My MD

Crafty?

I don't know what it is about this season, but I'm so inspired to do crafty things! I look forward to when MD wants to jump in and help. But, maybe he won't be crafty like me. Who knows. I know he does like choo-choo trains, though (i.e. the new header.)

So, I've found a few simple crafts to do lately. And, we had to upgrade to Jack-o-Lantern version 2 as well (no pic yet.) It's crazy. The first one (from the previous post) turned green and hairy in less than a week! Oh, it was nasty. Like cleaning up a dead body. Not that I've ever had to clean one of those up. Anyway, so I had to carve another one. It's just not Halloween without a lit-up, smiling pumpkin on your front porch.

Here's a few more "fun" things I've done lately in all my spare time - like 3 minutes a night...

Mommy pumpkin. MD pumpkin. And daddy pumpkin. (Donnie didn't want his "cute." He wanted it scary. I found that pumpkin face in one of MD's bath books!)

For the bake sale at Michael Dean's "school." (The director wanted to chop it up into individual servings, though! I, and the co-director, talked her out of it. Seriously?)

The Heat is On

We've officially entered Fall at our house. We've turned the heat on, just to 70°, though; we've carved pumpkins; we've (or shall I say Donnie) made veggie-beef soup; we've made Halloween cupcakes; and I've pulled out my comfy pants and sweatshirts. It's nice that Fall is here again. I've missed my cold weather. The warm weather is nice and all. But, there's just something comforting about cold weather and a crackling fireplace.

UPDATE: What's up with the high 70's this week?! I just sent my kid to school today in long sleeves and thick pants. Sheesh...

MD's version of carving pumpkins. He wanted nothing to do with my or Donnie's carving station.

I think they're beautiful!

As close as he'd get...

OK, so mom iced them but Michael Dean sprinked (and ate) them!

Choo Choo Trains

This past Saturday, the 2 Grandmas, Papa, Daddy and Mommy took Michael Dean for his very first (real) train ride. (The expensive little train at the mall doesn't count!)

The Christmas Carol train was making its rounds through NC and made a stop in Spencer. That train was pretty cool, but really the highlight of MD's trip was the real train ride. Unfortunately, the Christmas Carol train didn't move so we had to settle for the old train they run around the grounds there. And, it really wasn't settling. We all had a good time!

On the way to see the choo-choo trains with Nana and Mimi.

I know, I'm such a Mom.

So, it's not that great of a photo - but it was the only way to get us all in a picture!

MD's first experience with defacing US currency. Tee hee.

First time stepping on a real train with a real conductor and everything!

Good times.

So, MD liked the train, but he really liked waving at the people...

On a Lighter Note

A few months ago I accidentally dropped my "big" camera. See, I have a big (Nikon D50) and a little (Nikon Coolpix) camera. The little one is great for random grocery store trips, cute car moments and quick 4-wheeler videos. The big one is my favorite. The one that takes the really good pictures. It makes me happy.

So, when the lens broke after the unfortunate tumble I was not happy. But, life goes on and bills still have to be paid so I was holding out to buy one on sale or used or something. Well, long story short - my big sister is getting married next Summer and asked me to be her photographer. In exchange, her and her fiance bought me a new lens!

And, it arrived today, so peace is restored in my little world of picture-taking. And, too, just in time for our trip to see The Christmas Carol train tomorrow in Spencer.

Just because I can now...

What a Morning

2:30am - Michael Dean wakes up screaming for me. I go up the stairs and put him back in his bed, with his flashlight. (This is, unfortunately, common right now. I've learned that naps were my least worry. We now have nights from h***.)

3:30am - Michael Dean wakes up screaming for me, again. I go up the stairs and put him back in his bed, with his flashlight.

4:15am - Michael Dean wakes up screaming for me, again. I go up the stairs and put him back in his bed, with his flashlight.

(Do you see a pattern? I'll spare the rest of those details. I'm sure you can guess how the next 3 hours went.)

5:45am - Get ready for work. Put up the laundry. Do the dishes. Take Mila out. Feed her. Make my lunch. Load up my car for the day. Probably a few other things.

7:20am - Go wake MD up, because, of course, he fell back asleep. Get him ready for a day of "school."

7:35am - Come downstairs to feed him breakfast and find that ants have taken over his seat and the floor from his seat to the front door. Spray the floor with ant killer. Wipe up the floor. Wash my hands and give my kid some chocolate milk and a Pop Tart ans sit him on his footstool below the sink. Mop the floor (in business casual attire, btw.)

8:05am - Get out the door to get my kid to school before snack and me to work before 9 so I can work a full day with no lunch break to make up time.

Sorry for the negativity, but seriously, my life is like one long day right now...Help!

Thomas

So, Michael Dean has finally found Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. Or maybe they found us. Who knows. Either way, I now have a little boy who's on the brink of a pretty big obsession with Thomas.

Let's face it, Thomas isn't so bad. His movies are bores-ville, but MD sure likes them. We rented one when he was sick and I quickly learned I'd need to actually own one before I had to return it 5 days later. So, we headed to Toys 'R Us and found a pretty good deal on a Thomas figurine/DVD combo. Then I used an A.C. Moore coupon to get a set of 3, since one train is just no fun without his buddies.

I do think trains are pretty cool. But, I don't think the prices of these trains are that cool. Whew! I was amazed at how $$$ these things are. So, I'm already prepping the grandparents for Christmases and Birthdays. And, if any of you out there have any Thomas "stuff" laying around that you'd like to sell for yard-sale prices, let me know :)

Also, in case you guys are wondering, naps (kinda) have returned. He's sleeping right now! Shew. After a week of mandatory naps at daycare, they returned at home - with a little bit of coaxing on my part - he's sleeping with a Spiderman flashlight right now. The nighttimes are actually the toughest right now. He's up and down for a few hours a night. He's crying for me. The "big-boy" bed doesn't seem to phase him yet - thank goodness! He's just still, for whatever reason, scared without me at night. We'll see where this thing ends up... Right now, mommy just needs a good night's sleep!