One of the best things....

.....about being a parent is getting to enjoy your childhood all over again.

I really can't decide who likes the table more, Owen or daddy!

I'm sure this theme will extend into my next blog too, because we're leaving for Orlando in less than 48 hours!! I'm almost done packing, it's just hard to remember exactly what 82 degrees feels like when you have snow outside your house. I thought I had over-packed cold weather clothes, so I took them out and realized that I didn't have enough summery clothes. So I started from scratch. Owen's suitcase was a piece of cake. I did his packing first. Brian had an easy time packing too. Such a guy mentality, he said "4 t-shirts, 2 undershirts, 5 polo shirts, 3 button up short sleeve shirts, sport coat, 4 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of dress pants, 2 pairs of flip flops, sneakers, dress shoes, 7 pairs of boxers (which I made him up to 8. the mom in me always comes prepared. you never know.... you could fall into the water or something haha!) 8 pairs of sox (that one was adjusted by me too), 2 pairs of pajama pants, DONE!" like he literally rattled his list off to me like that.

Guys...... =)

I never thought....

That we would even think about getting a van, but now we're considering it. We sold our Lancer a couple months ago. We only had it for just under a year and we weren't that happy with it. The Lancer just didn't seem as nice as our other two cars, nor did it have all of the high end features that they have. Sooo long to the Lancer! We're still deciding if we want to get a 2010 Ford Fusion, 2010 Ford Taurus, or a 2010 Town & Country. Basically we want to take our Mustang off the road next winter because it's been tough this year with Brian driving it in the snow (after we sold the Lancer, which actually wasn't any better in the snow, we got a lot of snow storms) So we'll be back to 3 cars again but it will be well worth it next winter when we can have two family and winter friendly cars, and put the mustang back on the road in the spring.

We're just kind of stuck with our decision because we're not sure if we want/need another big gas guzzler. Baby number 2 is probably going to come in late 2010, but we won't have the "two kids and their friends" situation going on until a few years later. So do we need two big 7 passenger vehicles or should we stick to our SUV and get a Fusion or Taurus (both 5 passenger)?

We want to buy them brand new and sell them 3 years later after the warranty wears off, and then buy another car. So we could get a van at that point when our kids are 5 and 10 and both of friends to be carted around too.

Whatever car we get, it will be black like our suv... and both sedans would be 4 door.

Chrysler Town & Country

Ford Fusion

Ford Taurus
(We're leaning towards this car)

Anniversary bands

When Brian and I first got married, we decided that we were going to get anniversary bands on our fifth wedding anniversary. Well, that time is approaching... and will be here in a little less than 6 months, so I have been looking at a lot of different styles and think that I have decided on what I want.


I doubt that Brian has put much thought into what ring he wants, because that's just how guys are. I'm sure he'll just decide what he wants when we go to the jeweler.



So here it is!

Here's the link

Valentine's Day

I think it's safe to say that Brian and I have never been out on Valentine's Day once. We originally met a week after Valentine's Day. The following year Brian was on a six month deployment for vday. The year after is the Valentine's Day that we were finally able to spend together, and we just stayed at home. The following vday was 2006 and I was pregnant and alone for Valentines day because Brian was out to sea again. For Valentine's day in 2007, Brian had duty (which means he has to stay after work and spend the night, and get up and have a work day the next day too) But he snuck home to have dinner with me and spent part of the night, going back to the ship at 3am. That summer Brian got out of the Navy (thank god) and finally in 2008 we got to spend Valentine's day together. Depressing huh? And Valentine's day is exactly 6 months after our wedding day.

So this year won't be any different than any of those times (all two of them) that we've actually been able to spend Valentine's day together for the whole evening. Except, this year we'll get all day because Vday happens to fall on a Saturday.

I never, for one moment, take for granted being able to spend Valentine's day with Brian. I truly believe that all the time we spent apart really did put so much strength in our relationship because we know how empty our lives are when we're apart.

We don't need to go out to an overcrowded restaurant on Valentine's day to show eachother how much we care for one another. We're just glad to have eachother. Here and always. I'll never forget the time that Brian and I were saying goodbye on the pier (me with my 6 month pregnant belly) and I was crying, afraid that he wouldn't make it home in time ofr Owen's birth. And Brian said to me "I know it's hard to see it now, but when this is all over we'll look back on this time and it will seem like such a long time ago. It will be all over soon." I took comfort in knowing that this was only temporary and that it was something neither of us had control over and if we did we would obviously choose to be together. Not everyone loves someone enough to miss them when they're gone. So we had that, right? I mean really miss them. Miss them so much that it actually hurts. I remember not being able to breathe as I was driving away from the ship. It hurt so much to leave him behind. How do can you be okay with leaving your love behind? It's all over now. And we haven't spent one holiday, anniversary or birthday apart since. That right there will always be a gift in itself, every Valentine's Day.

Secret pleasures

Haha!! It's not as gross as it sounds. But, I have always LOVED bookstores. I could seriously spend all day there. Maybe it's because I spent all summer in one, one year when my mom was an artist at Media Play. Whatever the reason is, I re-discovered that love today while at Barnes And Noble's with Owen. In fact, Owen seems to share the same love as I do because he asked if we could go back tomorrow. Definitely! We're going for a change of scenery though. Tomorrow we're going to the Borders on Broadway in Saratoga. I don't think they have a train table like B&N did (which was a BIG hit with Owen- he played with it for like 2 hours) But, I'm mainly going to Borders to get a couple books I couldn't find at B&N. I also have an alterior motive... Borders on Broadway has a Gap in the same block, I think it may be nextdoor. So yeah =) There's a jacket I want to get, AND I'm looking for this shirt....Sooo if any of you find this in size 3t-5t at any Gap stores or outlets... get it for me and I'll $$$! A little background: my dad has a dune buggy that has become an obsession of Owen's. Obsession is actually an understatement. Buggy stuff is hard to find, and I always buy the dune buggy stuff that I see. I waited seriously like 2 days to buy this and when I went to buy it online, they only have it up to size 24 months! I hate when that happens!! ugh.

Alright I gotta go put the snuggle in the washing machine. It's chi tea time, then bed. Goodnight ladies! (and their hubby's)