Sunday, September 28, 2008

New Toys!

I got my new camera this weekend! SO FUN! For a number of reasons, we opted out of the original plan to get the Canon and we went with the Sony a200 instead. Its easy to use, takes great shots, and not too hard to truck around with.


Here are a couple of samples of my "learning" this weekend. So fun!

Friday, September 26, 2008

She should be napping...




...but she's not.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Counting the days...

...until my birthday present arrives...


Isn't it beautiful?!

"My back is broken!"

As I've mentioned before, I work for a chiropractic clinic which is super fun and very interesting. I'm always learning new stuff!

However, the most entertaining thing is trying to explain to my three year old son what happens at the clinic. He likes to inform me, "Momma, my back is broken. Can we go to momma's work and Dotter Hulsey or Dotter Hartwell fix it?"

Usually, I say no--as much as I love the place, who wants to go to work on their day off? However, today, I figured Andrew could use a little adjustment. Plus, he and Tori are fighting this gross snotty nose/nagging cough kind of cold and, as we learned last spring when I started working there, having an adjustment can open up the lungs and make it more difficult for the cold to settle into Pneumonia. SO...he told me, "Momma, my back is broken. Dotter Hartwell needs to fix it."

We headed in and Dr. Hartwell did his thing and Andrew was VERY excited about all the "popcorn" he heard come out of his back. We headed back to the car and, just as someone was walking by, he leaned over and said, "Momma! Look! My back is not broken! Dotter Hartwell put it back together!" The lady walking by cracked up and said, "That's good news! Maybe I should go see a good chiropractor!"

Tori also had her first adjustment. She didn't cry (impressive!) and even let out a little giggle when we were all done. We got in the car and, after watching Andrew show me his back, she decided to do the same thing. Then she rubbed her back (where Andrew was rubbing his) and said, "Not boken."

My kids make me laugh!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Look at him go!

Now that we've got him convinced the water is shark-free, he's ready to go!



Friday, September 19, 2008

How do you keep a 3 year old still?



Promise him cake in three minutes out of the microwave! Yep, it works! And it was YUMMY!



MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Thursday 13

13 things that made me smile this week:

1. Andrew had a successful trip to the pool yesterday and came away excited to return to swimming lessons next week!

2. My hubby. He just makes me laugh with all his stories about his students.

3. It started out being a bit of a rough week at work but, I think, will smooth out a little bit today.

4. Reading M.O.M.'s post about her meeting regarding their son "Baby D." God is good. You should read it.


5. Tori is using the potty almost every time she has to pooh. WAHOO!

6. Coffee. Coffee just makes me happy.

7. I was delivering a Mocha to Mark at school (middle school) and was mistaken for a student. "Excuse me, young lady, what class are you supposed to be in?" "My husband's Science class." SO FUNNY when that happens. Going to be 28 this weekend and I got mistaken for a 12 year old. NICE!

8. I got my nails done Monday and the gal who did them actually understood what I meant when I said, "I need them short. I type at work." Yay!

9. One of the patients at the clinic brought us sunflowers from his garden. They're just so cheery!

10. Tori hugged me last night and said, "I got momma!"

11. Andrew said, "Momma, I sorry I threw a fit. I will try not to next time you say no."

12. Our favorite park is (finally) open again after Summer construction and I took the kids twice so far this week. We'll probably go again tomorrow!

13. My birthday is coming up. WAHOO!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Successful Wednesday!

We went to swimming lessons early today and watched the "little penguins swim team" finish up their practice. We talked about how much fun they were having, how cool their goggles looked (or, as Andrew calls them "water sunglasses") and why they wear swim caps.

He said, "Momma! I want to swim!"

And...he did! Success! He got in the water, he splashed, he kicked, he got all excited about it, and then he stepped off the platform. Because his instructor was holding another child, he went right under! WAHOO! He was a little startled but got over it pretty fast. I just clapped my hands and gave him a thumbs-up and he was good to go!

On the way home he said, "Momma, I didn't see a shark in that pool. YOU could go swimming there!" I swear, on my honor, I have never knowingly mentioned my fear of sharks to him. HOW DOES HE KNOW?!

Sadly, Mommy is a yah-hoo and left the camera at home. Pictures next time!

Monday, September 15, 2008

The one where Andrew is my son...

So, you may remember me mentioning my fear of sharks. Yes, I have a TOTALLY irrational fear of these creatures. But, come on! These guys are scary!



Andrew started swimming lessons tonight. We've been talking about it for weeks and he was all excited to go. Well, that is, until he got out there and saw the big pool. He refused to go in. Mark tried and tried, but he wouldn't do it. After I got home from work and talked a little bit more about it with Andrew, I figured out why.

"Momma, there are sharks! I can't get in the water--the sharks are scary!"

*HEAVY SIGH*

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he is MY son.

After talking a lot about it, he has agreed (for now) to try getting in the pool at his next lesson Wednesday night.

Here's hoping!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

My dad was remembering...

Dad TRIED to get these on his blog but, for whatever reason, they wouldn't work. I had a little down time this morning and figured I would give it a go. Here ya go, Dad! ENJOY!



Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

Andrew at 4 weeks old:




Tori at 4 weeks old:



Monday, September 8, 2008

Great Ba-Pa Cooke!

We had dinner with my grandpa Friday night and then watched him be the "guest preacher" at a nearby church. It was great to spend some time with him! My kiddos love him and we love hearing him preach. He's just a good preacher!




We also had a chance to visit with my grandpa's sister, Margaret. She wanted so badly to hold Tori but I wasn't sure she could handle it. She didn't do too badly considering Tori is almost as big as she is! HA!


I had so much fun remembering past road trips with my grandparents and talking with Grandpa about life with my grandma. Made me miss Grandma, but it was also a good kind of "therapy" to remember her a little bit more.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Breakin' the rules!

Yep, I broke the number one rule of parenting a girl. I cut her hair. I just couldn't deal with the frizzy baby mullett! We went to see Kari, a friend of a friend, and Kari was AWESOME.

Yes, Tori now looks more like a boy. But when her hair does grow some more, it will be more even and look a little thicker.






Andrew wasn't all that impressed with Tori's hair cut. But he DID like the chair...


And, yeah...I don't have an "after" picture yet. We ran by Mark's school, swung by my office, came home, ate lunch and headed straight for naps.

Oh no...

I was feeling really motivated today and doing some laundry. Andrew decided to "help" when he threw in a pair of my jeans and I forgot to check the pockets.

Washed my cell phone. When we were transferring wet clothes to the dryer(Andrew likes to "help" with that part, too) we saw the cell phone in the bottom of the washing machine and Andrew said, "Look, Momma! Your phone had a bath!"

Yes, yes it did. Good observation, Andrew. *sigh*

Rumor has it, if you soak a cell phone and its battery in a mixing bowl full of rice, it will dry out and work 24 hours later. My phone and battery are currently "rice bathing" for the next day. Pray for full recovery. I really don't want to have to buy a new phone. Its so NOT something we budgeted for this month!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Thursday 13

13 reasons I'm excited for my upcoming birthday:

1. I'm running a race, which I haven't done in a very long time. It's a 5K so it's short, but it will be a blast!

2. Its on a Sunday. I don't have to work and I get to hang out with my fam all day!

3. I'm running the race with my momma and my friend, Stacy.

4. My hubby wants to take me out to dinner the night before.

5. Andrew understands birthdays and is getting just as excited as I am.

6. Presents! Enough said. Yes, I am a total child on that level. Bring on the presents! WAHOO!

7. I'm going to be old enough to be taken seriously but young enough to still act like an immature child and get away with it. HA!

8. It just feels like its going to be a really good year. I can't explain it. It just does.

9. I get to get up freakishly early and run a race. Did I mention I'm excited about this race? Get up, put on my running shoes, register at the tent, get my number...ahhhh...I can't wait!

10. I'm a grown up. For some reason, birthdays kind of feel more fun when you're a grown up. Is that weird?

11. I actually work with people I want to share with them when my birthday is. I know this is really odd, but I've worked places in the past where I didn't want them to know when it was.

12. I'm NOT pregnant. Yes, it has happened where I've found out right around (or on!!) my birthday that I was pregnant. Twice.

13. That race...that will be super fun!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Monday, September 1, 2008

Dahlias!

We took the kiddos to the local dahlia festival and let them check out all the colors and different flowers. We had a great time.
There was plenty of space for the kiddos to run their energy out which was great. We are always looking for ways to do that!

We checked out all the names of the different kinds of flowers and "Double Trouble" seemed quite appropriate for our house. Tori wasn't sure about that...

We let Andrew finish the trip by choosing a bundle to take home. He chose the "Dark Puuuuurrrrple" ones. He thought they were the best ones.


It should come as no surprise that Tori's souvenir was edible. She freaked out just a little bit when she saw someone else eating kettle corn. So we decided to get her a bag. Or two.


Now its back to work, back to school and back to daycare tomorrow...