hello again. if you are still there that is

Hey Hi! So, it's been FOREVER since I've blogged in this here little corner of the world (or space... I'm not really sure where this corner really is, but you know what I mean, right?). Anyhow, I was thinking the other night that it has been too long and I should do something to remedy that. So here I am. 

Lots has happened since I posted last. I won't bore you with all of the details, but I will share some pictures to catch up on things around these parts. 

Warning: picture overload ahead... 

we went on a family vacation to the beach! it was Emerson's first time and we all had so much fun! 

I hope we can go back again next year :)

he mostly enjoyed lounging in the shade by the pool and napping in the room. 

little guy got in the pool! 

and liked it ... sort of. 

Emerson started solids. He had his first taste at 4 1/2 months and then really started eating around 6 months.

little cutie is growing! 

E also started sleeping in his own room in his crib! I wanted to cry, he's just getting so big. 

One weekend E and I drove down to visit his great grandparents. It was one of the most enjoyable weekends of our summer. 

He met his Great Aunt Becky for the first time and watched his first live football game.

Becky scared him to death from her excited screams... oh, Becky :)

watching his cousins with his grandpa

E kept on getting stronger and bigger! 

We put our house on the market because hubs decided he wanted to go back to school 

(that's the third time back to school since he graduated college) to get his PhD!

visited another great grandma

Grew some more... 

E started sucking on his toes on his 5 month birthday. Such a big boy. 

visited his Auntie Celeste and cousins in Ohio. 

met a new friend [baby friend that is, he already knew the other mama :]

Started getting giddy at bed/bath time. 

and grew some more... 

so serious. 

[got Thrush again, ugh, and once he was over it started drinking from a sippy cup]

helped mama pack our house and started being really active.

also, he started to help me with laundry. 

E started giving kisses

lots of sweet slobbery kisses

I packed up our house

said good-bye home sweet home

        

       

       

and we drove to our new home...   

     

our view the whole time.

please notice the red light... we were stopped when I took this picture :) 

with the help of some AMAZING friends we unloaded the truck 

see? amazing right there :) 

I'm not sure what we would have done with out them. They are just that amazing. 

 

Landon started school as a big PhD student. 

E kept eating solids

[and had some constipation issues... not fun]

I starred baby-sitting to help us financially. It's nice I am able to stay at home with E and still bring home some bacon :) 

our new home sweet home. 

See? I told you it would be picture overload :) You can't say I didn't warn you. But yes. That pretty much brings us up to date. I will be back [sooner rather than later this time :] Sorry for such the long break on this here blog of mine. 

little choices

I was sitting in the middle of a room filled with 8th graders this morning listening to high school students talk about what high school will be like, the opportunities, clubs, and sports that await the incoming freshmen. Listening to them talk and looking around the room got me reminiscing about days long past. Not even the days from when I was an 8th grader or a high schooler. But the days of college. How I got there, what I did there. The friends I had, the things I did. The snow that was so foreign to me. Everything about it seems mystical, like it never really happened. Though at the time it was more real than I would have liked to admit. Anyhow, I was just thinking about life and how quickly it passes by. The choices that we are faced with on a daily basis. The choices that will make us into who we become and where we are going. And it's crazy and unreal at times to think about all of the little decisions I have made that have turned into life changing choices. I could elaborate, but I'm not going to. Not tonight, tonight I'm just thinking about all of everything and nothing particularly.

And on a completely unrelated note . . . I cannot wait for tomorrow afternoon to come. Spring Break hasn't been this welcome in a long time, since I was in school I think. I feel like there is something about school that come spring time if you don't have a break you just might die. Not really, but you get the idea. Maybe that's why it's one of the only (the only?) profession, place, time that you have a spring break. Who knows. But I am thankful, excited, and ready for it!

So Exciting!

This week is chalk full (that is an expression, right?) of excitement! Don't you want to know all about it?! I'm sure you do. And that's why I'm going to elaborate and give you the juicy details.

First. Today. It's my Mummy's birthday. Very very Happy Birthday to you, Mummy! I would bake you an Angel Food Cake if you were here or I were there. But you are not and I am not. And I would ice it with pink icing for you. Or top it with strawberries. Whatever your preference would be. But that will have to wait another ... two years? Sad you will have to wait that long to get some scrumptious birthday cake. I'll just set it out on the counter waiting for you. ha. I suppose I could just make one for myself and eat it all by myself ... but that's probably not a good idea. No. It's far better to be enjoyed by oodles and boodles of people. But still, Happy Day to you : ) Thanks for being a wonderful mother and role model.

Next. Tomorrow. It's my Hubs' birthday. I Know! Two birthdays in two days?! Craziness I tell you! Crazy. Or not. That's just how it is. But it does make for remembering all the better. I won't wish the hubs a happy birthday, not yet. That'll just have to wait, till tomorrow. But you know, I wanted to share the excitement that's goin' on around these parts. Pretty crazy, right?

Then... that's it. But I am excited about the hubs' birthday dinner. I've fixed an A-mazing strawberry loaf. I will post a picture or two after it is ready for the birthday desert. Be excited. Seriously. And come over if you want to enjoy some with us. Again, seriously. There is plenty.

Anyway. That's about it. For today.

what am I doing?

Life is back to normal. Well, maybe... is there really ever a normal? I think not. Or, there might be. But just not for me. I feel like normal is always changing. Though thankfully I think a little routine is beginning to emerge. Who knows though. And really, a routine? I'm not sure I am capable of this. Not true, I am, I just have been lacking one for some time now.

Anyhow. Life is life. I wake up very early in the morning and begin my day with breakfast.

I Love breakfast. Who doesn't though? It's only The Best Meal of the day! I mean, think about all of the deliciosity (yes that is a word, but don't look it up :) that comes along with breakfast. Off the top of my head: pancakes: blueberry, chocolate chip, buttermilk, banana... waffles, crepes, muffins, oatmeal, eggs, biscuits, fruit, yogurt, cereal, toast, French toast... and those are just a few. Anyhow, can you not see how incredible breakfast is? Sad to admit that my typical week day breakfast usually consists of a bowl of cereal and maybe an English Muffin. A shame really considering all of the elaborate and delicious choices out there for me.

I'm at school now, all day, every day as a student teacher. It's pretty nice. I get to be a teacher and a student at the same time, so I have the responsibility of both. Learning much? Busy much? Stressed much? To say yes would be an understatement. So anyhow, this is what I do. This is what fills my days.

As I was taking a break from homework and school (some refer to it as procrastinating) this afternoon, I was reading a post by a new blog friend (I'm allowed to say that because that's what blogging people say about people they have never met but still know because they read all about them in their blog) of mine over at Story of My Life I got to thinking about the purpose of this here little blog. What am I trying to do? Unburden my life through words? Eh, maybe. Retell the events of my day? Not really, but I find myself doing it just the same. Tell an amusing story? Yes. I like to think I do. On occasion at least. Impart my worldly wisdom? Most certainly :D So anyways. I'm a thinkin'. Purpose. What is it? Apparently it's a good thing to have. But then again, maybe the purpose of this blog is just like the purpose of my life, of which I am not sure.

But for today the purpose will be to impart a few words of wisdom. From my brain to yours: Sometimes it is best to ignore a nippy puppy, and sometimes it can be detrimental.

the last of 'em

Then we came back home and life was like it had been before we left... until October when we got a puppy for our anniversary present.

ah! what a cutie! I can't stand it!

Then in November we went out and about again for the hubs' work. Can you guess where?

And December too... While we were there we went to museums and monuments (until our noses were too cold or we had just plain had enough of it) and explored the area around our apartment. At one of the museums they had a crochet coral reef. It was Incredible. My favorite.

A little Christmas tree was our only homeyness. How I loved that little tree. You would be surprised at just how much joy a little tree like that can bring.

and a palm tree for some extra twinkle.

Then of course it was Christmas and it was, Christmas and perfect.

We saw the hubs' family for Christmas and were looking through all of the Christmas cards they had received. One of his aunts was very sad and disappointed that we hadn't sent a Christmas card out, especially considering as how we had a puppy. So after the festivities passed I made a Christmas card special for his auntie. The above picture was the one we picked for our card.

And now that year has passed a new one has started, already I tons busier than I have been in forever and it is taking getting used to... but I'll save that for another day :)