Michigan again...we need a bigger car

We recently traveled back to Michigan for a week for some visiting. The main reason was for a party I was planning for Geoff's parents. So we took leave, packed the car and hit the road at 4;30pm. Alex and Zeva were troopers. Alex only got upset once and that was because he was hit with an overwhelming feeling of hunger at 6;30pm. And it had to have been sudden b/c I was sitting in the back with him playing and like a switch he started screaming. I am trying to calm him down and finally he takes a breath and says "eat, eat mommy" in the saddest voice I have ever heard. Geoff we need to get food and fast, there's and exit here (me pointing to the sign that we just passed) Geoff crosses three lanes of traffic in the nick of time to be on the off ramp for McDonalds. Food in the bellies and we are off again for the evening. We made the trip safely in 13 hours arriving at 6am instead of the scheduled 8am we had told our parents. We walk up to the house and the door is locked. Geoff looks at me, holding Alex in one arm and luggage in the other...You have keys? Me standing holding Zeva in one hand and bags in the other...Yes some where I dig out the keys and hand them to Geoff he is trying to get the key in the lock in the dark and the Door bell goes off...we both look at each other stunned, shocked. Alex had rang the bell! Do you hear any noise? No do you? We get in the door and hurry downstairs not to wake anyone. That lasted a whole 20min. Before Gama came down to scoop up her little Alex into her arms, with Alex now screaming Gama at the top of his lungs...everyone was up!

To be continued........

Little League, Big Deal

In the south I am coming to understand that baseball/softball and football are traditions. Traditions you past onto your children and their children. When I am told that the High school down the street has people already tailgating for the 7;30pm game and it's now 4;45pm It's a big tradition. We had the pleasure of attending one of the Little league games this year. Had to park a mile away in a field and walk to the Lights hovering above the trees. We walk up the hill into the stadium, peak over the crest and AAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhAAAAAA! Music from the angels I swear I hear it......Packed stands of screaming mothers and fathers. Children sliding down the dirt hill on cardboard...take it all in. It was hot, I can't imaging how the boys on the field felt. But it was an amazing game!!!! And an amazing experience

COOOOOOOKIE MOMMY!!!! & other Misc.

I was on the computer one morning checking our finances, and I realized that Alex was being a little too quite....so I get up from the computer and walk around the corner to find my son on the counter double fisting Marble bars that I had made the night before. I was in awe he looks at me and says" COOOKIE MOMMY!" so excited. He has never said cookie before! OMG...it's 7:30 am and my child is eating chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats! But he said COOKIE....it was too cute, couldn't even be mad. Took pictures instead:)





On the other hand, we have had many other adventures! Alex decided to use yogurt as hair gel...holds all day! And when Daddy was gone on TDY Alex became very attached to Daddy's match box cars Lightning McQueen and Mator! Lightling Lightling! He says... Fell asleep with them for comfort to be close to Daddy. He likes everything Lightning:) We love our Zeva Zoo she's also getting so big, Alex and Zeva are best buddies. They are crazy together:) Couldn't wait to get Daddy home to wrestle with him and play some hockey and golf. Alex enjoyed showing off to Daddy with all of his new talents and words. Like I can say " Cookie, Poop, eeeeew, Yellow, Pool, Hockey, Football, Walk" and many others. Too many to count it seems like he says a new one every day. Alex is adjusting to daycare well he has made new friends and already has a girlfriend! Where does he get that from? It's nice to have him back in a structured learning environment, and it's a nice break for Mommy too. I haven't had to deal with our monkey very much since Geoff's been home. So much for momma's little boy;) We'll see how long this lasts!

Beach, Sand, Water...still not Lake Michigan

We found out through a friend there is a lake with a couple nice beaches about 30 minutes from us. It's a big lake I will admit, but not like Lake Michigan! So I ventured to see how it was. Then, we buy Alex a life vest so we can go and he hates it. He acts like he can't stand up in it and when he's sitting he falls backwards. I don't understand his thoughts but we are trying to work through it. Geoff an I went back with Alex to see how he would like it...he loved it! No fear. He loves the water anyway and as I had mentioned before we have a pool on our patio. But a lake is somewhat different and Alex found that out very quickly. He runs to the water throws himself down I am yelling at Geoff to catch him for he will go under he is out too deep! Sure enough he goes under, rolls over, I'm Screaming, Geoff grabs his arm pulls him up sputtering. I about have a heart attack. Geoff is so laid back about it...I want to kill him, how it this not scary and important to you!!!! OMG! He will learn...he says. He did not learn that day. Still no fear but after the initial shock, we had a great time in the water and sun! We have been back a couple times, and it always makes for a fun trip;)

More Visitors, More Fun...and Work?

My friend Jennie calls me and tells me she and her boys would like to come for a visit. I said okay! Karsen and Alex are the same age roughly and then there is sweet little Kamden(not even 2 months yet!)...my little Doozer. If you have ever seem Fraggle Rock you would understand! Once they made the plans when and how and who was going to help with the traveling...thanks Oma, we set the date.
Now in the mean time I have been looking for a job. I literally called all the childcare facility's in the yellow pages. One was hiring, for three to four hours a day. I did my end and was waiting to hear back from them. Would you believe that they called me to start the Tuesday before Jennie, Oma and the boys were to come. ARGGGGGGG! My head was in a whirlwind....I'm going to have visitors and be gone for part of the day to work.....no fun for my guests! It ended up working out alright since I was training in the morning so they slept in. And once we got home then the party started.
We didn't do much but the older boys played, and I tried to work on my baby fix per Geoff's request. Got to visit with great friends and have some laughs! So glad they came to visit it might have been a short stay but it was worth it for us:)

Nana comes to visit!!!!

We had the extraordinary pleasure to have Nana come stay with us for two whole weeks in June! We had so much fun and Alex ate up all the attention. Not to mention the help was great! Alex and Nana spent most of their days in the pool on the patio.
But we also went to the Aviation Museum, and an Atlanta Braves game...only because they were playing the Detroit Tigers of course! We spent another day at the Atlanta Zoo with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Stacy...full of fun and the two weeks just went too fast.
We are already planning to have Nana back next summer for two maybe three weeks. There are already things on the itinerary that we didn't get accomplished this time!
It's so nice to have family come visit since we can't make it back to Michigan as often as we would like. We have a free room Come Visit!

Our Monster gets me!

I know I haven't updated in awhile but life has happened once again:)
Our little Monster is growing so quickly.
Trying to adjust to the Georgia summer....had to buy a pool. Too hot to be outside without water! Not only does Alex love it, it is big enough for Mommy! So much water fun...but one moment sticks out in my mind. I was outside playing with Alex in the pool one day after lunch. For the first time I let him play with the running hose. Then I teach him how to drink from the hose in case he's thirsty. I get the brilliant idea to kink the hose as Alex goes to drink from it. He looks at the hose puzzled...shakes it and point's it straight at his face to look down the hose. ............ I couldn't resist the opportunity to douse my child with water. I let go of the hose and he is instantaneously hit with a spray of water! His eyes are huge, he shakes it off and laughs. A couple minutes go by and he decides to drink from it again. I kink the hose again, hoping to get the same affect. I let go and start laughing so hard my eyes shut....I open them just in time to see the hose pointed directly at me, with little smiling eyes beyond it. I should mention I was not dressed for the pool that day fully clothed! The water hits me, I jump up screaming and dancing around like a retarded chicken, I grab the hose and look at my child who is on the ground laughing so hard he couldn't stand up any more. The laugh that was coming out of him was so infectious I couldn't help but start laughing with him! One of the greatest moments with Alex I was so proud of him...he may look like Daddy but he's got his Mommy's sense of humor!

our trip...wow

So there would be too many pictures on the blog if I post everything but here is what it was like. I got up at 3:30 am to start getting ready for the day on Saturday the 15th of May. Then got Alex up at the lovely hour of 4:50am. Wandered next door the our neighbors who where graciously taking us the two hour one way drive to the Atlanta airport.
Our plane departed at 8:35am. Alex did great...GO GO PANE GO! Landed in Detroit where we meet Gama and PAPA. They drove us back to Kalamazoo, our final destination for the week. Alex had to stretch his legs and ride Daddy's old tricycle.On Sunday we drove to Uncle Stevie's to meet for the first time Great Grampa Arnold!
We also picked up rocks and put them in our pockets with Nana, that were found later by Mommy doing laundry! And found a caterpillar that we had to carry around. We had a great trip to the Binder Park zoo with Aunt Faith and Poppy. Alex thought the goats were dogs! Well what can you say.
Alex also had to help Gama and Papa mow the yard and spread out the grass clippings on the trail. We had to help Gama water her plants.Alex watched for birds and rabbits out the windows. But our favorite pastime was the hot tub that he got to swim in every night!

KICK & PLAY

Alex received a hammy down toy from the neighbors and it has become his favorite thing. It is a Zebra that spins had bounces and Alex goes wild on it.It also plays music, makes galloping noises and whinnies! He always gets on it at the most inconvenient time. But that's a child for you! We still love him and it's great to see him getting crazy on it. He can barley control the spinning and bouncing with out falling off!

From ALEX to MOMA

For Mother's Day Geoff tries to make the day relaxing. Geoff let me sleep in, I couldn't so I finished my book instead. Then taking a nice no husband no child nothing but the hot water and me shower. This Mom's don't get often. When I was done Alex and Geoff had made me breakfast, blueberry pancakes with sausage, which I had to share with Alex. And Alex had drawn me a picture that I will always cherish. What a great start to a day!

Happy Mothers Day!

So every year I try to do something creative for Alex's Grandma's but it gets tougher every year not to mention having to do Father's Day in there too! I appreciate home made...made by child things. I'm a sap I know! So this year moving to Georgia it came quite easily. They have the biggest pine cones I have ever seen. So with the help of Daddy we collected enough and made Bird Feeders! They turned out soo cute, although Alex rather enjoyed eating the Peanut Butter, it was still fun! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOM'S OUT THERE ESPECIALLY MINE!

Just enjoying some reading material.....

I want you to know we did not pose him, just walked into the living room on Easter Sunday and caught him in the act!

Long weeks, Short days

So for the past week we had the pleasure of having the first of many visits I'm sure from Geoff's Mom and Dad. Other than my Dad who helped me graciously move down here and a visit over Easter Sunday by my brother and soon to be my very best-est sister Stacy, they are the first of family to travel to see the place we now call home. The week went slow at first then became a whirlwind that we could not stop. Oh how we wished they could have stayed longer.
Alex was in his prime showing Ga-ma and Papa around his new pad. I think his favorite part was playing hockey with his Papa. Who by the way taught Alex how to properly hook your opponent. He hasn't quite got it down yet but it won't be long. Power naps with Dad and Papa. And of course running through the sprinkler with Ga-ma to relieve the humidity. Who now says she needs a sprinkler like that for the side of their house!
We ENJOYED showing them around the base and to the Museum of Aviation. They also saw Geoff's office the active taxiway that you have to drive over to get to the office. Geoff and Dad enjoyed 18 holes of golf on the bases course, where on the 10th hole was some added humor when the head of Dad's six iron decided to take a swim (hilarious!)
We did a lot of lounging around and laughing, Meeting up with Geoff's cousins on Wednesday for dinner and with a sad good bye on Saturday driving them off base to get them on their way. All of us holding back tears....except Alex with his new vocabulary, yelling GOOD_BYE out the back window.

So we spent Monday at Turner Field, volunteering for the Braves baseball game. Geoff was one of the members that held the flag on the field. He is located in the Mississippi area. Even though it was a long day and really hot is was such a neat experience. It was so nice to be involved in something that gives back!

My First hockey fight....you should see the other guy!

Okay, we have this hockey net and sticks because how could we live without them. Alex likes to run through the house with the sticks. Now even though we have tried to tell him no High Sticking you will get a penalty he still likes to hit things with them....thanks for that genetic Babe! So Alex is doing his normal nightly routine of hockey before bed...he takes off running trips over the rug and lands on the stick. Catching him right below the left eye. The screams that came out of this child...his face is red we can't see a mark. Once he calmed down it was then we laughed knowing that in the morning he was going to have his first shiner!

Alex

So Alex has been growing like crazy, and has been have some interesting ah ha moments...for instants this morning we have a ball popper that is very loud but one of his favorite toys and he realizes this morning if I go near Zeva she gets up and walks away. Well we have all tile floor and poor Zeva has no traction. Alex quietly walks over in her vicinity and shoves the ball popper in her face....making the natural reaction of Zeva jumping up in a frenzy trying to get away on the tile floor and Alex chasing after her with the obnoxious toy.This in turn creates a fun new game and Alex can hardly stand up after a few minutes because he is laughing hysterically at her. I can't help but watch and laugh I know a good Mommy would have told him to stop annoying and torturing the dog but it was too funny!