Day 302

 

October 29th, 2010

 

October 29th, 2011

Happy Cataversary to Bing Clawsby and Purry Como!! They've been in our family for a year as of today!! Here are some pictures from a year ago and then recently:

 

Bing was so scared when he came home that he hid himself behind the washer/dryer for two days straight without coming out to see us!!

 

Bing isn't such a scardy cat anymore!

 

Purry Como came to us with a yeast infection in his ear and covered in medicine for ring worm. The poor guy couldn't catch a break-- until we brought him into our home. He's filled our days with the sounds of his sweet purr!!

 

Purry is the sweetest cat and has made our fur family complete!

Last night was ROUGH! Gus was up from 2-4:30... he wasn't tired and wanted to play and we were exhausted. He finally fell asleep around 4:30 or so. Steve got up with him and then took him to get a haircut.

I had a nail appointment this morning and then Steve took Ned to the groomer and went to Lowe's to get paint and stuff for fixing up spots in the house. While he was gone, Gus napped, and I did more research on houses. I found a few more that I added to my list of houses to see next weekend.

It's crazy to think that this time next week, we might have found our house and made an offer on it. I have fingers and toes and hairs crossed that we find our house and are able to get things moving and situated. I HATE not having things nailed down and organized.

Here are some pictures of Gus from today:

 

Blowing on his noodles (because daddy was blowing on them)

 

Still blowing to cool them off

 

Blowing on his mandarin oranges (lol)

 

Blowing more (he's such a turkey)

We went to Ruby Tuesday's for dinner and then DQ for dessert. I love that they have the mini sized Blizzards... just enough to give you a taste but not too much to make you feel sick after eating it. I had the turtle pecan and it was delicious. Here are some pictures of Gus from dinner:

 

Sharing my strawberry lemonade and saying, "Mmmmmm" as he drank it

Tomorrow is football Sunday... and laundry day. Steve leaves on Tuesday and has to get things packed for the two weeks that he'll be gone. I'm getting anxious about the drive next Friday and trying to make a list of the things I need to remember to pack and bring with us. 

See you tomorrow!!

Day 301

 

October 28th, 2010

 

October 28th, 2011

Have you ever thought back to a moment in your life and asked yourself, "WHAT THE EFF WAS I THINKING???" I had one of those today. Sometimes I don't know what's wrong with me that I do things that later are so stupid, but I guess all I can do is learn from my mistakes and vow to be a better person and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

I got up this morning and could have slept for another three hours. It was a chilly day here in NC and I didn't go anywhere or do anything all day. It's nice to have lazy days, although, my lazy day made it feel like a Saturday all day and I've been confused all day long as a result.

Steve had a lunch date with Paco, and because he loves me so very much, he brought me some Thai for lunch. It was delicious!

Here are some pictures of Gus from today:

 

Potty practice  :-)

 

Sharing his sweet potato crisp

I think Gus has gotten really tall. I'm eager to see what his weight, height, and head measurements are when we go for his 18 month appointment.

A week from today we'll be in Atlanta. It's crazy to think about. I'm desperately searching for more homes to see while we're there, as I'm afraid that we'll get there, hate the ones that I've found online, and then have nothing. As a result, I'm sick of looking for houses and seeing the same things pop up. I feel like our realtor has seriously dropped the ball when it comes to finding us homes to see. To say I'm disappointed is a HUGE understatement. If I'm able to do this, why can't he? Now, he did go and look at some and gave me feedback from going in person, and that was VERY helpful-- but the homes that he went to see, were all homes that I FOUND, not him.

Anyway... so sick of looking and not finding what I'm looking for. So, next week we go and I pray the drive isn't horrendous and I pray that we have a good visit and it feels like "home." Otherwise, the move to Atlanta is going to be even more difficult than it already is. I just want to get settled and feel like I'm where I'm meant to be. I've never felt that here, though, without being here, we would not have Gus, so it was meant for a purpose, and we did have wonderful career experiences here.

So... tomorrow I've got a nail appointment and then Ned has a groomer appointment. It's supposed to be chilly tomorrow too, and hopefully, chilly for Halloween! There's nothing worse than being HOT on Halloween. I've got friends up North that are getting snow tomorrow!!! So glad I'm away from the snow for a while!!

See you tomorrow!

Tombstone Taco Dip

 

Prep: 20 Minutes

Chill: 30 Minutes

Preheat Oven: 350 (You'll bake the tortillas for 5-7 minutes)

Ingredients:

• Tortillas (using a permanent marker, decorate tombstones and cut out with scissors) You can use food coloring to make different items for the dip to be various colors
• Tomatoes (I prefer Roma)
• Salsa
• Black Olives
• Shredded Cheese
• Shredded Lettuce
• Sour Cream (1/2 cup)
• Ranch Dressing (1/2 cup)
• 1 Tbsp Taco Seasoning
• Refried Beans

 

Combine refried beans and salsa and spread into bottom of pan

 

Mix the sour cream, ranch, and seasoning and spread on top of the beans

 

Place baked tortillas into the dip

 

Cover with remaining cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and black olives

Day 300

 

October 27th, 2010

 

October 27th, 2011

What a great day! We got up and Suzanne came to clean. After she finished, Gus and I headed to TGI Friday's for lunch with Mrs. Denton, Maddie, Allie, and Jenna. I had the pleasure of teaching Maddie and Allie for fourth grade. Had I still been teaching, I'd probably have Jenna in my class this year.

Here are some pictures from this morning, before lunch:

 

Heading to lunch

It was so great to see the girls and Mrs. Denton. I've always loved them and they're one of my most favorite families that I've even had the pleasure of getting to know as a teacher. I've always had a special bond with Maddie, and knew I'd love her before I even met her. She and I exchanged emails when I was still in MI and she was here in NC and a 3rd grader. She made me feel so welcome and excited to teach 4th grade!!

Here are some pictures from lunch and then we headed to Kids Together Park and played for a bit.

 

Gus wearing the hand-knitted ear warmer that Maddie made for me  :-)

 

Allie and Gus

 

Jenna, Maddie, and Allie  <3

 

Gus at the park

 

The Denton girls and Gus

 

Jenna really liked spending time with Gus

 

Allie was a big help too!

 

Sisterly help!

 

All of us together

As soon as we said our goodbyes, I got in the car and cried. It's the first time that the reality of us leaving has had to come to play. The girls gave me cards and gifts to remember them and I couldn't look at them until I was home. I knew I'd start crying. It was so very sad to say goodbye to them. I hope I'll get to see them again, and thankfully, technology helps bridge the gap that can be created by distance. 

We got home and tried to put Gus down for a nap, but since he napped for 25 minutes in the car, he was wide-awake once inside and refused to nap. So for the entire day he only slept for 25 minutes. I'm hoping that he sleeps in tomorrow.

He did want to put his Elmo costume on (I can't thank Greta enough for this costume... he really, honestly, loves it so very much!), so I got him converted into Elmo Gus and he stayed in costume until dinner.

Steve made dinner tonight and I was CERTAIN that Gus wouldn't eat it. He had just had some chicken fingers (left over from lunch) and I didn't think he'd be hungry for what we were having. He usually doesn't like mac-n-cheese, and Steve made Hamburger Helper. I was wrong! He ate his entire bowl AND some of mine!

After dinner we played for a while before bed. I absolutely adore my son. He really is incredible and makes me smile so much. We're so incredibly blessed to not only be his parents, but to get to experience the joys that come from being parents. Not a minute goes by that we take this for granted. We were talking tonight about a friend of Steve's (used to work at Burt's with him) and his seven-year-old that just had surgery for a brain tumor. We're lucky to have moments of laughter right now. We also think about A&W and how hard it is for them to wait for their baby... we know they'll be united soon enough, but the waiting is excruciating and painful and I remember what it was like to want nothing more than to hold my own baby, and be (what seemed like) forever away from realizing my dream.

So, we're thankful and we pray for our friends that aren't able to snuggle their baby, or laugh and delight in the joys like we are. 

 

Riding on his tractor

 

Ahhhh... the love of my life!!

 

Puckering up to kiss himself (lol)

 

Kissing mama  <3

Tomorrow we're supposed to go trick or treating in FV, but it's supposed to be very cold and rainy. I think we'll stay home instead!!! Steve is meeting Paco for lunch and should have a good time catching up with him. I'm hoping he'll bring me home some Thai for lunch!!!

See you tomorrow!!

PS- Check out the Cat Walker Photography link on the side to see pictures from the Fab Five Halloween!! Too cute!!!