Nintendo Wii!! He also got a Spiderman bike, Star Wars toy, Diego toy and other great gifts, but I couldn't help laugh at the electronics. I was the one who mentioned the Ipod idea to Andy's parents so it's not like I'm against it or anything. Samantha inherited my very old Ipod and we filled it with kids music and church songs and Alex has been a little jealous of it. So we thought it would be fun if he could have an Ipod of his own. He got one of the little Shuffles in the color green and it is just perfect for him. I'm not too good with I-tunes so he only has a few songs on there now, but he is in heaven!! He was so excited for it and loves the fact that it clips onto his shirt. He is outside right now picking grape tomatoes off the vine, eating them and listening to his music. What a kid!! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the great birthday gift. And thank you to everyone else who gave gifts as well. He is loving them all!

Happy Birthday Buddy!!

Dear Alex,
Today you turn 3 years old! I can't believe my baby is 3! When I look at pictures of you when you were a baby I get very sad. You were such a pleasant, fun-loving baby and I don't think I took enough time to enjoy you. Almost every picture I have of you is with a smile. Even still, when you are doing something you like you are smiling! All summer in the pool; smiles. At gymnastics; smiles. Your smile is possibly my most favorite thing in the whole world!! You have this tiny dimple in the corner of your mouth that melts me! Not to mention your big blue eyes! Basically you are the cutest kid ever!

I think you might end up being a comedian someday. You are hilarious! The silly voices that you do are great as well. You have more personality in your tiny finger than most adults that I know!!! Another word that would perfectly describe you is STUBBORN!! Which is so wonderful when you are trying to learn new things, but SO difficult when I am trying to teach you NOT to do things. You never give up. You were a little afraid of heights in gymnastics but you never gave up and kept trying and now you have no trouble at all. I really admire you for that.

I think you are just very fun to be around! I really enjoy your company. When you are playing alone you have this very concentrated look on your face and it makes me want to stare at you for hours! You LOVE to be tickled and tortured which is super fun for the rest of us! You pretend you want us to stop but as soon as we do, you ask us to "do it again"! I think your most ticklish spot is your shoulders. But I'll get you wherever I can that will make you laugh.

You have a very sweet spirit. You are very concerned for others and you always want to include everyone in the fun. You are a big mama's boy but I love that recently you have been loving daddy too and wanting to be around him. We bought you a Nerf football for your birthday so you and daddy can play catch. Never forget that daddy loves you (and that football is the greatest sport). I think remembering that your parents love you will get you through a lot in life.

I love you so much Alex!! You are a true joy to me and I honestly hope that we will be best friends our whole lives! Thank you for being my baby boy!

Love,
Mama

Pimpin' my other sister

Here are some more photos that my sister took of the kids and me. She would be happy to speak to anyone interested in using her as a photographer. You can see more of her stuff at thecrazycookies.blogspot.com or email her at gregandshell@gmail.com.

Estrogen was in the air!

Last night we had a girls night at my house with my sisters and my mom. It was a great time. We ordered some dinner and sat around and talked then started in on our projects. Kami (ever the crafty girl) brought some supplies to make necklaces and earrings and glitter for glitter toes. We all picked out our favorite paper and made Scrabble pendants and then made some bell flower earrings and pendants. Of course there was a lot of girly talk about kids and neighbors and family and husbands and of course, sex. No girls night would be complete without that topic, right? Don't worry husbands, we were very complimentary!

Pimpin' my sister

This lady has put Kami on her website and is doing a giveaway for one of Kami's jewelry pieces. So enter if you like!
http://www.lifeislikechampagneblog.com/
Congrats Kami!!

Wrong?? Or oh so right??

Is it terribly wrong of me to be in love with a fictional character?? I just LOVE Jim from The Office!! I was watching it last night and was just reminded of how cute and sweet and funny he is. I do want to do something about his hair, however. NASTY! But all men need a little makeover once they get saddled with a female companion. Andy required a few adjustments from the first time I met him, but look at him now!! He dresses great, his hair is shorter and his glasses are MUCH more stylish. Don't even get me started on his jeans!! I knew he had major babe potential. He was just a fixer-upper. (I love you Andy!!)

But let's get back to Jim. Maybe I was just especially noticing him because Andy is out of town and I get a little lonely/randy when I don't have someone to hug and kiss. But I love his sense of humor and how sweet he is. I guess I should probably be after the writer and not the actor, but I doubt the writer is as good looking. But hopefully he has better hair.

Worst. Product Photo. Ever.

If you hurry now, you might be able to pick up a pair of shorts at Banana Republic for 40% off!!! Click HERE to check them out.

A $10 gift card to the location of your choice (that I can have shipped to you online, because I'm lazy like that)will be sent to the person with the best comment/caption. Except for Banana Republic - I am now boycotting them after this hideous ad. Feel free to enter more than once.

Meant for each other

If ever there is a question that Andy and I belong together let this story prove that we are meant for each other.
We were watching a movie last night when the credits started rolling and a very random song came on that neither of us knew. We decided to call it a night and went upstairs. I got in the shower and realized I was singing a very strange song. It was the George Michael song "Last Christmas". I thought it was weird that I had that song stuck in my head and was wondering where it came from. I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep with that song stuck in my head so I asked Andy to go downstairs and get my Ipod so I could listen to a few songs before bed. Here is how the conversation went:

"Andy, could you please go get my Ipod from the kitchen? I have a horrible Christmas song stuck in my head."

"That's weird, so do I. But there's no way you have this same song stuck in your head."

"What song is it?"

"It's a George Michael song."

MY EYES ABOUT POPPED OUT OF MY HEAD and we both started singing, "Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day, you gave it away.". We decided that the random song at the end of the movie sounded a lot like this Christmas song and that is how we both got stuck singing it. If that ain't a sign from heaven that we should be together, I don't know what is!!!
For your enjoyment......click here.

Question

Here is a question I posed to Andy today:
Since when did I become that mother that drives a minivan, picks up carpool and shops at Walmart during the day when her child is in school?? I don't feel like I'm old enough to be "that mom"!! I'm freakin' out!

Eyeglasses

A couple of years ago I ran across a blog called Glassy Eyes. The original post that started it all is well worth a read if you wear glasses or contacts. Basically it describes how you can get prescription glasses online for cheap. And when I mean cheap, I'm talking 25 bucks for a pair of prescription sunglasses with all of the antic-scratch, anti-glare stuff, etc. To give you an idea of what a deal that really is, with my eye insurance, the anti-glare coating is usually $45. I've bought 2 pair online, and I'm planning to pick up another one by the end of the year, probably for about 50 bucks. The frames that I'm looking at are usually $350, plus the lenses.

Anyways, I thought I'd share in case anyone else wants/needs another pair of glasses. The prices on these sites are ridiculously low, compared to what you usually pay for glasses, even from Costco. To be fair, the $25 pair feel cheap, but it's nice to be able to keep a pair of sunglasses in Kristi's car instead of hauling mind back and forth.

9/11

The first time I ever heard about Andy was on September 11th. I had just started at Neovest and they called to tell me that I didn't need to come into work. A couple of days later I heard that one of our employees was in New York on 9/11 and was still stuck there. I commented on how his wife must be worried sick. Turns out he was single.
Andy was supposed to be taking the train to the World Trade Center around 8 am to see a client but last minute decided to stay in Jersey City with a co-worker and visit a different client. From across the Hudson River Andy saw smoke and heard rumors and was soon evacuated from the building. He went back to the corporate apartment and spent a few days there waiting for a flight home. He could even hear the buildings fall. A lot of our friends in New York have far worse experiences and stories but I am grateful that Andy decided to stay in Jersey City that day. And I'm grateful I didn't know him at that point so I didn't have to worry!!! I left that up to his wife .

I fall for Fall

This could be a very expensive time of year for me. I adore sweaters and tweed pants and most especially, jackets! I went to the mall tonight and wandered into Banana Republic which combined with this time of year is very dangerous. I found many, many, many things that I wanted but unfortunately (or fortunately for Andy's wallet) they were too pricey for me. I went to the sale rack and found a very cute sweater dress which, of course they didn't have in my size. I think I have a lot of cute things from last year still stacked in my closet so that's a good thing. Let's just hope I'm the same size I was last year.

PS: Andy wants me to say that everyone should watch Wipeout. We are laughing. A lot. And aggravating Andy's cough. He should be studying. But instead he's watching people fall in mud. Totally worth it. Good night, and big balls.

Gymnastics

Samantha and Alex are taking a gymnastics class together and although they've only been 1 time so far I think they really enjoyed it. Alex proves far better than Samantha when it comes to tumbling but she was more willing to do the scary, tricky stuff than he was. He is a little afraid of heights. They were both adorable and I am looking forward to seeing how they progress.

I see you like to chew

Maybe you should chew ... ON MY FIST!!



This movie has earned a spot on my top 10 favorite list. Obviously, that's not a very exclusive list.

Attack of the Killer Tomato!!

I got skillz! Tomato growing skillz! I was in my garden yesterday picking my days harvest of tomatoes when I spied one WAY in the back I hadn't noticed before. It looked rather large so I assumed it was 2, maybe 3 tomatoes crowded around each other. As I held it in my hand I realized that it was in fact 1 GIANT TOMATO!!! I screamed for Andy to come outside and check out my massive fruit (something usually reserved for the bedroom! haha). He was quite impressed and we immediately started taking pictures to document the largeness. Andy also weighed it and it came out to a whopping 1 pound, 10 ounces. Here she is in all her glory!

Here it is in the middle next to a regular sized tomato you would buy at the store and a glass. Oh, and Alex peeking in the back.
Next to a quarter.
We cut it up to grill for our hamburgers tonight but they are WAY too big to fit on the bun so they will be eaten on the side instead. Oh, that is a large plate by the way, not a salad plate. We realized too late we should have taken a picture of it in my hand for size comparison. I don't think these pictures quite do it justice. Trust me, it was awe inspiring!

A few pictures

Our friends from New Jersey were in town and came to visit. The kids got along great and enjoyed playing together. Kaia was Samantha's very first friend and she will always be special in our home!
This was taken the first morning Andy was home from Switzerland and the kids were showing off the t-shirts and toys Andy brought them home. I was totally struck in this picture by how old Alex looks!! It broke my heart just a bit. Don't I have the cutest family in the world??
Samantha took this picture of Andy and I. We're hot.

Samantha's First Day of Preschool

Today was a glorious day! One that not only Samantha has been looking forward to, but that I have as well. Samantha started preschool today and the whole family enjoyed the new routine. Samantha loved going to school, Alex loved being alone with mommy, and I loved only having 1 child in the house and being able to get things done. Oh, and did I mention.....2 full hours of no kids fighting??? Yeah, that was the best! Andy came home from work to send her off and watch Alex while I dropped her off at school. Here are a few photos from this morning.
Doing a sad, silly face for daddy.
Sitting at the computer in preschool. She went straight to the computer first thing.

A VERY Samantha face. Isn't she adorable?Alex being, well, Alex.

The Negotiator

I think I have some sort of future working for the government as a negotiator. You wouldn't believe the negotiating that just took place in my house before naps!!! Most of it having to do with Christmas socks and books and the color of a blanket. You know, the usual stuff that makes nations crumble. I'm certain I'll be offered the job at any moment! Good luck to the poor soul that takes my current position!

Contentment

Did anyone else enjoy the rain last night? Andy got home and we slept with the window open and listened to the rain and felt the cool breeze. All was right with the world.

DUH

Some announcer on the US Open just referred to Michael Phelps as "that swimmer guy that did so well in Beijing". What an asinine thing to say! She (I think it was a she though she sounds VERY mannish) was sounding ticked that Phelps might be the sportsman of the year instead of Nadal even if Nadal wins what would be his 3 straight Grand Slam. I say, let's not compare 8 gold medals in the Olympics to 3 Grand Slam titles. They are both great achievements and don't diss Phelps just because you are a tennis commentator. A very mannish, scary commentator.