My Little Rock Star

Christmas started out bright and early with both kids ready to go at 7:00am. My grandmother was coming over to watch the kids open presents. She called about 7:20am and had hit a horse!! I thought for sure she was crazy, but sure enough she hit a horse out wandering the 4800 S. this morning. It messed up her car pretty good where she hit him, but luckily only damage to the car and not Nana. We went on a search for her (she was confused and did not know where she was) and found her just down by Galleria street. It is the horses fault so no ticket was issued. We did sing a new version of "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" on the way.

All that time, money and preparation...to have everything opened in a flash of 20 minutes. Katie seemed happy with all her gifts and clothes, and Jr. was done once he opened the cars and cat toy (2 year olds are easy to please).

Jr. got a neat little guitar from Santa. It plays some cool tunes and he has been rocking out all morning. Check out the future Rock Star!!

Sewing Night

Toni and I have been getting together for Sewing Night every Monday. I tell you if we miss for any reason...my kids are devastated. She has finished several cute projects (which are posted on her blog) and I have had a wonderful time getting to spend quality time with an old friend. Both of my kids are glued to her side from the moment she arrives. We have missed two weeks now with the holidays and....we all can't wait for Toni to get back.

Above is Toni combing Katie's hair after her bath. She let her do it without the usual screaming that happens when I even look at her with the comb.

Jr. Surgery #2

Well Jr. had surgery again yesterday to put tubes in his ears. He is doing great. It did not slow him down for a second. We had to be there at 6:45am and he was super perky and ready to play with all the toys in the various waiting rooms at Primary Children's Hospital. His left with the anesthesiologist with no crying or problems. Hopefully this will be the end of the endless ear infections that we have been dealing with since early October.

Viva la Vida-Second Time!!

Again they put on the best show!! I was skeptical that the Energy Solutions Arena would be any good...but it was a great show. We were very close to the stage this time which made for a completely different show. I am totally addicted to LIVE music. In talking with an old co-worker of mine, he described the feeling of live shows as the "Thread". The thread that bind complete strangers together....I always thought he was just a silly old hippy, but there is some truth to his statement. Sitting in a giant arena filled with people from all over....joining in one common interest. I sat next to the cutest little boy, maybe 10 years old at the most. He was so excited to see his first concert. In front of us, a couple that had also been to the Vegas show. It is a really nice escape from reality for a couple of hours. Too loud to think about all the other thoughts running around in my head, just focused on the show.

I took about 200 pictures and some video too. Here are a few of my super hottie Chris Martin.

NKOTB Rocks!!

Well they still got the "Right Stuff"!! This concert was sheer comedy!! The people were PRICELESS. The stage setup was so cheesy, I laughed for two hours. Natasha Bedingfield opened for them, she has a really strong voice.

They changed at least 25 times throughout the show, had 4 hoochy dancer chicks, and the stage was pure rock and roll. Complete with steam, rising from the floor entrance, and of course FIREWORKS. They played a host of their classic NKOTB tunes and the crowd (including me) was singing right along. They stopped several times and were laughing that they cannot believe how many people still know the words.

Highlights were 1 minute of Donnie Wahlberg shaking his hot butt on giant screen TV, Jordan rising up on stage with the wind, steam and of course his shirt open to expose the beautiful chest that lies beneath.

Pure comedy and a great trip down memory lane.

Halloween Pictures

Here are a few from my work party Trick or Treating. Jr. was sick and having nothing to do with his costume (he was going to be a punkin). More to come.

Halloween....

Halloween is over and November has just begun. Halloween was pretty crappy day for me. Here is the rundown:

• Woke up - late
• Baby woke up with a fever (guess those antibiotics are NOT working AGAIN)
• Katie woke up mad...cuz it was LATE!
• Ran around like a crazed maniac in half of my Halloween costume trying to get all the stuff together for school, babysitter, and trick-or-treating.
• Left half dressed, NO makeup...mad.
• Katie left her coat, had to stop mid driveway to run back (swearing) to get it.
• Finally get on the road to school.
• 8:38am Katie crying because she is late
• Mommy turns around to yell at her....HITS A GARBAGE CAN (yippee)
• Katie crying because mom broke her mirror
• 8:40am arrive at school...jump out to attach wings and horns.
• JR. crying in the car because I am outside and Katie is crying.
• Sit back in the car and.....split the BUTT out of my tights (you have got to be kidding me)
• Rush to the babysitter to find her no where in sight, probably at the school for the parade (hmmm wondered why there were so many cars)
• Unload the baby with her husband who is going over to the parade.
• Rush across the street to my mother's to apply makeup
• Drive like a manic to Harmon's for dry ice (cauldron), crushed ice (office party), new tights, and headache medicine.
• Mom calls...she is taking sick baby back to the Dr.
• 12:00 pm Office party....did not win AGAIN!! Why is it that a guy in tights will always trump a cute costume??
• 12:30 Mom calls...baby had to have two shots of antibiotics
• 1:30 Babysitter calls...Katie is missing.
• 1:45...Katie found.
• 3:00 Office trick-or-treating
• 4:30 start month-end closing....as everyone else leaves.
• 6:00...finally done.
• Pick up sick baby
• Home to ignore the door for hours

Why did I get out of bed? Will post pictures later

My Big Boy

Well, the baby is finally out of the crib. I bought him a big boy bed last weekend. He has been doing great sleeping through the night and loves his car sheets. I am getting really lonely in my big bed all alone. I am so used to having a little person come and join me mid-evening, it is hard to get used to. I even had him in bed by 9pm last night...it is a miracle. I had to lay with him for about 15 minutes until he stopped wiggling around and Katie stopped talking to me. I guess I will have to get that pair of dogs I have always wanted to fill up the space in my bed :)

He is getting so big and so is Katie. They both have birthdays coming up next month...how time flies.

Monday Night Sewing

Toni and I are planning a Monday Night get together to teach her to sew. Anyone who wants to join to just hang out or do scrapbooking or whatever....let me know. We will have to post some pictures of her sewing masterpieces.

Ghost Town

So if you are contemplating seeing this movie or not...see it!!! I have not laughed that hard in a LONG TIME. I had full on tears streaming down my face during parts of this movie. 5 stars in my book.

Jack Johnson

I can almost make out which dude is singing....oh yeah it is the teeny, tiny one in the red shirt.
My fellow concert groupies...my older brother Mike, his wife Julie and their 4 year old daughter Rissa. She loves Jack Johnson from the Curious George soundtrack. Mike promised her that she could go to the concert when he came to town. She took my extra ticket as James did not have any interest in sitting on the lawn.

She was so good and had a lot of fun shaking her little bootie to the music.
It was the most crowded that I have ever seen the Usana Ampitheater. We had spent an hour and a half in the car going 4 miles from Mike's house to the concert. We ended up parking in the super overflow (right on 5400 South and just on the West side of 5600 South) then hiking all the way to the gates to get in. It was really sitting room only on the Lawn and ALL the seats were completely full. It was a beautiful night and the moon was almost full rising over the mountains. Not a bad way to spend a Monday night.

Hernia Surgery

Well the surgery is over. Jr. came through with flying colors and just a little scar. I am sure it will make for great conversation with future girlfriends. Other than the the small incision and the bruised balls...he is absolutely fine. He was running around and jumping off the couch 30 minutes after we were released from the hospital to go home. Here I thought I would have 4 days off to just watch TV with a sleeping baby...ha...no such luck.
Next morning...he is up with the sun and ready to watch SpongeBob and eat cereal...in my bed. I must really love my kids to sleep in crumbs for the next few days :)

More Disney Pictures

Katie with the lovely Alice
Nana being mauled by a Bear
Jr. thinking twice about touching this giant bug
Katie finally got to see Mickey (or Elmo as Jr. calls him)

Disneyland Vacation Part 1

Well for our summer vacation the our little family went to Disneyland. Jennie's parents and grandmother came along with us. It has been over 15 years since I last visited the Happiest Place on Earth, almost as long for Jennie and neither of the kids had ever been there. Nana, Jennie's grandmother, has been asking to take Katie since she was born. So we took our George Bush money and went. We decided to fly rather than drive. This was the first time the kids had ever flown before too.

As some of you reading the blog may know, my dad was a Disney fanatic. So much so that growing up that was a pretty much the only place our family ever vacationed. Growing up I really resented this and always wanted to travel to non-Disney location. This is why I resisted for so long to go back. So I pretty much had it in my mind that I would not have a good time, and that I was only there for my kids.

Well it turns out I was wrong. I had a great time reliving all my childhood memories and an even greater time seeing my kids there. Both Katie and Junior had a great time as did all of us. Junior may have been more fascinated with the minifridge in the hotel room and running down the halls at the hotel than in anything in Disneyland.


Here are the many, many pictures:

Checking in our many bags.

Junior and his favorite flying buddy.

Junior and Nana at Long Beach.

Katie really liked the baggage claim carousel.

"Who going to Disneyland?"

In the rental car.

A video of Junior calling the statue of Mickey "Elmo", I guess he is still learning.

In the shuttle on our way to our first day in the park.

This years theme.



They forgot to add, "and where bottled water costs $2.75."

This is my magic car. It's how the old and gimpy get around.

Katie still smilin' at lunch time.

Junior at lunchtime.

We saw Elmo in the parade.

Junior was kind enough to share his snacks.

The light on in the window means that Walt Disney's ghost is still haunting Disneyland.

On the second day in the park we rode Finding Nemo.

And this is all we saw. No just kidding, it was a great ride.

Then we went to Goofy's Kitchen to meet characters.

The food was pretty good, a little pricey but good.

We saw Goofy

Mulan

Chip and Dale (not pictured)

On the way out we ran into last year's America's Homecoming Queen.

The next day we rode Dumbo.

and the Carousel

Katie named her horse Angel.

We then bought Katie some stuff at the Princess Store or Cassidy's Store as I call it.

Katie then got to meet her favorite Princess Ariel!

Statue of Walt and Mickey

Junior playing with the big ball in Tomorrowland.

"Look at the camera, James."

We rode Autotopia. This will be the only time that Grandpa will be in a car that Katie is driving.

"Hey Nana, don't hit that Monorail."

Mama and baby

"Go get the stroller, it's the green one over there."

This is a brick out side of Disneyland that my Mom had placed to honor our family's Disney memories.

I took a few pictures in California Adventure.

Grizzly Rapids Mill at night.

California Screamin' at night.