Feeling a Little Nostalgic

So, yesterday morning was a sad day in my house...I lost a close companion that has been with me for 11 years, longer than even my husband, so I thought she deserved a little blog time.


This is my CONAIR, and yes it deserves capital letters, hairdryer that I had to lay to rest in the garbage can this morning. She has been with me for the past 11...ELEVEN years! My life has changed dramatically over these past 11 years and CONAIR has been with me every step of the way. She left the safety of Auburn to travel to college at Troy with me...first we lived in Clemens Hall; what a dump, but looking back I remember SO much fun had there! She traveled everywhere with me during my 3 years cheering for Troy; Cincinnati, Miami, Maryland, Nebraska, Texas, Louisiana. I used her services the night I met my husband, and later the day we got married. She was there on our Honeymoon cruise, and she was there in the hospital when I had both of my boys. She was with us when we moved into our first "real" house. She has dried the hair of my friends, my husband, my son, our dog Mya loved her, and of course my hair! So, needless to say I am saddened my the loss.

Yesterday, when CONAIR quit, I went to work with wet hair. So, on my lunch break, I headed to Wal-mart to pick out the replacement, and until she proves to be as sturdy and reliable as CONAIR, she will remain "replacement." Since CONAIR lasted SO long, I knew which brand I would buy, but there were so many choices...but, here's what I went with...meet replacement.



I have to admit, I did try CONAIR one more time before carefully wrapping up her cord and placing her gently into the garbage, but she couldn't do it, it was over. So, after 10 minutes of trying to get replacement out of the box, I gave her a try...now, this is what I should've gotten a picture of...the hurricane force winds that replacement blows out! I think I have windburn! But, I do have to say...Man, my hair looks good today!

FBI WARNING

image thanks to: www.unctv.org/pressroom/children/index.html

Ever heard of Word World? It comes on PBS Kids...every day...Still no? Well, me neither; that is until TJ introduced us to it a little while back. He LOVES this show, and I have to admit, it is pretty cute...and educational! Any way, TJ wanted to rent a Word World DVD to watch the other night. He watched it twice that night and twice yesterday...so, needless to say, he has it memorized forwards and backwards by this point! This morning he begged me with his sweet baby blues looking extra puppy dog-ish to watch it with him...so, of course I couldn't turn him down! So, I raced to shower, put on my makeup, dried my hair, and threw on some clothes so I could have 15 spare minutes to watch one episode with him. We turned on the DVD at 7:46...not bad...I'd only be about 5 minutes late for work...thank goodness this DVD doesn't have previews (cause he loves to watch them and won't let you click to the menu)! But it does have the FBI WARNING message as all DVD's do:


When this warning is shown before a movie, do you even think about it? I know I don't. But of course my child, who notices EVERYTHING, noticed the warning.

TJ: "Mom, what does that say?"

Me: "Well, it just says that you could go to jail or have to pay a bunch of money if you copy this movie."

TJ: (Now, looking REALLY distressed) "Mom, I don't copy it...I just watch!"

Me: (Not really paying full attention as I am trying to get the movie started...it's already 7:48!)

TJ: (In a whisper) "Mom, well.........I DO COPY it sometimes!!!" (As he starts singing the opening song)

Guess he's not too worried about the copyright law!!!

Law School in the Future?

Legally Blonde was on T.V. last night, so with nothing else on "because cartoons don't come on at night" I tell TJ, we started watching. I felt for sure when Thomas arrived home, he would sigh so often that I would eventually change the channel to something sports oriented, so why not enjoy a little chick-flick action while I could! But, when Thomas arrived home he let me continue to watch in peace...I must have looked horribly exhausted or something...

During the movie, when Elle gets accepted to Harvard and begins her first day of law school, I lean over and tell TJ..."Uncle Mike is going to law school right now too...just like her." Thomas explained that Uncle Mike was going to be a lawyer. Of course, being the ever inquisitive child that he is, he asks "What's a lawyer?"

Thomas: "Well, it's a job where you argue and get paid for it..."

TJ is quiet for a few seconds (a feat in itself) then responds: "I guess I'm already a lawyer then 'cause I argue!"

We tried to explain that all he gets for arguing is 5 minutes in timeout.

Thomas has always told TJ "You're JUST like your Uncle Mike!" I don't think he realizes that those things he does...could be like HIM too ;)


Christmas 2005


Summer 2006


Summer 2008


Christmas 2009

Four Generations

Thomas and I are so grateful to have 2 of our grandmothers still living. So TJ and Tristan have 2 GREAT-grandmothers! The woman now famous for her "Granny-isms" is Thomas' grandmother. She is 88 years old...will be 89 this September! We took some time this past Sunday to get a new 4 generation picture now that Tristan his her newest great-grandchild.



Thomas and I were so upset that we had the opportunity to get both sides of our 4 generations in one picture when my grandmother was in town! Hopefully we will remember next time!

We also had TJ & Tristan's pictures taken by a professional...since you have seen my lovely attempts to get them together didn't turn out so well! Check out the photo preview HERE...they are PRECIOUS!

I found the perfect babysitter...

And no, it's not TJ. He tends to ignore Tristan the majority of the time, not to mention he's only 5. I have been on the search for the perfect babysitter, I know they exist, I have heard about them in discussions with other mothers. We are extremely fortuntate to have both Thomas' parents and my Mom within a 25 mile radius, but I finally found one that lives much closer! There are times when I just need a few minutes to get some underwear washed for the next day, or go to the restroom A.L.O.N.E., or change my clothes into those oh-so-comfy sweat pants that are oh-so-flattering! And here she is, in ALL of her glory, my perfect sitter:



No, my TV doesn't actually look like this one, it's a much older, boxier version... but works none the less! I took this picture of the boys this morning, both watching cartoons, both blissfully happy in doing so! I can't believe a 3 month old baby is so entertained by watching TV. And, for those of you who think TV is evil...well, I guess you could come over and watch the boys, so I can have a few spare minutes?! We do try to limit the TV time that TJ has, at least making him get the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day, since most 5 year olds need that recommendation! But seriously, how cool is it that I can have a few minutes to brush my teeth, without a squirming baby in my arms; or fold some laundry so guests can enter through the garage door without stepping over the piles; or maybe I can even eat a WARM dinner!

3rd Monthiversary

Tristan is 3 months old! It feels as if he has been a part of our family forever, but at the same time, I can't believe he is 3 months old! Tristan continues to be a very easy going, laid back baby...which is WONDERFUL! He is sleeping through the night...every night! He doesn't really like riding in the car however...our morning commute consists of Tristan crying, and the radio turned up loudly. He loves for you to talk to him, and he gets really tickled and giggles a lot!

STATS: As of today, Tristan is 13 lbs 4 oz and 23 1/2" long.


Here are my attempts this month to get a picture of both boys together! Good thing I am having a professional take them Saturday!