Our 9th Anniversary is coming up. And although we've been here for 6 years, I have never been to Niagara Falls. Yeah, you heard me.
So the Man booked us a room for one night, we dropped the Boy off with the Holmes, and we went and saw.
We both think this is the first time we've actually done something for our anniversary other than just dinner. Yeah, we're lame. But you can't be shocked. The fact that I have never been to Niagara Falls until now should have tipped you off. Happy Anniversary, honey. I love you!
I felt like crying just a little when I took these pictures. It's not because he's carrying Elmo and eating bread or because he has a horribly snotty nose from the cold he caught this week. Nope. It's because some of my friends commented on how the Boy doesn't look so "little" anymore. And they are right.
What is it about your children getting older that makes you both happy and a bit sad?
Remember Stella? I loved Stella. She quit showing up at our house, though. So yesterday, I decided to take the boy and Roxy to go get the mail. We can let Roxy out front now, because the Man installed one of those electric fences. I've opposed it for years due to the whole "shocking" thing, but it has been great!
But I digress. Roxy walked out ahead of me and the Boy. And then I noticed a dog in the front garden. She looked innocent enough, but I put the Boy back inside anyways. I tried to get Roxy in, but she was already deep into the butt sniffing. The dog came up to me, tail tucked. I started to lean in to see the phone number on the tag when SNAP! it got put-out with butt sniffing and attacked Roxy.
Let me tell you something. In situations like that, there are people who would remain calm and know exactly what to do. I am not one of those people. I am the one with arms flailing in the air screaming, "Everybody panic!" In any case, after about 8 seconds, Roxy managed to break free and runnnnn like the dickens. And the stray took off.
Here's her major battle wound - it was worse than the picture makes it look but still not too bad. Just bad enough that I had to take her to the vet and pay out the nose for it.
She was so exhausted afterwards, she just went and laid in her bed. She never does that. Poor girl. I was so proud of her for putting up the best fight she could against a dog more than twice her size.
(Insert a tasteless Michael Vick joke here).
It's been a steamy summer here, hasn't it? I was in Wal-Mart a few weeks ago and couldn't pass up a little swimming pool for the boy. He absolutely loves it.
And ummm...so does Roxy.Yes, I am alive. I just honestly have not felt like blogging lately. When I get the itch again, I'll post pictures of NYC and the Boy, etc. But for now, I got this off my sister-in-law:
1. Leave a comment on my blog, one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.
Thanks!
The Man took vacation so he could stay home with the Boy while I took my mom, grandmother, and nephew to NYC. Here is an email that he sent me while I was there:
I'm actually enjoying being with little guy and spending some time with my boy. For the most part he has been very good. We did some projects like seal the crack in the driveway and work in the railing in the front yard. We have run quite few errands and we went to the Museum. We went to Walmart earlier to get some milk (I got him a keyboard too, which he enjoyed for about 15 min.) He's been a pretty good napper too, so I've been able to get some studying done.
Of course, the last few days haven't been without times of boredome, anger, and irritation. For example, I forgot to change his diaper before we left and he was drinking up a storm because it's so hot. So he was completely soaked through by the time we got home. He is about out of clothes because I have had to change them so much. I contemplated doing a load of laundry, but I think we can scrape by. Two things that irritate me: when me and Roxy are on the couch he can't help but climb on the couch and hit the dog, regardless of how many times I tell him "no hit", or give time out. Same goes for the buttons on the receiver.
The second irritation: I cannot be on the computer without him whining to get on my lap or crawl under the desk to turn everything off. Infact, he has done both in the last five minutes. But, overall we've had a good time and I have enjoyed spending time with him. I was going to take him for a bike ride this evening, but it's too hot and humid. Maybe we'll head to the museum again.
Well I have to go, the whining is starting again. By the way, this ranks as top three longest emails I've ever written.
Love you and miss you,
It's nice to know that he's getting a taste for what my day is like. I think the Man works far harder than I do, but the mental drain of being at home has to be experienced first-hand.
I'll post more of NYC when I get home, and my nephew gets his pictures to me.
This was my book club meeting this month.
Jealous?
We do actually read and discuss books. It's just so much nicer with a pool and a fire. Good idea, Deborah!
I did it! I ran my first 5K today.
I was so, so happy that my friend Joanna showed up. So we ran it together.
This is us crossing the finish line. That's my hand there going to give Joanna a high five.
Thanks so much to my nephew for getting up soooo early to be there, take care of the Boy, and take pictures.
So T.V. in the summer is pretty lame. Someone told me I should watch "So You Think You Can Dance". So I did. And this week, there was a really cool dance on there. Well, I enjoyed it anyways. I wanted to embed it, but it wouldn't let me, so just follow the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLoVJfqumuE
So I told you the story about the boat while we were on vacation. Well, my brother-in-law sent this email to all of us and has graciously agreed to let me post it. I think he is one of the funniest people I have ever met. Anyhow, here's what he sent:
So many pictures. So unwilling to write and write and write. So I'll give you a highlight. But first, the sister-in-law for which my husband mistook me (see previous post) is on the right in the picture below. What do you think? Is he off the hook?
Next is my favorite memory and picture from the trip. We took the boat out one evening, skied for about an hour and a half, stopped on a beach to have some watermelon and then pushed off for more skiing. So what are all the girls doing sitting on the back of the boat in the middle of the lake at night? Paddling with our feet ,of course. Why? Because the boat died and there was only one paddle aboard. That may be forgivable had it been the first time that week the boat had died - leaving people afloat on the lake begging others for a tow. But no. It was the third. But the men were so confident in their ability to fix the boat, they felt that two paddles would be superfluous.
Unfortunately, there aren't many people out and about on the lake at night. So we were stuck for three hours before flagging someone down to drag us to the dock. I felt sort of bad for all the men who were taking turns with the one paddle trying to get us home. The women had a pretty good time, I think. At least I did. Everyone seems funny when you're stuck in the middle of the lake at 11:00 at night.
Lots more happened. But I'll just let you look at the pictures. We had a great time. THANK YOU so much to my in-laws for having us and planning it - especially my mother-in-law, who offered to let the Boy sleep at her house while the Man and I stayed somewhere else. So, so nice.
And I absolutely cannot overlook our friends, the Pulley's, for taking Roxy in while we were gone. THANK YOU! She is so depressed to be back home with us.
I just had to share this little tid bit. About an hour ago I was standing in my mother-in-law's kitchen when The Man walked in from the dining room. He was not standing more than 5 feet away when he said, "Has anyone seen Anna? Has anyone seen my wife?" Then he turned and faced me, looking right past me - still searching. I stood there staring at him but did not say anything. I was certain that within a second he would see me. He then pushed past me still asking, "where's my wife". He actually bumped into me. I thought it was a joke. But it wasn't. As he started to walk out of the room I finally said something. Apparently he thought I was his sister, so he never looked directly at me. I guess after almost nine years of marriage, I have become invisible. Now, should I use my powers for good or for evil? Hmmm...
*for those of you who wanted to see it, I'll post a picture of the sister-in-law when I get back next week.
And what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. So no details for you. Actually, we're visiting The Man's family. See you when we get back!
The Boy loves this toothbrush. It keeps him entertained for a substantial period of time when it's on. I don't have the heart to take it away from him now that he got a hold of it - even though it is the dog's. 
The pretty flowers are starting to bloom. Man, I don't miss Winter at all. I love my flower bushes!
The Boy loves to snuggle. And if you're laying in the floor, he'll cease that opportunity to climb all over you. 
Hmm...what's in here? 
C'mon dad, look at me!
Well, we were supposed to end the Man's week long vacation with Niagara Falls on Saturday. Unfortunately, all three of us came down with a cold and we just did not want to do it. Lucikly, two out of the three of us felt over the hump by Memorial Day. So we went to the Pulley's and had some food and fun.
The Boy loved the pool!
Thanks, Pulley's!
The Man took some vacation this week. We decided to stick around here and take some day trips. Unfortunately, the weather has been extremely uncooperative until today. So we have been lazing around quite a bit. And even though we have been many times before, Wednesday we took the Boy to the Play Museum and did two new things we have not done there yet:
Ride the Carousel...
...and see the Butterfly Exhibit, which was pretty neat.
Of course we had to stop for the fish. Or "shish" as the Boy calls them.
Today was still cool but not rainy at least, so we drove to Letchworth State Park. I was not aware that it had waterfalls. We took a short hike past the Upper and Middle Falls. Thanks to the Shelton's for letting us borrow their new backpack. Doesn't it look totally uncomfortable? The Boy really liked it, though. And that's what counts.
Then we finished with a picnic, where you can start to see the exhaustion on the Boy's face.
He fell asleep on the way home. It was lovely.
What are you going to do with your economic stimulus check? Here's what The Man did with part of ours. First off, he got a bike as an EXTREMELY early birthday gift. So he bought me one for Mother's Day...
and then he got the the Boy a seat to strap on. He took it out for a spin today.
The Boy got a little hot and sweaty outside one day, so of course, I decided to do this...
I've decided there exists one universal truth. Kids love Elmo. I am fairly certain the Boy has rarely, if ever, actually seen Elmo on T.V. His contact with Elmo consists of playing in the Elmo's World section of the Play Museum. But even then, he spends his whole time in front of the mirrors.
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