Jan. 31

This is where I've spent the good bit of the morning/early afternoon.... on the phone (usually on hold for insane periods of time) and at the computer trying desperately to get the needed information to get my vehicle registered in the state of Maryland.  See... my Arizona tag... it expires TODAY.  Yeah.  We thought getting the vehicle registered here would be a simple process, pretty much like it is anywhere else we've lived in the past, but it SO is not.  It's ridiculous the number of hoops one has to jump through.  It's also ridiculous that the item we needed from Arizona takes two weeks to get to us even when it's electronically generated (which is supposed to make the process quicker).  Ummmm, what?!  Hopefully, what we need will be here soon... until then, I'll be driving Jonathan's little "square" around town and he'll be bumming a ride to and from work from one of our friends that works with him.

Jan. 30

I love Fat Witch brownies.  I mean... big, puffy heart, LOVE these brownies.  In particular, I love the blondies aka Blonde Witches.  So, when I ran across a recipe for these particular blondies, I HAD to try it out.  Mine didn't turn out exactly right... they were still ok, but definitely NOT Fat Witch quality.  It helps to actually read the recipe correctly and not add 1 1/3 cup too many chocolate chips.  Yeah.  The recipe called for 2/3c chocolate chips... I misread that as TWO cups of chocolate chips, which is pretty much an entire bag.  I may try them again... but then again, I may just order them straight from the source instead.  :)

Jan. 29

Out of the mouth of Jack today:

*Jack was standing in the doorway of the pantry trying to decide on a snack when I walked up behind him to try to hurry him up a little bit.  He turned around, looked up and pointed at me and said "Wait a second, ma."  Just so matter-of-factly.  Silly kid.

*He woke up from his nap and started calling for me to come get him.  As I walked up the stairs to get him, he pointed to his bed and said, "I all done in bed."

This next one is my favorite... and let me preface it with this.  He's NEVER said I love you before.

*We were sitting on the couch watching Despicable Me for the millionth time and I said, "I love you, Jack."  He said, "uh-huh" (which is his usual reply) "I love you too, ma."  Now, it comes out fairly mumbly but I knew exactly what he said.  And I admit... I teared up a little.  It's my favorite thing to hear him say now.

Jan. 28

Little man started speech today.  He was a little unsure about it at first, but started to open up a bit throughout the session.  He really seemed to enjoy himself... so much that he really didn't want to leave.  He spent the majority of the day asking me if he could go back to speech.  I'm thinking it's a good thing that he's so excited to go!

Jan. 27

The amount of snow that fell in our front yard (and on our back deck) the night before and until it stopped around midnight or so.  The boys were ecstatic about it... and couldn't wait to play in it!  Alex was thrilled to get yet another day off from school (we got close to 2" the night before, so he was out on Wednesday, too... as well as the teacher workday on Monday).  Jonathan, however, only got a delayed start at work and was none too pleased about shoveling our vehicles out of the snow.  Can't say that I blame him... that stuff was heavy and packed down. 

Jan. 26

 It started snowing today... well, technically it rained, then sleeted, then started snowing, then switched back a time or two before we got the full-on heavy snow.  I sat with Jack at the window for a little bit this morning... he lined his cars up in a neat line along the window sill and I just watched and watched.  In the 15 minutes that I sat there I watched it turn from rain to sleet to the biggest, puffiest snowflakes I think I've ever seen.  It was absolutely beautiful and serene and peaceful... and I'm so thankful that I took the time to just sit... and watch. 

Jan. 25

I got a call this morning... one that we've been waiting for for nearly a year now.  We've been trying to get Jack into speech and have always run into problems with insurance covering it and not being eligible for the free state-run programs.  Well today.... today I got the call that our insurance is going to cover speech for my little man!  I'm so SUPER excited... he starts on Friday.  Yay!

Other notable news.... I finally found where the air filter is located.  Seriously, it only took 6 months, and who would've ever guessed that it would be behind the furnace in the small locked room that houses the sump pump (the same locked room that our landlord told us not to worry about).  But, at least there's a new air filter in now.  That's a GOOD thing. 

Jan. 24

Took the boys to IKEA today to pick up some odds and ends to attempt to finally finish up Alex's room.  Ok, so I also really just wanted to look around... I haven't had an IKEA fix in a while and I seriously big puffy heart LOVE IKEA.  I'd planned on getting a fairly early start, but once I saw the boys playing so nicely together, I decided not to intrude on that (it doesn't happen very often) and let them play for a little bit longer.  Lunch rolled around while we were in the store, which Alex was reminded of when we walked past the restaurant area.  He asked if we could eat there and since there were barely any people in there, I decided why not.  Both boys were super the entire time... especially during lunch.  I was super surprised that Jack chose to eat more than just the french fries off of my and Alex's plate (we shared).  It was a good trip... and we made it out of the store for less than $100! I think that might just be a first.  ;)

Jan. 23

Alex and I spent some time in his room today attempting to clean it up and organize it a bit.  I can honestly say that you could barely see the floor in his room first thing this morning.  He had Christmas gifts that he hadn't even opened (we went out of town not long after opening gifts) and hadn't played with because he couldn't really get to them!  It's still not perfect, but at least you can see the floor and the top of his desk (you seriously couldn't see it before).  After we finished up, he only wanted to play in his room... and so did Jack.  So the two sat at his desk and colored for a good 20 minutes or so before I told them we needed to take it downstairs to the kitchen.  Jack wasn't pleased... he likes playing in Alex's room. 

Jan. 22

Today we spent 2 hours sitting in the DMV waiting to get our new driver's licenses.  Initially, we'd thought we'd go separately, but finally decided to go ahead, suck it up, and take the kids with us and get it all over with at once.  According to the website, the wait was all of 15 minutes when we left the house.  By the time we got there... the wait was 45 minutes.... and that was after waiting in line for an hour to get our "number".  The boys were actually fairly well behaved, so I have no complaints there.  My biggest complaint was the amount of paperwork we had to take with us to prove who we are and our residency.  Ugh.... birth certificate/passport, social security cards, bank statement, cable bill/vehicle registration.  It was ridiculous.  And don't even get me started on all the crap that goes into getting my vehicle registered here.  So yeah... the picture posted doesn't really have anything to do with today... it wasn't even taken today.  To be perfectly honest, I didn't take a picture for today.  I'm planning to put my "number" and the receipt for my license ($45!) in my project life album... but I really don't want to take a picture of it.  So instead, you get a picture of me and one of my sweet littles.  :)

Jan. 21

Alex's new glasses came in today (as did my contacts, yay!), so we drove over to pick them up after school today.  Alex has been complaining big time that he doesn't have any books to read that are of interest to him right now, so we drove up to Barnes & Noble in hopes of remedying that.  Honestly, though... I don't know how he doesn't have any books to read... he got several new books for Christmas!  Anyway... we went into B&N, and anyone who knows me well, knows that we aren't coming out of the bookstore without at least one new book.  In fact, this trip, we came out with 4.... 2 new books for Alex and 2 new books for Jack.  Well technically... Jack came out with 13 new books.... he got a small board book and then a set of 12 "Cars" mini board books.  But really... who's keeping track? 

Jan. 20

mmm.... banana pudding! I have to admit it... I'm 35 years old and I've never made banana pudding before.  Nope.  Never.  But this... mmm... it was so good.  I came across THIS recipe while browsing around pinterest one day and it just looked so yummy and seemed really simple to make.  Since we were having a good friend over for dinner tonight, I figured it'd be perfect for dessert and went to the store to pick up all the necessities.  I will freely admit that I didn't follow the recipe word for word.  I, obviously, didn't put my banana pudding in individual bowls... I layered it all up in a big pyrex container.  I also didn't adhere to the 36 vanilla wafers that the recipe calls for.... I just layered until I thought it looked nice (the cookie layers that you can't see aren't spaced out like those on top).  I also didn't use Cool-Whip... I made my own whipped cream (and boy was it delish).  So, there you have it.... my first try at banana pudding.  And it was such a success!  I'll definitely be making this again soon.  Especially since it doesn't stick around the house for very long.  :)

Jan. 19

We got a set of Disney stickers in the mail yesterday and managed to keep them out of Jack's hands for less than 24 hours.  He's so funny... he got his hands on them first thing this morning and they managed to keep him entertained for the majority of the day.  Thankfully, he didn't stick them to anything other than himself!

Jan. 18

A typical breakfast for Jack, although lately he's been skipping the waffles and insisting on yogurt to go with his banana.  And as you might be able to tell, he doesn't like to sit down to eat breakfast, either... he'd rather take a bite here and there.  But, I'm just thankful that he's decided it's ok to eat breakfast.  There have been many mornings where we can't convince him to eat anything at all!

Jan. 17

Since today is a holiday and Alex is off from school, I threw my original plans out the window and declared it "jammie day".  The last time we had jammie day, I didn't get to participate since I had some errands to run.  So, today... I decided that I didn't really need to go to IKEA, or Barnes & Noble, or even to Target.  That lightbulb that I need to get can wait.  And the fixings for banana pudding can wait, too.  I'm gonna be lazy and stay in my pjs all day.  The boys clearly don't have a problem with that.  While we were eating lunch, we turned on Despicable Me.  Santa brought it to the boys for Christmas, but we've never had a chance to sit down and watch it.  Well, Alex did, but Jack hasn't and he's been begging to for the past few days now.  I didn't get to sit and watch much of any of it, but I'm sure it'll be shown again... and again... and again soon. 

Jan. 16

I love technology. I'm a junkie... I admit it.  Today I was thrilled.... not only did I finally have my phone back from the Geek Squad (technically a brand-spanking new one!), but I also was able to go to the grocery store without Jack, which meant I could use my grocery app on my ipad!  I got some weird looks, and one lady actually stopped me to ask about it (she thought it was "so cool"), but I totally loved not having to deal with the pen and paper that I usually have with me.  And ok... it was nice to not have to deal with Jack rearranging (and opening) everything in the grocery cart, too.

Jan. 15

We all had eye exams today.  I intentionally scheduled the appointments, not only on a Saturday, but all back to back... that way Jonathan could go first and then take Jack home with him.  Anyone who has met Jack knows he can be a handful in situations like these.  Alex has always been so good about eye exams, and I'm so thankful for that.  He did the pre-exam stuff with no problem... sat through the Opto-Map thing like a trooper, even when they asked to use medical tape to keep his long, thick eyelashes out of the image (oh, to have that problem).   He even sat through the exam all by himself.  Jonathan was looking around for new frames and talking about cost with the one girl and I was chasing around after Jack, literally.  Alex can be SUCH a trooper and SO independent when he wants to be.  I'm thankful that this was one of those moments.  Jonathan finished up, we looked for some new frames for Alex, and then Jonathan took Jack home while I had my exam.  I left Alex in the front to have his frames fitted and told him to sit and wait for me until I came back out.  I came out and he was still sitting in the same place.... just chatting away with the girl that helped him pick out his glasses and fitted them.  I never did ask what exactly they'd been chatting about... but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with video games. 

Jan. 14

See ya, Uncle Richard! Our good friend came over for dinner tonight... the boys absolutely LOVE him, especially Alex.  I know the boys are thrilled that we're finally in the same town again and they can see him a bit more frequently.  Of course... Jonathan and I are, too.  :)

Jan. 13

I bought these cups at Costco recently simply because I prefer drinking out of a straw and these are reusable.  I'm not sure how often I'm going to get to use them, though... Jack seems to think they belong to him now.

Jan. 12

Two hour delay for school.... means more time to play! Funny... Alex was never really interested in these blocks when he was little, but he loves building with his little brother.

Jan. 11

Watching the snow fall.  Before this he was watching at the front window... he saw the snow falling and said very matter-of-factly, "I go play" and ran to get his shoes.  Too bad for him that it was too late at night to go play in the snow. 

Jan. 10

Jack decided he was hungry the other night and got himself an apple.  We didn't even know he'd taken one until we saw him walking around with several bites out of it.  At least it was a healthy snack!

Jan. 9

Jammy day! Who doesn't love spending the entire day in your pjs? We certainly do.

Jan. 8

The boys had such fun playing with Roby on the ipad this evening.  They laughed and laughed... it was such a wonderful thing to hear.  And I'm so glad that I thought to pick up my camera and take pictures of it (and that they didn't stop once I started).  I can look at the picture and still hear the laughter.

Jan. 7

School was delayed two hours today... because of this.  Funny how there was 2-3" on the ground last time and school wasn't even canceled.  Crazy stuff!

Jan. 6

Some of Jack's favorite toys.  Sad to say... this is only half of the Toy Story toys he has.  He's all about Buzz and Woody.  :)

Jan. 5

Time to get started!

Jan. 4

"Whoopsie!" I have no idea where you picked this word up... but we hear it every time you drop something.  And it cracks me up every single time.  :)

Jan. 3

After a short and rushed Christmas break, school has started back.... which means the return of homework.  I think I dread it as much as Alex does.

Jan. 2

A rare date with my hubby...