Jamboree

We're getting ready to go to the Jamboree at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks.  It's kinda like a carnival/fair/fall festival on church property.  Unfortunately, a certain temptation will be there:  carnival food.  I don't think it will be that much of a temptation because 1. we don't have any money  2. we're eating dinner before we go.  3. we have to do P90X when we get back home.

Not sure about the rest of the country but it's stinkin' cold and windy in Florida!  Being natives, we're not used to this drop in temperature so quickly.  It's almost as if we need a slight transition into colder weather; you can't just go from 85 to 60 over night!  Who does that?!  :)

Well, I haven't taken any pictures or videos lately because my camera battery died and I can't find the charger.  But soon....

Have a great weekend!

Jamboree 2009

No Sleep For Me

Last night, I maybe had 2 hours of sleep.  It wasn't Gavin that kept me up.  It wasn't Ava making a ruckus either.  It wasn't even a tv show that I had to watch.  It was fear and my fear alone.

Eric left Tuesday afternoon southbound to Naples.  He stayed two nights.  The first night was ok.  Went to bed late but at least I received 7 hours of sleep.  Last night, I purposely watched 2 movies so I could stay awake in case someone were to try and break in.  Here's the thing:  I was being an idiot and read the local news online.  Wouldn't you know it that there were burglaries, home invasions, shootings, hit-and-runs, etc.  Those stories get in my mind and then it invites fear in.  Not that this matters but it was raining too.  The extra sound outside made it more difficult for me to listen for intruders!

I really had nothing to fear about though.  I prayed and prayed last night that God would protect Gavin and me, that He would surround our house with His angels.  Of course this prayer didn't come till about 2:30 a.m. but I did finally come to my senses:  God is in control! 

I talked to Eric this morning and told him about my night/morning.  He wondered why I didn't call him because he would've stayed up with me.  Next time I will definitely do that!  Then he texted "love u. im excited to come home!"  My response was "Me too so I can get some sleep! Love you!"   

Superhero

This past Saturday afternoon, Gavin and I attended our friends' son's FIRST birthday party.  The theme?  Superheroes!  The location?  The park.  The decorations and activities?  AWESOME!  The birthday boy?  Gabe Costa, our little Superhero. 

I met Gabe's mother, Brandi, during boot camp April 2008.  I joined because I had to get in shape for my wedding in August that year.  After our first month, I think it's safe to say that we were the top two in that class.  :)  We decided to do it for one more month before the summer heat really got to us.  I think we should've quit while we were ahead because it was HOT!  But during the second month of boot camp, Brandi and I really got to know each other.  We realized that we were both believers of Jesus and everything seemed to click from there.  After the camp, we kept in touch; especially when we both found out we were pregnant!  Brandi's pregnancy was a little more complicated and it's a story I can't even explain.  Read about it here.

Their faith through this whole process has been astounding!  We were getting updates month after month of this little child's developments.  We just prayed and will continue to pray for this sweet, God-fearing family!  We were honored to celebrate Gabe's first birthday with them and we can't wait to celebrate many more to come.  May the Lord continue to bless the Costa family as they faithfully follow His will!  We love you guys! :)

Almost 30 Moments

Monday night, my little family took a walk down to the Rec Center so Gavin could play on the playground.  When we got there, some junior high kids were in their corner goofing around.  My thought was that they're a little too big to hang out in a playground.  But that didn't bother Gavin whatsoever.  He ran around like he owned the place; climbing up the stairs and sliding down the slide.  He was literally in his own little world. 

Well, these kids starting to throw around a football.  This concerned me because they had no control over the ball at all.  One kid threw it and it hit the pole and bounced near Gavin and into my leg.  Yeah, it kinda hurt so I could only imagine what would've happen if it hit Gavin.  I took the ball and tossed it back to them.  Then I think I got more upset by their response than I did them horsing around.  They said, "Thank you, Ma'am."  CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!  My old weak knees almost gave out on me because I knew that I was the "Ma'am."  Once Eric figured out why I was upset, he just laughed at me!

     

Workout Likes and Dislikes

I like working out with my husband.

I dislike push-ups.

I like the sore feeling after working out.

I dislike push-ups.

I like thinking about the results that may come.

I dislike push-ups.

Finding Nemo

Friends Come and Go

Just to warn you, I'm about to get a little personal....

I've been struggling with the idea of "friends" lately.  I'm struggling with it so much that I become depressed, friendless and alone.  Why is it that once you get married and have children then your friends disappear?  Why do they automatically assume that I'm too busy for them or can't fit in social time?  And let me add that this is after I put myself out there and say, "Hey, let's get together..."  The whole concept frustrates me and I honestly don't know how to change it. 

But do I need to change it?  Why can't I be content with the people that are in my life right now?  The people that actually care enough to call, text or email just to say hi.  The people that do what they say they're going to do.  The people that visit me.  The people that say "I love you."  I love my family and I love the fact that they've become my friends. 

Most importantly, I need to know that I am never alone.  God surrounds me with His love and constantly reminds me that He's ALWAYS there.  I have to confess that I haven't been spending much time with the Lord and that's probably the reason why I feel so alone and depressed.  It's not my friends' fault that we don't get together all the time.  It's not their fault that I struggle with my emotions.  And it's definitely not their fault for having their own lives.  I love my friends and when I see them all those frustrations disappear.  The lesson I've learned is to take advantage of my free time and give it back to the Lord.  He deserves most of my time anyway.  :)  Friends may come and go but God always remains the same.       

Mr. Personality

It's amazing to witness this kid develop his own little personality.  Some days it's really cute and adorable then other days the whining really gets to me.  I'm starting to think that he's already entering the Terrible Two's at 1 1/2!  Or he gets his mood swings from his Mommy.  :)

Here are a few videos of my jibber jabber boy....

Talking to Aunt Heather

Morning Routine

Scolding Ava

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes

Last night's workout was Shoulders, Arms and Abs.  Not gonna lie, it was fairly easy to accomplish probably because I didn't have the correct weight to lift.  I should be lifting heavier but I was curling 5 pounds.  Woo hoo.  Eric used the weight bands, which I am not a fan of, and he as well was not challenged.  So, that's something we can put on our list of things to get....Dumbbells. 

I have the cutest video of Gavin answering my phone and trying to talk to Aunt Heather.  I put her on speakerphone and his facial expressions and jibber jabber are just too adorable to describe.  I forgot to upload the video on youtube but it will be here shortly. 

I still have yet to find Gavin a costume.  I'm waiting to hear if I can borrow one rather than buy a new one that he'll only wear for a couple hours (if that).  Eric wanted to dress Gavin up like himself, kinda like a Minime.  Cute idea but it's like that everyday...so what's the difference?!  :)

Tonight...Yoga.    

Plyometrics

Fifty-eight minutes of squatting, jumping, sweating and hurting....that pretty much sums up the Plyometrics portion of P90X.  But we did it though!  Today, I'm feeling sore from Monday's exercises rather than last night's.  However, I'm sure I'll feel pain all over if we have to do this every day.  Eric mentioned how he's glad that we can do these workouts in the comfort of our own home because we probably look really ridiculous!  How true.

Tonight, if I'm not mistaken, we are to accomplish shoulders and arms.  Since Eric has class tonight, he SHOULD do it before he leaves and I will do it after Gavin goes to bed.  I will say that it's a lot easier and more motivating when we're doing P90X together.  We push each other to keep going even when we feel like collapsing on the floor.

Alright....wish us luck! 

Birthday, House, Video and P90X

Birthday:  I had a nice birthday weekend.  I got a bunch of calls and texts from friends and family.  Eric got home around 4:30 Saturday afternoon.  We went to that Brazilian restaurant we wanted to go to for our anniversary.  This time we had a gift card thanks to our dear friends the Godwin's.  :)  After an amazing, meaty dinner, we drove over to our friend's house to watch the UFC fight.  Sunday, we had a cookout at my dad's.

House:  So my surprises for Eric all had to do with the house!  We had a hideous tree in our front yard and I asked my dad and my brother to chop it down before Eric got home.  That they did!  I also repainted our bedroom, moved furniture, redecorated our bathroom, and painted more of our kitchen (which Eric didn't want me to do).  I also got his car an oil change.  And wouldn't you know it, Eric recognized every single change....even the oil!  I'll show before and after pictures later.

Video:  Here's a video of Gavin. :)  Enjoy!


P90X:  Eric, yet again, has made a bet with a friend to see who can lose more weight.  That usually jumpstarts his workout motivation. :)  This time, he dragged me into it.  We started P90X last night and even though he has less than 60 days, he should see improvements around that time.  We took before pictures and our measurements.  We set up our house like a gym for the night and did over 60 minutes of P90X.  Chest, back and abs!  Tonight...plyometrics.  Remember, we have to do this EVERY day for 90 days.  Also remember that we have a 17 month old.  :) 

First Blood

There was a little accident this morning.  While I was taking a shower, little Gavin lost his balance and fell; hitting his face on the toilet.  His cry was a huge silent one until he caught his breath and was able to use his vocal chords.  I immediately stopped my shower (thankfully I just rinsed out the shampoo) and jumped out to hold my hurt little boy.  Then the blood came....

Gavin's top gums were a little bloody.  I think (I'm not exactly certain) that this was the first time he had a bleeding wound.  Thankfully I did not freak out as much as I thought I would.  After I tried to rinse his mouth out, he did not want me to let him go.  Do you know how difficult it is to put your clothes on and put your hair up (not conditioned by the way) with one arm let alone holding a 17 month old baby?!  The second I bend over to possibly put him down the screaming starts.  But we got through it.  Gavin has a very slight fat lip but he'll be fine.

Tonight, I'm finishing up the surprises for Eric!  It should only take ALL night....geez.  The things I do for this man.  :)  But I honestly can't wait to see his expression.

Just a side note:  tomorrow is my birthday and I'm really not all that excited about it.  1.  My husband's out of town.  2.  I'll be one year shy of that BIG number 3-0.  3.  I have a huge crater on my chin.

happy birthday to me.   

Can You Keep A Secret?

....so can I and that's why I can't tell you what I'm doing until Eric gets home Saturday night.  :)  Why?  Because I have a feeling that he occasionally reads my blog and I want to keep it a surprise.  But to hold you over, I have a video of Gavin and Dylan.  Enjoy!

So Far So Good

To start off, Gavin turned 17 months old yesterday!  And to add to it, Gavin has been on his best behavior this week so far.  He was very busy Sunday and that night when I put him to bed, he conked out right away.  I just figured he was extremely exhausted.  But then last night, he went down without a fight again!  For those of you that know us, we sometimes let him cry himself to sleep if he gets too fussy to rock.  I was super amazed when I left his bedroom and no crying!  Other than that, he's been very busy running around the house, chasing Ava and throwing his toys everywhere.  Personal side note:  I really worry that I'm not doing a good job with Gavin.  I know every child is different and every parent is different as well.  I guess I just have always linked a crying, screaming baby to bad parenting and I don't want to think that I'm a bad parent.  I just hope that I'm doing the best I can to understand Gavin's needs and wants and how to fulfill them effectively.  Just thought I'd throw that concern out there for ya.         

Well, it's official....I'm in dead last place for Fantasy Football.  It's so frustrating because I feel like I'm the only one that takes this seriously!  I've always known this but the word competition is my biggest enemy!  It turns me into this obsessive, analytical, destructive monster!  I take everything personally because I think it affects my sense of judgement and my ability to perform.  So, I'll be glad when I'm done with Fantasy Football!

We still have yet to buy Gavin a Halloween costume.  I've seen a few online and even at Once Upon A Child.  They're all cute but they're all padded and heavy....too hot for Florida babies.  So, he may end up going as Eric.  :)

Speaking of which, I can't wait till Saturday!  

Let Me Sum Up

A lot has happened this weekend so I'm going to do my best to sum it up for you. 

Last weekend, Gavin broke out in hives.  Took him to the doctor's on Wednesday and he said that they are in fact hives and to just give him Benadryl.  Oh, and that it will last for about 2-3 weeks.  Well, the hives are still here and they're migrating up his body.  I hope that's a good sign. 

Eric left yesterday morning for South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area).  It's for work and he has a performance every day this week.  He comes back this Saturday night. 

With Eric being gone, it's a running joke that I won't know how to cook dinner for myself.  Well, joke no longer because it's actually true. :(  I burned my arm on the oven while pulling out my pizza.  Looks like it's microwavable Lean Cuisines for me!  Gosh...what did I do for those 8 years of living on my own?!    

I am not doing very well in Fantasy Football and I've kinda given up.  Yesterday, I started watching ESPN so I could get the scores while Gavin was shoving a book in my face for me to read it to him.  I was reading it and trying to look at the scores at the same time.  Then I felt convicted and turned off the TV so I could focus on what really matters.  :)

This morning, I was trying to workout to a video; keyword being trying.  It's so difficult when you have a 17 month old boucing on your belly while trying to do crunches or copying your every movement.  You should see this kid do pushups and jumping jacks!  Needless to say, I'm gonna restart my workout tonight when he's asleep.

Well, I have to start the week!  I have a list of things to do while Eric is gone so I can surprise him when he gets home!  All of which will have to be done while Gavin is sleeping.  I wonder if I'll get anything done this week.  We'll see.....

  

Wedding Pictures

If you're friends with my sister-in-law on facebook then you've already seen these pictures.  If not then here ya go....

Can you tell which one is the REAL Asian?

 

 With Cousin Chelsea....

This is what happens when you fall asleep amongst the Koroknay Klan.... 

 There's the Groom, Philip LaRue!

Sunday Night Football

Eric and I were watching the Eagles vs. 49ers game last night.  There was one replay that made us laugh out loud.  We kept rewinding the clip so we could continue the laughter.  Then Eric added his voice-overs.  :)

Marriage Is What Brings Us Together

First of all, the title of this blog is a quote from a movie.  Can anyone tell me what movie?

Secondly, it's true.  We attended a wedding this past Saturday and it definitely brought the family together.  Friday night kicked off the festivities with a gathering at the Bates' house.  Let's just say that when we got home, it was waaaaay past Gavin's bedtime, yet he was wide awake!  :)  Saturday, I got Gavin all packed and ready for a sleepover at Grandpa's (aka Papa's) house.  Once I set him on his way, we started getting ready for the wedding.  We never get to dress up.  I mean, I'm sure we could just for the heck of it but we would have nowhere to go.  So, it was nice to see Eric in black slacks, button-down shirt and dress shoes.  And it felt good to wear a pretty dress (compliments of Heather Koroknay) and makeup! 

The wedding:  it took place on the beach at the Bilmar Beach Resort and the weather was absolutely perfect.  The ceremony was very interesting....as were some other things. 

The reception:  let's just say that the Koroknays know how to party!  I was laughing so hard at so many different jokes, stories and people that I didn't want the night to end.  Heather has pictures and once I get a copy, I'll post them on here.  Also, we danced and danced and danced....and it seemed like the only people at the wedding that were dancing were the Koroknays but I could be wrong.  Like I said, it was very interesting.

This afternoon, Greg and Uncle Tommy came by to put a trim on our interior front door.  Greg fixed the toilet too!  We went back over to Greg's house earlier this evening and had a little cookout with the remaining family that was still in town.  I watched my Fantasy Football team get completely destroyed.  Oh did I tell you that I'm in second to last place now?!  Well, I am.

Such a whirlwind of a weekend.  Be on the lookout for some wedding pictures....more like reception pictures. :) 

The Best Sounds in the World

If you couldn't figure it out, the best sounds in the world are my little boy laughing at his Daddy's silly songs.  :)

Candid Shots

Marriage Rocks!

This past weekend, we attended a married couples' get together at my church.  I organized the whole event and it was a great success with a few timing issues.  But everyone had a great time and I hope they were encouraged and challenged just as much as Eric and I were.  We started the night off with a Cornhole Tournament.  We had 12 couples altogether with a variety of ages.  Who'd a thought that the older folks would give the younger ones a run for our money?!  They kicked butt....at least our butt. :)  Then we all had a nice dinner catered by Athens Restaurant in Safety Harbor.  And last but definitely not least, our guest speakers, Kirk and Brenda Blank, enlightened us with 7 simple principles to a successful marriage.  Like I said, everyone really enjoyed themselves and it was definitely the talk for Sunday morning.

Other than that, Eric has been super busy with schoolwork and Gavin is still developing his little personality.  He LOVES books!  His favorite is called Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  Long title, I know.  I shorten it to just Brown Bear and Gavin starts to look for it immediately.  This kid is smart.  You'll have to visit to see for yourself because there are too many things to write out. 

Today, I started my workout/eating better plan and I asked that Eric respect my desired eating habits since he's the one that cooks.  :)  This morning was the perfect weather to start running in!  The air was chilly and not humid at all.  LOVED IT!  I only did 2 miles today...I think that's a good start. :)  Tonight, I have a softball game then the rest of the week I'll be working out to videos On Demand....and running of course.  I have a goal but I'm not going to publish it on my blog...do you think I'm crazy?!  Anyhow, wish me luck.

5 Years Ago

Five years doesn't seem that long ago.  The year 2005 held some unexpected surprises for me.  The beginning of that year, I starting running because I hit the heaviest weight of 180.  From January to April, I had lost 20 pounds.  That May, my then new-found friend, Shannon, moved to Missouri.  We hung out almost all the time when she lived here.  I remember playing lots and lots of volleyball...and knitting a lot too.  We created friendships at Smiley's Coffeehouse, including my now-husband, Eric.  We always had a good time.  But like I said, she moved. 
It was that summer where I would occasionally see Eric and I would always want him to open up to me more....just as friends.  He would call me late at night just to talk because he couldn't sleep or some excuse like that.  That July, I expressed my feelings to Eric (very forward, I know).  Even though he shot me down, I never let it affect my friendship with him.  He was/is a great guy to hang out with and fun to be around.  We ended up calling each other more frequently and hanging out more often throughout the month of August.  Then, I think it hit him like a ton of bricks....he finally told me that he had a crush on me on Labor Day (September 5th). 
September happened way too fast for me that I may not have the timing right.  (I'm looking at that year's calendar right now.)  September 10th - 13th, I was in Nashville for my work's tradeshow.  I remember talking to Eric on the phone during every break I could get.  When I got back, he left a gift for me by my front door....socks.  Don't ask me why because I seriously forget the reason behind that.  But I remember the feeling I had when I saw him for the first time.  I was elated and on cloud nine.  On the 15th or 16th, I remember having dinner with my dad and my stepmom, Connie.  I brought Eric along and they got to meet him for the first time.  My dad gave him a hard time like he would with any of my friends.  And Eric was nervous as all get out!  Then the 17th was our very first date.  Eric's plan was to take me to Maggiano's in Tampa but the wait was 2 1/2 hours and he also didn't expect the price to be THAT high.  So we opted for the Cheesecake Factory.  I don't know why but I had a disposable camera with me and I had our waiter take our picture.  That picture is framed and in our house.
Then tragedy happened in September.  I got a call really late on the 24th that Connie was in a severe car accident; to the point that it ignited a fire.  She was rushed to Tampa General because they have the best burn unit.  Long story short, Connie passed 5 days later, the 29th.  Writing this, I know it came about abruptly but I'd rather not focus on her passing.  I have very fond and memorable moments of our time together and that's what I'll hold onto.  While she was in the hospital for those 5 long days, I never saw her.  My dad kinda didn't want me to because he wanted me to remember her alive, vibrant and beautiful and I respected his wishes. 

I mainly brought Eric into this story because he was someone I could lean on during that time.  He probably didn't know what to say but the fact that he was always there meant a lot to me.  So five years ago, I lost someone very close to me.  But as you can see, God was preparing a lifetime friend to help me cope. 

Praise the Lord!            

Fantasy Update

Well, since last week, I actually ended up in 4th place.  In Week 3, I'm head to head with our league's 3rd place player.  All of her players played yesterday and I still have 3 to play tonight, including my quarterback Aaron Rodgers.  I am behind by 41.49 points and the projected sum of points I should get is 32.36.  That means I need at least 9.14 extra points from one if not all 3 players tonight.  Can we say nerve racking?! 

I don't think I've ever analyzed something so much before in all my life!  Stats mean nothing when going week to week.  My sister-in-law can attest that her best players have been doing absolutely awful in the times they should be doing their best.  One of my friends said this NFL - No Friggin Logic.  Ain't that the truth! 

So...if I win, I'll be in 3rd place.  If I lose, I'll still be in 4th.  Go Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley and Robbie Gould!  Make your fantasy owner proud!!!

Weekend Recap

As I'm sitting here, watching the Jets game with my husband, I'm trying to think of what we did this weekend.  Friday night....I forget.  Saturday....Eric did yard work while Gavin and I lounged around the house.  Sunday....we went to church then watched football all day while Gavin went to the beach with Aunt Heather and cousin Dylan.  So even though our weekend was uneventful, I'm remembering certain funny things that happened. 

Like I said before, Eric did yard work on Saturday.  He was trimming our bushes when he went a little trim-happy.  One bush has one side missing leaves!  HAHA!  The other funny thing about Eric's yard work is that he didn't clean up after himself.  NO JOKE!  Our yard and our walkway is covered with branches, leaves, trash bags, and cables.  I know for a fact that our neighbors are saying, "What the heck?!"  I'm looking forward to that day where our yard doesn't look like trailer trash.  Maybe I should help him one of these days. 

Gavin has been making me laugh for days now.  He's starting to shrug his shoulders when I ask him where something is.  "Where?" he'll say.  He amazes me by the way he reacts to the things I say.  If I say, "Nite, nite," he'll go to the chair where I rock him (as you've seen on video).  If I say, "Let's go get changed," he'll go to the changing table and wait for me to pick him up.  If I say, "Are you hungry?" he'll run to his high chair and will try to climb it.  The list could go on and on of his actions by what I say.  This morning, I almost died laughing.  I was in the shower and Gavin was running around the house (no worries, Eric was watching him).  Well, Gavin was talking to me while I was taking a shower. So, I peeked me head out and I saw my underwear hanging around his neck and he was just smiling and laughing!  I yelled, "ERIC!  DID YOU DO THAT?!"  Then Eric came in and started laughing and said, "No!"  That made me laugh even more!  It looked like Gavin was trying to put my underwear on like a shirt. 

And for my last funny moment....a few days ago, we figured out that we have workout videos On Demand on our tv.  We made an agreement that we would do an ab workout every other day (starting today).  So Eric picked the video and we started....I think I got more of an ab workout laughing at my husband than actually following the exercises.  I think within the first minute he started complaining!  I wish I could've gotten us on video because it was bad.  We got through the first day though but I'm not sure how long this agreement will last. 

Hope you had a great weekend and made funny memories as we did!    

Mini-E

If you haven't seen Gavin's "Wow" video, you need to.  The very first nano-second, Gavin made a facial expression that reminded me of a picture I took of Eric 4 years ago.  I searched and searched through my files for that old picture but couldn't find it.  Then I remembered that I used that picture in photobooks I created for his parents back in 2006.  I asked Shutterfly.com how I could get it back in my files and they responded with easy, step-by-step instructions.  So here it is....My E and my Mini-E.

Secret Obsession

For those of you that truly know me, you'll know that I'm a little obsessed with Superman.  In a fictitous world, there's a savior that brings hope to their world.  He fights crime and evil to make that world a better place.  To this day, I still think the creators of Superman are Christians.  When I think of Superman, I always think of Jesus and how He came to this earth as a human to "save" it.  So, even though I'm a little obsessed with Superman, I'm extremely blessed to have my own personal Savior. :)

On that note, Smallville will be premiering their final season this Friday night.  Ten seasons of how Clark Kent became Superman...wow.  Six years ago, I started collecting this series on dvd.  I think I stopped at Season 6 because I couldn't afford it anymore.  I had to watch the rest of them through Netflix because I either didn't have cable or a dvr to record the episodes.  I felt out of the loop for awhile.  But I just finished Season 9 last night.  So I'm all caught up and ready for the Final Season. :(

Eric has been very understanding about my tv programs and he tries to get into them like I do but he really doesn't like them.  There are a few shows besides Smallville that I have to watch alone:  Glee, Parenthood, Hellcats, Chuck.  So if you watch any of these shows and would like to talk about them, I'm open for discussion! :)

Updated Media

Welcome to our blog, Frank! :)

Getting ready for Nite-nite



Warning:  Loud wind sounds on video.

Here, Gavin learned a new word, "WOW!"  And with great concentration, he'll have a good arm....

My Newfound Gardener

Ever since we bought the house, we've been worried that our neighbors are anxiously wondering when we're going to fix up our lawn.  I'll be honest, it's a little trashy.  Eric pulled out the bushes near the front window awhile ago and he just left the debris to be taken by the wind.  Then we have an ugly, big-rooted, lifeless tree in the middle of our yard that needs to be pulled out as well.  We never mow our lawn when our neighbors do so our yards are out of sync.  And to top it all off, I think we have wasp nests in our intact bushes. 

I think it was a few weeks ago, Eric started to grow a green thumb.  The ideas kept spinning round and round in his head.  Then finally, this past weekend, the idea went into full swing!  He bought some vine growing plants that he put near our garage and around our lamp post.  And get this, they have color!  He definitely not done but we're taking it weekend by weekend.  We had family over last night and one of the first things Eric said was, "Did you see my flowers?!"  He doesn't read my blogs so I'm giving you a heads up.  If/when you come over, ask about the flowers!  :)

Like I said, we had family over last night to celebrate my dad's birthday.  Beforehand, we all went to the beach.  I, personally, haven't taken Gavin to the beach since June but he has gone with my dad a few times.  Well, Gavin just cracked me up!  He was running all over the place; chasing seagulls, running in the water, visiting sunbather strangers, digging with his toys and all of this without rest.  Watching him was exhausting.  When we got home, we could tell he was tired but he was fighting it.  He definitely loves the attention when we have visitors.  I'll post pictures and videos soon. 

Have a great week!

P.S.  My fantasy football team DESTROYED my opponent by 45 points!  I think that moves me from 5th to 3rd....but I won't find out officially until tonight. 

My Bubble

Lately, I've been catching up with the news (local, world, sports, entertainment) on the internet.  I'll tell you what....I hate the news!  I remember why I don't watch it on tv.  The stories that are published make me sick to my stomach.  It's always about children getting killed, political controversies, injured athletes and arrested drug-abused celebrities.  I'm sure there's good news somewhere in the world. 

I know where....right in my own little bubble.  After reading all the horror that is happening, I'm determined to create good news on a daily basis.  Yesterday's good news was that Eric got his new work schedule with Stages Productions!  AND Gavin slept so peacefully and has been going down without a fight!  AND I finished a workout video that I haven't been able to complete....ever! 

See, we are surrounded by good news in this world.  We just gotta find it ourselves if the media wants to focus on the negative.  The good always outweighs the bad! :)

Did I Leave The House?

As I'm thinking about this past weekend, I'm asking myself, "Did I even leave the house?!"  I did but I didn't go far and didn't stay out for very long.

Friday night, we had our friends, the Kalils, over for dinner.  We figured we needed to spend time with them before their baby girl arrives and no time would be allotted to us! :)  We had fun chatting, laughing and airing out our marriages' dirty laundry.  It's nice to know that other couples share our fun, blissful transitions as well. :)   

Saturday involved a well executed accomplishment of cleaning out the garage!  I WISH I had taken before and after pictures.  I keep walking out there to see the improvement and I just smile with joy.  We definitely worked as a team in the middle of the hot, disgusting day with many breaks and a lot of trash we encountered.  It's hard to believe we held onto certain "crap" that just collected dust in storage.  That day, I think we left to go to the Seminole Rec and then to the grocery store (all within a 1 mile radius). 

Sunday, we stayed home ALL day.  Eric left twice to go to Home Depot and then again to the grocery store.  I wasn't feeling well (I'm ok now) and I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything.  So I stayed in my pj's all day.  I think those kinda days are allowed at least once a year.  We ended up watching football ALL DAY LONG!  And guess what, my fantasy team sucked!  My big name players let me down BIG time.  All I can do is just take the loss and hope for a win next week. 

Here are some pictures and a video of our laziness....

I told you we were lazy.

That Little Stinker

If I misspell something or use incorrect grammar in this blog, I have a reason.  I'm exhausted.  Last night was awful as has this whole week.  I'd like to blame it on Gavin's teeth that are coming in but it's not entirely true.  It would help if I went to bed early KNOWING that I would have to get up in the middle of the night.  But no, I stay up late with my beloved DVR.  Ain't life grand when you can record tv? 

Last night, however, was the first game of the NFL season.  And we HAD to watch the whole thing.  Eric was fighting to stay awake while I was getting frustrated that my kicker wasn't kicking as much as I had hoped.  But the tv watching didn't stop when the game did.  Eric went to bed and I continued to watch a show I recorded the night before.  Did I mention that it was an hour long?  Thank goodness for the fast forward button!  Needless to say, I didn't plop in bed until 12:30-1:00.

An hour and a half later, Gavin's gums decide to throb with pain.  So I'm back up with Oragel in hand, baby in arms and just rockin' away.  That took about 20 minutes and he went down quietly.  So where does that put us?  Around 3:00?  Ok....then Gavin actually wakes up for good around 5:00.  MEANING, I only had about 3 1/2, maybe 3 hours of sleep.  We watched the Disney Channel as I laid on the couch and Gavin sitting up answering, "No" to all of Mickey's questions.  How can you say "No" to Mickey?!

Eric wakes up at 7:00 and gets ready for work.  I get Gavin ready for Ms. Shirley's.  Then at 7:30 they both leave without a fuss.  On their way to Ms. Shirley's I get this picture through text.....

"He's asleep."

   
That little stinker....

Videos

New Word

Gavin learned a new word this weekend.  "Up."  He loves climbing and crawling on our new couch but when he knows he can't quite get up by himself, he says, "Up," while holding up his arms.  He also loves to be held.  He'll run over and hug my legs then will look up and say, "Up," while once again holding up his arms.  I'm trying to teach him the word, "Yes," because the answer to EVERY question is "No" and with such attitude too.  Wonder where he gets it from?

Labor Day Weekend was less stressful than previous weekends.  Friday night was me watching Camp Rock 2.  Yes, I realize that I am not in middle school but I must say that the music and choreography was quite impressive.  It was such a hit that it distracted Eric from schoolwork....my bad.  Saturday morning, Eric went straight to work and completed his schoolwork without distraction.  Gavin and I took a nice long walk and just got to hang out together.  Then the three of us attended a baby shower for our friends, the Kalil's.  Saturday night, I was invited to a Girls' Night Out (which was actually in) and I had a great time.  I only knew one person but her friends were incredible that I hope I can make them my own friends. :)  It was nice to stay out past my curfew too! 

Sunday morning, we attended church and Gavin acts like he owns the place.  He walks around during worship and I try to catch him so as to not be a distraction but I sometimes fail.  Afterwards, I took Gavin to Largo Central Park while Eric worked on more schoolwork.  LCP has a huge open field and Gavin just ran around and around.  Then he heard a little "Choo Choo" noise.  Apparently, every first weekend of the month, they run a small train set around a portion of the park.  We didn't go on it but Gavin would wave at the people passing by and they would wave back with "Aws".  It was quite cute. 

Monday....we didn't do much.  We tried to look for more area rugs but Target didn't have the greatest selection.  But we did get a few more things for the house.  Then we ate dinner at Mema's house and had the BEST PORK EVER!!!  Gavin literally stuffed his face with all the food we gave him.  You'd think we didn't feed him at all!  Anyhow, that was our weekend.....

Key to Cleaning

Last night, while Eric was at school and Gavin was in bed, I cleaned! I tried to clean the tile floors and I organized all of our books on our shelf. I tried to remove everything off the dining table and I got rid of the boxes just lying around. Then I figured it out....the key to cleaning is to dump EVERYTHING in the garage! No one will go out there and it stores all the junk we haven't used in years! I LOVE garages! Just kidding....sorta. I did put all the boxes of junk out there as well as Gavin's baby-baby items and Dylan's hand-me-down clothes. We have a broken futon and a broken dishwasher we need to throw away as well as our old mattress to sell. As you'll see in a moment, we have bare walls which will be remedied once Eric gets the nails out of his car. We're also missing a desk between the two columns of books. Eric's coworker is giving us her cherry wood desk but since she's out of town we're not sure when we'll get it. Alright, here are the pictures....

Cutest Smile Ever!