Randoms

by Heather | 1 Comment

I started potty training with Ben. It’s not that I really want to (really, it’s just easier to take the 2 minutes to change a diaper). But he kept coming up to me telling me he’d pooped, so you kind of have to do something about that. I let him know he’s a good boy for telling me and we go clean up. We started sitting on the potty once or twice a day while reading books or singing and he’s peed a few times (and gotten chocolate chips for it). I don’t think we’ll be out of diapers any time soon, but who knows maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised!

We had friends over for dinner this weekend and Andy smoked a turkey in his smoker. It was AMAZING, the juiciest, tastiest turkey I’ve ever had. So good! I also might take applications for matchmaker because these friends are now dating :) I don’t think the turkey had anything to do with it though…

I went to a friend’s garage sale yesterday and bought a few clothes for Ben. She said she really didn’t sell as much as she’d wanted and needed to get rid of stuff, so she invited me back over today to just take more clothes for free. I got a bunch of 3t and 4t stuff for Ben. He’s a full 2t right now so I’m expecting we’ll be in 3t sometime this winter. The boy can eat!

I started running Wednesdays and Saturdays with some of the girls from the Y. Some good tunes, cool fall weather and beautiful trails…it’s fantastic. I don’t think I’ll ever be a marathoner but 3-4 miles feels really great afterwards. The human body is so cool, it’s fascinating to be able to work hard and see my body change, getting so much stronger. I guess I’m kind of slightly obsessed with exercising. There are some things that will never change (stretch marks) and I’ll never be a stick (not that I want to be)…but it’s so cool to have the power to actually change me. And I’m thankful for some wonderful ladies to do it along with.

Andy headed to Utah for work this week. I’m not entirely sure what he’s doing there, but it’s his first time on a work trip since Ben was born, so it’s a little weird. Hope he gets to do something fun there, but I’m not sure how “fun” Utah can be.

Massachusetts Part 3

by Heather | 0 comments

For the conclusion of the Massachusetts posts, let me introduce you to the sexiest car ever. A 1970 Corvette Stingray, T top in canary yellow. Perhaps my dad’s midlife crisis, but definitely the coolest car I’ve been in ;-) And if Andy happened to want one some day, I’m sure we could make it happen :)

Massachusetts Part 2

by Heather | 3 Comments

My dad made the rank of Colonel in the Air Force! It’s quite the accomplishment and we’re very proud of him. We attended his pinning ceremony while in Massachusetts.

Before the ceremony we had breakfast at my dad’s new office. Chris enjoyed sitting in the big man’s chair.

Ben kept himself occupied by giving bear rides in the stroller.

After breakfast my dad headed out to get ready and the rest of the family were bussed to the base’s hangar where the ceremony would be. We did kind of make goofs of ourselves when we first entered because we walked right past our military escorts and entered talking really loudly. When we rounded the corner and saw hundreds of airmen in attendance we quieted down and found our seats. *hangs head in shame*

My dad taking the rank of Colonel.

Leslie putting on my dad’s pins. Full bird baby!

Us kids got to participate too!

Speech, speech!

Ben was a really good little boy during the whole ceremony. I kept giving him suckers to help with the being quiet ;-)

After the ceremony, everyone wanted to shake my dad’s hand and talk to the family. Danielle and Gabby sung the National Anthem, I didn’t get any pictures though because I would have felt really awkward stepping out to interrupt things. They received several compliments though, their duet was beautiful!

There were military police cars and fire trucks on display for the ceremony too.

Ben was fascinated with the fire trucks. Gabby overheard one of the military police officers muttering “Kids always like the fire trucks better.” Haha.

Ben got to sit in the tunner which loads pallets and equipment onto planes.

The family also got a tour of a C-5.

The cargo plane is huge!

Learning about the plane’s cockpit and controls.

Graffiti in the cockpit.

Bathroom facilities on board. Sleeping arrangements weren’t much better with bays where men were basically stacked on top of each other.

My dad and Ben. Love.

Silly boy.

My dad and Leslie.

We actually managed to get a halfway decent family picture too!

Colonel MSG Commander. So proud of you dad!

Couch potato

by Heather | 1 Comment

One of the things I love about fall is that some of our favorite tv shows start back up again. We aren’t in front of the tv every night, but we do record most things and watch them on the weekend. Some of our favorites are:

Parenthood
Grimm
Once Upon a Time
Bones
New Girl
The Office
Big Bang Theory
30 Rock
Downton Abbey

I’m also excited to watch Revolution, from JJ Abrams. We like his other work too and hopefully it’ll be a good replacement for LOST that ended a couple of years ago.

We don’t even have cable, but manage to get through just fine with over the air stations and Netflix! What are you watching this fall?

—

Yes, I have more Massachusetts posts coming…

Massachusetts Part 1

by Heather | 0 comments

This weekend we headed to Massachusetts to visit my dad and family. We also came in for my dad’s Air Force pinning ceremony (more on that in another post).

There was lots of loud family gaming.

Including Apples to Apples!

Andy even found time to play some video games.

Ben wanted to play xbox with the big boys too.

Ben also watched Elmo with Aunt Gabby (who he called Goby the whole weekend).

We also went hiking as a family.

There was a really cool set of paths that went through a reservoir in their town.

So pretty!

We even introduced my dad to geocaching.

Benny was excellent while we hiked this time. Bear tagged along too.

Such a perfect day!

If I die young

by Heather | 0 comments

A friend’s brother died in a motorcycle accident last week. His wife of 3 months is now a widow. His sister is now an only child. Family grieving. I just don’t understand.

The video is kind of weird, but the song is beautiful.