Sunday, May 24, 2009

We love our CRABS!!

Each time Scott and Tracy visit, there is only one request made -- crabs! Scott loves them and as you can imagine, doesn't get them in Pittsburgh! So to beat the crowds, we headed out yesterday for our 3 dozen Old Bay seasoned crabs!! Yummy!






Only one problem with getting the crabs -- we have created monsters in our children who have ALL decided that they LOVE crabs, even if they are yucky to look at! :) They practically BEGGED for crabs -- go figure. They were seriously driving us buggy, until Kari sat down with them and gave her 2 kiddos a lesson on how to crack and eat a crab. I wish I had a picture of that one! It was too much!


Funny man trying to help me eat my crab!


My little "crabby monster"
(please ignore my bright red arms - that is what I get for putting sunscreen on Abraham and not me - then sitting out in the sun for 3 hours! DUMB!)


Sucking the meat out of the leg -- it's an art people!! :)


We spent Saturday at Alex's baseball game. It was the first one that I have been able to get to this year -- and it was perhaps his last (except that the Mariners- his team - beat the Cubs.. and they had beaten the Mariners twice before!)

A good time was had by all watching Alex hit it out of the park! He is a pretty good ball player -- hits like a pro and he sure has an arm on him! He is his father's child :)

Plus my Uncle Scott and his girlfriend, Tracy were able to come down from Pittsburgh to visit. The kids LOVE them and were thrilled to spend time with them both!

Ready to run home


Uncle Scott, Abraham and Tracy

Bottoms up!



Playing with Great Uncle Scott!


Cousin love :)


Happy little man :)


Girls Day/Night Out -- Kenny Chesney Concert

So, Friday was THE day -- we girls went shopping and Kari and I treated Mom to lunch for Mother's Day. We had a great time just laughing and talking, without the kids tagging along.


Then we headed to Merriwether Post Pavillion to see KENNY!! We left a little later then we had intended but we refused to hurry, since we had seats that no one was gonna take!
Let's just say that the line up getting off the highway was massive... we had to park like 2 miles away (not really but it seemed that way!) and then once we got there we had to wait in a line that was another 2 miles long (for real!).


Now, keep in mind that the last time we were here it was 2 years ago -- and they didn't check bags. They were apparently checking bags this time and we didn't realize it. And as we were standing in the 2 mile long line, there was a sign about cameras. We didn't think anything of it until we got to the gate and the guy looked in our bag, asked if "those" were cameras -- to which we said YES -- to which he said we couldn't take them in. Um.. WHAT?? Do you remember that I said we parked like 2 miles away?? I replied "Since when?" He said something about Kenny questioning the cameras -- what?? Not KENNY!!??


Needless to say, Kari's solution was to hide the cameras in the woods. As we stood there debating what to do... we scooted through since the throngs were pushing us forward and we were very obviously holding things up. We ended up hanging on to the cameras and just decided that we "wouldn't" use them --- that is until we saw the 3,000 other people who smuggled in their cameras using them in plain sight.
Therefore, these would be the few CONTRABAND pictures that we got out of my camera before the dang batteries died on me. :) Oh well, you win some, you lose some!
PS. The show was FANTASTIC!! Kenny sang for nearly 2 hours straight. No wonder he's gotten Entertainer of the Year so many times!!










Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Some people...

Forgive me whilst I vent a minute... people who smoke are I.D.I.O.T.S!!
So tonight we are watching the American Idol finale and smelling smoke. We check the stove, dryer, incense... nothing. I walk over to the living room window, which is at ground level and tell Michael that is where I smell the smoke. He immediately jumps up and says "The mulch!" What? Mulch can catch fire?? Well, of course it can -- especially when someone throws a cigarette on it and it's dry!! Holy crap!
We were just gonna throw water on it but after kicking it a bit, Michael saw that it went pretty deep. Enter the Bel Air Fire Department! Needless to say Abraham was very excited. They hosed it down really well -- even let Abraham hold the hose! (missed that picture!)
We have complained about all the smoking and cigarette throwing going on at our apartments for a good year now. Having a "fire" this close to our home, really makes us angry! What the heck?? And you can bet your bottom dollar that I called the office and expressed my concern and unhappiness. Maybe this will get "them" kicked out... I hope so.
GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





As soon as Abraham heard that the firemen were coming, he ran to get his hat and his outfit. I managed to get him to only take the hat outside as he watched the water truck and the guy put out the fire! He had an exciting night!


American Idol Finale

Thank you America for getting it right this season!
I liked Kris from the get-go. If Danny Gokey couldn't win, Kris was my next choice.
Must say that I'm surprised. Thought that Adam would pull more of the votes...
From what I know (that I Googled!) Kris is the worship leader in his church, New Life Church in his hometown. He's been on a number of missions trips. I don't know.. he just seems like a down to earth guy. I pray that he is able to stay true to his faith in the middle of the music industry.

He's BAACCKK!!


Yes, friends he is BAAACCCKK!!! Yahoo! This Friday Mom, Kari and I are going to see Kenny at Meriweather Post and I am as usual S.T.O.K.E.D!
We are planning on a girls day since Kari and I took the whole day off -- lunch and maybe a movie to treat Mom for Mother's Day.
At any rate... you'll have to check back in for pictures of our day/night!

NICU Reunion 2009



Each year, the NICU where both of the boys were has a Reunion. This past Sunday Abraham and I went down to GBMC for the Reunion. They had the cafeteria all decorated up in a Hawaiian theme. Totally cute! Abraham had a blast with the hand painting, bubble machine and the toys they had out.


It has been 3 1/2 years since we were in the NICU so I knew very few nurses or doctors. It was a bit different just standing around... but as I looked around the room I started to count all the kids that were there who were helped by the Doctors and Nurses in the NICU and I couldn't help but say a prayer of thanks for them. You know, without the doctors and nurses' expertise and wisdom, our time in the NICU would have been much more difficult. God had us there for a reason and we are grateful for them.


It was a good time to remember how far Abraham has come and how well he is doing. However, it was also a bit bittersweet as I counted numerous sets of twins in the mix. Sometimes it is really hard to not think that I should have been there with two boys, not just one. That I should be able to have two boys living at home with us. I don't feel any resentment towards God but I do often feel a bit wistful, wishing we still had Moses with us. My head knows he is happy and healthy with the angels... but my heart misses my sweet boy.


Don't ask... I don't know WHAT he is doing!! (he is his father's child!)

Spider on his hand


Tippy-toeing through the toys



ROAR!



Our sweet miracle boy -- Man I love this kid!


Monday, May 18, 2009

I must be crazy!


Okay so it's official... I sent in my $14 check to enter myself into the Bel Air Town Run this year. I must be crazy... I am so NOT a runner. What am I thinking?? I must have bumped my head... for real.
So I asked myself Why? Why give up a perfectly good Sunday to run/walk a 5K race? Why... I guess to prove to myself that I CAN do it... to continue to motivate me to be active. I have been doing really good lately with exercise and eating well. I even have run a bit on the trail by our house.
And besides... a friend talked me into it!! She ran her first 5K a few weeks ago and is also going to do this race here in Bel Air. I figured she neeed the company... and I needed someone to at least start out with. Whether she and I finish together has yet to be seen... but I WILL finish!
I guess this means I should do some more running to train?? Boy does that sound odd coming out of my mouth... anyone want to come and cheer us on??

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mother's Day 2009

What a great Mother's Day today was! We packed up a picnic lunch and drove up to Havre de Grace, by the water, for a little picnic and some playground time. There is a GREAT playground right by the boat docks. It was beautiful weather -- sunny and warm-ish! We had a great time just being together and enjoying being outside.. or as Abraham says it "I like getting the fresh air, Mommy!"


Then we took Bubba over to my mom's and she watched him while Michael and I went to see the new Star Wars movie... which by the way I'd recommend especially if you liked the older Star Wars show. We ended up our day with Chinese dinner at Mom's. It wasn't our typical Mother's Day but we got family time which is what it is all about anyhow.


And in case you are wondering, I DO plan on treating my Momma good... We girls are going to see "The Man" Kenny Chesney in 2 weeks in concert (can't wait!) Kari and I took the day off and we are going to treat Mom to lunch and a movie.


Trying to get a smile is like pulling teeth!



Silly little man!

Throwing "helicopters" into the river and watching them spin





Me and my man


Sweet boy -- this face is what it is ALL about!



Happy Mother's Day Momma! I love you!!
Me and hubby -- without him I wouldn't be a Momma!


Monday, May 4, 2009

5M4M - Mother's Day Giveaway


It is time for a great giveaway — 5 Minutes for Mom’s annual Mother’s Day Giveaway!

Every year these woman have some amazing prizes that are up for grabs simply for posting and then blogging about it. I have entered a number of these - who wouldn't love a Mini PC, or a Digital Camera... or my favorite, a $300 gift card to any Four Seasons resort!! Yahoo... granted there are close to 1,000 posts on this one, the chances I win are slim to none. But a Girl can hope, can't she?? :)
Check it out and try your hand at winning!
And remember to share with me if you win!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

If you are anything like me, when your child sees another child or even adult with a disability it can become very uncomfortable. I typically don't know what to say when Abraham asks a question, which honestly isn't very often. Maybe at 3 he isn't so aware of it. It does seem that anytime we see someone who has Downs Syndrome, both he and I are almost magnetically drawn to them. And I do think that having a family member with a physical difference has made a difference to him as well.

I was visiting a new blog today by Heidi who has a child with a disability. Her little boy has Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. She posted a link to a great article on Baby Center about how to talk to your 2-3 year old about disabilities. It is definitely worth 5 minutes of your time to read this.

The Scripture that we claimed with Moses - well, really with both boys - came to me as I was reading this today:

Psalm 139:13 - 16
"For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Better late than never!

As promised earlier -- better pictures from the March for Babies - March of Dimes walk that my sister, Kari, Abraham and I did last Sunday.

Ready to walk


I make a sign every year -- this years had a Monster Truck theme!

Bubba and KK
Me and my little man

Abraham decided (as he usually does, on his own) that he wanted to send his balloon up to Moses.

Ready.....

Set...

Go!!!

Watching the balloon go up into heaven.

We love you Moses and hope that you enjoy the purple balloon!

Good job Abraham!

Sweet end to a sweet day!