A Yummy Thanksgiving!

We went to Iowa to visit my family for Thanksgiving. Once again, Aidan reaffirmed my belief that he's the best traveler in the world and was wonderful on the trip. In the last hour or two of the trip he finally drifted off for a quick nap. So, we all made it in one piece. Thursday, Julien spent all day cooking. My sister and her boyfriend joined us and my folks. We fried a turkey and had homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, and pies. It was awesome! Then Saturday, we made turkey carcass soup with the leftovers. Aidan loved seeing Grandma and Grandpa again. He woke up asking to see Grandma and then helped Grandpa make his tea. He wasn't able to see his favorite cousin Sophie this trip. She was sick with a fever and cold. He was a little disappointed but, he was able to talk to her on the phone. I was able to see my old friend Elleni and her little baby girl. It's been so great to be able to reconnect with her. It's amazing how much changes yet stays the same. I was also able to see my old Busy Bee friends Shay and Jen. The daycare was my favorite job ever, besides the one I have now. :) Jen is still the on-site supervisor there. It was weird to hear her talk about how things have changed and how old the kids I cared for are now. Some of my before and after care kids have graduated High School or are driving. Boy, do I feel old! Shay just moved back to CR so this has been the first time we all have been able to get together. I had to take Aidan with me so they were able to meet him too. Before we left, Julien spent Saturday helping Dad dig a trench in the cold. They rented a trencher but it wasn't quite up to the task. It took forever and Julien got a taste of farm life. :) He's still sore! But we have some grading work we need to do at our place in the spring and now Julien's prepared for all the work that will entail. So, now we're back home and getting ready for Christmas. I pulled the decorations out but haven't gotten any further. It actually snowed here this morning so we have a dusting of snow to motivate me. Hopefully the next post will be all about how cute the house looks! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Yay for the Weekend!

For some reason, I'm really glad that it's the weekend. I'm not sure why. It's not like there's a real big difference for me. I guess I get more of an assist from Julien and I get to sleep in and that's always something to look forward to. :) It was a normal busy week. We had playgroup playdate at the YMCA. We went to their toddler gym, and let me tell ya', I wish I had known about that place sooner! Trampolines and mats and toddlers! Aidan had a ball. And it's always a plus to be able to talk to other moms, even if it is a fleeting conversation. Today, we had a playdate here with our friends Gabi and Joey. Also this week, Mommy made her first recipe-less dinner. Julien said it was a real breakthrough for me. It's funny what he gets excited about. I appreciate being good enough now that I can wing it a little if I need to. Baking is still much more enjoyable to me though. I also got further in my Xmas shopping. (It's nice to feel like loose ends are tying up.) I signed Aidan and I up for some toddler classes in January, which I have been meaning to do all year! We have a membership to the Magic House (which, if you have small children and visit StL, the Magic House is a must!) and they offer Toddler music, science, and art classes every week. So, I signed us up for one of each. That way we can see what we really like and also, our playgroup is going too so at least we'll know someone. I think this will be really fun. It's reasonable, only $3.50/person for each class. So, all kinds of excitment! We have a ton of playdates and things to do in the next couple months. It should be good.

Visit with an Old Friend

Last weekend, Julien's best friend, Kevin, came down to visit for the weekend. We hadn't seen Kevin in about 4 years or so. He kinda disappears and reappears randomly. So, it was great to see him. Lots had changed in four years. Like we had Aidan. And he has a good job that he likes. It's amazing what being in charge at work does for a person. Julien said Kevin has more discipline than he does now. :) For anyone who knew Kevin way back, that's a really funny statement. But he was the same sweet but crazy (not in that cute way either) guy we've known for years. Kevin is one of the those friends we both know independently. I met Kevin at Kirkwood CC, before I met Julien. Kevin has been friends with Julien since they were 12. So even though we both knew him, we never hung out with him together. It must be a little weird for him that his friend hooked up with his other friend then got married. Or since it's Kevin, maybe not. Either way, he was very patient with Aidan and the fact that we do things differently now because of our little guy. In fact, Kevin was really good with Aidan and Aidan wanted to do anything Kevin did. In fact, after Kevin went into the bathroom, Aidan announced that he had to go potty and actually peed in the potty. (See previous post.) Our no swearing rule was a challenge for Kevin but, luckily, Aidan didn't seem to hear him when he did it.

I also went to Girls Night out on Friday. That was fun. Many margaritas were had by all. I'm sure our waitress thought we would never leave. I think everyone had a good time.

Next, we prepare for Thanksgiving. We will be celebrating with my family. We couldn't afford a trip to Phoenix unfortunately. We would have loved to have been eating turkey in the sun! But, just not in the budget this year. Hopefully next year we can go somewhere nice. I've already started preparing for Christmas. The cards have been ordered. I never got around to getting family pics or 2 yr pics of Aidan taken, so I had to improvise. Christmas shopping has started and I have nine people done. I feel like I'm getting ahead of the curve, for once.

Well, I'm off to deal with a bunch of headaches. Changing phone service, paying bills, you know-all the stuff you really don't want to do.

A Big Step Forward for our Big Boy!

We've had a very exciting development in the last couple days. Aidan told me last night that he had to go potty. At first, I thought it was only because Kevin had gone to the bathroom and Aidan thought everything he did was awesome. But he went in and got his pants down, we got the diaper off, and he sat on his potty. He smiled big and said "I go potty Mommy!" Sure enough about 10 seconds later, he peed!! He was so proud and Mommy was excited! So I gave him some fruit snacks as a reward. Then he didn't want to get his diaper back on. (I hope these are good signs.) Then today, again he told me he had to go. So we tried again and he peed. And once again it was a fight to get the diaper back on. More fruit snacks were had and a call to Daddy at work was made. :) After nap he said he had to poop and tried for a while, but no luck this time. We were too early I think. About 10 minutes or so later, he pooped in his diaper. I've started letting him flush the poop from his diaper in an attempt to motivate him. I read it somewhere and it sounded like a good idea. So, we have taken baby steps. We aren't ready for full blown training yet but it may be soon. I think we will go this weekend and let him pick out some training pants. I don't know if Mommy's ready for this. Any and all suggestions are welcome!

More about Kevin's visit later. It was a great visit. I'm really glad he was able to make it down. Now, off to sleep!

A Christmas Request!

I've been meaning to write this post for a while now and, since I have some free time, there's no time like the present. (No pun intended.) I've been meaning to put out a request about Christmas presents. Aidan had a fantastic birthday. Once again, thanks to everyone who sent something special for him. However, we were completely overwhelmed by all the toys. I had to go through all his toys and put a lot of things out of rotation so we weren't swimming in them. We may even donate some of his toys that he doesn't play with anymore. Now, I'm not complaining. We're lucky to have an overabundance, especially in these times. But, I decided that I would make the request that for this Christmas, if you want to get him something, please try to keep it to books, puzzles, art supplies (playdough and stuff like that even), clothes (3T long sleeved shirts and sweaters/sweatshirts, 2T pants and jeans) or money for his piggy bank. These are the kind of things he could really use right now and sometimes these things are less expensive than toys. By no means do we expect everyone we know to get him something for Christmas but, if you choose to do so, please try to pick from one of these categories. Thanks everyone!!!

Another Normal Week in the Ross-Boon House

We always seem busy around here. However the last couple weeks we have been derailed by colds. Last week, I was out of commission most of the week and miserable. This week it was Julien' s turn. (Luckily, Aidan's been the healthiest of us all.) So, we didn't get much done. Once I was well again, it was time to get to work as we were expecting company on two different occasions this week. So, I got the whole house clean in about 3 days instead of taking the week to do it as usual. I know, you're thinking that's an awful long time just to clean, but the house is big and I always have other important things come up and someone to distract me. (Wonder who??) Last night, we had our first round of guests. Our friend Jeff from Maryland is out here for business. Julien used to work with him and our families have been friends for years now. (Wow, has it been that long?) We took him out for our customary dinner and ice cream- Thai House for dinner and Oberweis for home made Ice Cream. And, as usual, both were great! (Sorry Catherine, we thought of you the whole time, I promise!) We caught up on what the kids are doing and how everyone in Maryland is. It was a really nice time. Hopefully, we all will be able to get together again soon. Maybe they can come visit or maybe when it's their turn to move. :)

The next visitor is due to arrive on Saturday and I really hope he makes it. Julien is really looking forward to this weekend and will be crushed if he doesn't make it. So, I'll have to let you know how it goes.

For the rest of this week, I will be taking care of loose ends that I've been meaning to get to as the house is now clean. Tomorrow morning our playgroup is meeting again. Our leader had to move us to a new website that didn't charge (it wasn't fair to make her pay $20 a month to organize us online) and now we are trying to recover and find all the old members. I really hope it survives because it's a lot of fun. Tomorrow we are going back to the Creation Station at the Transportation Museum. That place is so much fun! There are so many different things to do there. Friday night is going to be exciting as well! Some of us girls from the neighborhood are having a Girls' Night. This is the first time we have done something like this. I really hope it goes well as it was my idea and I will feel bad if it doesn't. :) I'm sure it will be an interesting night either way. Then next week we will start preparing for Thanksgiving and a visit to Iowa. Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas is around the corner. There is so much to do and I am falling behind already! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Halloween 2008

In all the election buzz, I neglected to post about Halloween. This year Aidan was a lion. He was so cute! He roared all night and was particularly protective of his tail. He kept looking to see if it was still there. Now he's obsessed with tails. To start off the night, we went to a couple houses down the street to trick or treat. At first, Aidan didn't really understand what we were doing. However, when he figured out that candy was involved, he became much more interested. All the neighbors got together in the circle with their candy. Aidan kept taking candy for everyone else's bowl and putting it in ours. Then, when all the trick or treaters came Aidan was so excited. He kept saying "More kids Mommy! Look! More kids!" I had to keep my eye on him to make sure he didn't run off with all the other kids. At the end of the night, all us adults gathered around the fire pit and hung out. There were some interesting "fireworks" as well. It's interesting, when a neighborhood is new and everyone is getting to know each other, people are nice and everyone has a good time. Then, as we all get used to each other it seems that's when problems arise. I think we're starting to see some strain in relationships. But, in the end it was a good night.

Then Sunday the 2nd, Julien and I took his parents to the Rams v. Cardinals. This was Julien and my first NFL game. We had nosebleed seats but, it was fun. The Cardinals won the game, which made us happy as we are Cardinals fans. Although at the end, we just felt bad for the Rams. They just fell apart. Next time we go, I think we will get better seats. :)

Well, as I am recovering from a horrible cold, we are preparing for more visitors. A friend from the east coast will be out for business. Then an old friend is coming to visit next weekend and we are really looking forward to that. It's been years since we've seen him and it'll be nice to hang out and catch up. So, again things are busy as always. It's always a game of catch up.

Election Day!

We just got back from voting. Luckily, the lines were short and we didn't have to wait long. No matter what your political stance is, make sure you vote! As a woman, I feel it is my duty to do so. There were many women who sacrificed and suffered greatly in their fight. In doing so, they secured my rights. I feel all women need to honor the work of these brave women and exercise that right. I also believe it's important for Aidan to go with me and see me voting. He's too young for it to make an impression now, but in the future I hope to set the example for him and set up the expectation that he be involved in the process as well. I see too many people who are ambivalent about it and end up passing down a sense of apathy to the next generation. The only way to ensure change and progress is to be part of the solution and get involved! I'll get off my soap box now. :) I'll be eagerly awaiting the results tonight, as I know many of my friends will be too. So, in conclusion, quit reading this and GO VOTE!!!





PS: Go Obama!!!! :) I had to get that in there.

A Family Visit in Iowa

We had another visit to Iowa. This time, my sister Cindy was in from Seattle. It had over a year since she had seen Aidan and I was eager for her to see all of his changes. While we were all together we also saw my Aunt Janet and Uncle Jim, Aunt Betty and Uncle Jerry, my Grandma Fern, my friend Elleni and her 3 kids, and of course Aidan's cousins. He was constantly at Sophie's side, as usual. He almost paid attention to his little cousin Sarah. I guess she isn't interesting enough yet. Elleni and I braved an outing to the mall and McDonald's with our combined four kids. I don't know how she manages two kids and an infant and makes it look so easy. I still get overwhelmed with one sometimes. Besides getting to see a ton of family and friends, it was nice to just hang out with my sister Cindy. I remember when she was in college and used to have us come to stay the weekend with her. I thought I was the coolest 4th grader ever! :) Now she lives in Seattle and hopefully we'll get up her way again soon. Seattle is a fun town. And in other exciting news, my nephew and his wife had their baby the day I left. They had a little girl named Claire. That makes me a great aunt. Now I feel old. However, I take some small comfort in calling my brother "gramps". :)
While we were in Iowa, Julien was off for business in San Diego. I know, you all feel really bad for him. This was a longer trip than usual though. By the end of the week, we all were glad to see each other again. Halloween is coming up and I will be sure to take many pictures. This weekend, Julien and I are taking his parents to the Rams game. Now that they're winning, I'm looking forward to it. I know, I'm a fairweather fan. I'm hoping things will slow down a bit. I'm ready for a break.

Riley Has A New Home

I heard from the kennel that Riley has been at. They had a couple come from Indiana to meet Riley this weekend. Beth, the kennel owner, said they were a really nice couple and that Riley loved them from the get-go. They have a male malamute and another dog, she didn't specify. They have a locksmith business and they take their dogs to work with them. You can tell they don't have children. :) Well, they loved her and took her home with them. Apparently, Riley jumped in their car when it was time to go like she had come with them. I'm glad that she was able to attach to a new family and that someone else could see what a great dog she is. They've called Beth and let her know that Riley is adjusting well. I'm really happy that Riley has found a new home, and even a brother! That was what I wanted all along. But, to be honest, when I read the email I was really, really sad. Now she's really, truly gone. She isn't ours anymore. I know I won't feel this way forever. And I take comfort in the fact that we did the right thing for us but also for her. I guess it couldn't have worked out any better, really. Her new family has my contact information so, I hope they let me know how she is doing and we can see pictures of her new home.

I'm a Mini-Van Momma!

Well, I have a few minutes to sit and update my blog. I'm currently enjoying the Rams game, which surprisingly, they are winning. I may have to become a Rams fan if their new coach keeps up the good work. I'm also baking some cookies because I'm tired of paying Pepperidge Farm almost $3 for a bag I can polish off in a day. So, here's the news! It's been busy around here. Last Sunday, we went with our neighbors, the Walters, to get pumpkins. His Dad has a farm with a pumpkin patch so we got to pick a ton of free pumpkins. It was great not to be fighting the crowds in fake patches that have harvested pumpkins laying in a field. Aidan had a blast. On top of it, Aidan got to see a bunch of tractors and trucks. He even got to sit in them. Then, we got to see the pet horse on the farm named Doc. Aidan thought he was cool but wasn't into feeding him treats. All in all, it was a fun day and we are very appreciative to our neighbors for taking us. Then, Julien issued a challenge to me in passing the other day by saying, "Hey, if you can keep the payment the same every month, we can trade in the 4Runner and get a mini-van." So, that's what I did this week! :) It was now or never, as SUVs aren't worth as much as they were and it was 3 years old on top of it. We found a used 2007 Honda Odyssey with low miles and the options we needed for a reasonable price. So we picked it up on Friday. I have officially become a mini-van momma and so far, I like it! We have gotten some flac for a) getting a mini-van and b) buying foreign. So we looked up the VIN country code and responded to all the haters, "It was made in the US. Any VINs starting with 1, 4, or 5 are US made. So there!" I understand the reasoning behind every one's concern but, if I could buy a quality domestic product that held its value, I would. In the end, I have to make the best financial decision for me and my family. (And I love my Civic that I've had for 5 years.) Then, I heard from the kennel that took Riley for us. They have a lady from Indiana coming to see Riley this weekend (so yesterday or today) and probably take her home. I was happy to hear that. She also said that Riley was doing great and she was being a big sweetheart. It makes me feel like life will work out for Riley in the end. We miss her and Aidan asks about her sometimes. But, in the end, it was the right decision for everyone. Julien left for a trip to San Diego for work. While he's gone, Aidan and I will be travelling to Iowa to see my folks and my sister who is flying in from Seattle. It's been over a year since we've seen her so it will be nice to catch up. Aidan is excited to see his cousins Sophie, Emma, and Baby Sarah. He's been "calling" them on his play phone and talking to them. I think he's really looking forward to seeing them. I'm really glad that he has a close relationship with them. My brother Brad's kids live so far away that there's really no way for them to have a relationship. It goes back to why we decided to come to Missouri really. Being here, at least he has a chance to be close to family. In Maryland there was no way to do it with spending a lot of money on plane tickets. My other sister, Jen, has been sick for the last 3 weeks and went in for some tests. I really hope that it shows something and she can get the right treatment. No one should go through not being able to eat for almost a month. Sometimes I get frustrated with doctors however, I know she does have good ones and I know they will do what they can. So, please keep her health in your thoughts. She could use the karma! :) We also had a playgroup play date at the Transportation Museum this week. That was fun. Aidan loves the trains and we played at the Creation Station for the first time. It was great! We will be going there when it's too cold to play outside. It has a kitchen station, trains, arts and crafts, a pirate ship, manipulatives, and dress up. So much cool stuff and we have a membership so it's free! This week will be a busy one for sure. We'll be packing, running errands, going on our road trip, and generally scrambling at the last minute. I think I may go to bed when Aidan does tonight. Hope everyone else has a fantastic week!

2 Year Check Up

Aidan had his two year check this morning. Here's the run down. He's 50-75% for weight at 29 lbs and 75% for height at 35 inches. He is a tall boy! I used a height predictor on babycenter.com (a wonderful website) and it said at 18 he should be between 6' and 6'1'. Can you believe that? The tallest Ross-Boon ever! Ha! Not the tallest Boon because I have a feeling Jean-Luc will be very tall. He's still a little pigeon toed but the doctor's not concerned because it isn't severe. Although she did hear the heart murmur the other doctor heard earlier in the year. She says it's a flow murmur or in kids, called an innocent murmur. He should outgrow it as his blood vessels grow. Other than that, he's all healthy. He got his flu shot, which he was none too pleased about. He's in this phase of being shy and scared around new people and situations. So he was freaked out about having to lay on the exam table and the shot hurt. But, as soon as they gave him a little bag of goldfish and a sticker, he was fine. I do hope he outgrows the shy and overly cautious phase. I don't mind having a boy who's cautious, don't get me wrong. But having a two year old clinging to my leg can get a little annoying.
We heard from the kennel that took Riley. She is doing great, having fun in the play yard and with the other dogs. I really hope she is placed soon. Aidan realized the other day that her food is gone. Aidan always wanted to help feed her. Other than that, he hasn't said anything about her. I guess at this age out of sight, out of mind. It's been a strange adjustment. I find myself often thinking that I need to take the dog out or feed her, only to remember that she isn't her anymore.
We are busy as usual. We all have trips we are preparing for. (It will be nice not to have to pay to kennel Riley during vacations anymore.) We have neighbor night, a birthday party, a playgroup play date, and a visitor from DC all happening this week. Just another typical week in the Ross-Boon house.

Saying Goodbye to Riley

On Saturday, we sadly told Riley goodbye as she has left our family. We've found a place for her to go as it has become apparent that she could no longer stay with us. She wasn't happy living in our laundry room, separated from us most of the day and we weren't comfortable with the risk she posed our son and neighborhood children. We've had Riley for almost 4 years. In fact, she just turned four after Aidan's birthday. And before Aidan, she was a great dog. We treated her like our baby, which was part of the problem. Then Aidan came. At first, she was ok with it. She was a little freaked out and lonely but, our neighbor Michelle helped a lot by taking her for walks for us and letting her play with Mabel. (Mabel may be the coolest dog ever. Second only to my parents' dog Doc.) And Riley loved this since Mabel was her best friend. Julien ran with Riley too and took her hiking. Then when we moved to Missouri. Riley said goodbye to her friends and her hiking trails and things hadn't been the same since. Soon after coming to Missouri, Aidan began walking. Riley already had a problem with Aidan crawling, as she would follow him and sniff him. It weirded her out. Him walking completely freaked her out. She didn't do well with him, or little ones in general, at all. Some dogs don't do cats or other dogs. Riley doesn't do kids. So after consulting with a vet behaviorist, and really looking at what we were willing to commit to and accept risk-wise, we decided it was time to find her a new home. She's miserable from lack of attention and exercise, and she may never be cool with kids. We thought the right thing for her was to find her an appropriate home where she can be loved and comfortable and, hopefully, live out the rest of her days. Never did we think that doing the right thing would be so hard. It is a stressful and discouraging experience, trying to place a rescue dog. Luckily, our breeder also runs a rescue. She was a huge help, putting ads up for Riley and trying to push us in the right direction. Unfortunately, she had no room to take Riley for us. She's taken 30 dogs this year, including dogs from neglectful breeders and puppy mills. I don't know how she does it. So, we put up ads on several websites for adoptions, including the breeder's site and a breeder in TX too. We hadn't had many calls for her. The last one was really hopeful. They had one malamute and a lot of land and the lady seemed really interested. But, after agreeing to take Riley, the lady disappeared. No calls or emails, which showed me that my instinct that this may not be the best place was right. So, with the help of Kathy and her connections, we found a malamute breeder two hours away who was willing to take her as a rescue and find her a new home. They were very nice when we met them. You could tell they were good people, not shady at all, and that their farm and animals are their lives. They were nice to Riley and were confident that they could find her a home. And they have teenage children who maybe can give Riley some extra attention. They have a 125 foot play yard for the dogs, which I'm sure Riley loves, and they were going to let her play with the other dogs too. There are pictures of her on their website, www.missourimalamutes.com, under puppies for sale there is a link for available adults. In all, this has been the worst experience. It has been stressful and nervewracking. We even had people tell us they would have just put her down in the beginning. I guess that's why this has been so hard, we're trying to do the right thing for Riley. We stopped things from getting to that point, or at least that is what we've tried to do. After all this, I'm not sure I'll ever want another dog. If we ever do, we will be much much wiser about it. If I had it to do again, I would've waited to get dog after having children. I encourage all out there looking for a dog to seriously consider a rescue dog or even a retired breeding dog. There are a lot of rescues out there that need your help.

Update on our Big Boy Bed!

The transition to the toddler bed has gone well this week. We're about 5 days in and no roaming the room or anything. As long as we have the Tigger entourage, we're fine. I'm very proud of Aidan. He's such a big boy. We also joined a playgroup this week. I have friends who are in playgroups and mom groups and I was thought it sounded like so much fun. So, I found a group of moms in the area online. We had our first play date at the Mall this week. It was fun! Aidan was the oldest there which was a new experience for him. But he was very well behaved and gentle with the littler ones. The other moms seemed really nice. I think we were all glad to have some time to socialize and relax. We have another playdate next week at the park. Other things we have coming up are a Rams game in November and seeing a real live Thomas the Tank Engine. I guess we aren't happy unless we have plans. :)

I'm A Big Boy Now!

I just had to tell everyone about what my big boy did last night. Julien teased me during the week that he was going to switch Aidan's crib to a toddler bed this weekend. Well, the weekend was almost over and I decided to call his bluff, which apparently he was not expecting. Either way, we thought we'd give it a try. Aidan slept in his big boy bed for the first time last night. He did so great!! He slept all night and didn't get out to roam around. He did roll out once or twice. Julien put a pillow on his side so he wouldn't roll that way. This morning, he got up and cried a little to tell us he was up. When Julien went to get him, he was standing in bed. He hadn't even gotten out of bed. So we are very optimistic that this change will go well. Wish me luck today at nap. :) This may be the end of the three hour nap time, sadly.

Off and Running Again....We only have one speed!

This was another busy week however, do we ever have one that's not? Wednesday, Aidan had a play date with his friends Gabi and Joey. They came over to our house as we are overrun with new toys. It's always nice for Aidan to see his friends and for Mommy to be social. :) In fact, Samantha (Gabi and Joey's Mom) has a friend who lives down the road and she came over too. Emily, that's her name, and her family just got back from being in Australia for 4 years. They are readjusting to life in the states. Sam and her family did that too about a year or so ago. Always interesting to hear about the differences between the two countries. After our play date, Julien and I were able to go to the Cardinals game courtesy of Lockheed. Some VIPs were out from the east coast and the company got tickets for everyone. Usually the spouses don't get to go but for some reason they bought enough for all. It was nice. Free food, soda, and beer for 2 1/2 hours and good seats on the Coca-Cola bridge. Lots of fun. It was my first MLB game. And we won! Even better! And we only spent money for parking. Thursday was Aidan's big day. He opened one last present and then we celebrated by going to the Transportation Museum to see the trains. This is always a big hit. Then we went to the mall for lunch. He even got a balloon from Chik-Fil-A and a Caillou book in his happy meal. It was a full day. :) Friday, we all (including Daddy) went to the Zoo. We always love the zoo, except this was Field Day Friday. There were a ton of kids there. But, we got to see the Children's Zoo and brush the goats. (Those were the most laid back goats I'd ever seen.) We saw the tiger cubs playing, very cute. We saw the giraffe baby. Of course we said hi to the elephants. Soon after lunch it became apparent that we were all losing steam and headed out. That night, I took our neighbor out for dinner, as she had babysat Aidan for us on Wednesday. I was able to enjoy a nice margarita which was great! Since she's 22 weeks pregnant we talked about all things babies and headed to Babies R Us after dinner to work on her registry. She wanted to know what things are necessary and what things are a waste of money. Twist my arm! I love that store and all the cute stuff. Made me a little nostalgic. It's amazing how products have changed in just two years. Today, we went to the Galleria to get Aidan a new pair of tennis shoes as it has become that time of year again. Then it was off to Whole Foods for lunch and some groceries. Julien was determined to make lamb tonight. We found out that Aidan will eat Tofu. I really don't think there's anything that he won't try at least. In all, it was a busy week. Luckily Mommy got some time away too. Now on to next week!

Aidan's Birthday Party

Here I am, almost 11pm and I am exhausted. Today was our big day. It was an early start for preparations and a full day of work. And sure enough, the doorbell started ringing right at 4pm. Once it started ringing, it didn't stop. Aidan was so excited about the decorations and balloons, and then all the kids. He kept telling them, "Party, party!!" All of his favorite play buddies came. As well as 19 adults, 16 kids, and 2 babies. Yeah. Out of all the invites we sent out, only two families didn't show. When I made the guest list, I figured, 'oh, they won't all come.' Even with all the people, we had enough food and things went really well. In a party situation, I'm only so prepared. I'm never completely organized. Before the kids mutinied and took over the party, I started the party games. We had a Thomas the tank engine pinata and a pin the number on Thomas game. The pinata was so cute. Luckily the weather held out and we didn't get the rain they predicted, so the pinata could be done outside and beaten to death as it should be. The little kids gave it their all. And the big kids were out for blood. They really liked the pinata. The little kids were more into the pin the tail on the donkey-esque game. It was a little more their speed. The winners liked their prizes and by the time we were done with the games, dinner was ready. I couldn't have timed it better if I had actually planned it. Big props to Daddy for grilling the burgers and hot dogs. All the parents were really good about supervising to ensure there was no big messes or spills on carpet, which is always appreciated. And if the candy from the pinata wasn't enough sugar, we had cake and ice cream. (I heard a couple parents joke that they weren't leaving until the sugar buzz was over.) Aidan seemed to love everyone singing to him. He tried his hardest to blow the candle out, I think Daddy helped a little though. After the cake and ice cream were enjoyed, it was present time. All the kids were looking forward to this too. It's amazing how much help Aidan had unwrapping presents. And he had many to unwrap! He made out like a bandit again this year. He got an easel and art set from Nana and Grandpa Tim. He got a Bob the Builder tool bench set from Mike and Jen. He got a drum from The Trevinos. He got books, trains, Diego stuff, and lots of other stuff I can't even remember. People started to trickle out during presents. After we were done with them, a lot of our guests were gone. We sent home homemade party favors. I made caramel apples and used diposable plastic bowls to encase them, with a hole cut out for the stick to poke through the top. On the stick was a note saying, "I'm so glad you're my friend." Everyone seems impressed with them saying they were very Martha Stewart. Actually, it was born out of frustration and desperation to make it work. Either way, I was glad they liked them. I think I'll be making something easier next year. At this point, we had a few guests stay and help clean up, drink another beer and chat. In fact, Julien and two of his friends are outside, drinking beer and sitting around a fire in our neighbor's chimenea. But, most of the mess is cleaned up. The food put away. (And boy do we have left overs!) Big thanks to our neighbors the Dohacks for lending us a big table, 9 chairs, and a cooler at the last minute. They came in extrememly useful. (I love living in a real community with neighbors you can rely on.) The children were behaved for the most part, not too many issues. The big kids had video games set up upstairs in our loft room that kept them occupied. And their were enough trains for all the littler kids to play with. For the number of people we had, it went really well. We have great friends and they have great kids. Aidan loved his party and playing with all his friends. He loved waking up to Nana this morning and going out for breakfast with his grandparents. He was thrilled with his balloons and cake, and all in all, had a ton of fun at his party. All the hard work was worth it. Although, next year I think we'll do something smaller and a little less work. :) I hope Aidan won't mind.

The Countdown is On.......

Preparing for this party has been a chore! Monday I pulled a muscle in my back carrying the groceries and Aidan into the house. That makes it really difficult to clean. Thankfully, I was better the next day. Now, my right knee is bugging me. I think it's from scrubbing the kitchen floor yesterday on my hands and knees. (No one will notice, but I'll know. And that's why I do it.) Tomorrow, I think I'll just take motrin when I wake up no matter what! HA! I'm getting old and falling apart. I feel really bad for the next baby that comes along in our little family. He's going to get a balloon and a cake and that's it! I won't have the energy. I'll tell him momma's too old to clean that house and have a big party now. Just kidding. I'll be smarter and have the party somewhere other than my house. :) For all my complaining, I'm looking forward to Saturday. I've been talking to Aidan about his party and who will be coming. He asks if Emma and Sophie, I'm sorry, "Sosie", are coming. He sure loves his cousins. And we talk about the fact that he'll be two. He doesn't quite get the concept yet but, we're practicing saying it at least. I'm sure he'll have a ton of fun at his party with all his friends. This year he'll actually enjoy it instead of being overwhelmed like last year. That's what I look forward to the most, seeing how happy he'll be that day. And then on Sunday, I get to clean all over again.

Oh, I hear that more people are finding this little ol' blog than I thought would. (Thanks, Google. :)) It's cool that people are reading my unimportant ramblings. Although, it makes me worry about what I've written so far and maybe I should be careful what I write. Ha! To all those reading, thanks for wasting some time on the internet with our family. We're glad to have you.

Yet Another Busy Weekend

We just can't sit still here in the Ross-Boon household. I think it has a lot to do with Daddy's disdain for sitting around the house. :) Anyway....Saturday was Big Truck Day at the Magic House. We have been looking forward to this since we registered back in July. One of Aidan's favorite things, up close and personal. We even went early, which was a good thing. They have a backhoe, skid loader, front end loader, articulated dump truck, and crane. Aidan just sort of wandered from one to the other in a daze. He didn't want to sit in any of them, which surprised me. He just wanted to look at them. Before too long, the parking lot was inundated with kids. Kids, kids everywhere! Honestly, there weren't enough trucks to look at for the number of kids that came. It's no fun to wait in line for 15 minutes so your child can have his two minute turn in the backhoe. So we decorated our plastic hard hat they gave us, which Aidan loves, and moved on to digging in the sand with trucks and loaders. Aidan has a very set way in which he plays. He has to have a loader and a dump truck and he scoops and dumps over and over and over. It's just his way of doing things. This became difficult as the throng of children seemed to follow us. Now Aidan had to share and/or keep kids from swiping his stuff. This is good practice for him as he isn't used to these kind of social situations. At least that's what I kept telling Daddy as he became increasingly nervous and uncomfortable with the whole thing. Julien gets worked up because he doesn't want to step in a tell another kid to politely back off and have another parent get upset, even if their kid really should back off. It's the whole balance between having your child share and be nice and stepping in when other kids are grabby. I told him to let Aidan be and see how he does on his own. He did pretty well. When an older boy took the dirt from Aidan's dump truck (Aidan had walked away at his point to scoop more dirt) and put it in his dump truck, he didn't get mad and yell. He actually started scooping dirt with the other boy and working together to fill one truck. I was very proud of him and praised him for his teamwork. The other boy seemed tickled by this compliment too and started talking to me about his truck and hat. When the crush of children was too much for Daddy, we went inside the Magic House only to find it was completely overwhelmed with people. At this point we were only an hour into the event and still waiting for the lunch they were to provide. Seeing how it was 10:30a, we had a choice. Stay and probably be overrun by munchkins or leave and do something else. Of we went to the Transportation Museum. It really has become our stand by. It doesn't take a lot of time to go through. Aidan can run and see everything. And we can ride the train and streetcar. All of this and it only really takes an hour or two. Aidan, of course, had a blast. Daddy and I commented on how we've really gotten our money's worth out of our membership and how you're never crowded there either. After the train ride, Aidan was pretty relaxed so we stopped for lunch at Chik-fil-a (the only place Aidan will eat an entire 4 piece chicken nuggets) and headed home for nap. Was that the end to our day- oh no! After having to wake Aidan up at 4pm from his nap (my boy LOVES to sleep), we took off for dinner with the neighbors Mike and Jen. We are very excited for them as they found out this week that they are having a boy. Which of course, I knew from the very beginning and have told them all along. :) After dinner, we checked out Bee Tree Park in South County. Aidan loved the playground, then again he loves most playgrounds. He even tried the swings with Daddy. He's getting braver. Then we headed to Dairy Queen and then home. After we all took turns spilling ice cream in the livingroom, long story, we hung out and watched TV. Aidan, in fact, sat with Mike and Jen, crawling all over them and taking turns tickling them and being tickled. After all that, I was ready for a relaxing Sunday. That didn't mean I was going to get one though. Waking up this morning, it didn't take long to realize our power was out. What was left of Hurricane Ike came through last night and dumped a bunch of rain and wind on us. So, unable to cook or watch TV or even open the fridge really, we set off to Steak and Shake for breakfast. We were enjoying our pancakes and hash browns when a waitress walked up to our table and calmly asked us to please evacuate the building. Stunned, we asked why. She calmly replied, "our kitchen's on fire. we've called the fire department and they asked us to evacuate." First off, kudos to the waitress for a calm and orderly evacuation. She even asked us if we wanted to-go boxes for our food. And even better, told us not to worry about paying. So as we rolled out, the fire trucks rolled in, which was a bonus for Aidan. No one was injured and I'm sure the place is ok. Apparently, they were having problems with the grill and couldn't get a grease fire out. After that experience, we were a little worried we were jinxed. We made a stop to Borders and half expected to be told to evacuate due to a bomb threat. We made it home in one piece and finally, the power came back on. Now we can relax and enjoy what is left of our weekend.

A Busy Weekend in St. Louis

This past weekend was a busy one, especially for Aidan. On Friday, Aidan and Daddy spent the entire day together. In the morning, it was off to the Zoo. Aidan really loves the zoo here. It's pretty cool with lots to do and see. I even remember really liking when I came as a kid. So, after riding the train and carousel, Aidan demanded they not leave until they saw everything. And I mean everything! They went in every house except the insect house. They saw the Bird Cage from the World's Fair, the reptile house, the monkey house, the sea lions, lions, bears, penguins, and at the insistence of Aidan (who at this point was riding on Daddy's shoulders due to fatigue) they had to see the elephants and hippos before leaving. All in all it was a four hour visit to the zoo. Then after a 20 minute nap, Aidan was up to greet Nana and Grandpa Tim for the weekend. Saturday morning we were off to breakfast at Soulard Garden Cafe. Always a good choice for breakfast in St. Louis. We decided to skip the farmer's market and head to the City Museum instead. This was our first trip. As you pull up, you know it's just going to be cool. It's in an old building downtown and it has a plane and firetruck sticking out of it, surrounded by metal tunnels filled with kids crawling through them. Julien was pretty excited. It's an interactive museum, so there are tunnels to climb through and things to climb on. You can even touch some of the animals in the aquarium. You can paint or use clay in the art room. You can watch circus performers, you can go through the funhouse/arcade and the adults can grab a beer there (the museum is open until 2 am on weekends). Aidan loved the ball pit and art room best I think. There's so much to see and do that I won't even try to name it all. Very worth the $12 admission ($6 more for the aquarium). After that, we decided to push our luck with a tired toddler and went to dinner and for ice cream. After that Aidan was bushed. Sunday morning we thought it would be better to have breakfast at home. Sunday was a quiet day. We said goodbye to Nana and Grandpa Tim. Aidan goes through Nana withdrawal for about a day and a half, where he wants you to do everything with him. After this weekend, he was especially grumpy from lack of sleep. We look forward to our next Nana and Grandpa visit for our birthday party. It'll be here soon.

A Sad and Difficult Week

Last week was a very difficult week. I meant to update sooner but, my heart just wasn't in it. My grandmother had been in the hospital for about a month when we got the news she had coded or the weekend and had to be shocked back. On Monday I got a call from my mom about Grandma's condition, and once I got the go ahead from Dad, headed down to Rolla. That night they decided to take Grandma off the ventilator that was keeping her alive and let her pass. It was the right decision but not the easiest. I feel fortunate that I was able to be there with her at the end of this journey and to be there for my Dad as well. I had not had an experience like that before and I am still processing all that happened that night, as I feel I will for some time to come. At the end of the night, I headed home. Friday was the funeral. My sister Jen, and brother Brian and half of his family were able to attend along with me. I feel that 3 out of 5 kids is a good showing. :) I know my brother Brad and sister Cindy wanted to be there but things don't always work out the way you want. So, Friday I headed back down to Rolla. It was nice to see family I had not seen in years, including my cousins and great aunt. There aren't a lot of us left on that side of the family so the funeral was small. It was a nice viewing and service. We all got to leave a small token with Grandma in her casket and say our final goodbye. My poor niece Emma cried the during the entire service. She has such a kind and sensitive heart. I felt so bad for her. Sophie was curious and pretty much same ol' Sophie. You can tell she's thinking the situation over but doesn't say much about it. Then us cousins were the pallbearers, which was another completely new and different experience for me. Grandma was buried in the family plot next to her parents. It's really a beautiful spot with a great view. It's a pretty rural spot, not far from Granny and Grandpa Bill's old place. So many new experiences this week, including being away from Aidan for 11 hours straight which was also a new one. I'm in no hurry to repeat any of them anytime soon. Anyway, on to more exciting and happy times. Aidan's party is quickly approaching and it'll soon be time to celebrate his second year on the planet. Good times and just what I need!

Preparing for the Big Celebration

As of late, I have been busy planning Aidan's upcoming festivities. I have picked the theme, sent the invites, gotten supplies, and contemplated favors and games. We are having a Thomas bday. I think to save money and to do something different, I'm going to make caramel apples for favors. I thought that would be fun. I'm sure I'll be kicking myself later though. Games are hard to pick, as there will be a range of ages at the party. I also wonder if they're really necessary. I think they would be fun. ( Or maybe a craft they can make and take instead. ) I want to do a pinata however, it seems most are pull string pinatas nowadays. So right now, I think it'll be a pinata, maybe a ring toss game, and a coin game. The coin game would be one that all ages could do. You pick a big plastic coin out of a bag and one who gets the "special coin" wins the prize. Which would be some bubbles or something like that. I am open to everyone's thoughts on games.
I also have been busy looking for Aidan's present. We decided to get him a train table. Now, I would have loved to get him the Thomas table, however they are $200 new and that's too much. So I decided to look online to see what kind of deal I could get. This was my first experience with craigslist. I found someone who had a new table, just got it this year, and tracks and cars. There was no more room for it in the little boy's room and Mom wanted it gone. It has a shelf underneath and three bins. So not a bad deal. I would've liked to have talked her down more but, I got her to come down enough ($100) that I felt it was worth it. Big thanks to my neighbor Mike for driving me in his truck, an hour each way, to pick it up. Aidan loves it! Yes, I already gave it to him because it was too hard to hide for a month. All in all, I was a little nervous about Craigslist, but it worked out well. With this purchase we now have an overabundance of train tracks. We also have 4 big bridges, 3 little bridges, a draw bridge, little people and trees, and trains. This leads me to my next point.
For all those reading who might get Aidan a present for his bday.**************************
Now, I'm not one who expects everyone in the world to get me and my family presents. But, I also don't think it's in bad taste to give pointers to those who are interested. Our friends made a registry for their twins's first bday and I thought that was so helpful. Aidan has gotten a lot of train stuff lately. Our neighbor Rachel was incredibly generous and gave us all her son's old train toys, which is where most of it came from. So if you want to get train or Thomas stuff, we don't have James or Gordon or any of the big trains. We don't have any of the buildings or the quarry or the felt play mat for the trains either. But Aidan also loves musical instruments, which he doesn't have any of. He also loves art stuff as he loves to color and play with play dough. He could use puzzles too. So there are a few suggestions. Well, I'm off to make a picture poster for the party, clean up all the trains on the floor, and other never ending chores. :) This weekend, we have a BBQ to go to, the train museum to see of course, and a fantasy football draft. Busy busy!

In Search of a Hobby

It's come to my attention that I am in serious need of a hobby. Julien is back from his floating trip and I finally have some time to myself. So I thought I would go do something. Then, I realized that I don't really have any meaningful hobbies over than shopping. So I need a hobby that will get me out of the house and away from mommy-duty. And isn't terribly expensive. (Hence the problem with my shopping hobby.) I am open to suggestions. I will not camp or do anything camping-like. But over than that, I'll consider most things. :)

My New Addiction

This week I finally broke down and joined an online social networking site. At first I resisted because I thought I was too old and lame for something like that. Really, I stay at home, how exciting is my life? However, everyone asked if I was on or not that I figured, I might as well. Let me tell you, it's like crack! I already have almost 50 friends. (Who knew that I even knew that many people?) I've chatted and posted and added pictures. I've talked to people that I haven't seen in years, some not since I graduated high school. I've gotten into the little things you can add to make your page look cool. It's amazing how little you get done when you belong to one of these things. Although in all fairness, laundry just can't compete. Julien has even been sucked into it. Even he thinks it's addictive. He's the last person I expected to jump on the bandwagon. Oh, well. If you're on a social networking site, look us up and add us.

A Visit from Grandpa Dave

Saturday brought a welcome surprise. Saturday marked the first time my Dad has come to visit. Actually this is the first time either of my parents have visited where I live. My mother hasn't for obvious reasons and my dad is always too busy. My dad came down to Missouri to visit my grandma. My grandmother, by the way, is stunning her doctors with her progress. She isn't out of the woods by any means but, she's awake and able to give a few very pointed No's to the nurses and my dad and aunt. Always a good sign. She's a tough woman, I tell ya! Since she's holding her own, my dad felt it was safe to go home. On the way, he stopped by our place. Boy was Aidan surprised to see him! Unfortunately, Aidan didn't put on the happiest of faces for our guest and was pretty fussy. After Dad got the grand tour of the house and had time to admire Julien's TV, we went to dinner at our favorite Thai place. On the way we found out that they were having a parade through town, which was a big bonus for Aidan and helped improve his mood a little. It was the world's longest parade. I think every house in town had a float. But Aidan loved it. After dinner we went to our favorite ice cream place. As soon as you walk in the smell of fresh waffle cone hits you. It's awesome. We take our guests to all the best spots. We tried to convince him to stay the night but, he had made up his mind that he needed to be home that night. Either way, it was great to have him here in our neck of the woods. Hopefully it won't be the last time.

Everything we've been doing lately......

I apologize for not keeping this up to date. I've been put to task about it. Lots has been going on and sometimes it's hard to find the time. Or Aidan protests me being at the computer. So here's the skinny, good and bad, on current happenings for the Ross-Boon family.
Last week we went to Iowa to visit my folks. My nephew got married over the weekend and Aidan was the ring bearer. I was nervous about how he would do, but he was a champ! He hugged his little pillow tight and his cousin Sophie walked with him. He was a little nervous, sleepy and hungry(the wedding was past nap and lunch time), but he did great! He was so cute. He even kept his tie on and let me take Tigger from him. I was shocked! But he loves his cousin and follows her everywhere, for better or worse. :) The wedding was nice and came off without a hitch. Then we got to spend time playing with our cousins. Although, he was a little jealous of Baby Sarah. Mommy couldn't hold her or play with her for too long without strong protest. And when she grabbed for Tigger, he ripped it away and said, "My Tigger!" I'm sure he'll warm to her eventually. Like when she doesn't need so much attention. At least I know what I'll be dealing with when the next baby eventually comes. And I got a lot of comments recently on how he needs a little brother or sister. And here is my official response to everyone- Don't worry, it'll happen sooner or later people. Be patient.
Also while we were at my folks, Aidan got to watch a backhoe and dump trunks dig out the ditch on their gravel road and dump dirt in the backyard. This was very exciting for Aidan. He even got to see the backhoe up close as they parked it on my folks land at quitting time. He got to look in and touch the tracks. He even picked a flower and gave it to the backhoe. We also went to see my friend Elleni and her boys. She's ready to have her little girl any day now. It's funny, her oldest is entering 1st grade, which is the year Elleni and I met. We had a great time visiting and going to McDonald's in Marion to see the trains. We also saw our friends Paul, and Wasta and Phil. It was good to catch up with everyone. Although it was odd going through downtown CR after the flood. It's absolutely amazing to see how far the water got. Blocks and blocks away from the river, homes had water marks half way up the first floor. Everyone had flood damaged furnaces and debris on their front yards ready for pick up. It just went on and on, houses being repaired. I even saw the bridge that collapsed over by Penford. They were trying to take it apart. It was surreal to finally see it in person after seeing it on CNN. Even Anamosa's damage was amazing. The state park is a mess. The thought that where I was driving had been completely under water a month or so ago. I had that thought as I drove on hwy 30 and hwy 13 too. People are picking up the pieces but, it will be a long time before things are back to normal. And for some areas of CR, it will never be the same again. We also got bad news about my grandmother during our trip. Her health has been bad for a while now and she's been suffering from dementia. This time she had to have emergency surgery and had a heart attack on the table. She's in ICU in isolation. The situation is very serious and the doctor isn't optimistic. Keep her in your prayers. However this may end up being a blessing in disguise. She isn't conscious so she isn't in pain, and she's been sick for so long. She wouldn't want to go on this way. She was a sharp, self educated, strong woman back in the day. She was the first female test tech Rockwell Collins ever hired. I feel very guilty that we live an hour and half away and haven't been to see her yet. Honestly I didn't want to get there only to realize that she didn't remember who I was. I didn't want to disturb her routine or wear her out either. But I've learned through this experience that all the excuses in the world won't make you feel any less guilty. Family is what's most important and you should make time. No one's perfect, however you should always try to be the bigger person and do what's right.
On a lighter note, this trip marked Julien's first road trip on the bike. He got to Iowa in one piece and on his own no less. He got a little bit sunburned so now his farmer's tan is legendary. :) His arms look like Neapolitan ice cream. For Real!!!
On the horizon for the Ross-Boon clan is Aidan's 2nd birthday. I can't believe it!!!! My project is now to plan and prepare for his party. It'll be a Thomas the Train party as we are big into trains right now. It should be a big party with lots of friends. Oh, I'm on Facebook now. I ran into so many people during our Iowa trip that asked if I was on it that I decided to break down and do it. I've reached so many people I haven't seen in years!!! So now I'm hooked. So if you are on, look me up. And send me flair!! Ha!

The Dark Knight

Julien came home early from work yesterday so he and I could go see The Dark Knight at the Imax theater. All I have to say is it was incredible. I'm ready to go see it again. In fact, I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype but, it totally delivered. Heath Ledger was phenomenal. His Joker was so spot on. Jack Nicholson's Joker was "Look at me, I'm crazy! I want to kill Batman." Heath Ledger's Joker really understood anarchy and chaos. You have to see it to understand it. I will be routing for him to get an Oscar for his performance. And for those who have seen it, was the scene with the Joker and the Disappearing Pencil trick the funniest scene of the movie or not?? Sick, yes but also funny. I was also surprised how big a part of the movie Harvey Dent was. The reviews overlooked Dent/Two Face almost completely. I knew he was in the movie but I didn't realize they would deal with his story in detail. Overall, every actor did an amazing job. I was completely entertained and engrossed for the whole two and a half hours. Not one minute did I think,"boy will this just end already." In fact, Julien said he wasn't ready for it to be over. He wanted to see more. So, if you haven't already- Go See It!!!! It's worth every penny!

Recent Happenings

Things have been busy lately. Last week we went to see Wall-E. Very cute movie with a very serious social message. Surprised me that Pixar would make such a strong commentary but, kudos to them. Well done. I recommend the movie most definitely. Let's see what else.....Aidan will be a ringbearer next month. My nephew is getting married and Aidan will be walking down the aisle too. After all, Aidan is the only little guy on that side of the family. Apparently no one else can have boys. So I have a little clip-on tie for him. I ordered a short sleeve oxford and some khakis. Next week I have to get him some dressy shoes and new sandals. The little guy' s feet stink so bad that Julien informed me that his sandals have to go. How funny is that? He definitely gets that from my brother Brad. If anyone knows any tricks for sanitizing shoes, please leave them in the comments. Seriously. So, since he can't live on one pair of sandals (they inevitably get wet or dirty right when he needs them), we'll be off to Stride Rite. Our neigborhood had a block party for the 4th. Complete with bounce house, inflatable slip and slide, and fireworks. It was a lot of fun. And in honor of our Maryland clan, we even talked the neighborhood into T-shirts. Aidan had a lot of fun with all the kids and all the things to do. He was so tired that he slept through the fireworks and they were going off on the other side of the street. In fact he didn't even roll over. That's quite a party.

Keeping in Touch

After a hard morning of garage sale-ing and having lunch with my friend Jen, I put Aidan to sleep and played around on the internet. A few of my friends have blogs, which is really how I keep in touch with their lives. I jokingly call it "internet or my space stalking." So I was reading my friend Josh's blog today. Often I think about my old friends and calling them, or maybe I hope they'll call me. Well, today his entry prompted me to pick up the phone and call him. Someone has to take the first step. (Hello Josh, if you're reading.) It was nice to talk to him again. We've known each other for a very long time. He was one of the first people I met as a college student. So, to be staring down 30 together is kind of funny. It's always good to talk to him. He always has a joke and he always has some news of people we used to know. It's interesting to hear him talk about what's going on in his life as we are now in different places, geographically and metaphorically. He lives with his gf and is going to college. I've been married for a while and am a stay at home mom. Sometimes even the best of friends can have a hard time relating with that kind of distance. I always hate when people ask 'So what's new with you?' and not really having anything new to say. I don't think I would be one of his 'cool friends' now, but it's nice to know that I would still earn an invite- ya' know? As with all my attempts to keep in touch with old friends, the call is over too quickly in my eyes. Josh is a busy guy with plans for the holiday weekend and many friends to spend time with. However, it's reassuring to know that, even if you don't know it, there are people who are thinking about you and wishing you the best. And sneak peeks at your baby pictures when they think you aren't looking.

End of June Update

It's been a minute since I had the chance to post here. Since my son has developed a fascination with the Teletubbies, I'll exploit the opportunity. :) Lots has happened in the last two weeks. We had a visit from Nana. Aidan loves it when Nana comes to play. She plays and spoils him and does all the Nana stuff that Mommy and Daddy just can't do as well. We celebrated Father's Day and Julien's birthday. We went to the Zoo while she was here. Aidan was very good,especially considering we went sans stroller. Brave, I know. He was great and didn't run off once. He was too busy looking at everything that we actually had to keep him moving. I know that won't last long and soon he'll be off and running in the Zoo soon. We love calling Grandpa Tim on the computer too. The entire week Nana was here Aidan would run to the computer and say, "Grandpa!" In fact he'll move the mouse around in an attempt to place the call himself. He's too smart for his own good. Then Nana left and we all fell apart. The afternoon she left, we went grocery shopping and then to Culver's for lunch. On the ride home, about 5 minutes from the house, Aidan threw up. This was actually the first time he's done that, and the first time we've had any puking issues since he was an infant. The kid's got an iron stomach like Mommy. So we got cleaned up and changed in the house. He was feeling better and climbed on the couch, roaring at me like a dinosaur. As I stood at the sink I watched him lunge at me and right off the back of the couch. He hit face first on the floor. He ended up with carpet burn on the end of his nose and a cut lip. He bled and bled and cried and cried. After I got him and Daddy calmed down (Julien kept saying 'that's a lot of blood'- amateur) , Daddy started complaining of a stomach ache. It was all downhill from there. Julien got some kind of stomach flu with fever and spent the next day at home sick. Then I had the day after that. Luckily, we are all well and mended now. I guess next time Nana just can't leave.
Then, I had my birthday. My neighbors cooked dinner for us and got me a Dairy Queen cake-score! Then on the actual day, Julien got me a chocolate mousse cake, which was awesome. Of course we had too much cake and called an impromptu neighbor night to share it all. All in all, it was a good birthday. I wasn't very excited about this one. I'm a little sad to facing the end of my twenties. But all good things must come to an end. At least I can take comfort in everyone telling me that I don't look my age. True or not, I'm gonna go with that. And I'll be turning 29 from now on. :)

Baby Jonesing

Every now and then I start "baby jonesing" again. This time, the cause of said 'jonesing' is two-fold. First it was pictures of our friend's new twin boys. Then, our neighbors are expecting their first baby in January. All that led to watching videos of Aidan when he was little. That in turn led to realizing how grown Aidan is now. And then it starts..... I start to miss the little fingers and toes. I miss the little coos and jerky movements. I remember how it felt to hold him and how exciting every new milestone was. Now, he's so big and independent. He certainly is not a baby anymore. All of his baby toys, clothes, even his nursery stuff, is all packed away. Every time I look at those bins, I feel a little sad. Then I start to think, 'well, we already have all this stuff, why not use it? how bad could it be?' Huh, right..... Then I remember the how much we spent a month on diapers and formula. And not getting sleep at night. Then, I try to imagine caring for a toddler at the same time. Well, at least a two year old. Two in diapers, two different schedules, two demanding little people.....Scary! I feel as if the jump from one to two is scarier than having the first one. I was reasonably confident in my ability to handle the first one. I'm not so sure of how I would adapt to two. After all, I'd be outnumbered and that never ends well. The funniest thing about considering the next one is, I've been bugged more about when the next one is coming than the first one. Strange. I guess the first one turned out so well there's a demand for another one. In the end, I think I'm willing to wait a while longer. But, every time I see little baby clothes or hear someone I know talk about their own pregnancy, I still get a little baby fever. For now, I think I'll take some Tylenol and wait the fever out.

Our Trip To Our Old Stomping Grounds- June 2008

Last week we took off for Baltimore. We flew out for a 5 day visit to see our friends and neighbors. Flying with a toddler is always a dicey situation, however I'm pleased to say Aidan did great! He is quite the trooper. He handled the whole trip well all in all. Including delayed naps and weird bedtimes. He got a little fussy and picked up a runny nose, but was very good.
Driving through the old neighborhood was a little weird. It's odd to drive by your old house and know you can't just walk in the door. It seems like the new owners are taking good care of the place, which puts my mind at ease. I did love our old house. In fact, we met the new residents. They are called the "bizarro Ross-Boons" by the neighborhood. A tall, blond, stay at home mom and a dark haired, motorcycle riding guy who works in Rockville who have a blond haired toddler. So similar and, at the same time, so different. Like they're republican- but we won't hold that against them. :)
It was just like old times in the Shortleaf neighborhood. On the weekend we had a cookout at the Parkers. Barry out did himself again. And there were Suzy cookies, yum! And Suzy mojitos, double yum! But we got to see everyone, even if just briefly. Aidan got to play with his old girlfriend Sophie. Or as he says, "Sosie". So cute. She is quite the wild woman. They had a great time. We also got to see our friends in Gaithersburg.
Their 3 year old looks and acts like a 5 year old. She is so amazing. And their twin boys are adorable. It was nice to see that I still had my touch with infants. And it was nice to know that I can hold a sleeping baby and lift Aidan to help him wash his hands at the same time. That's useful to know for the future. I also got to have some "girl time" with my friend Meagan.
We had a great brunch on Sunday. It was nice to talk about girl stuff and be something other than a wife and mom for a couple hours. Everyone needs a break every now and then. Julien got to take a day long ride to an air show with his buddy Jason. Julien said it was so hot that it felt like riding through a hair dryer. Good thing they took lots of sunscreen. And we made sure to do the usual- Ledo's pizza, crab dip, and Rita's Italian ice. You know, the things you really miss.
Before we left, we got a trip into the Aquarium in Baltimore. Aidan had a blast. He was so excited about the fish, he would turn to any kid next to him and say excitedly, "fish, fish!" So funny! He did well as long as we kept moving. So, sitting for the dolphin show was out of the question unfortunately. We did see the mana rays being fed. That was cool.
We are happy to back home now. We had great hosts (Stampers, you rock and Shadow was actually friendly) and had a lot of fun. But it was super HOT and there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Or crib if you're Aidan. Hopefully we will go back soon. Or maybe someone in Maryland will get the inch to visit St. Louis.

Six years and counting.........

Last night we had the rare fortune of having a sitter for our big day. Thanks a TON to our neighbor Jen, who took such good care of Aidan, even after she got ditched by her hubby. ;) Good thing Aidan's an easy guy to watch. Julien and I went to the St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. If you ever get to St. Louis, Forest Park is a must for sightseeing. They still have a couple buildings from the 1904 World's Fair. The Zoo's there, the Grand Basin is cool, you can paddle boat the canal. Very cool. The museum was cool. They had Monet's "Waterlilies" which was breathtaking. I didn't realize it was the size of my living room wall though. Huge! They had several Van Goghs, Egyptian mummies, Native American beadwork, a Warhol, and one of my favorites, Mark Rothco. We both love his stuff. But a very cool museum for little ol' St. Louis.
After the museum we had some time to kill before our dinner reservation. So, we walked around the Grand Basin and joked about all the wedding parties we saw. Especially the poor bridesmaids who in almost 90 degree weather were wearing full length black dresses. I'm sure they were thrilled with the bride. We considered walking behind everyone while they had their pictures taken and making obscene gestures. What better way to celebrate your anniversary then to mess with newlyweds. Then we walked down to the restaurant, The Boathouse. It's right next to the water, as you might guess from the name. So the atmosphere is very cool and laid back. Julien had already given me my present. He got me a GPS, which he SWEARS is for me and not him, but I don't know. He says it's so if we're out and decide we want to go to a park or something we don't have to go home to look one up. And so we can always know how long it'll take to get somewhere so we don't have the problem of pushing Aidan past nap time so we can go to lunch. (Just ask Julien about that one.) But we exchanged cards. Julien completely surprised me and gave me a hand written love letter. Shock! They last time I got anything handwritten was when he was in Iraq. He hates to write letters. But this one was very sweet and very much appreciated. Our dinner and wine was good. Dessert was awesome. We had apple crisp a la mode and Mexican chocolate cheesecake. Delish! Another great part of having dinner without Aidan was being able to have an adult conversation. That was wonderful. We got to talk about a lot and actually enjoy dinner. At the end of dinner it started to thunder and lightening as rain moved in. So any plans of paddle boating were dashed. So we decided to call it a night and head home.
Aidan was excited to see us when we got home. Honestly, I was excited to see him too. We weren't gone that long but I still missed him. We got to tell him good night and then Jen put him to bed for us. Considering he's the easiest child to put to bed, I didn't feel too guilty. If you think I'm bragging about Aidan's sleep habits, I'm really not. Ask anyone who's put him down for nap or bed. It's pretty fool proof. And that was the end of our day. It was a great one.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Happy Anniversary to us!!! Ok, technically not yet but.....6 Years and counting! And, we get to go out like adults tonight. Woohoo! Life is good huh?

Memorial Day 2008

It was a busy Memorial Day weekend. Saturday was our neighbor's 5th Birthday party. Aidan got to run around outside with all the other kids. Mostly he just followed BFF Brady around. Then Sunday we went to Suson Park. We went through the petting zoo. They had horses, cows, chickens, pigs, turkeys, sheep, even a peacock. Aidan was so excited! He named a bunch of the animals and their sounds. He's getting to be so smart. After the petting zoo, we walked around the little pond there. Then on Monday we went to the Museum of Transportation. Aidan had the greatest time. He's into trains right now so this was like heaven for him. They let you in a bunch of cars and even into a couple engines. Some of the engines were huge! Then to cap it off, we rode a tram (which was exciting to him all by itself) down to the little train they have. The train ride actually relaxed him. Although it was near lunch and nap time. We spent over an hour there walking around and not one whine from Aidan. We'll definitely go back. In fact, we are thinking about taking an Amtrak trip somewhere so Aidan can ride a real train. I think it would be fun. Next weekend is our 6th anniversary, so more fun activities. Then we get ready for the East Coast!

Smarties to the Rescue!!!

The funniest things make my day anymore. Aidan was petting Teddy(he's become more brave around Aidan and allows some love now and then) and pointed and said "Ear." Aidan had a look of surprise on his face, like he was surprised the cat would even have ears. I was surprised Aidan could identify them because I had never heard him do that before. Then he pointed to my ears and said "ear" and then to his own. Then we had to find our noses and he could even find his eyes. It seems like everyday he instantly obtains more knowledge, like he just downloaded it from the Matrix or something. He constantly amazes me. We had another hair cut today. We sat alone in the booster for the first part and did well. No crying or major squirming. I was very proud. Of course I did bribe him with Smarties. We weren't so cooperative for the clippers on the neck and around the ears. I touched them to show they won't hurt you and Tigger got a pretend cut with them. When that didn't quite convince him, all the other stylists came over to help hold him and distract him. I was very impressed with how nice they were. And NO WAIT! Anyone with a child understands this is the difference between a nice haircut and possible all out war. All in all, he looks very handsome. A couple battle wound scratches but nothing serious. I think we'll go back there from now on. Now he's lovey and cuddling me. Hopefully that means a nice long nap. Especially since we were up by 6:30am and you know how Mommy feels about the morning. Here's wishing you all a pleasant naptime too!

Looking the Gift Horse in the Mouth

This morning I find myself needing to vent a little. We have some friends, who will remain nameless just in case they ever find this blog, who have a little boy about a year older than Aidan. They like to play together and we have gotten together several times since we moved here. Just to clarify, these aren't our neighbors. Our neighbors are cool and very laid back. These friends are more high maintenance than our neighbors. Case in point, when we go out to eat together they have to bring McDonald's for their son because he usually is too picky to eat what's on the menu. We have the good fortune that Aidan eats just about anything. We haven't found a restaurant that he won't eat at. I realize that this isn't true for every toddler. Even so, I'm not about to cater to a picky eater. You can eat with us or wait till you get home, your choice. That's not even the end of it. They bring a portable DVD player with them for him to watch when he gets restless. It works but, I don't think this is a habit I want to encourage either. We watch too much TV at home. Anyway, how do you learn how to behave at the table and out to eat if you get to watch TV? So, there have been a few things about this family that have bugged me as you can see. Forgive my judgmental rant though you may agree with me in a few seconds.
Recently we found out that their anniversary was coming up and they had no plans due to the fact that they don't have a sitter. This anniversary is a big one so Julien offered to babysit so they could go out. At first they seemed shocked we would offer willingly, but they accepted and seemed to really appreciate the offer. We even offered to watch him for a trial run so he could get used to the idea and they could go do something together too. Great, right? Wouldn't you love to have someone volunteer to do that? So, this morning Julien calls me to let me know that we won't be babysitting. I ask him, as you are probably asking too, why. Apparently they are hiring a babysitter. Que?? They want to be able to tell the sitter what to do (boss them around) and they can't impose their rules in our home. ( Which that depends on the rules. ) But they want a boss/employee relationship with a sitter and they felt they couldn't have that with us. True. So #1- I was offended that they would hire someone when we offered our home to their son. #2- What rules are so important and they think I wouldn't follow? Do they think my rules are too lax? #3-Why do you need to be superior to your sitter? Why can't you accept the generosity and help of a friend? Why do things need to be more complicated than that? I have no problems watching our friends' kids. In fact, we watched the neighbor boy last night for a couple hours so Mom and Dad could go out for dinner, as Dad had been gone for 3 days on business. They asked last minute if we were busy and I said we wouldn't mind. They've done the same for us. That's the way it's supposed to be. You don't need to establish a hierarchy or a set of hard and fast rules.
Granted they said they didn't want to offend us but, is there any way not to be? It just seems crazy. Well, we won't be offering our services to them again. They wouldn't be able to afford my expertise and training anyway.

UPDATE: After I wrote the above, I saved it and headed off to lunch with Julien. What are the chances that we would pick the same restaurant, on the same day, at the same time as our "friends"? Well, if you're us, they're great! So not only do we run into them, we end up at their table and Julien pays for their lunch cause they got the last dinner out. *sigh* This is building my karmic bank right??? Talk about awkward.

Mother's Day 2008

Mother's Day this year was a really good one. The night before we went for Thai food at probably what is the best restaurant out here. That was so yummy! Then I got to open my present. I got a KitchenAid Stand mixer. Now I can make more cookies. I don't think the gift was a truly selfless one from my boys. :) My Official Mother's Day started out with breakfast in bed. Aidan and Julien brought me eggs, bacon, fruit, pancakes, flowers and a card. Of course Aidan wanted to share my pancakes. After that we hung out at home. Julien had a grand plan for the day but, was thwarted by the weather. 50 mph wind gusts are bad for picnics and the zoo. We did have a picnic in the living room though. Aidan thought that was pretty cool. Then I used my present to make homemade brownies. They were pretty good if I do say so myself. Especially with some vanilla ice cream. All in all, we relaxed and spent the weekend together. Now it's back to work. Trying to get my flower beds planted and the house cleaned. You know, normal stuff.

To Grandma's House We Go

Last week we made a trip up to my folks' place. It was nice to be home again. Aidan had such a great time. The weather eventually cooperated and Aidan got to roam around outside. We checked out the creek and looked for fish. We chased birds. We played with rocks. Very exciting! Aidan had the opportunity to play with a load of cousins too. Sophie ran him ragged of course. He's trying to say her name now. It comes out as "sosie." He has Emma pretty well down. She helps keep an eye on Aidan and Sophie and supervises. Then he had the chance to play with Kirin and Max. He and Kirin hit it off immediately. Although Aidan was a little confused about his name, calling him by his best friend Brady's name. He got it finally. He thought Max was cool. Until Daddy held him and played with him. At that point Aidan felt Max had received enough attention. It was funny. You could see in Aidan's face the realization that while Max was fun, he was taking all the attention away from Aidan. That was a new experience for him. Aidan is used to being the youngest and center of the universe. In the end, all had a good time. We went to Ross' to eat. Aidan loved the Banana cream pie. We pointed the pictures up in the restaurant and told him Daddy was in them. Aidan even got to go to Happy Joe's with my family for lunch one day. We had Taco Pizza, of course. Yum! Aidan even got a balloon. They have the same balloon machine that was there when I was a kid. You get to pick out what color you want and then it inflates in the machine while you watch. Very cool. Aidan loved it. He's big into balloons.
We're back now. Aidan is such a good traveller. He played with toys and books the whole way home. I think he's glad to be back in his own bed. I'm glad to be back in my bed too. No matter how much fun you have on vacation, it's always nice to come home.

Daddy's Home

Julien's home!!! Thank God!!! Now I can take a little break. Then I have to get back to work before we leave. It never ends. Aidan is feeling much better. No fever after Thursday. Eating and drinking like a champ again. Back to playing again too. I think his ear is on the mend. Although he HATES the medicine he's on. It smells funky, so it must taste really nasty. Life is getting back to normal.

A week without Daddy

As I mentioned in the last post, Julien is gone on a business trip this week. Even without the exciting trip to the ER, this would've kept me busy enough. It's been a challenge. I spend all day with Aidan, right up to the time he goes to sleep. It's been a little difficult keeping him entertained. I think he's gotten tired of seeing me. He always looks forward to seeing Daddy at the end of the day and playing with him. Daddys just do things differently, you know? Thankfully, our neighbors are always happy to see Aidan and that keeps him occupied for awhile. But, even that has become a little boring to him. Personally, I'm too tired to be bored. It has really worn me out. Wednesday night was exhausting physically and mentally. Even so, the regular routine of the week has worn me out a bit. I have a lot of respect for single moms. I don't know how they do it. I really rely on Julien to be there to help and share the load. Most disappointingly, I don't get to sleep in on Saturday as I usually do. That is the one luxury I have yet to surrender. There will be no sleeping in this week and no breaks. At least we are heading up to visit my folks soon. That will give me an opportunity to rest a bit. However, it goes without saying that I am looking forward to seeing Julien on Sunday. I hope he is ready for some serious Aidan time. Hopefully I won't have to do this again anytime soon. Now I'm off to watch TV, eat some chocolate, play my DS, and fall asleep. Good night, everyone.

Our 1st ER trip

Yesterday started off as a normal day. Aidan and I went for a bike ride and ran some errands. Very mundane. Then around 11am, he started to act funny. He stopped eating and drinking, then he got really tired. Next thing I know he has a 100 degree fever. After some Tylenol and a nap, things were about the same. I talked to the pediatrician's office and elected not to take him in as his symptoms were so new. In retrospect, I regret that decision and will, from now on, listen to my mother's intuition at all times. Because, then he got cranky. All he wanted to do was lay on me and sleep, or cry. And the fever went up. To 104.1 to be exact. After an after hours call to the doctor, we decided to take him to the ER to be safe. This is the time I should probably point out that Julien left for a week long business trip on Monday morning and he is currently 1000 miles away, literally. Why do these things always happen on business trips?? My absolute saint-like neighbors Jen and Mike filled in for Julien and drove us to Cardinal Glennon's Children's Hospital in St. Louis. I didn't know exactly where it was and was a mess anyway. Driving wasn't a great idea. We arrived at the hospital at 9:30pm. Since the doctor called in to ER for us, we went back almost immediately. The staff was incredibly nice and tried to reassure Aidan as much as possible. They were also very timely. We didn't sit in the exam room for long before the doctor came in. So overall, the staff was very helpful and courteous. I will definitely use their ER for all pediatric emergencies from now on. Aidan wasn't as happy with the ER though. He was upset that he couldn't walk around from room to room and all the equipment scared him. In the end he got a Mr. Freeze-It Popsicle and that made up for everything. As for what caused all this? Seems the antibiotic he was on for a sinus infection wasn't working as he got an ear infection. So now we have a new antibiotic and some children's motrin. At 10:40pm we walked out of the ER and headed home. Quickest ER trip I've ever had! And in a major metro area. I was very impressed. So, today things are much tamer. We're getting back to normal. Mommy's nerves are mending. So are Daddy's. I feel much more prepared for the next crisis. My lesson from this was to 1) Always listen to your gut instinct, it won't steer you wrong 2) Know where the ER you will be using is and how to get to it 3) Have back up support ready if you're going to be flying solo. It really helps, even if it's just moral support. And to my back up support, you've been officially upgraded to Aunt and Uncle status. Thanks so much for all your help. You won't know how much I appreciated it....until you have kids of your own. :)