Seminar 2009

Well, we got back yesterday from our week away for Chick-fil-A Seminar. We went out to Long Beach, CA for the conference, and stayed for a couple of extra days. We got to see my brother, Rick, sister-in-law, Bert, and my nephew, Kevin. 

The speakers at Seminar were pretty great. Jim Collins, a famous writer of business books, spoke. Also, Kirk Cameron was there to talk about the success of the movie Fireproof. We got a picture with him.

We also heard Rick Warren speak -- you know the pastor who gave the benediction at Obama's inauguration. Yeah, him. I took Chris' picture with him but I chopped off their heads. Here it is anyway...

The weather wasn't all that cooperative while we were in Long Beach. So, we only got to really get out out one afternoon. I took a really great nap the other afternoon we had free time.:) Anyway, when we did get out we took a catamaran over to Catalina Island. It's about 26 miles off the shore of CA.  We took a little tour of the city of Avalon, which is basically the only inhabited part of the island. We are glad we went, but probably won't ever return... Just not that much to do there.

After Seminar we spent a day in Santa Monica shopping around and visiting the Pier, and the 3rd Street Promenade.  I really liked Santa Monica. Chris also found the place where the E-Glide electric skateboard is manufactured. After giving one a test ride, he decided to have one shipped to Daniel Island. Add that to his list of toys. It is really cool, though. I think he will have a blast on it. And maybe me too-- if I don't break my neck.

We window shopped on Rodeo Drive, but didn't buy anything. We did see a 1,000,000,000 diamond necklace in Tiffany's, though. We didn't even get to touch it, though. I am about 99% sure that I saw the blonde Mormon guy from this season's Real World Brooklyn cast while we were in the Lacoste store. We also saw lots of Bentley's, Maybach's, and Rolls Royce's.

We had gotten tickets to the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show for Thursday, but after spending 2 and 1/2 hours trying to drive the 13 miles to get there, we were late and missed the taping . We were so sad that we just kind of stood outside of the building trying to figure out what to do next. One of the producers from the show came up and asked us if we wanted to be in the show. We, of course, said yes, and then got be in the background of a promotion they filmed for Subway. They wanted to compensate us for our time with Subway gift cards, but we asked them to get us into the show for the next night, and he did. The only time we were in the shot during that taping,  they edited it out. It was still a lot of fun, and Chris made friends with one of the Security guys who said that anytime we are back out there he will get us into the green room. So, I think Chris is already trying to figure out when he can go back. The guy, Dev Patel, from Slumdog Millionaire was a guest the night we got to see the show, and that was pretty neat to see.

So, I guess we had a pretty busy time while we were away. It was a nice break from life before the opening of the store in April. I amglad to be home. I missed the boys so much. The house is still standing, and everyone is all in one piece. I know they ate well while we were gone because did all of the cooking. Sorry I missed that.

Tomorrow is Nosey's 6th birthday!! I can't believe it still. He is getting so big, and actually has a loose tooth. That's my boy...

Where do I even start?!?

Well, I have put this off long enough. My computer has been a little screwy, so I haven't been able to upload any pictures to it. As  result, I have no new pictures to post. Let's just go ahead and get that straight. That's really the main reason that I haven't posted in so long. I figured nobody would really want to read what I had to say nearly as much as they would want to see the cute pics of the kids that I usually post. SORRY! I am trying...

Anyway, we had a great holiday season. The boys had a really fun break from school. It was very relaxing. Now, however, it is full steam ahead. The grand opening for the store is set for April 9th. Chris is extremely busy at work getting ready for the big day and the many busy days to follow. It was nice to have good quality time over the holidays, though.

Next week is Seminar. We head out to Long Beach, California on Saturday for a week. We had scheduled a trip to Hawaii on the front end of the trip and a trip to Lake Tahoe for snowboarding on the backside. Chris felt like he needed to cancel the trip, though, because the opening date of the store kept getting moved closer and closer. He just really wants to be ready for things. I am sad, but I get it. We will reschedule soon hopefully...

Just plugging along. Tater Tot is talking more and more, and you can even understand him sometimes now. He starts swimming lessons next week in order that he might learn some water safety skills before the summer. No-no is working very hard at school and really enjoying it. Although, at times I have felt differently about this, I really believe that he is well on his way to learning to drink from a straw. He is the happiest child, and I really feel lucky to be his mommy. And Cookie... let's see, he played his best basketball game ever last Saturday. He can now drop in on the skateboard ramp he got for Christmas - all by himself! 

So, that's it in a nutshell. I think we are caught up enough now so that I no longer need to feel guilty. YAY!

This is for you Leigh Ann!

O.k., so my friend Leigh Ann tagged me. I am supposed to go to my fourth album and pull the fourth picture and post it. So, here it is...

P-baby on Mommy's Mac.

Robbie, it's all you man. Well, anyone else could do it too I guess, but I don't know who you are because you don't subscribe to my blog.:)

Cookie and Tater Tot's Birthday Parties

I can honestly say that I am glad that this weekend is a lot calmer than last weekend. Last weekend we had two birthday parties and the store's Christmas party. And I figure if I am going to write anything at all about that then I had better go ahead and do it since Christmas is coming up.

Last Friday we headed out to the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park. We met a few friends there and celebrated Tater's birthday. It was a little hectic trying to get there with all of the traffic, but once we did we had a great time. Tater Tot ate cupcakes, took a train ride all over the park to see the lights, and made s'mores.  He thought he was such a big boy. And he is...

Saturday afternoon we had Cookie's party. We had a backyard full of boys! Thankfully the weather cooperated and they were able to stay in the backyard except for trips to the bathroom. He had a Mad Science party, and they all really had a good time. I think he had the all-time coolest cake I have ever seen. So, of course I will post a picture of it.

   

They did lots of science experiments, rode on a hover craft, ran around the backyard like wild animals, shot some hoops, skateboarded, and had a great time. I think it was the easiest birthday ever for me because it was at our house and someone else was entertaining the kids. NICE...

Next up...Christmas! Yay! The kids are out of school and we are almost finished shopping too. Miracles never cease. Hope y'all have a great week as we celebrate this holiday season.

I'm Gettin' Nuttin' fer Christmas

I probably won't be getting much for Christmas, and if I don't step things up quite a bit hardly anyone else will be getting anything either. I now have three wrapped presents under the tree. It's a miracle that we even have a tree, and that it's decorated!

I feel like this year I am just running in circles! Every year I run around like crazy juggling the boys' birthdays just before Christmas, but I can't seem to get things together this year. I feel like all I have done lately is SHOP, SHOP, SHOP. And I still have so much to do. There is no semblance of organization left whatsoever. Hopefully I will survive it all this year.

The funniest thing happened the other day while Cookie and I were in the car. He heard that song - "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." He listened for a few seconds and then started lecturing the singer on the radio on why it's not because of all the gifts that it's the most wonderful time, but because of baby Jesus' birthday. That's my boy!

I know I need to post stuff about the boys' birthdays, but I am too tired right now. I just want to go to sleep. So, that will have to keep till next time or sometime soon...

Drivin' In My Car

O.k., well when I tried to start this post I was riding in my car and decided to put my iPhone to the test and see if I could post from there. Either I don't know what I am doing (which is entirely possible) or it doesn't work. Chris tried to explain that it was a script and iPhones can't do that, but he lost me and I just gave up for the time being...

So, we drove to DC and met Richelle, Jamie, and Bobby for the day at the Museum of Natural History for the afternoon. We had a really great time. Cookie really liked seeing the Hope Diamond. When I called Gommy and told her thatshe said that he likes rocks as much as his Poppy does. Tater Tot growled at all of the dinosaurs, even the skull of a prehistoric rhino skull he saw outside on the sidewalk that he called Nemo. Jana took Nosey on a few rides in his wheelchair down the ramps throughout the museum, so he could get a few laughs.

We walked around the White House to show Jana. She said it was much smaller than she had thought it would be. Pretty much like everything in life, right? We drove around at the end of the day partly to show Jana the city, partly because we took a few wrong turns. It was pretty to see things at night. Chris had lots of interesting facts to share that he had picked up on his trip to DC while he was working on his MBA. You know that trip where he got to go into the West Wing and have his picture taken behind the podium in the Press Room? Punk.

So, this morning we have come down to the lobby of the hotel and had breakfast in our pj's. While I am typing there is a guy sitting next to me at the next computer singing his heart out so loud that he can be heard all over the lobby while we watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He is jamming out, and is totally oblivious to the rest of the world. GrandBob just came and picked Cookie up so that he could go play his new Mario Kart that they gave him for his birthday a little early.

I am looking forward to the rest of this lazy day. I hope you all have a great turkey day, and spend some time being thankful for what you have. I know I will!

Turkey Day is Coming!

I don't even know if I have anything to talk about really. I am realizing that I am just not very good at keeping in touch no matter the method. I wish I was. Some people just have the gift, and for me it is next to impossible. 

Just sitting across the room from Jana speaking in German to her mother on iChat. I have absolutely NO IDEA what in the world they are talking about, but it is always cool hearing another language spoken. Having Jana here has been so good for us in so many ways. It helps me see just how small minded I, as an American, am. I think a lot of Americans are this way, though. Jana knows so much about our country compared to what I know about Germany or most other countries. Not that I am much of a world traveler, unfortunately. I guess I am showing my world ignorance, but that's just me...

So, today is my mom's birthday. I feel very fortunate to have both of my parents in my life, and to have the relationship with them that I do. That doesn't happen everyday anymore. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! I Love You!

So, next week is Thanksgiving, and we are going to Maryland. The family hasn't been in a while, and it has been even longer since I have been. When I started to think about it I began to realize that it been a LONG time since I was up there. I think the big boys are going to go skiing on Friday. It's opening day at nearby ski resort. I am going to skip those crowds and all of the grass and rocks that are sure to be still sticking through the snow on the slopes. That is how I know I am getting old. When I was younger it didn't matter about any of those things. I would have jumped at any chance to go snow skiing. 

We are also going to DC. I am looking forward to it too. Jana will get to see some more of America, so that will be good too. I haven't been to DC in a long time. The kids have never been, so that'll be cool. And, we are going to get to see Jamie and Richelle on their stomping grounds. I hope the drive won't be too awful. 

Next week the Kindergarteners are having a Thanksgiving Program as usual. And I just found out today that Nosey is the turkey in this year's program. There never was a turkey before, but this year the turkey's name is Nosey. I can't wait. I hope he feels better by then. He has a skin infection, so he is taking an antibiotic and it is making his tummy hurt. He is such a tough boy. Can't wait to see him in his starring role.