Perfect day at the Pumpkin Patch

Today we ventured out to Bates Nut Farm to visit the best known Pumpkin Patch in the area. We had a FANTASTIC time! It was drizzly out this morning, so we rescheduled the event with the playgroup but still took a chance and went anyway. It turned out to be a really nice day, so I am sooo glad we decided to chance it. Mike was able to go, too, which was such a great surprise. Anyway, they have a petting zoo, pony rides, a hay ride, and LOTS of pumpkins. Our good friend Cheryl and her two little ones were able to go with us. McKayla (Cheryl's daughter) is Tyler's best little girl friend. They really do play well together and seem to adore each other so much. We were able to get a ton of great pictures, so I will try to update the kids webpages tonight. Check back tomorrow if I don't get to them later. Well, I am super busy these days with photography, so I may seem a little MIA until after the holidays. I will try to write as much as possible.

Need some motivation?

A few days ago while walking to the park, Tyler yelled up to me "Run, Mommy, Run!" I replied, "I am not dressed to run. We are just going to the park to play today." His response was "I thought you want to lose some pounds. You need to run!" First of all, I guess I need to watch what I say around the little ones because even though their eyes are glued to the TV, they really are listening. Second, who knew a toddler could be so commonsensical? Lastly, why do people pay hundreds of dollars for a personal trainer? I can hire out my 3 year old to keep you motivated for half of whatever you are paying. So, anyway, I took into consideration Tyler's very valid point that these pounds are not going to just work themselves off and I broke down and bought me a treadmill. Today, I hit the (I was about to say pavement LOL) belt and I must say was quite impressed with myself. I ran a whole 6 miles in one hour! I thought it was pretty good, but Tyler kept shouting at me from the couch "Run faster Mommy! Look, like this." and then he would jump down and do a speedy lap around the room. I am telling you, if you need motivation I have just the guy for you!

Ummm....Thanks?

First of all let me tell you this is a true unembellished story. Even I can't make this shit up!

Today, Mike came in the door for his lunch break and he has an ice cream cake in his hand. My first thought "Great, there goes the diet train right off the tracks!". Then, I notice it is only a half of an ice cream cake. So, naturally I think they had leftovers from work and he brought it home. Wrong! As Mike was exiting the car to come in the house the neighbor came over and said "Hey, do your kids eat ice cream?" (Ummm...no. They HATE it. What planet is this guy from that kids don't eat ice cream?) Anyway, he then says "My daughter just turned 17 and we got her an ice cream cake, but we aren't going to finish it. Let me go grab it." He goes into his house and brings the cake back to Mike. End of story, right? Nope. So, I open up the container to take a peek, and I KID YOU NOT, there are fork grooves across the cake. You know like someone has eaten straight out of the container! Yeah, so there goes the cake in the trash. Next week I think I will take him over that partially used bar of soap that dried out my skin and say "Hey, you use soap to bathe right? Here you go!".

I mean, HONESTLY!!

My little boy. A ladies man?

First of all let me just say...
Forgive me for it has been way too long since my last confession. LOL Things have been busy and I just haven't been able to find the time to blog. Okay, those of you who know me will see right through that little white lie, but anyway here goes...

Tyler is growing up way too fast! He told me today that he thinks his friend McKayla is pretty. What!!?? He is only THREE. I am supposed to be the only girl he thinks is pretty! We were at the park today and Tyler ran around with his best two little girl friends Jaelyn and McKayla. Then, we went out to lunch with Cheryl, Mason and McKayla. I guess one girl is easier to manage than two because during the course of the lunch McKayla and Tyler sure did hit it off! They always play so well together, but today they were super cute. We noticed that they were walking around with their arms around each other so I told Cheryl to nonchalantly get her camera before they noticed we were taking pictures. I didn't have my camera for once, which really stinks! Anyway, then they hugged and gave each other a kiss. So innocent and adorable. I know it is not going to be cute in about 10 more years, but I am definitely eating it up at the moment. I hope this isn't a prediction to how popular he is going to be with the girls or boy am I gonna be in for some TROUBLE!

What a waste

I have spent a lot of time and money in order to give my children a nice playroom full of toys to play with and explore. Yet, they always seem to have more fun playing with the junk mail, empty cardboard box, wooden spoon, or other miscellaneous household item or happy meal toy. I think I should just get rid of all the toys and turn my playroom into a recycling center, because honestly, what is more fun than an empty water bottle? Today, Lorelei found my purse and proceeded to rummage through it (like always) scouting for the uneaten Olive Garden chocolate mint or empty gift card to add to her "credit card" collection. You would think she had just found an unlimited supply of fruit "nacks" by the way she came running at me with a huge grin plastered across those chubby cheeks of hers. I personally didn't share in the enthusiasm. After all, it was just a finger puppet...

A TAMPON finger puppet!

10 years ago today...

10 years ago today, I had no idea it would be the beginning to my happily ever after. Sept. 4, 1997 is the day that Mike and I officially became a couple. He was a senior. I was a sophomore. He was an officer in the JROTC. I was class treasurer. He was quiet, not really popular, a bit of a dork yet still really cute. I was outgoing, popular, a choir girl. Mostly, he was just an extremely decent guy and not at all my type. Yet something about him drew me in that summer and has managed to keep me sucked in all these years. So much has changed since that day so long ago. We have grown up together. Graduated. Attended colleges (and different ones at that). Learned together and from each other. Through it all he has remained my best friend, my confidant, my safe place to run to. I can't wait to see what the next 10 years holds for us.

Michael David Spurgeon...I love you!

Quiet Couple of Days

As you can tell, from my lack of posting, it has been a quiet couple of days around here. Tyler and I did generate quite a bit of unwarranted heat in this already steaming house by baking banana bread yesterday. It is really not a good idea to have the oven at 4oo degrees for an hour in a house without A/C in the summer. But, I must say the banana bread has been greatly enjoyed by all. And the experience of cooking with Tyler always adds a little sunshine to my day. He absolutely enjoys every aspect of cooking and is always eager to lend a helping hand in the kitchen. After getting out all the ingredients for the bread, I tied on my little apron. Tyler looks me straight in the eye and says "OH, mommy, you look SO pretty. I REALLY wish we could go dancin' togedder!". I know I have said this before, but I truly do think he is going to make some woman very happy one day (if I can find a way to let him go ;)).

Lorelei also made me one proud Mama. If you look down the side of my blog, you will see the picture that has made me all swollen with pride. I, for a second time in one week, found myself on the other side of the camera.
It is a good thing she knows how to get me! If all I had to go on was this...

That little girl of mine, would be in trouble. Yes, she is sticking a pen light up her nose. At least it isn't her finger anymore. LOL

Sushi & Karaoke

Last night was our playgroup MNO (Mom's Night Out) so we hit up Sushi Taisho.

A little Saki to kick off our MNO
(Yes, Mom, I DO have clothes on)

The food was quite tasty. The waitress was rude, but whatever. After dinner we headed downstairs to Coyote Bar & Grill because they had a band playing out on the patio and it was still too early to return home. There was this lady TEARING IT UP on the dance floor that kept us all entertained. The lady was hilarious and really thought she had all the moves. I still can't get the image out of my mind of her striking a pose with those fabulous jazz hands. The band quit playing at 10 and I was so bummed that our night had come to an end. That was until we realized they had karaoke going on inside the bar. We headed inside. By now, we have all had at least one glass of liquid courage so we skimmed the book for a song that we could somewhat remember the words to. Ever noticed how your brain tries to save you the embarrassment by totally erasing the lyrics to every song you have ever heard the instant you look at "the book"? Anyway, I kicked off the night with a duet with a random guy in the bar. Everyone took turns singing and it was a BLAST! Oh, I forgot to tell you. There was this girl who put my name on a slip as a backup for her Lady Marmalade. They called my name and I was like " What? Who? Me?". The music started and I started singing. Best way to sum it up... train wreck. She didn't even know the song she chose. So, anyway, we stayed until about 12:30. I get home, and what does Mike say? "You're home early. I thought you would stay until the bar closed." You know me. I LOVE my karaoke, but you can't stay out all night when the kids wake you up at 6am. Next MNO adventure....Riding the Mechanical Bull.

It must've been one LUCKY day!

The other night before dinner we were all outside enjoying some family time down in the common. The kids were running and playing and arguing about who was going to drink out of the water bottle (what's new). Lorelei went off in her own direction to explore over by the picnic tables. Something caught her eye on the picnic bench and boy was she drawn to it like a moth to a light bulb. She goes over and I see her touch something and then lick her finger. I yelled for Mike to see what she was eating. Okay, so my exact words were "What is she EATING? It better not be bird poop!" while motioning Mike to get her. He gets over to her, but not before she DOUBLE DIPPED and he starts wiping her mouth frantically. All the while, I am still sitting on my butt not at all alarmed by this action for she is my second born. Mike gets her interested in a different direction and comes over to me and says "Yep, it was bird poop". Yes, you heard me right. I have heard it is good luck if a bird poops on you (who makes this stuff up anyway), so just IMAGINE how lucky my little Lorelei is going to be!

The simple things in life

Today Ty rode the wild Seahorse while Lorelei went UP the slide.

Sometimes as I sit and watch my children play I can't help but wish I could see things they way they do. When did the magic of all life's little things stop grabbing my attention? Today we went to Kailyn's birthday party at Pine Ave. Park. We had the best time! It is my favorite park and we were surrounded by some of the best gals from my playgroup. Lorelei, in particular really enjoyed herself. I watched her sit and draw with her sidewalk chalk while Tyler fought off all the bad guys with his sword. To me it was just a stick his friend Patrick found in the grass, but to Tyler it was the thing that transformed him into a brave knight. After the kids played for a while, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Kailyn and then came the cupcakes. Tyler had been looking forward to them all morning, but Lorelei is the one who was CRAZY about them! I gave her the cupcake and let her go to town. She started out slow. Got some frosting on her hand. So she wiped the frosting off by spreading it down the length of her entire leg! All I could do was watch and giggle. So, then she gets frosting on her other hand and wipes it down the front of her dress. After that, I guess she thought "Well now I am a mess, so here goes nothing" because she starts just stuffing her face. Well, nothing could describe the scene better than a picture...

I think it was the best day of her life!

Ty, on the other hand, had a few challenges.

What a Booger!

Lorelei found her nose today.


Wait a Minute, I think I have a booger...


Yummy!


Wanna try it, Daddy?


Oh, I think I have another one just for you...


Yay, I got it!

The Disappearing Act

So far, I have been very busy today! I had a photo session for a little princess turning 1. I painted some on the castle, made lunch, cleaned the house, did a load of laundry (well it is sitting in the washer anyway calling me to please come transfer it to the dryer and continue my washing), ran the dishwasher, and I am now sitting here at the computer updating my blog, answering emails, and trying to keep up with the inflow of photo requests for my Pic & Treat Halloween Photography session. I never imagined it would be so popular. Which brings me to the little annoyance described by the title of this blog. It seems that a discussion that I have going to keep track of my Pic & Treat event, which has many readers judging by the number of responses that I have gotten, keeps mysteriously disappearing from an unnamed playgroup's message board. But, no matter! Don't they realize that me having to repost it keeps it at the TOP of the board at all times? I guess someone feels a little threatened by the competition. GROW UP!

Anyway, I know you are all only really here to read about what is going on with the kids, so here I go. I went to the store this morning (oh, I left that off the list above) and picked up a few things. When I got home, Lorelei noticed I had bought her favorite fruit and she runs at me screaming like a lunatic "BLAAALALALALAL. BLALLAALALALALALA!" In case, you don't speak infant, that is "banana". I wish you could see her with her tongue flapping in and out of her mouth at a hundred flicks per minute. It cracks me up every time! After lunch, Mike had gotten after Tyler for just messing up the house without a purpose. About 15 minutes later, Mike said "Tyler, where are you?" and out from behind the sofa pops out a tiny little "I don't know". It is like that when we play hide and seek, too.
Me: "Where's Tyler? Is he in the closet?"
A tiny voice behind the sofa: "No."
Next game,
Me: "Where's Tyler? Is he in the laundry basket?"
A tiny voice behind the sofa: "No."
I am running out of places to pretend to look. It will be a big day when I say "Where's Tyler? Is he under the chair?" and the little voice behind the sofa floats out from a different piece of furniture.

Well, I got to get back to that stinking laundry. If I sit here too long Mike might catch on that I am not really as busy as I lead him to believe.

Waiting for news...

My SIL's water broke this afternoon, so I thought I would share that I am going to be an auntie very soon! I will keep you posted.

UPDATE:
Anica Rose was born at 1:08 am 8/26/07. She weighed in at 7lb. 2oz. and is 19 in. Mom and baby are both doing great!

A little pain in the backside

Today was the first day that Mike has had a Saturday off all month and we had plans to actually finish that monstrous castle of a bed that Tyler won't sleep a wink in. I got up early even though Lorelei decided last night at midnight that the only way she, and therefor I, was going to sleep was with me holding her. I had lots of errands to run. It wouldn't have taken me so long, but the hair color that I have begun to cherish seems to no longer exist ANYWHERE! While out running errands I always talk on the phone (sorry Beth) and my phone died halfway through the morning. I must make a note, here and now, that it is not my fault that my phone is never charged. The little metal piece that keeps it connected to the charger broke months ago and now falls out at random times. It is a miracle I haven't lost it. So, once I browsed all the clearance at Target I found my way back to the car to see I had missed a call from Mike. OOPS! I call him and he says, "I need your help. I hurt my back and I can't move." I said, " Well, honey, you are going to have to get to the door, because I forgot my keys." OOPS, again. So, home I go straightaway! When I arrive home (after unloading my car of all my bargain finds) I get to the door and he is laying on the floor in front of the door with his feet straight up to the ceiling. So, what do I do? My first instinct was to laugh, but I held my composure and proceeded to show Lorelei her new shoes and Tyler his spiderman costume that I got for $6.50. I know, only $6.50! Okay, back to my poor immobile husband...To make a very long, very sad story as short as possible and save you all from the whine of a grown man, he is at work tonight and we didn't paint a drop. Seems a little fishy to me!

My first post! (I know, not really original)

I have decided to start a blog of my very own. Not because I am a particularly talented writer or because I have anything remotely important to say, but merely because it seems the thing to do nowadays. I have never really considered myself witty or quick thinking when it comes to things to say. Therefor, I caution you now that you may be extremely bored and/or disappointed if you choose to subscribe to the ramblings of my everyday existence. So, now that you have been briefed and warned...

:::drum roll, please:::

I am officially a blogger!!