My Little Guitar Hero

I was loading pictures on my computer and found a few of Colin from before I left home. Will let him play with one of his guitars for Guitar Hero.  Just thought I would share...sure miss my little guy!

Missing My Boys!!!

A little after the fact, but I finally made it to California.  My business travel buddy and I flew in on Monday and have been busy working ever since.  It has been nice and warm!  I am so not missing the snow, but I am missing my little boy and my hubby! It hasn't even been a week yet...cannot believe I still have like 11 days.  This is definitely the longest I have been away from my two boys!  I do not know how people stay away from loved ones longer...I would definitely not choose to be in the situation that would keep me away from Will and Colin longer. 

Besides, missing my guys...I am learning a lot, eating delicious food, working out, and relaxing in a comfortable bed!  So, there are good things to being here, plus, I do love California (for visiting).  It is nice to be on the west coast and be around that vibe...that feeling of time; just being relaxed not rushed.  I love it!

Happy Bday to Honest Abe & Uncle E

Just wanted to do a quick shout-out to my brother-in-law, Eric (our Uncle E to Colin)...anyway, happy birthday Eric!! Hope you have a wonderful day! I would like to note that Eric shares a birthday with someone that a lot of people in this country admire...Abraham Lincoln, hence the picture of the statue!

So, why not have a quote from the 16th President to start our day and end this blog...

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other".

Seriously...More Snow?!?!?

I assumed that I would be writing  about the Super Bowl from sunny California, but due to the recent snow storm my trip has been postponed.  That is irritating in some ways, but I am glad I was able to watch the Super Bowl with my hubby!!  Great game!!!  I am very excited that the Saints won!!!  If I had known we would be watching it together I would have planned a Cajun type meal (maybe jambalaya), but since I did not know, we settled for turkey burgers, tator tots and chips w/bean dip which was actually a pretty good football meal!  Will even baked a delicious cake!! 

I have been working from home since Friday, even the weekend I was trying to get the travel plans worked out.  Since the airlines keep canceling flights they keep moving me.  I am now on a flight for tomorrow but cannot get through to the airline to change it to Monday.  What a first trip and it hasn't even started yet!!!  Sunny Cali sounds good right now though; warm weather! We are expecting another 10-20 inches today and tomorrow.  Crazy!!  I see snow as a wonderful thing to travel to...and then leave.  I would actually prefer the rain right now.  I cannot wait for Spring!!

I have enjoyed spending time with Colin these past few days (he stayed home with me on Friday and Monday), even though he has made working a little more challenging.  He likes to sit in my lap while I type and have me pretend to eat out of every cup he has in his little cupboard.  Today, we took him to daycare, so that he could enjoy the company of some other kids and so I could get more work done.  I am sure he was starting to feel cooped up in our apartment, which by the way has a hole in the ceiling now.  It was supposed to get fixed after the last snow storm in December (we came home from Oregon to a good size bubble on our ceiling).  For whatever reason, iIt did not get fixed, so during this storm it got even worse (I mean it did have close to 30 inches of snow on it).  So, we had a little talk with the apartment people about the possibility of it collapsing on our 2 year old's head.  The nice people came and put a hole in it and provided us with a bucket...which is fine. It surprisingly does not make it colder in the apartment unless you stand right under it and Colin knows to stay away from the bucket.  At least that happened in an apartment where someone else has to fix it, but I am ready to have our own place.

The top picture is from the other day.  Snow is pretty, even if inconvenient at times.  The next picture is of Colin staring out his window.  Probably wanting to go outside and play.  I took the picture from our porch so you may have to look hard to see him.  The last picture is of Colin headbanging.  I put the band on his head and we were listening to music and he was rocking out!! I was teaching him to headbang...he is getting the idea!

Challenging the Knickerbocker

Apparently, this storm is challenging the Knickerbocker storm of 1922 (which sadly is named that because the Knickerbocker theatre collapsed during the storm and killed 98 people).  I have heard that some areas have between 20-30 inches; that was this morning and it is still snowing pretty hard.  I think it is supposed to stop snowing in the early evening.  We ventured out for a few minutes this morning, so of course I wanted to share some of our pictures.

I just looked at the cars again...you cannot see the tires anymore.  Crazy.  I wonder how I will get to the airport tomorrow!

Colin getting ready to go outside for some fun in the snow.

Our apartment people shoveled a path for everyone...didn't see too many people using it though!  It is almost taller than Colin...by the end of the day it could be.

Enjoying the snow.

After his adventure outside, we treated him to some hot cocoa (well warm cocoa)!

Storm Watch

We are supposed to be having a snowstorm this weekend.  I had previously heard 12-24 inches, but now some people are saying 4 freakin feet.  Yeah...I hope not.  As much as I would have no problems being shut up in our home for the weekend with my two favorite boys...I did have some important plans this weekend.  Will and I are supposed to meet with our real estate lady on Saturday and I am flying to California on Sunday.  I guess I could deal with having to change flight plans but it would be easier not to...just stick with the plan world!  So, anyone who cares to, please pray or wish upon a star that this storm will be a fluke and I will be in warm Cali on Sunday afternoon - in time to watch the Super Bowl...but again, if I end up snowed in at home watching the Super Bowl with my honey, I wouldn't complain.  Aagh!!! Who knows what I want...I just want to know what will be happening!!

I am realizing I am not a fan of snow.  When I was in school, the idea of a snow day sounded great...I don't remember too many of those.  It seems like where I am now, Colin will be happy with the amount of those days...OK enough for now!

A New Blog

So, I decided to start a second blog.  One that would be just for my travels and my scenery type photos, hence the name, Traveling Mama.  I probably will not post as often, but I thought it would be fun.  You can also get to the site by clicking on the link in the Blog box on the sidebar. 

A Life-Changing Trip

I just realized that three years ago this week, Will and I moved to Virginia!!! We left Oregon on Super Bowl Sunday and headed to California. Stopping in time to watch the game, of course. I cannot believe it has been that long! Best decision, hands down, I have ever made. I miss my home state but I love Virginia and all the opportunities it has given Will and I. That was a big trip for me. Before that trip, the furthest I had driven (where I was actually a driver) was to the California border...not far. Plus, driving 3,000 miles (or whatever it is) gives you a chance to really get to know someone. Will and I had a great time. We did not get frustrated with each other; we had fun. Even when we needed food, sleep and just to be off the road...we had fun! Especially, with our walkie talkies (yes, he made me do a code name like the military would)...those were a great idea!

This picture is during one of our stops. I think it is in New Mexico.

My first day in Virginia! A beautiful view!

I love you honey!!!

Where We Are

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about where Will and I are at in our lives and how we came to be here. Not because I wish for anything different; I love my life! I love where I live, my marriage, being a parent, my job - things are WONDERFUL! I think what caused all of this reflection is that we are getting into a good routine and are accomplishing some of our personal goals...I mean a lot of life changing events (milestones) have happened to Will and I in a pretty short period. I moved across the country, we both got jobs that are potential careers, I am finishing my bachelors and have plans for my masters, we got married, had a beautiful son, and are now in the process of buying our first home together.

Buying a house is an exciting time and started me thinking of when Will and I first found out we were pregnant. Will was not at his current job and so we were not really established in the area yet...BN paid OK but not great. He had the idea of rejoining the Air Force as an Officer. At that time we were still not sure if I would be a stay-at-home mommy with future Baby B or a working one. I was leaning more towards a working one. We thought there were positive and negatives for both options, but we felt there were more positives (for the three of us) with Colin being in a daycare with other kids...we feel this was the best option for us considering what we thought was the most important for Colin's growth, but to each their own. OK, a bit off topic, but there are very interesting articles on the differences between kids that were in daycare and kids that had stay-at-home moms...I could write about that topic for a while.

 Back on topic - So, Will had the idea of going back into the Air Force. There were many aspects of this plan that sounded appealing, but along with the good there were parts of being in the military (even as a spouse) that I would not be particularly fond of. I like to tease Will that when I met him he changed my idea of what I wanted in a husband. I always said that I would never marry a police office, a firefighter, someone in the military, or someone whose hometown was far away. Will happen to have been a firefighter in the military whose hometown was in Virginia (far away from Oregon)! What did I know??? He was not in the military when I met him, but I doubt that would have changed things much! Looking back, I am very thankful that we did not go that direction. For many reason, we decided against it. We held out and now have amazing jobs, are in a great area for schools, and have met so many wonderful people!

However, I do have a lot of friends who do have spouses in the military and that have had to wait out many deployments. I even know a lady or two who are currently pregnant while their husbands are deployed. I feel for these people; I could not imagine how difficult that must be, especially during a pregnancy which is such an emotional time on its own. All of you are in our prayers. I have so much respect for your sacrifices and that of your spouses and loved ones as well.

So, this blog is a little different than most...but hey, I have to throw those in from time to time. Be prepared...I leave for California next week (11 days) so I may have some more mushy stuff on the way. I have not been away from Colin or Will that long before. I think the longest from Will is maybe a week and from Colin is maybe 4 days. So as Colin would say...here we go!!! I will also keep you posted on house stuff! We're so excited!!!