I Wish I Was a FASHIONISTA

So Chip and I are totally hooked on The Bachelor (I know, I know), but anyways...we were as broken-hearted as Jillian herself last week when she got the ax! I think Chip was secretly in love with Jillian (like she is now contending with the Ashely Judd infatuation) because he swears "he doesn't even care who Jason picks now that Jill is gone."

OK, that is a long lead up and probably sharing a bit more than Chip wants you all to know--but the long of the short of it is... I LOVE Jillian's style (and yes, I am aware that they have stylists on the show, but that didn't stop Lauren the teacher from dressing like a skank every week...you got me--not a big "Lauren fan" here). So I am feeling like I wish I had more style. I am rocking a pretty nice post baby (2 babies to be exact) body here and I need

1. A new style

2. more money to supply this new wardrobe

or 3. a surprise visit from the cast of Real Simple.Real Life and/or What Not to Wear and/or Tim Gunn's Guide to Style!

Now I'm really in a dilema because you all know I've been Jonesin' for a new camera, but the reality of it is that there is no way I'm getting the camera and a shopping spree for my birthday (Chip already agreed to a new pair of 7 jeans :)

So whats a girl to do?...and why do I have an urge to sign this post like a Dear Abby letter...

Style Pickle in Pasco or Wardrobe Woes in Washington (personally I'm leaning towards the latter).

Monthly Tidbits-February

So you will notice a drastic change in the quality of the pics on this posting compared to normal everyday postings of mine. That is because this past weekend we were lucky enough to head up to Kirkland to visit Lyssa and Charlie, and Lyssa took some amazing pictures of the boys! So here are a couple of the pics from the weekend (it was so hard to choose). You can click HERE if you are interested in viewing the rest of the pics from her picasaweb album. Lyssa is totally in on my mission to get a new camera. She took all of these on automatic setting using here Nikon D60, just so that I could see the quality I would be getting even if I didn't figure out how to use any of the other manual settings at first!...I'm hooked! Enjoy!

CALEB

Age: 4yrs/5months

Favorite things: Roller hockey, jumping on the neighbor's trampoline (apparently our talented boy can do a front flip...hmmm...I'm just going to pretend that I don't know that he is attempting this manuever and rest better at night)

Favorite foods: eggos waffles, lucky charms, still grubbing on his PB & marshmallow cream

Dislikes: Having to get out of the pool, being told "NO" (he's a bossy thing...can't imagine where he got that)

Accomplishments: grabs rings off the bottom of the pool (in ~4 feet of water), can almost buckle his seatbelt all by himself, helps me set the table.

Tender moment: his prayers at night..."Dear Jesus, tank you for letting me play hockey so good..." Though he usually adds some other nice things after this, Chip and I have to try very hard not to giggle (kids are just so darn sweet and honest).

DRAYSON

Age: 8 months

Favorite things: going swimming at the pool, his new "sound spa" (my mom and my sis swear by this noise machine so my mom bought me one and I am hooked...his favorite is the RAIN setting--he sleeps like the dead).

Favorite foods: chicken, pasta, rice, club crackers, jello

Dislikes: when mommy leaves the room (he's got a bit of "stranger danger" going on), the fact that he is no longer being nursed.

Accomplishments: drinks from a straw, clapping to music

Tender moment: lays his face against yours first thing after waking up

OTHER RANDOM HIGHLIGHTS:

We are starting to teach Drayson some signs, such as MORE and PLEASE. He now has 4 teeth in and is working on 2 more already.

Caleb has announced that he needs to learn how to write his last name as well, so that he can get his own library card and go and check out books all by his self (I think he honestly expects me to just throw him on the city bus)!


I just had to include these last two pics:

Heart Day

Today was Caleb's Valentine's Day party at preschool. He sported his red polo and I just had to share this pic. He is one good lookin' boy if I do say so myself. I can already hear the phone calls from all the girls...."is Caleb there?"....ugh! Hands in his pockets and all...yup--he's got his daddy's charm! Today as I was getting ready and he was watching cartoons in our bedroom, he looked right at me and said "I love you, Mom!" Geez, melt my heart--maybe it's the shirt--I should make him wear red everyday!



Check out what Caleb picked out to give to his classmates....I tried to explain that AirHeads are not a typical Valentine's Day treat, but then thought to myself..."oh, what the heck...airheads are way better than those nasty conversation hearts anyways!" He wrote his name on all the hearts and proclaimed it "hard work!" Really? you just came home from an hour of hockey practice, you picked yourself and all your gear up off the ice how many times, and writing your name is "hard work?"


Caleb and Drays wrestling before Caleb left for school. Look how oblivious and happy Drayson looks here...he doesn't even know that he is getting baby shots at the Dr.'s in just a few short hours!

I just have to comment on how truly awesome it is to watch your baby master a new skill for the first time while you are watching. Now, I know that I look back and say, Caleb did this and that at so and so an age. But this morning I actually was there to lay eyes upon the very moment of one of Drayson's "firsts." He drank from a sippy cup. And not just any sippy cup. After several weeks of purchasing different "starter" or "first stage" type sippys to no avail. He picked up Caleb's "big guy" sippy (you know the Playtex kind every person with a toddler has in their cupbord?) and drank straight from it like he's been doing it his whole life. So there you have it.

Life's Short, Play Hockey

Chip: "Who is your favorite hockey player?"

Caleb: "Kruise" (of course)

Chip: "Do you know who my favorite hockey player is?"

Caleb: "who?"

Chip: "You!"



I love to watch them...Caleb just gets the biggest grin on his face!



We had such a fun weekend--and most of it was hockey related (shocking, I know)! Friday night was stick time for Caleb. Saturday morning we went and watched one of Caleb's buddies play in a Mite hockey tourney (it was fun to see what Caleb will be doing in just a couple years). Then Caleb's friend Andy came over to play for the day. They played roller hockey out front with the neighbor kids for like 4 straight hours (I kid you not)!

The Die Hards: Dan, Caleb, Andy & Emma--doesn't Caleb look like such a big guy here?

The night was topped off by an American's game. Sunday Caleb had a make-up hockey practice and then another trip to the rink for an Am's game and skate with the players. (Thanks to Jane, Larry and Kassie for a yummy dinner and getting to warm up before heading back to the freezing cold ice arena). Sunday night's game was especially great because Eric Mestery (one of the old American's players) was back in town with his team, so we got to visit with him and Caleb was so excited to see him!

Caleb at his favorite place...the rink of course

Drayson sharing a laugh with Scott at the American's Game

Eric & Caleb reunited

..."Caleb, who is your best friend besides Daddy?"...."KRUISE!"



When we got to the game last night there was a "big guy size" hockey stick sitting in Caleb's seat. It was Kruise's game stick from the night before and on it was written this note from Kruise:



To Caleb:

All the best! Work hard, have fun and one day you will play for the Americans!


Kruise is always so great to Caleb. One of the truly "nice guys"--the kind that I can only hope my boys grow up to be. His mom should get some sort of medal for sure. Here are some pics of him and Caleb skating after the game.

Caleb showing off his skills (take note of the cross-over...I can personally not do this without catching an edge--and I didn't feel like humiliating myself in front of the several hundred people that were present).

I just love this pic (don't worry Retta...I'll print these off for ya)

Happy Birthday, February!

It's a short list this month!

Feb. 8th-Megan (Neill) Weeks (orange dress @ Jon & Nat's wedding a couple summers ago). Also L-R: Kynda, Cara, Chelle, Meg, Kara, Me

Meg and I have been friends since Mrs. Ferguson's class in the 1st grade. She now lives in the Portland area with her awesome husband Brad. So many of my friends are from Forever Ago, and I am so very lucky to still have them in my life. Though we don't see each other as much as we used to (pretty much everyday through high school), it is that much more fun when we get to see them when they are in town. Meg is so crazy...she knows how to 'whoop it up' like no one I know. Meg, thanks for all the great (yet sometimes nasty :) memories. Hope you have a great birthday!

Also, 2 of Chip's best friends, Riley and Mike, have birthdays this month. February 3rd & 24th. I swear to you that Chip talks to both of them multiple times a day (and it is almost always soccer related). Happy 28th Birthday, Guys!

And if my memory serves me, Feb. 18th is Charlotte & George's anniversary (chip's sis & her hubby). Hope you have a good one. You 2 are really great together.

February Journal Entry

February 2, 2009

Outside my window:

The sun is just starting to set. And the temperature is dropping FAST! At least the snow is off the ground now.

I am thinking:

About the possibility of getting a bigger vehicle. Chip and I have been discussing this for awhile. We have driven a few different vans and SUV's and are trying to narrow it down. Caleb was so excited to go on a couple "taste" drives with us (he's so funny). The good news about the economy being in a dump is that car prices are down, so we may be able to get a steal of a deal (fingers crossed).

I am thankful for:

The fact that Caleb is over the stomach bug that had him down half of last week (and the fact that no one else in the fam caught it...yet).

From the kitchen:

Nothing! Because my mom sent home left over fried chicken that we are totally having for dinner tonight. All I'm gonna do is maybe throw together a salad or something easy. This was the perfect day for it...I'm feeling pretty lazy.

I am wearing:

Jeans and a fleece.

I am creating:

Zilch. Nada. Nothing.

I got all powered up to make Drayson and Caleb matching fleece tie blankets last week, but Jo-Ann's is all out of the hockey fleece that I had my eye on. And of course now nothing else will do.

I am going:

To make Caleb some hot chocolate, because he just came inside from riding his bike...brrr. Of course there will be a dollop of marshmallow cream in his mug (his favorite condiment besides ketchup :)

I am reading:

The Busy Mom's Guide to Wisdom by Lisa Whelchel. My Grandma Janet got me this neat devotional for Christmas and I think its about time to crack it open and get this year started off right. Now that we are into the 2nd month of the year, I can't be using the excuse of "after Holiday damage control" anymore.

I am hoping:

To get a new "grown-up" camera for my birthday. Some of my friends have really nice cameras and take some amazing photos. I'd love to get a new camera and learn how to take awesome pics of my boys. I can only justify getting an entry level model for now, since I have no idea what I am doing and Chip and I never spend hundreds of dollars on ourselves. I have been eyeing either the Nikon D40 or D60.

I am hearing:

Caleb slurping up the remnants of his hot cocoa (that didn't last long) and Drayson growling and yelling at Caleb to share his crackers. We realized last week that Drayson LOVES Club crackers. My mom brought over some "sour stomach" supplies for Caleb, I was holding Drays and apparently he decided he needed a snack, he just stuck out his little hand and without thinking my mom just handed him a cracker. Neither one of us realized what had happened until that little booger crunched that cracker in half with his 2 little teethers...and he wasn't keen on the idea of her taking it away! Since he hasn't choked, we figure he is good to go.

Around the house:

Still need to hang a few new things around the house that we got for Christmas (we are notorious for not getting things hung up for months). Garbage needs taken out, a little bit of tidying, but nothing terrible.

One of my favorite things:

Hanging out with friends. Chip and I went to dinner and the hockey game with our friends Dave & Kynda on Saturday and had a blast. We really need to do it more often. We are lucky enough to have several different groups of friends and we have an awesome time with all of them. Some of our friends are from Forever Ago, some are newer, some have young families like us, some don't and remind us to get out without the kiddos once in awhile! But this weekend reminded me that Chip and I need to remember to take time to have fun without the boys every once in awhile.

Some plans for the upcoming month:

In the immediate future Caleb has a dentist appointment. Only 6 more weeks of hockey left, and then he will start Little Kickers indoor soccer at the beginning of March, as well as Chip starting up for boy's soccer season. I have a hair cut and color next week and am also helping out with a women's luncheon at church at the end of the month. Seems like February will be over before it even gets started. Once spring sports start we will be living in a soccer driven haze for the next few months until May. We need to soak up some quality Daddy Time before then!!

A picture thought I am sharing:

Have a little Baby Caleb Lovin' (Valentine's Day 2006--17 months old). This is one of those pics I can threaten him with when he is a teenager!