sleepover!!

Let me preface this by saying there is something very, very special about other people (family or friends) loving on your kids.

Uncle Andy and Aunt Courtney have been offering a sleepover to Ted since they moved back this way in the summer. Last weekend, I took them up on their offer. Ben was at Fall Weekend and Sophie was still croupy and we were couped up at home. So, after naps on Saturday, I put the kids in the car and we headed for Hurricane. (pronounced hur-e-kin for those of you not from around here.) On the way, we had our own little adventure.

Sophie: cough, cough, cough, gag, cough, gag
Ted: Mom, is Sophie going to puke up? I don't have a bowl.
Sophie: gag, cough, cough, gag, gag, cough
Mom: She'll be fine. I just gave her some cough medicine.
Sophie: vomit all over herself and the carseat
Ted: AAAAHHH! I want to look at Sophie. But I can't look at her puke.

So, we pulled over at a fast food joint and I changed her on the trunk of the car. Thankfully it was a beautiful day. And someone please remind me if I ever try to pass that carseat along how many times my children have vomited all over it.

After that, things sort of settled down. Ted was very excited. I wasn't sure how he would do. He's only stayed with our parents. But I left him and he was ready to go.

Uncle Andy & Aunt Courtney took him to Bob Evans to dinner and then to Billy Bob's. Billy Bob's is similar to Chuck E Cheese's but also has stuff for adults.






Then they went home and set up Uncle Andy's tent in the living room. There were some games of Guess Who? and they watched Monster's, Inc. Ted was in bed without a peep at 9:15 - I should have them put him to bed at home.





On Sunday morning they took him to River Ridge - Teays Valley. It's the church plant of River Ridge Charleston. It threw him off a little bit that they met in a school, yet he was learning the normal Sunday stuff.

All in all, he had a GREAT time. Thanks, Uncle Andy & Aunt Courtney. Someday Sophie will be potty trained and Uncle Andy will feel better about keeping her! =)

adventures with adrienne

The kids and I went to the mall with Adrienne on Thursday to help her pick out a new outfit. I was actually sort of surprised (and flattered) that I got to help. You can read about it on Adrienne's blog. It was slightly more chaotic than Adrienne lets on. But I told her in advance that I would be bringing them!

You can read about it here: Adrienne's Blog

pics - part 2

My children will definitely have experiences unlike most other kids b/c of who their dad is. Ted went through the Fall Weekend prop box. For your viewing pleasure . . .

pics - part 1

Ted got the "duster" out and dusted lots of places I never do.


Sophie actually layed down on the floor long enough for me to cover her. But that's about as long as that lasted.








Sophie and her yogurt explosion - and her best friend, the hungy dog!


Ted and Ben and their matching tatoos. Ben's was gone about 2 weeks ago. Ted's is still "melting." Evidently I don't bathe him enough.


Sophie after some m&m's - they do melt in your hands.

ted's view of the world

Ted got this camera for his birthday.



Here are just a few of the M-A-N-Y that he has taken. I've saved the best for you. There were about a hundred of the tv, walls, chairs, doors, etc. Not bad. We're working on it. Enjoy.



















In other news . . .
* Ted is helping around the house. He feeds Millie and occasionally gives her "cereal" - her food in her water bowl.

* He has finally discovered what it means when some part of his body falls asleep - he calls it "sprinkly." I think that's a pretty accurate description.

* He has discovered movies although Monsters, Inc. is the only movie he will watch the entire way through. He does love the baby puking scene on Shrek 3.

* The boy LOVES to be in his underwear. He comes home and strips almost immediately. Even at the option of doing fun things, he'll sometimes choose to stay home b/c he doesn't want to get dressed. Our house isn't warm by any stretch of the imagination and that doesn't seem to bother him.

toddlerhood, climbing and croup

Sophie has turned a new corner into toddlerhood. She's playing by herself a little more and being entertained by toys. She doesn't wander around the house quite so much anymore. She is being helpful too. She loves to put her dirty clothes in the laundry and her diapers in the trash. She likes to put pretty much anything in the trash, actually. So far we've found money, the remote to the tv, shoes and pj's. She brings me the snack of her choice and then puts it back after I've gotten what she needs from it. And she's crossed the 30 pound mark!

That's right. 30 pounds! We've had an episode with croup. Very scary. Went to the pedicatrician's and the ER. But we're on the mend now. Whew - that breathing stuff is really scary.

One morning a week it's just me and Sophie while Ted's at preschool. (The other two mornings he's at preschool I work.) Sophie and I paint the town red running errands and getting things done. This was Sophie on Monday on our way to get Ted. Too pooped to party.



And she climbs. On anything and everything as you can see documented below.









So, she's super fun! She still isn't saying much - at least anything that resembles a word.

let's go . . . mountaineers!

We took Ted to the WVU vs. Louisville game on Saturday in Morgantown. Some friends gave us some tickets last minute and the weather was beautiful. So, we sent Sophie to New Martinsville with Andy & Courtney on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning, Ted woke me up at 6am and said, "Did we miss the band yet?" No, pal. We've got plenty of time.

Our day in pictures:


We arrived in Morgantown around 10:00 am and tailgated. Ted wanted food at everyone else's tailgate!


He did manage to find a cupcake at the tailgate next to ours!


He got his "picture" with Pat White but wouldn't get it with the Mountaineer. Ben said that was ok b/c the current Mountaineer is a girl. That offends him greatly.


It was an absolutely beautiful day for football. Too bad the game kinda stunk. OK, really stunk.


Ted wanted to read a book during the game. That made Ben about crazy!


Watching the bad at halftime. Ted LOVED the band. By far the best part of the day.


Playing with Skylar.


Trees outside the stadium that were burning on our way out.


The fans looking at the fire - way more interesting than the game.


We parked across from this guy - and his pants. I couldn't resist.


Waiting for dinner at Sheetz.


About 5 minutes into our trip across Route 7 to get Sophie.

All in all, it was a really fun day!