Pic of the Week - Worn Out

I'm not the only one who is exhausted after a long week....

But I'm not nearly as cute.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pic of the Week - Keeping it Classy

Hubby Birthday Dinner #31:  Benihana

Impeccable fried rice.  Cold sake.  Man on drugs at adjacent table.  Photo souvenir.  

We'll be back next year. 

Pic of the Week - Oh Christmas Tree

It may be a bit puny.  Stubby.  Sparsely decorated.

But it's ours.  And man, it smells good.

Just looking at it puts me in a good mood!  Yay for Christmas!

Pic of the Week - Balls to the Wall

Literally.

A lot of balls.  And a not so happy Casey.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

My Journey to the Light

As I've mentioned on this blog before, I tend to get in a funk from mid-November until March.  This funk coincides directly with the onset of daylight savings time, and dissipates when the clocks spring forward.  So yeah, it's not a coincidence.  Classic seasonal affective disorder (self diagnosed).

I've been on the hunt for one of those "happy lights" - the ones that are supposed to mimic the sun and make all of the winter funk go away.  It's all a bit hokie, but why not?  Problem is, said lights are kind of expensive (upwards of $100), so I've been a bit hesitant on splurging for something that is probably psychosomatic in nature.

A friend of mine knew of my quest for brightness, and forwarded me an email that went out on her neighborhood list serve.  Someone was selling a happy light for the bargain price of $40.  This seemed a bit more reasonable.  I emailed the woman and arranged to pick it up last Wednesday.

I had ideally wanted to wait until my husband got home from work to go pick it up, so I didn't have to drag my kids with me.  But of course, with my husband's schedule last week, the chance of him getting home before bedtime was slim to none.  So around 5pm last Wednesday, I headed out into the darkness to find the light.

Halloween Obligation

I'm not one of those people that posts on Facebook very frequently, but as I reviewed my news reel this morning, I realized that I had to post some Halloween pictures.  I just HAD to.  Because if I didn't, surely I would be the worst mom ever who wasn't proud of her children and didn't think they were cute and didn't want to share their cuteness with the rest of the world.  If you love your children, apparently that's just what you do.

And now that I have a blog, it would be even more egregious if my decked out boys were passed over.  They would never forgive me.

So here it is.  And, they are pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Woody and Buzz Lightyear with a proud mama.

Pic of the Week - Young Love

The whole boy vs. girl distinction is still lost on Braden sometimes.  He knows he's a boy, that Daddy's a boy, and that Mommy's a girl, but that is where it ends.  Casey is at times a girl.  His teachers are girls or boys, depending on the day.  And with friends it is also a mixed bag.

Despite his gender confusion, he seems to innately treat girls differently.  He is much more affectionate with girls, and he'll even come home and talk about how girls from school are "pretty."  Last year, he developed a particular affection for a girl in his class, and would consistently try to hug her.  Apparently, the girl got annoyed and started pushing Braden away, making him cry.  (Bitch.)

This past weekend, Braden's cousin, who is a year younger than him, came into town to celebrate Casey's birthday.  Braden has always been a bit enthralled with her, but he is usually shy and keeps his distance.  This trip, he took it to the next level:

Look at this!  He insisted on putting his arm around her waist as they strolled the halls with their stroller.  Melts my heart.

I decided I would wait a few years to break the news to him that it is illegal for him to marry her.  At least in most states.

For now, I'll let the young love flourish.

Pic of the Week - Almost Birthday

A year ago today was my due date.

I was not in good shape.  I was convinced I was going to be pregnant FOREVER.  I remember leaving work, driving home, and calling my sister whereby I had a panic attack that this baby was never going to come.  I was never going to start maternity leave, and my mother in law, who was staying with us to watch Braden for the birth, would be staying with us permanently.

In the midst of my panic attack, I was pulled over and got a ticket for talking on my cell phone while driving.  I was so over it, I didn't even attempt to use the pregnancy card to get out of the ticket.

Looking back, I don't know what I was all worked up about.  Of course the baby was going to come.  Of course I wasn't going to be pregnant forever.  But as a nine month's pregnant woman, it doesn't matter.  There is no rationality.

Later that night, the contractions started.  And at 8:50am the next morning, I met my beautiful baby boy.

So today, here in Disney World, we celebrated Casey's almost birthday. 

And though Casey looks less than thrilled, he did enjoy his ice cream.  :)

Pic of the Week - Happiness Is...

This baby boy.

I only have a few weeks left to count his age in months, and likely even less time to count his words on one hand.

My baby boy disappears more and more everyday into an older version of himself.

But I can't be too sad about it, because, man, he is so, so, so happy.  All the time.

Pic of the Week - $400 Empanadas

On Sundays, my husband generally makes dinner.  He enjoys it, and I'm certainly not going to complain.  This week's dinner?  Beef empanadas with a black bean and tomato sauce:

I swear they taste better than they look.

I generally don't interfere with my husband in the kitchen and let him do his thing.  However, while I was watching him cook on Sunday, I noticed he was throwing an awful lot of food into the garbage disposal - lettuce, tomatoes, cauliflower, etc.  The garbage disposal is a great invention, but it can't take a head of lettuce.  We have learned this the hard way.

I thought to myself, Surely he won't put all that down the garbage disposal.  He is probably just keeping it there for now, and will transfer it to the garbage later.

So I decided not to say anything.  Why be condescending?  Besides:  He just clogged the sink last month.  He learned his lesson.  I'll let him cook in peace.

A few moments later I heard the clankety clank noise of the garbage disposal.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I do love a good "I told you so."  But not at the expense of water spilling all over our kitchen floor.

A plumber, a snake, and $400 later, we enjoyed our empanadas.  They were good, but not $400 good.

Pic of the Week - Embracing Mediocrity

As I wrote about a few weeks ago, I've been taking an introductory photography class.  The last class is tonight, and I have to say I am sad about it!  I have really enjoyed learning something new, and more than that, having a place to go where I can talk to adults and space out if I want to.  Despite class ending, I am thinking I want to make photography my new "hobby."  You know, where I tote a big camera around parks on the weekends and start taking pictures of inanimate objects instead of just my kids.

But there's a problem. 

I'm really not that good at it.

For a while, I thought it was something I could learn to be good at.  It's all technical right?  But the more I learn, the more I am realizing it is more of an art than a science.  And artistic talent is NOT something I've been blessed with.  Not at all.

This past weekend, our class took a field trip to Union Station and then walked around the Capitol area.  We were sent off to take original, artsy photos, and I was at a loss.  I am completely lacking in creativity!  Angles, leading lines, unique perspective - it's all lost on me.  But, I had lots of fun anyway.  And here's one of my mediocre artistic attempts:

Where the magic happens, people. 

I have decided that I don't necessarily need to be good at something to make it my hobby, as long as I enjoy it right?

In fact, mediocrity is a relief.  Who needs all that pressure from a hobby?

Pic of the Week - A Nine Foot What?

I guess we shouldn't have been surprised - what do you expect from a Georgetown Cupcake wedding?

Yes, that is a 9 foot wedding cake.  Made of little cupcakes. 

And that's how I gained three pounds during a weekend away.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pic of the Week - Five Years

It was five years ago (plus a few days):

September 9, 2006

It was 75 degrees and sunny.

Wanna know a secret?  My husband threw up a few hours before the ceremony.  His stomach does weird things when he's nervous.

There were about 130 people at a low key, small B&B in Wellfleet, MA.

The guest list included a British Member of Parliament, a large gay contingent, a friend who came all the way from Australia, and a poodle named Snowey.  

There was lots of dancing, a shirtless rendition of "Living on a Prayer," and even some keg stands (not by me!).    

It was a good day.

But better than that day has been the five years since, that have given us a new city, a new house, a new dog, two boys that are more amazing than words, lots of laughs, and pure happiness.

There's no one else I'd rather hang out with in this life.  

Love you, sweetie.

Pic of the Week - Note to Self...

Never again order a birthday cake with blue icing.  First, there's this:

Then there is the fact that his poop, for two days straight, was a strikingly similar color.

Sorry if that's too much information, but I feel the need to warn the public.

Pic of the Week - Oh the Memories

Irene may not have knocked out our power, but it sure did knock down a lot of trees.  Three days later, I'm still seeing uprooted trees along the side of the road, and on some unfortunate houses.

It brings back memories of a tree that once stood in our front yard...

January 2010

Rest in Peace big tree from our front yard. 

Pic of the Week - Serenity at Grandpa's House

By now you are all probably very sick of the beach pictures.  I recognize I've posted a lot of them. But it's summer!  And I'm at the beach!  So bear with me as I post one last summer water scene.

This is the view from my Dad's balcony, and those two little figures on the dock are Braden and his Grandpa.

Pic of the Week - Goin' South

Yes, we are off again.  Another night of packing, another stuffed car, another trip.  This one is just the boys and I, and we are headed to see the grandparents.  Lucky for me, the grandparents live here:  

In T-6 hours, we should arrive in Wilmington, North Carolina.  There are definitely worse places to be.

Longer post tomorrow.  Happy Monday, everyone!

Pic of the Week - Six Years Ago Today...

I was 26.

I was newly engaged.

I was anticipating the start of a legal career.

I was a little bit lighter.

A little bit freer.

A little bit braver.

And I was here.

Great Barrier Reef - Cairns, Australia

But little did I know what I was missing. 

Pic of the Week - Budding Musician

You know how every mother thinks that their child is the smartest, most attractive, most talented individual on the planet?

I think that too.

But in all honesty, I have to believe that Braden is a budding musician just overflowing with musical talent.  He has always loved music and singing, but his new obsession is his guitar.

He strums along and sings the following songs:

 - I Gotta Feeling, by the Black Eyed Peas
- Mean (or as Braden calls it, Sumpa Umpa), by Taylor Swift
- Felt Good on my Lips, by Tim McGraw
- I Like to Move It Move It, by Reel to Real
- Baby Mine, by Alison Kraus
- Goodbye, as sung by Jack Black on Yo Gabba Gabba
- And all the classics of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old McDonald, Row Row Row the Boat, and the ABCs.

Quite a montage for a two year old, don't you think?

Pic of the Week - A Postponed Anniversary in Tahiti

Almost five years ago, my husband and I honeymooned in Tahiti.  It was amazing, complete with one of those huts over the crystal clear water.  We promised ourselves that we would go back for our five year anniversary. 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

That is obviously not happening for so, so, so many reasons.  As we were laughing about it this morning, my husband suggested that perhaps we can go back after the kids are in college.  Ugh, how depressing!  So the next time I am in Tahiti I am going to be fat and wrinkly and post-menopausal?  I hope not.  My sights are set on our ten year anniversary. 

In the meantime, I can reflect on the memories.  How beautiful is this?