Live Laugh Love

Chopsticks!

2011-01-14T23:12:00.003-05:00

Once in a while, a yummy order of Chinese takeout hits the spot. And when Will and I get Chinese, we always use chopsticks. It's just more fun. Johnny, of course, wants to eat the same way we do... so he would take his chopsticks and skewer his food with it (and that can be hard when you are trying to skewer a noodle or a grain of rice). Well, one quick Amazon search and $6.49 later, and problem solved! Johnny is now the proud owner of his own chopsticks. He did great! I have to say (even though I'm a bit biased as his proud mommy) that I am impressed at the sight of my 4-year-old using chopsticks to eat lo mein.

Lining up his chopsticks.

Mmmm....

That's yummy!

Proud New (Library) Cardholder

2011-01-13T22:23:00.005-05:00

Although I posted the above picture on my "One Frame A Day" blog, I wanted to add a few more pictures from today. Johnny got his very own library card! He is so excited!

Check it out!!!

Scanning his card for the first time to check out his books and movies.

Puzzle Fun

2011-01-13T10:15:00.001-05:00

What do you do when it's cold and blustery outside? Break out some games and puzzles, of course. Johnny and I completed his new Cars puzzle together, and he was quite proud!

Snow Bunnies

2011-01-12T22:03:00.006-05:00

It snowed last night- not much...but enough to blanket everything in about two inches of fluffy snow. Needless to say, Johnny was thrilled when he looked out the window this morning, so ventured outside for a bit. Johnny played with Liam and Ben, and Sophia "chilled" in her stroller. (Don't worry, she was bundled in layers.)

Little lady, squinting a big. It was bright!

My little dinosaur.

Hanging out.

Here comes the snow plow!

A Case of the Giggles

2011-01-10T18:12:00.004-05:00

Sophie gets a kick out of Johnny. As Maw and I discovered last week, she thinks it's hilarious when he jumps!

John's 4th Birthday

2011-01-02T22:08:00.008-05:00

I love this picture of my boy. The look of wonder on his face.

He LOVED his cake! Johnny is loving anything to do with construction

vehicles right now, so a construction cake was perfect for him.

Here it is- our fondant masterpiece!

Michelle, Will, and I worked until after midnight to finish it. I think we did pretty good.

And here it is with the two cakes connected. =)

Game time!

My goofy boy.

Blowing out his candles-

there were of course 4 of them and they looked like construction vehicles.

Johnny & Mommy.

Getting his birthday boy medal.

Our best attempt at a family picture.

Will and I.

Johnny in the Ticket Blaster!

Here we go!

Catch 'em!

They're everywhere!

Enjoying his cake. ;)

Four

2010-12-05T20:48:00.024-05:00

Dear Johnny,

Today you are four years old. I don't know where the time has gone. In fact, I cannot even remember my life without you in it. Your dad tells me that we had a lot more time to do things (such as sleep), but again, Mommy's memory doesn't go back that far. Four years ago I had no idea how much I still had to learn. And you, my sweetheart, have taught me so much. You've taught me how to truly laugh and see the silliness and joy in life. You've taught me what patience really is. You've taught me what it means to love someone "all the way to the moon and back". And, my son, please know how much I love you and that I would do anything for you.

Even as I look forward to everything you will do as a four-year-old, I do not want to forget who you were at three. At three years old, you love to learn and ask questions. "Why?" and "What?" are some of your favorites. You love to talk- and I do mean love it. I often wonder if there is some sort of word limit you are trying to hit each day. You can chatter on about anything. Most days I feel like you are narrating my life for me. Your vocabulary is incredible. You love books. Your favorite TV shows are Mickey Mouse, Phineas and Ferb, and Handy Manny. You love going to the movies- and you think the 3D glasses are really cool.

Trucks, cars, and trains are still some of your favorite things. Legos are also a new favorite. You love to build with your dad. You love to help me in the kitchen. When you want to help you ask me for your "aprint". "Apron" is one word you have trouble pronouncing. You are incredibly proud of the meals you help me create. Pizza is your favorite food. You put ketchup on everything. Although you are not an adventurous eater by any means, you love guacamole. Your favorite dessert is vanilla ice cream- plain with nothing on it. You also like vanilla italian ice.

You love animals, especially Haley, Toby, and Indy- you like to feed them for me. You love to help me around the house. (I will enjoy it while it lasts.) Putting laundry in the washer for me is one of your favorite ways to help. You are energetic. And upbeat. Instead of saying "yes" you say "yep". Your smile warms my heart.

This past year, you finally said goodbye to pull-ups. You are a big boy now, and you are so proud. And I am proud of you. You ride a bike and are learning how to write your letters. You are in preschool now. Your teacher describes you as "curious" and "full of energy."

Perhaps the biggest thing that changed in your life this past year was that you became a big brother. You are an amazing big brother to Sophia. Although you aren't much for holding her yet, you are always looking out for her. You try to play with her and entertain her. And you love to lay next to her when she is on her play mat. I love it when you give her kisses. It comforts me to know that the two of you will always have each other.

You will always be my baby no matter how old you are. I love you with all my heart, or as Pop Pop used to say to me when I was little, "Ten times in groups of a million." Happy 4th Birthday, my little squirrel. I can't wait to see what this year will bring!

Love,

Mommy

Here's a look back at the past year...

Enjoying a cupcake at your 3rd birthday party.

Fun in the snow.

With Daddy in St. Augustine.

Scootin' on the boardwalk in St. Augustine.

Exploring the beach in St. Augustine.

Feeding the seagulls.

You love alligators!

Like I said, you LOVE alligators!

And trains! You love those, too!

Riding the drop tower at Hershey Park.

First time on your new bike!

At the beach.

First go-cart ride with Daddy!

You and your baby sister.

My waterbug...

Foam pit @ AJ and Kaitlyn's party.

At the farm.

You love roller coasters!

At the county fair.

Helping me bake.

You and your Daddy at the pumpkin patch.

Children's museum.

You found the trucks.

First day of school.

You and Sophia.

You and Coach Danny- last day of Fall 2010 soccer.

Little buddies...

Our Visit to Sunrise Farm

2010-12-01T20:48:00.009-05:00

Last Sunday my parents and I visited Sunrise Farm with the kids. It was their last "Open to the Public" day of the season- and our first trip. We had a great time, despite the chilly temperature. They offered a free 30-45 minute hay ride around the farm, which was fantastic. The views were incredible. I never realized the farm was so big- and I drive right by it most days. We were also excited to find out that they are developing plans to turn part of the land into a park, although that is still a few years out. Meanwhile, we can't wait for their "open house" days to return in the Spring! If you're in the Gambrills area, you should definitely check them out.

Pop Pop keeping Sophie warm on the hay ride.

This grave on the property dates back to 1760!

Exploring what was left of a house (which wasn't much- a front porch).

Johnny on his John Deere!

Beautiful sunset!

What Are You Thankful For?

2010-11-25T07:55:00.008-05:00

This morning (Thanksgiving morning 2010 that is) I can't help but count all the blessings in my life. This last year has been a good one- with ups and downs for sure, but who doesn't have those? And right now...well, life is good. I am forever thankful for my amazing family. My husband, our precious children, our parents, and grandparents. And as if that weren't enough I also have an amazing group of friends who are always there for me. We have a beautiful home and, come 4 p.m. today, are going to be able to sit down at our dining room table to enjoy a plentiful meal with our loved ones. I do not take any of it for granted. Each day is a gift.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love to cook, bake, and well...eat. However, this year Thanksgiving is a bit more special, because it was last Thanksgiving morning that I got this...

Oh, how different life is this year. My son is a bundle of never-ending energy. He never stops talking and his smiles can light up a room. My daughter is developing such a sweet personality. Her smiles and coos melt my heart. Things around my house are a bit less picked up (ok, a lot less picked up), but it's ok. Because at the end of the day this is what matters...

What are you thankful for?

Meeting the Pioneer Woman

2010-11-23T23:57:00.007-05:00

Me, Sophia, and Ree

I love book festivals. Last year, Will and I visited the National Book Festival where I was able to see some of my favorite authors: James Patterson, John Grisham, Paula Deen, and Nicholas Sparks, among others. I had a blast! This meant, of course, that I definitely wanted to go back this year. And, after I checked the the list of authors, one stood out: Ree Drummond. The Pioneer Woman.

Last year the National Book Festival was PACKED, so I was a bit intimidated at the thought of taking my not-even-two-month-old along. I was thrilled to find out that Baltimore was hosting its own book festival the very next day, and none other than Ree Drummond was also on that list of authors!

On Sunday, Will and I got both kids ready and braved Ravens stadium traffic to head into Baltimore. It was well worth it! It wasn't nearly as crowded as the D.C. festival. In fact, I got to sit in the second row to hear Ree speak, and let me say that she is just as funny and humble in person as she is on her blog. I was thrilled to meet her and get my cookbook signed- and she couldn't have been sweeter. I have since tried quite a few of the recipes, and they have all been absolutely delicious!

Before her appearance.

I LOVED her boots!

Telling tales of her life on the ranch.

My signed cookbook!

Oh, Fall, How I Love You

2010-11-22T22:23:00.002-05:00

I love fall. The colors of the leaves, the chill in the air, ... all of it. One afternoon the kids and I decided to head out for a short walk. I'll admit it was chilly and very windy, but my little guy had lots of energy to burn off. Sophia was a trooper, safely cocooned inside her stroller for the majority of our walk.

Uh, oh... he wouldn't...

Um, oh yes, he would!

My sweet, little lady- 3 1/2 months old.

Me and My Little Soccer Player

2010-10-21T09:17:00.003-04:00

The kids' {formal} soccer pictures were taken this past Tuesday. Instead of ordering an expensive package this time, I decided to take along my own camera. I'm so glad that I did, because I got some cute pictures. Michelle took the one of me and Johnny, and I LOVE it. Thanks, Shell. =)

AJ and Johnny- serious cuteness overload!

Johnny and the rest of the Blue Eagles. =)

John's First Day of Preschool

2010-10-20T08:39:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was John's first day of preschool, and he did GREAT! He LOVED it and is excited to go back. ;)

Me and my goofy boy.

Oma went with us while Pop Pop stayed at the house with Sophia.

John walking up those steps for the first time.

(On a funny note, the young lady assigned to him was wearing distressed jeans.

Johnny, of course, had to shout, "Hey! You have holes in your pants!" Lucky for me, she thought he was cute. ;) )

Marching into school all on his own. I'm so proud of my man!

Don't Blink

2010-10-19T09:07:00.004-04:00

I cannot believe that my little boy starts preschool today. I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding my little man in just one arm, having baby food flung in my hair, and watching him knock something off of the table just so he could say, "Uh oh!" Now I sit here with a mix of emotions. I'm a proud mommy, excited for my little boy because he is excited, but I have to say... it's a little bittersweet and there are some nerves mixed in there.

Johnny, mommy couldn't be more proud of the wonderful little boy you've become. You're almost four, and you amaze me every day with all the things you can do. I love you all the way to the moon and back!

A Grandmother's Love (Take Two John)

2010-10-07T08:37:00.006-04:00

Capturing pictures of Johnny these days is more of a challenge. He's a moving target, who seemingly never stops going... so much so that I've even nicknamed him Squirrel.

We managed to get some good pics with Grandma when we were at Mt. Vernon, but we need some more with Oma and we need some with Maw Maw! "Operation Moving Target" is on!

A Grandmother's Love (Take One: Sophia)

2010-10-06T08:03:00.027-04:00

Over the past few weeks it's been my goal to capture some photos of S0phia bonding with her grandmothers. My little girl is so blessed to be surrounded by such love and to not only have an Oma and a Grandma, but a Maw Maw, too. Lucky gal!

Sophia and her Oma.

Sophia and her Grandma.

Sophia and her Maw Maw.

Award Winner

2010-10-06T07:25:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago the Anne Arundel County Fair was held once again at the fairgrounds in Crownsville. Each year people enter all sorts of things into competition: artwork, baked goods, flowers, fruits, vegetables... basically anything you can imagine. This year I finally did something I'd been wanting to do: enter one of these competitions. Specifically, I chose the photography category and entered three pictures: one in the people category, one in the flowers category, and one in the plants category.

My friend Nicole, who won several awards for her beautiful photography last year, decided to enter some more this year, so we headed to the fairgrounds together to turn in our submissions. The sheer volume of pictures was a bit overwhelming, so I'm very proud to say that one of my pictures actually won a prize! My "People Category" submission, a photo snapped in my parents' backyard of my beautiful mom holding my gorgeous, new daughter, was awarded 2nd place. I just love this picture each time I look at it. It captured such a genuine bonding moment that I cannot help but feel extremely proud.

Nicole's entries placed in all three categories she entered, one 2nd place award (sunsets) and two 3rd awards (seascapes, birds). Great job, Nicole! You can view her pictures on her blog. =)

My winning photo, as displayed at the fair.

Out and About {It's So Different With #2}

2010-09-15T07:08:00.005-04:00

Me and my babies- Maryland Seafood Festival @ Sandy Point. (Sophia is 6 weeks old here.)

I remember being so scared to go anywhere after John was born. As a new, first-time mom, I had trouble wrapping my head around what I would do in certain situations (What if he wouldn't stop crying and we were out? Or what if he was hungry and we were driving? Infants can be so unpredictable, after all!)

I have long since admired my friends, who have made juggling multiple kids and their schedules look so easy. With the second baby one truly has to jump right back in with both feet, because life keeps going. One can't sleep when the baby sleeps- the other child(ren) still want(s) to be cared for and entertained, afterall.

So that is exactly what we've done- jump right back in. Below are a few pictures of some of our recent adventures. ;) (Up for today? The County Fair, of course!)

Sophia- 5 weeks old- first trip to the pool.

{I just LOVE her ruffle butt bathing suit!)

My big boy enjoying the pool with Daddy.

Sophia being a trooper at the State Fair - 4 weeks old.

Johnny enjoying the airplane ride at the fair.

And the motorcycle/car ride, too!

My love.

Tin Can Music Festival in Linthicum- first face painting.

Daddy and his little lady.

Sophia - Tin Can Music Festival - 2 weeks old.

John and Sophia's Baby Pics

2010-09-14T10:04:00.003-04:00

Top pic is little man and bottom pic is little lady... I think they strongly resemble each other in these pictures. What do you think?

Sophia's Arrival

2010-09-14T09:25:00.004-04:00

Our little lady made her appearance on August 1st. The contractions woke me up around 3 a.m. and after getting a few painful ones that seemed pretty regular, I woke up Will. He started timing the contractions, and they were indeed about 6 minutes apart and very regular. I decided to take a shower and then call the doctor- by that point they were more like 3-4 minutes apart and getting pretty darn painful.

My parents arrived shortly thereafter to watch Johnny for us, so off we went to the hospital. Upon arrival they checked me and determined that I was 5-6 cm dilated, so I was admitted. (This was about 5:30 a.m.) My blood pressure was spiking pretty high, so they wouldn't let me walk the hallways, but they did allow me to bounce on the birthing ball, which helped take the edge off. Sophia Ellyn was born at 8:13 a.m. and came out screaming. She weighed 7 lbs 5.5 oz and is doing fantastic! (We did have a bout of jaundice to deal with in the beginning, which required daily blood tests and a bili-blanket. Our pedi was very proactive, though, so luckily we were able to treat her with the lights at home.)

Will and I are so in love with our little lady- and Johnny is smitten with her. Although he's not entirely sure what to do with her, he really does look out for her and has been great about sharing mommy and daddy with her. We love our little guy. He is a phenomenal big brother!

Strike!

2010-08-31T21:40:00.003-04:00

One of John's favorite outings these days is bowling (not duckpin)! Just look how excited he gets! Love my little man!

Happy 30th Birthday...

2010-08-31T10:27:00.003-04:00

to my wonderful husband. I couldn't ask for a more loving husband and our kids are so blessed to have you as their father. We love you.

4th of July Weekend- Post 2

2010-08-31T10:15:00.005-04:00

Our 4th of July weekend included a new first for Johnny- go carts! He LOVED riding in the "race cars" with his Daddy! We will definitely be doing this again soon. ;) Afterwards we headed to Fish Tales, a yummy restaurant in Ocean City. It is very kid-friendly, complete with a mini-beach and pirate ship for the kids to play on. Our night was rounded out with fireworks on the beach. =)

4th of July Weekend... Post 1

2010-08-31T09:57:00.006-04:00

Our 4th of July weekend (and Will's 30th birthday) were spent on the Eastern Shore. Below are a few pictures of Johnny enjoying some fun in the sun...

Running in the water- a big deal for John.

He loves water, but for some reason has been slow to warm up to going in the ocean at all.

Our handsome man.

Loving the beach.

Digging for sand crabs with Grandma.

Enjoying his bubble blower.

Ocean City from the boat.

My two boys.

Taking it all in...

The Kite Loft at sunset.

Catching Up...

2010-08-31T09:51:00.002-04:00

So I have some major catching up to do (once again). We are now a family of four- Sophia Ellyn made her arrival on August 1st, and we've all been adjusting well. Johnny has been doing great and loves being a big brother. Anyways, I will be doing a few catch up blogs- I figure I better before it's September! =)

Our Little World Cup Player...

2010-06-22T10:41:00.005-04:00

This past spring, John participated in his first team sport: soccer through ASA (Arundel Soccer Association). John was in the mini-strikers division (three- and four-year-olds). More specifically he played for the Blue Dragons! Just look at how cute these little munchkins are in their full soccer gear...not just full uniform, but shin guards and cleats! Who knew that cleats came that small?

The Blue Dragons!

Goal!

John receives his first trophy.

Team Cartee on the last day (from left to right): Pop Pop, Johnny, me, Will

I think John ran this ball all the way down the field and scored a goal!

(For the opposing team- but at this age, who cares? There's no goalies, so it's like a free-for-all!)

My little runner!

Ooey Gooey Slimy Fun

2010-06-12T22:10:00.005-04:00

What do you get when you mix two parts cornstarch with one part water and add a few drops of food coloring? Oobleck of course! What is oobleck? A slimy, gooey substance thought up by none other than Dr. Suess in his book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. It's also a non-Newtonian fluid. I'm not going to explain what that is here, so click the link if you want a scientific explanation. I was doing this with preschool age kids, so here is how I explained it to them: "Oobleck is very cool, because when you squish it in your hands it feels like a solid, but when you open your hand up, it drips through your fingers like a liquid!"

Every single child loved the oobleck, even the little guys, who love exploring new textures. In case you are wondering, oobleck washes off of little hands very easily, and if some drips on the floor, just wait until it dries (won't take very long) and vacuum it up.

Instructions can be found here. Enjoy!

Just a Short Train Ride Away...

2010-06-12T21:38:00.008-04:00

A little over a month ago, Will and I decided to take John to D.C. John is 3 1/2 right now, so like many other little boys his age, trains are one of his favorite things. Living in Odenton, we are lucky enough to have a MARC station just five short minutes from our house. An adult round trip ticket to D.C. will run you $10, but up to two kids can ride for free with each paying adult. To make the trip even more special, John invited his buddy A.J. along.

Well, the train ride was a highlight for sure. Each time that train blew its whistles the boys just exploded with laughter! The other people on the train (commuting to their jobs) weren't nearly as tickled to be on their way to D.C., but you view things a little differently when you are 3 1/2.

After arriving in Union Station, we grabbed a mid-morning snack and enjoyed our walk to the National Mall. The day couldn't have been more beautiful. A.J. was especially thrilled to see the Capitol, because his dad works there. The boys had a blast just running around outside on the grounds and enjoying the fountains at some of the parks we passed along the way.

Our main destination that day was the Museum of Natural History, because we wanted to see the dinosaurs. The museum was packed with field trips, and all those fossils only held their attention for so long. The highlights for John and A.J. were definitely the insect exhibit (they got to see a tarantula feeding session!), the coral reef exhibit (Nemo and Dori were there!), and the hands-on kids' room, which even featured a research station. Both kids loved looking through the microscopes. ;) After we enjoyed lunch at the museum we headed back outside.

The other highlight of the day was no doubt the carousel ride on the National Mall! They loved it. We rounded out the day with a brief visit to the Air and Space Museum to see the airplanes and space shuttles.

What a great day! We are so lucky to have so much culture right in our backyards.

A.J. and Johnny

A Few Pictures from Earth Day...

2010-04-28T13:10:00.000-04:00

Below are a few pics from our Earth Day activities. =)

The hula hoop served as the pond for

our interactive story on the importance of not polluting our Earth.

Our litterbugs.

More litterbugs...

Dirt cake! YUM!

Everyone loved the dirt cake. John was OK with it...he would have preferred vanilla. =)

A New Set of Wheels

2010-04-27T19:57:00.010-04:00

Last Friday Oma and Pop Pop surprised John with a new set of wheels: his very own big boy bike. He was thrilled! He eagerly climbed right on! He was a bit hesitant at first, and it took a bit for him to catch on that he couldn't push back on the pedals because that would engage the breaks. It didn't take very long, though, and he was riding it up and down my parent's driveway without any help. My little guy is growing up so fast.

Climbing on for the 1st time!

Check me out!

Daddy showing Johnny how to hold the handlebars properly.

A last-minute pep talk from Daddy and Pop Pop.

And he's off!

Our Little Lady - 24 weeks U/S

2010-04-23T12:27:00.003-04:00

Yesterday Will and I went for our follow-up ultrasound. The doctor wanted to get some more measurements and check the location of the placenta, which had been low. Below is the one partial profile shot we got of our little princess at 24.5 weeks. Her body is angled away. Everything looked perfect and she is weighing in at 1 pound 2 ounces.

Cookies On a Rainy Day

2010-04-22T19:47:00.001-04:00

Last weekend John's grandma surprised us with Crayola cookie dough, which is sold by Joe Corbi's. (Click here to order.) It basically looks like play dough and comes in 4 different colors: red, yellow, green, and blue. Yesterday was a rainy day so we decided it would be a good day to have some fun making sugar cookies. The colors are very vibrant, so it makes for fun cookies. The kids had a great time using cookie cutters to create their cookies and Angie and I had some fun with icing during nap time. It was a great choice for a rainy day!

Fun with Pattern Blocks

2010-04-22T07:31:00.003-04:00

When I taught elementary school, my 4th graders loved pattern blocks. So much so, in fact, that I decided to get some for the preschool program. We had used them previously to sort by color, shape, etc. but this time we gave everyone a pile to create whatever they wanted. We showed the children how pattern blocks should fit together with no spaces between them. The only instruction given was that the pattern blocks should be put side by side and not stacked upward. Everyone did a great job! They created everything from "butterflies" to "dragons." =) This activity is great for fine motor skills and reasoning skills.

Earth Day 2010

2010-04-21T18:25:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is Earth Day 2010. If you need some ideas, we will be celebrating Earth Day with the following fun activities:

1) Earth Day songs- we selected a few, but more can be found here.

Earth Day song - Sung to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Earth Day, Earth Day,
Comes once a year.
But we should make our message clear.
Love and clean our Earth each day.
Make that plan a plan to stay.
Earth Day, Earth Day,
Comes once a year,
Love and care for our Earth so dear.

Recycling Song - Sung to "Row Row Row Your Boat"

Save, save, save the cans, throw them in the bin,
We can help to save the earth if we all pitch in.

Save, save, save the paper....
Save, save, save the bottles....
Save, save, save the plastics....

2) Craft Idea- Litter Bugs (instructions can be found here)

Our children were instructed to bring in a bag of washed trash for this craft activity. We have hot glue guns and google eyes ready to go!

3) Interactive Story- Pollution and Recycling (found here)

This is a fun, interactive story in which the children learn about water pollution and the importance of recycling. They will practice sorting the trash they brought in by plastics, papers, glass, etc.

4) Cooking Activity- Dirt Cake!

What do you get when you combine chocolate pudding, whipped cream/whipped topping, crushed oreos, and gummi worms? Dirt cake, of course. Some recipes call for more ingredients such as cream cheese, but I like to keep it simple. It'll just be more of a pudding/mousse consistency. A recipe can be found here.

I'll post pics tomorrow! Happy Earth Day, everyone!

Back to blogging...

2010-04-21T18:12:00.000-04:00

So, it's been a long time. A long, long time. I promise to do better this time. <3

Our Trip to Florida (by way of Savannah!)

2009-10-19T19:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I figure better late than never to wrap up the posts about our (ahem...August) Florida vacation. This post is much shorter than the others, but still noteworthy, because instead of staying on 95S we took a detour and visited Savannah for a few hours. Savannah is a beautiful city and we'd never been there before. The main draw for us, since it was such a short detour, was to eat at either Paula Deen's restaurant "The Lady and Sons" or her brother's restaurant "Uncle Bubba's Oyster House".

If you know me, you know that I love to cook and bake. One of my Food Network favorites is Paula Deen. A few years ago my brother-in-law brought me some spices and sauces from her store in Savannah, and I was sold! Alas, the line was too long at "The Lady and Sons" (since we wanted to hit the road again after lunch), but I did stock up on some goodies from her store.

We decided to head on down the road (about a 10 min drive) to Uncle Bubba's Oyster House instead. Ok, so if you're ever in Savannah, you have got to eat here! The food was delicious the atmosphere was much more relaxed and appropriate for our 2-year-old to enjoy. We opted to eat outside, where we were able to enjoy live music and a beautiful view of the water. We ended up staying in Savannah for about 2 1/2 hours and then continued on our trek to Florida- bellies full and happy. =)

Highly recommended: Shore is Good Seafood Dip

Finally made it!

The First Full Day of our Florida Trip

2009-10-07T14:13:00.000-04:00

On our first full day in Florida we visited Green Meadows Petting Farm in Kissimmee, FL. While it was a bit expensive, there was so much for John to do and enjoy that it made it worth it. John was able to ride a horse, feed goats, hold a chicken (!), milk a cow, pet a chick, and even take a train ride!

That same evening we visited Disney's Boardwalk. We enjoyed dinner and walked around a bit, just enjoying each other's company and the beautiful scenery. =)

Disney's Animal Kingdom =)

2009-10-07T13:31:00.000-04:00

Our first Disney day was spent at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We had a great time! John loves any place with animals, so naturally he was a big fan of this park. The highlights were the Safari Ride and the Nemo show. ;)

Our Visit to the Magic Kingdom

2009-10-06T19:37:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm still working in reverse order. ;) On the 3rd day of our trip we visited the Magic Kingdom. Our day started out with a visit to Chef Mickey's- a character themed breakfast experience at Disney's Contemporary Resort. I can definitely see why Chef Mickey's is as popular as it is- besides getting to meet the characters and get pictures with each one, the food is fantastic. John, of course, was too excited to eat very much. He was so eager to meet each character... until they got to our table! On of my favorite pictures is the picture below with Donald Duck- poor Donald can't figure out why our little man is fussing and won't give him a hug. =)

Here's a little back story about our experience at the Monster's Inc Laugh Floor... cameras weren't permitted inside, BUT Will was called out from the audience and had to stand up and dance in front of the whole audience- on camera! He was a good sport about it!

Johnny and Will on the boat ride- I LOVE this picture.

All the boys.

Maw Maw and Johnny on "It's a Small World."

Scuttle says, "I think I spy bad weather coming!"

Disney's Hollywood Studios!

2009-10-01T18:37:00.000-04:00

One of our Disney vacation days was spent at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We started the day off with a character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine, which was delicious. Of course, the main attraction of some of the Disney buffet breakfasts isn't the food (although it is delicious). Nope, you're mainly paying to meet some of the Disney characters- and Disney in all their wisdom features different characters at each of the restaurants. We chose those this once because it featured the Little Einsteins. =) Sadly, they weren't all there, but Johnny did get to meet June and Leo, which thrilled him.

The other main highlight was meeting Lightning McQueen and Mater! Anyone who knows Johnny knows how much he loves cars, especially the cars from Cars, the movie. Lightning and Mater are his favorites, so it worked out well for him.

Johnny, Daddy, and Leo.

Johnny, Mommy, and June.

Grandma and Johnny.

Lightning!

If you know John's love for Cars, you'll know how big of a moment this was for us!

I love you, Mater. =)

Staring at Mater.

Caught in a web!

Sliding down a leaf!

It was HOT!

Hugging Rocket.

Excited!

The star of the show: Mickey!

The Little Einsteins.

Enjoying the show in Daddy's lap.

John was so excited to see Tigger!

Daisy

Minnie

The Little Mermaid show was awesome!

Model used for Pearl Harbor.

Stunt show.

Herbie!

Costumes from "Enchanted."

Our Day at Epcot!

2009-09-28T07:26:00.000-04:00

On our next to last day in Florida we visited Epcot! While I remember REALLY enjoying Epcot during our last Disney trip, it was a bit different with an almost-3-year-old. The highlights of this day were the walk "around the world" and the Living Seas exhibit featuring Nemo! Also a highlight was the food you can get in each of the countries! (a little guacamole in Mexico, a frankfurter in Germany, a pastry in France...) MMmmmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. =)

Disney Vacation- Magic Kingdom (Last Day)

2009-09-27T17:18:00.000-04:00

Last month, Will, John, and I joined Will's family for a vacation to Walt Disney World. When I originally started this post, I thought I'd do one big Disney post. Who was I kidding? So now, I guess my posts will be a little disorganized since I am starting with the last day of our trip. ;) Oh, well.

Our last day in Florida began with a second trip to the Magic Kingdom. The highlights of this visit were meeting Mickey and Minnie and John's first roller coaster ride, which he LOVED! (video of the roller coaster ride to follow)

After a busy day at the Magic Kingdom, we concluded our day by celebrating Angie's birthday at Maggiano's in Orlando. =)

Train ride at the Magic Kingdom.

Mommy and Johnny on the train. =)

Mickey's house.

Daddy and Johnny in Mickey's house.

Daddy kissing Minnie.

Group pic with Mickey and Minnie!!!!

The Barnstormer!

Impatient in line.

Riding with Daddy.

That was FUN!

Riding with Mommy.

It's a Small World.

Jungle cruise.

Elephants (yes, they're fake).

The Castle!

So tired- and trying to nap in the stroller with his "new friends".

Maw and Pop- can't wrap their heads around the portion sizes!

John enjoying his spaghetti dinner! YUMMY!

Angie- the birthday girl. ( I have no idea why Dennis is making that face!)

Happy Birthday, Angie! We love you!

Harvest Time!

2009-08-27T21:17:00.000-04:00

My parents have the most incredible, organically-grown vegetable garden! Each year it just seems to get better: green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, lettuce, cucumbers, potatoes, and lots more that I'm probably forgetting! My dad has always loved to do the harvesting- something that apparently rubbed off on his grandson, because Pop Pop now has a helper. =) John loves to help harvest vegetables! He struts around proud as a peacock with his little basket and fills it as he and my dad pick green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and much more. Now if only I could get him to eat some of those veggies, we'd be in business! =)

Fireworks: Ready, set, pop!

2009-07-15T14:32:00.001-04:00

This year, for July 4th, we headed to Ocean City to see the fireworks on the beach. John loved it! He was an expert fireworks commentator. Each time fireworks lit up the sky, he'd say, "Ready, set, pop!" (see video below) Too cute...

Life's a Beach

2009-07-15T14:06:00.001-04:00

John hasn't always been a huge fan of the beach- especially the ocean. Just last year, when he and I visited my mom and dad in Florida, he insisted upon sitting behind the beach chairs. I guess in the mind of a 1-year-old, he was safe there. This year it's a bit of a different story. He is still not a fan of the ocean. You're hard-pressed to get him to stick his big toe in the water, and if a wave splashes him, you can forget about it! On bright note, though, he LOVES the sand this year. He loves letting it sift through his fingers, burying his toes in it, building with it, and (unfortunately for us) sometimes throwing it. Below are a few pictures from this past July 4th weekend, which we spent on the Eastern Shore with Will's side of the family. The beach on Assateague Island is our favorite. It's not as crowded as Ocean City, we can easily find parking, and we can take our dogs with us. =)

Do the Dinosaur Stomp!

2009-07-01T14:08:00.000-04:00

Last week my sister in law Angie and I decided to take Johnny and two of his friends to the Maryland Science Center. The kids really wanted to see the dinosaur exhibit. I love the science center. Obviously, there are a lot of things that are way too "advanced" for my little 2-year-old, but there are also lots of exhibits that hit little eyes to become big with wonder. He LOVED the dinosaurs. They offered several hands-on activities that were fun, even for 2-year-olds. Below are a few pictures from our adventures...

John the archaeologist uncovering dinosaur fossils.

Standing under a dinosaur tail!

Roar!

Standing in a dinosaur nest.

Storm Chasers!

Water!

One more...

Squirting the frog...

Right in Our "Backyard"...

2009-06-29T14:50:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, Will, John, and I headed down to Annapolis (Eastport to be exact) for dinner. It's easy to forget how lucky we are to have such a gem as Annapolis right in our "backyard." Just look at that sky...

One more...

Being silly after dinner...

Johnny loving all the boats...

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-29T14:28:00.001-04:00

I just love this picture of my two boys! It was taken on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry en route from St. Michael's to Oxford, where we celebrated Father's Day this year. What could be better than a gorgeous day on Maryland's Eastern Shore? Our day started out in St. Michael's, where we walked around a bit, enjoyed an ice cream cone, and visited a toy store. After that, we drove to the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry and took a short, but fun, 10 minute ferry ride to Oxford. I'd never been to Oxford before. It is such a cute, little town. Very picturesque, but less touristy than St. Michael's. We ate a great place called Masthead at Pier Street Marina. It's right on the water- what a view. With the weather we had it was nothing short of spectacular. Happy Father's Day, honey! Johnny and I love you so much!

Carnival Time!

2009-06-17T22:12:00.000-04:00

Each year, the Odenton Fire Department hosts a carnival. This year is was on May 24. We went with Pop Pop and had a great time even though John was about an inch and half too short to ride most rides. =( We made the best of it, though, and he really enjoyed the bumble bee, choo choo train, and merry-go-round. We can't wait to go next year when he'll really be able to be part of the action!

Teeing Off!

2009-06-05T20:20:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month, Will and I decided to take John for his first mini-golf experience. My dad loves to golf and Will likes it, too, so it would be nice if John would grow to like it as well. John had a good time. He did make his own rules, though, which seemed to work for him. All I can say is, "Look out, Tiger Woods! You've got competition!"

Look at that swing!

This hole-in-one business isn't so hard...

Ok, fine, Mom and Dad...I'll try it with the golf club...

Gevelsberg: A Visit to my 2nd Home

2009-06-05T14:16:00.000-04:00

Most people that know me know that part of my childhood was spent growing up in Germany. We lived in a town called Gevelsberg, which is located about 45 minutes from Cologne. All in all we lived there for about seven years and I attended 1/2 of kindergarten, 2nd - 3rd grades, and 5th-7th grades at schools in Gevelsberg.

I hadn't been back to Gevelsberg in almost 10 years. It's funny how time flies. My uncle Harry was in the hospital and my Mom flew over, and I just knew that wanted to go see him as well. My Aunt Senta also still lives in Gevelsberg and I have a cousin who lives with her family in the neighboring city.

After a long, but smooth, eight hour flight from Philly to Frankfurt and a 2 1/2 hour train ride, I stepped onto the train station platform in Gevelsberg. The town itself hasn't changed that much. Sure, some of the shops are different and they greatly improved the main street to limit traffic. It was, however, still pretty much as I remembered it.

My uncle is lucky enough to live right on the main street that runs through downtown. Quite a few of the pictures below were taken from his balcony. It is the perfect spot to observe the town and people watch.

I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I thought I would, and I didn't see as much of the town as I'd hoped. I was only there for four days and it wasn't really that kind of trip. I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to go and visit my family in Germany and I hope to return again soon. I'd love for Johnny to see where I spent quite a few years of my childhood growing up, and I'd love for Johnny and Will to meet my uncle, aunt, and cousin. Gevelsberg will after all always be my second home.

Say Cheese! (Chuck E Cheese, that is!)

2009-05-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

On April 13, Ethan's actual 4th birthday, Nicole, Michelle, and I took our kids to Chuck E Cheese to let them enjoy some pizza and play time. I have to say that I love Chuck E Cheese, because it is so contained. The kids can have a great time without us having to chase them every second. Plus, they have a cute little toddler area for the little guys! Below are a few pics of Johnny and his buddy A.J. enjoyed the slides and arcade area at Chuck E Cheese. =)

A.J. about to go down the slide.

Johnny and A.J. - can you tell that they're going to be trouble together in a few years?

Whack-A-Mole!

A.J.'s turn!

Skee Ball! (They tried!)

John driving. Let's just say that I'm scared for his 16th birthday!

Zippity Do Da

2009-05-05T13:58:00.000-04:00

With Daddy- a bit apprehensive...

Giving it a try...

John thinking, "That was cool! Let's do it again!"

On April 11th, Ethan (my friend Nicole's son), celebrated his 4th birthday at Rollie Pollies in Severna Park. We had an absolutely fantastic time! Since John did take gymnastics lessons (I use that phrase loosely, since he's 2- you know what I mean) at Docksiders this past session, he was comfortable with the balance beam and trampoline, etc., that Rollie Pollies has to offer. He had a great time bouncing, balancing, and hopping around; however, what REALLY got him excited was the zip line! I have to say that my little boy really impressed me with his ability to hold on all the way to the end. Below is a short video of John's first ride on a zip line!

Over The Top! (A trip to the circus...)

2009-05-05T13:14:00.001-04:00

First off, let me say that I am pretty embarrassed by how long (just over a month to be exact) it has taken me to do this blog. On April 4th, we were able to go to see Barnum & Bailey's show "Over the Top!" This was John's first trip to the circus and it was even more memorable because his Oma, Pop Pop, Grandmom, Maw Maw, and Pop joined us. The show was great, but John's reaction was even better. We were worried that he might not like it or want to be held, but no! He wanted his own seat, thank you very much- and he quickly caught on about when to clap! I'd say this outing was a success. =)

I Love You, Man...

2009-04-27T23:15:00.001-04:00

Too cute for words.

In Full Bloom

2009-04-08T14:40:00.001-04:00

The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom this past weekend in our nation's capital, so Will and I decided to pack some picnic lunches and take Johnny to D.C. to see the festivities. The weather was absolutely perfect- warm, but not too warm, with a slight breeze. The sky was the most beautiful shade of blue I have seen in a long time. The crowds were unbelievable, so we were really glad that we took the Metro. This was John's first train ride, and he was really excited to ride the choo choo, even if he does look a bit overwhelmed in the pictures below.

Johnny letting the breeze run through his hair.

Lazy picnic lunch under the cherry blossom trees...what could be better?

Peekaboo!

Family photo= daddy + mommy + 1 overtired toddler

It actually turned out to be a bit warm in the early

afternoon, so we cooled off with some refreshing treats.

Excuse the silly faces. ;)

Daredevil

2009-04-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

It took me quite a while to get past my fears to let him do this alone...below is a video from the bounce zone (Pump It Up!) in Elkridge. Alas, Johnny has no hesitations and wanted to do it

again, and again, and again...

Duck...Duck...GOOSE!

2009-03-31T23:20:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, one of my best friends, Michelle, and I took our kids to feed the ducks at the Piney Orchard pond. The kids had a blast, but I don't think they fed a single duck. There were plenty of (aggressive) geese and (enthusiastic) seagulls, though, so our leftover bread was appreciatively gobbled up. (By the way, thanks Michelle for taking the pic of me and Johnny. I feel like I never get enough pictures of him and I together. =) )

Johnny getting too close to the goose. It was "hissing" at him. Yikes!

The light of my life- just look at that smile!

Johnny and his buddy A.J. We tried to get these two to pose for a picture together. We couldn't get them to stand still at the same time!

Chillin' On the First Day of Spring

2009-03-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

This past Friday, March 20th, marked the official first day of Spring 2009. The weather wasn't bad, just a bit chilly for springtime. The italian ice chain, Ritas, was giving away free italian ices to mark the occasion, though. Since we are not a family to pass up free Ritas, we bundled up in our fleece and North Face and ventured out. I have to say that it was worth it. Below are a few pictures of John enjoying his favorite flavor, vanilla. Thank goodness, winter is finally over! Bring on the warmer weather! =)

I Discovered Scrapblog!

2009-03-16T21:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Holly's blog http://inthefunlane.blogspot.com I have discovered Scrapblog! What a cool and user-friendly way to share memories! I may have a new addiction! I know these are old photos, but I wanted to try it out. =)

Wacky Weather

2009-03-12T13:33:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we had gorgeous weather here in Maryland. Mid 70s to be exact. Needless to say, out came the Crocs, sandals, Tshirts, and shorts. When then the kids went outside, what did they want to play with? Bubbles? Nope. Chalk? No. Bikes? Nada. Scooters? No thanks.

They wanted to play with snow. Wait, what? Snow?! That's right. Left over from our early-March snow storm were a few mounds of the white stuff. And the kids had a blast! Below are a few pics of Johnny and his buddies Liam and Ben enjoying our wacky weather. =)

P.S.- Did I mention there's a chance of snow showers for tomorrow morning? ::sigh::

Fun in the Foam Pit

2009-03-09T09:08:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, my friend Michelle's lovely daughter Rachael turned four! I cannot believe how fast our kids are growing up. Since Rachael has been attending Docksider Gymnastics for over two years now and loves it, Michelle decided to have her birthday party there. What a fantastic idea! Johnny attends Docksiders as well (just started this session) and he LOVES the foam pit! Since I usually do not have the opportunity to take pictures during gymnastics, this was the perfect opportunity. Below are a few pics of Johnny enjoying the foam pit and some yummy cupcakes! Thank you Michelle for a fantastic party!

No Fear!

Birthday Girl

Sugar Rush

M&Ms! YUM!

Our Sledding Adventures!

2009-03-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

It seems a little bizarre writing about the snow storm that happened one short week ago, since it's been in the mid 70s for the past two days and it's supposed to be in the mid 60s today. Alas, that is Maryland weather for you. Anyway, last week that Nor'easter dumped about 8-9 inches on us and the kids couldn't have been more thrilled. Johnny really wanted to build a snowman, but the snow was too dry and fluffy. It worked great for sledding, though! Thanks to my friend Nicole's suggestion, we decided to try another hill in the neighborhood. Oh my goodness, it looked steep to me, but Johnny and all of his friends had a blast. Well, that was then and this is now, because it's sunny and warm outside and I think we'll go to the playground today! Time to put the sled, shovel, and sidewalk salt away until next year...or is it?!? You can never can tell in Maryland!

Lawnmower or Snowblower?

Check out that hill!