Thursday, July 22, 2010

Longhorn's

Evan insisted that Daddy pick me up at work yesterday.

So, we decided to go to Longhorn's Steakhouse for dinner since we had a gift card and a coupon.

Wouldn't you know it...when John was parking the van some elderly guy and his wife bumped bumpers with us?!? John turned to me in an incredulous tone, of course, & said "How long have we had this minivan?!"

Anyway, no harm, no foul. Neither vehicle had any damage. I mean it was such a small bump that I literally thought that the stroller just shifted in the back of the van. LOL ;)

Dinner at Longhorn's was tasty. I had the half-rack of ribs with a loaded baked potato & a side salad with balsamic vinegarette (yeah...I know...why didn't I just go for the ranch or blue cheese at this point...lol).

Apparently there were at least 3 birthdays at the restaurant last night because the staff kept coming out, clapping and singing their version of Happy Birthday. (I couldn't quite make out all the words but I think they sang something about steak...my kind of birthday song...LOL). Anyway, Tyler gave me a quizzical look the first time they came out. The second time he started getting into it. He started clapping and laughing. It was too darn cute! Evan, stoic that he is, didn't even notice (or pretended not to).

On the way home from Longhorn's, Tyler kept saying something and pointing up at the little TV in our van. We figured out he was saying "Caillou"! Boy...he sure is a fast learner, huh?! LOL...So, we turned off my compilation of love songs and popped in the Caillou DVD for the boys.

We took a walk afterwards at the Woodland Hills High School (as if I could walk off all THOSE calories...). John stayed behind and walked with Evan since he was taking a leisurely stroller and let me walk ahead to get a real "work out" in pushing Tyler in the stroller. This time it didn't rain. So, my regular stroller didn't turn into a "jogging" stroller this time. ;)

Tyler went down for bed as soon as we got home (actually he fell asleep in the van beforehand). Evan asked if he could play outside a little longer. John decided to ride his bike around the neighborhood for a little while. So, I made sandcastles with Evan in his sandbox. Then, I had to carry him in later to give him a bath (yes...I know that's not good for my injury from the accident...but Evan wasn't giving in on this one...). My next-door "neighbor" (if you can call him that...he's essentially abandoned his house and comes back to check on it every so often) startled us during our "bath" argument in the backyard. He said he heard us in the back and wanted to hand me the $20 bill to pay John for cutting his grass for him. John's been doing that for him for the past couple of months now.

John had just gotten back from his bike ride in time before the rain came pouring down last night. He covered the sandbox for us (because I didn't get to that part during our "bath" struggles). Evan watched some of his shows on the Sprout channel before we convinced him to go to bed.

I ate a few marshmellows, drank some water and read some more "Twilight" before heading to bed.

Fast forward to today...

My mother-in-law calls me today at work to tell me that Tyler's sippy cup is missing. She couldn't find it anywhere. I even had her check the van in case we left it in there. Sinking feeling...We probably forgot it at Longhorn's. I called them. No luck. Time for a new sippy cup for Tyler. I think this time we're going to attach it to him on a leash! :)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

What's on YOUR Bucket List?

So, I recently read online that Bill Clinton has a bucket list. Honestly, my first thought when I read that was "Ew". LOL ;)

Moving on...

I have some things on my own bucket list that I feel like I'm actually working towards accomplishing. I've always wanted to own my own crafts business since I was little. Technically, now I do. I just need to start PRODUCING products for sale. Easier said than done as a full-time employee, Mom and Wife...I know. But, I aim high! ;) Everytime I lament my busy schedule I just remind myself that others have accomplished amazing feats facing much harder circumstances. By most accounts, I live a blessed life.

Owning (and running) my own crafts business is just one of many items on my bucket list.

What's on yours?

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Twilight

Yes, I've caved.

One of my friends lent me her "Twilight" paperback book.

What can I say? I'm curious what all the hype is about.

I was curious about all the hype surrounding the Harry Potter series, too. But, I actually was not curious enough to want to read the books (blasphemy in some circles...I know!).

Anyway, I'm not too far into the book and can understand how people can get sucked into it easily. The problem I have right now is that I'm realizing I'm a 30-some-year-old married mother reading a vampire/love story between TEENAGERS. That's the hard part for me to get past. LOL ;)

What's funny is that people act like this whole "fascination" with vampires is a new phenomena for teens. Come on! Truth be told...I already went through my vampire craze phase as a teenager. Can we say "Anne Rice"?!?

So, I DO understand the draw. Been there, done that. Although, what's interesting with this "new" vampire craze these days is that the characters are actually age appropriate for teenagers whereas I used to lust after older actors such as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise (apparently, so did Katie Holmes for the latter...LOL) a la "Interview with a Vampire" movie.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

That just ain't right...

The Economist
I went downstairs in my building to get some pop (that's soda to those of you non-Pittsburghers...LOL...) from the "rip-off" shop (nicknamed convenience store in BNY Mellon Center by my co-workers because of its expensive nature...but there in a pinch).

Before I grabbed my pop (and a King Size Peppermint Patty...yes...I have no willpower), I eyed up some of the magazines on the magazine rack.

Check out the picture on this cover of the print edition of The Economist.

All I have to say is "That's just wrong!"

I love France. So, of course, when I saw the Eiffel Tower it piqued my interest. Then, I read the headline. Wow! Seriously? The Economist must be hurting for readers to have to resort to phallic imagery to get its point (pun intended) across...

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy reading The Economist. (Yes...you heard that right! I'm weird like that..)

But, this just ain't right...

New hand-stamped, handmade card!

Check out the new card I made for a co-worker's baby shower!

http://papercraftersnook.blogspot.com/2010/07/precious-butterflies-baby-card.html

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Lady Bug on Minivan Today!

A real lady bug landed on the minivan today when I parked at Target to do some shopping.

Specifically it landed on my left mirror. By a real ladybug....I mean not one of those "imposter" orange and black beetle things...but the "real deal"...a true, dark red ladybug with black dots! It was so cute! :)

I'm taking it as the good luck sign that it is. Yay! Life is good!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Do the Hoodlebug...

Here comes Tyler...

I took this picture of Tyler at the Floodway Park in Homer City, PA this weekend while John ran the Hoodlebug 5k Race.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Minivan...Take 2

Say hello to my little friend!

This is our "Sweetmobile II" (the minivan that replaces our crashed one). This one is a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT...fully loaded...We're talking leather seats, full entertainment system (can we say DVD player?!?), electric EVERYTHING (sliding doors are even electric). Thus, the name "Sweetmobile" LOL...

We already took a decent little one-hour drive to and from Homer City, PA for John to run in the "Hoodlebug 5k Race" out there. Evan got to watch his Caillou DVD. Ahhh...sweet silence....

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Tyler...sweet boy!

Tyler is my sweet, polite little man.

He says "Thank you" to everything.

You give him a cookie.

"Thank you"

He gives you a toy.

"Thank you"

LOL

What can I say...apparently we say "Thank you" a lot in our house! ;)

He's starting to say more words now. He finally says "Mommy". He's been saying "Daddy" for a long time (in my defense they say that it's easier for babies to vocalize the "d" sound than "m"...just saying...hehehe). "Papa" has been a mainstay, as well. We've figured out that "Mama" is actually "Grandma". Too darn cute!

He tried saying "bus" yesterday when I pointed to his bus toy. It came out "buh". He tried saying "bucket" and it came out "buh buh". :)

He actually tried saying Evan today. It came out "Eban". Yay! That's my little man!

He gives kisses by puckering his lips and saying "Mm...muwah". He says "night, night" before we put him to bed for the night. And, the kicker...he actually SLEEPS - what a concept! (unlike his big brother who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty...um...we'll call him "Eban"...LOL).

Evan...the gymnast...

I love this picture of Evan!

My mother-in-law took this picture of him next to our backyard wall where he likes to put rocks between the spaces of the wall.

Evan just started a gymnastics class (also thanks to my MIL). I was a little concerned on how he would react to going to this class since he does not go to daycare or anything like that, yet. But, we were pleasantly surprised to find out he loved it. He came home all jazzed up (so to speak) and hepped up on Oreo Creme pie a la Eat'n Park-style (his "suggestion" to Grandma & Papa, of course!).

Both Evan and Puppy received stars or as Evan called it - a Macy's star - for doing a great job. Now, THAT is great advertising/merchandising when a 3-year-old recognizes your brand. And (believe it or not) I don't really go shopping...much. ;)

Evan received his "Macy's" star for his great job at gymnastics and Puppy, for a great job sitting on the sidelines & "watching". LOL Too cute...

Apparently, these are the gymnastic moves he learned: The Bear Claw, The Kangaroo Jump and the Frog Jump. While the Kangaroo and Frog jumps seem self-explanatory to me, can anyone tell me what the "Bear Claw" is?

Believe it or not, I did take gymnastics as a child at Luanne's School of Dance in Burgettstown, PA, but not at 3-years-old. More like 8-years-old, if my memory serves correctly...(and it may not at this point...LOL).

John actually took gymnastics as a boy, as well. He went to the same dance school that Evan is now attending. Crazy, huh?!

Anyway, I'm sure I could dig up some really juicy (see ---> blackmail) dance school pics of me and/or John.

But, I'm sure none of you want to see all those old, tacky 80s sequinned-outfits , now, do you?! ;)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Evan's Doppleganger

Guess who Evan looks like here?

Yeah...we thought "Drew Carey" immediately. LOL!

Evan got these glasses (it came with a fake nose/mustache, too) from his Wendy's kids meal.