Ten on Tuesday

1. Mike and I have a cup of coffee every morning and always drink out of "our" cups. They are Starbucks mugs, found at a garage sale. Mine is orange on the inside and his is blue on the inside. The funny thing is, despite using them every day, Mike will occasionally get them mixed up and try to give me the blue. OK, maybe it's not that funny to you, but we always get a chuckle out of it.
   
2. We seldom have candy at our house. It's just not something we buy. (Chocolate, however? Yum!) Which may be one (of the many) reasons Brady loves his Uncle Lance. For Christmas, Lance got everyone candy for stocking stuffers and the majority of it ended up being left at our house. Ever since, Brady has asked for a piece of "Uncle Lance's candy". Every day. His favorite so far has been Jelly Bellys. Incidentally, it bears noting that if we ever have Gatorade in our house it is always "Uncle Lance's Gatorade" and it is always requested, as in, "I want to drink some Uncle Lance's Gatorade", and (when prompted for manners), "pleeeeeaase".
   
3. We were playing the "tickle game" the other day when Brady bit my arm. It wasn't a hard bite, and I think he just got caught up in the excitement and didn't really mean it maliciously. When I had him apologize, he saw my bruise and, on his own, prayed for it. It was sweet, sincere, and delicate and I couldn't have been more of a puddle. Then, ever so gently, he bent down and kissed it. As if that weren't sweet enough, he then prayed for my knee (yes, it still hurts). I love moments like that.
   
4. It's official. Mike has turned into a reader. I'm not just talking willy-nilly-read-occasionally reader. Nope, he is a full-blown-read-every-spare-second-kind-of-reader. And I love it. We have stopped watching TV at night (except for the occasional show/movies on Friday nights) and we read together. Yes, we may very well be 80 year olds disguised as 30-somethings. I love moments like that.
   
5. Speaking of being 30-something, I got ma'am-ed the other day. We were at Bed Bath and Beyond when it happened. I rounded a corner and ran smack dab into a 20-something (she very well could've been a teenager, but I'm trying to make myself feel a little better) and she said it. The dreaded words. "Oh! Excuse me.....maaaaa'aaaammm". Now, it could just be my imagination, but it surely felt like it was drawn out, in slow motion, and amplified. I've mentioned it before that being 30 doesn't bother me. Being called ma'am however? Um, yeah. Don't love that.
   
6. That same day, my mood was lifted and feelings soothed (a little) with the help of Target. Specifically, the dollar bins right when you walk in the store. I scored two little planting pots that had seeds to plant. I can't wait to plant them with Brady (remember the peppers?) and watch them grow. We got a strawberry plant and some Forget-Me-Nots. I'll keep you posted on their progress.
   
7. Brady likes to listen to certain songs over and over (and over and over and over). Needless to say, Mike and I learn the words. Pretty fast. Occasionally we'll sing along. Lately, however, Brady has started saying "want you to stop singing". Ouch.
   
8. Next Monday, my son will be exactly two and a half. I can barely type the words. How did that happen?
   
9. Because next Monday my son will be exactly two and a half, we have begun the process of potty training. I've done a lot of research (meaning: I've read a lot of blogs) and found that this was the most recommended age to try. Yesterday was our first day and, at the end of it, I'm feeling optimistic. Without sharing the icky details, we managed a couple small successes. Not bad for day one. Nevertheless, prayers are appreciated!
   
10. Have you ever heard of Ebates? It's the coolest site ever-if you're an online shopper. Basically, you sign up for a free account with Ebates then, anytime you're going to do any online shopping, go to their web page and find the store you want to shop (like Old Navy, Gap, Gymboree, Sears...the list goes on). Here's the amazing part-you get cash back! I just got a check for $7.57 from them. How cool is that? Plus, if you sign up, you can get a free $10 gift card to a choice of places. I picked Home Depot. I'm going to be getting some paint! Anyway, click here if you're interested. I get $5 in referral if you sign up with my link, as opposed to singing up on your own. Then, once you sign up, you can get your friends to sign up and get free money. Free money is a wonderful thing.

Movie Monday

By now, you know I'm a sucker for alliteration. So, with that said, I introduce a new blog series: Movie Monday.

I figured it would be fun for me to post some random videos and what better day than Monday, where I'm just getting back to the blog after a weekend break. Plus, it's a great way to share the videos I never get around to sharing.

Without further ado, here's this week installment. It was taken (with the phone camera) on September 3. Brady is reciting one of his short stories "Favorite Colors", a Winnie-the-Pooh book.

And, just to justify the mess....I was going through Brady's closet, sorting out sizes and seasons. He found the Pooh hat, insisted on wearing it, and would not take it off. Oh well, makes for a cute video...with a messy background!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for Ten on Tuesday!

Friday's Favorite

For Mike's birthday this year, Brady picked out a birthday card (all by himself!) that said "Happy birthday to the big man, from the little man." Ever since then, Brady will randomly say Mike is "the big man" and he happily calls himself "the little man". I love it.

These pictures were snapped when Brady's Nanny was visiting. The entire two weeks she was here, Brady refused to nap in his bed. So, every afternoon he would usually crash on the couch. This particular day, Mike cuddled up with him and I just happened to have my camera handy. I love how you can sense their bond, even while they're sleeping. (It bears mentioning that the day after she left, he happily returned to his crib. Thank heavens!)

So, here they are.

The big man and the little man.

Man, I love these guys.

You are the Music....

...while the music lasts. -T.S. Eliot

Way back when I was in high school (way, way, way back), I got an electric guitar for Christmas one year. I got a guitar and my brother got a drum set. Neither one of us played, but it's still one of the coolest gifts I've ever gotten. My brother eventually sold his drum set, but I held on to my guitar. Always with the hope that I would play...someday.

The years have passed, and the guitar has been moved from room to room until, at last, it's found a quiet place in our laundry room, right next to Mike's acoustic guitar (he doesn't play either). Mike's guitar is in a box, but mine is not, which makes it ever so tempting to little boys who like noise, buttons, strings, and things that really aren't toys and really shouldn't be played with.

Imagine my surprise when I see my little boy lugging this big guitar out of the laundry room. He was working hard, but was determined. He made it all the way to the living room and up on the couch.

"I want to play la guitar." I couldn't possibly take it away after he'd worked so hard to free it from it's spot in the laundry room. So, I let him play...and quietly snapped some pics with my phone. I've edited them with a heavier hand than I normally use, but I like the kind of grungy feel (I can almost hear my brother's eyes rolling) these have.

He was gentle, content, and I couldn't have been happier to share in this moment.

"Music washes away form the soul the dust of everyday life." -Berthold Auerbach

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be silent if no birds sang except the best." -Henry Van Dyke

A Cut Above

I'm not crafty. But, boy do I wish I were. When Mike and I were doing Christmas shopping for Brady, I knew I wanted to stock up on our crafting supplies (stock up as in actually get some). I had visions of sitting at the kitchen table with Brady, making...stuff.

One of those "crafty" gifts we got him were scissors. Yup, his very own pair. We headed to our favorite educational store and, while Mike kept Brady occupied at their train table, I went hunting. I ended up finding a pair that sounded like a good fit. According to the packaging they will only cut construction paper (had to pick that up too!) and, most importantly, not: hair, skin, clothes, or anything else a two and a half year old may try.

Today was a particularly slow day, so I decided to bust them out.

Brady was beside himself when I told him we were going to cut with scissors. He got right to work.

See how serious he looks? I assure you, he did have fun.

He did great for a first-timer. There were only a couple times he decided ripping the paper was easier, but he always went back to the scissors. We'll definitely tackle this again in the near future.

Today scissors...tomorrow, a clean house who knows?

Ten on Tuesday

1. It feels like it's been ages since I've done a "Ten on Tuesday" post. Bear with me. I'm rusty.
2. The Christmas tree has got to come down. What once was magical, relaxing, and inspiring to look at has now become an obtrusive thing in our living room taking up much needed space.
3. Today we head back to the gym after being off for a week (or so). I am simultaneously looking forward to it and dreading it.
4. This New Year's marked the 8th anniversary of when Mike proposed. To be honest, I normally don't remember those types of things, but it is easy to remember a New Year's proposal. Those of you who know me well, know how I am with timelines...and times...and dates. Seriously, I wouldn't even know it was Tuesday if it weren't for the calendar. I'm kidding. Sort of. In all actuality, it was Mike who reminded me that it was 8 years. (Unlike me, he is great about timleines, and times, and dates). That just blows my mind (in a good way). He proposed at the stroke of midnight.
5. I love routines. Looking back, I always have. It's looking like my son is the same way. Every weekday morning he has some fruit first thing in the morning. In the winter it's clementines, in the summer it's usually some type of berry or peaches. It's been like that as long as he's been eating fruit. In fact, it's hard to remember him not eating fruit first thing in the morning (there goes that timeline stuff again). We used to all pile on the couch in the morning, with Brady in the middle and Mike and I sipping our coffees. However, recently that has changed and Brady has been requesting to "eat la clementine in mommy and daddy's room sitting in the black chair". I love it. Of course, it doesn't stop with just sitting in the black chair. He has to have his airplane blanket and his toy helicopter and toy airplane (courtesy of his Aunt Bev and Nanny).
6. I don't believe in resolutions. I do, however, believe in goals. I don't know why, but it seems like once you tag something as a "resolution" it is doomed to fail. Goals, on the other hand, seem to be safe.
7. I am not a crafty person, but I would love to be. It's blogs like this that inspire me and really make me want to create something. Unfortunately, I can't sew. I do have a machine (on loan from my mom), so I'm going to learn this year. It's a resolution. I mean goal.
8. Speaking of goals, another one of mine (I know-I have a ton) is to get more organized. I downloaded a (free) organization diary/journal yesterday. You can find it here. It's originally $29, but I had a code that made it free so I thought "what the hey" and downloaded it. I've yet to read it. Or open the files.
9. I have been having a lot of problems with my knee and finally went to the doctor. She said I either have runner's knee or degeneration of the cartilage behind the knee cap. She gave me a pill to take, but it hasn't really been helping. It makes the thought of #3 particularly daunting.
10. According to the stats, 11 people read the blog yesterday. I'm not normally a person to get hung up on numbers, I just find it interesting! Thanks to you who stopped by!
    

Happy New Year!

It's a new year, a new blog post, and a new look to the blog!

I know you probably thought I'd desserted this blog and, I guess, you were right...sort of. I may not have had any posts in a little while (ok, long while) but it's always been in the back of my mind. What better time to pick blogging back up than in the new year, where resolutions run rampant?

We've been busy in our own kind of way. Christmas was wonderful and more fun than ever with Brady being two and a (almost) half. He had an emphatic "thank you!" every time he opened a present. If a box came to the door, he would follow us around saying, "I want to open it! I want to open the box. Pleeeease!".

We didn't see all the family we would've liked to see over the holidays and, as disappointing as that was, it was also relaxing to not have to travel anywhere.

As great as the holidays were, I'm especially excited to welcome in a new year. We have some big plans and ambitious goals for this year. Last year was wonderful, full of unexpected blessings. Looking back on the year, I can smile knowing we did our best to squeeze every drop of happiness out of it. This year will be even better!

I will be doing a lot more of the simple things that make life so grand. Like this:

Spending time in the kitchen playing cooking and baking with my best helper. In addition to helping, he also serves as quality control, as you can see from the chocolate remnants around his mouth. Good thing he only asks to get paid in "little tastes".

Here's to 2011!