He's home!

He's been home a week and it's great to have him back!!! The days since my last post have flown in some ways and crawled in others. Have been so almost unbearably busy and so seemingly unproductive.

I will post a few snippets of things for Christmas and all, but I'm not going to run back over everything because that would take too long. But I will post lots of pictures!

Thanksgiving trip

So much fun, and so nice to be home with family and friends! Two engagements for our family right now...congratulations to Gus and Anna (which I think I already mentioned) and congratulations to Andy and Daphne!!! Wow, time just flies!

Zoe had an absolute blast getting to hang out with Ezra and Kalynn, and then with Grant when we visited Augusta. She just seems to grow so much when she gets to play with her cousins, it just does my heart good!

Whirlwind of shopping

Any trip to Atlanta involves a lot of shopping...as everyone who knows me can tell you. But throw in Christmas and it's a smorgasboard of shopping! I have found some great things and gotten some great ideas that I can do myself (either as gifts or just because I thought they looked neat!)

Thrilled that my family is coming up for a short stay over the holidays...just a night's layover really...but I will take it!! Excited to show off the newly completed stuff in the house. You'd think we'd done a full scale remodel with how excited I am!

Headed to Augusta soon now, third leg of my Thanksgiving holiday trip. Then back here for Thanksgiving. I just love seeing so much family, and I'm missing having Jason be a part of it. But we're seeing a light at the end of the tunnel so not much longer now.

I have now discovered several consignment shops in Atlanta...both kids and women's...and I am having a ball!!! I still have some birthday mad money left so I may splurge on a pair of shoes while I'm here.

Visiting Alabama

Here we are, deep south and all those people who say the South doesn't have 4 seasons should check out the glorious colors on all these trees. It's beautiful down here. Zoe is still a little sick, but we're on the mend thank God...Momma needs a break!

Kalynn is one year old! I can't believe it, my little Teensy is getting so big. And walking around and wanting to get into absolutely everything! It was great to be here for her birthday, to toast it with her. Kake went to get her from daycare so we could have a champagne toast (sprite for the kiddos, but still in flutes!) I will add the pictures they are cute. And Zoe and Ezra loved getting to sing happy birthday to her again. And they each got a candle to blow out as well. Zoe wanted hers lit over and over. Love it, not even 3 and we're into pyromania!

Zoe has gone to school with Ezra the last two days, and is loving it. I knew she would, and once she does better with her potty training (she usually will only tell me she needs to go) then I can get her in to the one in VA that I like. Good for her and me so I can actually start doing some things that I want to do.

I got to meet Anna last night, it was a good visit. A little short, Kake watched Zoe while I drove over for dinner since Anna has to go back to NC today. But the main thing about her that I love, what was easily visible, was how happy she makes Gus. They laugh together a lot and for right now, that is all I need to know. I can't wait for Zoe to get to know her.

Hopefully having a massage today, I know, living the luxe life right?

Halloween!!!

Zoe LOVES Halloween. I guess most kids do, but she is so funny. She seems to think it is a visiting fest...and feels that she is being rude or slighting people if she doesn't at least TRY to stay and visit. So yeah, I got a quick tour of a lot of houses on our street along with the laughing owners because she just feels she should stay awhile!

My little Strawberry Shortcake had a lot of fun, and couldn't wait to eat her candy. She did get one lolly to try out while we were still Trick or Treating. And thanks to Dawn, Josh, and Jackson (Mickey) for their company and patience while I chased her down in random homes! I tried to get a picture of the back of her costume, it says Strawberry Kisses but I don't think you can read it that well in the picture.

And the last is her being all sassy modeling her jammies that go under her costume. She was excited to get to wear her costume to bed.

Autumn fun at the Summer Farm.

OMG I missed Annie so much!!!! Leaving sucked because I'd had so much fun all day that I just missed her more. The kids are growing so fast! Caeden and Isabella both look older than Zoe, and Quinn is adorable. Sooooo tiny. It's hard to remember they start out that way...and that Zoe was about half that size at that age. Yikes, that's tiny! Always nice when Zoe can see her famous, international model boyfriend! (I hear he even asked his momma if Zoe is in fact his girlfriend!)

So we hit lunch at this Mexican/Spanish place and Annie's going to have to remind me what I ate...because it was freaking awesome I could eat my body weight in it. And the margaritas didn't hurt one little bit! I finally got to meet the famous JC (her brother) and that was even more fun...holy crap we're all going to have a ball if she gets to move East.

We headed out to the Summervill Farm then for some fall/harvesty fun. There was a corn maze (yeah, got lost sort of), an apple cannon (you know I was all over that), pig races (which sadly we missed), a moon bounce/jumpy hill thing that was really a workout, animals to check out and feed, corn cribs full of dried kernels to play in. The kids really had a lot of fun. And so did the adult kids! The slides I think were my favorite. Those suckers were FAST. If you didn't catch the kiddos near the end, they'd shoot right off laughing into the dirt. We were all completely covered in dirt and corn

dust by the end of the visit but it was really a lot of fun and totally worth all the dustiness! I hope I can find another one around here like that to do again before the weather hits winter. We'll have to see. Maybe one in Atlanta?

Missing good friends sucks. Seeing good friends is awesome. Missing them again afterward is worse.

Just some pictures for now

I will update later with all of our goings on, but here are a few posts of pictures just for fun!

Darn it! Mom said I was too short to drive. Oh well, did I mess up my hair at all????

Lemme check the mirror....Nope. Still adorable.

We've been busy!

Working on things with the FRG, visiting more often with Nana and Papou like I promised myself I would, going to the park more regularly for Zoe's fun and my sanity, planning visits with friends upcoming and my birthday on the horizon.

Mom made a new friend...and Mom is such a dork that this has her almost completely giddy most of the time. I know, I know, laugh all you want, Meghan's just awesome. Zoe's getting the potty training thing, even to the point of stopping herself mid accident in public to say she needs to go. It's making life so much easier. The house is getting finished, the vanity came home today so YAY that will be done soon.

Ames & Amanda are coming for a shopping trip to the outlets...sorely needed! And the outlet center went and built me a Janie and Jack. Talk about an early Christmas! Then I'm headed North a bit to see a West Coast (soon to be East Coast again!) friend. Annie, Adam, and their crew o' kiddies. The newest edition I can't wait to meet.

I've agreed to be on the FRG board, and this should be fun. I don't have a terribly essential position. It could easily absorb into someone else's job so it's a good start for me.

Zoe is cracking me up all the time. Lately, she is determined to make every word have 3-4 syllables. Egg becomes Eh-yah-ahh-GGGG, There becomes Th-Ayyyy-errrrr. I don't know where the girl picked up a drawl like that but she's overdoing it. And no, I have not been watching Paula Deen. And, my tiny little waif of a child has a recent new favorite snack. Sprinkles. Not on anything, just sprinkles. Do you KNOW how much you have to eat for it to have any caloric impact? A LOT. Thanks kid...you just couldn't love tiramisu could you?

We hit Bark in the Park with Meghan and her furbabies (Mason and Dunkin), Zoe has never seen so many puppies in her life but all she wanted was the man dressed in a dog costume. Well, she wanted him until he was close enough to touch then she didn't want to be anywhere near him. She got to pet so many puppies! And they had a bounce house, and she had her first taste of cotton candy. She wasn't too sure why Mom was feeding her cotton balls at first...but she's a trooper and she got the hang of it. Dunkin got on the news, and Mason got stage fright in his chance at glory for the Frosty Paws eating contest. Poor guy, just too much pressure. I just realized I left that thing in Meghan's shopping bag so I hope she emptied that when she got home or it's an ewwwwwy gooey mess.

Baking later this week for the FRG Halloween event, but I won't be there because I'll be seeing Annabelle. I'm going to check the map for the Blue Ridge Highway drive (didn't go this weekend, car was acting up but it's all square now) and maybe do it "on the way" back down. We'll have to see, and I'll have to figure out what to do with Nelson. I'd rather not kennel him that whole time ($$$$$$$) but I'd like to take him on the drive I think he'd like getting out and poking around.

We're off to bed. Mom's tired. And my foot is killing me. It's been getting progressively worse, just ached at first. Now the pain is stronger and it's moving backward away from my toes. Not promising.

Just a quick blurb before heading out.

Zoe, like most kids her age, loves the Toy Story movies. She's beginning to use her movies in her playtime. Today I've watched her over and over while she puts Mama Bunny on the "shelf" (the exposed wood of the side of the stairs). I couldn't figure out what she was doing. But as I got closer I hear,

"You know honey, toys don't last forever..."

So she's been shelving Mama Bunny all morning. She cracks me up.

Sorry I've been neglecting this

Jason reminded me I've been slacking. So recap of the last week.

Mostly potty training, which I doubt anyone wants to hear about. She got it at first and now seems to be testing me with it. It's really annoying and I'm ready to just say "Fine, be in diapers until you graduate." She does fine at other houses or out and about, but at home she really seems to be just playing with me.

Yoga's going well. I'm getting better at what I have found challenging before, and I'm much more patient with myself. I actually held low side crow for 26 whole seconds before I knew I had to come down...I didn't fall down. That was on my "bad" side too. I was so excited.

Nana is having some difficulty. She fell recently and has some related fractures from that, and the expected pain. We have been visiting more often and I have been loving it. I think it drives everyone else nuts...but Nana and I love to shop the jewelry shopping channels. It's such an outlet and it's OUR thing, I just love it. We talk about whether we like the pieces, where we would wear them, where we wouldn't be caught DEAD wearing them, and sometimes just shake our heads and laugh. A lot. And comment on the state of the nails, hair, hairline, skin of the models which isn't always great. I mean, I wouldn't have a crappy manicure if my hands were on close up! Well, years ago, before Jason and I were married, we were watching and these really pretty gold and ruby earrings came on. Now, being a redhead, rubies are not on my must have list but these were gorgeous. I will never describe them pretty enough, but they were chandelier earrings that looked like really ornate Christmas balls. And even I laugh at that description. I considered getting them, and planned to call when I got home. They sold out. Forever, Nana and I will talk about these earrings.

Yesterday, Nana and Papou surprised me with a small dangly pair of ruby/red stoned earrings (I am awful at telling with stones, always have been). My birthday is coming up, so I was surprised and touched. Nana immediately said "well, they aren't YOUR earrings..." and I was glad. These are much more wearable everyday, and it's funny to chuckle and think of "the ones that got away". It's one of those special gifts that when you see it you just smile.

Nelson's at the groomer, getting all high and tight. We'll be picking him up soon. I'm trying to take more pictures of Zoe and I and Nelson...but Zoe is so busy. Too busy to allow mom to snap a picture. I still carry that camera with me EVERYWHERE just in case.

Day 2 of bootcamp

More miss than hit today, I'm not sure why. But we're still plugging along.

We got to talk to Jason today, and Zoe just lit up when she heard his voice. You could tell she had a lot to say but not enough mouth and time to say it in! He is not going to believe how big she is and how much and how clearly she talks now. She's growing up so fast.

We have a command meeting tonight so hopefully I'll have more information on planning a family get together for him. But all that comes in due time.

Got the rest of the funding!

I didn't know there was a loophole there! I was able to get the rest of the grant money for yoga classes, so now I can extend into the 500 hour program! I'm thrilled to be able to continue working with Master Adam, he's such an amazing teacher and even though I hope to see a LOT more progress, I have already made so much!

I've finally gotten off of my big training wheels (the blocks) and onto the smaller one (the wedge) for Firefly...which some days I think I'll just NEVER get. Headstands with weight on forearms I can hold for about 20 seconds and I'm getting to be able to raise my lower body slowly rather than just jumping it up there. And I can kind of change weight in my crows, it's just not really graceful.

And Zoe still loves to imitate me as much as she can. It's funny to watch.

I'm optomistic this whole potty training thing will go better over the next couple of days. For some reason, she used to LOVE wearing her potty watch. Now that she actually needs it, she refuses to wear it. Ahhh, children.

"It's not working" and fall memories.

So, we're working on potty training with Zoe. Fun times. We are starting the 3 day bootcamp today; the other day she started trying to go when she sits on the potty. She gets stickers on her chart when she does. So she really put her all into trying to go and looks at me and says "Mommy, it's not working". Poor thing...I tried not to laugh at how cute she is, but failed and then she laughed too. I told her it won't "work" every time, and that's ok.

Shadows are growing longer in the afternoons and air is getting a tad cooler. With football in high gear it's impossible not to know it's fall. Master Adam has been bringing in some of the scuppernongs that are growing in his garden. One bite and I was transported back to my grandparents house. I could almost feel the gravel under my feet, facing toward the back of the garden where the muscadine vines were growing in tendrils along wire. That dense skin and then the pop of flavor when you bite into it...I love both of them and they are a very similar flavor. I can hear the sound of the 1947 Jeep we all learned to drive on as we took turns jouncing around the property through the pine trees...headed out with the can of tree coat when we hit one of the trees. NOTHING could hurt that Jeep, but the trees were another story.
I wonder what kinds of memories Zoe will have as she grows, and I hope she is as warmed and comforted by hers as I am by mine.

Almost a bullride

So, one side firefly/one side pendulum has been the bane of my yoga existence for awhile. Tonight I held it for SEVEN SECONDS. That is phenomenal for me, and even though I can't do it on my left side yet...I am so stoked.

It's getting to the point where I'm giddy trying things that used to be out of the question to even attempt. I'm not going to say ANYTHING's easy, because it's not, but it's not out of the realm of possibility anymore. I have done firefly off my training wheels (blocks) about 3 or 4 times now and that one's getting there.

I even got almost all the way down into a split today! Did it hurt like hell...yep. But I could feel most of my front leg FLAT on the ground!

Zoe stayed with Uncle Gus and Aunt Ginny tonight. She had fun with all the dogs and is still so in love with little Monty. She wasn't thrilled that he seems to be taking a liking to Mama Bunny. He kept trying to pull her into his little man/dog cave and Zoe was not having it. When I got there to pick her up she says "Oh there you are Mommy, I missed you, you came back!" She just cracks me up to no end.

Everyone is in their own room now.

She's already run into my room for "settle down time" so we're going to have to come up with some post-bath ritual that will get her ok with being in her room. I get it, the light's different, it smells different, and it's got to feel weird being all alone in that room with no side on the crib. I'm guessing she feels kind of exposed. I can't find her nightlight to put in the hall so that's priority one tomorrow.

Got our clothes delivered, and they appear to be nice and squeaky clean. After having so few clothes for so long...I've learned what I can truly live without and there is a lot of my stuff going to Goodwill. Jason will have to go through his when he gets home because we just have too much stuff. And I put half of the stuff that came back in a box to take down to Kalynn when we go in November.

Remembered today that there is also a 24/7 in Norfolk so YAY I got Zoe into care for the weekend. I hate it that it's like twice as far out of the way, but at least I get to go to class and she gets to play with other babies. She had fun today at the CDC (daycare center, not disease control). When I came in she was sitting on her knees engrossed in storytime and told me that she had yummy waffles for breakfast. All good. They said she was a joy, no crying or fussing...just a happy happy girl. Which I knew but is always nice to hear that she doesn't freak when I'm gone.

The house is getting there. I finally put up some pictures in the den that I've had on the mantle forever...I love Command Adhesive it really is one of the best inventions EVER!

My daughter, the instigator

She can lead you down the primrose path of wrongness...if you are under 3. The other little girl in our trial class tonight was a regular. And Zoe was getting her in all kinds of trouble. I will be trying another class this week for her to see if she does better in a more full class.

First, normally apparently the parents don't watch class. Forget that! I was not missing this. She wasn't sure at first why I wasn't up and playing with her but she started to get the hang of it. I covered my laughter as hard as I could when the instructor said "ok, we're going to be animals...what's your favorite animal?" and the other little girl said 'Elephant' so they all acted like elephants. Then she turned to Zoe and asked her and Zoe very seriously said "Pineapple". And she meant it. Now, Zoe's no dummy, she knows a pineapple isn't an animal. But we were watching Abby Cadabby's P is for Princess on the way to class and she was all tongue tied with her p words. When we were waiting she'd say "pineapple, penguin, pink pickle" so I think she was working her way to penguin as her favorite animal. I just wish the instructor had played along and said "that's not an animal but ok" and then acted like a pineapple...but she didn't. A little strike in my book.

Zoe got her back. Later, she was telling them, let's float through the air and be butterflies (or birds, or something) and Zoe says...I'm swimmin' like a fish. And kept repeating it until the other girl was saying it too. That's my little girl, leaving mutiny in her wake!

I'm trying it again this Thursday, but they seemed a little serious for 2-3 classes for my taste. If we go with this studio, she needs ballet AND tap shoes. Yikes. Sadly, the tap skills were what Zoe was more into. No hardwood floors for us, I'm not tempting her! When they were doing toe and heel exercises and marching, she was all the heck about it. Even though she didn't have clicky shoes which I think she was kind of mad about.

And the mirrors, oh Heaven, the mirrors. She LOVES to watch herself move and groove in any way...she loves to go into the class when I go to yoga JUST to see the mirrors. So the instructor had a devil of a time keeping her back from them. I'd like to have seen a little more "go with the flow" and work at their level...but hopefully we'll see that later this week.

All in all, it was fun, and she had a good time. And, bonus, she passed right out on the way home. SCORE for Mom!

Brat-tastic

Now I know why some people hate children. They must have only seen kids at their worst, like Zoe has been this week. She has only ever had minor butt swats but this week, she's gotten not one but two teach-you-a-lesson spankings.

For the first one she just flat out defied me, looked me in the eye, and spit out chocolate milk on the floor while we were shopping. And now today, she just threw my pillow in the bath before I got in it. Soaking wet, all to hell.

If she gets any worse this week, I will pay any amount and the funhouse people can have her all freaking night one night. I am over her crappy behavior.

YAY for the Fun Forest!

I am so excited for this news! I know what Zoe and I will be doing that day!!!

http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/park-rec/pdf/FF-MGAA-GrandPrize-Release.PDF

Gorgeous day today

First real fall day today, beautiful weather!!! I'm getting started with my Uppercase Living stuff so hopefully I'll be able to get that ball rolling soon. I'm excited about it, especially since they've started their Customer Appreciation days for free stuff!

Got Zoe's curtains all picked out and hung, will be putting up Missy, Maddie, and May (her mermaid pictures I got from a friend of mine) as well as her name letters soon. Still haven't found a mirror I love but she won't be putting on makeup any time soon (even though she LOVES having her piggies painted AND she loves my lip gloss). So I can take my time on the mirror.

Did a little weeding on the front flowerbed and will be picking bulbs to plant soon. I'd like to put irises in the small bed and then tulips and hydrangeas in the larger bed. If i could get rid of BOTH holly bushes I totally would. But I have to put that aside to deal with the tree in the backyard. I wonder if Lowe's rents chainsaws and if that's a really bad idea or not. I'd rather not pay someone to do it. It's sawing wood, how hard can it be (insert danger music here).

I hate you, Nicole

No damage to anything other than the tree, but what a pain! I wondered what that sound was. Hmmmm

Well, good news is I guess now we can relandscape the yard next spring. And free firewood.

Rainy day, finally!

I shouldn't say that, it was rainy yesterday too but man we needed it! The grass is dying but somehow the weeds in the flowerbeds are doing just fine? Don't know how that happens.

The carpet guys should be here soon to fix the upstairs meaning....drumroll please...I GET MY ROOM BACK!!! I do love my little girl, but it will be so nice to have her back in her room where she belongs. And be able to put all the random crap back in the closets. It's been WAY too long. Though, I have appreciated the chance to throw out a bunch of stuff that's like "We are keeping this WHY?"

Top it off, my paper shredder is working again after a 3 month strike. I tried every darn thing in the universe to get that clog out. Haven't touched it in a month, I gave up and was going to throw it out. My friend Angee suggested WD-40. I figured, I'm junking the thing, why not? Well, plugged it in, did NOTHING to it, and it worked right away. I went ahead and oiled it to make sure but I can now SHRED again. I realize this is a small thing for most people...but now I can finally handle all those little piles of information/paper that needed to be destroyed before being thrown out. That is a LOT of my office clutter and I am so happy!

In other news, I just had to leave you for a bit to make sure Zoe wasn't into any trouble. Caught her just as she decided to ignore mommy's warning that jumping down the stairs is NOT a good idea NOR will it be tolerated. Yeah, stuck the landing on the one stair...then tumbled down about 6. She hit no walls, and not a mark on her thank God. I didn't need to see that, but I think the lesson is finally home!

Just when I'm headed to the gym...

Now she decides to nap. Isn't that always the way?

Gearing up for the weekend. Got daycare handled, so I'm getting psyched for a weekend of yoga mornings. And I'm having a massage at a place nearby that, coincidentally, is hiring. I like to preview a spa before I send in a resume if I can help it. Much truer view of how they operate if you see it from the guest's point of view.

But, oh, a massage! I can't wait.

Tinkerbell is out.

I hope everyone had a wonderful "Tinkerbell Release Day" yesterday. We've been waiting about a year for this new movie. It's cute, a different story than I thought it would be based on the initial previews on Tinkerbell 2. But we liked it. We've watched it 5 times now in 2 days. Oy. So now we've covered Spring, Summer, and Fall. Come on Winter Tinkerbell!!!! We need you now!

Oh, children. Gotta love 'em.

So, a friend and her daughter (who I call MMM) were stopping by. MMM is potty trained and needed to use the potty. Now, Zoe isn't remotely interested in using the potty herself, but is fascinated when anyone else does. Times that by about 1000 if it's another kid.

So she hears MMM say she's going to go potty (and she likes privacy), and Zoe dashes to the bathroom, literally removing her pants as she goes. MMM is standing there patiently telling Zoe that she needs to potty, with all of the privacy that usually entails, and Zoe stands there absolutely deadpan serious. Her little arms crossed tightly over her chest in a huff, in nothing but a Tshirt and a diaper, and bossily explains "That's not my problem". Angee and I were dying laughing with our heads turned at the exchange. It was a priceless moment where you are starting to see their personalities in how they communicate with each other.

Eventually, we coaxed Zoe out and MMM was allowed to potty in peace. But I don't think Zoe will ever forgive me!

Then later that night, I was scolding her as the 4 of us sat at Panera for dinner. Zoe was flinging soup off of her spoon (onto her plate, not everywhere, but still not a behavior I will let fly). As I'm in her face telling her to look at me and explaining why Mommy is so cross, she expertly goes "Shhhhh". Finger in place in front of her mouth. I stop, flustered, and start again. Same thing happens. I start again, trying desperately not to smile, and again I am shushed by my 2 year old! Picture the zip it scene in Austin Powers and you'll see what I'm dealing with.

Again, Angee and I had to turn our heads to laugh silently. You can't let them know that they've done something funny or horrid behavior continues. But sometimes it's just impossible not to laugh.

Beach trip 2010 recap

Just need to get a datestamp here, will add more text and pictures later.

In a nutshell we:

Had a great time.
Ate some good food shared with family.
Went crabbing at a not-to-be-disclosed-because-we-were-trespassing location.
Ate said crabs as crabcakes....yummy!
Rented bikes and drove the little ones around the island.
Watched Zoe attempt many times to bury herself in the sand while building "birthday cake" sand castles.
Went to the Charleston aquarium.
Saw dolphins.
Discovered how sucky biting flies are.
Missed Jason.

**********
The drive down was no big thing. Left earlier than I thought I would and got Nelson to the Flying Monkey Kennel...as we affectionately call it. The neighbor of the kennel owns about 6 baboons. When we drove up I noticed the mom and babies and pointed them out to Zoe. She was enthralled and we just watched the monkeys for a bit before continuing on.

Each year that passes, that beach house feels more OURS than anything. It's like coming home, I know where my stuff goes, we know how the kids fit around the table and at the time of year we go the tide of vacationers has dwindled to major LOW. I know when I pass the church sign, and the house with the Georgia Bulldog flag, that the next staircase belongs to Starry Sky. And we trade off cooking so the vacation expense is knocked WAY down.

We hit the beach and Zoe is definitely all about digging in the sand. It surprised me, because she is such a water baby. But she was more interested in digging herself into a hole and getting help making molds of sand than anything else. She does love the sand. A LOT. I just wish she'd figure out that throwing it into her eyes and rubbing said eyes with sandy hands really lands her in quite a predicament. I found a sand dollar that she thought was pretty cool and she used on her sand "birthday cake" that she was building that day. Several days of beach followed, with Zoe surprisingly only napping one or two days the entire week. Girly girl was determined to stay awake and not miss anything, even when her Grant-Grant buddy went down for a nooner.

Early in the week Russell, (I think) had a great idea and we rented bikes with child seats to take the little ones around. Zoe thought this was the best thing ever...laughing YEE HAH! pretty much the whole time. She did get a bit annoyed when Russell and Grant pulled ahead and she couldn't see him anymore, but she did love the pleasure cruise around the blocks. I am planning to look into getting a used bike and seat to take her around the neighborhood, one more thing on my never-ending to do list.

Russell had to leave Wednesday morning, so it was a Daddy (but not Buffy) free rest of the beach time. It's tough being two parents in one, even in the short term...the kiddos were not happy about his leaving, so it seemed, without consulting either one of them! Grant was missing his Daddy, which just got Zoe to missing hers more and led to a couple of rough nights. All's well, though. Katherine had the idea to go crabbing; I have never done that and didn't grow up around crabbing or picking crabs. We left the chicken necks on the porch for 2 nights and one day to let them get really nasty...apparently quite the bait for crab. Eww, how can they be so yummy eating crap like that??? I seemed to be attracting all the big "Bubbas" in the area because I was pulling up crabs I was scared to get near! The kids thought the process was neat, but then were NOT thrilled when they saw the crabs coming up and...GASP...running sideways across the docks. So they spent the rest of the time throwing rocks into the waterway with Yiayia. Which apparently is much more fun.

The whole gang went to the Charleston aquarium when we needed a beach free day, the kiddos thought that was really a fun time. Though, in true kid fashion, Zoe found the most entertainment while watching them clean a small tank with a vaccum tube. We watched that for awhile. Grant watched the fish swimming around and around in the entry tank going "That one's my favorite. This one's my favorite" While Buffy narrated from the console to tell us what they were. When we hit the shark tank, Zoe wasn't entirely sure that the sharks weren't after her peanut butter cracker OR her so she sat on my lap laughing and alternately saying "Oh no, don't get me" whenever a shark came near.

Yiayia and Buffy took the kiddos on a walk to let Kath and me have a break, I was, as usual a little flabberghasted at what I was supposed to do having not planned for it but it was so nice. I went to the beach to collect sand for our "Sandy Feet" project which turned out GREAT (highly recommend the kit from Chinaberry, we had plenty of plaster for 2 full sets of 2 year old feet). And then to collect some more shells for an art project for me and Zoe.

Time to get our pig on!

Headed out to Edisto for the Lester family Labor Day week extravaganza! The extravagance being all the time we get to hole up and hang out together like no other time during the year. We cannot wait.

Car's mostly packed, I'm getting ready, and Zoe is helping by sleeping in today!

"Don't!!!!!"

This is all I heard today. Don't.

Don't kiss me.
Don't nuzzle me.
Don't change me.
Don't sing.
Don't tickle me.
Don't strap me in.
Don't wash bunny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't wash my blankie.
Don't turn on movie.
Don't turn off movie.
Don't blow my hair.
Don't touch my hair.

Oy, I'm lucky I got to breathe today! But at least she napped conveniently so I could get a pedicure and then shoot over to finally choose the vanity for the bathroom. Packed and ready. Off to the beach after wake up!

"We going to Target and going to get peppermints. That's true"

THis was Zoe's response to going out to run errands. I don't love peppermint, she gets that from her Daddy. So it's no surprise there is NONE in the house. I didn't think it'd be an issue to find, but we had to make do with peach gummy rings because no peppermints were to be found. Will have to try again tomorrow.

Loving that the yard got mowed yesterday...a giant thank you to Stacey for keeping Zoe company while I mowed and sweated the early evening away. Hot as all hell. Zoe hadn't napped all day, I made the mistake of telling her early on that Miss Stacey was coming to see her. Forget napping after that! Long hours, hard play. When I came in, Stacey brought me around to the stairs and who should I see but Munchkin passed out. Stacey said Zoe had told her "I'm tired, going to bed" and by the time Stacey had gotten up to go help her...Munchkin was out cold as you see here.

Ahh, kids.

Halfway day was fun!

We had a great time. Unfortunately, with the traffic we got stuck in on the way, we missed the pony rides. I am really bummed about that, and I'll have to find a way to take her sometime soon.

We went into the leather shop and made Zoe a horsey nametage that she thought was so much fun to do. She loved swinging that tooling hammer let me tell you! Then we watched the DVD from the guys (Jason wasn't on it that I saw, but I didn't expect to see him) and had cake. Ohhh the cake, she thought that was awesome.

Then pool time, which we all know she's a waterbug. They had a large waterslide that she was allowed to go down with me and then went by herself twice. Oh she thought she was the big girl on campus then. I had her in her sumo swimmy so she was ready to go.

5 days and a wake up until beach trip '10!!!!

Not sure what today will bring

I'm loving the cooler weather we're having! It was 68 degrees last night. I'm going to try my hardest to take Zoe to the park today since it's not so hot out. The guy is supposed to come and change out the doors but I haven't heard from him yet. I almost want to just leave the house and tell him to do it tomorrow when they come to paint.

I need to head out to the main base, our Funhouse is full so I will thankfully have the option of using another one for Zoe this weekend. Unfortunately, it's like 45 minutes at least out of the way. So I have to go do paperwork today. Need to call Steph and tell her we'll probably be late for the picnic this weekend but I hope to be there before the pony rides stop or I'll really be mad.

Zoe has started a cute habit of bringing me surprise presents. Any small box she can find, she will put some trinket in it and present it to me...insistent that I open it. I have been blessed with gifts of tampons, silly bands, those stretchy things for around camo pant legs, shower caps, paper clips, you name it. And I have loved and ooooohed and ahhhhhed over each one. She's such a little giver.

I'm setting up tours this week for a couple of preschools I've checked out. They do partial weeks so she's still got time with me. I think 2 is a little young for a full day of school if I'm here not working (though I'll probably look into a part time job), so I'm waiting on the callback from that.

Oh, and I have to call and get Nelson into the flying monkey kennel today...oops need to do that ASAP!

Paint is a beautiful thing

I am loving the color in Zoe's room! You can't really see it very well in pictures, but it is Tiffany Blue and I can't wait to get it all set up and together. Of course, I'll need a dresser for that, but I'm not rushing that.

We have a families get together this weekend so we are looking forward to that. She will get her first pony ride and I will definitely take pictures and video of that! Maybe some swimming, maybe not. Just depends on weather and how many bodies are in the water as to whether or not I'll let her go in.

Pretty much nothing accomplished today. Odd, cause I feel like I was everywhere but home relaxing.

Good weekend all around

Except for all the rain, of course.

Friday night turned out wonderfully. Met some really nice ladies and will be seeing a lot of them again next week for Halfway Day. I can't believe it's halfway done already, I have to say it's been a pretty easy deployment. Other than the house stuff, but that could happen anytime. So I came home Friday, all happy and feeling good. And not only did Gus and Ginny watch Zoe for me...Gus mowed my jungle of a yard! With how happy I was, you'd think I'd just been given a new car...but it was starting to weigh on my mind and with the weather I didn't think it would EVER get done. That was the nicest surprise I've had in I can't remember how long.

Hit the commissary for some more of the frozed veggies I seem to be living off of. I just don't feel like cooking and these make it much easier. While checking out, I didn't notice that Zoe had grabbed the stamp for checks. When I finally saw her, I burst out laughing. She had stamped the commissary's address on her upper lip! Looked like she'd grown a mustache in just a few minutes. Got most of it off, but there's a tad that's just going to have to wear off. I should have taken a picture, but it was just hilarious.

Taking today to just rest up for the week of painting, Ugh. Rainy day today, so I'm going to make corn and potato chowder since we'll be inside all day. Hopefully it will turn out to be something Zoe likes and we can add that to her list of foods.

Today just sucks

I have been looking forward to meeting the other wives from the Wardroom and now I'm so pissed off and irritated that I don't even want to go.

TWICE now just today I have managed to pick and fall in love with tile that is not available. That in itself is annoying. The trim guy discovered that the guy supplying everything got the wrong doors...so sent him back...and he got the wrong doors AGAIN. The plaster guy didn't fix a couple of spots so now he has to come back. The dresser I love and can't get out of my head isn't as wide as I thought and the drawers aren't deep enough (thank you Ang for reminding me to check!) so I have to give that up and start that hunt over.

I want to burn this house to the ground and never own one again. Renting and sharing walls is totally worth not putting up with this load of shit. I'm over it. I'm so over it I want to vomit the minute I wake up just knowing it's not over yet.

Top it off I have nothing here to wear that I can even find. So I had to shop, and I hate my body right now so nothing looks good and I just want to drink myself into a stupor but now need to get ready for something I should be looking forward to. And Zoe has been a monster all week. This isn't fun for her either but it's not like it's a fun time for me. So I just want to put her in the next package heading to the ship because I'm tired of her too.

I want to divorce my life right now.

Really furious thunderstorm

Still dealing with house repairs. But that's getting boring to even talk about. Today I hate tile.

There's a humdinger of a storm going on right now, I'm hoping it abates a bit before I head out to yoga. Boo is terrified of thunderstorms, and Zoe has never seemed to be. She just takes her role as Boo's protector very seriously...saying "It's ok Buddy" and petting him over and over. With the carpets up and the barrier down, he keeps trying to hide in her closet or mine. No idea why. When I finally blocked them off, I couldn't find him for about half an hour. He was hiding in my shower.

Zoe walks in and says "Oh, there you are Buddy" and climbs right in. Then she shreiks "MAMA BUNNY" and runs off and returns with her favorite lovie. The one I need another one of just in case. The one that is discontinued and the enterprising folks on Ebay have now decided is worth about $25 on average. Oh wow.

Where did the weekend go?

With getting up for yoga in the mornings, shopping for house stuff, and coordinating with the workers...I feel like I didn't even have a weekend!

But YAY I am finally getting somewhere with my arm balance poses and I'm able to do some of the wall ab stuff! It has taken almost 6 months for me to be able to do the arm supported balance and I know a lot of people get it faster. But FINALLY!!!! I am so proud.

Zoe has apparently decided to become a climber so I'll be shopping for some furniture straps today! I did find a dresser for her so I'm happy that's over, I just wish I'd gotten somewhere on bathroom finishes before now. They need to start painting tomorrow, and I can't help them on the bathroom yet. I did find the towelbars I wanted for the bathroom...because I was looking for a specific double bar...and Jason of course was as thrilled as you'd expect a guy to be. Hey, the small victories matter as I deal with all of this!

Day off yesterday, and back on today

About three years ago, mom had sent me an email with a link to a furniture store she had seen in, I believe, Southern Living magazine. It's called Green Front and it's in Farmville, VA (no I'm not making that up). I have wanted to go ever since, and I took the need for a Zoe dresser as an excuse to make a day of it.

So we headed out to Farmville, about a 3 hour tour, and hit a couple of ReStores along the way. I did have a hard time not buying a piano, and Zoe seemed to really like it to she thought making music with the keys was just the best thing ever. So, Green Front. Seems stupid to some to go all that way for furniture...but to anyone who knows me, this is totally in character for me. Plus, they only charge $85 to deliver out here anyway...that's cheaper than some places in town!

This place has 12 buildings of furniture, rugs, accessories galore. And I mean BUILDINGS. Picture a Macy's or some such store...3 floors of stuff...now picture that it is ALL furniture and almost no aisles to walk. And buildings upon buildings of it. I had a blast. Admittedly, we did not find anything we were looking for. There were several items I had a hard time passing up but we really don't need that much furniture. I had hoped to possibly find a demilune occasional table with a drawer front for the hallway but no such luck...all the ones I loved were too wide for the space. And the dressers were all much lighter or much more gargantuan in size than we need.

So, bust of a trip for buying, but I had a blast and Zoe was a sport. We stopped at the Virginia Diner on the way back. I hadn't noticed we passed it on the way up, but I couldn't pass up their peanut pie!!

And today, the plasterers are here. Zoe's at the Funhouse, I'm going to call in a bit and find out if she can stay there the rest of the day. I don't really want her in here with all this going on. And even when you're careful as these guys are being, there's still plaster dust EVERYWHERE and I'd rather keep her out of it if at all possible. Fingers crossed the Funhouse has space!

Still haven't solved the vanity situation or picked tile out either. Shopping with a purpose really isn't any fun after the first day or so.

Swim lesson graduation

Well, we finished our lessons today...pomp and circumstance playing in my head. And my little daredevil was the only kid from the under 3 class to brave the "big kid" slide. The one you have to pass a swim test to ride but they let the instructors take the little ones if they want to go.

Zoe went up to check it out but said NO at first. Then saw the other kids laughing about it and hightailed it back up those stairs with Nicole, our instructor. You could hear her giggling the whole way down and laughing so hard when they hit the water. I think later next week I may take her to the Ocean Breeze water park. Supposedly they have a great kids area and she needs to get out of the house too!

Well, now that I have walls and a ceiling, it appears the AC has decided to stop working for some random reason. I've checked the circuit box and the GFI's but nothing has tripped. The master switch in the attic is way too far up for them to have hit accidentally and it's hotter than hell up there there's no way they'd turn it off on purpose! I'd check it if I could but I can't see it from down below right now and there's no way I can get up there. After all the stress I am SO not in the mood for this. I can't sleep in heat and I may not be sleeping tonight if it doesn't kick back on somehow. I checked outside and the damn motor isn't even running. Lovely. At least it's covered on our home warranty...which reminds me I need to renew because it expires Saturday. I forget, August is our "hemorrhage money" month due to car insurance, HOI, flood, and warranty all being due the same time plus normal bills. Lordy.

AWESOME night

So, Zoe cuddles up next to me in bed last night and says "my very best friend" and gives me a hug. How can you not cry at that? I just love that little bug so much, she is such a sweet child.

Now off for more shopping so the sweet child will eventually have a bedroom!

And I know every mom thinks their child is a genius, and I know she isn't ACTUALLY reading this book. She has the first 3 pages down pat. But the second I pick up the camera to show Daddy, she stops. I'm going to have to catch her in the act but this will have to do for now.

That was fun! And a few epiphanies.

Girls' night out was just what I needed! In a moment of universal irony, we land at Cheeseburger in Paradise in a monsoon (which stops once we all arrive) and on open mike night. Oh Lordy, American Idol skipped RIGHT over Fredericksburg! The wardrobes alone were crying for help so loudly you could ALMOST hear them over the tone deaf crooning.

And we got the first shot at this leg of the "Fugly" journey. We had our waiter (who shall remain nameless mainly because he was never around long enough to tell us what it was) put it on; his face when he opened it and saw the sequins and the kittens in Santa hats was PRICELESS! Then Angee wore it into the pub across the way, and the smoker's gauntlet outside got a Niiiiiiice chuckle out of our entry. You could tell people not only thought it was hideous, but were wondering why anyone would wear any sweater in August in the South...let alone a Christmas sweater. Good times.

Got home yesterday to more cleaning and another check by the water mediation company to find that the sealant they put on is drying great and doing what it should. BUT they forgot to remove one section of drywall. So they are coming BACK again. I may ask them to just have their mail forwarded. I just want to get the show on the road.

Today, watching TV while Zoe naps, it occurs to me that I'm someone's mom. AND I'm someone's wife. It's just mind boggling sometimes. I look down when I walk, and I see the same feet I had at 18. I still love to wear Tshirts I loved in college. I still lounge around in jeans I would possibly be embarrased to or arrested if I wore in public due to the holes. But they are tucked safely away because I cherish their softness. In my head, I still see that girl, the one who could do anything and was going to by God, you just watch. It just struck me as so funny today, I don't know why. And I come upstairs, and saw that gorgeous angel still napping away in her crib in my room. Not complaining that she doesn't have a room of her own...just happy to have her Tinkerbell bedspread and her bunnies to snuggle. And suddenly, I can't remember what life was like before her.

What a great day.

Packing and out for an overnight!

Finished with swim lessons today, now for the FUN! I am packing a couple of things and headed up to see Angee, Amy, and Stacy!! I can't wait. For one, the little girls get to have a get together...Zoe and the Maddies! And the big girls get a get together too because Jim has agreed to watch Zoe while we all go out!

There is also a ReStore I'll be checking out in Newport News as well, just to see what they have on hand for the remodel! Then back to the grindstone, Brian should be here to finalize the new estimate to include the vanity, etc on Friday and work will begin on Monday!

A note on sillybandz

Didn't see THAT coming. Literally. She was playing away with her bands in the backseat and her favorite new toy...an egg carton...and all of a sudden WHOOSH silly band comes flying up and nails the windshield. It took her a minute to realize she did it and then she just collapsed in laughter, she couldn't figure out how to recreate the magic, thankfully.

I hit Target to put another care package together for Jason, with some requests this time. The beer/pretzel caramels seem to have been a hit so I may order some more for him later.

Found a ceiling fan for her room I like a lot, but it's by piece (pick your own fixture and blades) so I can't see it all together and I'm not sure. We'll just have to see.

Some friends having some tough roads now...prayers out to Brooke and family, Laura, Stacey, Jen, Amy...lots of love heading out to all.

Swim lessons began today

For 2 weeks we'll be going 4 days a week for short sessions. At first, I wasn't sure she was going to get anything out of the Parent/Child classes...they start regular lessons at 3...but she does have a few things to learn so we'll stick with it! She was the only one willing to go under at first and was laughing her head off when she came up. Pardon the expression in the first picture, she was mad I made her wait to take a picture instead of letting her jump right in the water while I was still in street clothes!

They say the "sumo swimmy" we have for her isn't great because it teaches her to swim upright and she can have an accident if she ends up on her side or whatever and freaks out. I guess I see the point, but it just doesn't seem harmful at all to me to have her be even more comfortable in the water. She loves that thing and the freedom it offers, so we will absolutely still use it!

She passed out after eating a few tubbies, and is still napping now, 2 hours later. I love exertion.

She is so cute when she's excited to learn new things.

Water with chlorine is GROSS! Why do I keep drinking it?

New puppy family member today

Our uncle got a new puppy yesterday. Well, our cousin did actually. So now that family owns the largest dog ever (Zeus, the mastiff) and the smallest (Monte, the toy chihuahua). He is so adorable! And someone else is in love with him too...Zoe wanted to hold him so bad and she was so gentle with him as he slept on her lap.

She was jonesing something awful for him to wake up and when he did we had to remind her not to squeeze. He loved her right back too, kept leaping up to lick her face which she thought was the funniest thing ever. It was all so Kodak moment...until of course he peed on me. Ah, well, it's puppy pee. It's not like there's much to it and it washes right off!

Jason got packages from us, very quickly. Props out to liddabitsweets for getting his beer/pretzel caramels to him in LESS than a week! I'm amazed!

After a long nap, a puppy that weighs less than a loaf of bread will need a potty break. And he'll take it just about anywhere.

Oooooooooh...puppies come in super tiny size! Just my size, can I keep him?

Yoga-ssage and stadim moths

So after tying myself in knots for 4 hours of yoga, I got another massage. Just an hour this time, but I just still felt all whacked out from all of the house stress. This week should start the remodel so oy on wheels.

When I picked Zoe up from the "Funhouse" she noticed a pretty green leaf outside the door. Or what she thought was a leaf until it moved and then she wouldn't go near it! I don't know what they are actually called, we always called them stadium moths because that's the only place I've ever seen them. I took a picture - she wanted to show Daddy the butterfly leaf - and she wouldn't even get close enough to point to it!

As big as they are, they are really pretty.

If I could find a way to afford it, a massage every Saturday after 4 hours of yoga would not be a bad thing.

Some leaves MOVE! You have to watch out for that.