Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Catch-Up!
Wow, I think I might be in a time warp...Every time I kept thinking I needed to update the blog, it felt like it had only been a few days. Then I realized maybe a week had passed, but I had plenty of good excuses as to why I didn't get to it in a week. Now, it's been about two whole weeks and I am shocked at how fast this year has already gone. I really have been busy, though! Somebody just told me that I am the most travelingest person they know...
Last week Gabe and I were down in SC with the Keigley's for a few days. Gabe learned how to paint his toenails, we got to see a little dinosaur hatch, we went to see a fun train layout, and we had our own Japanese steakhouse night. We enjoyed ourselves very much and although we are sad that the Keigleys live far away, it is fun to have out-of-town friends to visit!
As soon as we got back from SC, Mike called to tell me he and a friend that he works with would be coming to visit Tuesday through Thursday of last week. It worked out well because Ryan's birthday was on Wednesday, so they were able to celebrate with us. Ryan's 29th was nice, but pretty low-key, maybe we'll save up the excitement for the big 3-0 next year!
I got another surprise phone call last week! My dad was flying to DC for work and was able to extend his trip if I was able to drive up and meet him. Gabe and I made the quick decision that it would be a fun opportunity for some good Dad/Grandpa time and we headed up Monday afternoon. We got to see some more trains, went to the new Air and Space Museum by Dulles Airport, had lunch with my cousins, went to the American History Museum in DC, and hung out with Noah and Rachel. Gabe really enjoyed Grandpa Dave (he called him Grandpa Davie twice, but I doubt it will stick ;) and I had fun getting some one-on-one with my Daddy. I'm trying to get out to Colorado in March and I can't wait for Gabe to see my Dad's trains then. He will be beside himself!
On our way back from DC Gabe and I stopped in at the farm to see Ryan's grandparents. We had a nice lunch with them and I think Gabe could have hung out there all day! It was such a beautiful day--I really just wanted to hike around in the woods and jump through creeks and enjoy the sunshine. Maybe this spring we'll have the opportunity. I know Gabe would love it!
Now, it is Friday morning and I am gearing up for the weekend. Mike and Abby will be getting here tonight sometime and Noah and Rachel are heading this way tomorrow morning. I'm not sure what is in store for the holiday weekend, but I'll update you next week! Really!
Oh yeah, and my camera is 'a wittle bit sick' (that is what Gabe would say everytime he coughed last week...'Mom, I'm a wittle bit sick') so I don't have many pictures to document our recent travels. Riley sent me some of Gabe and his nail-painting adventures and Tori sent me one of us on Ryan's birthday, so I'll get those posted!
Last week Gabe and I were down in SC with the Keigley's for a few days. Gabe learned how to paint his toenails, we got to see a little dinosaur hatch, we went to see a fun train layout, and we had our own Japanese steakhouse night. We enjoyed ourselves very much and although we are sad that the Keigleys live far away, it is fun to have out-of-town friends to visit!
As soon as we got back from SC, Mike called to tell me he and a friend that he works with would be coming to visit Tuesday through Thursday of last week. It worked out well because Ryan's birthday was on Wednesday, so they were able to celebrate with us. Ryan's 29th was nice, but pretty low-key, maybe we'll save up the excitement for the big 3-0 next year!
I got another surprise phone call last week! My dad was flying to DC for work and was able to extend his trip if I was able to drive up and meet him. Gabe and I made the quick decision that it would be a fun opportunity for some good Dad/Grandpa time and we headed up Monday afternoon. We got to see some more trains, went to the new Air and Space Museum by Dulles Airport, had lunch with my cousins, went to the American History Museum in DC, and hung out with Noah and Rachel. Gabe really enjoyed Grandpa Dave (he called him Grandpa Davie twice, but I doubt it will stick ;) and I had fun getting some one-on-one with my Daddy. I'm trying to get out to Colorado in March and I can't wait for Gabe to see my Dad's trains then. He will be beside himself!
On our way back from DC Gabe and I stopped in at the farm to see Ryan's grandparents. We had a nice lunch with them and I think Gabe could have hung out there all day! It was such a beautiful day--I really just wanted to hike around in the woods and jump through creeks and enjoy the sunshine. Maybe this spring we'll have the opportunity. I know Gabe would love it!
Now, it is Friday morning and I am gearing up for the weekend. Mike and Abby will be getting here tonight sometime and Noah and Rachel are heading this way tomorrow morning. I'm not sure what is in store for the holiday weekend, but I'll update you next week! Really!
Oh yeah, and my camera is 'a wittle bit sick' (that is what Gabe would say everytime he coughed last week...'Mom, I'm a wittle bit sick') so I don't have many pictures to document our recent travels. Riley sent me some of Gabe and his nail-painting adventures and Tori sent me one of us on Ryan's birthday, so I'll get those posted!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Particular Little Gabe
The other night I asked Gabe what he wanted to eat for dinner. We happened to be on the tail end of a 4 hour drive home from Northern VA, so Taco Bell was our restaurant of choice that night. Gabe said..."Not Taco Beelll," with that little whiny emphasis on the 'Bell' that kids somehow learn. I asked him what he wanted instead and he thought for a second before giving a little click of his tongue and listing his menu of choice: "I just want some peppers, and cucumbers and cheese and pretzels and pepperonis and marshmallows." Sooo, I told him that sounded great but we'd just go to Taco Bell first. He must have been hungrier than he thought, because as soon as we pulled through to order, he sounded desperately anxious for a taco of some sort. He got a soft taco and ate half of it before the lettuce started grossing him out (it's funny how I can tell what he is thinking...but really, I can!) and he told me that he would just eat the rest of it at home and watch t.v. Yup. The man has a plan.
Anyway, we got home and I offered him the other half of his taco, which I already knew he would decline. Then, being the sweetly spoiled only-child that he happens to be, I proceeded to cut up some peppers and cheese and line them up on a plate with some pretzels and pepperoni. I set them down at his place at the table and he climbed up into his chair to eat. He looked at his plate, then looked up at me with a happy smile (like I had read his mind or something ;) and he said "Thanks for this dinner, Mom." He then ate each course with such care and enjoyment. First the peppers, then the cheese, then each and every pretzel before polishing off all 6 pieces of pepperoni. Wanna know what dessert was? 10 mini marsmallows. And he shared 3 with me. What a sweetie!
Anyway, we got home and I offered him the other half of his taco, which I already knew he would decline. Then, being the sweetly spoiled only-child that he happens to be, I proceeded to cut up some peppers and cheese and line them up on a plate with some pretzels and pepperoni. I set them down at his place at the table and he climbed up into his chair to eat. He looked at his plate, then looked up at me with a happy smile (like I had read his mind or something ;) and he said "Thanks for this dinner, Mom." He then ate each course with such care and enjoyment. First the peppers, then the cheese, then each and every pretzel before polishing off all 6 pieces of pepperoni. Wanna know what dessert was? 10 mini marsmallows. And he shared 3 with me. What a sweetie!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
HaHa!
For all of you naysayers out there...Lookie-here! Leigh is posting again, just for you! And on the tail-end of a crazy weekend, too. January has been jam-packed, and there are still a couple of weeks left in the month. Our weekend was great, though -- full of more visitors and another buddy for Gabe to play with.
Our friends Chris and Shila came down from Northern VA Friday night with their son, who is a few months younger than Gabe. They stayed with us through last night, and we were sad to see them go! Gabe and Braeden got along great and us adults got along all right, too. To complete the party, our friend Bryan came down with his girlfriend, Sarah, and they stayed at the lake with George, Tori and Noah, who also came down for the weekend. We played games, cooked, watched football and reminisced a bit. The group of us used to hang out pretty often when we lived up that way, so it us always nice to be together again.
I'm going to add a couple of pictures tonight and then head to bed so that I can get up to run in the morning. I am training with my friend Lindsey for another half-marathon in March and we need to get on top of things pretty quickly because March will be here in no time! As of now I'm not sure that I will be running the race, but I am excited to train for it either way.
Weelll, I'm going to get to those pictures and then say good night for now!
Our friends Chris and Shila came down from Northern VA Friday night with their son, who is a few months younger than Gabe. They stayed with us through last night, and we were sad to see them go! Gabe and Braeden got along great and us adults got along all right, too. To complete the party, our friend Bryan came down with his girlfriend, Sarah, and they stayed at the lake with George, Tori and Noah, who also came down for the weekend. We played games, cooked, watched football and reminisced a bit. The group of us used to hang out pretty often when we lived up that way, so it us always nice to be together again.
I'm going to add a couple of pictures tonight and then head to bed so that I can get up to run in the morning. I am training with my friend Lindsey for another half-marathon in March and we need to get on top of things pretty quickly because March will be here in no time! As of now I'm not sure that I will be running the race, but I am excited to train for it either way.
Weelll, I'm going to get to those pictures and then say good night for now!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Two Weeks into 2009...
Ok, ok. So the New Year hasn't started out so fresh in the world of Leigh's blog. I am going to state right here right now that I pledge to update the blog, no matter what, once a week from here on out. Wow. That's quite a statement coming from me...But you just wait! You'll get sick and tired of hearing about the mundane and normalcy that is our lives right now. No surgeries to talk about, not even any headaches to report on...What else is there?? I guess we'll soon find out.
That is slightly sarcastic considering that we did have 15 people at our house over Christmas. That is not a normal occurrence, but it was a great one! I think I am still in denial that the holidays are already over and everyone is back at their own houses using their own showers and cooking in their own kitchens. It was crazy around here, but in such a nice way...
Erin, Mark and the kids, as well as Mike, got in Tuesday afternoon, the day before Christmas, after many hours of driving and sightseeing on the way. Christmas Eve and Day were spent with them and Ryan's family. Gabe had a blast opening his many gifts--we had to keep reminding him to keep opening them. There were just so many and so many fun things to play with! He had so much fun with his cousins, too. They all played together really well and I think Gabe felt kind of lost when they left.
Everyone else came in Christmas Day night, so we had our gift exchange on Friday and just enjoyed being together. It was not easy trying to figure out what 15 different people wanted to do and coordinate the whens and hows of it all, but we managed to squeeze in some sightseeing, lots of card-playing, family pictures, a girl's night, some movies, fishing, and even some home projects (the joys of having a handy dad...). I got to run with both my brother, Chris, and his wife, Tiffany, which was really special for me. We also celebrated Chris's 25th birthday, which was Jan. 2nd.
By Jan. 3rd, the house had been empty of my family for about about 5 hours, when Noah and Rachel came to spend the night. It helped to prolong the emptiness of the house for a little bit longer...I guess we didn't have to worry about that too much, though, because Jon moved in to our basement Tuesday night and brought his girlfriend and two of her friends with him (their apartment wasn't quite ready for them). They stayed through Saturday morning, and now I have a couple of days to change the sheets and wash the towels again before some more friends arrive this weekend! Chris, Shila and their son will be here for an after Christmas/New Years gathering with our old gang from Northern VA. Bryan, his girlfriend, Tom, and Noah and Rachel will all be at George and Tori's for the weekend.
Wow, I guess that was a really sarcastic comment about how mundane our lives are...Things don't get boring for long around here. When they do slow down for a bit, it is so out of the ordinary that something seems wrong. It sure makes me wonder what 2009 has in store for us. Hopefully a very uneventful and very healthy year!
All right...time for some pictures and then I'll leave you until next week. Have a great one!
That is slightly sarcastic considering that we did have 15 people at our house over Christmas. That is not a normal occurrence, but it was a great one! I think I am still in denial that the holidays are already over and everyone is back at their own houses using their own showers and cooking in their own kitchens. It was crazy around here, but in such a nice way...
Erin, Mark and the kids, as well as Mike, got in Tuesday afternoon, the day before Christmas, after many hours of driving and sightseeing on the way. Christmas Eve and Day were spent with them and Ryan's family. Gabe had a blast opening his many gifts--we had to keep reminding him to keep opening them. There were just so many and so many fun things to play with! He had so much fun with his cousins, too. They all played together really well and I think Gabe felt kind of lost when they left.
Everyone else came in Christmas Day night, so we had our gift exchange on Friday and just enjoyed being together. It was not easy trying to figure out what 15 different people wanted to do and coordinate the whens and hows of it all, but we managed to squeeze in some sightseeing, lots of card-playing, family pictures, a girl's night, some movies, fishing, and even some home projects (the joys of having a handy dad...). I got to run with both my brother, Chris, and his wife, Tiffany, which was really special for me. We also celebrated Chris's 25th birthday, which was Jan. 2nd.
By Jan. 3rd, the house had been empty of my family for about about 5 hours, when Noah and Rachel came to spend the night. It helped to prolong the emptiness of the house for a little bit longer...I guess we didn't have to worry about that too much, though, because Jon moved in to our basement Tuesday night and brought his girlfriend and two of her friends with him (their apartment wasn't quite ready for them). They stayed through Saturday morning, and now I have a couple of days to change the sheets and wash the towels again before some more friends arrive this weekend! Chris, Shila and their son will be here for an after Christmas/New Years gathering with our old gang from Northern VA. Bryan, his girlfriend, Tom, and Noah and Rachel will all be at George and Tori's for the weekend.
Wow, I guess that was a really sarcastic comment about how mundane our lives are...Things don't get boring for long around here. When they do slow down for a bit, it is so out of the ordinary that something seems wrong. It sure makes me wonder what 2009 has in store for us. Hopefully a very uneventful and very healthy year!
All right...time for some pictures and then I'll leave you until next week. Have a great one!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Oh My! It's Almost Christmas!
Sooooo. It's been over a month since I posted last. I have been slacking. I apologize to all of our loyal blog followers that have lost any hope of me ever adding more pictures or giving a fresh update on our lives. I'm really not sure where the time has gone, but I'll try to remember...
Let's see. I think we left off in November, before the holiday season even began. Well, to kick things off, my friend Lindsey and I had been training since September for a half-marathon, which was on the 22nd. It was amazing! It took the whole week after for it to sink in that I had actually run 13.1 miles. I had such a great crowd there to support and cheer me on, which made it that much more fun. I'm pretty sure I was the only one there with a tailgate party in my honor -- our friend Donovan had a heated tent set up and a grill on the back of his truck which produced some amazing hamburgers. The Keigley's were also in town from SC, so they braved the cold (it only got up to 42 degrees!) with all of the kids to come and watch me run. I'm not sure if Tori and Jon came for me or the burgers (Just kidding!!!) and Ryan and Gabe were sure impressed that Mommy ran so far.
After that crazy morning, we had our annual leaf-raking party. I'll post a few pictures of it, but you have to actually see our yard and the massive quantities of leaves our trees produce before you can appreciate why we need to invite people over to help us rake and blow leaves all day. Luckily we have some steadfast friends who keep coming back year after year to join in the fun. Maybe it's the chili I promise everyone afterward that makes it not so bad...?
Next came Thanksgiving, which was great! We went up to Ryan's grandparent's house in Front Royal. There was plenty of hunting, plenty of food, lots of great family time (Ryan's parents and brothers were there, his aunts, uncle and cousins, George's cousins...) a smattering of shopping, some running (Aunt Theresa and I had to run off some of our pie) and I got in some practice speaking Spanish. A friend from Spain has been in NYC for a couple of months, so he came down for the weekend. All in all, we had a lot of fun and got in some relaxation to boot.
Time has flown by since then, and I was pretty shocked the other day to see that it was already December 10th. What happened? Now Christmas is less than two weeks away and we have every day until then booked up! My bro Mike got to hang out with us a couple of days this week. Tori and I are going to do some shopping tonight in Roanoke. I need to make some cookies today for a cookie exchange party tomorrow, we have to clear out our little room in the basement so that Jon can move in after Christmas, and Ryan and I are leaving Sunday to spend a couple of days in New York City with Jaime (our friend from Spain). I've never been there before, and I really can't wait to go, especially right before Christmas. Gabe is going to stay with George and Tori, and will end up being there for the whole week, because Ryan's check-up's at NIH are on Thursday and Friday of next week and we'll just head straight there after NY. It is going to be tough to be without Gabe for that long!
I am about to jump out of my skin waiting for Christmas to get here this year! I know it will here and over with way too fast, but my family will be arriving Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I am so excited to see everyone and have all of them here at our house. It will be crowded and crazy, but I can't wait! OK, that is going to be all for now, and I'll put up some picture albums as well. Ideally, I'll get around to posting before Christmas, but just in case, I'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas right now! Until later...
Let's see. I think we left off in November, before the holiday season even began. Well, to kick things off, my friend Lindsey and I had been training since September for a half-marathon, which was on the 22nd. It was amazing! It took the whole week after for it to sink in that I had actually run 13.1 miles. I had such a great crowd there to support and cheer me on, which made it that much more fun. I'm pretty sure I was the only one there with a tailgate party in my honor -- our friend Donovan had a heated tent set up and a grill on the back of his truck which produced some amazing hamburgers. The Keigley's were also in town from SC, so they braved the cold (it only got up to 42 degrees!) with all of the kids to come and watch me run. I'm not sure if Tori and Jon came for me or the burgers (Just kidding!!!) and Ryan and Gabe were sure impressed that Mommy ran so far.
After that crazy morning, we had our annual leaf-raking party. I'll post a few pictures of it, but you have to actually see our yard and the massive quantities of leaves our trees produce before you can appreciate why we need to invite people over to help us rake and blow leaves all day. Luckily we have some steadfast friends who keep coming back year after year to join in the fun. Maybe it's the chili I promise everyone afterward that makes it not so bad...?
Next came Thanksgiving, which was great! We went up to Ryan's grandparent's house in Front Royal. There was plenty of hunting, plenty of food, lots of great family time (Ryan's parents and brothers were there, his aunts, uncle and cousins, George's cousins...) a smattering of shopping, some running (Aunt Theresa and I had to run off some of our pie) and I got in some practice speaking Spanish. A friend from Spain has been in NYC for a couple of months, so he came down for the weekend. All in all, we had a lot of fun and got in some relaxation to boot.
Time has flown by since then, and I was pretty shocked the other day to see that it was already December 10th. What happened? Now Christmas is less than two weeks away and we have every day until then booked up! My bro Mike got to hang out with us a couple of days this week. Tori and I are going to do some shopping tonight in Roanoke. I need to make some cookies today for a cookie exchange party tomorrow, we have to clear out our little room in the basement so that Jon can move in after Christmas, and Ryan and I are leaving Sunday to spend a couple of days in New York City with Jaime (our friend from Spain). I've never been there before, and I really can't wait to go, especially right before Christmas. Gabe is going to stay with George and Tori, and will end up being there for the whole week, because Ryan's check-up's at NIH are on Thursday and Friday of next week and we'll just head straight there after NY. It is going to be tough to be without Gabe for that long!
I am about to jump out of my skin waiting for Christmas to get here this year! I know it will here and over with way too fast, but my family will be arriving Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I am so excited to see everyone and have all of them here at our house. It will be crowded and crazy, but I can't wait! OK, that is going to be all for now, and I'll put up some picture albums as well. Ideally, I'll get around to posting before Christmas, but just in case, I'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas right now! Until later...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)