Crash

My computer is down. So there may be some time between posts and pictures. I can check my email with Michael's computer but all of my pictures are on there! So many treasured pictures! Keep your fingers crossed that it is still under warranty!

Time for new toys?

I think boys are born with a need to push things around. I would love to read a study or a theory as to why this is. There has to be a reason other than they want to push toy cars around. Oliver's need to push is coming on strong. He will push anything he can get to move. He pushes all over the room and into the next. His latest choices, in order: a broom, a bag of pasta, and not pictured the dust pan and dust broom. He gets really mad when the broom gets up against the wall and he can't push it anymore so I have to turn it around. I think it's time for some new toys!!!! Don't worry baby boy, your Tonka Trucks are on their way!

Little brothers!

Brady came home from school yesterday and I set her backpack down to go through it. I opened her lunch box to see what she had eaten. She had a few Oreos left and I set the lunchbox down and didn't think anything else about it. Oliver is very curious these days and here is what unfolded:





Yeah, I know I won't be getting any mother of the year awards for not stopping it when I saw it all going down. But he was like a rabid dog when I tried to take the cookies away.
This kid really is everywhere! I was working in Brady's room when I watched him doing this:

I watched him go in head first. He protests every time I out him in his pack-n-play, but he willingly climbs into Brady's baby doll pack-n-play! Oh, little brothers! If she only knew that Bitty baby was in there the whole time she would be mad!

A++

I am very proud to boast that Brady earned an A++ on her first spelling test! I am really liking her teacher this year. She encourages parental involvement in the classroom. She uses positive reinforcement for jobs well done. In her class, having your name on the board is a great thing. It means that student has done something exceptional that day. She is very positive and upbeat. She always writes words of encouragement and praise on Brady's school work. And she has said wonderful things about my baby girl! No wonder I like her!
Sorry, just a bragging post from a proud mama!

Here Kitty, Kitty

So this post really isn't about Fuji or Ruby (the cats) but these pictures always crack me up. Oliver has said his first word. I was on the phone with my mother trying to get Oliver to say kitty, kitty. He has been just making the kkkkk sounds. Well I said, "Oliver can you say kitty, kitty?" And he said in a soft voice, "kitty, kitty." That is nooooo lie! My mother heard him too. You can ask her! He has said da da da da da da for a while now. But I don't count that so much as his first word because it is a progression of babbling. Oliver is such a ham. As soon as he knows he has an audience he really entertains. I asked Michael to bring home the video camera from work so we can capture this on film. I will share when I can.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Leebug! Enjoy your day with Jon and Zoe and know that we will be thinking of you. Michael and I will help you celebrate tonight with some blueberry moonshine and David Gray. I love you my friend!

Life is a whirlwind.

I have been busy and lazy. Confused? Well, I have a lot going on and there are days when I don't feel like doing anything. I am now the homeroom parent for Brady's class. I kinda fell into this position and still haven't learned how to say no. I worked last week and with soccer and tumbling and general Mommy duties I feel like I never have time to post. And when I do, I don't have the energy. I have lots of pictures to share so I will get to the good stuff.
The Uhrigs came to watch the Steeler's season opener with us a couple of weekend ago. Hayden is 10 weeks younger than Oliver. He is more laid back than Oliver and can patty cake already. I mean really patty cake. All I had to do was say patty cake and he clapped his hands together. VERY impressive for a 7 month old. Michael and I were inspired to teach Oliver to patty cake and he just laughs and looks at us like we are idiots when we show him how to "patty cake". Oliver was very into checking Hayden out. I didn't get very good pictures but do have a few to share.


Soccer is about halfway through the season. I think our team has more losses than wins. I also think we are a little dysfunctional. We have one kid who is a great runner but doesn't take direction well. Another kid has a very intense "soccer Dad" who yells all through the game. All the kids tend to stand back and wait for the other team to bring the ball down the field instead of aggressively trying to take the ball away from them. At least they seem to be having a good time.


Yesterday I met with Amanda, Tiffany and kids for lunch at Bob Evans. We are exactly the type of group I would have dreaded to wait on. That was before I had kids of course. Our lunch consisted of a smattering conversation while we fed the kids and somehow managed to quickly inhale our food. At least that is how it felt. Oliver ate and then was done. He wanted out of the chair and down on the floor. Time to go! He is now taking a step or two. Last night I was running his bath and he walked around the potty and let go and took two steps. Slow down there buddy! Daddy and I are in noooo rush for you to walk!
Dulcie came home with us after school for a play date with Brady. I had to share this picture of them. They had a blast playing together. Aren't they both knockouts?

A few pictures...

I don't have any of my own pictures of Ellen's wedding to post, so I stole a few that she sent me. I thought these were great!

Please drive with your lights on.

On Tuesday, September 11. I am not sure if there is an email circulating about this but another flight attendant posted a message about it on my flight attendant forum. Drive with your lights on to say, "We will never forget. Never." The first people to die that day were the flight attendants. That hits pretty close to home for me. I was home on maternity leave with Brady when the towers were hit. I won't go into more. Please drive with your lights on.
That brings me to another subject. I officially resigned from Northwest Airlines. I hated doing it. I just ended a 9+ year relationship and it hurts. But my kids are only little for so long and I can't be away from them anymore. Michael tried to help by pointing out the pros. I came up with some of my own: No more phone calls with a little voice on the other end sobbing and hyperventilating wanting me to come home. No more missed birthdays, PTA meetings, Christmas, or school programs. It was hard on my ladybug when I was gone. She once told me, "When you were gone for eight days I cried for you two times." I hated those long stretches. Plus I know people just don't do things the way your mom would. I remember when I was little and my mom would leave. I HATED it. I will continue to work at Wheeling Island. Sadly, I think I will earn as much or more there, than I would have at Northwest. AND work less days. But you should see the look on people's faces when I tell them I work at the track. I wish people weren't so shallow.
I believe all things happen for a reason. All this is part of God's plan for me. And I would never question Him.
On to brighter subjects! The Mountaineers pulled it off yesterday! Woohoo! I was so nervous at half time I had to go clean the bathroom. (maybe they should have a bad first half more often ;0)) As I got in the shower I heard Michael say they tied it up. And then the second half, POW! Yeah baby! The Herd got whooped 48-23.
I thought I would share this video. Be sure to stop it when the screen goes black unless you like Metallica!

A Special Thank YOU!

I am not even sure if they read this blog. But, in case you do I wanted to say a huge Thank YOU to: Betty, Al, Amy, Jeff, Linda, Will and sweet little Erin. You were wonderful to help with Oliver on the day of the wedding. And we all know he can be a handful! I would have been completely lost without you. If I can return the favor in any way, please don't hesitate to ask!
Thanks again!

We have returned!

Our journey to Ellen's wedding went very well. The first day couldn't have been smoother. We did lose Brady's beloved Little Bear at the PIT airport. He was very sweetly mailed home by a USAir employee after she heard our dilemma and Brady's distress. Brady wanted to leave for home on our first night so she could look for him. After many tears and a good night's sleep she was feeling better.
We spent our Friday on the beach. Well, Oliver stayed with Daddy at the condo because he was asleep. Brady and I had a blast while she rode her boogie board and we played in the ocean. That night was the rehearsal dinner. I think they had every option you could imagine to choose from. We definitely never lacked for food at the rehearsal or the wedding! We finished with the dinner early so my sister-in-law Steph and I decided to venture with Noreen and the girls and check out some of the shops in the area. After a few shops and an arcade, we headed to another shop and ran across a place called Maze Mania. We had a blast at this place! We entered the maze and 41 minutes later we emerged through the starting side because we couldn't find the exit! I highly recommend taking your children to one of these.
Saturday morning we headed for the kid friendly pool at the resort. The weather was cloudy, but with kids ya gotta keep them occupied! This pool has a lazy river around the perimeter. The pool had large buckets that filled with water and then would dump over, pouring gallons of water onto whomever was brave enough to stand there.


After the pool, we headed back to help Ellen celebrate her big day. I didn't manage to get any pictured because I was in the wedding. The photographer said she would email me some so that I could buy them if I wanted. The wedding was held on the beach. It was almost held inside b/c they were afraid of rain. Roger insisted on the beach and I am glad he did. I loved the sound of the waves crashing in the background. Michael was to play guitar and sing while Ellen walked down the aisle. The guy who was supposed to bring the guitar didn't and Michael had to sing a capella. He did a great job. I think they had the ceremony of their dreams, with the beach and all. I managed not to cry but had to tell myself silly or sad things in order not to.
The reception was beautiful I don't know how she pulled all of this off living three hours away from the wedding site! She truly did a beautiful and elegant job.
Sunday was the day we were supposed to spend on the beach. We got there and tried to use an EZ up so that we had shade but the wind was too powerful that day. The waves were huge and rough. I wouldn't let Brady go above her ankles. I ended up taking Oliver back to the condo. It was just too much for him. We went out to dinner that night and afterwards Steph and I took the girls to Maze Mania again. We just love that place! I told Brady it was just like Survivor.
In all we had a great time. We got to spend a lot of time with Michael's nieces and family and Pap and Noreen. Except for Pap and Noreen, we usually only get to see them once or twice a year. Pap and Oliver got to hang out. I truly think that Oliver has his Pap's heart. Wrapped right around his little, chubby finger. Correct me if I am wrong Pap!
There were too many pictures to post so I made a montage:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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