I am SO happy today!
I've been working on a massive project at work since last September. Basically I have been trying to fill an apartment building with tenants. It's been grueling to say the least; lots of nights and weekends in the beginning, showings, rejected applicants, finding people who are suitable tenants, etc etc etc. I won't bore you with the details. Well--------I signed the last of the 46 leases today!!!!
If I wasn't pregnant, I would want to go out for margaritas. Well, I STILL want the margaritas, but I'll settle for non-alcoholic!
Thank you to all of my friends and family, your support over the past nine months has been wonderful and I truly appreciate you!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ways to Amuse a Toddler
It never ceases to amaze me the ways that Will can be amused.
He went gaga over a laundry basket the other night, it's one of his favorite toys. He loves to drag it out to the family room and sit in it. Or load it up with Brown Doggie and some toys and lug it all over the house.
We got a package in the mail today, in a nice tall box. Inside was a Hula-Hoe for Mommy. (Laugh if you like, it is a stupid name. But if it makes the back-breaking job of weeding the garden easier, then the folks at Hula-Hoe are laughing all the way to the bank!) Will is totally fascinated by the box. First he spent some time trying to climb into it, and then discovered that it made a nice "slide" for his trucks. Pretty soon he was creating a traffic jam at the bottom of the box. I love watching him discover things!
He went gaga over a laundry basket the other night, it's one of his favorite toys. He loves to drag it out to the family room and sit in it. Or load it up with Brown Doggie and some toys and lug it all over the house.
We got a package in the mail today, in a nice tall box. Inside was a Hula-Hoe for Mommy. (Laugh if you like, it is a stupid name. But if it makes the back-breaking job of weeding the garden easier, then the folks at Hula-Hoe are laughing all the way to the bank!) Will is totally fascinated by the box. First he spent some time trying to climb into it, and then discovered that it made a nice "slide" for his trucks. Pretty soon he was creating a traffic jam at the bottom of the box. I love watching him discover things!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Journey
Our family has a new car!
Enter the Dodge Journey. It's a "crossover vehicle" which is automaker speak for "SUV on the outside, minivan on the inside." (that's my translation, anyway!) It seats seven, is ultra-quiet, lots of storage and "stash space" and drove like a dream! We picked it up last night. Will's pretty distraught that we no longer have a "blue" car but I'm sure he'll like the silver eventually, too. And bells and whistles---remote start, all of the seats fold flat, a place to dock your iPod in the glove box, and a one-year free subscription to Sirius Radio!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dads in Pictures
Happy Father's Day! In honor of today, here are some of my favorite "Dad" pictures.
Brian making music with Will, Summer 2008
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Hello, Sunshine
After two weeks (and seems like longer) we had a sunny afternoon today! We celebrated by going to a birthday party for a friend's 3-year old daughter. We know them from a playgroup that I belong to. It was Princess-Themed, and the party girl had a very cute Princess dress. They had Burger King crowns on hand for the boys, and Will is currently obsessed with his. Will enjoyed running around and playing with lots of other kids, and we enjoyed getting to hang out with people we rarely get to see these days. Will was so exhausted that he fell asleep in the car and, instead of waking up when we got him home, he allowed us to put him to bed. And he stayed there for almost three hours!!
Mommy took a nap too, for almost two hours. It's time to let the cat out of the bag......I'm pregnant! Will is going to be a big brother in late-January! We are soooooooo excited! Well, I will be more excited once the morning sickness phase goes away. They have a lot of nerve calling it that....it's more like All-Day sickness. Hopefully in a few weeks that will be over.
We ask Will every day if he wants a baby brother or a baby sister. Not that it matters, because obviously the sex of Baby #2 has already been determined. We just like to hear his answers. So far we have: "No babies, I want to sleep." or "How about a fish?" "I want a baby dragon!!!" The creepiest one so far was "a baby brother AND a baby sister.....they're coming, Mommy!" But usually what wins out is baby sister. We'll see if he's right when the time comes.
Mommy took a nap too, for almost two hours. It's time to let the cat out of the bag......I'm pregnant! Will is going to be a big brother in late-January! We are soooooooo excited! Well, I will be more excited once the morning sickness phase goes away. They have a lot of nerve calling it that....it's more like All-Day sickness. Hopefully in a few weeks that will be over.
We ask Will every day if he wants a baby brother or a baby sister. Not that it matters, because obviously the sex of Baby #2 has already been determined. We just like to hear his answers. So far we have: "No babies, I want to sleep." or "How about a fish?" "I want a baby dragon!!!" The creepiest one so far was "a baby brother AND a baby sister.....they're coming, Mommy!" But usually what wins out is baby sister. We'll see if he's right when the time comes.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Produce for Charity
The past couple of weeks have been wet and rainy, so I finally got outside to the garden and MAN! Guess who forgot to thin the zucchini and cucumber plants?! I am going to have a ton this year, because there are not one, not two but FIVE zucchini plants out there! And booooyyyyyy do I need to weed!
I was reading an article in Woman's Day recently about a charity called Backyard Harvest. A woman in Idaho started Backyard Harvest when one year, she decided to plant a garden. She let her kids plant lettuce seeds and they planted the entire pack. At harvest time, they had 200 heads of lettuce!! And, as she put it, "nobody has that many friends that want lettuce from your garden." She contacted a local food pantry and asked if they acepted fresh produce, and they did! They did tell her that they don't get a lot of fresh produce to give out to needy families, though. So she recruited friends and neighbors to grow extra in their gardens and to donate the fruits of their labor to hungry families and a charity was born. It's going so well that the idea has expanded with people opening chapters in both Washington and California.
When I read the article, I immediately thought of my poor zucchini and cucumbers and thought about how many of my friends would want some when the plants explode with wholesome goodness next month. I thought it would be cool if there was a Massachusetts chapter. But for now, I'm happy to freeze some of my produce. Maybe someday there will be something like that here.
cross-posted at The Blue Plate Special
I was reading an article in Woman's Day recently about a charity called Backyard Harvest. A woman in Idaho started Backyard Harvest when one year, she decided to plant a garden. She let her kids plant lettuce seeds and they planted the entire pack. At harvest time, they had 200 heads of lettuce!! And, as she put it, "nobody has that many friends that want lettuce from your garden." She contacted a local food pantry and asked if they acepted fresh produce, and they did! They did tell her that they don't get a lot of fresh produce to give out to needy families, though. So she recruited friends and neighbors to grow extra in their gardens and to donate the fruits of their labor to hungry families and a charity was born. It's going so well that the idea has expanded with people opening chapters in both Washington and California.
When I read the article, I immediately thought of my poor zucchini and cucumbers and thought about how many of my friends would want some when the plants explode with wholesome goodness next month. I thought it would be cool if there was a Massachusetts chapter. But for now, I'm happy to freeze some of my produce. Maybe someday there will be something like that here.
cross-posted at The Blue Plate Special
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tattletale
Two-year-olds are terrible secret-keepers.
When I got home from work tonight, I found a package on our front porch. I quickly realized what it was (Brian's Father's Day present) and was pretty stoked that it came so quickly! I said to Will "We have a present for Daddy! Where should we hide it before he gets home?" We decided on the bar in the dining room, but when I opened it up it was just too crowded. So I found a good hiding place (don't even bother, Brian!!) on my own.
It's a good thing I did it on my own...we were sitting down for dinner and Will starts running around and says "We have a present for you Daddy!!!" He runs over to the bar and tries to open it. Huh. I'd better not tell him where I'm stashing my millions!
When I got home from work tonight, I found a package on our front porch. I quickly realized what it was (Brian's Father's Day present) and was pretty stoked that it came so quickly! I said to Will "We have a present for Daddy! Where should we hide it before he gets home?" We decided on the bar in the dining room, but when I opened it up it was just too crowded. So I found a good hiding place (don't even bother, Brian!!) on my own.
It's a good thing I did it on my own...we were sitting down for dinner and Will starts running around and says "We have a present for you Daddy!!!" He runs over to the bar and tries to open it. Huh. I'd better not tell him where I'm stashing my millions!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday Nights
I wake up most Sunday mornings with a slight dread. Tomorrow's Monday, and I despise Mondays. I've been feeling especially lazy lately and every work day feels like a Monday! Still, I'm usually able to put aside those feelings for most of the day.
Then it kicks in around dinner time, when the weekend starts to trail off and suddenly becomes "Preptime for the Week." I start to groan about my to-do list (make that last WomenAid deposit! Clean the inside windshield of the car already!!) and dread going to work the next day. The phone calls. The walk-ins. Not having enough time to do everything I'm supposed to do, not being able to hide where no one can find me. (Everyone ALWAYS knows where to find me!) This usually turns me into a bumble, trying to pick up the house, fold all the forgotten laundry, give Will his bath and his "bedtime cookie." Then, even while relaxing, even in my slumber on Sunday nights...it continues to nag.
Not tonight. I am putting my foot down. Outside it is blissfully cool and the scent of rain and earth are in the air. It's perfume is intoxicating, and I will sit by the window, passing the time by knitting the handles on my tote bag and chatting with my husband. Not about the week ahead, but about the Stanley Cup or Adam Pascal indeed singing in the Backyardigans "Knights" movie tonight. This is a night for serenity and relaxation, and I aspire to break through the waters of Monday a better person for it.
Then it kicks in around dinner time, when the weekend starts to trail off and suddenly becomes "Preptime for the Week." I start to groan about my to-do list (make that last WomenAid deposit! Clean the inside windshield of the car already!!) and dread going to work the next day. The phone calls. The walk-ins. Not having enough time to do everything I'm supposed to do, not being able to hide where no one can find me. (Everyone ALWAYS knows where to find me!) This usually turns me into a bumble, trying to pick up the house, fold all the forgotten laundry, give Will his bath and his "bedtime cookie." Then, even while relaxing, even in my slumber on Sunday nights...it continues to nag.
Not tonight. I am putting my foot down. Outside it is blissfully cool and the scent of rain and earth are in the air. It's perfume is intoxicating, and I will sit by the window, passing the time by knitting the handles on my tote bag and chatting with my husband. Not about the week ahead, but about the Stanley Cup or Adam Pascal indeed singing in the Backyardigans "Knights" movie tonight. This is a night for serenity and relaxation, and I aspire to break through the waters of Monday a better person for it.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Will-isms
I thought I'd treat my reader(s) to some of the things that Will has been saying the past couple of weeks. Some of them make me laugh and amazed at the fact that he is just two years old. Others make me annoyed, but still are entertaining (after the initial shock wears off and he's sitting in his room, "thinking about what he said or did."
I was putting on my makeup yesterday morning in getting ready for work. Will comes into the bathroom and tells me not to put on my "monster mask." Ahh!
If there's something he doesn't want to do, he tells me it's dangerous. "Will, time to change your diaper?" "uh-uh. No change diaper, it's dangerous!" As if the word "dangerous" automatically is a free pass out of a diaper change!
He was talking about a "raider" the other day while we were playing with his Doodle-Pro drawing board. I said "Ok, I can draw a raider." I drew a stick figure (I have mad drawing skills!) wearing a helmet with two horns standing next to a ship. He said "Mommy, that's not a raider. That's a viking!" (yes, he really is just two years old.)
Here's the smarmy one: he is starting to throw a fit and sometimes slap or push me/Brian when he doesn't get his way. So we automatically put him in his room for a time-out. I come back ten minutes later and he has the sweetest "Sorry" face and apologizes. I forgive him, and then he smiles slyly and comes out with "I pushed the button. You're not angry anymore!"
I was putting on my makeup yesterday morning in getting ready for work. Will comes into the bathroom and tells me not to put on my "monster mask." Ahh!
If there's something he doesn't want to do, he tells me it's dangerous. "Will, time to change your diaper?" "uh-uh. No change diaper, it's dangerous!" As if the word "dangerous" automatically is a free pass out of a diaper change!
He was talking about a "raider" the other day while we were playing with his Doodle-Pro drawing board. I said "Ok, I can draw a raider." I drew a stick figure (I have mad drawing skills!) wearing a helmet with two horns standing next to a ship. He said "Mommy, that's not a raider. That's a viking!" (yes, he really is just two years old.)
Here's the smarmy one: he is starting to throw a fit and sometimes slap or push me/Brian when he doesn't get his way. So we automatically put him in his room for a time-out. I come back ten minutes later and he has the sweetest "Sorry" face and apologizes. I forgive him, and then he smiles slyly and comes out with "I pushed the button. You're not angry anymore!"
Monday, June 1, 2009
Philly Weekend!
It's Sunday night and we're home from our latest Philadelphia adventures. What a great weekend!
We drove down Saturday morning, and it was such a pleasant drive. Will was so excited to see Grandmom and Grandpop!! They even had a present for him: a special Handy Manny Tool Belt with two more tools to add to his collection. We also had a nice visit with Brian's Grandmother and aunt on Saturday.
Sunday was the main event: The Kearns First Day at the Ballpark! Twenty-five of us got together to tailgate and then watch the Phillies play the Washington Nationals. Tailgating, by the way, is a lot of fun. I had never done it before because you can't exactly tailgate at hockey games! The new ballpark is beautiful, spacious and very family-friendly. Brian's cousin Colleen organized the whole trip and there even was "Kearns Phillies" t-shirts.....though I'm pretty sure "they fell off the back of a truck and we all received them anonymously as gifts." :) The Phillies won and it was a perfect first trip to Citizen's Bank Field for our family.
Tailgating before the game
Uncles and cousins, manning the grill
Aunt Kathy and Colleen
Will's enjoying the beanbag toss
The second cousins: (L-R) Will, Tessa and Katie
Brian, Will, Grandmom and Grandpop
Getting a lift into the ballpark!
Welcome to Citizen's Bank Ballpark!
Will and Grandpop, enjoying the Phanatic's antics!
We drove down Saturday morning, and it was such a pleasant drive. Will was so excited to see Grandmom and Grandpop!! They even had a present for him: a special Handy Manny Tool Belt with two more tools to add to his collection. We also had a nice visit with Brian's Grandmother and aunt on Saturday.
Sunday was the main event: The Kearns First Day at the Ballpark! Twenty-five of us got together to tailgate and then watch the Phillies play the Washington Nationals. Tailgating, by the way, is a lot of fun. I had never done it before because you can't exactly tailgate at hockey games! The new ballpark is beautiful, spacious and very family-friendly. Brian's cousin Colleen organized the whole trip and there even was "Kearns Phillies" t-shirts.....though I'm pretty sure "they fell off the back of a truck and we all received them anonymously as gifts." :) The Phillies won and it was a perfect first trip to Citizen's Bank Field for our family.
Tailgating before the game
Uncles and cousins, manning the grill
Aunt Kathy and Colleen
Will's enjoying the beanbag toss
The second cousins: (L-R) Will, Tessa and Katie
Brian, Will, Grandmom and Grandpop
Getting a lift into the ballpark!
Welcome to Citizen's Bank Ballpark!
Will and Grandpop, enjoying the Phanatic's antics!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)