Tired man's pictures

I am taking the tired way out of uploading pictures because I know that several of you just visit for the photos. I know, you say you come for the friendship and for the stories, but I know the truth....you just want the pics. So to make everyone happy, I have uploaded several new photos to the flicker. For those of you new to the blog, the flicker is on the right side of the blog and has the flashing, changing photos. Just log on and watch the show. One day, when I have my energy back....need to talk to William about how to fill up my gas tank....I will post more pics.....and maybe even a video. For now, at least you got the flicker!

Randomness: tired, book club thoughts, and whatever else enters my mind.

I know you are all checking the blog wondering "Why has she not updated it?" Well,......I am just plain tired and really have not had time to update the blog. Getting back into the routine of me and the boys has drained me JUST a wee bit. We had a great night last night. But the morning started early and then I had meetings for the FRG (Family Readiness Group) and then afternoon craziness with the boys.....so I am a bit drained. Right now I am trying to relax....beer in hand and I have one screaming child in a Jolly Jumper, the tv blaring, a dog scratching at the backdoor, and the other two boys (father and son) in the living room. So, I am not too relaxed at the moment. The beer does seem to be working, making me more desensitized to it all. Enough complaining right.....I know you are just here for pictures. But seriously, sometimes it takes too much time to upload the pictures......we are not on DSL here people....a bit slower and sometimes it gets annoying....so no pictures tonight.

Book Club Review:

For the first book we selected Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. We met last night at my neighbor's, Melissa, to eat, drink and review the book. Our thoughts: DON"T SPEND YOUR MONEY OR TIME ON IT! The premise of the book was beautiful, a man writing thoughts and letters for his young son before he passes on. Getting connected to the characters in the book was nearly impossible, especially women. They seemed to be non-existent in the book. We all felt the author could have expanded on several passages and created many wonderful story lines filled with emotion and intensity, but this did not occur. So, it was a BIG THUMBS DOWN! We are hoping the next selection is better. We chose The Kite Runner.

My mother has returned home. William adjusted well after the goodbye. He even slept for part of the night in his bed. He did end up in my bed by the middle of the night. Paulie did well, too. He feel asleep early, awoke once for a binkie, and then slept the rest of the night. I am hoping tonight is a repeat of last night (without the middle of the night visitor).

Last thought of randomness........I love Schwans food. Some nights it is the greatest thing ever created, frozen, and delivered to my door. I did not know they existed until my mother and Aunt Sara bought some from the drivers 2 weeks ago. Then last week, as we sat in the front circle of the house drinking our beer watching William ride his bike, the Schwans truck rounded the bend. Whala....dinner was made. I bought two frozen meals, popped one in the oven, and had a great meal for the family. Tonight we are doing the same. The Schwans truck is scheduled to come back next week.....I am already thinking about my orders. See, this is what happens to a young, vibrent mind when you live 17 miles from the main road and then an additional 10 miles to the nearest grocery store. Thank god for Schwans.

Movie night?

We had a big day yesterday. Our neighbor, Kim, had to take her Dental Hygienist licensing exam in Tallahassee so we hung out with her daughter, Jenna. Mom and I decided to take the kids to Destin Commons for lunch and some playtime. They have a great water fountain and play-yard.

The day went great. We had lunch at Johnny Rocket's Diner and then went to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Jenna knew all about it and helped William pick his new best friend, Gator. They both built their babies and then went crazy deciding which outfits the new little ones needed. William was so thrilled to have Gator....sporting his Dinosaur jammies. And Jenna loves Tabby. Tabby is a cat and she was beautifully dressed in a tank top and matching panties. It was too cute.

We then rode a choo-choo train....me, Jenna, William, Gator, and Tabby. It was fun! Playing in the fountain helped cool everyone off and Gaga was able to shop for some clothes for her upcoming Italy trip.

We then went home. Jenna went home. Kim passed her test...YAY!!!!! and we all had a good night. Or at least we tried. Mom and I decided it would be movie night with William. Daddy was with Paul. So, we put in Night at the Museum. Great kid movie.....I highly suggest it. Well, through the constant chattering, questioning, whining, and some crying we saw most of the movie. William seemed to enjoy it.....I wouldn't have thought so by his behavior. Typical three-year old....but he sure does love Gater. Gater and Aquapuppy are best friends now. Enjoy the pics.

William and Jenna at lunch...hamming it up.

The choo-choo train....it is a red Thomas.

Paulie having some milkshake. Strawberry, it's a good one!

Gator and Aquapuppy. Best friends forever.

Hugs and kisses

Little children say the cutest things sometimes....and then they also say the darndest things. But, this is not a post about the darndest things that kids say....it is about the cutest. So, you already read the post about William and his broken heart. Well, to go along with that here is one about his hugs and kisses. THERE GONE! What do I mean by there gone? Since my mother has been here, about 2 weeks, all of his hugs and kisses have been at the airport. We need to go and pick them up. He says he can not give hugs and kisses until we go and pick them up. Even when we drive by the airport, we ask....Are the hugs and kisses ready to be picked up? And he replies, No, not yet. Now sometimes the hugs and kisses make it back home because we get them....but then they quickly disappear back to the airport. So, if you are at the airport and are bombarded by hugs and kisses, you will know they are William's trying desperately to make it back home. Enjoy!

New family pics

OK, enough blabbing and posting without pictures. I know those of you that just check for pics want some. Sorry to say that these pictures are not of Paul and William. But you can still enjoy looking at them....some of my nieces!

Here are some photos of my younger brother, Trent, with my sister-in-law, Heather, and their little girl, Caroline. Caroline is now five months old.

Abby, Tye's little girl, is 7 weeks old. Here are some recent pics, Kelly, my sister-in-law sent me.

Both are just too cute. I can't wait to see them and give them kisses in August!

The tab is running..........

Our tab to fix things has been growing over the past three weeks. This happens to coincide with the arrival of my mother and Aunt Sara. Now, I am not saying that they have contributed to the breaking of items, but something is awfully fishy...........

Here is our running tab:
One garbage disposal
One oven door
One microwave
One pillow
And now.....one broken heart - William's

Strange, don't ya think?! Makes you go....hum.

Here are some pictures of the pillow that I was told would be fine if we washed it in the washing machine.....again, something fishy must be happening here.

William's broken heart

William was in his room playing by himself and seemed to be doing fine. My mother went into the room to put away some of her clothes. (We don't have a guest room, so her suitcase is in his room...cause William is spending his nights on the pullout sofa with Gaga). The conversation went like this:

William: Gaga, you broke my heart.

Gaga: I did what?

William: You broken my heart.

Gaga: How did I do that?

William: When you did not want to go to the mailbox with me. Now my red heart is in tiny pieces.

Where do kids get this stuff.....and is this just not the cutest thing you have ever heard?!?!?! It is an aaawwwwhhhhh moment. My boy......he is a love!

Blabbing just to blab

This post is just to blab. Blab about my life, about what is new, what is old....just to blab. So, for those of you who check the blog for pictures....THERE AREN'T ANY ON THIS POST! So, just check back another day for some.

So, onto the blabbing......

My mother is visiting. She is helping me out with a recovery. I had a surgery on July 9th. She has been a great source of help and assistance. The recovery has gone well....better than I think we both expected, but there are still things I can't do. William and Paul seem to be adjusting well to my recovery also...sometimes Paul wonders why I can't hold him or carry him around and William says that he has to go have surgery when he doesn't feel well. Kids, how they process things sometimes. Anyway, in my blabbing state that I am in....and I am NOT on my pain meds at the moment, I decided to find some old videos of William that I sent to Kevin when he was in Iraq. We watched them all today. William just loved watching himself as a baby. It was so cute.....he loved everything about it and got the idea that he once was a baby and now he is a big boy. Just think how great these will be to give him when he is older.....YEAH, RIGHT! He will want nothing to do with them. They are videos for us....and for us to use during his wedding days! Back to blabbing, so then we went outside and William played with the neighbor kids. Somedays he plays well and other days he doesn't. It just seems that he is not getting the whole sharing concept. Hopefully that will get better with time. Dinnertime and bathtime went surpringly well, given it was really just me and my mother. Kevin is out on a mission tonight and so we are here....and I am not of that much help with certain things. Paul went down quickly and is RACKED OUT on my bed. I am waiting for dead sleep to take over so we can make the transition to his bed. William is watching videos of himself as a baby with Gaga. Me....what do you think I am doing....blabbing. It has been a good day.

A room with a room.....Varenna, Italy

To continue with our Italian vacation, here are some pictures from the second destination, Varenna. Varenna is in the Lake Como area. It is the most beautiful and restful place we visited. The wine, food and views were even more wonderful than Venice....can you imagine? Enjoy the photos, get inspired and plan your own get-a-way!

Me at the train depot.

The view from our hotel room....truly a room with a view! It was so beautiful! We slept with the windows open and were able to see the soft glow of Bellagio across the lake.

The town of Varenna from our hotel balcony.

Varenna at sunset....need I say more?!

A view of Bellagio from our hotel balcony.

A view of the road to Varenna from the top of the restaurant at our hotel.

Bellagio and Lake Como from the atop the restaurant.

Fourth of July, 2007

Here are some photos from the night of the Fourth of July. Paulie surprised us and stayed awake during the fireworks show! He loved every minute of it. His eyes were the size of huge saucers. This was the first year William was able to see the fireworks. His first year he slept through the show, the second year we missed the show, and this year he was in amazement! It was too cute watching my two boys enjoying the lights and Ka-Booms!

Paulie and his Daddy.

A photo of us waiting for the show.

Some of the fireworks.

Photos of the boys watching the show. William covered his ears because the Ka-Boom was so loud!

Babies, Boys, Friends and Randon Photos

Playing catch up is hard sometimes..... When you have a 3 year-old and an 8 month-old is it sometimes difficult to get to all the photos and posts everyday:)!!! I did find some time this morning....and my Internet connection cooperated. I was able to upload several photos of William, Paul, and their new friends. Enjoy the baby/big boy show.

We went to Troy, AL to visit with Kevin's parents and grandmother, Clara, for the Fourth of July. Paul had his first bath in the kitchen sink. Here are some photos of the ever smiling Paulie.

Paulie just loves bath time.

Just too cute for Mommy!

A black and white photo that Daddy took the other day.

Baby toes of all sizes. Look at the difference between the Paulie and the Wee feet.

Paulie and his new friend, Jack. Jack is 6 months and moved in next door. He learned to sit up by himself while we were in Troy. Go Jack!!!!

Another pic of Jack.

William and his new friend, Parker. As you now know, Parker moved in last week. William has been so excited to have a friend....and so has Mommy.

Murano and motoring around Venice

Finally....a post about Italy with pictures! It has been some time, but I did manage to get some pics up for ya!

On our second day in Venice we went to Murano, the island outside of Venice that is known for their decorative glass. It was a cute, quaint little island with glass making as the only industry. We walked the island, found a glass making demonstration, and had an excellent lunch. I, unfortunately, forgot to take a picture of the food. Oh well.... Here are some pics of Murano and Venice's water taxi system. Enjoy!

A water taxi.

The island of Murano.

Scenes from walking around Murano.

A glass blowing demonstration.