Lettuce Be Glad

search history

2012-02-13T22:41:00.003-05:00

Tonight I used Google to research a feature on my stove.
Except that when I started typing, another recent search popped up before my eyes.

"how to talk to girls when you are 9"

I blinked, read it again and ran to find Jon.
All the while fighting back the tears.
As you might imagine, Jon was of no help.

This search happens to coincide with a request on the way home to stop and get some Sour Patch Kids for "Meghan".

Here is what I know about Meghan.

1) She's 9 too.
2) He's not sure whether she has any pets-
3) She has the glossiest brown hair and brown eyes.
4) Her favorite candy is Sour Patch Kids.

There are so many things running through my head....
The biggest one?

STOP GROWING UP SO FAST!!!!!

I need you to be little and snuggly like this pic from 3 years ago for a while longer (like maybe 20 more years!)

All things taken into account, it could be way worse......
Sigh.

Before & After (the kitchen)

2012-02-13T01:51:00.001-05:00

On the day we looked at houses, we saw 8.
Our house was the 2nd one and we knew as soon as we walked in that 'THIS WAS THE ONE'.
I tried to keep an open mind, but at the end of the day, we tallied our votes (Cooper kept track of the votes after each house) and there was no question.

Maybe that explains why about a week after we put a contract on it we suddenly realized there was no dishwasher.

HOLD THE PHONE, that's an issue!

After we started talking it became clear that neither of us had paid one bit of attention to the kitchen. We didn't know what the floors looked like, what kind of counters the kitchen had or really anything about the kitchen other than it was "cute" and nothing screamed at us as alarming.

Aside from the fact that I can't function without a dishwasher, we wanted to do a few other things to the kitchen.

Here is our kitchen now-

We added the dishwasher, new countertops, tile backsplash, tile floor and new paint. We also removed a radiator that was blocking a cabinet to provide some more space.

This is the before looking from the other side of the room.

And the after.

The color is Apple 3 and it doesn't show up accurately in these pictures.

I'm happy with it- subtle changes have made a big difference but still stay true to the house! We also had pegboard installed in the pantry to help with the lack of cabinet space. It's SO easy to keep clean and organized- score!!

I never thought I'd be able to keep things so clean, but for whatever reason it's been really easy since we've move in. That's a huge bonus!

Ahhh, hone sweet home!

sunday supper

2012-02-12T21:42:00.002-05:00

this was our dinner tonight.

it was AMAZING, we both loved it!

click here for the recipe- the folks at two peas & their pod are quite simply, genius.

i've been poking around Pinterest lately and saw a pin that seemed like it might be delicious. i followed it, found the recipe and put it on our menu for tonight.

its super easy- avocados, fresh lime juice, garlic, cilantro & salt/pepper. Blend together in a food processor and serve over hot pasta.

there were just a few issues- 1) our grocery store was out of fresh cilantro so i had to use dried and 2) i don't have a food processor so used my bullet and needed to add some heavy cream to actually create the sauce. actually, if i'm honest about it, adding heavy cream really wasn't an issue at all! YUM.

i can hardly wait to try it again with fresh cilantro.

so please, do yourself a favor......MAKE THIS SOON
(and let me know how much you LOVE it!)

fancy vs. fun

2012-02-11T19:03:00.005-05:00

cooper is at a friends house tonight and jon and i had plans to go out for a fancy meal- grown ups only!

as luck would have it mother nature intervened and delivered a wintry mix that made us think twice about leaving our little nest.

no matter.
a trip to the mixer aisle at our local grocery store and we're golden!

we're also high class as you can see by our bar ware.

doesn't everyone celebrate with personalized tervis tumblers? the gypsy soul was jon's 1st boat...ahh the memories!!

for me? what else but an appletini...

in a wine glass!!!

part of what i love most about us is that we don't take ourselves to seriously and we're always up for fun.

do i love fancy? absolutely.
but fun??? that's my favorite!!!

oh the places i'll go.....

2012-02-08T21:59:00.003-05:00

small town living...there are pros and cons.
we're in the honeymoon stage right now so there is a whole lot of good and really, not much bad at all.

topping the good list?

10 Places I Can Walk within 10 Minutes

1. our church
2. the Post Office
3. the library (which is AWESOME for the coopster!!)
4. the waters edge
5. Radio Shack
6. town hall
7. the DMV
8. a local Furniture Store (where we purchased a split box spring for our queen size guest bed that wouldn't fit up the steps. thankfully, the king wasn't an issue!)
9. a cute little shop called "divin' off the dock"
10. the nail salon

seriously. i am so super excited!!!
oh! and because I can't wait for it to start, i'm adding a #11.

11. the Farmers Market (held every Saturday in Spring, Summer and Fall)

COME ON SPRING!!!!!

before & after- the beginning!

2012-02-05T07:33:00.000-05:00

We've moved, unpacked (for the most part) and are fully functioning in our new home and we simply LOVE it!

That said, it's been a huge change and we're all getting used to it.
Do I miss our old life? Absolutely.
Are there things that I wish I had done differently? Sure.
Do I worry that it may not be everything that we thought? Uh-huh.

Am I happy each morning when I wake up in our new bedroom? I am.
Are there things that happen each day that solidify that we made the right choice? Yes!
Would I make the same choice again if I had it to do again? Definitely!

Before it all slips away, I want to try and capture our move and the changes that we've made/are making. The whole process has happened within a few months. It's hard to believe that two weeks ago we lived here-

And today, we live here-

We're trading city living for small town living and almost 3000 square feet for 1500 square feet. Sounds scary........but it's working!!

More before and afters coming soon.

the note

2012-02-04T21:16:00.003-05:00

when i woke up this morning, the 1st thing jon said to me was, "you may want to take a look at the refrigerator".

well, good morning to you too!

but after i took a look, it all made sense-

gone to man cave-
goodness, that little kid makes me laugh.

(and so does our fridge- that's another post though!!)

new addition...

2012-01-31T19:38:00.007-05:00

for my dear friend polly and her hubs!

isn't he the sweetest?
not only did he luck out with fabulous parents, but his big sister is the cutest!

guess who loves a baby? (hint- it's not me)

cooper is great with a baby- he's so careful and so fascinated by how little they are.

seriously- so sweet.

thanks polly for being such a relaxed new mom and a wonderful friend (not to mention trusting coop with your newborn)!

welcome baby jamison- we're SO happy you're here!!

Our move by the numbers....

2012-01-17T21:12:00.002-05:00

15- Trips to Good Will (before the move)
60- Books donated to Cooper's school book sale
4- Trips to the thrift store (after the move)
44- Total number of boxes packed by the packers
8- Remaining boxes to be unpacked
4- Number of boxes I packed myself only to have the packers unpack and repack them to their standards
11- Total number of people in my house at 11:30 AM on Friday (3 contractors- who may as well be family by now, 2 countertop installers, 1 cable guy and 7 movers). It was crazy!
3- Trips to the landfill to rid ourselves of trash and packing materials
1- Piece of furniture that didn't fit up the stairs (thankfully NOT our kingsize bed!)
30+ - Number of times Jon and I said, "can you believe we're here?" to each other
6- Number of hours I spent on Saturday unpacking aided by 3 of the most amazing women on the planet. I wouldn't have been nearly as "together" as I am without them. Love you girls!!
7- Number of boys who arrived in a pack to welcome Cooper to the neighborhood
4- Neighbors who have stopped by to deliver food, flowers or say welcome home

3- Happy new homeowners!!

Home Sweet Home

2012-01-15T21:00:00.001-05:00

We're home!

New address, new friends, new adventures.
It's so exciting!

two words....make these!!

2012-01-09T22:15:00.004-05:00

my picture isn't great...but these biscuits were fantastic!

they're 7-up biscuits, have 4 ingredients and can be whipped up in 5 minutes.
i found a picture on pinterest (where they look MUCH better) and decided to try them out.

the verdict?

run, don't walk to the grocery store and pick up some bisquick, 7-up and sour cream. i'm assuming you've got butter!

click here for the real recipe and enjoy!

so easy, so quick and so yummy.

unsubscribe

2012-01-08T06:53:00.003-05:00

2012 brings a quest for living more simply.
jon and i are convinced that we can do it and that the rewards will be many.

we're making many changes- some big (our move) and some small.

the small one i'm loving right this second?
unsubscribing from the crazy number of advertising e-mails in my inbox.

it's so easy....open the offeding e-mail, scroll to the bottom, click unsubscribe and wait.

i can feel myself getting more organized as i'm clicking.
bring on the simple life!

Go Hokies!!!!

2012-01-03T05:29:00.003-05:00

It's a big day....
Tech at THE SUGAR BOWL!

Even though we won't be there in person....

We're there in spirit!

Go Hokies Go!!

the kitchen before & after

2012-01-02T23:36:00.008-05:00

A few years ago (2009 to be exact) I sent an e-mail to Layla from The Lettered Cottage. and purchased a photo consultation that came with a free written consultation.

My living room was the lucky recipient of the photo consult and I adored the whole process, especially the end result! I did a post about it here. Layla did a post about it here!

I've made a few changes since then, but overall the room is pretty much the same.

I also did a post about my kitchen here but wasn't able to do much more than switch some wall art.

Fast forward to this spring when we decided to bite the bullet and tackle the kitchen. Clearly I'm on top of my blog posts because it's almost a year later and I have yet to post about it. Everything in good time.

Here are shots of my kitchen before-

And just a little more than 2 years later and with lots of helpful inspiration from Layla, here is my kitchen after-

We didn't spend a ton of money- instead of using granite or something else equally as expensive, we opted for C*rian. Rather than getting all new cabinets, we opted for adding new doors, hardware and a fresh coat of paint. We also decided that although the dishwasher wasn't stainless, we just couldn't justify getting a new one when our old one worked just fine. It's all about weighing your options and prioritizing your wants.

These choices felt like the right ones for us both functionally and financially. Each time I walk into the room, I smile! It was worth the wait.

And, as luck would have it, we're in need of making some changes to the kitchen in our new house and we've already ordered some of the same products to transform that space too. When something works- why not stick with it!

A huge thanks to Layla for her design genius, her willingness to share it and for making kitchen dreams come true!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T22:32:00.002-05:00

We had big plans for New Years Eve....

Jon, Cooper & Wade went fishing. They had a fantastic day for it and caught a rockfish. Thanks to Cooper, the fish was set free to ring in 2012!

I spent the day with my sweet river friends scoping out some fun shops and thinking about furniture placement at our new house.

Jon and I decided to take Cooper to a movie and "We Bought a *oo" seemed like a good choice. I should have done a little more homework because I wasn't quite prepared for the emotional toll it would have on me. My word.....I sobbed the entire time. Sweet Matt D, children with no mother, a boy who doesn't want to move but has to anyway, blowing the cover on the Easter Bunny and a dying tiger??? STOP THE MADNESS.

In all seriousness, I really did like the movie, it just was more than I bargained for in my current state of "on the verge" as we get closer to moving day.

After the movie we grabbed a pizza and then headed next door for a celebration. I was in charge of decorations. I have a New Years bag of treats and the favorite item of the night were these glasses.

Yes, they're from 2008. But if you look closely you'll see that part of the 8 is missing in an attempt to make them pass for the 2009 party. I'm nothing if not committed to the 3R's! I don't think these will be back next year.

Cooper made it until about 8:20. We toasted early with some sparkling cider and he was out for the count.

Sweet little thing.
Jon lasted about 2 more hours......
And for the 2nd year in a row, I'm the last one standing!

Hope you were able to ring in the New Year with the ones you love, whether it happened at 8pm, 10pm or midnight!

thankful thursday (fab fun for the fam)

2011-12-29T23:27:00.001-05:00

Family traditions are funny and sometimes they come from out of nowhere. When I was little, my dad took my brother and I to see the Harlem Gl*betrotters. He took us because his dad took him. I remember it fondly. Turns out, Jon went to see them when he was little too! He remembers it so vividly that he can even name some of the players.

Last night we took Cooper to see a game, and just like that, the tradition continues!

The Gl*betrotters were in town for one night and they didn't disappoint! What was disappointing is that I didn't take my camera. I SO regret it.

We simply had the BEST time!

Even though Coop had done a bit of research before we went, I don't think he was ready for how much he was going to love it.

On the way home I asked him whether he had a good time.
His answer?

"Momma, I LOVED it!"
"They had some spectacular dunks!"

As a parent there are times when you work hard to make things happen for your child.......and the result is less than satisfying. But when you get a reaction that's so happy, so full of joy and so from the heart, well- there is nothing better.

After the game the players line up around the court and kids can get autographs and have their pictures taken with them. Since I didn't have my camera, my pix are less than good. No matter- Cooper was elated!

His favorite players were Ant & Cheese.
That kid makes me laugh and so do these shots!

Coop & Cheese

Cooper getting Ant's autograph
He slept with the ball last night. That's how much fun it was.

I'm thankful for parents who start traditions
I'm thankful for the means to be able to continue them.

I'm thankful for the staying power of a bunch of basketball players committed to entertaining a crowd and amazing us with their skills.

I'm thankful for a basketball loving little boy who actively pursues the perfect dunk shot.

I'm thankful for my sweet hubs, who waited in line at Will Call for 45 minutes with a smile on his face....all because he knew what was inside and how much our child would adore the experience.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend time together doing something that we ALL enjoyed!

What a great night- truly fun for the whole family.

merry, merry

2011-12-25T15:53:00.002-05:00

may the joy of the season be with you all year long....
merry, merry christmas-

xo,
carolyn

the tackier, the better!!

2011-12-21T22:44:00.011-05:00

We're white light tree people at Christmas. Well, I'm a white light tree person- Jon would love colored lights just like the ones he grew up with but that's not happening. I did give in a little bit and the tree in Cooper's room has colored lights.

But although I don't like them for myself, I LOVE colored lights for other people and my motto is, the tackier the better. Our city is all about people decorating with a colored light (or 700,000 of them) and every year streets are jam packed with hundreds if not thousands of people who love to look at them just like me.

And really....who could blame them.

LOOK!

We take a tour of all the tacky lights with the F's each year and this is always the last stop on the tour. It's legendary.

As if it wasn't enough that the mom and dad lit up their house each year to the delight of thousands...when the son got married, he and his wife bought the house next door and now it's a two-fer.

Seriously- it's hard to put into words....

I snapped this of the F's. Aren't they great?

Where is my family?? Sadly they were in the car. We stopped for cocoa mid-trip and in a horrific chain of events I slammed Cooper's fingers in the door. In 9 years of that kids life that's never happened. I wanted to die- poor little thing. After some ice, hot cocoa, 2 motrin and a giant chocolate chip cookie to dull the pain he was fast asleep in the back of the car recovering from the injury.

I managed to muster up some happy though, and posed for this shot with Jess. It was taken by her son- and was truly a laughable moment!

Not lots better than spending time with good friends & celebrating the season!

SOLD

2011-12-20T18:22:00.002-05:00

Today I left our house as its owner.
When I came home, I was a renter.

I don't have a recent picture....I need to take one.
This one makes me smile though...it was taken at Christmas in 2009.

There is no sold sign....there never was.
I got an e-mail from a friend asking whether I know of any houses in our neighborhood that might be on the market.

Well, maybe mine.
Jon and I talked, they drove by, liked what they saw, came for a visit and said "we love it- how much?"

Yup, that's the story. It was unexpected, completely random, almost never happens and is absolutely thrilling!

And so we went into high gear putting a plan into place- a plan to start a new chapter in our lives.

And although it's a huge change....and although Cooper is not thrilled...and although it means doing things VERY differently....

I can hardly wait.

Christmas House

2011-12-19T21:35:00.004-05:00

There are six shopping days left until Christmas.
I'm working on five of them. Hmpfff. I may need to make a few changes to my schedule.

At least my house is ready for the festivities.
Every year I want desperately to join on of the blogland Christmas Tours- and each year I miss the deadline.

That's ok though.
Better late than never.

Nothing says welcome to our home like a Christmas wreath (for the first time in FOREVER I have a faux wreath....I usually make my own but sometimes cutting corners makes more sense).

A little bit of tree and our living room mantle.

I always use a white poinsettia in our entryway...and add a little bling to make it sparkle.

The bannister gets gussied up too!

When Cooper was little, we lived in another house and we had a sweet grandmother of a woman who lived across the street. Cooper loved her and the feeling was mutual. She gave him a nutcracker when he was 3 and he was obsessed with it. Santa saw an opportunity and brings him a new one each year.

They sit on the kitchen windowsill now, but next year we'll need to find a new spot. Wonder who will join the lineup?

And on the other kitchen window....

I'm not a huge fan of the nandina bush itself....but I LOVE using it at Christmas. The bunches of red berries are so festive and they're great in arrangements.

I don't have a picture of the whole tree (I'm having trouble with my camera and it's not cooperating AT ALL!).

Our tree has red balls, white lights and ornaments collected over the years. Santa also brings Cooper a special ornament each year. One of my favorites was this golf cart that magically looks just like ours!! That Santa- he's a whiz with a paintbrush.

Our house wouldn't be complete at Christmas without the creche.

It's my absolute favorite...made to match the one my parents have and handmade with love by their dear friend, Uncle Phillip.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Hope your home does too-

getting ready

2011-12-03T15:03:00.004-05:00

I love Christmas...and today I started the journey to get ready.

Garland on the steps? Check
Christmas village? Check
Nutcrackers on the window in the kitchen? Check

Still to come...the tree, wreath, tabletops, and fresh greenery everywhere I can think of.

To help get into the spirit I've been listening to Pandora.
And looking at pictures from Christmas' past.

I found this one....from 2008-

I love the wonder & joy of Christmas!

thankful thursday-

2011-12-01T21:22:00.003-05:00

thankful for....

doctors who find solutions
co-workers who understand the stress
(and who help to relieve it)

neighbors who provide the perfect connection
and open the door for new adventures

thursday (because it's almost friday)
payday!

warm sweaters
and cold temperatures

passed septic inspections
helpful phone reps

spending time with the boys i love
and looking forward to what will come

decisions made
dreams followed

sunny days
blue skies and a special place called windy point

snoring....no more!!

2011-11-28T21:48:00.003-05:00

Jon snores.
He actually sounds like he's cutting down an entire forest.
EVERY.
SINGLE.
NIGHT.

It just started to get bad...but it was so bad that I really couldn't sleep in our room on some nights. It would wake me up in the middle of the night like a freight train.

Poor guy.
He knew it was bad and did a little research.

Enter the zQuiet.
I thought it was a sham...and expensive sham.

But it came in the mail a few weeks ago-
AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE!!

I LOVE THE THING.
Jon loved the thing!

We were once again able to sleep peacefully.

Unfortunately there was another member of the family who also loved the zQuiet.

Gypsy.
I swear, I'm giving her away.
I almost cried when I walked into our room and saw it in gnawed up little pieces on the floor.

And Jon....when I told him he went ballistic.
To say that we are huge fans of the zQUiet is an understatement.

So Jon called them today...I thought he was out of his mind.
What are they going to do honey? The dog ATE it. There isn't a warranty for that.

But guess what?
Those super kind folks are sending him a new one- at no cost!

How awesome is that???

So, if you've got a snoring problem (or sleep with someone who does..) check out the zQuiet.

I'm pretty sure you'll thank me, you'll thank them and you'll sleep in peace!!!
(just make sure that you hide it from your dog)

Tongue and Cheek

2011-11-20T12:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we stopped at the drugstore to pick up a few things...
Cooper needed a new toothbrush and took great care in choosing one himself.

The one he picked had a tongue and cheek cleaner which impressed him. I didn't give it another thought.

Until, I walked into the bathroom last night and he was rubbing the back of the toothbrush on his cheek. The OUTSIDE of his cheek.

It took me a 1/2 second to figure out what in the world he was doing.

Goodness, he couldn't be any sweeter.
I ADORE that child...

And now, the INSIDE of his cheeks are appropriately maintained too.

Hope you hug your kid today...just like I hugged mine!!

Muffin News

2011-11-19T23:09:00.004-05:00

I've got piles in various places around the house. I really need to get it under control...it's a constant battle.

Over the past few weeks I've been working at it more than usual and came upon a recipe that I'd clipped from somewhere and wanted to try. Oddly enough, I had everything I needed to make it (the main ingredient is pancake mix!).

Banana Praline Muffins- YUM!

You can find the recipe here. It's really easy and would be perfect to make for a brunch or breakfast on the go (which was my intent).

I made them last week and was pretty impressed with myself.

Don't they look delicious?
I'm pretty sure they were....but the only one in our family who might be able to give a review cannot talk.

GYPSY ATE ALL OF THEM.
Crazy dog.
She loves a carb.
And evidently, a Banana Praline Muffin.

Let me know how yours turn out...if you're so inclined.

Vegetable Challenged

2011-11-14T23:03:00.000-05:00

Cooper didn't have school today (but Jon did) so we spent the day together at the river. Our neighbor planted a fall garden in our field and there were some random crops still in various stages of growing and we were doing some exploring.

I found this-

And I promptly sent the picture to Jon with a message that said,
BEET IT!
I thought I was so funny.

Until tonight at dinner when I said, "Hey, didn't you think my beet message was so hilarious?"

And he said, "Yeah, especially because it was a radish!"

Oops, I'm beet red!!
(and I make myself laugh!!)

But really, does that look like a radish to you? It was white inside, and it did smell radish-y, but my word. It was enormous!

Here's hoping you ate some veggies today that were recognizable.

Order- COMPLETE!

2011-11-12T09:24:00.005-05:00

I'm a total procrastinator- it's a flaw, I'm aware. I'm pretty sure I could reduce a large amount of stress if I could just be more organized and plan ahead. But that would take planning and being organized- and I'm no good there.....at least on a consistent basis. On the other hand, if I just lower my expectations I might achieve the same thing.

Who knows.

Anyway- I'm TRYING!
And today I saved 40% on my Christmas cards by ordering in November vs. my typical mid-December time frame. Genius.

What's different this year? Instead of pouring over options, trying to come up with something witty and stressing out about the perfect photo- I used a picture from the summer that I like, sent a generic wish for happiness & love and called it a day.

What about you?

"delete this from your memory" (an early morning exchange)

2011-11-01T21:45:00.005-04:00

I woke up today and couldn't bring myself to walk on the treadmill. It was dark and cold and I was super cozy. When I finally pulled myself out of bed, Cooper padded in to our room and promptly sneezed five times.

Then he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said the words I never want to hear.
"Momma, I'm sick"

Poor kid- sneezing, sniffling, headache, body aches.
So. NOT. Good.
I had a marathon meeting from 9 until 5 that I simply couldn't miss.

So, like any good mother, I dosed him up with meds, stuck him in the shower and waited to see whether there might be any hope.

NONE.

So, I got him snuggled back in bed and sent an email letting my team know that I would need to attend the meeting via phone.

I'm thankful that I have that option because otherwise, I'm up a creek.
There is no back up plan.

To calm my nerves and get me ready for the battle of an 8 hour conference call, I did what I'm sure many people would.

I cleaned out a closet.
I've needed to do it for a while and I had 30 minutes to kill since I didn't have to drive to work.

And after I was finished, I shot a message to Jon-

*************************

From: Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 7:39 AM
To: Jon
Subject: Sick kid

Ughhhh.
No school for him.
Poor thing.

His response-

From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 07:48 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: Sick kid

What wrong with him? Too much candy? His ear hurts? Do you need me to come home?

My response-

From: Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 7:55 AM
To: Jon
Subject: Re: Sick kid

Not ear silly. (he had this weird ear wound...but it's not a reason to stay home)
He is sneezing, stuffy, head aches, throat hurts, can't move his body hurts.

I can work from home today- you stay

*******************

He shot me back a message letting me know that he had downloaded some sports stuff on his computer that Coop might like and this was my response-

From: Neblett, Carolyn [mailto:carolyn.neblett@capitalone.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 8:55 AM
To: Jon Neblett
Subject: RE: Sick kid

Awesome, thanks.

I cleaned out the hall closet- tons of stuff to take to the Good Will and
lots to throw away too. I'm getting brutal!

Hope you have a good day-
xoxo

And with that, I thought the exchange was finished and we'd both go on with our days.

Until this came....

From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 9:26 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: Sick kid

Wow that's awesome.

Another thing I think we could do is revamp our whole disk/glass situation.
I think we could buy some place setting of just one thing. We have such a hodge podge of plates, bowls glasses ect. Some of which we use very little if at all. I don't know how much that stuff costs but Im willing to pay for it as I really think it would help us stay more organized. Im thinking something very plain but practical (like a solid color).

Perhaps we could take all the old down the river. Let me know your thoughts.

My response-

From: Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 10:38 AM
To: Jon
Subject: RE: Sick kid

I'm not sure what a disk/glass is but I think you may be treading on thin
ice here.
We have dishes- they are blue/yellow/white and we have a service for 8
(dinner plate, bowl, salad plate and cup/saucer). What about them isn't
organized and what about dishes that we already have isn't practical?

So that my head doesn't explode- this is probably a conversation to have in
person.

: )

His response-

From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 10:42 AM
To:Carolyn
Subject: RE: Sick kid

I will never speak of it again, please delete from you memory.

The word disk should have said dish.

************************

Ok, couple things here.

1) I'm not sure what he could have written that might have shocked me more.
2) I ADORE our dishes. They make me happy every time I take them out of the cabinet.

3) I have been working really hard over the past year on being more organized and being less attached to "stuff". I'm purging and getting rid of things that I never would have dreamed of throwing away before. And for the life of me, I couldn't imagine what in the world was wrong with the way our dishes were organized and how changing the color of the dishes would help.

UNLESS.
Unless he doesn't like the dishes.

But seriously- is that even possible? How could he have an opinion on the dishes that we've used for our entire married life?

4) To be clear, these dishes pre-date him. We didn't register for everyday dishes when we got married because I had these and they were basically brand new.

So, when he got home I brought it up. And do you know what he said?

"It really doesn't have anything to do with being organized. I don't like those dishes. Well actually, it's not that I don't like them really- it's just that I'm TIRED of them"

Really? Tired of them? Do they really impact you that much? Would it kill you to eat from the same plate that we've used since 1999?

And then I wondered.
Are these dishes out? Am I screaming 1995, which is when I got the dishes? Am I living in the past? Are they offensive? In bad taste? Tacky?

Should I cave and get new dishes (after all, he did say he'd pay for them!)
Because really, I do love plain white dishes and have coveted them from Wade and Sarah ever since they registered for them.

But a replacement plate is selling for $54 at Replacements and $30 on e*bay. That's gotta count for something. And so does using what you have- and not creating more excess.

HELP!!!
What do I do?

happy halloween

2011-10-31T22:00:00.002-04:00

Although my pictures aren't great, I think this was one of the best years in terms of Cooper's costume. There has been some stiff competition in the past- but this year was the 1st time that he decided his entire outfit.

He had an idea and he delivered.

Yup, that's him on the left with his friend L.

Cooper was a Monkey Suit. Get it??
We thought it was hilarious and genius all at the same time.

He found the mask at the grocery store and begged me to buy it.
Then, he figured out the rest of the costume on his own- painstakingly going through every pair of pants until he found just the right ones.

See how the pants have the stripe on the side, just like a tux does??
No matter that they're wind pants. They fit the bill.

I love that kid.
And the best part was how much fun he and L. had on their quest for candy.

But not before a little horseplay on the swings.

It makes me laugh whenever I see them-

The best was that the mask was too big so he had some trouble maneuvering. They'd be walking up the driveway and L. would make a turn onto the sidewalk and Coop would keep right on walking....a little kid in a suit with a purpose (oh, and a monkey head).

L (sweet kid that he is) ended up holding on to Coop and leading him from place to place to be sure that he wouldn't get tangled up in the shrubbery. Now, that's a true friend.

If you know me, you'll realize that this probably wasn't my 1st choice for his costume (or my 27th), but I got so overcome with pride that he did it on his own that it really didn't matter what he was. He loved it, he was proud and he had a great night.

I can't think of a better Halloween treat.

Hope yours was great too!

oh momma -look! i wanted you to see this....

2011-10-24T20:06:00.002-04:00

those were words that cooper just said to me as we're snuggled up on the sofa to watch the world series.

what was he referring to you may wonder?

A GOUT COMMERCIAL.
What????

I said, "why in the world did you want me to see this?"
He said, "well, you said your foot was hurting, i thought you might have gout"

He's referring to the fact that I've been complaining about my heel hurting. I have plantar fasciitis....NOT GOUT.

My word.
That kid does make me laugh.

30-14

2011-10-23T21:22:00.001-04:00

Guess where we were this weekend?

Hmm- give up?
Maybe this will help-

We went to the VT vs. BC game!!
Did the graffiti throw you? Yeah, I was thrown off too.

Jon's sister and her hubs have season tickets to Tech and they graciously invited us to come up for the game. And what's a football game without a great tailgate...especially if that tailgate is in an abandoned apartment complex complete with what I think may have been gang signs.

Goodness, they're cute (and not concerned in the least bit by a little graffiti)!

And as you can tell by our tailgating surroundings (and our beer of choice)....they spoiled us with nothing but the best!

We had so much fun....laughing, playing, posing, eating, drinking and hanging out together.

They love our kid & he's crazy about them too.
The day was perfect for a ball game- clear blue skies and crisp weather.

Also perfect for some brother/sister together time.

It was homecoming- and so the Highty Tighty Band and their Alumni were in all their glory.

I'm a sucker for a marching band- I always have been. Let's be clear- I wasn't IN the band....nope, no such talent in that area, I'm just a fan.

They were great!

But then....the boys hit the field.
The stadium was electric.

But not as electric as it was when they scored!

Can you see the people who are horizontal? They're being thrown up in the air to celebrate the score. Can you imagine?

So much fun!!

As the sun went down, the scoreboard was in our favor- great ending to a great day!

But Kathy wasn't done yet....what could make the day even better than it already had been?

Yup. That's kale salad.

Kale, yeah!!!!
Enough said.

Thanks Kathy & Mike....we had a blast!!

New Fave-

2011-10-19T21:03:00.004-04:00

This is kale.

I haven't been a fan of kale for the majority of my life.
Actually, I haven't been a fan of kale ever.
Until tonight.

But let me back up so you'll have the whole story. I'm really trying to make some changes in the foods that I eat. My friends at Relay Foods are helping and some real friends are too!

Enter Sarah. We work together (although in different states) and she's one of those all natural, healthy, crunchy sort of people. Anywhooo, we had dinner together while I was in Atlanta and the conversation turned to vegetables that we love (see, I am changing....who in the world talks about vegetables they love??? oh, and yes, this was hours after I ate a chili cheese dog at the Varsity!).

Sarah loves kale.
What??? Gross. No can do.

But she tells me about this amazing salad that one of her friends has turned her on to and it sounds interesting. So I googled it, ordered the ingredients from Relay and made it for dinner tonight.

And you know what??
I LOVED IT!!! And even better....Jon did too.

The trick to eating raw kale and loving it is to massage the kale with olive oil and salt.
Yup, it's a fact. I watched 2 videos that told me all about it.

Then I added chopped onion, grape tomatoes, avocado and lemon juice.

I massaged some more and we ate it as a side dish with salmon.
Stop the madness, we're super food maniacs tonight!

Seriously delish.
I can't wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow!

I think I'm going to try making kale chips (take leaves, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and bake for 8-10 minutes).

What you do think? Will you try it??

Thankful Thursday & Relay Foods

2011-10-13T23:10:00.007-04:00

(via google)

My friend Angela gave me the scoop a while ago about an awesome new concept in food shopping. I thought it was a great idea so I signed up- and never placed an order. Fast forward to this weekend when I got a message from the Founder & CEO saying that October was a big month for Relay and asking for our help by getting out the word and placing an order.

So I did.
I logged in on Monday night, picked what I wanted- dt. coke, avocados, hamburger patties, scallions, olive oil, dog food, ground turkey, bacon, butter, brussel sprouts- (random, I know!), paid on line and waited until Wednesday.

(via google)

Then, I stopped to pick up my order at a nearby parking lot where they loaded everything into my car and wished me a good night. Then I drove home.

So easy, so tasty, so addicting.
I've already placed my order for next week.
I am LOVING this!!

Check it out....if you're in Richmond or Charlottesville then you're in luck. If not and you're interested in having Relay come to your area- let them know!!

I'm thankful for Angela, for saving time, for being a little green, for buying local, for reducing my stress, for removing the temptation that faces me whenever I walk through the aisles of the grocery store, for people with great ideas who want to make the world a better place, for my family who shared my enthusiasm for this awesome new way of shopping!

Have a super weekend-

A letter to my one fan-

2011-10-11T00:50:00.003-04:00

Dear Tim,
Don't turn your back on me....

I promise to try and be better about posting regularly....
I even promise to stay away from 2 Word posts whenever possible.
Give a working mom with too few hours in the day a break.

I'll do better....really I will.

And to prove it.....check out my posts from last week. I hope they pass the muster (or is it mustard?).

Love & hugs-
Caro

What'll Ya Have??

2011-10-05T22:16:00.005-04:00

About 10 years ago I worked on a project that had me flying to Tampa at least once a month. I was the most junior person on the team and two of my co-workers were probably some of the funniest people on the planet.

They were supposed to "take care of me" on the trips....because I was a female traveling alone. I wasn't 12- but most of the time I was the little sister tagging along on with them on planes, in airports, at hotels and as the butt of many of their jokes. I adored them! Still do.

The flight to Tampa was never direct (although it should have been) and so we had to fly through either Atlanta or Charlotte. I was all about sticking to policy and taking the flights that were the cheapest- even if they weren't the most convenient. But my funny co-workers.....paid no attention to policy. Those jokers would schedule flights around lunch time and add a long layover in Atlanta all so they could eat at the place they called "legendary". I never went- I was too afraid of getting in trouble. They happily left me behind and never brought me anything but a stinkin' paper hat.

(via google)

Last week, I was able to experience it myself.

My 1st trip to the Varsity.
Anxious faces behind the counter in those crazy red paper hats yelling, "What'll Ya Have?"

It was all that I anticipated and more & this is what I had-

(via google)

AWESOME!!
I know those jokers are proud of me, even 10 years later.

What'll ya have????

My Favorite Pitcher

2011-10-01T23:57:00.009-04:00

Fall Ball is historically less intense and more instructional.
I'm not sure either is entirely true, at least for me.

1st- Cooper is now playing kid pitch vs. machine pitch and while that may be exciting for him, it completely freaks me out. Kids are getting hit with rogue pitches at least once an inning.

2nd- Today Cooper was one of those pitchers! Thankfully he didn't hit anyone....AND he struck 2 kids out.....but who's keeping track?

3rd- I have zero ability to remain calm and collected during a baseball game featuring my child as a player. I just get SO excited!

A wad of bubble gum really makes the pitcher more authentic- don't you agree?

At the end of the game, guess who got handed the Game Ball?

Yup- my favorite powerade drinking, gum chewing pitcher!

Way to Go, Coop!

2 Word Wednesday

2011-09-28T05:37:00.000-04:00

unbeatable uncle.

greatest grandma.

70, 75 & the rainy weekend

2011-09-25T22:36:00.002-04:00

It was a very special weekend...

with a very special visitor....who came all the way from California-

Sadly, the weather didn't cooperate with our birthday plans.
At all.

No matter, we made the best of it!

Happy Birthday Mom & Dad

Thanks for putting up with us- through broken bones, crashed cars, concussions and dropped birthday cakes (and too many happy memories to count!).

We love you dearly!

What's in a Name?

2011-09-14T19:18:00.004-04:00

Cooper asked this on the way home today....

Hey Momma?
Is the reason they call them serial killers because they keep their weapons in a cereal box?

Wow- wasn't expecting that one, but I sure do love that kid!!

Game On-

2011-09-10T21:51:00.001-04:00

These are the legs of a kid who stole home in the 1st game of the season.

And that's the coach who gave him the signal to GO!

He was itching for the chance.....

But ask him about it- and he's all business.
Stealing home is serious!

This year, the game is serious....he moved up to kid-pitch and it's game on. Let's just say that pitching at the 9 year old level isn't an exact science. Every batter had to duck or move to avoid being hit by a renegade pitch.

I was a wreck. Jon didn't seem to see the potential disaster waiting to happen.

But Cooper?
He loved it and is counting the days until Game #2.

Did you mean- Glamour Shot?

2011-09-07T23:16:00.004-04:00

I had my hair cut/highlighted today. Let me be clear and say that I adore my stylist and love my salon. I'm also a huge fan of a free service. So, when I saw a woman from the TIGI/Bed Head company doing complimentary make up....I figured why not. Besides, I didn't want to be rude and say no- I pride myself in being a valued client.

Sooo- she did my makeup- and everyone at the salon said wonderful things....but I just couldn't get past what I perceived as a TON of make up on my face. In fact, I described myself to friends as a 2 bit hooker- with amazing hair.

Anyway- they asked me- "do you think your husband will notice?"
And I said, "Ohhh, yeah, he'll notice."

When he walked in, he took one look at me and said, "Didju get your hair done today?"
My response, "Yes, you like?"
And he said- "What'd they do....GLOW SHOTS while you were there??"

Um- "you mean GLAMOUR SHOTS? And no....no shots- just free makeup"

His response?
"Well, your hair looks good"

And there you have it, if you can't say something nice.....

I think that's reason # 439 that I love the guy!

Reason 436 that I love my hubs

2011-09-07T20:54:00.002-04:00

Because our conversations go like this....

Him: Hey, did you leave the garage door open because of ADD or some other reason?

Me: (after thinking for a minute about his question) Ummmm. Oh, yeah- totally ADD.

Even though my doctor swears I don't have it....Jon is absolutely convinced.
(and really, he does have a point!)

He makes me laugh!

Today was different

2011-09-06T22:41:00.003-04:00

Every year kids go to their 1st day of school without issue.
For the past 5 years that hasn't been the case with my kid.
The tears begin the night before, there is no sleeping, and the early hours of the actual 1st day are filled with complete worry, lots of doubt, tons of questions and one very stressed out momma.

But today was different.....

-Cooper has been excited since orientation. He got the teacher he wanted, his best buddy is in his class and 4th grade has a reputation of being a great year.

-Jon was starting fresh too- he accepted what may very well be his dream job in another county and was really looking forward to the kids coming today.

-Momma was on cloud 9...no tears, no stress....just happy boys! Hooray.

We were up early to say goodbye to Jon and start the day for Coop. I love this sweet & sleepy shot of them.

Our "traditional" 1st day pictures weren't to be taken- different schedules and rainy weather caused some changes from years past.

But I'll trade in a happy, excited, can't wait to get to school kid for obligatory posed pictures any day!

Here's to many more happy 1st days...and wishes for a great year no matter what your grade!

He wrote back! (sort of)

2011-09-05T22:09:00.005-04:00

As we were getting ready for Irene to wreak havoc on us, I grabbed the mail.
Cooper was in the car with me and paid no attention as I pulled a large manilla envelope out of the mailbox.

A large manilla envelope addressed to my kid in loopy handwriting.
A large manilla envelope with THE WHITE HOUSE as the return address.

He asked his usual, "is there anything for me today?"
And this time my answer was exactly what he wanted to hear- "there sure is".

I wish I had my camera focused on his little face and had captured the wide-eyed look and smile that grew into a huge grin. I didn't- but it was perfect.

When he opened the envelope, he pulled out a letter, a signed picture of the prez, a picture of his family, a Q&A with the prez, and a special information card for Bo- the presidential dog. Cooper was so excited, he could barely focus- and after he tried to read the letter a few times on his own, he finally gave it to me and said, "He didn't say anything about the dogs, or the SPCA- but he says that if I work hard I can do lots of stuff".

So I read the letter- and while I tried to be positive (because it really was an inspiring message), there was a part of me that was so disappointed in the response. Yes, it's amazing that we even got a response, and yes, I realize that Cooper was one of thousands of kids who write....and really, we got so much more than I even anticipated- but there was a single thing about the letter that completely deflated me.

It said, Dear Student:

Really? Someone addressed the envelope by hand, and that's the best salutation they could come up with? Even a plain, Greetings from the White House! would have been better. Or has anyone heard of mail merge? Dear Cooper, would have been perfect- and not that much trouble.

But my sweet 9 year old didn't even blink at Dear Student.
Because the great thing about being 9, is that you believe that of course, the President would write back to you. And although he didn't say something specific about helping to save the dogs from no kill shelters, he did include a picture of his dog- so that means that it's all going to be ok.

Mission accomplished!

(to read Coop's letter and the story behind it, click here)

Thankful Thursday ( or, why I love Georgia Power)

2011-09-01T22:50:00.003-04:00

There is so much to be thankful for this week....we're safe, we're healthy, we have a home that sustained no damage in the storm, we have wonderful friends, we have wonderful friends who have offered food, laundry services, hot showers, buckets of ice and plenty of moral support.

But what I'm really thankful for this week?

Georgia Power.

I'm thankful for these teams of workers who left their families and traveled hundreds of miles to help my family.

I'm thankful for their skills, huge trucks with extra transformers and piles of telephone poles, friendly faces and a willingness to get the job done- even 6 days after Irene hit town.

THANK YOU GEORGIA POWER, from the bottom of my heart.

5.9

2011-08-23T15:27:00.004-04:00

It doesn't seem like a very big number....but as far as earthquakes go- it's big enough.

Big enough to feel...even though at first I thought that my washing machine was off center.

Big enough to scare me once it was all over and I realized what it was.

Earthquakes and Virginia don't typically end up in the same sentence. Today they do for the 1st time in 100 years.

Thankfully though, not big enough to cause significant damage or harm anyone (that I'm aware of).

And, as you can see from the below text from my friend Jess- not big enough to stop a woman on a mission.

"Just tried to text you back but it won't send. You ok? I was in line at Brusters when the earthquake hit. Don't worry, I still got my ice cream."

Hope you and your family are safe tonight!!

Twelve

2011-08-20T16:06:00.004-04:00

Twelve years ago today we were married.

He still makes me laugh...probably more than he used to
He still makes me dream...we've got so many yet to come true
He still makes me proud...he's accomplished so much in 12 years
He still makes me crazy...there are lots of quirks that come to light in 12 years
He still makes me smile...he's really pretty sweet
He still makes me swoon...I think he's simply dreamy

He's still my #1...and I'm still his!
I still love him...and always will.

Happy Anniversary!!!

more random

2011-08-16T19:15:00.003-04:00

Right after I pushed the "publish" button on my last post, a box appeared with these links included-

Diabetes Type 2 Diet
Free Type 2 Diabetic Diet Guide! What To Eat & What To Avoid.
DailyLife.com
Sugar Free Dessert
Get a Sugar Free Dessert Online Your Culinary Expert Resource.
chewonit.com
Smith Island Baking Co™
Authentic Smith Island Cake - Official Site
SmithIslandBakingCo.com

Blogger sort of freaks me out.

random

2011-08-16T19:02:00.002-04:00

do you have a kroger?

does your kroger have apple cinnamon soft top cookies?

i do, and mine does.

and i can't stop eating them.
stop the madness.

true love

2011-08-08T23:46:00.003-04:00

i took a ton of pictures of the coop on vacation.
i think this is my favorite. it was taken on our way back from whale watching. we did see a whale...but clearly the thrill had worn off by this time.

it's not perfectly focused but then, neither is he.

and that's only part of what makes him who he is....and only part of what makes me love him more than i ever thought was possible.

BOS 3 CLE 2

2011-08-03T17:26:00.002-04:00

Remember when I said that I didn't like baseball?
And how I changed my mind a little bit when Cooper started to play?

Well, things have changed a little more.

And so, while we were planning our vacation we decided that it would be fun to take in a game.

Yup, it's official.
I'm a baseball fan!

But really, how could you not catch baseball fever when you're in "America's Most Beloved Ballpark"

It was really an awesome experience. I loved Cooper's face when he walked into the park-

It had been raining, so when we arrived (as soon as the gates opened) the field was all covered-

I did catch a glimpse of #33 though...

My friend Teresa is a HUGE fan of his and gave me plenty of inside info before our trip.

We had no trouble finding our seats

Once the rain stopped (95 minutes later), they uncovered the field- which was something to watch all by itself.

Finally, it was time to PLAY BALL!

And by the end of the night, our good seats turned into great seats!

We were right next to the Indian dug out....

Perfect seating to see the head-first slide into home that won the game for the Sox!

So exciting...
So much fun...

Such a night to remember!!

Cape Cod

2011-08-02T23:01:00.002-04:00

Our vacation started with a visit to Cape Cod- and I really could have stayed there all week. It was blissful.

We spent the day with our friend T. He spent his childhood summers on the Cape as did his parents....and now passes the tradition to his son. Sadly, B and S weren't able to join us but we managed to have a great time anyway.

T took us out for a tour and we saw a fisherman out clamming.

Hmmm....great idea!

Nothing like catching your own dinner-

The boys did a great job and had a ton of fun in the process.

It was all quite impressive...

And really quite satisfying-

But best of all....

delicious!!!

I love these little hands....they worked so hard for their dinner.

We loved Cape Cod!!

Thanks for such a great day T!!!

Thankful Thursday (Dear Mr. President)

2011-07-28T07:47:00.002-04:00

Last week Jon and I were watching a movie- The Switch. Totally not kid appropriate which wasn't an issue, or so we thought. Cooper wandered in at the very end of the movie and it was on track for a happy ending so I didn't think there would be a problem. Except I was wrong. And so the fact that not all dogs lead happy lives became abundantly clear.

The below is the result of that knowledge....and was accomplished all by himself.

*********************

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to you because I think that one thing that is very cruel is dogs being killed in killing shelters because they can’t find a home. How I discovered this terrible thing is I was watching a movie called The Switch and it talked about it, so I thought I would write you a letter and see if you could do something like tell the workers to send less dogs to the killing shelter and more dogs to the S.P.C.A. so more dogs could be saved! I have a wonderful golden doodle and can’t believe such brilliant mammals could be killed.

Also, I think that you sir should be on a ONE MILLION dollar bill!

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Cooper N. age 9
20 Cxxxxx Road, Virginia.
(The one with the basketball goal)

**************
I am thankful for an innocent 9 year old with a huge heart, a great sense of humor (even if he doesn't realize it), the gumption to follow through with what he believes in and faith in what our leaders may be able to accomplish.

I adore that kid.

And yes....the letter is on its way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (along with a disclaimer that we didn't let him watch the whole movie- I do have standards!!)

My Almost 15 Minutes of Fame

2011-07-24T23:47:00.004-04:00

We went to visit my parents this weekend- a weekend with nothing special, just the chance to spend some long overdue time together.

My mom had a little surprise up her sleeve though....on Sunday, HGTV was filming a new show nearby and the public was invited to participate.

I was totally on board- and so this morning at 11:30, we headed out the door. We were determined to see the spaces, but didn't hold out much hope of being one of the 1st 100 people- the lucky ones who actually get to vote & be on TV.

This is what we saw-

Hmm- that doesn't look like more than 100 people.....maybe we're in luck.

WE WERE!!!

My mom with her ballot.....we're going to be on TV!!!

They had us all standing together as they got the opening scenes for the show- we must have done 5 takes.....and that was before the "star" of the show arrived.

Anyone a Bachelor fan?? Yup, the guy in the suit (on a 100 degree day) is Bob Guiney- the former Bachelor star who has a decorating side that we don't yet know. He's debuting as the host of the show.

We stood in the blazing hot sun while the cameras took multiple shots and the director yelled at us to make sure we were "in the know".

We were at the bottom of the steps....just mere feet from the door- and the chance to rate the space, give our opinion and vote for a winner when tragedy struck.

I started to feel a little dizzy....and then stars started to appear in front of my eyes....and I had to borrow my mothers travel stool....and I had to put my head between my legs so I didn't faint.

OH THE HORROR!!!

I couldn't go on...there were just too many people, the sun was too hot and my body decided that it couldn't function any longer. My sweet mother walked me out of line, explained to concerned on-lookers that I was ok, and we took refuge in the shade. A kind stranger brought ice water and I slowly recovered.

And while my blood sugar returned to normal, 98 other people toured the houses and offered their best decorating advice.

I was devastated.
And so, my 15 minutes of fame (and my moms 15 too) were squashed....

Maybe we'll be in the intro of the episode....and maybe we won't.
Regardless, it was a fun few hours and a super way to spend some quality time with my fabulous mom!

Thanks Mom- I sure do love you. Sorry we couldn't see the houses.....at least we can say we were there.

xoxo-

Thankful Thursday

2011-07-21T06:48:00.002-04:00

I am thankful for...

My boys...they're sweet, silly and not afraid to break it down on the dance floor

Happy couples (who have mad technical skillz and offer their expertise freely!)

Sister-in-laws who are also dear friends

Fathers and their little girls

Dads and their sons

Nieces from far away and their sweet, sweet "plus one"

Moms who are proud of their sons

And love them more than anyone can imagine

Aunts and Uncles

Brothers and sisters

Moms and dads

Following in the footsteps of those who have gone before you

Reliving memories and making new ones (we celebrated here 12 years ago at our rehearsal dinner)

Hanging out with family (and having SO MUCH FUN!)

A helping hand

New experiences (and conquered challenges) for my little one

Perfect weather on a wedding day

The bond between 2 boys (one big & one little....both obsessed with video games!)

A happy groom

A joyful bride

Sharing a laugh with someone you love (even if he's not quite sure what's so funny!)

Uncles who aren't afraid to do "the TWIST"

Comfy shoes

Being able to sing at the top of your lungs (and knowing every word by heart!)

Happy Endings!

What are you thankful for?

2 Word Wednesday

2011-07-20T06:35:00.000-04:00

Go Coop!

nothing better-

2011-07-19T21:57:00.004-04:00

Cooper is a big fan of the present.
Big presents, little presents.....he's not picky. He loves them all.

He didn't realize that being an usher comes with a thank you in the form of such a gift.

He decided that he wanted to wait to open it- so with a hug, Wade headed to the Rehearsal Dinner with his groomsmen.

And then couldn't stand it anymore and opened the card.

I love his concentration, and that he's old enough to read "grown up" handwriting.

If you had given that little kid a million dollars, he couldn't have been more thrilled. When he opened the bag, the 1st thing he found was a T3rvis Tumbler that says "Don't Mess with Texas".

Perfect! For some reason, he thinks that slogan is awesome. He begged me for a shirt with those words and actually won the "Sharpest Dressed" at camp while wearing it. (clearly, the stakes were high!)

And then..stop the madness.........could it be????

Oh my word......it is...

Cooolllll!!!!

A genuine basketball jersey. Could anything be better??

Why yes. Yes it could.
The last words that Wade said to me before he walked across the street were-
"Tell him he can wear it tonight....and tomorrow night".

OH.MY.WORD.

Nana and Aunt Leslie watched the whole exchange and knew full well how happy he was-

He may as well have done cartwheels!

Me, not so much-

At least he's happy.

Tune in tomorrow to see the jersey in all it's glory at the WEDDING.

The Usher

2011-07-18T00:16:00.004-04:00

Shortly after Wade asked Sarah to marry him, Sarah asked me whether it would be ok for them to have Cooper be their ring bearer. I nodded through tears- we were so touched that they wanted him to be a part of their special day.

Sadly, Cooper didn't get the memo. Wade asked him and he said no, thank you.
His reason?
"I did that once before and it wasn't very much fun".
(he's nothing if not honest....and polite)

Poor kid- evidently his memories from when he was 4 1/2 and was the ring bearer at my brothers wedding weren't so good.
Fast forward 6 months and although Cooper never did change his mind about being the ring bearer, he did agree to being an usher.

His specific job?
Walking the Aunt Kathy & Nana down the aisle.
He took his job very seriously- and I know Nana appreciated it so much.

He was also drafted at the last minute to hand out the wedding programs.
He doesn't do well with change- especially at the last minute.

This time though- he did a fabulous job.
And truly....could he BE any more handsome in his tux?

If it didn't cost so much, I might make him wear a tux for the rest of his life!

Great job buddy!
We sure do love you-
(and so do Wade & Sarah)

and they lived happily ever after...

2011-07-16T23:10:00.002-04:00

We love you both!!!

darn it, he was right!

2011-07-11T22:13:00.006-04:00

I've been telling Jon for months that I really want new carpet.

MONTHS.

And for MONTHS he's been telling me that all we really need to do is have the carpet steamed.
It'll save money...it's not that hard....I'll be amazed at the results....

blah, blah, blah.

And every time he gives me the speech, I promptly ignore him and dream about new carpet.

So tonight, I'm desperate for new carpet and I just can't take it anymore.
So I rent one of these.

There is a reason that they all but fingerprint you and keep your 1st born child for collateral when you fill out the paperwork.

IT WORKS.

Darn it....
Oh well- $45 vs. $4500.

I can take being wrong.

Perfect Saturday

2011-07-10T23:57:00.008-04:00

There are some days when you wake up and you know that the day is going to be amazing. You've got places to go and people to see.....you know the drill.

But there are other days that start off like any other day with no expectations at all.
You wake up...get ready..head out the door....and something happens to make an ordinary day turn into something that goes down in the books as an official "perfect day".

Saturday was one of those days.

Jon had a job and was meeting us at the river.
On the way Cooper and I stopped to get these....

A bag for Jon and one for the contractor who continues to be a lifesaver.

Then we got this- which was billed as "primo"

The farmer didn't lie.

Along with the corn, I couldn't resist this bouquet-

It had basil sprigs that made it smell just as incredible as it looked.

And once we arrived, my sweet boys settled in for some healthy competition-

just to make sure that Coop's brain doesn't turn to mush over the summer.

After lunch we hit the pool, shared a fabulous meal with friends and fell asleep wondering how in the world Charlotte plans to save Wilbur's life.

Sunny weather
Good parenting
Farm fresh produce
A little protein
Cheery flowers
Favorite friends
Spending the day with my boys??

Perfect Saturday.

Two Word Wednesday

2011-06-29T07:16:00.002-04:00

KEG STAND.

(love you Katie!!)

Simple Math Facts (or- Wade & Sarah's Awesome Party)

2011-06-27T21:52:00.003-04:00

What happens when you add the following?

1 big back yard

1 port-a-potty from a woman named Trudy

1 tent, 7 tiki torches and some red, white & blue decorations

1 guy named Stu who can tap a keg

2 bushels of crabs

1 bushel of oysters roasting over piping hot coals

64 jello shooters

5 tents (so nobody gets in trouble after 64 jello shooters and a keg)

lots of friends and family

and 1 happy couple about to be married?

Simple.
1 incredible awesome party to celebrate how thrilled we are that they've found each other!!!

We invited people for Crabs, Corn Hole & Cold Beer....and told them to BYOT (bring your own tent). What's not to love!

Thanks Sarah & Wade for being you, for finding each other and giving us an excuse to help celebrate the beginning of your lives together.

We love you both!!

Nine

2011-06-17T22:39:00.003-04:00

Cooper's last day as an 8 year old was spent at camp.
His last day at camp was his 1st day being a 9 year old.
Thankfully, camp ended at noon and I got to pick him up and spoil him for the remainder of the day!

While you're at camp, the only communication is via cards, letters and e-mails that are printed off and delivered to the campers after lunch each day.

This was our email message to our favorite 9 year old on the planet.

********

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPER!!!
happy birthday cooper!!!
hAPPy BIrtHdAy CoOPer!!!

Because you're turning 9, here are 9 things about you that are AWESOME-

1) You can shoot a foul shot (and make it!)
2) You can hit a home run
3) You are the funniest kid we know
4) You love animals, especially a really fluffy "dawg"
5) You are a splendid writer
6) You can tie your shoes
7) You are a good friend
8) You love GOD
9) You are the perfect little kid for our family!!

We love, love, love you!!
xoxo,
Momma & Dad

***********

We headed to the river to meet Jon & finish the birthday celebration.

Fortunately, I had planned every detail to make the most of his day.
Unfortunately, Jon didn't get the memo....

Fortunately, my sweet kid didn't mind one bit that his cake was a complete disaster.
Unfortunately, he needed quite a few blows to get ALL THOSE CANDLES taken care of.

Fortunately, his presents made up for any shortcomings with the cake.

Unfortunately, our blanket wrapping paper didn't conceal our gift for long!

Fortunately, there was a double rainbow on his big day.

Unfortunately, that meant we couldn't head out in the boat for some birthday fishing.

Fortunately, we were perfectly content to hang out with our river family and enjoy being together again!!

(yes, that's whole milk tied with a bow- Cooper's favorite and a treat that he only gets at the river!!!)

There's no place like home and nothing like feeling & being completely loved!!

Happy Birthday little kid!
We sure do love you-

Swami Says

2011-06-15T07:21:00.004-04:00

I was searching for jokes to send to Cooper at camp and found a website that allows you to ask a Swami a question and she looks in her crystal ball and gives you an answer.

I asked-

Is Cooper having fun at camp?

Her answer?

Don't count on it.

Oh dear!
See what the swami has for you...Swami site

Camp

2011-06-12T20:11:00.006-04:00

This is a glimpse of what Cooper will spend his days doing this week.

And his nights will be spent sleeping on a bottom bunk in a cabin without AC. I'm hoping the 8" $25 clip on fan will keep my baby cool, that he'll dream sweet dreams and won't be homesick at all.

I'm beside myself wondering how things are going for that little kid.
Lights out in 30 minutes.

If you're inclined to say a little prayer for him, please do.

Nail Biter-

2011-06-03T23:44:00.003-04:00

This is the aftermath of a nail biting game that occurred just hours ago. They're so giddy (well, except for my ever so calm #18)!!

Since Jon had to miss the game, I texted him so he'd feel like he was there (there's a teeny bit of sarcasm there....as you can see, his responses don't necessarily match the emotion of mine). Shocking.

7:57pm- Me to Jon (at the end of the 1st inning)
5-3 them. Coop grounded out at 1st. He's not happy.

7:58- Jon's response
Keep the dream alive

8:21- Me to Jon
Coop hit a triple, brought in 2 runs- wait, he just scored too. 11-9 still them.

8:27- Jon's response
Awesome

8:57- Me to Jon
OMG! game tied, Coop hit another triple. the crowd is going wild 13-13

8:58- Jon's response
Go Mets!

9:19pm- Me to Jon
Still tied- top of Mets line up. Coop batting clean up. I'm a wreck. 15-15

No response from Jon

9:25- Me to Jon
The won!!! Game called because of time- 1st run in wins it! Final 16-15

No response from Jon.

WHAT IN THE WORLD???
Evidently he was at dinner and didn't hear the texts. Rats.

Cooper called him as soon as we were in the car.

You know, I never thought I'd get so sentimental over hearing my child relay the play by play of an Little League game to his dad. But I did.

So much pride.....on both ends of the phone.

Final game of the season tomorrow.....I'm counting the minutes.

Messages from home (Thankful Thursday)

2011-06-02T19:05:00.000-04:00

Before I left for London, Cooper was beside himself with worry about how long I was going to be gone and what was he going to do without me.

I told him that I was only an e-mail away and when he missed me he should ask Jon to help him log in and send me a message. I never expected that the result would be one of the best gifts I've ever received.

On Tuesday afternoon I got this (exactly as it reads below)-

Dear momma
How was your trip well if it was'nt good i will tell you something extraordinary i got a 100 on my religion test. Things have been going a little weird around hear well first daddy said he could flip a pancake before my eyes. Somehow it turned out great, for him not the pancake. There were little pancake bits all over the stove so being daddy he just put the pan right on top of the pancake bits and it sizzled. After he finished the bits were stuck to the stove. We began to panic, so I came to rescues and brook out the cook top cleaner. That ended the problem.the second thing that happed was we came in the door and spiderzilla was greeting us and guess what was on her back babies. Millions of them. as soon as daddy saw it he threw gypsy so fast i thought i woud never see that dawg again. He stopped on it rapidly picked it up and trew it in the waste basket.

love you

Cooper

Oh my word- that kid is hilarious and sweet and SO MY CHILD!!!!

My response to him-

Dear Cooper-

My flight to London was stupendous. I was able to sleep restfully on the plane and we arrived in England safely.
I am thrilled beyond words that you got 100 on your religion test- that IS extraordinary news!! I'm so proud of you.

Your story about the pancake bits made me laugh! I laughed out loud. I'm so glad you were there to come to the rescue. What would Daddy do without you?

SPIDERZILLA?????? With millions of baby spiderzilla's??? OH MY WORD. Good thinking for Daddy to step on it and then throw it away. Poor Gypsy- that funny dog probably didn't know what in the world happened.

Let me tell you about London- even though they speak English, it's a little hard to understand sometimes. I have to listen really hard. I've had some good things to eat that are different from the USA- this morning I had a crumpet. It's a little like an English Muffin but more doughy. I liked it but I think I like English Muffins better.

I also had a weird thing happen here- somehow my zipper broke on my pants- it just fell right off in my hand as I was trying to zip up my pants. That's not good at all! Oh well, at least I had another pair.

I'm so glad you wrote to me- I loved getting an e-mail from you.
Hope you slept well and that Gypsy snuggled with you all night long.

Are Grandma and Pappy there now? Tell them I said hi!

I love you Cooper- tell Daddy I love him too!
xoxo,
Momma

And his heartbreaking yet hysterical reply to me on Wednesday.

Momma thank you for replying back to me. Today for dinner we copied a recipe from a cook book from the library BBQed chicken and it tasted so good and i wish you were there. Momma the days here have felt like weeks and i cant wait for you to come home. Once my pants fell down in art class and i walked in the room with my pants on my knees and Mrs. Craig yelled PULL UP YOUR PANTS so lowed i thought the room would split in half. Momma what time are u coming back. me and daddy made bee food. 4 hours earlier daddy put the top of the bee hive on wrong and the bees got mad and almost stung me on the head but my cat like reflexes through them off. Come home that is an order mam.

love Cooper

I am so thankful for:

safe flights

the magic of e-mail

3rd grade teachers who transfer their love of creative writing to their students

Dads who flip pancakes with disastrous results

parents who drop everything to come help make our lives better just by being there

cook top cleaner

cat like reflexes

8 year olds who love their momma

Just wondering....

2011-06-02T00:57:00.003-04:00

Are these the dog days of summer??
Because if they aren't....I'm REALLY dreading what's to come.
Regardless, shouldn't this dog be the poster child for the dog days???

Jet Setting (sort of)

2011-05-29T00:59:00.002-04:00

I went to London for a week c/o my company. Awesome...yes. Stressful....yes.

Actually, as I look back, it was a total blur.

I stayed with these friends and had a blast. They were so kind to me- they opened their home, patiently translated Brit speak for me, organized my transport all over the city and shared many a funny story and even more glasses of wine.

And in between working and having fun.....well, there wasn't that much time for anything else. Especially sleep. My word, I was a complete zombie.

I could have planned a little better. My timing was off and sadly, I missed THE EVENT OF THE CENTURY.

The only remnant of this....

Was this...

No matter though. It was such a treat to see everything up close and in person.

Can you tell that I was at the Abbey?

No?
Come on- I was absolutely there!

What about this?

I almost didn't make it home after this one!

Biggest thrill?
It's a toss up.

Either this.....

Notice anything about this couple?

Look closely-

Yup, Louboutins!
Even the senior set is so stylish in London.

This....

Are you kidding me?? Who couldn't use fake grass?

Or this....

A Basil Mint Martini from an amazing terrace bar overlooking the Thames.

Sigh.

Thanks to my favorite expats for making my trip so great!
Can't wait to see you when you're stateside.

The Bees

2011-05-14T10:16:00.007-04:00

Jon can't be still, or rest, or slow down or be stagnant. EVER.
It's super admirable especially since I'm close to his polar opposite.
Sometimes it drives me insane, and sometimes I have to step in and call a stop to the madness. Most times I just sit back, accept it, laugh at it and be amazed by it. Sometimes, I even get caught up in the busy.

Spring, Summer and Fall are easy for him to be busy- but Winter is TOUGH. So each year he latches on to something to pass the time.

Last year it was his obsession with RV's, the year before that it was finding THE perfect boat, the year before that it was buying a tractor.

This year? Becoming a beekeeper.
He spent all winter reading books, researching on line and talking about how awesome it would be to have bees. He even offered the honey from his bees to Wade & Sarah to use as wedding favors.

"Honey by Jon"
I told you, obsessed.

On Thursday night his obsession became a reality.
Wade came over and we were outside waiting for them to arrive.

I got a text that said, "Bee ETA 5 minutes"

So exciting.

In these pictures, the opening to the hive is covered so there isn't any danger.

See?

That one bee must have been late getting home because he was stuck outside the hive. He drove for 2 hours in the back of the truck clinging to the screen so that he wouldn't lose his family.

Jon got them all set up on their special "skunk proof" blocks. I wasn't aware that we had a skunk problem, but by all means....let's be on the safe side.

After they were all set up, it was time to remove the safety screening. That meant putting on the bee suit. This picture makes me laugh- clearly bee keeping is very serious business!

Day 1- nobody got stung. Not bad!

Although I have forbidden Cooper to go near the bees until we're more comfortable with them he couldn't' wait to try on the suit.

I'll admit it's pretty interesting, totally green and makes a great story. What's not to love?

Stay tuned for more bee adventures.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:22:00.000-04:00

This was the message scrawled on our white board this morning....

Don't mind the mess....it was c/o my hubs- he painted our kitchen today.

LOVE THAT MAN!
Hope your Mother's Day was wonderful too.

xoxo,
Carolyn

Car -1 Garage- 0 (or, how to spend $1K without even trying)

2011-05-07T08:44:00.008-04:00

Wednesday morning was cloudy, cold and rainy. The perfect day for sleeping in.
So I did.

Until a little voice said, "hey momma, can you check the clock?"
So I did.

8:01
Cooper needs to be at school between 8:05 and 8:20.

&$^#^$@&@#$%@!

I've never been more efficient...I barked orders, threw lunch into his lunchbox and grabbed the keys.

We were in the car by 8:12
And then I heard a noise I've not heard before.

Yup, I backed out of the garage prior to the door being all the way up.
UGHHHHHH. So. NOT. GOOD.

My car suffered no damage at all (yay).
The door however suffered a different fate.

At first the door was stuck open- at least I was able to exit the garage and get Cooper to school. But a stuck door wasn't going to be ok.

I sent Jon a message and within 20 minutes, he was home. I've never known him to leave school in the middle of the day for any reason. Evidently your wife driving into the garage door hit a new level of emergency.

He was able to get the door down and called someone to come and assess the damage.
I can think of soooo many other ways I would have rather used $1K. Sadly, we had no choice as the door was not able to be saved.

I'm now being VERY careful upon entering and exiting the garage.
No need for a re-match.

My advice for you....always look before you leave.
Hope your week was better than mine!

7 Favorites from the River

2011-05-04T00:11:00.005-04:00

There are an endless number of things that we love about spending weekends at the river.

The top 7 this week were-

7) Visits from 4 neighbors before 10am on Saturday morning. One even brought his tractor to "fluff up" our garden!

6) A great friend for Cooper to play with ALL DAY LONG & a kite with easy to understand directions!

5) Perennials that come back with a vengeance

4) and projects that promise to deliver down the road,

both outside...

and in.

3) Looking for a kid and finding him curled up in our bed with a good book.

2) THIS dog...who is always up for a visit

1) and finally, the opportunity to see things like this!

yup, that's a guy in a go-cart sitting in the back of a pick up truck while he eats lunch- they're picking crabs from the basket on the right side of the screen. and to be clear- that is a rebel flag that will blow in the breeze after their tank is full.

You can't make stuff like this up. You just can't!

Happy Hump Day-

Sarah's Shower

2011-05-02T01:17:00.003-04:00

The big day is fast approaching for Sarah & Wade and we celebrated on Saturday at her shower.

Not a ton better than spending an afternoon with friends & family...

We had yummy food, beautiful cupcakes and magical German cookies imprinted with their name and wedding date!

The best part?

This moment...

So happy!! Here's wishing you tons more just like them!

I'm so glad that I could be a part of the your day, Sarah!

the promised homer

2011-04-30T17:37:00.002-04:00

Cooper is incredibly serious about baseball.
He is intense from start to finish and replays each game over and over again after its finished. He's also very aware of the mistakes made during the game- both his and those of every other player on the team.

It's a little bit of a problem, but we're working on it.

He had a night game under the lights on Friday. The counselors from his after school care have been telling him that they're going to come see him play- and on Friday night, they did.

Cooper was thrilled!
He also struck out...
But made a come back with a double and had some impressive defensive work.
They lost the game but he was proud of himself, which is always the goal.

Saturday brought another game but I wasn't able to go. That news didn't go over too well.

So I kissed his little head, told him to hit a home run for me and went to Sarah's Bridal Shower.

About an hour later I got this text message from Jon.

Mets down 0-6 in the 1st. Coop just hit a homer to try and bring them back!

When I tucked him into bed I asked him about it....and he said, "Well, Momma. I promised that I would, so I did."

Like I said,
Cooper is incredibly serious about baseball.

The Wedding

2011-04-29T23:02:00.003-04:00

I was one of the crazies....up at 4am with Matt & Meredith and a zillion others anxiously waiting to see Kate become a princess.

I invited some friends to watch with me....but they thought I was nuts, so I settled for texting with a few other die hards who live across town!

Was it worth it?
Absolutely.

I sobbed almost the entire time. I started when Will and Harry got into their car to go to the abbey and didn't stop. I got myself under control for an 8:30am conference call- but then there were the recaps and I had to turn the TV off completely so I wouldn't gasp for air & sniffle through my other meetings.

And yes, I worked from home today on purpose so I wouldn't miss a second.

I thought they looked SO happy-

And the kiss was so sweet-

I do hope they live happily ever after....

one word wednesday

2011-04-27T06:47:00.000-04:00

HOPE

spelling matters....so does grammar

2011-04-26T23:23:00.002-04:00

I got this message from someone on my team late this afternoon. Names have been changed to protect the innocent (and the spelling challenged).

************

From: Tracey
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Carolyn
Subject: FW:

Example of why this temp will not be a good resource for written communication to associates :)

From: Charlie (TEMP)
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 4:40 PM
To: Tracey
Subject:

Hi mz tracey this is just a reminder that I will be leavin early tamarrow at 11 I hav a appt to get some lab work done and to meet with my case worker. Bt I will be coming in at regular time in the moring.

***********

So, when Cooper asks me why he has to write his spelling words 3x each....and why he has to use proper punctuation.....

I'll be able to tell him.

It's because spelling and grammar matter- and because I never want you to send a message like this.

EVER.

where does he get this stuff?

2011-04-21T11:40:00.001-04:00

we're going through some changes in our kitchen right now- and on the list to purchase is new kitchen hardware.

seems simple- right?
i've had in my head what i want for weeks...and jon and i went shopping together.

that could have been my first mistake.

have you ever picked out hardware for your cabinets? it's overwhelming- a great big wall with knobs and pulls in all different sizes, shapes, colors and price points.

but i think i'm ahead of the game- since i know exactly what i want for the drawers.

these (or something similar).

but jon isn't on board.
in fact, he flat out refuses to even consider the cup pull.
this from a man who really has relatively few hard core ideas about decorating decisions.

so i ask him why he's so opposed to cup pulls......because i really love them.

his answer??
and i quote-

"it feels like spiders could hide inside the cups and i can't live in fear"

i'm not even joking a little bit.
for the record, i'd like to add that we've never had an episode where spiders have been found lurking near our cabinets...or our drawers.

evidently, one can't be too sure.
and really, how can you argue with that? if the guy is going to put himself out there with a real life fear of spiders........well, who am i to argue.

and so the search for kitchen hardware continues....and one thing is for sure- there will be no cup pulls.

sign- i LOVE a cup pull.

thank goodness for smart phones...

2011-04-20T23:18:00.008-04:00

and the camera's inside them.
otherwise, i wouldn't have these pictures from a wild & crazy evening on the town (I know- STOP the madness!)

let's be clear- these aren't good picture by any stretch of the imagination- but that's ok because they get the job done.

they capture the fun that was had on a VERY rainy Saturday night...after the segway tour that had been booked for months got canceled!!

they capture goofy exchanges between friends (yes, that's blue gum in my mouth)

the acknowledgment of another year gone by & an attempt to remind ourselves that we ARE NOT OLD!!

and the love we all have for this wife, mother, sister, daughter & fab friend.

mission accomplished. what else could you ask for?
happy birthday diana- hope you had a BLAST!!!!

bELIeve

2011-04-13T06:18:00.003-04:00

Meet Eli-

Eli is the son of our friends Jen & Nathan.
Recently Eli brought it to their attention that his name was in the word BELIEVE.

He's right (clearly) but until that moment, it never occurred to them.
Kids are funny like that. They point out the obvious that isn't obvious.

Want to know what's not obvious about Eli?
Eli has autism.

He's a smart little kid who loves to play soccer and surf. He runs and laughs and figures things out like the fact that his name is in the word believe.

AWESOME.

Jen and Nathan are passionate about advocating for autism- it's a part of their lives. What's not to be passionate about?

For the past few years, Team Eli has turned out in full force at the Autism Society Annual 5K Walk. But this year, Team Eli won't be there.

TEAM bELIeve will be there instead!!!

It's fitting because he's absolutely a kid to believe in.

I'm thrilled to be supporting Team bELIve.
And whether it's through prayer, participation or donation, if you're interested or led I know they would love your support too. You can go here to learn more about this awesome event/cause and help Team bELIeve.

This is a portion of the message that I got from Jen-

Every 20 minutes, a child is diagnosed with autism. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. Nathan and I believe that participating in the walk is an awesome opportunity for us to support families (like us) who are learning to live with the challenges of autism. Just like all new mothers, I was so excited when I found out I was pregnant because I was looking forward to teaching my child so much…funny how life works because it is Eli who has taught me so much!

Actually, they've taught ME so much.
Thanks Jen, Nathan & Eli.

GO TEAM bELIeve GO!!!!!!!!!!!

for you mom!!

2011-04-12T22:48:00.008-04:00

My parents are enjoying a trip right now.....
And so just in case they tune in while they're away, I wanted to include a "cooper fix" to make them smile!

Love you Mom & Dad, hope you're having a super time!

(so does Cooper!)

ps- bring home chocolate!!

The Clampetts???

2011-04-12T19:38:00.002-04:00

It's Spring....time for cleaning up and clearing out.
I left today and these were Jon's parting words to me-

"I'm going to work on making sure that our yard doesn't look like the Clampetts."

And I think...."super, see you later!"

When I got home, I saw this....

Ok, this feels good...progress has been made and things are looking spiffy & we're clearing out things that should have been dealt with already (like the tree house that Jon and Cooper built years ago while I was near death with strep throat- the tree house that's actually NOT on our property. sigh).

Until I notice this.

What in the world??
He doesn't see anything wrong with hanging aluminum equipment randomly from trees.

Evidently, Jon and I didn't watch the same version of the Beverly Hillbillies.
This simply won't do.

Here's hoping that your spring cleaning is going better than mine!

homerun (x2)

2011-04-10T23:42:00.004-04:00

when something makes your child happy, you have no choice....it makes you happy too.
for cooper, it's baseball.
and he's over the moon about it.

therefore, i am too.

he's so serious and so determined....

and he gives it 100%- every single time.

and on saturday, his hard work paid off.
twice!

early in the game he hit a beautiful homerun- jon and i were incredibly excited for him.

and our kid was excited too.
the game could have ended there and we wouldn't have stopped smiling for days.

but it kept going...for 6 innings- and the score was tied.
and the other team was at the top of their batting order....and their coach wanted to win. so he asked for an extra inning.

rats.
but our scrappy little team played fabulous defense and they didn't let then score one run.

and then we were at bat.
and the 1st kid struck out
and the second kid hit a single
and the third kid hit a single
and the fourth kid was cooper.

and his first pitch was a strike
and his second was a foul
and his third was an out of the park bullet!!

and the crowd went wild!!!
(i'm pretty sure the crowd went wild....because certainly I did!)

and the game was won 7-4.
but it wasn't about winning (well, maybe a little bit)
it was about the feeling that runs through your head and heart when something exciting and unexpected happens.
the feeling of success and of pride.

it's what every parent wants for their child-
dreams realized, hard work paying off and knowing that he matters.

i love happy endings.

The Cleanse, part II

2011-04-04T06:35:00.001-04:00

After the old clothes left the building, those that were left needed a little pick me up. Sara and Diana came back for Round II of the cleanse...this time to build me back up after I'd been stripped of the bad and the ugly!

Sara is a genius with accessories and took a look at my jewelry to help me add some pop to the remaining few pieces hanging in my closet.

I never would have put all these greens together...but I'm loving it!

And who knew that I could change the look of this top so easily?

I've never worn layered necklaces in my life....now, I've got all sorts of combinations and I'm feeling super trendy.

Let's be clear- I took pictures so I'd remember exactly what went with what. There is no way I can handle the pressure each morning.

It takes me an extra 15 minutes to put together an outfit and get my accessories on.

But I feel so great when I finally walk out the door!

The book in the background? Sara lent me a few titles to help in my cleanse and this one was my favorite. I thought their show was hilarious and the book was no different. It didn't solve my problem areas, but it gave me suggestions and made me laugh.

After the accessory tutorial we headed to the mall- it was 3 hours of pure bliss (and a TON of laughs!). My sweet friends tore things out of my hands and replaced them with better choices, brighter colors and LONG pants. I've never shopped that way in my life- I highly recommend it (especially if you have fashionable friends who can lend a hand...and an opinion!)

I can't wait until SPRING!!!

rats.

2011-04-02T20:28:00.002-04:00

they lost.

62-70
our cinderella story is over.

but while it lasted, it was so much fun.
the city was united, people were so happy.
there was so much team spirit and BLACK AND GOLD was everywhere!!

we'll still have VCU cupcakes for dessert...but with heavier hearts.

the boys played hard- they're a fantastic team!!

Play Ball!!

2011-04-02T19:04:00.002-04:00

Today was the season opener.....
My poor kid endured rain, hail and wind that nearly blew some kids away.

But he played well and had a blast doing it.

good game little kid- we sure are proud of you!

Final Four.....GO RAMS GO!!!

2011-04-02T05:52:00.000-04:00

These are pix from the game last weekend....

and the damage one man can do to sofa pillows!

But when they WON the game....

it all seemed worth it!

We jumped in the car....picked up Wade & Sarah....and headed downtown...

to where it all started.

Fans were all over....even in the traffic jam on the way there.
We had a great time....and can't wait to do it again TONIGHT!!!

GO RAMS!

GO RAMS!!!!

2011-03-27T16:33:00.003-04:00

If the pillows on my sofa make it through this game....I'll be thankful.
My boys are tough on a pillow in times of basketball stress!

GO VCU GO!!!

what is this, asparagus??

2011-03-23T05:04:00.001-04:00

We had turkey burgers last night and I stopped on my way home to pick up the ingredients. Ground turkey, an egg, mustard powder and green onions.

I was in the check out line and the cashier picked up my green onions and said,
"what is this....asparagus?"

Sigh.
Kids these days.

I've officially turned 80.

Just to be sure, I said to Cooper....
"Hey buddy, what are these?"

His answer?
"Um, tiny green onions"

Whew- my faith is restored!!
Happy Hump Day-

*since I didn't have any asparagus pictures handy, I visited this site and took advantage of their stock photos- neat!

Early Morning Exchange (or, Men are from Mars)

2011-03-20T22:23:00.002-04:00

I've debated on whether to post this....I don't want to give anyone the wrong idea about my sweet hubs...and it does sort of call into question his humanitarian qualities. He really does have lots of them.

But, if you can instead focus on the difference between how men and women communicate and think about things, it may shed some light on questions that roll around in your head on any given day. I know it did for me.

And, it made me laugh for a good 10 hours.

I was ironing my clothes when I got this message.

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 06:51 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: (none)

a strange car pulled into the house next door with the old woman....he appeared quickly, got out of the car and headed towards her house.
have you seen any activity?

WHAT???
I responded back with this-

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 06:53 AM
To: Jon
Subject: (none)

It was the paper man. He delivers to her door.

And then I read the message again.
And again.
And I started to laugh.
I read it again...and kept laughing.
And it dawned on me that we were speaking two different languages (again).
And so I send this message to him.

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 7:21 AM
To: Jon
Subject: Re: (none)

Honey- do you find anything mildly hilarious about your message?? I cannot stop laughing!

And this is what I got back-

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 7:54 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: (none)

uh not off the top of my head....I thought she might be dead

Are you kidding me?? You thought she might be dead???
For the love...
My reply-

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 8:38 AM
To: Jon
Subject: RE: (non)

honey- do you mean that you thought she have already died and the man in the strange car was coming to check on her??

because the way I read it was....

hey- i saw a strange car and a man outside of her house and I'm hoping that he hasn't gone in and killed her....and I noticed it but I was in a hurry to get to work and didn't have time to stop so I'm checking with you to see what the status is......hopefully he didn't come next door and get you and coop too.

I do LOVE YOU!

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 08:43 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: (none)

Now that is funny....as I re-read it that is the way it sounded!

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 8:46 AM
To: Jon
Subject: Re: (none)

Seriously- you are a riot.
I am snorting.

And the very next message I got.....

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 9:04 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: (none)

Is anyone you know there a notary? We need to have that form notarized and send it back in.

Just like that, we're onto a new topic.

So, a few things about the above.

1) Our neighbor is quite elderly and rarely leaves her house. She's had a few incidents where the rescue squad has come to help her, but she seems to be doing well as of late.

2) If you're one of the two neighbors who does read my blog...I promise, if you needed help, Jon would be the 1st one to save the day (as long as it wouldn't make him late to school. In that case, you'd need to rely on me!)

3) This explains a ton about the differences in women and men- A TON. It reminds me that I shouldn't read so much into some of the things that Jon says- he's truly not thinking the same way that I do.

4) One of the things that I adore most about my hubs is that he does make me laugh SO MUCH. He can put a smile on my face for the entire day with a simple sentence.

5) If he thought that someone was really trying to hurt his family, he'd do anything and everything to keep us safe. This story wouldn't be nearly as funny if I didn't believe that with every ounce of my being.

Anywhoo- men are from Mars.
No doubt about it.

Happy Monday!

Early Morning Exchange (or, Cooper loves Nubs)

2011-03-16T22:36:00.003-04:00

Meet Nubs-

Cooper is obsessed with a book about a dog named Nubs that he checked out of the library this week. It's called Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle and it's a wonderful story. You can click here to visit Nubs' website. The story is a must read and appropriate for any animal loving child (although it does touch on the war in Iraq, so be ready for a conversation)

Anywhooo.....the child is obsessed and will talk to anyone who will listen about the book.

Enter the following e-mail exchange that I had yesterday morning with Jon.

From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 6:53 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: Phone books

Hey do you mind if I donate our existing phone books to the school....The Peace Club is collecting phone books to recycle and they get money for them. I don't know the last time you used a phone book but for me its been at least 3 years. Plus it would open up new space for us.

****************

From: Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 9:53 AM
To: Jon
Subject: RE: Phone books

Sure honey, that's fine. I feel like I've used one pretty recently, but if it will help the Peace Club- I think I'll make it. What ever will we do with all the space created by giving away our phone books???

Oh and PS- You're funny!

********************
I wasn't expecting this to be his response....exactly how he wrote it (excluding the quotation marks).

From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 9:58 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: Phone books

I'll tell you who's funny is our kid....

I told him I would try to read his book during practice last night. When he got back in the car to drive home, he said,

"so daddy did you get a chance to read any of the book?"

I said, "yea I read the first eight pages (I was lying) but I want you to read it to me tonight."

And he said, "That's sort of funny. How did you know you were on page 8? There aren't numbers on the pages." (So busted!)

***************

When is my silly Neb going to realize that our kid is one smart cookie- and isn't easily outsmarted by his dad!

(which reminds me about the time that Cooper pulled a fast one with Jon and some math homework that he didn't want to do...but that's a story for another day!!)

Bottom line- read the book, warm your heart, and carry on Cooper's love for Nubs!

S & W- Engagement Party

2011-03-15T00:57:00.003-04:00

The festivities have begun....

The "hold the date" magnet is on the refrigerator.
The reception site has been chosen.
The dress has been purchased.
Katie & some of Wade's good friends planned a party- woohoo!!

What a great sister....can't you feel the love!

No question about the love on this shot....

Here's to the happy couple!

We had so much fun....everyone did.

It makes me laugh to remember (well, except for one part where I was trying to get the shot of the century and I fell off a stool and caused a bit of a scene- I've got some bruises and felt like an idiot- otherwise, I'm fine!).

One of Wade's sweet friends had a few beers and asked to use my camera so I could be in some pictures. I was hesitant at first- but these shots make me so happy, it was totally worth it!!

Thanks Harper-

I owe you one!

We can hardly wait for the wedding.

Feedback taken

2011-03-14T00:10:00.003-04:00

This is Tim.
He looks this way because I haven't been posting often enough for his liking.
(Katie doesn't really care about my blog- she's more concerned with making healthy eating choices!)

He's right though....I've been slack.

I've had good reasons....sort of.
I'm working on it.

My hope is that Tim will soon look like this.....

I know, I know....
You doubt me.

So does Katie.

I think I can do it.
And then Tim and Katie will look like this....

Love you guys......and love the fun we had this weekend!!
Thanks for making me laugh- hope I returned the favor.

The Cleanse

2011-03-09T22:47:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking for a while about making a change...I couldn't do it on my own, so I enlisted the help of some friends and this book!

The plan was to get together after work for some good wine, yummy food and fashion advice. I was ready for the brutal truth...regardless of what it left me with at the end.

Before they came, I did a little cleaning on my own.

I thought I was thorough....I purged the things that I knew were wrong and some that I was pretty sure about even though I didn't want to admit it.

Evidently, I was a little off. This is where we ended up!

And instead of feeling deflated, or stressed and overwhelmed because I have little left in my closet....I felt great!

This was the message I sent to update some friends who were waiting anxiously for an update-

*******
The purge has been completed. It was brutal, hilarious, alarming and freeing.
I LOVED IT.

And to give you an idea of how the night went....these were some of the comments:

"Um, NO."
"Absolutely not"
"See, look- you just instantly lost 15 lbs!"
"I love those…..they are the most flattering pants you've had on tonight" (this after I had already tried on 16 pairs of pants)

Me- Diana- I like this, do you think it really has to go?
Her- It does. Blocked prints have been out for years.

"Have you ever worn this? Please tell me you haven't." (I had...many times!)

"You can wear that……..but you have to wear flats with those pants" (this was said this repeatedly……evidently ALL of my pants are too short)

And my favorite quote of the night-

"You need to stop wearing blue. It makes you look like a sailor"

I felt energized, free and excited about the possibilities!
Next stop- shopping to fill in the gaps that exist AND to get some longer pants.

********************************

I love my friends, I love their honesty, I love that they're willing to help me out in my time of need and I love that we can laugh hysterically about bad fashion and poor color choices.

It's spring, a time for starting again- to tackle a change that you've been meaning to make and to get a fresh start.

The cleanse....hope it helps you too!!

One Season Ends....

2011-03-02T06:30:00.004-05:00

Coop had fun, learned a ton and was dubbed the "Stealth Bomber" by his coach!

But Baseball is just around the corner....

I can't wait!!!

Minute to Win It

2011-02-23T06:17:00.001-05:00

Have you ever watched this show?

Last week at Cooper's Valentines Day Party one of the moms had the kids do minute to win it games. They had to build a 10 story tower out of index cards in 60 seconds.

And we're hooked.

Shiny Pennies

2011-02-21T15:11:00.002-05:00

Which substance will make old pennies sparkle?

Hard to say....

But this jr. scientist doesn't give up easily.
I love 3rd grade science!

Happy Birthday George!

2011-02-21T06:01:00.000-05:00

We live so close to our state capitol and I'm embarrassed to say I've never been there. That all changed on Saturday.

Cooper's 3rd grade choir was invited to sing the national anthem at the One-hundred-third Consecutive Commemoration of the Birthday of General George Washington, 1st President of the USA.

I thought it was a fantastic opportunity- Cooper thought it was a fate worse than death.

What happens when a mom and her son have such differing opinions??

It wasn't pretty.

We drove downtown and he was quiet- I wasn't worried, I just figured he was getting himself together and maybe saying a prayer. I was saying some too.

When we parked, I turned around and cheerfully said, "ok bud, let's go"
I stopped in my tracks- his lips, teeth and fingers were BLUE.

"Cooper- WHY ARE YOU BLUE????"
"I found some Fun Dip leftover from Valentine's Day so I ate it"

Honestly, some days I can't win for losing.
We went through security and the blue boy and I tried to find a bathroom. I got him cleaned up as much as possible.

Regardless, he was there and he sang to honor our 1st President. His music teacher (whom we adore) was so appreciative- she's the sweetest woman and does amazing things with these kids. She was so proud of the kids- they did a super job!

Although I don't have great pictures, I do have great memories. Was it the lighting, the subject (full of frowns) or maybe my skills?

It was a lesson in patience, in bravery, in coping with what life throws our way and in how blessed we are to live in a place that allows us our freedom and celebrates our history with such pride.

Happy Birthday George- thanks for everything!