How Did I Get Here?

Am I Sick... or Just REALLY Observant?

So today, I'm at work at I have my ipod going when Gwen's "What You Waiting For?" video comes on...
of course, I steal a few glances while I'm tippity tap typing away... especially at my favorite part of the video (when the little porcelain bunny thingy comes to life and Gwen turns into Alice in Wonderland).... so I'm watching... and I notice for the first time - the shoes. 

 

and I think - wait a minute. I know this video is at least 5 years old... but I know I've seen those shoes recently... and I do a quick google image search for "harajuku lovers shoes"... and I find these: 

 

Not the exact same shoes... but I'm betting Gwen's originals were inspiration for this current style. And now I want them. Bad. WHERE IN THE HECK WOULD I WEAR THESE?! Maybe I am just sick AND observant.
 
 

Finally!!

After years of nagging from my beloved family members, I figured it was time to have some professional photos taken of us as a family... so I dropped an email to the amazing Tennille and got the ball rolling. We hit up Inniswood Metro Gardens early last month and had a ball. I'm not joking, Tennille was great with the boys, particularly Connor "the negotiator".... and Harrison, who kept falling off seats or running away. In the end, we got some photos that I know I will always cherish... and hopefully they will end the loving nagging ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gah. 
Can someone please stop these boys from growing?
For reals.. I can't stand it. Connor doesn't have an ounce of baby fat on him anymore.
And Harrison? Well he's no baby... he's a toddler. A walking, babbling little bundle of tumbles and laughs. 

I know I'll look back at these pictures one day and think where has the time gone?
 I'm so glad I have them now :)

Parenting Tip

Us

I saw this on another blog, and thought it would be nice to document here...
for Jon and myself.

What are your middle names?
Ann and Thomas.

How long have you been together?
Since February 1992, so that's a few months shy of 18 years... married for 12 :)

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
not sure... a few weeks? 

Who asked whom out?
Jon asked me. When I said yes he looked relieved... my reply was "oh please, like it would kill you if I had said no"... his reply: "It would"... player. ;)

How old are each of you?
36 and almost 38

Whose siblings do you see the most?
probably mine, because of all the little cousins :) but I'd say it's pretty even.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Right now? time apart. In the past? the miscarriages.

Did you go to the same school?
Same college, that's where we met.

Are you from the same home town?
No way. I'm a city girl. He's a country boy. 

Who is smarter?
Me. Oh really, who knows. Jon's way better at history, geography and of course, street smarts. I'm all about literature, writing/spelling and pop culture. :D

Who is the most sensitive?
We're pretty equal.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
ummm where DON'T we eat?

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
California

Who has the craziest exes?
Neither. Oh... I'll say Jon for that crazy tri-delt who tried to break us up.

Who has the worst temper?
Hands down, Jon. I'm cooooool as a cucumber.

Who does the cooking?
Jon.

Who is the neat-freak?
Me. It takes a lot to force Jon to clean.

Who is more stubborn?
Honestly, I don't think either of us are... we're both pretty good compromisers.

Who hogs the bed?
Neither. 

Who wakes up earlier?
Jon, since he goes to work before me.

Where was your first date?
Street Scene. High Street. We had a pizza and a car pool. nom nom nom.

Who is more jealous?
Jon. I once saw him appear out of thin air next to me in a bar when a guy tried to grab my arm... or maybe that's just protective, not jealousy.

How long did it take to get serious?
Milliseconds. We were engaged after 8 months.

Who eats more?
Jon. By far. The guy's a garbage disposal. But he rides his bike for 34833804834 hours at work.

Who does the laundry?
My fabulous mother-in-law. For serious. She watches the boys one day a week and does our laundry that day. She is a life-saver.

Who's better with the computer?
Me. Me. Me. 

Who drives when you are together?
Mostly Jon... but that's just because I like complete control of the ipod and he doesn't care what music is playing :)

Dear Santa...

Since we've had a lot of "Christmas List" talk around these parts the past week or so, I figured I'd make my own.. if only to help my dear husband who asks me the same question every year: "What do YOU want, Missy?" I usually say "don't get me anything". :D

Dear Santa,
 I've been a very busy girl this year...
 and haven't done much shopping for myself, aside from the essentials.
 So I'm putting together my dream Christmas list.
 Please and Thank You.

xoxoxo
missy

Please send me: 

An L.A.M.B. Handbag, for when I have to look grown up.
 

A new Tokidoki bag, for when I can be a little more fun: 

A Tiffany bracelet, with alphabet charms for each of my boys.

 

A refill for my favorite perfume, Angel:     

 

Some new harajuku lovers clothes: 

 

 

 

Maybe a cute coat from modcloth.com?

 

 

 

A new drum set for my rockband 2:

 

Lego RockBand, for Connor and myself: 

 

Wii Fit Plus: 

 

Wii Sports Resort: 

 

an imac for the family: 

a shark steam mop for me: 

Some cute black booties

 

Some silvery shiny flats

The Pioneer Woman's cook book: 

 

The Killers' Live from Royal Albert Hall DVD: 

 

DJ Hero

 

These Harajuku Lovers Pumps that I've been drooling over for about a week now: 

 

Some Frye boots: 

 

A Kindle... oooh a Kindle. I've been coveting one for quite some time now: 

 

And while we're talking reading, there are a "few" books on my "to read" list: 
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

 

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon: 

 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer:

 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson:

 

I think that's it.
For now.
By no means do I even expect to see these things under my tree... but a girl can dream, right?

The Christmas List

I know I pepper this blog and my facebook with tons of Connor stories... I can't help it. So here's another one that just about killed me.

This week, we received the Toys R' Us christmas catalog in the mail.
Connor treats this thing like his bible. I'm not joking. 

So the other night, when he sat down beside me on the couch with a pad of paper, a pen and his "bible" I didn't bat an eye. He looked at me and said "I'm going to make my Christmas list". Go for it, buddy. This is the first year he can write on his own and I don't have to do it for him. 

At first, I watched him.
He opened the catalog to the first page and started writing.
It went something like this:
Look at the catalog.
Write the letter "G".
Look at the catalog.
Write the letter "E".
Look at the catalog.
Write the letter "O".

You get the idea.
I figured it was going to take him a while, so I went back to my computer.
About 20 minutes later, it was time to get ready for bed.
Jon and I looked over and told him it was time to get ready.
"Just one more. I need to write one more."
And then we looked at the list.

 

That would say: 
GeoTrax
Low
New!
Sale
Sale
Save
On
Over
Low
Price
Save 50

Oh. My. Goodness.
The poor child wasn't writing the names of the toys... he was writing the ADS for the toys.
Jon and I almost laughed... but then explained what he was doing.
He put his head in his hands and exclaimed "I am SO STUPID!"

To which Jon and I explained he's not stupid.
He's 5. And still learning to read and write.
And we can read everything he wrote... which was a GREAT START.

His disappointment in himself just about broke my heart... and made me take him in my arms and tell him what a sweet, smart little boy he is. This "Christmas List" is something I will cherish always.

Anakin Skywalker and R2D2

Trick or Treat was tonight..

and Anakin & R2 hit the streets for candy.

Both were very well behaved... and brought home a serious haul.

 

 

Jon carved the pumpkins last night and today.. we all chose our own designs (we chose for Harry):

 

 

Last night, as Jon & Con were getting ready to carve, Jon made Connor scoop the pumpkin guts out. The conversation went something like this: 

"Connor, you touch bugs and worms... why are you afraid of scooping pumpkin guts?"

Then later I heard: 

Jon: "See bud? Scooping the pumpkin guts isn't so bad"

Connor: "Yeah! I did good once I manned up!"

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Pumpkins at the Patch

We braved the chilly temps and wind to get to Circle S Farms today... because there's just no other time we can go! It was a short trip, but an enjoyable one... to warm up, we stopped at Starbucks on the way home :)

 

Words Words Words

Harrison is learning words.

They're baby words.

Simple and short and only Jon, Connor and I understand what he's saying.

But he's definitely got this family's gift of gab.

Take a look: 

What's Missing?

Connor lost his first tooth this past weekend... take a look...

Saturday night, he tucked that tiny little tooth under his pillow...

and when he woke up Sunday he found a dollar bill, a dollar coin and a hot wheels.

He's already wiggling more teeth.

I think the hot wheels was the clincher.