YIPPIE!!

We've talked about it, but then again we talk about alot of things. We hoped it would work out, but then again sometimes it doesn't. We take baby steps by requesting leave, but then stop the planning right then and there till last minute.....

We're going to Thailand!!

I am now officially excited! It's been a trip in the works for a while now but we could never commit to reservations. Researching the pros/cons, looking at 179 different hotel websites, google earthing the entire country to see locations, reading, talking to friends..... and then we did nothing.

Let me tell you a little something it's taken me almost 17 years to learn about my husband. He will sit on a idea for YEARS before making sure it's the best one, best time, and absolutely the best price. I have never seen a person read ebay listings so intently he actually remembers if the buyer is relisting an item or using a different posting name. He knew every online store's price by memory of cameras, lenses, and warranty information. Keith will shop in a mall all day long buying nothing so he can go home and compare prices and reviews before making a purchase. There isn't too much impulse buying with him. He knows what he wants, and he hardly ever settles for less than the best. It's a quality I've loved about him and his determination to get it. The best deal his YEARS of researching has gotten him..... ME! I kinda tease. Eight years before we got married, I'm just sayin. The writing was on the wall.

BUT today he made reservations! We have the tickets, hotels, and an itinerary made. I can't tell what has me so giddy (A) This is our first flying-family vacation! (B) The beaches are gorgeous (C) My skin will once again be able to absorb vitamin D!!! (D) Thai food is much better than Korean food (E) we'll temporarily be out of solitary apartment confinement (did you know it was 5 degrees this morning, not including the wind chill when I walked Cole down in the pitch dark to the bus stop?)

Speaking of, NO SCHOOL TOMORROW! I am so excited because it means no bus stop drop off before the sun rises. If you ask Cole why he has a four day weekend, he will tell you because it's "Marther Luther King's Birthday". Marther.... I love it.

Tonight Brad was pretty grumpy so I sent him to his room where he fell asleep before his 3 minute time out was finished. It was close to bed time so I left him there. Cole and I picked up and decided to watch a movie together. He cuddled with me on the couch and he spread his blanket over my legs. He talked through the whole movie about what he thought was funny and for about 59 minutes of the 110 minute movie, he had his little arm propped way up around my neck. It was As Good As It Gets.

As Good As It Gets

After writing yesterday's post about Cole's sweet face, I sat and thought about how precious this time and life really is. After so many New Year's Resolutions have already fell by the wayside (btw, Erin I haven't even started 8 minutes abs so can you fail something you never started?), I think this is one that should be easy to do. I'm going to start a better Gratitude Journal right here on this web-based baby journal. A journal within a journal - GENIUS! MUHAHAHAHAH Seriously, motherhood has eaten away my brain cells.

Let's return to the deepness of my post, to me... that picture in that moment in time was As Good As It Gets. So, when I experience moments that are As Good As It Gets I'm going to share them right here.

Before Keith went to work today and before Cole got home from school, it was us with Brad. We were able to tickle him and smother him with kisses together. The baby-belly giggle was in full swing. I'm not sure how many more times Brad will have that kind of jolly deep laugh. It was As Good As It Gets.

The Look

My little Colby Lee, in my honest, accurate and unbiased opinion, is a naturally gifted athlete. By the way, Colby Lee is a nickname Keith started calling him shortly after he was born. We called our dog Mickey, Mickey Lee. Of course it would transcend to our first born human child. Please don't hate us forever Cole.

Back to my topic and cold hard fact: my son loves sports. This age is so great because it's all so fun for him. There's no pressure, worries of commitments to HOURS of practice, no winning or losing. He enjoys the opportunity to run around with his friends. I think he even likes his cheering section.

Do you want to know my most favorite part about watching him play? After he scores or does something great, he immediately looks up and finds me. Then the greatest thing happens, he smiles. A smile that takes away all the frustrations and worries over motherhood and life. A smile that says all is right in the world. It's a second of pure happiness and he wants to share it with me! Oh, it melts my heart. It also insures that I will be at every game come rain or shine, just to see that face. I know my days are numbered. For one day right around the corner, he'll be looking up to see if some cute little girl is noticing his efforts. He'll want to know if she caught that awesome shot. In my head, I know that's a good thing. Little boys break away from their families to start ones of their own. It's how it's suppose to work. Somebody just tell my heart, because this will forever be mine:




This is what he did immediately following his first goal/points/shot ever in a game. Please God, freeze time right...... there! Mental note: Always sit directly behind the girlfriend! That way this smile will somewhat always point in my direction.

A Little Ahead of Myself

Ok, Survivor starts NEXT month. February 11th. If you need me to talk about Russell till then I could. I might even start a count down blinkie on the side of my web page, but we all know that I haven't the slightest idea on how to do that or if blinkie is even the correct terminology.

Since this blog is about the children anyway I suppose I could give a little update. They are perfectly content drowning in legos. You could sit or stand at any given point in my house and I'm willing to bet $1 that there will be a lego within sight. Legos are not the small block cubes of our yesteryear. They have gotten so small you can't pick them up with your fingers. It's better to lick your finger and press on top of the fraction size toy. I'm not kidding, tiny. I bought a large plastic bin to hold their collection and the most dreaded noise during my day is the dumping of THOUSANDS of little pieces all over the floor. Keith and I literally use a broom and dustpan to clean them up. Not to mention they are expensive. I tease Keith about his camera lens collection, but if I'm honest, the lego collection isn't too far behind in total amount spent. Ugg... it turns my stomach. You know how our economy crashed? ... young parents went from expensive Thomas the Trains right into Legos... kaboom. Can't pay the mortgage. Like my Aunt Be always says. Mr. Lego is a mother-hater.

Cole and Brad can spend ALL day with legos. In fact, it's the main thing they play with. If I locked up all the other toys in the house, at times I hardly think they would notice. Legos, Legos, Legos. They build "bases", for what I have no idea, but they are creative and play well together. It only slightly bothers me that they are bought in sets to make a specific pirate boat/Star Wars Ship/helicopter. We make it once and it never again will be seen in that intended purpose. They'll take it apart and use it for more "bases". I've tried to keep the instructions to no avail. Cole and Brad throw them out the first chance they get. Typical men. I've tried keeping each set separated, but it's worse than preschoolers with playdough... mixed together before you even have a chance to turn around.

It's bedtime. I'm off to sweep up legos and put my kids down. I might even try to get through Let Me Hold You Longer (the world's most heartbreaking parenting book. I'll Love You Forever doesn't hold a candle to this tear jerker, but that's another post for another time)

New Look and Topic of Interest

This is proof of how behind the times I am... I needed Keith's help to copy and paste from "The Cutest Blog on the Block" I must say thanks honey for helping me out, but I'm pretty sure that it might be a while before he willingly wants to listen to me complain that something isn't centered right or isn't pretty enough. So, I hope we all like it for now.

I also have a very important matter to discuss. It's always been a small part of my life until recently. Someone has sparked my interest in a way I could talk about for HOURS! His name is Russell and he's a reality tv contestant on Survivor. If you didn't get to watch last season, I can't emphasize how awesome this man is at playing the game. Mid-season I made Keith go back and watch all the previous episodes so he would know why his wife wouldn't stop talking about a dude named Russell. Keith also became entertained by him. I think all future friendships will start with the question "Do you love Russell from Survivor?" We can go from there.

Now you can't imagine my pure elation when it was announced that he will be returning for Survivors 20th Anniversary Season : Heros vs Villains. Jeff Probst even agrees Russell is hands down the greatest player ever in the history of the game. The plus is that the other has-beens coming back have NO IDEA of this guy's abilities. I am ready for tv greatness.

So set your dvr's, order it on itunes, or rush home for every show. I can't wait to discuss each week!! * I promise, no children are hurt or SEVERELY neglected during my tv watching addiction. (As long as we define hurt as blood drawn)

*only as long as Russell stays in the game. I'll pretty much stop watching once he leaves...... unless James is still on ;-) Holla!

Like vs. Love

This morning Cole randomly said "Cameron must be 7 years old now." Cameron Cool was his first little girlfriend back in Mountain Home. Naturally, I found out about this AFTER she moved away. Note to self - be a bit more invasive in his personal life for the teen years. He'll thank me for it later, I'm sure.

After all this time he still thinks of cute little Cameron. We talked a bit more and went about our morning. We had a birthday party to attend so I asked Cole to make the birthday girl a card. My exact instructions were like this:

"Cole, will you make a card for Audrey? We're going to her party after your game. She's a girl so make it girlie. Make sure it says Happy Birthday! Love, Cole"

Cole says:

"Love?... I don't love her. I don't even know her"

This is the result of my request:

You can see it's very girlish. Perfect for the princess party. No biggie... he worked on it and that's what he wanted to do.


The best was the inside:



I laughed so hard I almost kept the card myself. Happy something. I don't love you, but like will do, Cole. More literally I like the "happy like Cole" reading. That kid. I love him

Oh Yes I CanCan Can!!

I am so far out of shape it's not even funny. Or as the boys would say, "I'm out of shape like you read about!" This is the largest I've ever been without being pregnant. I'm also 33, unflexable, and have two huge attachments that scream DO NOT JUMP AND BOUNCE AROUND..... so what did I do?

I signed up to dance. Not just in a class behind closed doors. I signed up to preform in front of the whole chain of command. The OSC here had done a Wild West night for the past 30 years. Heather is in charge of the CanCan performance and I said "sure". I'm experienced, right??

HA! Today we did a little mini session to change up the routine and guess what I found out : I'm old. There might have been a real fear that I was going to break my ankle. There might have been a real fear that I would involuntarily pee my pants (thanks Cole and Brad). There might have been a real fear that people would see my muffin top jiggle more than the boobs bouncing. I'm afraid this will not be a pretty sight. To make matters even better.. we do this dance 4 times during the evening with lots of drinking in between. Disaster's in the air!