Friday, April 10, 2009

Weekend Update with...

It's hard to believe that it is Friday already! This week has flown by and been packed full. We headed up to northern VA Monday afternoon without Gabe, which was kinda nice. I always dread keeping him occupied at NIH while Ryan is getting CT scans and we're waiting forever for doctors. Tori was more than happy to keep him at the lake so that we had one less thing to think about. We stopped in to see Grandma Barb and Grandpa Herman and they were sad that Gabe wasn't with us, but we'll make it up to them--we'll be up there for Easter this Sunday!
We got some great quality time in with Noah and Rachel, and aside from blood tests, peeing in a jug, CT scans, waiting 4 hours to see the doctor and lots of rush-hour traffic, we had a really nice trip. We had lunch at P.F. Changs and I got some time in at Wegman's and even the mall, so it was a well-rounded visit to Maryland. The best news is that Ryan's kidneys look fine--he doesn't have to get them checked again for a year. Now we just have to get through the neurology tests in June to make sure his brain and spine look good.
This weekend is looking pretty busy already...Ryan had off today because the market closes on Good Friday. We were on our local cable station this morning putting a plug in for some community events coming up. It was a lot of fun! We didn't get to watch it yet, so we'll try to tune in tonight to see how we look on t.v. Gabe attended his second Easter Egg Hunt at the library after that. I'll load up the pictures this weekend...we'll be dying some eggs, too--probably with our friends Tom and Bryan, who should be here any time now. They'll be here until tomorrow night and then Sunday after church we'll be heading up to Front Royal for a big Easter dinner with lots of family. We are looking forward to it!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Spring is in...

Yes, spring is in the air. The chilly, rainy days have far outnumbered the sunny ones so far. The daffodils are prolific and yellow. The swing in our yard has held a tiny bum any time there has been a touch of warmth in the air. The birds start their singing early every morning even when it is pouring rain, like it was today. Spring has arrived, forgiving the winter for its cold harshness and redeeming it with fresh smells, green grass, new buds and the promise of blue skies. I am thankful that it is here. Fall used to be my favorite season, but I think that spring has moved in to take its place. Spring is the promise of things to come. It is about new life. And Easter makes it about redemption. How grateful I am that Jesus paid the ultimate price for a sinner like me and gave me the opportunity to have new life.

I am glad that my birthday falls in the spring, as well. I can start my 28th year with the blooming grape hyacinths and the first warm breezes of 2009. It was actually sunny and kind of warm on my birthday this year. I had a very special day carefully planned out by Ryan. I assumed that we would be spending some of my birthday cash in Roanoke and hanging out, but was very surprised when we headed south on 220 and ended up in Greensboro. We stopped for ice cream at a place called Yum Yum's and made a few other fun stops along the way. Our final destination, however, was the new Anthropologie store there! It happens to be my favorite store (here is the link if you are curious...www.anthropologie.com) We wandered the store for a long time and Gabe helped me try on a bunch of dresses and the cutest pair of pants. (Sorry I forgot to text you a picture, Tiff!) It was a memorable birthday, for sure.

Some updates...
-Ryan has check-ups in Maryland next week--please pray for good results.
-Gabe can't get enough of his jets and airplanes and helicopter. He is flying something at almost any given time of the day.
-Lasternight is still a word in his vocabulary. He also pronounces airport "orport"; Bear is a pilot and Duck is his co-pilot; he'd love to have a whole bag of jellybeans in the tupperware container of his choice; a box full of packing peanuts has produced many bowls of popcorn for him and I while we all watch AFV; and last but not least, he thinks that we don't need to pray for our food if it isn't hot!

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!

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!