Slackin'

Hubby and I are sitting on the couch watching some bad tv on the American movie classics channel.  I wouldn't say that US Marshalls is a classic, per say, but what do I know?  Anyway, the hubs has been less than impressed with my blogging lately.  It's because he's home, obviously.  "Look at what I'm doing right now...sitting on the couch with you.  This is when I used to blog."  His laptop was promptly sat in my lap, and here I am...blogging.

I have lots of fun pictures to share...but those are on the desktop.  So for now I give you some glimpses into our weekend.  Despite the fact that we've all been fighting colds, we had a really nice weekend.  Hubby had Friday and Monday off!  Plenty of time to test out his new canoe.  Here is C before their "boys only" outing.  I couldn't go because I don't have a life jacket.  A problem I'm in no rush to fix.  I love canoeing about as much as I love camping. 

 We spent a day in Annapolis.  Having lunch, doing a little shopping, and playing!

On a side note, Saturday we went to the Tyson's Corner area.  I met a fellow adoptive mom for lunch (they received their referral just a month before us) and hubby and C hung out in the giant mall.  The plan was to meet up at the AMC theatre there in the mall to see the new Kung Fu Panda movie.  As I was waiting on the 3rd level, I was standing by the railing, people-watching everyone on levels 1 and 2.  When I see hubby pulling C along (they were late!)  They caught sight of me when they reached level 2 and as C looked up and waved, he hid his arm behind his back.  He was trying to hide the reason for their tardiness.  As you can see in these pics, it's his new henna tattoo that he convinced his Daddy to let him get.  It's a dragon.  It only cost $20.  And best part, it lasts 3 weeks.  Score. 

C ate only a few bites of his lunch.  Even after we told him that if we stopped for a snack later he wouldn't be able to get one if he chose not to eat his lunch.  Little did he know our snack stop would be at a super yummy frozen yogurt joint.  Of course he started crying as soon as we were inside, pleading to eat his lunch now.  Hubby and I both sampled a few flavors before filling up our cups, so we gave some to the pathetic little guy.

He was so thrilled with our generosity, it was actually really sweet.  "I ate enough bites to have the small cup of ice cream?  Just not the big cup, right Mommy?"  How could you resist that face?

We hit up a playground and stayed for about 10 minutes.  It was so unbelievably hot!  C spent all his time on this crazy swing.

 Hubs decided the best way to beat the heat was with water guns.  And after discovering that C had a hard time pulling the trigger, he went back to the store for a battery operated water gun.  I didn't even know they made those!

 C obviously has no problems with the trigger now.

Come back soon for...

* Pictures from a trip to my sister's

* A firsthand account of what the inside of Carlo's Bakery (from the show Cake Boss!) looks like.  Because we went there!!!

* And an update on all things adoption.  I have not shared much, and I really want to get some things documented (because as my hubby reminded me, "you won't remember it when you're old") 

The things he says...

C: My kleenex is on the ground.  Could you get it?
Me: Here.  Maybe you should keep it next to your pillow.
C:  That's a good plan.  You're a genius.

After Daddy told him it was time to start learning to wipe his own booty after pooping...
"I'm not gonna let you do this to me!"

Daddy:  Throw your kleenex away.
C:  But, Mommy says I can use it more than one time before I do that.
Daddy:  That makes sense.  Mommy is smart.
C:  Yep.  You're a little smart, but not as smart as Mommy.
 

A visit from the folks

Hubby called me out last night when he whined from his laptop "No new posts?!?"  This coming from the same guy who conceals his amusement with a smirky little smile every time I mention the blog.  So, this post is not for you buddy!  It's for my parents.  Because I have pictures to share from their visit last month.

Nana and Papa brought Easter eggs!

 A trip to the park.

Where I realized why traditions are meant to be passed on.  It's why grandmother no longer bakes the pies at Christmas time.  You know, because her arthritis is bothering her and she'd rather just sit and watch her children's children do the baking...adding the ingredients by heart because they spent years helping her in the kitchen.  And Grandmother would be amazed that this thing called tradition began with her and would continue long after she is gone.  Ah, the beauty of the whole "passing the torch" thing.  Something my dad is not quite ready to embrace.  At least not when it comes to his underdog.
I don't know if he actually invented "the underdog," but when I was a little girl I was pretty much convinced that no dad was as cool as mine and could send their kid flying on a swing the way he could.  I must have done a good job convincing my dad of this, because it seems he still believes it! 
Which would probably explain why, after stumbling on his first attempt, he turned down my offer to execute the underdog (which, fyi, I do so perfectly) and try again.  This was the last picture I took of attempt #2 because after this, my dad was on the ground and C was headed that way.  Amazingly, my father sustained no injuries and was given a chance to redeem himself because C wanted him to try again.  I gave him an out, but he wanted his Papa. 

Maybe next time my dad will decide to leave it to the youngsters and take up a place on the park bench.  Whenever that time comes, rest assured Dad, you taught me well.  I got this. ;)

Speaking of traditions, I just can't plant flowers by myself.  I have fond memories of sitting on the front steps of my childhood home planting flowers with my dad.  (And when I say "with my dad" I mean that I sat next to my dad and always managed to keep my hands clean while performing the task of deciding which flower should go where.)

Hmm, it would seem that not much has changed.  Especially now that my dad has a helper who actually enjoys getting dirt under his nails.

 Yes, those are dining utensils.  That's how we roll.

 My little springtime patio.

 Taking the bike out for a spin.

C had been asking for awhile if when Nana and Papa came to see us we could take them to the place with the knights.

 Off to Medieval Times we went!

 Nana was not only talked into buying one of those cheap light up swords for C, but she also got duped into purchasing our "royal photo." :)

 Waiting for the train...headed to D.C.

 We rode around on one of those open-top tour buses.  It. was. awesome.  I mean, other than the fact that I wasn't able to walk two hundred miles and get really up close and personal with Abe Lincoln, and I really, really missed being able to read everything..because you know I'm a total history buff.  Other than all that, it was awesome. :)  C really enjoyed it too.  He wants to go back and do it again and get off at the space museum and the museum where "Mom they have dinosaurs and diamonds!"
 We took the route that went out to Arlington Cemetery so we actually drove on the highway. 

 It was a tad breezy.

 All tuckered out after a long day in the big city.

C and I both really enjoyed having my folks in town!

An adventure

I love my husband's adventurous spirit.

Without it we'd never go from lounging around in our pj's one minute to frantically scurrying around the house gathering up beach toys and bathing suits the next.

I've lost count of how many times I have simultaneously thrown my unwashed hair into a ponytail, hastily brushed my teeth, and scoured my closet for something to wear all while hubby hollers from downstairs, "Waitin' on you." 

And even though the part of me that loves a plan still grumbles a bit every time he comes up with one of his last minute schemes, I really do love him for it.

Because seriously?!? 

 

What could be more perfect than a Sunday afternoon spent at the beach?

Thanks babe!  I hope you never stop inviting me along for your adventures.

March for Babies 2011

Team Walking for Wesley raised $2,635 for the March of Dimes this year.  The mission of the March of Dimes is incredibly important to me.  And I am humbled by the fact that because it's important to me, it is also important to those close to me.

Like my sister, who is responsible for raising well over half of our team's donations. 
To anyone who donated...thank you.

You don't know how it touches me to know that we are not the only ones who remember our baby.  That there are others who think of him and would want to join us in keeping his memory alive...that is something special.  Thank you.


Georgia Day 7

Friday was hubby's graduation from Airborne school.  I was so glad that I was able to make the trip down with C to watch hubby jump and see him graduate. 

This was before the ceremony started and we were just milling around.  The company was marching by and we were searching for hubby.  Apparantley he thought we looked like creepers with all our crazy camera-ready staring so he hollered at us to get our attention.

C spent lots of time racing around these sidewalks before we found a spot on the bleachers.  I think he looks like such a big kid in these pictures. :(

The Silver Wings did a jump demonstration and it was really neat!

This is obviously a different kind of jump than what hubby did.  It's called halo (high altitude low opening) where they jump from much higher up, free fall before pulling their chutes, and have much smoother landings. ;)  Their parachutes are steerable so they pretty much just walked onto the ground right in between the bleachers.

The ceremony is starting.  This was one of my favorite parts where they all marched over singing cadence.

Hubby was in the front row!  (I told him it made up for being one of the last jumpers almost every time)  He's the 4th one from the left if you don't count the jump master in the black hat.

They "opened ranks" or in civilian terms "spread out" so family members would have room to come down and pin their wings on.

It was really neat to be able to pin his wings on and actually share a part of this whole experience with him.  I am so proud of my soldier.  He works hard and he's good at what he does.  I know he was happy to get to go to Airborne school, happy to graduate, and most of all, happy all of his chutes opened!!!

After the ceremony I walked across the field and took some pictures of the training areas.  These are mainly for hubby so he can remember what he went through. :)  But, feel free to keep scrolling down.

C getting some practice jumping out of the mock plane.

And then we started our long drive home to be back in time for the March for Babies the next morning.  Pictures from our walk coming soon...