Thanksgiving Vacation - Destin, FL

We packed up the car and made the 11+ hour to Destin, FL to meet up with my side of the family for Thanksgiving. Uncle Wes has a really nice house just two blocks from the ocean. We had visions of days spent lounging on the beach, instead there were record lows :(

We had promised the kids that as soon as we got to Uncle Wes's place we would immediately go to the beach. Staying true to our word we parked the car, took a tour of the house and headed to the beach. It was almost dark and not more then 50 degrees, but my kids stripped down to undies and headed for the water.

Wes lives in a great location that has lots of high end shops as well as outlets close by. Since it was too cold to swim we spent alot of time shopping. Shopping, eating and just hanging with family. Omi and Papa as well as Uncle Andy were also at Uncle Wes's pad. There was always someone to entertain one of my kids and for me that was a treat! Another treat was that Uncle Wes likes to eat really good food (and is a damn fine cook) and drink really yummy wine. I was lovin the Destin accomodations for sure!

Join me if you will in a picture recap of our trip...

We drove as far as Atlanta the first day and then stayed at a hotel right by the airport. The kids were able to see one of the runways from our room.


Settling in for a quick show before lights out (who are we kidding, Drew is the LAST to fall asleep in a hotel room!)

Drew also did not sleep on his air mattress but instead slept in his pack-n-play. I want it noted that was his choice as he is clearly too big for it - that was also his last trip of using a pack-n-play.

The Beach. It was so cold. I have no idea how the kids were able to be wearing swimsuits. I should have taken pictures of the people walking by wearing Uggs and winter coats staring at my kids in disbelief.








Check out this Baywatch shot...


And his wind blown hair (cold and windy!)


I love this shot. I have no idea why he started crying, but it wasn't because he was hurt but rather something along the lines of "a wave washed away my sand castle" type thing?


We played at the outdoor mall playground numerous times.


Drew got to make his first Build A Bear creation. He LOVED it. Meet Beary Bear and Brown Sugar.


We took a trip to Bass Pro and met up with the big guy himself. I had NO idea that he was there, or that both my kids would be so anxious to sit on his lap. ...if I would have known then I would have put them in something much cuter!


Izzy was also able to snuggle up with her most favorite Christmas character.


The day after Christmas we decorated Uncle Wes's Christmas tree.


We went to visit some of my brother's friends and watch the sunset and ran into a balloon making pirate.


Finally, we were going to get some family pictures with the water setting out over the Gulf, only to have my camera die after this shot. I am really sad because this would have been a really good picture of all of us - the only one who isn't looking/smiling is Drew (he is doing his super hero pose). Look through the blur of the photo - what do you see? Those are some damn fine lookin folk!


Thanks so much Uncle Wes! Your place is fantastic and you are a most fabulous host! We love you!!!

Fun New Toy

The kids were being extra independent today - probably had something to do with the fact that they were both playing online computer games (and at times the same game). It was the perfect opportunity for me to get a look at my new toy.

Some might recall that I was "given" a new camera last year for my 35th birthday. I was having a hard time figuring out whether I wanted a Cannon or a Nikon and finally settled on the Nikon. Well, I guess I was taking too long to buy one cause Pete just up and bought me one for Christmas. He got me the Nikon D60. I am super excited to learn how to use it.

Since I had not intended to really look at the camera today, and didn't know how much time the kids would allow me...I simply took the same picture on a few different settings. I think I have lots to learn.

Here they are: Izzy on the computer using the tv screen as the monitor and Drew on my laptop. I can't even tell you what the settings were, other then the b/w one? And what is up with the flash? Oh well. Like I said, lots to learn.











After I figure out how to use my camera, I hope to learn how to use the fancy schmancy photoshop that Pete got me loooooonnnnnngggg ago!

Quick Trip to Charleston

I'm back and ready to blog! I am just thankful that the Geek Squad was able to fix the computer so I didn't have to buy a new one. There is SO much to catch up on (honestly I still have stuff from Halloween) but due to being so far behind the goal is just to hit the highlights. There will probably be no rhyme or reason to the order of entries - just hoping to knock them all out.

Beginning with our most recent outing (and probably the shortest entry) let's get started!

The Monday after Christmas we decided to take a house hunting trip to Charleston. The plan is for the kids and I to join Pete there full time in Feb/March. The purpose of this trip was to look at apartments and houses. We were hoping to get a better feel for various communities and possibility rule some out as well. My goal is to be in a house, or have an offer on one (due to so many short sales these days a closing could take 4 months) by the time the kids start school in the fall.

We looked at houses all day Tuesday (which also happened to be my birthday) and the kids did surprising well. It helped that 50% of the houses were vacant so they could just run loose. At one house we walked into a room and a drawer of jewelry was open and I immediately asked which kid did it (neither did). Really is it that hard to keep your hands to yourself and not touch, run, jump or play with anything???? The answer is YEP if you are 3 or 4 :)

Tuesday night we went out to dinner at a restaurant recommended by the bartender at the hotel. We wanted steak and seafood (it was my birthday) and she suggested one and said it was kid friendly. We should have known as soon as we walked in that we were in trouble. White linens, candle light, and soft live music isn't exactly kid friendly in my book. It was an a la carte menu - not one that came with crayons. We lucked out and it was rather empty, perhaps because it was 8:30, and the kids did really well.

Wednesday we looked at a few more houses, but the highlight of the day was our carriage ride through Charleston. On our last trip to Charleston we told the kids we would take a carriage ride, but due to discipline issues with Izzy we had to skip it. I tried to get out of it this go around as well because it was SO cold! No such luck. We ate lunch at Bubba Gump's and then reserved a carriage. We decided to splurge and do the private carriage and I am glad we did. There is no way a bunch of other people would have wanted to listen to our kids sing, wave, yell at pedestrians, and discuss the bodily functions of the horse.

Super excited while waiting for our carriage:


Look at these faces:


Peering through a gate to see:


Baby goats!


Pete ran off saying he had a surprise for me after we reserved our carriage. I had no idea what it was, but my mind started racing. Maybe he bumped into someone we knew while he went off to feed the meter? Maybe my parents drove up for the day - it was the day after my birthday? Maybe he was getting us hot chocolate for the carriage ride?

Look...


Did you notice the lower right hand corner?


It was PERFECT! Mochas for us and hot chocolate for the kiddos. I was a really special experience for me. Izzy was excited because we were in a princess carriage. Drew was excited cause the horse could poop at any moment (there is a bag that hangs under the horse to catch the poop so it doesn't drop into the street. Not only might the horse poop, but it will drop into a plastic bag! Exciting stuff for a 3 year old boy). I was just happy to have my family around, be under a warm blanket sipping Starbucks, and learning some history about Charleston.

Izzy spotted this house which had an address of 87 1/2 and dubbed it her most favorite house ever. Isn't it so cute? It is smack dab between two big 'ole houses.


After our carriage ride we headed back to Greensboro.






Pete and I both felt really good about how the trip went. We have a better understanding of where we want to live and what we are looking for in a house and development. If only money were no object :) Now we need to figure out how to sell our house here so that we don't have to live in a two bedroom Residence Inn for too long! ...yes, you read that correctly, we are going to take up residency in a Residence Inn, but that is a story for another day :)

An Update

I really did not know how many folks followed this lil ole blog until I stopped posting. Suddenly my phone has started ringing again, and my email box fills up. Imagine that, by not having a blog people actually have to reach out to me!

So, here is the scoop. I was way behind in blog posts to begin with - heck, I don't even think I ever did Halloween? For Thanksgiving we went to Destin, FL with my family (my younger brother lives there), and while there my stepdad spilled diet coke on my computer. I have been without my laptop for quite a long time, hence my lack of posts. I don't think you all realize the monstrosity of a house I live in, but for me to go all the way to the basement to use that computer...well, that is just plain ridiculous!

The Geek Squad promises to have my computer back before Christmas, and then get ready for some serious updates.

In the meantime, just know we have been VERY busy! We are holiday crafting fools and make huge messes daily with glue, glitter, dough, and paper.

- I am VERY behind on both shopping and cards. The only shopping that I have almost finished is that for the kids. I know what I am buying everyone else, but not sure if by the time I actually make those purchases and mail them if they will arrive on time?

- We had a second house showing last week and are expecting a contingent offer.

- I almost want to call Drew potty trained. He began wearing big boy undies last Wednesday, and has only had one accident since. It was a big one, involving me finding him with two turds in his hand (right after a bath), but he is doing GREAT!

- Drew is still beyond gross. He loves to smell butts and feet. Today I saw him "rolling" something between his fingers. I asked what it was and he told me a booger. I stood up to get a tissue and he popped it in his mouth! I told him that was gross and he told me that he always eats his boogers. Great.

- After a rough 48 hours with Izzy after returning home from FL she is back to being her great self. She really is a great kid and an awesome big sister. The kids have been playing SO well together recently. I swear they are twins born 18 months apart.

Okay, that is all for now...

Sibling Sing-A-Long

I am kind of bummed that we will be missing the kids Thanksgiving Feast program at school due to travel plans that day. It would have been fun to see both kids dressed in the costumes they created at school and singing together on stage.

Tonight they gave us a sneak peek at one of the songs we will be missing.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tuesday

Tuesday has become my favorite weekday...and probably the kids as well.

Izzy loves Tuesdays because it is her longest school day. She has school, followed by lunch bunch, followed by 88's (her music class). I really think she would go to school all day if I let her.

Drew loves Tuesdays he does NOT have school, and gets to hang with just me from 9-2. We play, clean, play, run errands, and play some more.

By the time the kids are reunited they just want to play together. ...and usually get along quite well. So, we all hang out and do whatever for 2 hours and then...

We go to the gym! I work out and the kids go to the childcare room. In my world this is huge. Those that know my kids know that they don't separate from me well. I use to try and try and try some more to get them to stay in the childcare center, but after 10 minutes of crying I was called to retrieve them. I believe the reason they do okay now is for a couple reasons: one, they have one another; and two, we go to McDonalds after.

Tuesday night at McDonalds is $1.99 Happy Meal Night. I feed both kids for $4.50. Not bad, not bad.

So here was our Tuesday today. After we got Izzy from school the kids decided to watch a movie we got at Redbox. Taking pictures after they have been apart for 6 hours is easy because Drew won't get away from Izzy and she doesn't seem to mind him crawling all over her.







He also has a fascination with scents and smelling...it is a bit disturbing to say the least. His favorite things to smell are feet and bottoms. Like I said, disturbing. (notice that Izzy is grinning as he does this - also weird.)



So after the movie we joined mainstream society ...we made spritz cookies. I recently purchased a cookie press from a Pampered Chef party. I've never owned one, but always wanted one :) Izzy helped me mix. Her job was to scrape down the sides of the bowl (note to self - next time use the Kitchen Aid mixer).



I like the two fisted scrape being used here.



They were really fun to make. I only came away with a few decent looking cookies though cause the kids insisted on using all 9 covers. It takes 3-4 cookies to get into a grove, so as soon as I made 3-4 more it was time to switch. Oh well...we've got big plans for colored dough and sprinkles to be used next time.

Here are the fruits of our labor...tray 1, 2 and 3






The cookies tasted decent. I bet there are better recipes out there though, so if you have one then send it my way!

tidbits

Drew: while watching the previews for a new movie he says, "this is like a zilly-ion (zillion) commercials!" He then concentrates really hard, looks at his fingers and begins counting, "One, two, three, four, five." Thankfully he then stopped and didn't try counting to a zilly-ion.

Izzy having a brain fart when trying to recall the word "marker"...she referred to it as a "crayon with juice in it".

While swimming in the pool at the Atlanta hotel, the kids made some friends...Drew comes up to me and says, "Wook Mom, me an Izzy are pay-in wiff does kids over dere ...da ones dat wook wike choco-wit." Great Drew ;)

Drew out of nowhere says to me, "Mom, I just ate my booger, just so you know." ...thanks Drew.