Last Day of the Year

I can't believe it. Today is the last day of 2008. I know I've been told that as you get older, the years fly by, but can it slow down a little?

But with that in mind, it was a great year despite some heartbreaking moments (but those happen every year in some way or another). The best thing is, the year is ending on a positive note and hopefully that will help start the new year off on the right foot.

I usually don't have any new years resolutions, but I always try to stay healthy and happy throughout the upcoming year. That's my motto!

This new year looks to be an exciting one! My dad is turning the big 6-0 (sorry dad I had to remind you). Jeff and I will become parents to a little boy. Jeff and I are also turning the big 3-0 (see dad, your not the only one). I'm sure there will be other great milestones taking place in 2009 too, and I can't wait to experience them.

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you have a safe and fun time celebrating!

Life's Questions

I'm sure everyone of us in our life time have heard THOSE life questions. You know, the ones asked by an older relative (like a grandmother or aunt) wanting to know what is going to be your next step in life.

I heard one the other day, actually on Christmas day, by my Grandmother. She asked me and it caught me off guard since I wasn't expecting to hear her question until far into the future since I am caring my first child and I'm going onto my 23rd week.

Grandma nonchalantly walked over to me while I'm standing in the tornado of my extended family's Christmas and she asked me "Are you going to have any more babies?". Um, I was hoping to get through caring this child and making it through labor first before anyone was going to ask me that question. But, I didn't want to be rude and I just explained that for now we are only planning on having one child with our financial situation and we do have Zack. I'm not sure if that's the answer she was looking for, but she just shook her head and said that sounds lovely.

I guess I'll just add that to the list of life questions asked by the extended family that I've heard so far. The other one's on the list are:

What are you going to do after High School?

What college are you going to?

Do you have a boyfriend yet?

Are you going to get married?

Are you going to buy a house?

Are you going to have kids?

And now-

Are you going to have any more kids?

I'm sure I've missed a few for the list, but you gotta love the family you've been given. Right?

Christmas Visit

Zack made it this weekend! Yeah! He arrived early Friday morning and was gone by mid-morning on Sunday. It was such a great visit, but a lot jammed in to this one.

We celebrated Christmas (of course almost immediately after he arrive on Friday). Zack was at our door at 6am on Friday and kept starring at the gifts and checking them out. We decided to go out to breakfast first to catch up so we can have his attention before he dives into his gifts. After we returned, that was it! Bring on the gifts!

Zack opening up Christmas Presents

That night we also treated him and his cousin Ally to Brightnights. Its a local parks celebration for the holiday season using tons of light bulbs to make images while cars drive through the exhibit. There was Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, The Grinch Story, winter wonderland images and so much more to drive past. It was fun to hear the kids get so excited between each other and what they were looking. That was the best part for me.

On Saturday was Zack's 11th birthday party. Upon his request at the last visit, I was asked to make his cake this year. So, it was done and it was a big hit, phew! But, we always make sure to have a little something for him to recognize his birthday since him mom sometimes doesn't get a chance. Its not like we go all out and have a big shin-dig, we usually have the small immediate family, pizza and cake (oh, and presents).

Zack's homemade birthday cake

During the birthday festivities, the "kids" starting playing with Zack's Nerf guns (ones that were never opened from last Christmas). When I say kids, I mean mean my husband, my BIL, Zack and Ally. My mom was mixed in there somewhere trying to get pictures. The kitchen was the safe zone, but occasionally a dart would find its way pretty close to hitting an innocent bi-stander, but we'd let it slide. It was fun to watch them running around the house, carefree, having a good time.

Zack & Ally

After the party, Jeff and Zack played some video games. I have to let them have some alone time doing what ever they please since we all know that doesn't happen very often. Then after supper we sat down for a family game of poker. I ultimately won but it wasn't by luck. It got to the point we were tired of played and the four of us (Jeff, Zack, Me and my FIL) went all in blind (not looking at our cards) and my hand won. But, I was the champion and walked away with $6!

On Sunday morning after breakfast, Zack was brought to his mother at a near-by restaurant and was going to head back to VA. That's it until February when we visit him in Maryland.

Where's Santa?

Have you ever wondered where Santa is on Christmas Eve?
If so, you can track him using Norad Santa Tracker!

Last Christmas Eve, I was working from 3pm-11pm and I was curious where that jolly ol'St Nick was in the world and I used the Norad Tracker. It was pretty neat! I would call my parents and report in where Mr. Clause was in the world. It helped pass the time and helped us get into the grove of Christmas even more. Hey, we are all kids at heart, right?!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Baby Updates

Oh, where to start?!?! Time is surely flying by. We have so much to do in so little time (as of Weds 12/24, we'll have 3 1/2 months left until our little boy graces us with his presents).

We ordered the crib a few weeks ago. Its a good thing since its on back order. Its defiantly a convenient one! Its a 3-in-1 crib with a changing table/night stand attached. The crib will convert into different stages while the baby grows. Its starts off with a crib with a changing table, then changes to a toddler bed with a bookshelf/nightstand and finally a full size bed with a night stand. I couldn't get the picture off the JC Penny website, so here's the link if you want to check it out (jcpenny.com)

Mom & I will be working on finding a location for the baby shower during my office's "shut down" during the holiday. Then we will make the invitations (I can't wait for that, I love arts & crafts).

But, the most important thing........our little boy's name. We've had the first name picked out for sometime now (along with a few others). The hardest part was to narrow it down and then match up a middle name. So, our little boy will be known as Drew Thomas. Jeff came up with the first name and his middle name comes from my Grandpa's middle name (by the way, Grandpa is so tickled about it too!).

A New Blanket of Snow

More snow fell this weekend. It started around 1pm on Friday pretty heavy. It left us (Jeff and my FIL) with about 6 inches to clean up on Saturday morning.

But, it didn't stop. We had "snow showers" all day Saturday and "snow" on Sunday. So, we got a few more inches over the weekend.

Our educated guess would be about 8 inches total from all weekend accumulation. We weren't out there with a ruler, this is just our expert opinions.

Even though the snow was falling, we did manage to get out over the weekend to finish Christmas Shopping, go to an Aunts party, rent some movies and run a few other errands. Hey, a few inches can't stop us (after the roads are all cleared from the bulk of the snow)! But, no Zack this weekend, maybe next weekend.

There is a strange phenomenon that takes place at my house when we have snow. When this strange occurrence takes place, it has to be enough snow on the ground to be snow blowed. I've lived in my FIL's house for almost 7 years now and I still can't understand it. What is it you ask?!

My FIL snow blows our back & front yard!

Yup, that's my FIL out there in the backyard

I've given up asking him why he does it. I don't mean a path to the shed, I mean almost 80% of the yard is snow blowed.

I've tried to tell him that it kills our grass and makes it impossible to grow a healthy looking yard since there is no blanket of snow to protect it from the harsh cold. Also, the snow blowers dig up the yard and yanks out chunks from time to time.

He's explained to me that it helps the snow melt faster. I just look him in the eye and explain to him that he is just pushing the snow to another place in the yard where it has to melt from there.

Also, it adds another good hour to the work that has to be done when the snow falls. Its come to the point where Jeff now helps him so he isn't out there by himself clearing the yard for even a longer period of time.

I guess I will never truly understand why!

Wait, I Changed My Mind Again

Yesterday I mentioned that Jeff and I are in yet another dilemma with Zack's mom. I know I can't just touch upon the subject and not explain myself, that would be unkind of me.

Lets start with week before Thanksgiving. I receive an email from Zack's mom telling us she is moving the Christmas visit. The usual Christmas visit takes place sometime between Christmas and New Years, depending on how the holidays fall. It has been this way for two years. This year she announces to us that she is moving the visit to the weekend before Christmas.

With the change in mind, we scramble to get Zack's Christmas and Birthday shopping done earlier then planned. We arranged his Birthday party for the new weekend with relatives. Jeff arranged to take some time off from work so we can have Zack until lunch time on Monday. So, its all set and we are ready to see the little guy on the new weekend.

This past Sunday, Jeff is on the phone with Zack and he asks him if he was excited to come up. Zack responded, I'm not sure I'm coming. (Um, what??!) So, Jeff didn't push the issue with Zack (since he didn't want him to get into trouble), but we were on alert for any further changes to the visit.

On Monday (Zack's Birthday), his mom text's Jeff to let him know that she had to pick Zack up from school since he was sick (throwing up, fever, tired, etc). So, Jeff and I had a feeling that there was going to be some record breaking illness that Zack was coming down with to prevent him from traveling. But, later that night Jeff receives a text picture of Zack out having ice cream for his Birthday. OK, we thought that wouldn't be the excuse to change the visit.

Then on Wednesday, I heard about a snow storm that was heading our way for Friday. I text Jeff right away and told him about the snow and that this was going to be a factor for our visit (since every type of weather is). Well, who gets a phone call on Weds night to say that she doesn't think she is driving here because of the weather.....yup, you got it!

Yesterday I received an email from his mom defending her reasoning since she feels I only hear one sided conversation from Jeff to make her look bad, explaining how if the trip is changed how much it would effect HER plans and said it was all for Zack's safety.

So, I took a deep breath, pondered what I would write back and basically told her yes Zack's safety (or health) is very important to us as well, but what we are frustrated about are the constant changes for every visit over the last two years since she moved away. Yes, we can't predict the weather, but if she just left things alone, we wouldn't be in this situation.

Now, its Friday morning and we are still not sure if Zack will be here this weekend (she's been watching the weather from VA and hasn't gotten back to us for sure what her plans are) or not. We are all on stand-by waiting to hear from her either way. Jeff tried to call her last night, but she didn't answer her phone either. Ugh!