Friday, May 29, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend...

We were busy, busy, busy! Friday, Rob got off work early and we headed to Lowe's to get flowers and yard work items. I didn't have anything ready for dinner, so we decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings, which is new here. Arista was with us and we called our friends Matt and Jess to meet up. They came back to the house, and we watched a movie--of course Rob and I fell asleep.

Saturday, we took Braeden to Linda's while Rob and I could tackle all the outside chores. I called Linda to check in with her and she said that she told Braeden that she was going to the bathroom and she would be right back. She heard, "ting, ting, ting!" Well, Mr. Braeden opened up her dishwasher, was sitting on the door, and emptying out all the silverware! Then, she said that Braeden put potato chip clips in ther hair after he found them in her cabinet. He is so funny!! I trimmed all our bushes, which we have alot, I hadn't realized. Rob trimmed the two trees, mowed the back yard, and Arista planted our flowers. She is so good at that! We spent 5 hours on landscaping! It looks wonderful! Then, we went to eat Mexican with Linda.



Sunday, we had our neighbors, Matt and Jess, and Tim and Shannon and their kids come over to BBQ and watch the Indy 500. It was fun! We found a turtle in our back yard and the kids loved it! We set him free, though. I don't think he was happy in what we had him in!

Monday, Linda, Arista and I went and got a pedicure and manicure! Ahhh it was nice! Arista and I went shopping and I found 2 pics that are on either side of the mirror above the couch. I am DONE with decorating! Yah!

Our fishtank stand is finally complete! Rob and Charles did an excellent job! There is still the hood to make along with all the other plumbing, lights, filters, skimmers to be purchased! UGH, when is this going to done already? I hate waiting! ha ha!

That's all to report now. We have another busy weekend ahead of us with entertaining and date night with our friends! I'll leave you with a new pic of Braeden...and his new, fun little stunt---taking off his diaper!



*Alana*

Monday, May 18, 2009

Yard Sale Success!


I had so much fun with my Yard Sale! The night before I had everything organized, ready to go for the 8am opening. I got up at 7am. My neighbor called and said that there were people already driving by! Goodness sakes, people get up EARLY and don't mess around with these yard sales! I was swamped at 7:15-9am. The crowds came and gone all day. I decided since I didn't have much else going on the rest of the day, that I would extend it hoping to sell all my things, but it really stopped at about 1pm. I learned alot about these yard sales....People are CHEAP! I had a lady tell me flat out, "I go to yard sales every weekend, and I just think your prices are way too high." I told her that everything is designer, and only worn once, twice or had the tags on it! I figured out that more than half were asking to lower by some, so I eventually did. I really wanted to succeed in getting rid of everything, so I agreed only if they asked. I sold about $350-400! -which breaks me even with the new wardrobe that I already bought. ha ha!

Here are a couple of pictures during this day. **Note**the little kids sitting next to Braeden, are our neighbors, Mason and Madison. I just thought this was hilarious and had to share! Mason loves our dog, Marley. We were all outside, and he goes up to the front door, rings the doorbell, and says, "Marley! It's me, Mason!" Isn't that cute? I can't wait for Braeden to talk!!!


Rob and Braeden's yard sale participation and interest. HA!


Rob and our neighbor have been working so hard on our fish stand. I am so anxious for it to get done! It is getting SOO expensive, too! And, we don't even have any water or fish in it yet! I am hoping that I can sand and stain it today or tomorrow (that's my job in all of this). Here is a couple of pics of the progress.



*Alana*

Monday, May 11, 2009

Mother's Day

This was my 2nd Mother's Day....a surreal day, really. I think alot about how my life has turned out so perfectly. Thank you, God for my life and family! I love them so much and sometimes think I just don't deserve it.

Rob, Arista and I went to Kings Dominion Theme Park on Saturday. Linda watched Braeden for us so we could have a little bit of a big kid day. I had been contemplating on taking him. I was told that there really isn't alot of things that 18 month olds can do. And, I would hate for him just to sit in his stoller for the most of the day in the heat. I know I wouldn't like that, so he stayed home this time. We had a GREAT time!! Ended up, that Arista and I rode most of the rides while Rob sat out; which reminded me of the times my mom would take us to Worlds of Fun and we would take a friend and ride all the rides while my mom sat and waited...This surprised me. I know Rob doesn't like the rides that go in circles. But, his head was hurting with allergies after the roller coaster rides. He sat back and drank beer while Arista and I got our adrenaline rush flowing! I talked Arista into going on the SkyFlyer ride that I had done a few years ago in Orlando FL. It was a ride I never forgot! It's 152 ft in the air, and they release you and you basically fly down and swing until you stop. She loved it as much as I did! It's the closest thing to skydiving that you'll find! Now, Arista is looking into skydiving. Rob won't let me go again, since I am a wife and mommy now...Doesn't mean I won't still keep trying!





Anyways, so we were exhausted after a long day in the heat. On the way home, Rob said the would like to go to the grocery store. In other words, he hadn't gotten a Mother's Day card yet. ha ha! He smiled, admitting this. I knew it. I give him alot of credit for going out after a long day! Braeden and I went to bed at 10pm.

So, yesterday, Mother's Day, I asked Rob if he would take Braeden downstairs after he got up in the morning at 8am so I could sleep in. I thought I was going to wake up to the aroma of Mommy's breakfast being made....hmmm, how nice! **cough** I come downstairs, Rob is asleep and Braeden had trashed the house with his toys, and the Sunday newspaper! What? Excuse me....heeelloooo??? I let Rob sleep while I cleaned up, even though it WAS Mother's Day and all...

I took Braeden to Bingo that Linda attends every Sunday. She loves to show off her "pride and joy" to her Bingo buddies. I like to do things like that for her, she does SO much for us, this was the least I could do--making her day! We came home and Rob power washed the bottom deck and we played outside with the neighbors.





After Linda got home from Bingo, we went to dinner at Chilli's. Linda and I love their salads! We exchanged cards and had a nice dinner! Thank you!! Here's to many more Mommy Days!




*Alana*

Thursday, May 7, 2009

What Mommy loves about you!

I have heard (and am now learning for myself) that kids say and do the funniest things over the months/years that it's too hard to remember everything, right?! Part of me doing this blog is to document as much as possible so we can look back on it and smile and for Braeden to have one day.

Words: Mommy, daddy, kiiiy (kitty-he can't pronounce the T's yet), OHHH GGGGod! (He gets this from me; when he scares me, that's what slips out.), goggy (doggy), car, tru (truck), bye.

He wheels around his highchair all over the place, along with his "Cars" tow truck. He likes to put different things under the seat, like food, washcloths, wrappers, misc. toys, etc. He is now learning how to go up the stairs by holding on the railing vs. on his belly. He LOVES to turn on and off the lights. I say, "LIGHT ON!" and "LIGHT OFF." He gets so tickled! He enjoys going downstairs to see the Kiii's and has me put him on Mimi's bed so he can lay on them like he does with Marley. The kiiiys don't really tolerate it very well! ha ha! He has been putting things on his head like the Easter basket, shirts, towels, his clothes, bathroom trash baskets and walks around and runs into things, it's quite funny! He gets in and out of his toy box and takes out everything and then puts it back in again. This lasts for hours...

His favorite #1's are: mommy and mimi's hairbrushes, his School Bus, Batman 4 wheeler, the phone and remote control. Although he has his own, he wants the real ones! Spongebob Squarepants song! When he firsts hears the song start, he looks for Rob and I to start singing. It's fun!


Recently, he has started to dance. He puts his legs together and bends his knees. I tell him "Shake your tail feather" and he just goes to town! The cutest thing he has done is this face. He puts his shoulders up to his ears and cheeses like no other! His little 2 teeth on the bottom show and the 4 on top. He's SUCH a ham!

A little while ago, Mimi was watching him and taught him lots of things, which to this day he remembers. We say, "Braeden, where are your eyes?" he points to them. He knows where is mouth, nose, toes, ears, and he points to his fingers. So smart! Thanks, Mimi! I'm teaching him his knees and elbows right now.

When he has something in his hand that he's not supposed to (which happens often-ha!), I say, "I'm a gonna get you!" and start to run after him. He turns around, laughing, drops whatever he has and runs for it! It's SO funny!

I love watching his face light up when Daddy and Mimi come home. He gives them BIG hugs! How can you not love this?? He also loves his Grammy!!

My #1 is and has been since he was born: He HAS to play with your hair when he's drinking a bottle. I am a sucker for playing with my hair, and he does it so soft (sometimes... when there's no knots in it or not wet-ha!), so relaxing to me. I LOVE IT! He could do that all day long!

In a previous post of what Braeden does and is so frustrating (but it still IS cute), I have to elaborate on them a little bit.

Braeden can NOT stay out of Marley's water dish to save my life! He puts all of his toys in there, yes, including the ones with batteries! Which is why Elmo can't speak right now!

!

He stands on the dishwasher door, climbs on the chairs, sofas, coffee table, and then stands up!, turns on the bathtub faucet over and over again after it's been shut off by mommy, he pulls the shades shut, reopens them, pulls them up and down. I finally had to raise them to where he can't reach them, along with the cords. He pulls out the magazines and tears them up. I haven't read them yet, and they are so wrinkled and tore by the time he's "finished" with them. He can reach into the kitchen drawers now, which scares me because our silverware is in there, but mostly he gets out the dishtowels and stove mitts. Rob's sock drawer....I have given up, I just let him do it now. He takes them ALL out, and puts them in the drawer below. It makes such a mess, but keeps him busy for a long time! I have learned to keep closet doors shut. Because if I don't, Braeden will get out all your shoes!

Whew! I think that about covers it for now! I LOVE watching him grow and am blessed to be able to stay at home with him and catch all his new learnings!

*Alana

Sunday, May 3, 2009

NASCAR, Richmond VA


I have never been to NASCAR before. KC built a track a couple of years before I moved away, but didn't really have any interest in it, so I never went. Rob's co-workers and boss got tickets and asked if we wanted to go. Since we are planning on getting pregnant this fall, we are trying to do all we can, since life being pregnant with a toddler, and then having 2 kids won't be as easy to have Linda or Arista (Mimi) watch both, understandably.

Rob and I tailgated by ourselves. The weather was forecasting 40-60% rain. It rained while we were eating and had to jump in the car until it passed a few minutes later. Then, it got sticky, although it was only 70 degrees. We took the tram to the track and then Holy cow, the rain poured! Everyone was standing under the stands and I had to put on my poncho from the rain coming through. Then it cleared and was perfect!

It was neat seeing the trucks dry the track, and was LOUD! All the fans got on their feet, and all the drivers drove around the track. The energy was powerful and exciting!! AND LOUD! I had to listen to the cars without our earphones for a while just for the experience of it all! Those cars are F-A-S-T! I mean, I have seen NASCAR on TV, and it looked as if they were traveling pretty speedy, but once you are there, it is So much different! Then, several cars crashed, and one caught on fire! I didn't have my camera out and ready when it happened, so I didn't get a photo of it, darn! Overall, it was a great, great, time! Next weekend--Kings Dominion Theme Park with Braeden, Rob, and Mimi! Again, another new place I have not yet been to.