Sunday Family Time

A couple weekends ago we were able to take advantage of some unscheduled time to have some fun as a family.  It was very windy out so we took down the big Dragon kite and headed up to the field.

Dragon Boy

Up, up, and...well, that's as good as it got.

The wind was actually TOO strong and unpredictable.  We just couldn't get the kite high enough to get in a good steady wind.  We had a ton of fun trying though!

Later in the day we headed over to Southlands to walk around.  We went into Barnes and Noble for a Starbucks and looked a little at the books.  Since it was a Sunday night there weren't many businesses open or people out and about.  It was nice out, but not very warm.

Just try keeping this one out of the water!

Getting chased by Sissy.

 

She wasn't interested in getting in on the action...smart girl.

She was soaked!

On Friendship and Similairity

I've always been shy.  I honestly don't know how I managed to make friends growing up since I was not an initiator in any way.  My childhood friends must have tried really hard to befriend me.  In early elementary school I had 2 good friends.  Kristy and Tawnya.  We did everything together.  Kristy's grandparents lived a couple houses up the street from me and we hung out a lot, even after her family moved far away.  Tawnya was being raised by a single Dad in the 80's (not a very common occurrence in that day and age), just like me.  We were best friends all through elementary school and stayed in touch for a long time afterwards, even though my family had moved across town. Even now we are friends on FB and I love hearing about all the great things she is doing for our youth in a neighboring city.

Kristy and Tawnya each had one brother, just like me.  Kristy's brother died in an auto accident while he was in high school.  Tawnya's brother also died due to an auto accident when he was way too young.  At the time I learned Tawnya's brother had died my brother, Merle, was serving in the US Navy in Bahrain.  I was so scared something would happen to him and I would lose him.  I am so thankful that he is here with us still and it is always in the back of my mind that I can't EVER take him for granted.

I love you Merle!  Thank you for being my brother.  I promise to always be thankful for you and never take your presence in my life for granted.

   

This post was inspired by Saturday Night Widows by Becky Aikman. After being kicked out of her widow support group for being too young, Becky creates her own support group with an unusual twist. Join From Left to Write on February 14 as we discuss Saturday Night Widows. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes. 

Author Q&A with Becky Aikman hosted by From Left to Write Editor Thien-Kim Lam.  Check it out, but be careful, there are spoilers towards the end.

Birthday Celebration

We had Sheri, Stef, and Steve over for dinner Friday evening to celebrate mine, Justin, and Adam's birthdays.  Justin grilled up some hamburgers to go with the potato salad, baked beans, and chips that they brought with them.  We also enjoyed yummy marble cake.

The kids recently got Apples to Apples Junior so we played a rousing game, LOL!  There are a lot of food cards in there and I seemed to get them all.  It got to the point that anytime a food was put down everyone looked at me!  We had a great time and need to do it again soon.  Thanks again for coming down to spend the evening with us!

I hadn't realized Noelle was taking pictures of the evening until I unloaded the camera this morning.  Some are blurry since it was Noelle taking pics.

Auntie Stef

 Stef and Steve

(Also, it might be time to take down the birthday stuff from Adam's party a month ago.)

I was clueless as to what was going on!!

I guess the forks were interesting?

 

LOL!!

Lily and her Auntie Stef!  (I actually took this one.)  She was SOOO tired from a busy afternoon and evening.  Every time anyone but myself or J held her she got all pouty and started crying.  Poor kiddo.

Apples to Apples

Adam enjoys the game Apples to Apples just as much as he enjoys game nights at home.  I really do need to pick up the junior version though.  Thank goodness he is not a very inquisitive kid and Noelle was so distracted with her snack that she didn't listen much to what was being read.  We had coke, and not the drink kind, come up tonight and Adam read the bottom of the card and just moved on.  Thank goodness!  I had several cards in my hand that I just wasn't willing to play out of fear of having to explain things I'm not comfortable with explaining yet.  I'm a wimp and I know it.  But they only get one childhood and once chance at innocence, why rush it??

Even though Noelle has her own hand of cards Justin helped her with what they say.  She chooses her card all on her own though.

Decisions, decisions.

I thought this was a particularly good set.

 Cut & Dried.  Way to play up what the card says sweetie!

Noelle had the green card this round and this was her final pick.  LOL!

I've been trying out s'mores crescents to get the flavor just right for Noelle's party next weekend.  These have mini marshmallows and semi sweet chocolate chips inside,  Very yummy and very sweet.

Playing Catch Up

I need more energy, time would be nice too!  There’s just no other way to say it.  Our week was really busy with work, family time, appointments, and commitments.

I LOVE my work as a Nanny.  That doesn’t mean I enjoy every minute of it though.  Little Evan, who is 5 months old now, is normally such a mild tempered , sweet, happy baby.  He spent last week with some teething pain though, which in turn made my job so much harder.  A cranky baby usually just wants to be held and walked around with.  Movement is NOT my strong suit right now, so walking around the house endlessly with a 14 pound baby is not fun and is actually pretty painful for me.  I feel sad that I can’t even talk him for long walks, only a quick walk to the park once or twice a week.  My pelvis just can’t handle more than that.  As part of my current contract I also cook a few meals a week for Evan’s dad who is on a SlimGenics program.  The meals are usually very easy and I follow a recipe, but it does put me on my feet when Evan is napping.  It has been a learning experience for me as well.  I am NOT a cook, especially when it comes to meat.  He hasn’t complained so far though!!

We were able to see many family members this last week.  We had dinner with my Dad on Tuesday and Justin’s sister Jenna on Thursday.    We hadn’t seen either of them in about 2 months so it was really nice to catch up.  My Dad let Adam pick a place to go to dinner so we ended up at Chile’s.  It was nice to get out and not have to cook or clean up, plus they serve a pasta dish with white sauce and shrimp that I really like!  We had Jenna to our house for hamburgers and corn on the cob (a staple in our house this time of year).  Jenna traveled overseas alone this summer and shared lots of great stories of her time abroad with us.  The kids spent all day Saturday with Grandma Sheri as well as getting to see Grandpa Ron for a while too.  I heard stories of Chuck E. Cheese and Power Wheels!  It sounded like they had a good time.  We are so thankful for all of our family and wish we could spend more time with them.

Justin and Adam played hooky from work and school on Friday in order to go to the big ultrasound appointment with Noelle and me.  There is only one baby and it’s a girl!!  I will write a separate post with all the details!  We went to lunch at Chick-fil-a afterwards and then shopping at Babies-R-Us.  We picked out a crib, changing table, and rear facing car seat for the baby.  Justin and I also found a bedding set we love and picked out a sheet, valance, and changing pad cover for her little nook in our room.  I will pick out fabric and make a few more sheet, curtain, and maybe a couple more changing pad covers to finish the space.  I think we are going to make a butterfly mobile that hangs from the ceiling as well.  Getting so excited for another child to join our family!!

I attended Bloggy Boot Camp on Saturday while Justin rested at home and the kids kept Grandma busy.  I had a fun time and will write a post all about it!  On Sunday Justin and the kids celebrated Max’s Baptism and I spent the day working with Bianca.

I’m not sure I’m ready for a new week, but I don’t have a choice in it do I?!  I do think this week will be a lot more relaxing though and our family, not to mention the house, are ready for that.

Family Nights

Justin and Adam decided on a movie night tonight and picked up Eragon and The Seeker while they were at the store.  They also got some fun snacks and dinner foods.  We ended up with 7-up, a variety of popcorn, spinach artichoke purses, mini crab cakes, mini corn dogs, mozzarella sticks, and dippin' dot style ice cream.  The movies were good even though Noelle was a little scared by The Seeker.  It was a nice treat and a VERY relaxing evening were I had a good excuse to keep my feet up all night.  LOL!  Oh, and I think this may have been Noelle's first time truly drinking from a can.  She LOVED it!  The most soda the kids ever get is sharing with J and I at Tokyo Joes or a few sips if they happen to ask (which Noelle will do rarely).  So having their own small can of 7-up was pretty special.

Noelle fully relaxed while watching The Seeker.

All of a sudden Adam has been really wanting to do game nights.  He has been allowed to participate in a small way when we have friends over for the last few months, but it doesn't happen very often that we are hosting on a regular game night.  It has been challenging since Adam can read and likes to play more mature games such as Apples to Apples.  It's a great game for his vocabulary and I think I will into if there is a kid version we can get for Christmas.  Clearly Noelle can't really play a game like that so she doesn't have as much fun and we have to be sure to also play games she can easily do without having an adult partner.  She is fond of Monopoly Jr. and matching games.


I work with Bianca on Sunday so who knows what Justin and the kids will do, besides the grocery shopping.  I do know that Justin wants/needs to build a table/shelf for his trunk to sit on top of so it can be moved and not be in the middle of the room.  He needs something to raise it off the floor since the spot it is going to is over a vent in our bedroom.  It will be interesting to see what he is able to build.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!!