the next chapter

pin it

2012-02-10T15:00:00.000-06:00

I have a little confession. I may be a bit obsessed with Pinterest. I signed up for it, rather requested an invite to join it, a few months back. I never really used it or really understood it. But recently, I have used it (a lot) and have a better idea of what to use it for & how to use it. And I love it. It provides great ideas (i.e. the valentines I made for Liam's class), lets you live in fantasy for a bit (i.e. my next house board) and awesome recipes ( salad in a mason jar- genius!). Plus you can follow your friends or have them follow you so if they re-pin something they like you can see it and may even want to re-pin it for yourself. Check it out, if you haven't already and follow me if you would like:

dry

2012-02-09T07:54:00.000-06:00

Since becoming a mom, I have found myself getting exciting over things that I probably thought were lame pre-Liam. It is almost as if your excitement level goes on steroids after becoming a parent.

The latest excitement in our home is Liam using the potty. This is big time stuff. He has been sitting and using the potty on & off, or when he felt like it since last summer. Most of the time he liked to sit on the potty and just read his books and he didn't make the connection. He still likes to read on the potty, but now he is taking care of business, too. He refuses to wear diapers (he will consent to a pair of pull ups at bedtime). I am sure there will still be accidents, but that is to be expected.

This is amazing for a few different reasons : he is gaining more independence, he is so proud, he is so excited about wearing his Toy Story under-roos, he is growing up, I am spending less money on diapers, I don't have to change diapers, hearing Liam shout "yeah boy!!!" when there is success on the potty, and I am sure I could go on & on...

Liam has reached another milestone. Which in turn means Andrew and I have also reached another parenting milestone. high fives all around!

02.05.12

2012-02-05T12:21:00.003-06:00

hello? winter?

2012-02-05T12:19:00.000-06:00

We have been waiting since November to get a snow fall that will allow us to construct a "frosty". No such luck, yet. This is what we have been given so far:

There was a lot of snow at my parents' house, but it wasn't the right type of snow to build a frosty. And not to mention that it was freezing out that day. Brrrr!

We finally got a bit of snow at our house. Barely enough to cover the grass. But enough to plow through on his sled, which he hardly fit into. He loved it. Again it was so cold that day- when we had to come into the house his tears froze up on his eye lashes.

And this is how we welcomed the first day of February. Upstate New York in the middle of winter.

hint, hint

2012-01-16T13:14:00.001-06:00

I came across this today and thought it was just adorable...

"Owl" Always Love You

The Vintage Pearl has some amazing stuff and if I could afford it, I would take one of everything. I do have one necklace from there and it is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I highly suggest checking out their website, watch out, you will want one of everything, too.

sabbatical

2012-01-16T13:02:00.000-06:00

Where have I been? I am not completely sure myself. I think the past two weeks have been just a bit of a blur, and the moments that are not blurs are filled with laziness (not a great way to kick off 2012! me and my big resolutions blah, blah, blah).
But don't worry, I am back. Sabbatical is over and back to sharing the ins and outs of our life.

static e

2012-01-02T16:55:00.000-06:00

resolutions...

2012-01-01T12:46:00.001-06:00

I kept two out of my four resolutions from last year. Not all that great. So here goes for this year...
Resolutions for 2012:

1. Trim the fat- aka losing that debt that has been following me around for a bit. If all goes as planned, we should be credit card debt free in 2013.

2. Trim the fat- aka losing some weight & getting healthier. I need to begin to treat my body & mind better. 2012 will be the year (seriously).

3. Ride the bike. Can't wait to spring ahead so I can get out in the mornings and ride the bike. Goal is 300 miles this summer.

4. Recycle, more. For a family of 3 + a dog, I feel like we create way too much garbage. Lots more recycling, reusing and less waste.

Hoping for a 4 out of 4 next year...

1.1.12

2012-01-01T12:41:00.000-06:00

We are taking advantage of Mother Nature's warm weather here in NY. Usually we have snowbanks and snowmen in our lawn. This year we are hitting the pavement and feeling the sun's warmth.


New Years Day Stroll '12

our year

2011-12-30T05:07:00.001-06:00

Another year gone, right before our eyes. So much fun stuff happened this year...I feel like I could have added at least 4 pictures for each month highlighting the great stuff that the Gregory Family experienced. I hope 2012 hold just as much fun, love, health, and happiness that 2011 provided. I wonder what this review will look like next year.


January- lots of snow, lots of snow days, lots of sledding

February- Figuring out how wonderful pb really is

March- chubby cheeks and love for your dada

April- New Roof!

May- tulip fest and stealing kisses

June- breakfast and celebrating daddy

July- hot days and quick dips in the pool

August- Warrior survivor

September- so many fun things this month including a great wedding

October- Orlando, Sea World, and air plane rides

November- He is 2!!!!

December- Bo-Bee the Elf, Silver & Gold, Rudolph and m&ms

flash friday

2011-12-30T03:44:00.003-06:00

snuggles fest and Monsters, Inc.

Buzz

cool tricks, cool tricks

Merry Christmas

Love and such for Santa & Co.

Guilty looks by all

Old Lady Beard

God Bros

12.25.11

2011-12-25T17:23:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas! Hope your day was merry & bright. Our day was fantastic. Not because of the presents, but because we were together and we were able to remember that magical feeling that comes with Christmas (even though we had NO snow. Not even a flurry).

This photo pretty much sums up our day:

wild.crazy.out of control. and lots of fun.

flash friday

2011-12-23T04:55:00.004-06:00

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has a magical weekend! I am really hoping Mother Nature drops a nice amount white, fluffy snow to add even more magic to our weekend.

Oh, the many faces of Liam that occur in span of a shutter button being pushed

Don't mind his spaghetti sauce beard

good night...

2011-12-22T02:01:00.000-06:00

Someone decided that he was going to read instead of going to sleep last night. He loves his Rudolph book and read it by the little light his Christmas tree gives off. I think he was reading his stuffed animals a night-night story.

beauty green

2011-12-21T19:58:00.001-06:00

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Your beauty green will teach me
That hope and love will ever be
The way to joy and peace for me.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Your beauty green will teach me

6am

2011-12-21T05:45:00.000-06:00

This is what goes on at my house at 6:00am:

Bells are ringing, children singing, all is merry and bright

Santa dances and sings. This was a surprise gift from our Elf, Bo-Bee (damn Bo-Bee!) Liam loves it and unfortunately, Santa only sings one song...we have heard "Here Comes Santa Claus" at least 50 times since last night.

2011-12-17T14:35:00.000-06:00

He is always watching!

2011-12-17T14:33:00.001-06:00

Santa Paws

b & a pt. 1

2011-12-17T14:31:00.000-06:00

We have been doing some serious house updating this past month- new back door, kitchen backsplash and now carpet.
So as time goes on and as we organize and get everything back in order I will share some before & after photos. With that being said, here is part 1: the staircase:

lights

2011-12-17T14:19:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday we took a ride through Washington Park to take a look at the lights. Liam really could have cared less about the lights. All he wanted was to hear "Jingle, Jingle, Jingle" on loop and to remind me to "no touch lights, Mommy!!!!"

Liam, Andrew and a Gingerbread Person.

Frosty creeper in the background

Hi-5 Mo!

photos with santa

2011-12-14T19:08:00.000-06:00

Not this year. Lets just say that photos with Santa creeps me out. I am not sure why. I don't recall ever having any incidents with any Santa. I just find the whole concept creepy. Write Santa a letter, send him a text, send him an email. I did offer Liam the opportunity to see Santa and have his photo taken. He freaked out a bit and said no. So maybe next year. Or maybe we will have breakfast with Santa someplace this year- a lot less pressure and candid shots are always fun.
.
And then I stumbled across this website a few years ago...if you are in need of a good laugh, please check it out:
Sketchy Santas

1st day

2011-12-13T07:40:00.000-06:00

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....

One festive Pug (or not)!

flash friday

2011-12-09T18:25:00.000-06:00

This is a great jump start to our weekend... Liam gets to hang with his grandparents, we get to listen to Christmas music and we get to eat lots of treats and make gingerbread houses...

funky robot tree

2011-12-06T05:13:00.000-06:00

I have been itching to decorate the house for Christmas since last weekend. Since we are having carpet installed downstairs next week, a tree can't go up until that happens. Liam is in awe when he sees lights or sees a snowman on something or a picture of Santa. He is adorable. So I can't wait to decorate and hang our stockings. He is all about listening to Christmas music, too! His favorite right now is "Silver & Gold" by Burl Ives....one more reason why we believe Liam has an old man trapped inside of his body.

So in the meantime we put up "funky robot tree" in Liam's room. Last year Liam was very curious about the tree and the ornaments, so this year he gets his own.
Ta da.......

Andrew and my dad also put a new door up in our kitchen over the weekend so I added a little holiday spirit to that as well...

nov. 30

2011-11-30T18:10:00.000-06:00

Last day of na.blo.po.mo!
Now to conclude this, I will share a conversation that I had with Liam earlier tonight:

Liam's hand was in his the pocket of his pants-

Me: "Liam, what do you have in your pocket?"
Liam: "Tatos"
Me: "Oh, who are you giving potatoes to?"
Liam: "Lana" ( Elena, a friend from school)

Me: "Liam, what is in your other pocket?"
Liam: "Chicken pot pie"
Me: "Who are you giving your chicken pot pie to?"
Liam: "Grady" (another buddy at school)

Random conversations with a 2yr old.

pinch, ouch.

2011-11-29T05:01:00.000-06:00

There is this one lady who does check ins at Liam's pediatrician's office. Somehow she remembers him. Yesterday when we walked in she got all excited to see him and then proceeded to give him at least ten stickers. A good start to crappy doctor's visit- it was time for more shots.

He did well with his exam, according to Dr.D. he looks and sounds great, is on target for meeting all milestones and she also said to not get too concerned about the "w" sitting- as there are no other concerns with walking, running, sitting. She said we could certainly go ahead and put a request to have him evaluated by early intervention, but she thought he would not qualify for any services. He is also 26lbs!

He then had his finger pricked and two shots. Poor little guy. I recall how sad it was when he got shots as an infant, but now he is more aware and it was absolutely more sad yesterday than any other time. I gave him heads up that he would feel a pinch and it would be sore. After it was done, and the tears had stopped and he had his Dora snacks in hand, the nurse said good bye, Liam looked at her and said "pinch!". I am sure he would have called her something else if his vocabulary was bigger.
So the whole ride home I kept on hearing him say "Mommy, pinch, pinch, ouch". Poor kid, but he did get an awesome DJ Lance Rock sticker from the nurse.

all you need is love

2011-11-28T05:13:00.004-06:00

~~click the link below for some super cuteness:~~

~~http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2753456479231~~

oops. For a dose of super cuteness try this one:

diet starts...

2011-11-27T18:02:00.001-06:00

tomorrow. Seriously. After all the food that I have tore though in the past week...birthday sweets, Thanksgiving feast, travel snacks...I am ready to detox. I need to find the motivation and discipline. Not only find it, but keep it around this time.

Diet starts Monday.

welcome home

2011-11-26T18:15:00.000-06:00

We enjoyed our visit to Delaware this week. We had a great time with family, many laughs, lots of shopping and a lot of delicious food. Needless to say, we came home stuffed. The car was stuffed and so were our bellies. Remember, there is no sales tax in Delaware, so I may have gone a little BF shopping crazy ( I did go!). It did not include any pepper spray or bows being thrown. HOWEVER, I may have stood near someone in Walmart, who pooped his/her pants. I suppose people get desperate and don't want to risk losing their place in line...I don't think any deal is worth pooping my pants over. I guess that is what I get for going to Walmart.

So when we returned home today we found this guy hanging out on our banister...


Elf on a Shelf aks Santa's spy

Liam decided to name the spy, Bo-Bee. He is here to keep track of every move Liam makes...so far Bo-Bee has been very helpful. Liam is all about impressing Bo-Bee and wants to tell BB everything he does. Liam was disappointed when he learned that BB could not dance with him.

I hope his magic doesn't wear off too quick.

flash friday ( a day late)

2011-11-26T18:06:00.000-06:00

Here you go...a day late. I was too busy hitting up black Friday deals yesterday...

Going to town on Grandma Nan's famous French Toast

Pre Feast nap

Veggies & dip

The Feast in Delaware

Liam's Cake...prepared by Aunt "Izzy".

Birthday morning!

2yrs!

be thankful

2011-11-24T06:38:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Somehow along the way I got very fortunate. And I have a lot to be thankful for.

Hope you are spending this day with the ones you love. Take some time today to stop and think about what you are thankful for...not just today, but everyday.

he's 2

2011-11-23T05:41:00.001-06:00

It's official my baby is no longer a baby. His 2nd birthday went pretty well- big sign at daycare from his"buddies", cuppy cakes & party at daycare, dinner out, Dora snacks,staying up late and opening cards that he got in the mail...and all the phone calls! The boy is pretty popular at 2. Looking back at photos I can't believe how much life has changed. What started here:

Which led me to Liam's birth

& onto to this:

Then to this:

To now:

& these are the days of our lives...

11.22.11

2011-11-22T02:06:00.006-06:00

Dear Liam,

Happy 2nd Birthday, my sweet boy. I can't even begin to explain everything that you have tried, conquered and experienced this past year. I think over night you transformed into a little boy. That baby you once were is just a figment of my imagination these days. Those days of holding your bottle, then your spoon for you are over. You are drinking from a cup and have mastered (for the most part) the use of utensils. The days of having to figure out why you were crying are mostly gone. The days of a gummy smile are far gone. I look at photos of you from just last year and can't believe how much you have changed: physically, emotionally and developmentally.

While I have enjoyed every moment of being a parent and learning how to be your mom, I truly think the past six months have been my favorite. Your vocabulary has exploded. You love to walk and hold my hand and your dad's hand. Your table manners are improving. You have started to use the potty. Your crib is a piece of your past. You sleep in to at least 7am. You love to read and be read to. You absolutely prefer your dad over me. You know who your gammas & pat-tas are. You know who your buddies are. You love to color and draw. You love to play with Olive. You love music and love to dance. You love Toy Story. You love to climb. You love to laugh out loud. You love to jump on the bed after a Saturday morning snuggle. You love to comb your own hair and put on your chappy.

I can't wait to see what the next year brings. Soon you will be riding a bike, starting kindergarten, graduating from school, starting your own life, maybe even starting your own family. I am trying to soak up every minute of you and all our moments, as I know it all goes by so fast. I can't wait to see who you become and what paths you explore. I hope you always know that no matter what paths you choose, your dad and I are right there behind you, supporting and encouraging you all. the.way.

Thanks for making me one proud mom. Thanks for making me one blessed mom. Thanks for reminding me of how fun the simple things in life are. Thanks for giving me those hugs and smiles. Thanks for being you. I love you to infinity & beyond!

Love Always,

Mama

2011-11-21T18:23:00.003-06:00

What would Liam look like with a beard or a mustache? Since he is not capable of growing facial hair for Movember, I thought I would improvise.

every gentleman loves himself some yogurt

hershey kiss seriousness

Stay Classy Toddlers

fail

2011-11-20T15:38:00.000-06:00

So much for a blog post a day all month long...ugh. I missed yesterday. I had good intentions, but that is about as far as it go.

I knew I needed to post a blog yesterday. Thought about it often throughout the day. Then came 6:45pm.We celebrated Liam's 2nd birthday yesterday with a party. The kid went all day long without a nap. I was ready for nap by the time 4 o'clock came around. He had a great time and I hope everyone who came to the party did, too. Root beer floats and whoopie pies later, we all were exhausted. Liam was in his flannel, Elmo jammies and he fell asleep in my arms on the couch. Something that never happens any more. So I soaked it up and eventually Andrew brought Liam up to bed. Andrew and I then ate dinner and watched a movie..without any interruptions. Something else that never happens anymore. A good end to a great day.

A boy and his mom

flash friday

2011-11-18T06:59:00.000-06:00

Liam gave me a great opportunity last night for a hilarious, yet cute, photo of him. However, something was going on with the camera and all the shots were ruined...so instead I invite you to check out Liam's 2nd year in photos (please click link below):

Liam's 2nd Year Book!

to BF shop or not

2011-11-17T18:35:00.001-06:00

I am still on the fence whether or not I want to go Black Friday (BF) shopping this year. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Delaware ...so I suppose if I do want to go, I should do a little homework...now!

I am not sure if I enjoy getting a really good deal on something that I feel like I should buy because it is such a good deal. OR if I enjoy watching people go crazy over a 4$ dvd even more.

So if you are on the fence, too, here are some websites that are suppose to reveal all the BF deals:

http://bfads.net/
http://2011blackfridayads.com/
http://blackfriday.info/

There is also an app for that...basically this app is like a GPS for a Mall. I may look into this, IF I do decide to go BF shopping. app: Point Inside Mall Map. Locates stores, bathrooms, coffee, and the nearest exit in case people get too.out.of.control.

(websites & app courtesy of Kristi Gustafson Barlette)

blerg

2011-11-16T17:50:00.002-06:00

This week can't go any slower. I woke up this morning thinking it was Thursday, until I realized that I was a day ahead of schedule. This week has been pure chaos.I am ready for my day off on Friday. I am ready for pizza Friday. I am ready to celebrate Liam's birthday on Saturday. I am ready to take Liam to the library on Sunday. I am ready to start next week, even though I am only half way through this week.One week to go until we have a mini vacation.

On a happier note: Liam's 2nd year in photos book arrived today *sigh*, the smoke alarm has not sounded since Andrew took over cooking (I thought he removed the battery, so I did a little test tonight, and the battery is still in it), we turned on the Christmas music station last night, we have been building blanket forts and next week is Thanksgiving!

I hope tomorrow is better than today! I am going to do some retail therapy and order some scentsy.

2011-11-15T19:13:00.003-06:00

new version of you

2011-11-14T18:45:00.001-06:00

Last night I was reunited with Felicity Porter & Ben Covington & Noel Crane. Thanks to Netflix, I can now watch all of Felicity from start to end. I loved that show back in the day. My friend Jessica and I would watch that show when we lived on Green St. I remember being so sad (legitimately sad) when it ended (don't judge). So you can only imagine how excited I was to see it available on Netflix. The great thing about this is that I really don't remember what happened on the show...I am in a constant state of deja vu while watching it.

2011-11-13T15:46:00.001-06:00

Just a little preview of what Andrew and my dad did today...

kitchen back splash

More before and afters to come, once it is fully completed. I am so excited, it feels like I have a new kitchen.

2hrs

2011-11-12T17:11:00.000-06:00

na.blo.po.mo. #12

Today Andrew and I had two hours to ourselves. We had one of Liam's former daycare teachers come in and hang with him. He got to spend some time with her and A & I got to spend some time together. It was amazing how much we got done in just two hours without a kiddo with us.
I can't write too much tonight because I overloaded on pumpkin whoopie pies....holy deliciousness!

flash friday

2011-11-11T15:57:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when Liam realizes that he can't have everything he wants or that everything doesn't belong to him- Out of the hundreds of leaves, Olive took the one Liam wanted.

Ms. November

time to find a bigger froggie hat

Lesson learned, now it is time to share

Attitude!

Laser Beam and her pillow pet

post nap

Paul Bunyan in the making

ugh

2011-11-10T18:10:00.002-06:00

na.blo.po.mo. #10

Today was a l-o-n-g day. I am currently experiencing heartburn from my lunch...skittles and coffee. I am happy it is almost over. Where is the calgon and why hasn't it taken me away yet? Actually, I have never been taken away by calgon. Do people really do that? Does it really work?

I am looking forward to tomorrow....working from home in the am, play date with my little one in the afternoon. I hope to catch some great photos tomorrow for my Friday post. And it is pizza Friday!- this week's edition is with friends.

I am off to be taken away by my pjs & some English chocolate- sorry calgon.

really

2011-11-09T18:04:00.001-06:00

na.blo.po.mo. #9

So word on the street is that Michelle Duggar is pregnant with her 20th child...really?!? Okay, I guess she and Jim Bob confirmed it on tv the other day. I get it, being a parent is pretty darn wonderful, terrific and an experience that no one can ever understand unless you experience it. In my humble opinion, I think she is just being all out selfish. There are other ways she can expand her family without putting her unborn child & self in harm's way. That's all I have to say about that.

bff

2011-11-08T17:46:00.004-06:00

na.blo.po.mo. #8

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

done.

2011-11-07T18:48:00.002-06:00

na.blo.po.mo. #7

I am 99.5% finished with Liam's second year photo book. I am so freaking happy to be done with this thing. All I need is for Andrew to proof it and add a little bit of something to it and it is all set. I didn't wait until the last minute- a tough lesson I learned last year. I think I gave myself a week to go through at least a ba-zillion photos of Liam. One of my worst decisions, ever. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears shed last year at the last moment. I recall how happy I was when the final product finally arrived in the mail and I tore into it...just to find a photo book that looked nothing like the one I created. Somehow I received a photo book which documented some one's engagement. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen again this year.

2 more days

2011-11-06T14:03:00.001-06:00

na.blo.po.mo.#6

I get to see my very best friend in two days! We have been friends since the 6th grade...so that is approximately 20 years of friendship. Whoa. She lives in England, in close proximity to our other very best friend, Sarah. They both married British men and then started their lives on the other side of the pond. So it is such a treat when we get to see each other, face to face. I always feel like we pick up right where we left off and can still make each other laugh. I just can not wait to see her and her hubs, Gareth.

Here are some flashback photos the last time Jackie & Gareth visited Chestnut Street:

Spring 2009

Little did I know, I was pregnant!

Cheese. St. Patrick's day (hence the green)

the market

2011-11-05T16:28:00.002-06:00

na.blo.po.mo. #5

Today I FINALLY got to check out the Delmar Farmer's Market! Yahoo! I have been wanting to go here for only about two years (seriously). So we squeezed it into our day. We had a bazillion things to do today, as we have another bazillion things going on tomorrow (and pretty much the rest of this month). Liam was also excited to go to the "market". Well, I may have encouraged his enthusiasm.
So the market was indoors and we got to checkout & test some really great, local stuff. First our friend, who owns Andi's Apple Cakes was there. Let me say this, she makes a pretty fantastic apple cake...but let me tell you about the pumpkin cake...one word: delicious. Mind you, I don't like anything pumpkin...no pie, no pumpkin flavored coffees, nothing, but this cake. It was great and I can't wait to order some for the upcoming holiday. You should too. Second, I am an squirrel bait addict. This granola is awesome. I may be a bit biased because it has toasted coconut in it and anything with TC in it is almost heaven to me. Liam is also a semi addict. I say semi because most of his granola was in his car seat.

I am so excited about my finds that I had to take a photo of them. Also you can get a sneak peek of the tile we are going to use for our kitchen back splash. Bob Vila & my dad will be taking care of that next weekend.


locally made & delicious!

flash friday

2011-11-04T16:31:00.000-06:00

na.blo.po.mo #4

Sorry I don't have any good photos this week. Here is one I snapped quick during the costume parade at daycare. I am sure everyone of those teachers dread that day. all . year. long. Kids crying, parents stuffing their kids in ridiculous costumes, eating candy (or pretzels per my class donation), parents holding up the parade to get some pictures of their kid. Andrew and I were there for an hour and seriously it felt like five hours. We did get to see Liam in action in class...circle time, name game and snack time. It was cute and it was reassuring that he enjoys his time with his buddies and his teachers & they enjoy him, too.

Stepping Stones II Costume Parade 2011

conference

2011-11-03T13:00:00.000-06:00

Na.Blo.Po.Mo # 3

We attended Liam's parent/teach conference yesterday. We got to sit in the tiny chairs at the tiny table. And we got to hear about how Liam is doing in class. Ms. J (L's teacher) shared that Liam is kind, patient and very welcoming of new kids. She would like for him to work on potty training (me, too!) and putting 4-5 word sentences together (holy cow!). She also told us he sits funny (not using those words of course). Liam tends to W sit -he sits on the floor with his legs forming a “W” shape on the floor (knees bent, legs rotated and facing away from the body). He will correct it when asked, but this is usually his go to position. So we will check in with his pediatrician( in a couple weeks at his 2 yr appointment!) to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with him and go from there to have him evaluated. We also learned that Liam's best buddy, V, no longer attends the school. Now it makes sense that Liam came home earlier in the week and shared that V's shape (square) was given to a new kid.
So onto those 4-5 word sentences...

demotion

2011-11-02T17:34:00.000-06:00

Na.Blo.Po.Mo. #2

Today I was demoted from cooking and grocery shopping duties. I am not sure what happened. Andrew told me that he would be purchasing food and cooking meals from here on out. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Which concerns me a bit, as Andrew's specialties include: chicken nuggets, tater tots, grilled cheese, tomato soup and jelly sandwiches. Maybe I will finally lose that weight I have been meaning to lose.

na.blo.po.mo.

2011-11-01T15:32:00.003-06:00

National Blog Post Month starts today: 11.1.11.

Can I do it?

A post a day, for 30 days?

Is my life really that interesting?

Can I really find that much stuff to write about?

Will I remember to write daily?

I suppose we will all find out in the next 30 days!

( And yes, I am counting this as day #1 post. I know, I know, I am cheating. But I promise to make it up to you.)

10.31

2011-10-31T04:16:00.002-06:00

Happy Halloween! Hope it is a spook-tacular day!

& a very happy birthday to my mother-in-law, Nancy!

boo!

2011-10-29T13:00:00.000-06:00

In my humble opinion, these two make the most adorable Woody and Parrot that I have ever seen. Just for a chuckle...here they are last year...

flash friday

2011-10-29T05:42:00.000-06:00

Thursday into Friday am we got about two inches of snow. The forecast is now calling for another 5-8 inches starting sometime Saturday afternoon. Welcome, Winter (even though you are a bit early)!

2011-10-23T17:16:00.000-06:00

We took our 2nd annual trip to Indian Ladder Farms with the Sanders family this weekend. Have you been there yet? Have you ate in the cafe? No, well what are you waiting for?

flash friday

2011-10-21T02:44:00.002-06:00

Same boy. Same park. Same time of year. Same ten fingers holding on tight.

Lots more teeth. Lots more hair. Less baby face. Lots more big boy.

flash friday

2011-10-16T16:17:00.000-06:00

whitest teeth, ever

so serious and ketchup on his face from...

this.

up, up & away

2011-10-16T16:14:00.000-06:00

Hot Air Balloon Festival at Wolf Oak Acres

time to dance

2011-10-16T16:11:00.000-06:00

10.5.11

I have been sick for almost 2 weeks and today I am finally feeling better. A lot better. I have been coughing and blowing my nose and sleeping for the past two weeks. So here are some pictures that should have been put up a bit ago, but life some how got in the way.

Liam loved the show. He danced, danced and danced some more. He even got a "tour" shirt, which he insists on wearing daily.

Getting up close and personal

'dat one!

Well worth every penny spent

pickin'

2011-10-11T01:31:00.000-06:00

Liam picked his own pumpkin this year. And he picked it right from Grandpa Bonomo's garden. He also enjoyed some fresh "matos" (aka tomatoes) from the garden. Lucky kid!

BTW you will probably see a lot of that tee...he loves and likes to wear it...a lot.

another package

2011-10-10T20:26:00.000-06:00

Remember when I said I love getting packages in the mail, well I do believe Liam feels the same way.

For me? Really?

So now I just need get a good hold on this corner...

And pull really hard


whoa!!! I did it!!

Liam was very happy to get his shirt. Thanks Grandma Nan and Grandpa John!

ghosties

2011-10-10T12:48:00.001-06:00

The Mister's second go with this print. It is just as great as it was the first time around- well maybe a bit better because now it comes in kid sizes (YAY!). You should order one for yourself and then one for your little ghosties. Click here to get your order on.

apples

2011-10-06T10:34:00.008-06:00

How do you like these apples?

Liam's bounty after his field trip. He is smelled so good...just like apple cider donuts!

orlando

2011-10-04T17:10:00.003-06:00

~~Headlock~~ Hugs for Moe (the shark)

3 Gs

Oh, Orlando. We had such a great time. I think I enjoy vacations even more now that Liam is with us. To see his excitement and joy makes me even more excited. He did great on the plane down & on the way home. We fed dolphins. We swam in the ocean. Liam got to spend time with his Grandpa & Grandma (aka pata & gamma). Liam made music with the wind chimes and may have even gave Grandpa's plant a hair cut. We ate at ~~shake & bake~~ Steak N' Shake (btw the cookies and cream milk shake is delicious). Liam got to hang out with his super cool Aunt Liz & Uncle Mike. We learned that Liam likes "Just Dance" for the Wii. He also got to see his cousins. We learned that A Baby's Comfort is a great rental company for kids' stuff. We enjoyed Jeremiah's Italian Ice. We always find that vacations, especially the ones that we spend with family, always go by way too fast. And I always think we take a ton of pictures, but we don't. Here are couple of my favs:

SeaWorld! Clearly something else has Liam's eye. I do love the lady in the background fanning herself. I do believe she was posing for our photo.

Shamu & Co. Liam loved this show. I loved this show. It was amazing- I wish it lasted longer.

Feeding the dolphins. Tickle Tickle on the chin and drop the fishy in.


Beach Bum. Beautiful Day!

Cousins!!

Thank you P & M for a great vacation! The company and weather were fantastic. We had a blast and we can't wait to visit again.

flash friday

2011-09-29T05:03:00.000-06:00

I must warn you 1. I am an elephant 2. Liam is off the cuteness charts...
All photos taken by: April Myers, Family Tree Photography in Myers Park, Gloversville, NY

happy

mature

excitement

heart melting

identical

22 mos

trio

hugs

casual

teepee

2011-09-27T18:12:00.000-06:00

When I went to pick Liam up from daycare today he thought it would be funny to hide in the teepee. This week's theme at daycare is exploring different types of housing...hence the huge teepee in the room. There is this little girl in the class, we will call her D. I call her "mother hen". She often will announce my arrival and tell Liam that I am there to get him. That happened today.She is sweet, but a bit overwhelming at times. She was being playful with Liam and telling him he had to go. He thought it was funny to hide in the teepee. I go over. almost in the teepee to convince him to come out because it was time to go home. He wasn't having it. D. started to tell him he had to go. And the next thing I knew his face was in her hands and her lips were on his face. ~~Pissed~~ Kissed in the teepee. That got him out ASAP.

sneak peek

2011-09-26T11:20:00.001-06:00

Here is a little sneak peek from our photos...more to come later.

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ready

2011-09-26T03:57:00.001-06:00

By the looks of this photo, I do believe Liam is ready for vacation

proof

2011-09-25T17:18:00.002-06:00

The proof is in the apple cake, Andi's Apple Cake that is!

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weekend rewind

2011-09-25T17:10:00.000-06:00

Today was great, in fact the whole weekend was pretty fantastic. I took Friday off from work. Treated myself to a pedicure, did a bazillion loads of laundry, grocery shopped and packed all of Liam's stuff for vacation. Saturday we spent the day at my mom & dad's house. Liam got to have fun with pata & mata and his great grandmas. Olive is "on vacation" at my mom and dad's house. I think every day of her life she is "on vacation", but now she is snoozing on a different couch. And today was the best. We started the day early with some photos in Gloversville. I can't wait to see the pics. The one sneak peek I did see, I look like an elephant in it...so needless to say I took the jogger out for a run/walk and did another round on the treadmill. Then we took an impromptu trip to Kristy's Barn. There we rode on a hay ride, fed some sheep and goats, signed up for CSA 2012 (Community Supported Agriculture) and bought a loaf of Andi's Apple Cake. Andrea is a friend, who is a pretty fantastic baker (and person) that just started her own business.It was pretty neat to see a friend's work in a local store (and her apple cake is a work of art). Liam also went on the potty a few times today and even wore underwear ( I will save that for another post). And the NY Giants won. And I guess I lied about not being able to upload anymore photos... I give up!

what the blog

2011-09-23T13:24:00.001-06:00

I got a message today that I have exceeded the maximum amount of photo space allowed for the blog. Grrrr. I guess I have uploaded LOTS of photos in the past 2.5 years. I am going to look around for a new blog home, when I get some extra time....details to follow.

flash friday

2011-09-23T04:19:00.000-06:00

Last weekend Andrew and I were honored to become God parents for Liam's buddy and our good friends' son, Dylan. Another friends' son was also baptized on the same day. It was a beautiful day, beautiful event and we witnessed Dylan's first steps.

ready to get the show on the road

my little boy

Jeff, where are you?

rewards for going on the potty

Liam loves to walk around in our shoes

beauty

2011-09-17T20:41:00.001-06:00

just a reminder of how simple beauty can be

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flash friday

2011-09-16T17:10:00.000-06:00

I have no photos this week...so I thought I would dig around in the archives...

Jackie & I New Year's Eve 2007

December 07

Sarah & I Spring 08

Key West '08

Belize

$30 later we were in the air

Early '09

late '09

wedding

2011-09-12T15:19:00.000-06:00

Not the best pic, but the only one I have of all 4 of us

Our friends, Kevin & Andrea got married on 9.10.11. It was a great time! The ceremony was beautiful, Kevin & Andrea looked stunning, the reception was fun and we could not be happier for the two of them. Hands down, probably one of the best weddings I have been to.

us.

sunflowers in mason jars

B & J at the reception

flash friday

2011-09-09T04:13:00.000-06:00

This week flew by. It was a short work week. We got lots of rain. and then more rain. and then some more. Locally there are areas that are literally under water. There are mandatory evacuations. Bridges closed yesterday. No driving in some areas (including a whole county) Schools are having "rain" days. Homes are being destroyed by this water. There even have been some fatalities. I know areas beyond the Capital Region are being hit even harder and experiencing even more devastation. Everytime I see more photos or hear another story about how Irene and Lee have impacted our area, I feel awful for those families and feel so blessed that we are okay.

Liam loves to say "puddle" and loves to jump in those puddles even more. After a long day of rain and being indoors all day long he got to do a little splashing. So did Lovey.

snip. snip

2011-09-05T09:06:00.000-06:00

Before

During

After

1st professional hair cut was a success. He did great, even when the clippers came out to trim around his ears. Hopefully this will mean no more knots in his hair, no more tears while combing his hair and less hair to smudge blueberries in...I will miss the craziness of his curls .

#2

2011-09-04T12:07:00.002-06:00

The Gregory Family has big news to share....Liam has been going #2 on the potty! Yay! This is pretty exciting in our world.

epidemic

2011-09-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

There is an epidemic going on in this house. It is called Yo Gabba Gabba. Liam is obsessed. He would eat sleep and breathe YGG if allowed. Since he has been doing so well with sleeping in his bed and staying in his bed and really just being a good kid I decided to buy him something a little special...

Please meet Brobee...the Green guy. As you can tell Liam really, really likes stuffed animals. See that little brown, dingy dog on Liam's lap...that is Bobby, who was my stuffed animal. Bobby is a senior citizen at this point and Liam loves him and somehow sneaked him home with us the last time we visited my mom & dad.

So back to YGG. YGG has so much of an influence on Liam that some times when Liam is not listening or doing things he should not be doing (i.e. trying to ride Olive) I often say I am going to call Muno to see what Muno thinks about Liam's choices. This has been working pretty well. I also say that I am going to call Muno to let him know when Liam is making really good choices.

Word on the street is that YGG is coming LIVE to Albany in October....Andrew and I are still deciding if we should go. We are unsure of 1. Will Liam be able to sit through the show? 2. Will Liam be so excited that he passes out? I also heard that some of the tickets come with back stage passes so you can do your own dancey dance& have your photos taken with YGG.
Tempting...

irene

2011-09-03T12:07:00.000-06:00

We survived. We experienced A LOT of rain and some wind. Our basement has a little bit of water in it (nothing to complain about). We didn't lose power. We had a bath tub of water...just in case. We did arts and crafts. Watched parts of Toy Story 3 (Liam isn't a fan of watching movies). I cleaned the house from top to bottom. We read books. We built with blocks. Liam took a long nap. Olive refused to go outside in the rain...but did eventually. Olive took a long nap.We are very fortunate that we did not experience a lot of damage. There are areas around the Capital Region that got hit hard and have been without power and water for days.

looking forward

2011-09-02T04:04:00.001-06:00

After chugging along at work yesterday (it has been a busy couple of weeks) I sat at my desk and thought about all the fun stuff we have coming up in the next couple of months. Because what else is there to think about when you are already knee deep in evaluations? Some of these fun things include: a wedding. becoming God Parents. outdoor family photo shoot. vacation. the beach.visiting family. an airplane ride with an almost 2 year old. home improvement projects.a mama & Liam weekend. sweater season. apple cider and donuts. leaves falling.

beach

2011-08-31T03:54:00.000-06:00

We hit up the beach a few weeks ago with our other favorite family of three.

I am pretty sure Liam had a lot of fun that day. Why you ask? Because pretty much every day since then we hear: Beach? or Beach! and then it is usually followed up with D-D? or D-D! (which is what Liam calls Dylan). I am not sure if Liam enjoyed the actual beach that day or if he just associates it with eating lots of snacks. Either way it was a great day!

flash friday

2011-08-26T04:23:00.000-06:00

It's Friday! Yahoo! Liam is going to get a surprise tonight. Details to be shared later. And we are suppose to get a visitor sometime this weekend. Her name is Irene and she is wound up about something. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe if Irene should drop by your neighborhood too.


tickle attack!

happy day

2011-08-23T18:15:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to my one and only. Happy Birthday to the best husband a girl could ask for. Happy Birthday to the best dad a little boy (& pug) could ask for. Happy Birthday to one of the funniest guys around. Happy Birthday to one of the smartest and most talented people I know (seriously).

Happy Birthday, Andrew!
We love you parking lots!

8.23.11

flash friday

2011-08-19T03:22:00.000-06:00

Sorry I have been slacking for the past few weeks. We should have some great photos from this weekend. Going to the beach with our other favorite family of 3. So in the mean time here is a neat shot I captured of Liam. I need to do an update post soon...he is TALKING so much!!!

blues

okay and another one...

my cheeky monkey

warrior pt. 2

2011-08-18T18:20:00.000-06:00

I promised my friend, Sue, that I would do Warrior with her and finish it with her. And we did! While I won't deny this was a physical challenge, I will say that I believe this was more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
The first 1.5 miles was practically vertical. Every time I thought we were at the top of the mountain ( I think I may have said that to Sue about 250 times before we actually were at the top. I am sure she was ready to punch me in the neck every time I said and then realized it wasn't the top. Sorry, Sue!) there would be a blind curve and then even more mountain to attack And more mountain. And more mountain. There weren't too many obstacles in the first 1.5miles. Once we saw the water station we new were good and the rest would be down hill from there (literally). And it was. The music and cheering kept on getting louder and louder and we knew the end was near. Which as exciting as that was, I was a bit bummed that the end was near. I was keeping count of the obstacles at first to make sure I knew how many more we had to do...but that didn't last long. I was really proud that Sue and I both completed every obstacle. It was great...until I dislocated my shoulder...on the 3rd to last obstacle. And the medic couldn't touch me....because I signed a waiver...so what else does one do in a time of need....have your friend pop your shoulder back in (actually it was more of me demanding Sue to pop it in). And she did! Looking back, that is probably what warriors did...so it was perfect.

Our "before". I am not sure what happened here...

Hello Finish Line!!

Me-Kelly-Sue

tore up from the mud pit up

Glory!

Warrior in training

blast from the past

2011-08-15T14:03:00.001-06:00

Need I say more??

warrior

2011-08-13T18:13:00.008-06:00

I did it! More photos & details to come...


"Warrior Dash 2011 I Survived"

packages from England

2011-08-10T17:42:00.000-06:00

I love getting mail. I think it has something to do from having a pen pal when I was a kid... anyhow, I especially love getting mail from England. 2 of my very best friends live in England and they often send me packages ( that often have chocolate in them...chocolate from England is magnificent) . While we may not be 15 anymore (boo!) and our priorities have changed (a lot), and there is an ocean and thousands of miles between us, we still think of each other and support each other- like the good ol' days.

avec l'amour

2011-08-08T17:08:00.000-06:00

Someone who loves me went to Paris and brought me back this sweet shirt... merci grand-maman & grand-papa!

P.S. Notice that someone is no longer in a crib...but has moved onto an almost big boy bed. *sigh*

weekend

2011-08-08T16:56:00.000-06:00

We hit the road Friday night and drove West. Liam and Olive got to ~~be spoiled~~ spend the night at my mom and dad's and we were off to the Renaissance Festival.

Your majesty

Hormone injected turkey legs...

a man and his horse

caber toss

dunk

now & then...

2011-08-06T04:39:00.000-06:00

Today is our 6th Wedding Anniversary. 6 years married and almost 11 years as a couple. We would be setting a record if we were a Hollywood couple...

Here we are today....bless to have each other and our beautiful son

And here we are 6 years ago... blessed to have each other and our lives ahead of us

Happy Anniversary, Andrew. I love you !

flash friday

2011-08-05T04:17:00.000-06:00

Sorry, no photos today...but please do come back on Sunday. I will share our photos from the weekend...
Here is a hint of where we will be:

summer

2011-07-31T18:27:00.001-06:00

Since we are not taking our official summer vacation until after September, and I have been itching for a summer vacation that includes the beach...we packed the car this morning and headed to the beach. While it wasn't the ocean, there was still plenty of sand, sun screen, snacks, sun and fun. We found a little gem not too far from home, but far enough.

This past week Liam has been extremely afraid of the bath tub when it is" bub-bub" time. We are not sure what the reason behind this is or how long it is going to last. He will stand and shower, but sitting in the water, not so much. So I was curious to see how he would react to the beach. Here are the results in photos:

he loved it...

and wanted "more & more" (his words)

fluffy clouds

And when it came to leave, his little heart broke and tears fell down his cheeks. As soon as we were on the road, he was out. We took the long way home.

And when it came to bath time tonight, he was in love again. I suppose tomorrow night will be another story.

7.31.11

2011-07-31T13:47:00.001-06:00

A morning and afternoon filled with special treats for Ms. Olive. Happy #5!

recipe

2011-07-30T06:36:00.000-06:00

My recipe for a perfect Saturday morning:

1. A snuggle with Andrew and Liam (and Liam's entourage, our course)
2. A long exploration of the neighborhood with Olive
3. Homemade blueberry muffins straight from the oven.

All mornings should be this easy.

flash friday

2011-07-29T03:41:00.002-06:00

In honor of Ms. Olive's 5th birthday. While s~~ome~~ most days she makes me crazy, I could not ask for a more sweet, gentle, kind, understanding and loving dog. Happy Birthday, Olive! Can't wait to see how the next five years treat you.

View all

Get your own

warrior dash

2011-07-27T14:14:00.000-06:00

Holy crap! The Warrior Dash is less than 3 weeks away! I am looking forward to the petrifying plunge and my warrior helmet...oh and surviving.

See you in the mud pit!