Introducing the Band!!!

For those of you who do not know, Will has been playing in a band for the past couple of months. The other members are John and Lloyd, two guys that work at the same company as me. Will has been having a lot of fun with it. He played the trumpet and drums in college but decided to try a new instrument, the bass guitar. It amazes me how quick he is picking it up. He sounds terrific!


On Saturday, Will's band had a gig playing at a local youth football fundraiser. They did wonderfully! Like all performances they learned a few things that they need to work on...a few kinks to work out, but overall, I think they did amazing! Especially for only playing together for a few months and this being their second gig. I am learning to recognize the bass guitar (Will) from the other two guitars...I was very excited to recognize Will's parts of the songs! I am so proud of you honey! So, here are some pictures from that day...They are currently still working on a name!

Billy Goat Trail

On Friday morning, Will and I headed towards Maryland to go hiking at Billy Goat Trail. This is a trail that Will has hiked many times since his childhood and is a place that is very special to him. We had such a great time! The trail is not a simple straightforward path. It involves quite a few rocks you must climb over and one in particular that is very intimidating with its straight down view of the water below! I think I impressed Will, not that he expected me to suck at hiking, but he hasn't really had the chance to see my athletic side. It is kind of nice to be around someone who doesn't know me from my school days and doesn't automatically think "tomboy" when they think of me! We were both pretty tired afterwards. Both of us were ready for a nap, which after a nice lunch out and before getting Colin we did lay down for 30 minutes or so. We were dreading Saturday thinking we were going to be really sore, but it wasn't so bad. The worst for me was my bad knee was hurting a little today, but it is tolerable.

The trail was beautiful and I think that this was a great way for us to spend our day off together. We were able to talk about our current plans, our childhoods and just joke around and have fun together. I loved it! Thank you Will for a wonderful day! It was perfect! I cannot wait until the next visit to Billy Goat Gruff...I mean Trail!

Almost Two Years!!!

In a few days my honey and I will be celebrating 2 wonderful years of marriage! It has been a busy two years; we have become parents, started new jobs, both started school (again), and have been making steps towards creating a nice life for us here in Virginia. We have also been learning together as parents, friends and partners. He is my best friend and my match! I love you honey!!

Last year, I surprised Will with a couples massage (which we are both a big fan of), then we went to a local cafe for some coffee (fancy coffee is a treat for both of us) and then had a nice lunch at a restaurant neither one of us had been to. This year we had plans to go to Hershey Park (PA) for some fun, but there has been a lot going on this summer so we decided we would prefer to stay home.


We both took off Friday, so will have a day all to ourselves! We are going hiking!! We have been wanting to go hiking at Billy Goat Trail for quite some time. That is a favorite haunt from Will's childhood and we have not had the chance to go since we have moved here. I am very excited! I love to hike and I love seeing Will when he is really excited about sharing something that is a part of him with me!

For our actual anniversary we have a few things planned. During the day Will's band will be playing at a fundraiser for a local boys sports team. Yay!!!! I am so excited to take Colin and go support my hubby! My sexy rock star!!! Afterwards, we got a babysitter and Will is taking me to Melting Pot!!! Will has been wanting to take me there since we started dating. I went there recently with some ladies from work and I think it is a place that Will and I will really enjoy going together. I am so excited!! Our anniversary happens to be during DC Restaurant week, so participating restaurants (Melting Pot being one of them) offer really good deals in the DC area! Bonus!

We actually have been trying to follow the traditional gifts for our anniversaries. So, for our first year we gave paper. My sweetie bought me two copies of Little Women. When the book was originally published it was printed in two parts. Will thought he was getting both parts, but one of them actually is the whole book (another bonus)! The book that is the first part was printed just a couple years after the original publishing date (1868) and the other (whole book) was printed in 1880. The oldest one actually has an inscription from the person who originally bought it, it was a Christmas gift - I love it!!! This is my favorite book and I love old books, so this was perfect! Will always gets the perfect gifts!! For Will, I started a journal the day we got married and wrote in it throughout the first year without him knowing. After I gave it to him and he was able to read it, I started writing in it again and will do so until the pages are filled up. I actually started one for Colin as well and hope to give it to him for his birthday (probably 16th or 18th).

The traditional gift for the second anniversary is cotton, so we will see what we come up with!!

I am also excited to open our bottle of wine from North Carolina. When we were on our honeymoon we bought it and we waited until our year anniversary to open it. Cake does not really get me excited so I thought this would be different and fun! We both really liked it, so each time we go to NC we try to buy a bottle for our next anniversary.

Will - here's to a lifetime of happiness! Thank you for all that you do. I thank God every day that our life choices led us both to Barnes & Nobles, so we could meet, become friends, and then man and wife! I love you!

Na na na na na....BATMAN!!!

Just wanted to share some recent pictures of Colin wearing his "big boy" pajamas. Thank you mom! The pjs are so cute! Colin seemed to really like them, I think he liked the bright orange and big picture of batman. Colin has yet to learn who Batman is, but I am sure his daddy is very excited for that lesson...and Colin will have all the pajamas to match the characters thanks to the grandparents!


Colin was trying to figure out how to take the pajamas off. He likes to strip his clothes off...great phase! I don't think he is as bad as Uncle Greggie was though...Sorry Greg! The pictures below are his attempts, which he was able to accomplish last night. Will and I went into Colin's room last night to discover him sitting up (not sleeping) with his arms out of the sleeves and the neck of his pjs around his neck and under one of his arms. He was close!

Colin is also becoming very talkative! Well, he has been for a while but now he sounds more like he is carrying an actual conversation. His newer words are "cheese", "big jet" (from Little Einsteins), and he is still working on "please", that word always seems to make him giggle.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Let the Games Begin!

Football Season!!!!



Our household is very excited for football season to start! Will has been talking about it for months! I mean, this is the reason we have cable! Will is a Redskin fan (number 2 team is Tampa) and has crossed me over from a Cowboy fan (I know - how can that be??)... Well time away from the sport (I went 6 years without cable), the fact that the team (Redskins) is in the area I live in (being from Oregon you don't have that & I have always hated the Seahawks - sorry Mel), and TO helped a bit too. I don't like any of the Cowboy players (sorry dad) and I love Randle El!!!

I was a little nervous when talk of Michael Vick coming to the Skins was going around. I would not be a fan of him, but would still want to cheer for the team...dilemna...well one that did not happen! Don't get me wrong, I know Vick served his time and there are people playing in the NFL have done things just as bad if not worse that are still playing, but I don't want him on my team. He can go play for the Seahawks!

So you know what we will be doing on Sunday and Monday nights! Drinking beers, eating "football food" and screaming our heads off!!! Colin loves to growl so I am sure that his Daddy can teach him what teams to growl at.

Hopefully we will be able to go to a few of the games. So far we have made it to two (Will has been to 3). While I was pregnant Will took me to see the Redskins play the Steelers. It was fun to watch. I enjoyed seeing Troy Polamalu since he went to high school near where I am from and I think he is an exceptionally good player with a great attitude. After Colin was born, we also went to see the big rival game (Cowboys vs Redskins). This was very exciting for me since I did grow up a big Cowboy fan and always wanted to see them play.

Seeing Blue

On Saturday, some friends of mine and I drove to Pennsylvania for another friend's baby shower. We had a lot of fun but it was definitely a long day. I was picked up around 7:30 AM and got home after 11:00 PM. The shower was at a really nice club (originally a men's club) in downtown Lancaster. The place was beautiful and the food was great! The mother-to-be was beautiful in her white dress and blue toenails :) She is having a boy, so everyone was supposed to wear blue. After gifts and lunch the shower was over but we were staying for dinner at her parents' home as well, so we had some free-time beforehand. We ventured to the cute little boutiques in the downtown area and also the farmer's market. We got to the farmer's market as it was closing down, but I had enough time to buy some fresh tea ingredients and I even bought a cute little steeper (I think it is called a tea ball infuser) from The Herb Shop. The owner was very nice and loved hearing about Oregon.

I thought the dessert setting was so cute, I had to take a picture. Can you guess what the baby's name will be??

So, seeing all the baby clothes and gifts makes me want to have another one now!!! We have been planning on another one but not for a few years...which is probably a good idea because I am enjoying the amount of sleep Colin lets us have now compared to a few months ago. Yeah, I guess I am not quite ready to go back to that yet, but babies are sooo cute!

...Will you can breathe now :)

Big Brother Birthday Wishes

Now it is time to wish a 'Happy Birthday' to my other brother, Willie. He is the oldest of us three, so I will be nice and not say how old he is turning, well I do not think he will care...29! Not quite the big hump, but next year I can tease him relentlessly and then in a few years he can return the torment! Now what to say about Willie??? My brother is a very interesting character. He always keeps you on your toes in your conversations with him. You never know what direction he will go with the conversation; when he will choose to argue with you or throw out a totally random joke! I adore my brother and all of his crazy rants that he goes on about, especially the most recent, zombies! A few years back I bought him the book, The Zombie Survival Guide (located in the humor section, yes it really was Willie). Both of my brothers are not huge fans of reading, unlike me, but when I was poor and working at Barnes & Noble that is what everyone got (you got to love employee discounts)! Anyway, Willie is reading parts of the book and loves to share the information with me. It is hilarious!! I think that he has a bit of a conspiracy theorist in him!

I am hoping to convince Willie to come out for a visit (hint, hint). Poor Colin has yet to meet his other west coast uncle. I know that like Uncle Greggie, Colin will adore Willie. For one, Colin is amazed by tall people. He just stares, so if you are a taller person you already got it made! I just need to get him on a plane!!! Or Will and I will just have to hurry our plans to visit Oregon. Most likely the latter (I am pretty sure that I am the only person in my family that enjoys flying. I think Willie is the winner for being the one to dislike it the most)!

Willie - Happy Birthday!!! I love you and miss you! Cannot wait for you to finally meet Colin...there are a lot of Civil War sites to see in Virginia (hint, hint)! Hope you have a great day! The next time I am home I will treat you to a Bob's Deli sandwich!! I miss that place, please do not tell me if it has closed! There are so many food joints that I miss there and all of them are on my list of places to go when I visit! I cannot believe that it has been almost 2 years since I have seen you :(

Wishing My Favorite Marine a Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Greggie!!!!My little brother, Greggie (as I like to call him), is 25 today! He is sadly celebrating in Iraq...BUT, he is heading home soon (August) and will be getting out of the Marines (for a second time) this September. I am not that familiar with the military rules, but I hope that means that he stays OUT this time.

So, what to say about my little brother...

He is one of the sweetest people I know, a true sweetheart, and definitely one of my most favorite people. He does not talk a lot, but I can!!! So, it works out, unless we are on the phones, because we both suck at phone conversations. I was one grade above him so we were usually always at the same school, which was nice. We were very close growing up...I loved that I could beat up on him. Then he reached high school and grew taller than me! Now he gets his revenge by showing me all the things he learned in the Marine Corp...not cool! I was very sad when he told us he was signing up and I have hated it the whole time he was in, but I am so proud of him. You can tell that he has a lot of respect by the people he works with and he accomplished a lot while serving.

Even though he is my younger brother he has always been very protective of me and even treats me like I am the younger one sometimes. I was very sad to move away from him. He had spent 4 years stationed in Hawaii (lucky) and travelling between Japan and Australia (yes, I am jealous you made it there first) and when he moved back to Oregon, I moved to Virginia. He was able to visit me last summer though!! We took him to Gettsyburg and D.C., he loves military history. Colin ADORED his uncle! He had such a great time with him and he even looked around the apartment for him the day he left. That was sad to watch. I am anxiously awaiting the next time I get to see him (hint, hint). Just to explain, the above picture is of him and our cousin Chris, they are very close...and weird!

Greggie - Happy birthday!!!! I love you and miss you soooo much!!! I cannot wait for you to be back in the states so I can bug you to come out for a visit. I hope you have a wonderful day, hopefully you are not terribly bored :) The next time I see you I will buy you a beer to celebrate your quarter of a century on this wonderful earth! If you are still turned off of alcohol from your first and maybe last hangover experience (so you say) then it can be a root beer!!! By-the-way, I was so sad I was not there to tease you the morning of your hangover but talking with you on the video cam was priceless!

Love you little brother -

Cambridge, MD

Since Wednesday I have been in Cambridge, MD. I had a lot of fun! Even though I love traveling to the other locations, it was nice tobe close to home, so that Will and Colin could come up for the weekend. So much to talk about...where to start??? Well, the hotel was BEAUTIFUL!! There was so much to do. Plenty of pools, sand volleyball, a huge gym, golf, beautiful trails and of course the bay. A great place to relax and was just wonderful. Most of Thursday consisted of meetings. One of which we were split into teams and had to build a boat out of cardboard and one member of each team had to paddle the boat through a coarse in the bay. The guest speaker this year was the founder of Cakelove. A bakery in DC, which has now grown into 7 stores over the northern VA and MD area. Even though I am not much of a dessert person (and actually did not try any of his cupcakes - I gave mine to Will - which he loved), I found him to be a very interesting speaker. He was a lawyer for the Federal Government but decided he wanted to follow his passion for baking. He is very into natural ingredients and baking everything from scratch. . So, for my dessert loving family members maybe we will venture to his store when you visit!
The food was wonderful! Maryland is known for their crabs (blue crab mostly), so of course, we had a few opportunities to have steamed crab and crab cakes. So, for the first time in my life I actually picked the meat from my crab. I had to break its legs off and everything (gross) I made myself try it and I only did one. The meat was really good, but I had issues with seeing it in its normal form (shell).I luckily was next to someone who has been eating crab like this since she was a kid, so she gave me a lesson.
So, this year Will and Colin came up for part of the week. It was great! I am usually not away from my two guys very often so I was really missing them. Colin loved the hotel, he was running around every where. On Friday night, Will got to play in his new band. They were fantastic! Will, John and Lloyd got to play about 6 songs during the middle set. They played "No Matter What" (Badfinger), The Joker (Steve Miller Band), "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" (ZZ Top), "Handle with Care" (The Traveling Wilburys), "Redemption Song" (Bob Marley) and "Brian Wilson" (Barenaked Ladies). They did great!!!!! I was so proud of Will! Everybody loved it!
The other star of the night was Colin! With the exception of when Will played, Colin was dancing on the dance floor all night (and I was afraid he was going to be shy)! He entertained everyone...they thought he was so cute! He even was chasing a friend's girl who is about the same age (I am probably getting a glimpse of the future, haha). I will post pics on myspace/facebook but not here since another person's child is in most of them.
 

We also got to visit with Will's aunt Mary Anne, uncle Jerre, cousin Kristin and her husband Terrick and son Garrett on our way home today. Will and Colin also visited all of them yesterday as well (his cousin Kevin was there then). We had a very nice visit.

It was such a wonderful week but I am so glad to be home!!!!

A Movie Review - My Sister's Keeper

Last night a friend and I went to see My Sister's Keeper. I had very high hopes because I am a big fan of the book ( I have read it like 3 times). If you have not read anything by Jodi Picoult, then I highly recommend her - she is a great author and one of my favorites!

To give you a very brief synopsis of the story. An 11 year old girl is suing her parents for medical emancipation. She is a test tube baby that was conceived to be a perfect donor for her older sister who has cancer.

The movie has a great cast:


Cameron Diaz (nice to see her try something with more depth)
Alec Baldwin
Abigail Bresslin (smaller part for her than I expected - Main character in the book)
Jason Patric
Sofia Vassilieva (she was really good)

If someone has not read the book, then you may really enjoy the movie (bring tissues). If you are a fan of the book, then you may end up pretty disappointed. For the most part, I thought the movie was good, but Nick Cassevetes (The Notebook) did not stay true to the book. The changes were not minor either. A lot of good storyline was left out, making it hard to get to know the characters; even the main character in the book. Plus, the ending (obviously I will not give any details) but it was not nearly as good as the book. I was probably the only person that was not crying at the end. I was soooo disappointed with the changes that they made that I was too frustrated to cry.

The changes that were made take away from the essence of the story. Jodi Picoult tends to write about controversial topics (which is one of the reasons I enjoy her so much) and the movie was just turned into a typical "we want to make you cry" movies.

So, if you do not have plans to read the book, I am sure you will really enjoy the movie, but if you have any interest in the book, I highly recommend that over the movie.