Mental Block

Because I am having a bit of a mental block I am subjecting you to a survey! My sincerest apologies.

1. What time did you get up this morning?

Just before 7... Chase didn't wake up until 7:40 and Adam didn't wake up until I brought Chase into bed with us ;~)

2. How do you like your steak?

Medium rare... the only way it's good.

3. What is the last film you saw at the cinema?

The proposal I think... it was a mom's night out.

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Oh boy... if I list them all I will be exposing myself as an addict. The Big Bang Theory, The Biggest Loser, Lost and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. There, that's not too bad.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Hard to say... every place has their pros and cons. Until I find utopia, I will stay right here in Hagerstown.

6. What did you have for breakfast?

It was more brunch by the time we ate but eggs and cinnamon raisin english muffins.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?

Good ole hearty American meat and potatoes. I can't pass up a good steak.

8. What food do you dislike?

Cooked carrots or cooked celery... I shudder even thinking about them.

9. Favorite place to eat?

Right now LJ's but Adam and I want to try Volt... that's for the next date night!

10. Favorite dressing on a salad?

Raspberry Vinaigrette

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

03 Jeep Grand Cherokee... I love it.

12. What are your favorite clothes?

Winter - jeans and a comfy sweater. Summer - capri's and a tank.

13. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Greece. It's always been a dream to go there.

14. Is your cup half empty or half full?

I am sorry... half nothing? Try overflowing.

15. Where would you want to retire?

In an RV seeing the country... another dream of mine!

16. What is your favorite time of the day?

Depends... wake up is awesome... Chase is cute and chatty. Coffee making time is awesome... Chase loves helping. 6ish is great because Adam gets home and both Chase and I are happy to see him. 7:30 is great because Chase is sleeping soundly and Adam and I have free time. My days are pretty good.

17. Where were you born?

Austin TX.

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?

Baseball, *ahem* Yankees, but I don't watch much of it...

19. Are you a morning person or a night person?

Both and everything in between.

20. Do you have any pets?

Riley the Wonderbeagle.

21. What did you want to be when you were little?

A wife and SAHM.

22. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Memories with my mom are my favorite. I have such a poor memory that anything I can remember is special to me.

23. Are you a cat or a dog person?

Both... only ever owned dogs but I like cats.

24. Are you married?

Yep!

25. Do you wear your seatbelt?

Every single time... have heart palpitations if I don't.

26. Have you ever been in a car accident?

Not really. I got side-swiped by a charter bus once... that was not cool at all. Oh and my mom and I wrecked on a scooter when we were living in Spain or TX... can't remember. I was fine and she had a scraped knee.

27. Do you have any pet peeves?

People who don't use their turn signals... which is apparently an epidemic in MD.

28. What is/are your favorite pizza topping(s)?

chicken, onion, red pepper and mushrooms with a pesto base... homemade!

29. Do you have a favorite flower?

Blue iris

30. Favorite ice cream flavor?

chocolate

31. Favorite fast food restaurant?

If I have to eat FF, Wendy's. Will not go to McDxxxxx'x. Consider it a curse word.

32. How many times did you fail your drivers test?

Not a one!

33. From whom did you receive your last email?

Facebook telling me Diane sent me an email.

34. If you could max out your credit card at any store, which would you choose?

Oh man... tough call. Probably Target. Clothes, toys, household supplies, electronics... yeah, I am could go broke there.

35. What are you listening to right now?

Silence... well that and the clack of my keyboard.

36. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with?

Husband and baby last night.

37. What time is it?

2:48 pm.

Visiting the Dena

What a fun day Friday was! Jaime and I had been planning to get together for at least 3 weeks. Then 2 days before Adam mentions that he has to meet a client at the Dena office on Friday! Woot! Not only do I get to see one of my best friends, I get a chauffeur chance to spend more time with my hubby!

No, in all honesty, having another person on that drive makes all the difference. I do not know how Adam did it for a solid year.

Chase and I stopped into the office as we dropped Adam off and Kare Kare had a few birthday surprises for Chase!



Thank you so much Kare Kare for all the wonderful gifts... Chase is already worked his way through 2 DVD's, read his book about a million times, worn his airplane shirt and tractor PJ's and refuses to put 'Potato' down. Seriously, we had to tuck him in, blanket and all, before we went to sleep last night ;~)

Then Chase and I headed to Jaime's house where things like this happen...

You couldn't wipe the grin off Chase's face (although who would want to ;~) He just thought it was the funniest thing that Zoe was in the sink.


Chase and Jackson doing a little dump truck bonding.


Love that grin little Jackson!

My lack of pictures should clue you in on how great a time I had. I just didn't want to break from the conversation to take pictures (I heard that collective gasp).

I love visiting my friends but it makes me wistful that I can't be there all the time. Oh well, at least we have special days like this! It was great to see you Jaime!

And for my video lovers... a little ABCD action!

5 Years

Today marks the 5th anniversary of my mom's death.

In reality, that's really all I want to say about it right now. I feel like I should have some long emotional post written to commemorate the occasion but I don't. What I do have is a very lackluster attitude in general. I am tired and would just really prefer not to think about this particular loss right now. It's too overwhelming and I just don't feel like crying right now.

Maybe I will feel different tomorrow or the next day but tonight... that's all I have.

And now for a few pictures of one of the reasons I smile so much:


Science lesson at the park.


Sometimes a good roll on the floor has to happen.


Chase in his pack and play while I shower... notice where the paci is?


He did this all on his own... quite the comedian.

Death of a Camera

Cameras and me... not a great track record right now. I am looking to turn that around... more on that later.

Please pause with me for a moment of silence.

Canon SD 800is. You were a good camera. You brought so much joy and gave us so many memories. You have been here through 2 Christmas's... almost a 3rd but alas, it wasn't meant to be. You endured being the primary camera for Adam... not an easy task as he is not gentle on his gadgets. You attempted to fill the void when I foolishly lost my camera and for that I am thankful. You didn't always focus correctly but I think you were doing your best and in the end, lens trouble is what took you down. Now I understand.

Rest well my friend.

And because mama can't be without a camera for long... meet my new companion.

I love you little Canon SD 780is. This is the start of a beautiful friendship.

PS. Ever the observant child... Chase's reaction...

The Big Engine That Couldn't

Yesterday the whole family went on a steam engine train ride through Western MD. I have been so excited for this trip and I've been prepping Chase for about a week.

When the steam engine pulled in front of us... Chase's eyes were as big as saucers. I am pretty sure I saw true love. It was awesome trip... even through some comical hiccups... and because pictures say it better...


Let me introduce you to everyone... from the left... Joe, Adam, Nick, Chase, John, Aunt Vicky, Sandy and Uncle Jimmy!


Going through the dining cart heading to the first class car... there is something about this picture that I just love... the busyness I guess.


Chase's go to toys are his Thomas magnetic trains so of course they came with us. Something so cute about a boy riding a giant cha-choo while playing with his smaller cha-choos ;~)


Once the train set off, we explored some of the other cars. At the very end they had this observation car where you could stick your head (carefully) out the window. Chase enjoyed it up until he got pelted with coal.


Who knew that a coal burning steam engine would put off flecks of coal... chalk one up for mother of the year ;~) He was fine... no long lasting dents or anything. Hey, at least I got the picture.


Much more enjoyable way to use the observation car.

My hope was that Chase would nap (even just a little bit) on the way to Cumberland (a good hour and a half car ride). My hopes were dashed.

As it turns out, didn't really matter. Between the excitement, family and trains... he was a very well behaved little boy.

Around 2:30 he started to get a little uncooperative so I set up a little mommy napping station on my chest. He was out within a few minutes.


So for the most part we are just chugging along... you know, like trains do. Chase is peacefully sleeping to the rhythmic motion of the train... until it starts to come to a halt... a jerky, sliding kind of halt.

As soon as the train stops, Chase's eyes pop open. I'd estimate 10 - 15 minutes of sleeping... *sigh*

The next few (re: 20) minutes the train does it's best to get the wheels working... all the while not really getting anywhere. It turns out we were on an incline and a curve with wet leaves on the track... not a good situation for a steam engine train.

We roll backwards until the train is straightened out to see if we can build up some good pressure and get her going to clear the curve.

Massive fail... not only do we not go around the curve, we don't make it past the point we rolled back to...

Poor engine just couldn't do it.

So the conductor announces that we will be waiting for a diesel engine to come along and push us the rest of the way to Frostburg (our turn around stop)... only a mere 40 minutes (re: hour ;~)

So like the good sports that we are, we bought a deck of cards and started enjoying the slow pace... I mean stopped pace.

Adam and I played Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Vicky in a game of Rummy 500. I got a crash course on the rules and definitely didn't do well the first go round...


but on the second... not too shabby!


Sandy, Joe, Nick and John played cards as well... I think they played Hearts.

I learned that I don't know a lot of card games.


I think we were up and moving when Adam took this picture...


And if you look to the very end of the train you will see our diesel savior ;~)


Chase watching the steam engine turn about.


I wanted one good family photo! YAY!


Funny story... Adam was standing this close to the engine... I was a few feet to the side of him with Chase... Sandy was behind us. We were all admiring the fire (just out of the shot) where the coal was burning and I was pointing out the wheels to Chase. Adam turned to see this little puff of steam and thought it would make a nice picture. No sooner did he snap the picture when a loud crack sounded and the biggest flood of steam was let loose. Adam was instantly engulfed... I mean you couldn't see his head, totally absorbed. I jumped back and let out a yelp while pulling Chase closer to me. I turned and got out of the path of the steam as quick as I could. As soon as it cleared, we all dissolved into laughter. Except Chase... poor thing was screaming. It scared the daylights out of him (and me for that matter) and he wasn't not happy with the cha-choo. He kept crying out "smokestack". After a moment he calmed down and we talked about the train not wanting to hurt him and how funny it was now that it was over. He seemed to buy it and I don't think he will have any long lasting resentments against trains.


So this was the schedule board when we left...


and this was the schedule board when we got back... only 120 minutes late ;~)

It really was a great experience and I would encourage anyone to do it... just be sure to get the first class car ;~)

Happy Halloween!

Trick or treating here we come!

Chase was Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

I thought it was a brilliant costume... complete with the volunteers in blue! However, it was lost on most people.

While we were trick or treating, at least 3 people asked if we were either a. part of the PA build that just happened a few months ago... or b. here doing another new build. So apparently our t-shirts were a little too life like.

I even got Chase to say "Move that bus" on command (not an easy feat for this shy guy) but that didn't seem to make a difference.

I ended up explaining the costume and well, like a joke, it's just not funny if you have to explain it.

*sigh*

At least I had fun putting it together.


Riding in style for trick or treating!


I was so impressed with Chase. He really seemed to catch on quick to the whole deal. As we were walking up a driveway he would say "I wanna go knock knock knock". Once someone answered the door, daddy or I would prompt him to say "Move that bus" or "Trick or treat" (which came out something like "Tritch or treee")... which unbelievably he would say! They would let him pick (which we quickly taught him 1 or 2 pieces, not as much as will fit in your hand) and then we would say "Thank you" and move on.

He actually kind of delighted in putting the candy in his bag and heading off to the next house, he didn't once ask to eat the candy right then and there. Though if a bag of pretzels had come through, I am they would have been consumed immediately.


Picking out candy at a familiar house... hey, that's Uncle Nick!


So we've actually had Halloween stuff happening all week but I didn't want to post because I didn't want to show Chase's costume before I got a picture with the 3 of us. It really takes the 3 to complete the costume, in my mind anyway!

So a few scenes from the week.

Monday is story time at the public library and Chase and I are regular attenders. This past Monday was wear your costume day.

I love my little Ty.


Frankenstein and Ty hanging out.


Ty and Lexi the Chicken checking out their trick or treat bags.

Friday morning our group had a Halloween party complete with costumes, pumpkin painting, cookie decorating and tons of good food. Dear sweet Jessica hosted the chaos at her house... 11 moms and 13 kids under 3... and we are ever expanding!

The classic line up shot... older kids only... way too dangerous to put the newbies in there!

2 kids were AWOL for this shot... it's pretty impossible these days to get all the kids sitting at once... nevermind actually looking at the camera. We take what we can get ;~)


The next round of kiddos! Baby Ryan who just joined us 6 weeks ago and baby Chloe.


Pumpkin painting... and very intently at that.

His masterpiece:


So funny story... I looked for a smaller table size pumpkin the day before but couldn't find anything... soooo... I brought the pumpkin from the front porch. Daddy didn't get around to carving it so I thought we would put it to good use!


My little shirtless wonder vacuuming... Sadie seems to like that in a man... errr, toddler.

In addition to Halloween, we were also celebrating Laura's impending arrival and Katrina's birthday!

Laura is having a girl this time around so we were sure to load her down with lots of pinks and purples!


Cookie decorating... now who wouldn't want to eat that???

Actually... the answer is Chase. Took one bite and was done. I think he out sweeted himself.


Another favorite toy at Jess's house, the baby swing. Chase had a blast opening the tray, taking the baby out, putting the baby back in, closing the tray, adjusting the knobs, rocking the swing, opening the tray... you get the idea. He stood here for at least 10 minutes (aka, a lifetime in toddler time).

It was a great lead up to Halloween but I am glad it's over... I've had enough Halloween now... seriously... someone needs to come take the leftover candy away from me...

no more tootsie rolls. ever.

Inside Outside Upside Down

Just a little light reading for you...