The start of 2009

Let's see...it's the new year already? I can't believe it! The month of December has just flown by and I didn't even get a chance to enjoy it! Well, I take that back. I did enjoy the visit from my sister and her family. They were here in SC for all but two days, but it felt longer than that to me. Then Cy's good friend Aleks came last Monday and left yesterday (Friday). That visit felt short to me. Probably b/c I was keeping busy and Cy did most of the entertaining and I kept watch over Evan.

For New Year's eve we jumped in the car at 8:50 pm and high-tailed to Finley Park. At 9 pm there was a fireworks display and we made it just in time. The fireworks hit our faces and it felt like they were falling right over us. It was a pretty scene and we enjoyed all 10 minutes of it. Yep - just 10 minutes. We quickly jumped back in our van (didn't want to get caught up in the jammed up cars heading out of the parking lots) and headed to Wally World. Needed to buy some ice cream to go with the brownies I made. Hardly anyone in there....typical crowd.

We decided to put Evan down and not let him stay up with us to watch the ball drop. He stayed up last year and was a great trooper. We knew it would be best to put him down early since he had an exciting day the next day at Ms. Lynn's (in-house daycare). I'll get to that after I talk about us bringing in the new year. So, it was me, Cy and Aleks at our house. They ate ice cream and brownies, while I enjoyed fresh popped popcorn. I love popping my own corn on the stove. It's the best! We flipped channels between Dick Clark and the other station who was celebrating in Vegas. I feel bad for Dick Clark. It was hard to concentrate on what he was saying due to his health condition. He just looks like he's going down hill. He just needs to retire. Then you got Kelley Pickler in her southern accent and I have no clue what was up with her eyes..she had some weird looking makeup on. It was either watching that or Miley Sirus' New Year's Eve show. I made it and stayed up to watch the ball drop! Cy busted out the bottles of champagne we had received as a gift from someone oh, say three years ago ( it was Brut dry and Extra Dry). I'm not a drinker and toasted in the new year with a glass of water. About 12:15 am - I told the boys I'm off to bed. When I woke up, I found out Cy and Aleks finished off BOTH BOTTLES and didn't get to bed until 3 am. Bummer for them. They were hurtin', but I was more thankful that those bottles were gone. Got really tired of seeing them way in the back of the cabinet. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to get rid of those bottles long time ago. But see, I'm married to Cy. Cy - the one who throws NOTHING AWAY! Nothing. I won't go there...onto Evan's excited day!

As a Christmas gift to us and some other parents, Lynn decided to have a sleep over at her house. YES! A break from kids. And boy, we took full advantage. Dropped Evan off at 4:30 pm and were told to pick him up the next day by noon. Cy and I went out to dinner, hung out at Barnes and Noble, shared a cup of coffee at Starbucks then headed to Blockbuster to rent a movie. We agreed to watch Indiana Jones. It wasn't a bad movie. Afterwards, we got a second wind and started cleaning up. Cy's other friend Andrew was due the next morning. Had to cleanup the guest room again. Aleks was just in there, so I had strip the bedsheets off, clean the bathroom, etc.You know how that goes...

Andrew drove from Virginia and was stopping for a day/night before heading off to Texas. As I type this - he and Cy are watching football. Andrew leaves tomorrow. Then in another two weeks, Cy's aunt is driving from MA to visit us for a week.

So, as you can see - I've been busy. I didn't even set any new year resolutions either. Well, I did in my head, but it helps to physically write them down - that way I can follow through with them. Maybe I'll do them tomorrow after church. I'll at least have some time then. I'm hoping to have a nice relaxing Sunday. It's been a while since I've had a nice relaxing Sunday.

For a change, this blog is super long. I better cut it off now so that readers like you can get on with your life. I've let you in my little life for this long....stay tuned for more! Happy New Year!

Pictured Cy, Evan & Aleks @ Wild Wings

November 4th, 2008 - Election Day

This morning, it took me 4 minutes from my house to Lynn's house (Evan's sitter), then 10 minutes from Lynn's to downtown Columbia. What's happening? The only action I saw from the road was the long line of voters in front of Eau Clare HS. God Bless them!

On the morning news, they showed pictures of the long lines at the polls. I'm thankful that I'm NOT in those lines today. Cy and I voted earlier two weeks ago. It was a "spur-of-the-moment" kinda thing and I'm thankful we decided to do that. Now, we can sit and relax and just wait for the outcome. Boy, I'm ready for this election to be over. All the hoopla talk about Obama and McCain has just been a whirlwind. I thought I left "politics" when I moved from the DC Metro area to South Carolina - NOT!

Now I'm at work and out of 18 employees - we only have six here in the office. Everyone else must be standing in those long lines I saw on TV this morning. The benefit of voting today? You get a "I VOTED" sticker once you're done. Then you can take advantage and go to Starbucks - they'll give you a free cup of coffee if you show them your sticker. WOW! And I hear that Krispie Kreme is handing out free donuts too! I think its a privilege and honor to vote. If you are still undecided -- then you've got issues. Again - with all the hoopla and talk about the running candidates -- HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW WHO TO VOTE FOR??

If you have stumbled on this blog and voted already - GOOD FOR YOU! THAT'S AWESOME!
If you have stumbled on this blog and haven't voted yet - MAKE SURE YOU GO AND VOTE! The SC polls close at 7 pm tonight. Don't forget your valid ID - they will be checking.

Peace!

Ready for the Fall Season

Looked at our indoor thermostat and it said 67 degrees outside temp. Right then and there, I wanted to put on jeans, a sweater, and my dansko mules. It's coming people! Are you ready for the fall? I AM!

I did put on my jeans, walked around the house w/my pajama shirt on (still), running around finding a shirt (not a sweater), trying to get Evan up, listening to Cy talk about the news = all at the same time. Yes, I'm a talented mom. Hee...hee..

This past weekend we went apple picking with some friends (The Bennett's) and we had a blast. The apple orchard is located just north of Spartanburg, SC (about a 2 hr. drive). Because the gas prices are horrendous, we piled up in our van and headed to the mountains for the day. And let me tell you, it was beautiful. A perfect day to picking apples and making family memories. I think Cy and Evan had their bellies full of apples. I for one is not a fan of apples, so my consumption was very little. I did however favor the Asian Pears. They were the bomb-diggety! We picked $14 bucks worth of apples and 3 lbs. of Asian pears. I plan to make some apple desserts.

Before this apple picking trip, we had been reading about apple picking and we got this awesome book from the library called, "Apple Farmer Annie". Being the well-prepared mom, Cy and I read this book to Evan and introduced him to apple picking through this book two weeks prior to our mini trip. We knew we were going to go apple picking and we wanted to get Evan to realize the concept of apple picking. On the morning of, I woke Evan up and said, "Good morning Apple Farmer Evan. Are you ready to go pick some delicious apples?" HE SPRUNG UP and said, "YES!" We bought the book w/us to read on the car. It was an experience we won't forget. The orchard was just beautiful. There were rows and rows of all different kinds of apples to choose and it catered so much to families. They had a playground, a barn of animals, a bamboo forest path, a bee hive, and of course tons of apple desserts. The donuts were awesome and the apple cider slushy cooled us off.

Like I said, it was a great day to form family memories and we are sure to keep this a tradition.

Click here to see pictures of "APPLE FARMER EARLY'S".

Misconception

* Evan feeding Christie @ the Riverbank Zoo.

For the record - We are not (by far) expecting a new addition to our family. I have had several friends assuming that I am. I may look it - since the recent pictures taken show a "puffy stomach" -- but really -- the answer is no.

Not that we wouldn't want to have a baby, but for now we are waiting.

So - just to ease everyone. Sorry!

What a laugh! I needed that!

It's FRIDAY and I have big plans for the weekend. Big plans you ask? Yep - cleaning and organizing. That's my big plans. That, and spending some time with my little man Evan! He's a hoot and so much fun to be around. Especially when he's well-rested. Cy will conquer the kitchen again. Attempting to pull up the subfloors he put down last week. We had a little buckle and expansion with the wood. Ah - you live and learn, right?

My parents are due in next month and there is much need for reorganizing stuff. I say organizing, but really mean GET RID OF STUFF! Cy, I'm sure will have his radar on. He hardly throws anything away. And to my dismay, I try to get rid of stuff that we don't need or don't ever use. His way of getting rid of stuff is putting it to the side and/or craigslist it.

Evan Milestones: Offically potty trained, wants to do everything himself (literally), is talking back (with some attitude), STILL likes Thomas and is persistant about fixing his train tracks in his room, and loves going to the Riverbank Zoo. There's more -- but I don't have time to type it all!

Have a productive and happy weekend!

Edisto Beach

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Blueberry Picking on the 4th of July

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Taxes are done!

Woo hoo! We did it! We finished our taxes last night. I won't go into details, but I will just say that it's all good. After we were done, Cy said, "well, guess we can go back home now". Which translates to, "we can afford to visit Hawaii." After sitting there at the accountants office for an hour and a half, we ate a quick bite at San Jose's. I asked Cy if he was serious about going "back home" - and he said he was joking. And my response was, umm...it would be nice to go back home for Christmas.

Rhojon -- don't start getting excited now. I highly doubt we're going back home. I much rather spend $$ on renovating the Marley house. Our kitchen is a disaster! I can't wait until we get a new kitchen. It's gonna be awesome!

I've been super busy lately. When am I not busy? This Sat., Cy and I will be driving up to Greer, SC to see Jon & Kate from the hit reality TLC show Jon & Kate plus 8. Evan will be spending time at the Bennett's. Then the following weekend we're attending a wedding. Then it'll be May.

May - this will be a busy month for us! We're celebrating Evan's 3rd birthday - kicking it off to visit Cy's aunt who lives in Atlanta. Then driving to Chattanooga, TN for A Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine. That is going to be fun! Then the following weekend we're having Evan's birthday party. I'm really nervous about the cake because I'm making a Thomas the Train cake for him. It's going to be very, very, challenging! Then we're going camping on another weekend....it just goes on and on and on.....

Anyway - back to work for me!