Journal: January 3, 2013

Woke up this morning and straightened up the house. Still not perfect. Will finish tomorrow.

Entered my time. Didn't get my trip reports finished like I wanted, but will get them done tomorrow.

Had a Jimmie Dean turkey sausage, egg white biscuit for breakfast and took my pills. Feeling a bit better today.

Spent some time reading Eat That Frog. Good advice on overcoming procrastination. Now if only I could stop procrastinating on implementing those strategies.

Christina came up so that we could scrapbook. Unfortunately, Ms. AGP was having a pretty rough day and didn't settle down until late so we didn't get a lot done. We're going to schedule more days like today and try to make scrapbooking more of a priority.

I hadn't scrapbooked since November 29 - that's far, far too long.  Going to work this weekend on figuring out what my goals are for the year, scrapping and otherwise.

After Christina left, I looked around for lunch and unfortunately noticed the pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in the freezer. Ate that for lunch. Bummer.

Downloaded some books including Gena Showalter's Last Kiss Goodnight and Larissa Ione's Immortal Rider. Started reading the Showalter's book. Enjoying it so far. She's opening up enough mystery about the main characters that it's keeping me reading.

Took a nap until Stew got home. Then headed to Jersey for WTK's birthday party. More time in the car. Awesome!!!!!

The party was in full swing by the time we arrived, but WTK'S seemed pretty happy to see me. He was quite the little snuggler today. He came up to me three times just to sit with me. Almost had me asking who this kid is and what happened to my kid.

Laura hosted a Trashie and Angry Bird birthday party. She made the cutest cake. It was a garbage can with insects all over it.

And the decor was Angry Birds.

Two of WTK's favorite things.

Dad made pizza as he did last year.  It was yummy.  Here's Stew enjoying a slice.

Other birthday festivities:

 Laura got him candles where the flames change colors.  I couldn't get a good picture of the different colors.

 Blowing out the candles.

 Cutting the cake.

 Opening presents.

 His favorite of all - an Angry Birds trash can.

 As soon as he opened it, he had to start putting the wrapping paper in it.

 He also got an ice cream maker.  He kept pestering his dad to make ice cream tonight.  Dad finally was able to persuade him that they'd do it this weekend by offering him some already made ice cream in his favorite flavor:  Breyers Waffle Cone.

We had a good time at the party but we couldn't stay long since it's a work night.  Another 3 hours logged in the car today for me and another 5 for Stew - I think we're both looking for a day where we don't need to see the inside of a car.  Maybe Sunday?  Though, I'm going back to church on Sunday and we probably have to go to the grocery store.  Sigh.....at least they're short trips.

 Some notes about the kids from today:

1. CEH said her first word today.  It was "mine."
2. MNP was in the hospital tonight.  He had heart palpitations, though his EKG is normal.  The doctor wants him to follow up with his regular pediatrician.  I hope my little man is okay.  I'm going to have to get in touch with his mom and see what's going on.
3. Stew keeps going around saying "holy smokes" a la EAP.
4. The WTK section:

• Found out that one of his favorite Christmas time things is Nutcrackers.  I had no idea.  Found out while looking at his Christmas ornament that mom made for him this year.  It had a Nutcracker on it.  Go figure.  Unfortunately, WTK's dad is, well, he's something.  He's taught WTK to say to people, "Give me your nuts", "Put your nuts in my mouth"
• Favorite Christmas gift was his coin sorter - no real shock there.
• He's obsessed with doorbells.
• WTK's school does a Friend of the Week so the kids can get to know one another.  This week is WTK's turn.  He and Laura made a poster board of all of his favorite things.  Laura said that it was made of 6 12x12 pieces of paper and that it had room to spare.  One of the categories is his favorite foods.  He named garlic bread and bacon among the top runners.
• When one of the girls at his party was going to leave, she was going up the stairs away from her mother.  WTK told her, "You come down here, I don't want you up there."

POTD: January 3, 2013

WTK's favorite birthday gift.  As soon as he opened this Angry Bird trash can, he was picking up all of the wrapping paper and putting it in there - then he'd walk out to the kitchen trash to empty it.  He continues to be trash obsessed.

Journal: August 19, 2012

Actually slept until 8:30 this morning, which is very late for me and considering my sleep schedule of late, I'm yelling victory this morning.

I played in the scrap room until Stew got up around 1.  I asked him what he wanted to do today and he, of course, checked the weather.  There were lots of rain showers showing up on radar and he said that pajama day was appealing to him.  So we grabbed our snacks and headed to the tv room and I'm happy to report, between naps, a boring NASCAR race, and lots of CSI: NY - there was a lot of relaxing going on.  Considering our weekend schedules for the coming months and my upcoming travel schedule, I'd say it was just what the doctor ordered.  I'll probably regret what I didn't get done today in the morning, but right now I'm focusing on the fact that we had a relaxing day, full of time together and lots of laughs.  Stew's nuts, but anyone who is reading this knew that already.

We made salads for dinner which were okay - I don't know what was off about mine.  Maybe the red onion instead of my normal green onion or something.  I don't know, but something was off.  Ate it anyway.  Only thing I really wish I did today was my couch to 5K, but I actually have tomorrow and Tuesday, as well, to finish up the week since I actually started on a Wednesday.  I need to move my official week start day to Sunday so I'll be working on shifting things around the next few weeks to make that happen - I need to do this because there's no way I'll find a scale over the next few Wednesdays to weigh in.

Getting up and working out tomorrow morning is one of my top goals.  Fingers crossed.

The NASCAR race was a snooze fest.  The Mark Martin crash was sick.  I was so relieved when we found out that he and all of Kasey Kahne's crew were ok - that could have been far worse than it was.  Absolutely scary.  Of course, it led to me having a complete Target moment as I was trying to figure out how Mark slammed into Kasey's pit stall when they were pitting nowhere near each other.  Then it hit me that I'm stupid.  HA.  Some days, I just don't know what I was doing the day God gave out brains.

I really liked one of the descriptions the broadcasters used during the race - that hit significantly rearranged the back of his car.  I thought that was a good way to put it, even if the rest of the narration from those guys was assinine.  Can't they get people in the booth who know what they're doing?  I mean when Stew and I can see that they're obviously talking about the wrong guy, it gets a little nuts.

Wasn't happy that Biffle won.  Don't like that guy.  Have no idea why, just don't.  Was rooting for Brad.  Nice to see Kasey finish third despite his ride through the infield grass.  Tony, Tony, Tony - was a victim of the Hendrick engine failures of the day.  He's slipping in points and that's not good.  He has to stay in the top ten cause I'm worried if he falls out, what that will do to Kahne.  I know he'd still have the second wildcard, but it's stressing me out a bit.  Tony will come back strong next week.  I know it.

I was thinking of something rather interesting.  If you're Tony Stewart and you're winning a race with Ryan behind you in second and you know that you're already in the chase no matter what, but Ryan really needs the win to get in the chase, do you let him go by to win?  I mean the same argument could be made for Carl or Jeff Gordon or any of them.  I just thought it was an interesting concept with these wildcard slots.  I'd actually like to know if any one that knows more than I obviously do has thought about this - I haven't seen anything written about it. 

Went to bed too late.  Busy week this week.  Going to see Roy pitch tomorrow.  Thanks Matt for figuring that out, though, the Phillies scored 8 runs today - which means they'll have no run production tomorrow.  Just my luck.

Kids' notes for their journals:

GEP went fishing today and caught a bunch of fish and some crabs and looked totally cute doing it.
CDH had milestones this week - starting to support herself to sit up and eating solid food.
GDH's last day of camp was this week and she's counting down the days until she goes back.
WTK is doing his civic duty by selling signs to remind people to drive like they have some sense in residential neighborhoods. 

Journal: August 7, 2012

Woke up this morning to the most beautiful sunrise.  Stew captured this picture on his way out to his car.

Today was a pretty normal work day for me.  Did some things at home and then headed out to the airport.  Quick trip to Raleigh/Durham this week to perform my first pre-study visit for my new study that is finally starting.  Complicated, in-depth - love it!  I'm learning a lot. 

Got to the airport with no issues, love that I was flying Southwest today.  I seriously do not like any other airline.  We're boarding the plane and are told that the flight was full - well, lucky me!  There was one empty seat on the plane and guess where it was.  Right next to me....

Southwest is really moving toward putting WiFi on all of their planes.  I've never really played with it before but as a frequent flier, I get the service for free, so I was playing with it on my long (ha - one hour) flight.  It's so slow, but also cool.  You can shop at skymall and also watch the tracking of the flight.

The views from the plane were incredible as well.  The sky was just full of gorgeous views today.

When I arrived in Durham, I had to meet up with the Japanese monitor that is accompanying me to the site tomorrow to observe.  I called him when I arrived and we realized that he was in one terminal and I was in the other.  With the noise and the difficulty hearing over the cell phones, he couldn't understand me and I couldn't understand him.  We finally got him on the big yellow, Hertz bus, but it was a bit of a challenge.

Luck didn't go my way where Hertz was concerned.  Hertz now texts you the number of the stall in which your vehicle is and includes the type of vehicle.  The first text I received from them told me that I was to be in a Buick Enclave.  As this is one of the cars that I really want to check out when it comes time to buy a new car, I was excited - it wasn't to be, though.  By the time I got to the Hertz lot, I had received a new text.  They switched my rental to a Nissan Altima - come on guys, I can drive one of those any time I want.  Oh well, maybe next time.

I was telling the Hertz driver that I was meeting a colleague from Japan and that we were having trouble understanding each other - she was hilarious.  Each time she did some announcement over the speaker, she'd say it in English and then act like she was speaking Japanese and repeat it.  I was really stressed out when I arrived, so her sense of humor really helped me to calm down and relax.  And to note, I was the only one on the bus, so she was free to do that.  I really love Hertz.

Got the Hertz lot, picked up the other monitor (who, by the way, speaks fine English) and we headed to the hotel.

Once I arrived at the hotel, it was time to really buckle down and get ready for this complicated slide deck I have to present tomorrow.  Mostly continuing to work on pronouncing the names and things like that.  Giving presentations is something that really makes me nervous so I like to have it down.

When I checked in at the hotel, despite having two bottles of Evian in my bag - the hotel had Fiji - guess who bought some of that?

Went down to the hotel cafe to grab some dinner and realized that the grass in the decorative planters in the Courtyard lobbies is actually fake.  All this time I thought it was real.  HAHA - joke's on me. 

So, I'm getting to bed way too late again - but I took my pills way too late again.  Sigh.  One of these days I'll get this back on track.  Fingers crossed.

I have the morning to continue to prepare for this visit.  The nerves are starting already.

One funny thing today - on my way to the airport I got a text from Laura.  Seems WTK doesn't think he has enough freckles on his own.  So he took a marker and gave himself some more.  HAHA - funny kid.

Journal, June 2, 2012

Went to the NJ Renaissance Faire today.  We had a great time and the weather was perfect.  The photos I'm uploading are the collages I made to go in the kids' journals - that's why there may be some duplicates (thanks Kelly for the link to PicMonkey - makes doing this so much easier).  I didn't want to recreate the wheel for pictures for this post.  More stories about the faire below the pictures.

CEH

 GEP

GDH

 WTK

 When we got to the fair one of the entertainers ran up to GEP and started talking to him.  GEP didn't know what to make of that.  He got really unsure and I wasn't certain after that if he was going to enjoy himself.  We sat down to watch the opening ceremonies and he still was a little put off about the whole thing.  I was really worried that he wasn't going to have a good time.  We left the opening ceremonies early to make our way over to the Kids Magician.  On the way there, this woman asked GEP if he wanted to pet a baby dragon.  It took some coaxing but he finally relented and did it.

We arrived at the kids theater too early, so GEP played on the playground for awhile.  He climbed up and over the monkey bars - with my help.  I was too afraid he was going to fall to let him go.  He slid down the fire pole a few times - I think he really liked that.  Then it was time for the show and this is where he really started to enjoy himself.

He said something to the magician and the magician called him up and checked his head and said, "Yup, I knew it.  Do you know what 666 means?"  It was really funny.  And then the magician did a few silly tricks that both GEP and WTK (who arrived just as the show was starting) really enjoyed.  He made a cracker disappear (by crumbling it) and stuffed his face full of marshmallows only to pull them out as a cotton string.  At one point he got himself an assistant - and the trick only worked when the assistant went to pull a certain color cloth out of the bag.  GEP yelled, "he's better than you."  The assistant did it again and GEP said, "he's really better than you."  The whole crowd laughed and I sighed with relief that he was going to be okay the rest of the day.

After the show, GEP wanted to shoot the bow and arrow.  Unfortunately, they were going to let the school group go and then take a break, so GEP threw darts at balloons where he won a lollipop which he gave to WTK and then he and WTK played with the catapults. 

It was nearing time for the joust so we went over to watch that.  GEP moved to he hay bales in front of us so he could be closer and I think he really enjoyed the horse play.  My little GDH and WTK left half way through so they could play on the playground.  We stuck around to watch the Falconer.

GEP really liked watching the birds. 

After the Falconer we took GEP over the rock climbing wall - he really wanted to try it and to be honest he did pretty well.  He wasn't scared at all.  He got about half way up.

We then took a walk over by the lake where GEP found his favorite game of the day - throwing tomatoes at the fool.  He played that one over and over and over - until he finally hit him.  He was talking all sorts of smack with the guy too  which caused the guy to run out and chase him.  GEP had a great time.

WTK wanted to give it a try as well and he hit the fool, too.  It's every kids dream I think.  One, it's throwing food; two, it's throwing it at someone; and three, it's everything your mother tells you not to do at home.

We picked mom up but lost her at a few points - we suspect she was over talking to the Falconer - we weren't wrong.

Stew took GEP on the paddle boats and GEP was paddling with his hands and then scooted himself forward to use his feet the way Stew was.

We then met up with the rest of the gang and GDH was so excited to go on the paddle boats.  She actually was pretty excited about everything - she wanted to see everything and do everything, that is except for the hair braiding and the face painting - those she wanted no parts of.  We couldn't find her daddy at first and she was so excited so Uncle Stew took her and GEP out on the paddle boats - GEP sat in the back this time and Mike took WTK - they had a race.  GDH and GEP were egging Uncle Stew on.  I'm not sure who won - but they all got off the boats with smiles on their face.

I was holding Ms. CEH while they were on the paddle boats and she was all cuddled up against me - very comfortable but then she started getting a little cranky and it was definitely time for lunch.  We met up at one of the pavilions.  Stew got a turkey leg and a hot dog.  I had a bite of the hot dog and no one really at the turkey leg.  GEP was in no way interested.  He, of course, wasn't hungry and spent most of his time at the playground.  WTK and GDH didn't eat much either - CEH on the other hand, she was going to eat and no one was going to stop her. 

After lunch, GDH really wanted to go on the rock climbing wall.  So we went over there and GEP did it again while GDH did it.  While in line all GDH could talk about was putting the helmet on - she was very excited about wearing the helmet.  Matt helped her and she did very well.  GEP did better this time and I think if he was to try it some more he'd definitely get the hang of it.

After that I took GEP to get a sword. They were selling wooden ones so we picked him out one of those and he proceeded to put on his own sword show.

About this time, GEP was getting sleepy, Stew and I were tired and Mom was done so we decided to leave; however, someone remembered that he wanted to shoot the bow and arrow (I had forgotten) - so I took him to do that while Stew and mom walked to the car.  He did a really good job for his first time and hit the target more often than not.

As we were leaving the faire he told me that he was hungry - of course he was.  I said we could get something on our way out, but we passed the main food stand and he didn't want anything there and we didn't see much of anything else on our way out.  We saw an ice cream place and I asked him if he wanted ice cream - he was very good remembering that he couldn't have sweets - I had forgotten.

We left the faire and went to Mastori's - which is a pretty upscale diner.  I ordered the fruit plate with tuna.  GEP got spaghetti, Mom got the appetizer portion of fettuccine alfredo and Stew got pork chops.  Holy hell the portions were huge.  Mom's portion could have fed the whole table and still had some left over.  Stew's pork chops were the biggest I've ever seen. 

We then took Mom home, said hi to Dad who had a great day at his antennae test and then Stew and I headed home.

I guess that I kept GEP out too long because his mom wasn't happy with me.  Opps!  I'll have to keep track of the time more closely next time.  I really don't watch the clock when I'm with the kids and I didn't know he had any plans.  Live and learn.

We got home and Phill was on a mission even though he got to the house much later than he wanted.  He and Steve had poured the concrete for the slab at the bottom of the pool steps and they put my microwave and kitchen cabinet back in where there had been none for way too long.  It looks awesome. 

We ordered them some food and I proceeded to steal some of the toppings off of Steve's pizza.

They were waiting for the concrete to dry enough before they could leave.  I walked out to see how they were doing and missed a step coming down the porch steps and fell right on my elbow.  I scratched up my elbow, palm and knee pretty bad and I'm going to bruise all nice and pretty but I think that I'm okay - no broken bones or anything like that, though my shoulder is hurting.  I can move it with full motion though - so no worries.  Took some ibuprofen before bed.  Hope I feel okay in the morning.

It was a long and full day - a great day.  We don't have any plans for tomorrow.  I think I'm going to help Phill and Steve finish with the pool.

Journal: May 10, 2012

I had a journal that I kept all kinds of notes in about the daily going ons of our days and I can't find it.  I've looked every where and it's gone - grrrrr.

I spent some time today piecing together pigs that I cut out on my Silhouette for Laura.  That was a pain in the ass - she's lucky that she's worth it.

My manager moved our 1-on-1 meetings to Friday which makes more sense considering that I normally travel during the week.  I still don't have the access I need for all of the systems my current protocol uses which is a pain, but we're muddling through.

I have 44 youtube subscribers now - that's damn near awesome.

I headed up to Jersey today to see Laura and go visit the woman who is selling all of her scrapbooking stuff.  We left to pick WTK up from school, but we couldn't leave without him showing me his new trick on the swings.  He lays on his belly over the swing seat and pushes himself back and forth, but not only that, he twists the chains around so that he can spin around.  It was too much. 

Laura asked WTK to tell his friend who was there to see him (meaning me) so WTK said, "that girl."  HAHA.  I'm "that girl."

One of WTK's friends found a caterpillar and WTK informed him that it would soon turn into a butterfly.  Not only that, but as we were walking to the car, WTK is smashing ant hills.  He told me, "that's where ants live."  I asked him why he was smashing them - he said, cause I want to.

We then headed to Deptford to visit the woman that is selling off her scrapbook supplies.  Holy hell the room she has and the deals we found.  It was incredible.  I spent $100 and got more stuff than I can even explain.  I didn't take any pictures of it, but let's just say the back of my car was full.  I mean, I have no idea where I'm even going to put all of this stuff, but for the price I couldn't turn it down.  It was incredible. 

At the woman's house, WTK made himself at home.  He was playing with their dogs and playing on their iPad - he even showed them how to do a few things on it.  He ate red popsicles and when the woman's husband said, "shut up," WTK informed him that that wasn't nice.  HA!  The woman asked him if he had a dog or a cat and WTK replied, "not yet."  I see a dog or cat in WTK's future.

We stopped at McDonald's on our way home to get something to eat and WTK made himself some friends in the play room.  He was playing air hockey with an adult at one point and throwing the puck.  Laura says that throwing is something he's doing recently since he now has developed the arm strength for it.  He also played with a girl about his own age - she had to keep climbing up on the air hockey table to get the puck because it kept getting stuck in the middle.  After awhile, she went in the climbing thing and WTK followed her for awhile, but he's still a little afraid of big slides so he didn't stay in there for long.

After we got home, WTK was really tired and pretty silly.  He told Mike to "shut up".  I guess he can say that. 

I didn't stay long because it was getting late and I had to get home, but on my way home, I missed my turn for 295 and ended up near Mom and Dad's - shocking right.  Their house is like a beacon pulling me to them whenever I'm in Jersey.  I don't think I can ever get lost there.

Laura told me a story about WTK from yesterday.  He was going to bed last night and he was hot so he told his parents, "it's way compacted hot in here."  Also, when he gets frustrated now, he says, "that darn freakin" - kids, too funny.

POTD: May 10, 2012

Met WTK at school - he had to show me his new tricks on the swings.  He swings himself back and forth on his stomach and also twists the chains around so he can go in circles.  Too cute.

POTD: May 6, 2012

Stew looking cute eating breakfast - getting ready to clean out the garage and being photo bombed by the little man in the back.

POTD: May 5, 2012

My little engineer - building with Solo cups.

Journal: April 30, 2012

Very productive day today, I must say.

I got all the doctors and dental appointments scheduled; did zumba this morning - a new program.  Still a short program, but a medium intensity program.  I looked like a monkey on crack.

But I'm looking forward to doing it again tomorrow.  I'm going to try to add strength training on Tuesday and Thursdays.

I weighed in this morning.  That number sucked, but that's why I'm doing all of this.  I re-entered my information on the Lose It App.  That date to meet my goal weight - sigh....

I tracked all of my food today and actually checked my calorie count before having a second helping for dinner - couldn't have it.  So I ate an orange instead.  I have to remember to add the orange to the calorie counter tomorrow.

We had BLTs for dinner.

I remembered to water the plants.  It's supposed to rain the next two days, so hopefully I won't need to do that.

The baby Eagles Stew and I are watching were awake two of the three times that Stew checked today.  The Eaglets are getting so big.

Work started off great today.  I mean, any day that starts with a message like this

I finished end of month work stuff - submitted my expense reports and time.  The site that was scheduled to screen our first subject today did so.  They want to randomize on Monday which is great.  There's going to be a great deal of work to do during this week to make sure that they can do that.  I told Stew over the weekend that this was going to happen, that the site was going to be ready to randomize quickly - they probably would randomize this week if the subject didn't require PK draws on days following infusion, making a later in the week start an impossibility.  Craziness.  It's always like this, every thing happens when there's no more time to wait.  No minute like the last minute.  HA - we'll get it all together though.

I'm going to need to train the site on drug prep and administration and at this very moment I'm not sure I understand it, so I'm really going to have to get that nailed down.

I organized some in the scraproom today but didn't do anything else down there because there wasn't a lot of time.

I did manage to download all of the pictures from the camera and upload them to Smug Mug and then I really need to get them burned to DVD - all in good time, all in good time.

I talked to Laura today.  Seems my little man isn't feeling that well so Laura's taking him to the doctors.  That isn't stopping him from being his funny self, however.

I took a trip to Target and actually remembered Stew's vitamins.  I went specifically to buy him a pillow because he keeps stealing mine.

We're getting to bed late tonight because we were doing crosswords before bed - they're evil things.

Today was a very good day.  Hope tomorrow is just as good.

LOAD starts tomorrow (layout a day challenge).  God help me.

Journal, March 31, 2012

The day started way too early for it being a Saturday, but I guess in trying to get this routine embedded in my brain, it's good to wake up at the same time every day (grumble, grumble, grumble).

Did my Zumba class - on a Saturday, no less.  Whoohooo, go me.

Then after having breakfast, showering and getting ready, hopped in the car for the drive up to Laura's to go to the scrapbook store's closing sale.  Needless to say, no GPS, no Stew, I'm lost as hell.  Granted I didn't print out directions or anything before I left, I just thought I'd remember.  I don't know who I thought I was when I walked out of the house, but direction efficient I am not.  So after two calls to Laura and one to Stew, I finally get there.

My little WTK is laying on the couch with the iPad watching youtube videos and he wants nothing to do with getting up and saying hi.  So tickling him was in order.  This kid has the life.  He's laying on the couch and his father asks him what he wants for breakfast.  WTK replies, "What do we have?"  According to Mike they have the same thing every morning.  WTK requests cereal and it is brought to him with his cup of whatever he was drinking.  Now that's what I call service.  I should have asked Laura if Mike is so accommodating to her or if only the kid gets this kind of treatment.  LOL.

Remember the story from Friday's journal about WTK and the stickers - here's the proof.  The wall in Laura and Mike's living room.  Unfortunately, the pigs keep falling down and the little stinker didn't want me to take his picture.

 

I got one anyway.  He was turning around and surprise - gotcha!

 Here's his all of art.  I couldn't get him to do crafts and according to Laura he won't do them for him, but at school - he creates.  I guess if he's going to do what's asked of him anywhere, school's a good place for that.

Done with the camera (for now, come on you guys know me)....it turns out Mom is going to the sale with us.  Well, had I known that I could have just picked her up during my journey - considering I sort of ended up at her house instead of Laura and Mike's.

Mom arrives and we're off.  I'm excited I've heard lots of awesome things about sales like this.  Of course, I'm a little sad about the fact that yet another local scrapbooking store is closing, but I'm all about a deal if I can find one.  I didn't.  The sale was a bust and if the merchandise she had available during this sale was any indication of what she carried in her store, no wonder she went out of business.  Now granted, all of the good stuff might have already been sold or given away and I hope that's the case because what remained.  Not so good.  Mom found some stickers and Laura found some goodies.  I bought a stamp, an idea book and some vellum.

The decision about what to do next was a long one.  The weather made things difficult because really who wants to do an Easter Egg hunt in the rain.  Yeah, yeah, you're right, the kids wouldn't mind at all, but me, yeah, they're not letting me find any eggs, so I'm not interested in being out in the rain or surrounded by other people's children.  So, after mom mentioned that she had made brownies on Friday night that was enough arm twisting for me.  Laura and WTK were off to the Easter Egg hunts, though not before playing the wiggle game.  Laura tries to put his shoes on him and he wiggles his feet so that she can't all while saying "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle."  It's quite cute.

Mom and I were off to Mom's house so I could torture dad and I could have some brownies.  We decided we'd meet up later for dinner and even though I didn't go to the Easter Egg hunt, that didn't mean that I didn't get pictures...Laura took my camera and brought me back some cuties.

WTK and the Chick Fil A cow

 And with the Easter Bunny - there were two other little girls in this picture, but I don't know who they are so I edited them out.  (Laura did get pictures with him by himself with the Easter Bunny, but he's not looking at the camera - big surprise!)

WTK had a great time playing with this fish.  Apparently, the magnet that the kids use on the glass cleans it, but after being exposed to this for some time, the fish now follows the magnet.

Found one...

This one was found in the shovel - the shovel was full of sand.  Didn't deter our little WTK, he just dumped the shovel in his bucket, sand and all.

I think I'll take a rest right here...

This is much more convenient than walking...

Laura got him to not only look at the camera but to smile.  No wonder this weather is so weird.

Oh look, WTK found Uncle Stew's dinner

and Aunt Gina's too.

Or maybe Uncle Stew would prefer this (do we eat roosters or hens - I have no idea.)

Now it's time for a nap.  This looks like a comfortable place.

Holy cow - frame this one, eyes and a smile.

As for me, while WTK and his mom were off on this little adventure.  I twisted dad's arm to go to The Blue Claw.  Oh yeah, first crab of the year...(they clean them for you in Jersey....)

Dad and I had kind of a crabby day.  I had crab soup and crabs at The Blue Claw, then we went home and made crab cakes.

Dad enjoying his crab cakes...

Spent the rest of the day hanging out with mom and dad.  Had more than my share of the brownies.  Ate crab cakes throughout the day.  Made a trip to Target with Mom and Laura while WTK stayed home with dad.  I don't know who we were more worried about misbehaving, Dad or WTK - yeah, right right, it was Dad.  WTK spent most of his time playing with the coin sorter.  He loves this thing.

Speaking of which, when Laura was getting him ready to go and finally got him to put all of the coins away (which he was so not happy about), WTK went around to everyone in the room to ask if he could play with the coin sorter.  Apparently, he didn't like his mom's opinion on the matter.  HAHA.  And, Dad, he is an evil, evil man.  WTK has it all put away and Dad comes in the room and asks, "Who wants to play with the coin sorter?"

Some little man didn't want to put his coat on when it was time to go.  So Mom and Laura double teamed him and though it was put on backwards, haha, it was put on....

 

And even after he gets the coat put on.  It's back to the coin sorter.  Laura would drag him across the floor by his feet away from it and he'd crawl back to it and then that would happen again.  The kid is obsessed with these things. (Of course I always thought he was calling it a coin shooter, not sorter - oh well...)

I left shortly after Laura and WTK did.   Long drive home and past my bed time.  Got caught up with Stew when I got home and crashed.

Stew's Day:  Rested for the most part.  The cough is still getting to him, but there's not much to do about that.  He took a nap for about an hour.  Watched some tv.  Found a new show to watch.  It's called Auction Kings and follows an auction house in Georgia.  He watched Clash of the Titans and thought it was pretty good.  He's going to wait for the DVD to come out for the new one.  He beat my score on Mahjong.  Ass.  He did say it took him a couple of tries.  Oh, only a couple.  He still hasn't beat my search a word score - so there!  He ordered Pat's for dinner and got Ziti.  Hated it.  I said, "didn't you get that before and not like it."  He replied, "Hope springs eternal."  LOL.

Here's the crustacean Laura and WTK got for Dad.  WTK has named it Fred.

And look - I did get a picture of him playing with the stickers on the wall.  It's an iphone photo so I must have been stealth about it, but I got him.

Random stories from today (I love hearing stories about my kids)

• Mom and dad took GDH to the park the other day and she was climbing up the ladder.  Having gotten to the top, she stops, looks at dad and says, "Now I can climb to the top bunk of the bed at the big house."  She hasn't forgotten the bunk beds at the house down at LBI where mom and dad spend a month during the Fall and we all crash at various times while they're there.
• Dad told GDH that she sure talks a lot.  She said, "I have to talk a lot because I have a lot of words."
• WTK's class has a class pet - it's a fish.  All of the kids put in their choice of what to name the fish and then a vote was taken.  WTK's choice won.  The fish is named Chipper.  We were surprised it wasn't recycling truck or trash truck, but were pleased that it was a name that the fish could live with - I suppose.  A fish and a wood chipper...shudder.

Some other things that happened today

• Stew found yet another show he thinks he might like to watch.  It's called Auction Kings.  I told him, "You haven't liked that many of the auction type shows you've found."  He said, "yeah, well, hope springs eternal."
• The Flyers lost in the shoot out.  I don't care what anyone says, that goalie sucks and he's not going to get us through the playoffs.
• Kahne's on the pole for this weekend's race, which Stew said may mean that he'll just crash faster.
• Stew watched Clash of the Titans - said it was pretty good.
•  And the bastard beat my score on Maj Jong - though he was kind of nice about it and said, "well, it took me a couple of tries."
• We had Pat's for dinner - Stew got the ziti - not so good.