I can't complain Day: 3 & 4

A continuation of the rubbing it in...

We took a drive down US 1 through a couple of the Keys and stopped at DQ for a treat. Pete still has a dairy allergy but we thought we'd just throw the question out there, "Do you have anything non-dairy here?", thinking ya right, this is DAIRY Queen. Turns out they did but boy did it stain! Pete's hands were blue for the next day.

Funny how a spoon just doesn't do the job. Ya always gotta try with the finger.

Nice.

Thursday we decided to go for an adventure and hop on a Glass Bottom Boat Tour. I don't know what I was thinking when I tried to smuggle in that ball under my dress...I guess I thought the boys might need something to play with. Silly me.

The water was so pretty. Lots of shades of green and blue. That is the Atlantic Ocean there in the distance.

The "glass bottom" was more like windows in the bottom. It is hard to tell the depth in this picture. They let you sit on the ledge and dangle your feet but the windows were about 4-5 feet below my dangling feet. We saw lots of fun coral, lots of sting ray, jelly fish, and of course, many different colored fish.

On our way back, the boys preferred to watch from the windless-inside.

I, on the other hand, liked it in the very front of the boat. I saw lots of birds and got to see my favorite bird of all time, the Belted Kingfisher.

Back at the park, we got some hot dogs and these White Ibis were hanging out picking up crumbs.

Right next to our hotel is a very quiet (strangely) Tiki Bar that offers free sunset cruises on this pirate ship. The boys go nuts over it every time it comes and goes. Unfortunately, it is all booked up for the evening for the rest of our stay, but we may be able to get a ride in the afternoon next week.

This evening a pelican got itself caught up in a fishing lure that was hooked under its wing and then connected through its beak, poor thing. He was captured with a net and these brave fishermen worked hard to clip off all the barbs and poured alcohol under the wing.

Then they sent him on his way. Hope he does okay.

Some pretty sunset pictures:

I can't complain Day: 1 & 2

We just love it when we can tag along with Dad on a work trip. This is our 3rd time to Florida as a family and 4th time as a couple. I know this is a little window in our lives that we are able to do this, before the kids start school. I just L.O.V.E. that we can pick up and go. We decided a little over a week ago, and I had to clear my calendar of doctor appointments, lessons in church, wedding receptions, etc. Come on, twist my arm a little harder! Two weeks in Florida is totally worth it. Financially, we can pull it off because of the extra income Dave gets from travel. How can we say no??!!

It is absolutely beautiful down here in Key Largo. The temperature is a constant low 80's. We are right on the water with boat docks. It is fun to watch all the boats and yachts come in and out. But mostly it is fun to watch the wildlife! I saw a dolphin today looking outside my bedroom window! We are told there are several dolphins that come close and play daily AND a group of manatees that come up close. I can't wait to see them. There is also an alligator (yet to be seen by us) that lives nearby in the water. That worries me a little. Lots of pelicans, different kinds of seagulls.

We are ready for Florida! Though we are still wearing long sleeve and long pants in MD, we only packed shorts and short sleeve (with one token warm outfit just in case). I, myself, am wearing long beach dresses EVERYDAY. A first in my life. They seem to capture my wonderfully plump belly, while keeping me cool (remember I have to wear those stylish compression socks?). I may never go back to pants, at least until baby arrives.

The view outside our screened-in porch.

I'm sure this scene will become a regular for the next two weeks.

Decked out for the swimming pool.

I see a geek emerging...

Dave surprised us and came home 1 hour early.

No picture of me in the water, but if you can imagine a flattering maternity swim suit complimented by some black, knee-high compressions socks, that would be me. The baby was doing summersaults or something in my belly in the water. It was the strangest feeling as my belly was poking out lopsided, with a "baby bum" sticking out on one side. The water took the pressure off my pelvis and legs, probably because the baby was having fun floating up inside me.

This was our first time swimming outside this season and I was a little worried that Charlie would have regressed from the progress he made by the end of last summer. But he just jumped right in. This will be a great summer for swimming lessons, which I am excited about because it was hard enough hanging on to two kids in the water last year. With baby coming, it will make it easier to handle if Charlie can do his own thing.

Do I look chill or what? We ate our lunch outside today and met some new friends.

Whenever we stay in a hotel, Charlie always gets hooked on all the fun kid TV channels that we don't get at home. It has been a bit of a challenge to convince him that we aren't always in Florida and we need to limit the TV. But I can't be too hard on him because I also get hooked on the FoodNetwork, HGTV, and other channels I only get to watch on vacation too. :o)

Tagged--and blog overhaul

I was tagged by Cecilia in a 4x4 blog meme. Check at the bottom to see if you are tagged. Here's my stuff:

1st - Four places I go:

Target
Church
The park
My strength training class (my instructor is quitting to go back to elementary teaching next month!! Major bummer for me, but lucky kids!)


2nd - Four favorite smells:

Dryer venting outside
Japanese food (in general)
Pinewood Christmas candles
My boys' heads


3rd - Four favorite TV shows and/or movies:

Parenthood
Modern Family
Glee
Bachelor (Dave and I are hooked this season!)


4th - Four recommendations:

The grass is always greener where you water it.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Be who you are; you are the only one who can do it perfectly.
Stand up straight.


I tag Christian M., Thomas G., Colleen M., and Gunda!!

Pete and the big 1, 2

I'm a bit late, but Pete turned 2.
He requested a rocket ship cake, so here was my attempt (not my best):

Don't you love the Fonz look?

The latest Pete talkings:
"Oh man!" --when something goes wrong
"I'll do it!!" --he's becoming very independent
"Milk please, mom" --said in the sweetest voice no one could possibly resist.
"Baby sister" --pointing to my belly
"Julie" --when I asked him what we should name our baby sister. There ya go.

A bit about Pete:

He L.O.V.E.S. his big brother, Charlie and is usually only .5 seconds behind him, imitating him in exactness.

Pete is always up for a party, is a bit of a showoff, but can be shy among strangers.

His silent fits (protesting by just lying on the floor) last but a few minutes and then he's fine.

When it is just Pete and me, it is the easiest thing I have ever had to do.

His sweet eyes cut to your very soul and I can't stay mad at him for very long.

He is very forgiving and is always quick to apologize.

His favorite game to play is "Duck Duck Goose" and his favorite song to sing is "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes".

To Pete, any big building with a pointy top is labeled a temple.

He loves soft, fuzzy, cuddly things. Thus we got him a doggy Pillow Pet for his birthday.

He is a great sleeper and usually naps for 3-4 hours in the afternoon.

He never fails to point out a distant siren, an airplane/jet/helicopter, the moon, or a bird.

Pete has a bit of a sweet-tooth (a boy after my own heart) and will do anything for a treat.

This little guy steals my heart daily. He is so sweet and has a heart of gold. So glad you came to us, Pete!

Cancel your Valentine's date

Or make a party out of it!!

I was driving home from D.C. by myself the other night and was listening to NPR's Science Friday. I don't know how I hadn't heard about this before then, but the segment was on IBM's Jeopardy challenge game against WATSON, a supercomputer. WATSON will go up against the beloved Ken Jennings and the lesser known but undefeated and bigger money winner, Brad Rutter. The competition will run over three days, Monday-Wednesday, normal Jeopardy time for your area.

Go here for your Final Jeopardy Party kit complete with Alex Trebek's mustache cut-out.

If you are REALLY interested, download the podcast from NPR (17 min) with the author of the book, "Final Jeopardy: Man VS. Machine and the Quest To Know Everything" (which can not be released until after the show airs.) They talk about how the computer was made over the last 4 years, very interesting.

Rumor has it, though, that Google has leaked the outcome of the competition so DON'T GO SEARCHING if you don't want it spoiled.

the big 4

I woke up early this morning (2:32 am) with thoughts of my first born. He was actually born at 2:03 am, but I tell you what...life has never been the same since this little boy breathed his first breath. It has been quite the ride so far and I am so glad I got on this ride.


Charlie has been planning this Buzz Lightyear birthday pretty much since his last birthday. It has been fun because he kind of "gets" the whole birthday thing now. Hard part is that he can ask for a certain toy and then just assume that because he asked for it, he is going to get it. I understand now why parents what to give and DO give their children what they want. And how easy it is to get carried away....they don't want to see what will happen if they don't!

He requested Buzz Lightyear party hats, which I couldn't find anywhere (Walmart or Target). So I took some SpongeBob ones we used for Dave a couple of years ago and covered them with some really expensive Toy Story wrapping paper. You would never know the difference.

Partyin' out, while watching Toy Story 1 during nap/quiet time.

The whole fam in a great cheez pic.

The beloved Buzz with "wings that pop out"...the single requested item. Grammy pulled through for us on this one and Charlie was possibly the most excited I've ever seen him in his whole life of 4 years.

Good thing Pete has a birthday in a few weeks. He kind of had a hard time with all the attention going to Charlie.

A requested blue, Buzz and Woody cake.

And, I'm pretty sure there aren't enough of these "birthday song" videos out there. I had to add another one to the mix. He just looks so happy to be sung to. And because we are so far away from family, we have to keep you all updated. :o)

It became very clear that Charlie had some very specific ideas about what "turning 4" would hold in store for him. This morning, he said, as he has been saying for the last few weeks,

"Mom, when I'm four...." followed by any number of things that are going to happen when he turns four.

Me: "Charlie, you're 4!"

Charlie (in a quite thoughtful voice): "Right now?"

Me: "Yes, you're 4 now!"

Charlie: "Oh. (long pause as he catches up with himself) I feel the same.

Going to bed tonight he said: "But Mom, I'm four and I'm still sleeping in the same bed!"

I guess he thought something would feel different. I think we all kind of anticipate some sort of "different feeling" when we officially turn another year older. It is a real thing. But really we are only one minute older then we were a minute ago. Turns out it is kind of a let down. But over time, we actually do get older and feel different, it just isn't a sudden event. How do you explain this to a 4-year-old??

Happy Birthday, Charlie Bug!

crafty lately

I usually get pretty "knitty" during the holidays. My mom and I are pros at grabbing a down day and knitting by the fire ALL DAY. Here are some fruits of my labor:

I started this project awhile back but finally put him all together. He has beads in his bum to weight him down. This gnome needs a name! Any suggestions?

I totally made up this cat hat! I love the fuzzy ears. It is for my little niece who lives in Bozeman, MT.

Treats we made for friends this year.

These are Pete's slippers. Charlie has some matching blue ones. Super easy and fast.

I'm itching for another project. Maybe I'll start a baby sweater for our BABY GIRL coming in May/June!!