Thursday, May 31, 2007

7 random things about me

A little late, but I've been tagged in a round about sort of way. Check out The Bresnan Family Blog, Cup of Joe and Derrick George of the Jungle. (By the way, I have photos of Katy's Vanilla Ice dance from the wedding, bwah hah hah) Don't expect anything too crazy, my mom reads this blog . . .

1. I went by Cori in high school, it's a derivative of my middle name. I was having that usual teenager thing of hating my name and Heather being one of the most popular baby names in the 1970s, there were several others in my life. There's a movie for goodness sake! I decided to be more unique. I gave it up my freshman year of college.

2. I was named Heather not because my parents found it in a baby book (like most of the other Heathers I have met), but because the heather was blooming on the moors when I was born. (2.5 Elena came from a baby name book.)

3. I learned most of my popular 80's music from the show "Kids Incorporated". This is where I first heard "Karma Chameleon", "Jump" and "We Got the Beat". I had the soundtrack cassettes and to put the cherry on the embarrassing sundae, after it ended on Saturday morning, I'd hang out with my best buddy, Yvette and we'd pretend to be band members, in between pretending to be Flashdance and Cyndi Lauper.

4. I have never seen a complete episode of "Desperate Housewives", "Grey's Anatomy", "The Bachelor", "Survivor", "American Idol" or "Big Brother". I enjoy "Dancing with the Stars" but I only watch on Monday. I (unfortunately) enjoy the show "Hell's Kitchen" for some reason, it's train wreck TV at its finest. I think the only truly good reality show I have ever seen was "American High", but it was actually reality.

5. I don't have cable, satellite or DVR. By choice. We do own more than 200 DVDs at last count. Fewer commercials and there's almost always something you enjoy watching.

6. I have a bizarre fear of snakes. I can handle the exotic part of the reptile house - as long as the snakes aren't too big. (Anacondas give me the wiggins, but I can look at cobras) I've been known to totally freak in the domestic section because I have seen too many of those without the glass between us. I nearly stepped on a copperhead as a young kid at my grandparents.

7. Most of my paternal cousins are my parents age. It is a result of my grandparents having 5 children with several years between each. My cousin Carolyn (who has been in the blog recently) is 3 years older than my dad. I grew up playing with my first cousins once removed and I actually understand the whole once removed thing. In a completely opposite situation, Elena is only 5 months older than her youngest cousin, Derrick. She is 3 1/2 months older than Evan.

I've come to a realization

She is an addict . . .


and I am an enabler.
I've been looking at my photos and realized how many have the binky in them, and I was putting the binky back her mouth on the drive in to day care this morning and I realized how dependent the little goober is on it. I had good intentions of getting her off it, except at night by 6 months. Here we are at 9 months and she's still got it. Any suggests? I want her at least mostly off by 1 year. I can't handle cold turkey, the commute is TOO long . . .

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

What a Difference Nine Months Makes

Happy 9 month birthday, Elena B.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Memorial Day

First of all I would like to say a sincere and hearty thanks to all of the men and women who have given their lives for our country - so that we have the freedom to take the day off, barbecue in our back yards, and live free. And to those still serving, you are in my prayers. Not as often as you should be, but you are there and I pray you come home safe and soon.

On to the fun and photos. We've had a quiet &wet weekend of shopping, friends, and church. Not much was photo worthy, but nice all the same. This morning, Elena and I got up and played for a while before getting Daddy up. She played with her new ball that I bought her at the grocery store. Elena has entered a new phase - not one I am particulary thrilled with, either. She is now into everything at the grocery store - grabbing stuff out of my hand, out of the cart and off the shelves. This ball gave me about 30 minutes of peaceful shopping, before she decided the lunchmeat was more fun. And it's been more fun at home. Maybe I'll take it back with us next week.
This one is for Aunt Katy and anyone else to who's asked if Elena is ever not happy. The answer is yes. But she is also in general a ham - if she sees a camera, she stops and smiles. Unless she is in a true temper tamtrum, like this morning. A couple of friends were asking me last night if she was ever upset. So I decided to snap a pic. Sorry, Laney. (The cause of the temper tantrum - I handed her to her father so I could get dressed. Yup, big mean mommy. I love this parental preference phase.)
All was better once I was wearing pants and picked her up so I get her some breakfast. Then we headed off to visit with my aunt and my cousin Carolyn. My aunt, Belle, hadn't seen Elena since she was about 3 weeks old and it had been a week for Carolyn, so they had a blast. Elena took it upon herself to prove how un-baby proofed Belle's house is. She took all of the magazines out of the coffee table and if it was within reach and breakable, she went for it. She also expressed her first interest in a electrical plug. Time to get out the plug covers . . .
Playing with cousin Caroline.
Elena and Great Aunt Belle.

Well, tonight is about a quiet dinner and maybe actually watch one of the 3 movies we rented on Saturday.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Cheeri-o-os!

We started giving Elena Cheerios when we're eating. These are from Monday night.


This may look like she's eating them, but she's not. She licks them and then drops them. I'm hoping the actual eating will come soon. She doesn't have any teeth yet, but she's working on it.
Rory has this all figured out. She now knows exactly why there is a baby in the house - to feed her Cheerios. She caught every one that Laney dropped and then cleaned out the high chair.


This pic was just too cute not to post.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Big girl

In the big tub!




I finally caved in to parental pressure and bathed Laney in the big tub Sunday night. I've been bathing her in the inflatable tub in the kitchen (I like being able to stand), but she is starting to fill it up and she can play with more toys in the big tub. She seemed to have a good time.

And then last night, I'm in a hurry, and we're back to the kitchen counter. Baby steps . . .

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Welcome Liam



Welcome to the world Baby Liam Miske. He joined us earlier this month. Sorry, no actual stats, but I wanted to welcome my new little cousin.


I stole this picture without permission from his mommy's website, she's a professional photographer. More pics are on the site.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Our trip to Colorado

River Campground. On Saturday we day tripped out to visit with my parents and my cousin, Caroline, who is visiting from Arizona. It was a GORGEOUS day. Mild weather, light breeze and sunny. We relaxed, we caught up with family, took naps, played and ate hot dogs. A fabulous Saturday. The only bummer was that it was a bit too cool to make use of the campground's pool. But there are plenty of hot days to come.
Elena reconnects with her grandfather.
After lunch, we checked out the playground - Kathryn and Elena go for a slide.
Rob and Elena go for a spin on the tire swing. After we were all done with the playground, it was time for one of our favorite camping activities - Mini-Golf! We're totally into roughing it.
Elena gets her game on. Watch out Tiger Woods.
Rob tries his hand at shooting the ball, luckily his gun isn't loaded.
Laney got tired of playing and decided to caddy.
Party on hole 5! - This hole was awful. Somehow, I, who usually has the most fun at golf (ie highest score) pulled off a 3 on this hole. I think most of the rest of the group took the 5 stroke maximum.

Laney chills at the 16th hole. Good to know she fits in with our laid back family.
This is me and my cousin Caroline. Not a flattering pic of either one of us, but we had fun doing it. Caroline is in the market for a new camera and I was showing her some of the features of mine, like the rotating view screen.
There are deer everywhere in the campground. We saw the cutest fawns and fed these some feed my mom had left over from Fossil Rim Wildlife Park.
Caroline finally got to hold Elena sometime after golf. How that little oversight happened, I'm not sure.
Happy campers - Caroline, Mom, Elena, Kathryn, and Dad.


Friday, May 18, 2007

This is what happens pt. 2

When you combine Elena, Kathryn & fingerpaint . . .


Elena went directly from the high chair to the bath tub . . .
When she's done on American Idol, she has a starring role lined up in "Finger Paint: The Aftermath"
With her high chair as her co-star. Thank God for washable finger paint.
The final results, Mother's Day cards for Mama Janie, Nana Jackie, Great, and Great Grandma Ila. Mama Janie won't get her card until this weekend, thus the delay in the post. Didn't want to spoil the surprise.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Laney would like winter back

Because her hat still fits and it looks totally stylin! That and if it's 90+ degrees in May, July & August are going to be AWFUL!

Monday, May 14, 2007

A very good year

Kathryn and her middle school band have had a great year -

In February, Kathryn got a Division 1 for her solo at Solo & Ensemble. (1 is the best score)

In March, her band got a Sweepstakes - Division 1 in concert and 1 in sight reading, the best available to a band

In April, they got another Division 1 at the Festival of the Falls

And last night, at the Spring Concert, Kathryn was awarded "Musicianship Award" given to students who have demonstrated high levels of musicianship during the past year.


Whoo hoo!

My first mother's day

Yesterday was my first Mother's Day. I've had a few step-Mother's days, but this was different.


We actually started Mother's Day last week. I've wanted to go to the "The Masterpieces of French Painting from The Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1800-1920" at the Museum of Fine Arts since I saw it on a billboard. I love the opportunity to see the paintings I studied in school in real life. Well, ladies, ask and you shall receive. Last Sunday after church we drove to the museum. Little did I know how popular this exhibit would be. Turns out our museum was the only U.S. museum getting the exhibit! We didn't buy online tickets (dumb!) so after spending 20 minutes looking for parking, we find out the exhibit is sold out, except for some VIP tickets. Those were a bit steep pricewise, so we're standing off to the side debating what to do when we were offered a ticket free. We decided after that we'd spring for 2 VIP tickets. Well, the nice guy checking us out keyed in his membership info and we got our tickets for member prices.

The exhibit was great. Laney was relatively well behaved - she got a little restless, but was otherwise good. I think Rob and Kathryn enjoyed it as well. It was nice to get a little Mother's Day treat with both my girls. (Kathryn spends the actual Mother's Day with her mom)
Laney models her MFAH entry sticker. She really didn't think we should wear ours - every time we'd hold her at the museum she'd try to take ours off.



On Friday, Rob picked Laney up from day care and brought me this:

Hand made by the little punkin, with lots of help from her teachers.

Saturday - free babysitting and Spiderman 3! Good movie, but don't spend the money if your not a HUGE Spidey fan. Wait for the DVD.

Sunday we went to church. Elena finally got to wear the dress I brought for Easter. There was a wonderful altar call for Mothers and the youth group gave us carnations.
We came home and Elena gave me the best Mother's Day gift ever - she took a long nap so I could too! We went out for Mexican food and groceries afterwards, then had a quiet afternoon at home.

I got some wonderful cards from the hubby, Elena, my parents, Katy and Rob's dad and stepmother. It was so nice, and they will be in the scrapbook!

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Happy Mother's day

A happy early Mother's day to some of the Mom's in my life, some who read this, some who don't, some I'm not sure -

Happy First Mother's Day to Katy, Tara and Chris

Happy future Mother's Day to Zee

Happy Mother's day to the Moms and Gradmas - Mama Janie, Nana Jackie, Grandma, & Grandma Ila

To the Godmothers in my life and my girls lives - Marilyn, Deanna, Christina, Katy, Kayla and Lauren

And just a general Happy Mother's day to Katie, Becky, Ling, Angelica, Roseanne, Pam, Dana, Donna, Elaine, Susie, Kris and all those I forget . . . thanks for the advice, the listening ears and the laughs.

And not to steal any thunder from Katy, who wrote a beautiful piece, happy Mother's day to Barbara - I know that you can see all 4 of your grandkids from heaven and we'll all meet you there someday.

Friday, May 11, 2007

You are a . . . GEEK

I'll admit I took it. I had to try after seeing it on AM and Shea's blogs . Have to agree with AM, I am a bit ashamed, but it was too tempting for a "Hunt For Red October" quoting geek like me.

Your results:
You are Beverly Crusher
































Beverly Crusher
60%
Deanna Troi
50%
An Expendable Character (Redshirt)
50%
Spock
47%
James T. Kirk (Captain)
45%
Jean-Luc Picard
40%
Data
40%
Chekov
35%
Will Riker
35%
Mr. Scott
30%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)
25%
Uhura
25%
Geordi LaForge
25%
Worf
25%
Mr. Sulu
20%
A good physician and a caring parent.
You are devoted to your children
and to your occupation.


Click here to take the "Which Star Trek character am I?" quiz...



I tried this morning and ended up a Red Shirt (the expendable character that died every episode). Tried again tonight and got Beverly Crusher, the Weasel's mother. Fabulous. On the plus side it said I am a caring parent. Validation! Yeah! :)

Rob geeked out with me. He's a red shirt too.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Happy 3 month birthday

To little Derrick George


Hope it was a good little guy.